The Secret’s Out
*This is kind of short but I’m just trying to get back into the habit of writing after a long time away. I hope you like it regardless! This is kind of a part 3 to the previous Seth stories.*
Seth and you had three more 'dates' since that first one. Each one was better than the last. The last date happened to be a week ago. You've been dying to see him again but school and life had been kicking your ass this week so you only got to communicate through text the last few days. He had to be one of the sweetest people you've ever met and always called you 'beautiful' when talking to you. You couldn't believe that someone as nice and sweet as him was focusing his attention on you. Your phone started ringing, pulling you from your thoughts. Looking down, you saw Seth's name pop up on your screen.
"Hey," you answered, smiling into the phone, "I was just thinking about calling you."
"Great minds think alike, beautiful," his voice sounded wonderful through the phone, his laugh making your heart race a little, "What are you doing tonight?"
"Seeing as it's finally Friday and I don't have school tomorrow, hopefully hanging out with you," you replied, your cheeks going warm at how forward but honest you felt you could be with him. He made you feel safe and warm and cared for.
"That's what I was hoping for, too. There is a group of us getting together tonight for a bonfire. I was wondering if you'd like to go with me." He sounded nervous, as if you'd ever say no to him, "I know you haven't met my friends, but they're going to adore you, I promise."
"I… I guess it wouldn't hurt to finally meet them," you replied, feeling anxious, "It has been over a month since we started hanging out."
"Sounds good! Would you like me to come pick you up, or do you want to meet me on the Rez at 7?"
"I'll just meet you! Saves you gas coming to pick me up and drop me back off," you responded. He said goodbye before hanging up, leaving you to your thoughts and worries about what you would wear tonight.
-
You arrived at the set time, dressed in a cute summer dress. Seth came running up to you, shirtless as always, something that always caused your cheeks to flush.
"You came!" He said, reaching out to hug you. He's always so touchy, something you've been getting used to lately.
"As if I would stand you up," you joked with him, wrapping your arms around his torso shortly before letting go and stepping back, "I'll be honest, I'm kind of nervous about this."
"It'll be fine," he reassured you, taking your hand in his and leading you down to where everyone was gathered, "Everyone, this is ______. _____, this is everyone." He spent the next few minutes, pointing out who was who and telling you their names. Some you recognized from the diner that first day and you remembered Kim from your numerous trips there.
"I hope our boy has been treating you well," one of the women, Emily, spoke softly, smiling at you, "We try to raise these boys with manners."
"Oh, he's been great," you replied, blushing as Seth squeezed your hand, smiling over at you.
"That's good, we'd have a problem if he wasn't," Sam spoke curtly, but the smile on his face showed he was joking.
The rest of the night went by quickly before a few more older men joined, beginning to tell stories around the bonfire. They were legends of the tribe, one standing out the most, about the tribe being descended from shape-shifters. You smiled as you listened, enchanted by the stories. After the bonfire ended, Seth asked you to walk along the trail with him, not wanting the night to end.
"So, did you enjoy yourself tonight?" Seth asked as you walked, your hands intertwined together.
"I did! Everyone was so nice and the stories the Elders told were mesmerizing," you replied.
"I'm glad. I really wanted you to meet everyone, you know?" He looked into the distance, like he was trying to work up the courage to say something.
"I could tell it was important to you," you waited for him to say something but he was just silent for what seemed like forever, "Is something on your mind?"
"There is something I've got to tell you… but it's going to be hard to hear," he said softly, coming to a stop and letting go of your hand.
"Is something wrong? Did I do something?" You immediately began worrying about what you could have done to upset him tonight. Were you not social enough? Did someone not like you? Was he going to end whatever was going on between the two of you?
"No! You could never, beautiful," he spoke quickly, trying to shut down the insecure thoughts. "It's something about me that I need to tell you about but it's… I don't know how to begin."
"You can tell me anything, Seth."
"The legends, about us being descended from spirit warriors," he began quickly, not sure how else to say what needed to be said, "It's not just legends."
