Chapter 11

Hunter's eyes focused on Jacob, he wanted to hold his breath. It was the first time he was willingly revealing his true self to a human. But it was to his mate and he would reveal his darkest and deepest secrets if he had the opportunity.

He was also incredibly nervous. Hunter knew that once it sinks in for Jacob, he'll have a different perspective about him and maybe look at him in a negative way. He was a species that's not meant to exist.

Jacob stared back at him with eyes that clearly didn't believe what he just said. "You're..." he whispered. "What?"

Hunter noticed how he stopped fidgeting. He didn't know if that was good or extremely bad.

"I know it's not what you expected to hear. but I am- um, a werewolf." He felt insecure about saying it because he knew how surreal it sounded. It didn't help that Jacob was looking at him like he was utterly insane.

"I'm going home." He tried to stand but Hunter quickly leant forward and grabbed his wrist. Jacob was getting sick of being touched by him. He pulled his arm away and stared at the ground like he was about to fall into a neverending pit of anxiety. "Why are you doing this to me?"

"Jacob, I know you're thinking that I'm making this up to make fun of you, but I'm not. You hear my voice in your head, why wouldn't you believe that I'm not just a human?"

"Because you can't be," Jacob said quietly. "I think I'm hallucinating."

"You're not," Hunter wanted to chuckle, but it wasn't the right time. "I can show you if you think you can handle it?"

Poor Jacob was breaking to pieces. He shouldn't believe anything that came out of Hunter's mouth. How could he be the voice inside of his head and how could he be a human that changes into an animal?

But he could hear his thoughts, so why wouldn't his second statement be true?

"How?" he whispered. His hands started fidgeting once more.

"Stay seated," Hunter said but stood up himself. Jacob's eyes followed him and he avoided eye contact as much as possible. "It's okay if you freak out, it's okay if you faint, it's okay if you're sick. But it's not okay if you still don't believe me after I show you this."

Hunter smiled and took a deep breath. He made sure Jacob had understood what he said before he began thinking about his other form. He closed his eyes and imagined it. Turning into a wolf used to be a slow process for him when he was younger. He remembered the first time he did it.

It felt exceptionally strange and he freaked out quite a lot. He was only three years old and his parents were there to reassure him and answer any questions he had.

Now, he could do it as easy as breathing.

Jacob didn't know what he was doing until the change happened.

Sometimes, when people see things that shouldn't be logical, it was easy to forget everything around them, easy to forget who they were with and allow their minds to overheat. Obviously, Jacob was one of those people.

The change happened so fast that he would've missed it if his wide eyes allowed him to blink.

Hunter's t-shirt had ripped in the process but his trousers had disappeared. They'd reappear when he changes back. It avoids embarrassment otherwise.

He knew he had changed because he could feel that he was different. His mind and soul were the same. He couldn't speak, only growl and howl.

Jacob was watching Hunter one minute and now he was staring into the grey eyes of an enormous white wolf. It was bigger than anything he'd ever seen with big paws and lots of soft looking fur. Its ears were curled over as it stared back at him. Jacob didn't know whether to be amazed, scared for his life or tested for being crazy.

"Remember to breathe, I know that was difficult to process."

Jacob didn't want to move a muscle, he wasn't a great fan of big animals. They had a dog when he was little and even then, he was fearful of it.

His breathing was shaky and his hands were pulling on the grass, trying to keep his body really still.

"I'm going to come closer to you, it's okay to be afraid and I'm not going to hurt you."

Jacob flinched when the wolf moved a paw forwards. Hunter paused and made his actions incredibly slow as he continued to get near. Jacob was visibly shaking when the wolf was only half a meter away from his crossed legs.

He watched as it sat down and lifted its paw. Hunter moved it forwards until it was hovering over Jacob's knee. He wanted to rub himself against him and rest his head on his lap. He wanted to lick his face and be excited around him because his wolf traits were naturally like that. He couldn't. His mate would surely try and run for his life. He needed time.

Slowly, Hunter placed his warm paw on Jacob's lap, showing him that it was okay.

Jacob flinched like he had been slapped across the face. His heart thumped hard; it almost hurt. Deep in his mind, he knew that was Hunter because he was there one second and a wolf the next. He clearly transformed, but what human believed evidence when it stared them in the face. Not the majority.

"You can touch my fur if you like?" Hunter suggested and took his paw back so he could lay down. He was close enough to Jacob that his head was hovering over his leg.

Jacob was still tense but he felt better now that the big animal wasn't towering over him.

Hunter waited patiently but all his mate was doing was staring at him. So he nudged his arm with his nose, making Jacob lift it up quickly.

"Stroke me."

This time, Jacob listened to the voice which he was still trying to register as being Hunter, as weird as that sounded.

His hand hovered in the air but he was intrigued to know if the fur felt as soft as it looked. He wanted to know if it was warm. So very slowly, he moved his fingers closer but eyed the wolf carefully.

He had no idea what was giving him the courage to do this as his hand gently skimmed over the top of the wolf's neck. The animal stayed exceptionally still and didn't even move with his touch. He knew Jacob needed him to freeze.

His hand stayed against the white fur for a moment when Jacob realised that it was one of the softest things he has ever touched. It was warm and soothing.

When he dared to stroke the fur again, his body stopped shaking.

Hunter loved the feel of his touch against him. He knew a mate's touch was special but this would and could never compare to anything else.

"Stroke my ears, I like that," he said and rested his chin against Jacob's knee.

"I can't believe I'm doing this," Jacob thought to himself and moved his touch up to the wolf's head. His ears were much softer than the rest of his body and he could tell by the way the animal closed his eyes and moved his ear against his hand that he enjoyed it.

"I can't believe you're doing it either, I thought you would faint."

Jacob knew he shouldn't but he was getting rather comfortable in the presence of such a huge animal. It could easily tear him to shreds, but he knew it wouldn't.

"It's the bond, it's changing the way you think about me."

Jacob stopped and stared with his chocolate eyes. "A bond?"

The wolf lifted its head. "Yes, let me change back and I'll explain." Hunter stood up and took a few steps away. He was surprised that Jacob was taking it rather well. He could hear him constantly questioning whether it was real or not.

In another blink, his human form was kneeling in front of his mate once more.

Hunter could feel the sun against his bare tanned skin. Thankfully his trousers were still on as he grabbed his bag and rummaged for his hoody. He pulled it over his head and crossed his legs.

Jacob was overwhelmed. His arms almost gave up on him and he nearly fell backwards.

Hunter edged forwards and watched in concern. "How do you feel? Would you like some water?" He questioned. His pack was sitting at the edge of the woods. They too were surprised that Jacob hadn't fainted yet.

The human was staying rather calm about it. It would be different if he didn't have a bond that was beginning to grow inside of him. His body could feel it even though his mind couldn't.

Hunter was ready to explain that to him and talk about being his mate. This was the last major thing he had to explain and the bit that made him the most nervous.

What if Jacob didn't want to be his mate? Even though he couldn't reject him and the process would happen whether he liked it or not, the bond doesn't force him to feel the same way if it's not connected.

Hunter will have to make sure that he connects as soon as possible, so Jacob could feel his affection, and when the bond first settles, the affection will be very strong.