my magic and easily clean myself up and change my clothes. However, there’s something comforting about doing it this way.
I’ve been different since birth. Fae among a pack of wolves. Hidden, never to expose what I can do. And that wasn’t easy. Especially during the pack war. Sure, I was younger, but I could have helped. I could have been of value with my magic. But Mom insisted we stay hidden.
There are days I still hate her for telling me to hide it all. It was such a habit it became hard to let anyone in for fear they’d find out. It’s not fun feeling like an outcast when you live with an entire pack of paranormals. But I was, only they didn’t treat me that way. I did. I hurt myself immensely. I never saw it at the time.
Now I live with the betrayal every day. And I’m still hiding. It’s not easy for me to be out as it is for Cam and the others. I wish my mom would get out of my head. Not the good memories. I knew she loved me with everything she had. But the memories of her words telling me they wouldn’t accept us as we are. Those times when she would remind me we can’t be anything other than shifters. She was scared. That fear bled to me. She was doing what she thought was best.
“Whit, talk to me,” Cam says. He’s closer to me this time.
I hold my sweatpants and T-shirt in a death grip and turn to find him a few feet away. The room is still dark, but I can easily make out the pleading look in his eyes. “Why should I?”
“I’m sorry.”
“For what? Keeping something from me? Making me feel like we were finally friends when that wasn’t the reality? I was going to… You know what? Never mind. I’m obviously not worthy of your secrets. Real surprise there.” My tone is bitter. Exactly how I feel.
I turn and stalk toward the bathroom. With every step I take, my anger deflates. By the time I’m inside with the door shut, I’m completely exhausted. What did I expect? For him to suddenly spill everything?
“Whit, please talk to me,” he says from the other side of the door.
“Go away, Cam. I know where I rank.” This whole self-deprecating part of me is nothing new.
“I didn’t mean to upset you.”
“Whether you meant it or not, that’s what happened.”
“I’ll be out here when you’re done.”
I don’t bother responding. It’s clear Camden isn’t leaving. Inside, there’s this tiny part of me cheering at him for wanting to be here with me. But I’m not about to believe everything is suddenly going to change.
I drop my clean clothes on the counter and start the shower. Screw it, I’m using my magic. With a quick flick of my wrist, I undress and step under the spray. The water is hot, bordering on almost too much as it falls over me. Taking my time, I wash and rinse.
If Cam is still out there, I’ll have to face him. If not, I’ll spend the night curled up in my bed missing the way it felt with him sleeping next to me, even though we didn’t touch. How ridiculous is that? Me pining for someone who’s probably still in my bedroom out of guilt.
I really need to grow a pair and come into my own. This way I’m feeling has to stop. I’m a shifter and a member of the fae, for fate’s sake. I’m incredibly powerful. If only I’d let that power boost me up instead of knocking me down with memories of a childhood of never truly being myself.
When I exit the bathroom with a cloud of steam following me, Cam springs up from the bed and walks toward me.
“You’re still here,” I mutter.
“I can’t leave with you mad at me.”
“I’m not mad, Camden. I’m disappointed. In case you haven’t realized, I’m nothing like everyone else in the pack. I don’t walk around with this level of confidence you and the others have. So, when I let someone in, thinking I finally have a good friend, it’s a big deal for me. Huge.” I shake my head. “I’m sure I’m blowing this way out of proportion and that’s on me.” I meet his eyes. Those icy blue ones that feel as if they’re staring into my soul. “I thought we were building something. A friendship. And part of that is trust. But you obviously can’t