Chapter 14: The secrets breaks

Eli drove into the city alone with the sun high overhead. Traffic moved slowly around him. He kept his eyes on the road, ready to start his search for Jax. No one else knew he was here. This was his task. He pulled up to a quiet street and parked in front of a small house. His nephew Tommy lived there. Eli hadn’t called ahead. He grabbed his bag from the passenger seat and walked to the front door.

He knocked hard. No answer came. Then he tried the knob. It turned easy. He stepped inside the living room. The place smelled like yesterday’s pizza and laundry. “Tommy?” he called out a few times. His voice echoed off the walls. Still nothing. Eli set his bag down and went upstairs. The steps creaked under his boots. He opened the first door on the right.

There was Tommy in bed with a girl. They were going at it hard, bodies moving fast, sheets tangled. The girl had her head back. Tommy gripped her hips. Eli stood there for a second before they noticed him. The girl saw first and screamed. They stopped quickly, pulling covers over themselves.

Eli closed the door fast. “My bad.” He went to the spare room down the hall and unpacked his things himself. He took out clothes, folded them neatly in the drawer, set his boots by the bed, and placed a small knife on the nightstand. The room was simple with a single window looking out to the backyard. He sat on the edge of the bed and rubbed his face. The drive had been long.

Shortly after, footsteps came down the stairs. Tommy walked the girl to the front door. They whispered goodbye. She left. Tommy came back into the house, face still red. He found Eli in the spare room.

“What the hell? You didn’t tell me you were coming,” Tommy said, leaning on the door frame.

Eli looked up calmly. “I didn't tell anyone. I came to the city to look for someone. I’ll be crashing here for a while.”

Tommy stared. “You’re serious? How long? And who are you looking for exactly?”

“Doesn’t matter right now,” Eli replied. “I just need a place to stay. I won’t get in your way. Keep to myself mostly.”

Tommy crossed his arms. “This is sudden. You show up unannounced and walk in on me like that. Next time call, alright?”

Eli nodded once. “Noted. Thanks for the roof.”

Tommy shook his head but didn’t argue more. He went downstairs to clean up the living room. Eli stayed in the room, thinking about Jax. The city was big, but he would find him and nothing would stop it.

Back at school the pressure built fast inside me. I stood in the restroom gripping the sink. My hands shook. I tried everything to hold back the shift. Deep breaths. Focusing on the cold water from the tap. Anything to stay human. I didn’t want to cause a scene. Students could walk in any moment. The blue glow in my eyes kept coming back every time I glanced at the mirror. My fingernails itched like they wanted to grow. My skin felt too tight. I whispered to myself. “Not here. Hold it.”

Meanwhile Mike guarded the door outside. He stood tall, blocking the way. A couple guys tried to enter. “Sorry, big situation in there,” Mike told them. “Come back in ten minutes.” They complained but walked away. Mike stayed put, listening for any sound from inside. He shifted from foot to foot, nervous but determined.

After a while I was able to hold it back. I slid down the wall and sat in the corner. My back pressed against the cold tiles. I thought hard about what excuse I could give Mike. Contacts? Bad lighting? Anything that would explain the glowing eyes and changing face. Nothing sounded good enough.

Mike came back in. The door shut softly behind him. “You alright now? Your eyes glowed blue, Jax. Your fingernails got longer right in front of me. And your voice dropped weird. What was that?”

I looked up at him. No lie worked.

Mike stepped closer. “I saw it all. You can’t say it was nothing.”

I took a deep breath. “I’m a wolf.”

Mike laughed once, short and sharp. “That’s a lie. How can a human be a wolf? Come on.”

“I don’t care if you believe it,” I said. “It’s true.”

He came even closer, eyes bright with excitement. “Show me then. Prove it. Do the eye thing again.”

“Not now,” I told him. “I can’t control it. Something’s happening to me right now and It’s messing me up.”

Mike insisted anyway. He was too eager, bouncing on his feet. “Just a quick look. I saw the start of it. I need to see more. This is crazy.”

I lowered my head, staring at the floor. Then I brought it back up slow. My eyes glowed bright blue again.

Mike’s mouth fell open. He stared hard. Then his face went white. His eyes rolled back. He fainted straight down, hitting the floor with a loud thud. His head bounced a little. Arms spread out. Completely out cold.

I knelt fast beside him. “Mike? Wake up.” This was bad. Mike saw too much. And the changes inside me felt stronger now. The bell rang far down the hall. Class was starting. I shook his shoulder again, heart racing.