"What do you mean?" You were very confused. This definitely wasn't anything you thought he was going to say.
"We are. Descended from spirit warriors, I mean." He could tell you weren't really following what he was saying, "The stories, about the shape-shifters? They're all true. That stuff really happened and is real."
"I'm not following, I guess," you took a step back, "So your ancestors were shapeshifters? That's impossible."
"It's not. They really were and some chosen few still do today," he explained, holding out his hand for you to grab but yours just hung at your side as you tried to wrap your head around what he was saying, "Say something, please?"
"What do you want me to say? You sound crazy right now, Seth," he had to be joking, right? This was just an elaborate joke he was playing on you, "You're saying that shapeshifters are real and that some of you are wolves to this day… Why tell me this?"
"Because… I am one as well," he said sheepishly, trying to put on a smile for you, "I'm a wolf."
"That's ridiculous. This is a joke, right? Please tell me this is a joke, Seth." He smiled sadly at you, dropping his hand to his side.
"I wish I could but this is real," he cleared his throat, "M-Maybe I should just show you?"
"Show me? You mean change right here right now?" You looked around, "Are you crazy? This is just great! I was really starting to like you, Seth."
"I like you, too. That's why I'm telling you this," he said quickly, "I don't want to lose you but I need you to know the whole truth of what I am and what you mean to me. It’d just be easier if I show you. I’ll be right back.” Before you could say anything, he rushed off behind the trees. Part of you wanted to just walk off away from this crazy talk, but the other part of you, the part that could feel the connection you had with Seth, made you stay. You heard noises from behind the trees before a large wolf stepped out. Your eyes widened as you took in the sandy colored wolf before you.
“O-Okay… so you’re not lying,” you replied shakily, taking a step back from the wolf who looked at you with Seth’s eyes. You felt your stomach drop as fear took a hold of you but something inside of you told you that you were still safe with him. He disappeared once more, returning back in human form before you could begin to process what just happened.
“I’m sorry it took me this long to tell you,” he began, stepping forward towards you. You were frozen in place as you looked at him, “I didn’t want… I don’t want you to hate me.”
“I… I could never hate you, Seth. I’ll be honest, I’m a little freaked out,” you replied, your mouth feeling dry from your mouth hanging open for too long, “But I don’t hate you. I’m a little scared.”
“I’d never hurt you!” he spoke quickly, reaching out and grabbing your hands, “That’s the last thing I’d ever want to do. That’s the other part. You remember the story about the imprints?”
“Yeah, the chief and his wife, right?” Seth squeezed your hands, pulling you towards him.
“You’re mine,” he said plainly, not sugar coating it at all, “You’re my imprint. You’re my soulmate.”
“O-Oh…” You didn’t know what to say. As he explained what that meant, everything started to make sense, like why you felt such a strong connection to him. You supposedly were meant to be.
“I know it’s a lot to take in,” he began, wrapping his arms around your waist as you still just stood there, “I’ve just dropped a whole lot on you.”
“You certainly have,” you replied, trying to find a deep breath,”But I think I’m okay.”
“Yeah? You’re not too freaked out?”
“I mean, yeah, a little… but it kind of makes sense,” you rested your hands on his arms that were around your waist, “I’ll need a little time to get used to everything, but I’m not going anywhere at the moment if that’s what you’re worried about. Can I go home now? I just need to think all this over.”
“Of course!” he nodded, letting go of you and stepping back, “Can I drive you home? We can come get your car another day, I just don’t want you driving like this.” You nodded, allowing him to lead you to his friend’s truck that he was borrowing. You got in and buckled up. The ride home was silent as you mulled everything over. When you arrived home, you both got out and he walked you to the door. “Will I see you later?”
“I told you, I’m not going anywhere just yet,” you replied, sighing as you gave him a short hug, “I’ll see you tomorrow. We need to talk about this more.” He nodded, saying his goodbyes before you went up to your room, changing and crawling into bed for a long night of dreams starring one young wolf.
