Raff

Three days….She was unconscious for three days. She had so much stress on her that she actually collapsed, and I didn’t make it any better by everything I had put her through. I was such a horrible mate. Even Neil was refusing to talk to me. He blamed me for her state as much as I did myself. I didn’t-couldn’t sleep with her in the hospital. As soon as they got her to her own room I demanded to be released, and I went to her room, and haven’t left. I spent the entire time thinking about whether or not to tell her. I finally decided it would be better for her health if she knew the truth.
I was on edge, and was unsure on how to tell her, but when she woke up in the middle of the night I decided we probably wouldn’t get a better time. I also knew that if I kept procrastinating I might never tell her. When I saw how her body reacted to me simply walking close to her I couldn’t help the smirk that came to my face. Even after everything I had put her through I still had such an effect on her. It just made me realize she is way too good for me, and I don’t deserve a mate like her. I broke down. I had been such a horrible mate, and she was still willing to accept me. To make it worse when I was apologizing she accepted so quickly. When I finally told her I needed to tell her something Derek and Grey walked in the room holding hands, and smiling looking oblivious to the situation they walked in on.
“Great news Nina!” exclaimed Grey breaking free of Derek’s hand, and sauntering over to Nina’s bed. “The nurse said you will be released in a few hours. She said to take it easy for a few days, but you can return to normal activities, just try not to overwork yourself too much. Luckily for you though Derek and I have already taken care of the paperwork for the pack for you, and we have gotten the work from school that you missed. Also the teachers said they aren’t too worried about you missing, because your grades have always been so good, and you never miss.” I see Nina’s whole body relax at the news, and a relieved, but grateful smile appears on her face.
“Thank you both so much. I honestly don’t know what I would ever do without you both.” Her face got serious when Grey finally reached the bed, but I noticed Derek hanging back with an ever so subtle smirk on his face. I felt Nina release my hand, and before I had time to even register the absence of her hand she slapped Grey in the face. His smile instantly turned to one of shock, then sadness. “But if you ever keep something like that from me again I will never forgive you.” She turns her head to look at Derek who is now grinning, “either of you.” she says pointing a finger at him before slipping her hand back into mine, and laying back down. Grey now looks like a wounded puppy, and has his head hung low in disappointment.
“We are sorry Nina, we just didn’t want our friendship to change, or make you feel left out. We were scared you would distance yourself, and would shut us out.” Derek speaks up walking forward from the back finally with a worried, and regretful look on his face. When he says this I see something dark in Nina’s eyes, but it is only there for a moment before it is gone again. I’m not sure what caused that look, and I'm not sure if I ever want to know, but what I do know is that I will forever do what I can to keep that look out of her eyes. With this final thought I give her hand a reassuring squeeze reminding her that I am here. As if being reminded of my presence her eyes go wide, and she turns to look at me.
“Did you want to wait till we were alone, or would you be okay saying what you needed to now?” She asked as if realizing we were speaking earlier. I take a deep breath before I speak.
“Actually I think it would be good for them both to know as well, so when you get released we will go for a walk.” I say, and both Derek and Grey share confused glances with one another. Not long after I said that, did the nurse come in with Nina’s discharge paperwork. We all left the room so she could change into her normal clothes, and when she came out I offered her my hand. It only took her a moment to realize I had offered before she took it, and I began leading the way from the hospital. When we exit the pack hospital I go to the nearest treeline still holding Nina’s hand with Derek and Grey in tow. The three are silent the whole walk to the tree line, and I am getting nervous. I want to have the least chance of being seen, so I stop just inside the treeline. Turning to the three I ask, “where is somewhere nobody ever goes?” Baffled they all look at one another before looking at Nina, and I can tell they are mind linking one another.
“I would say Nina’s hideout.” Derek speaks up. “Nobody really goes there out of respect to her, so it is the one place you are sure to be alone.” I nod my head in response, but realize I don't know where her hideout is. I chuckle nervously scratching the back of my neck.
“I don’t know where your hideout is.” I say looking down at her petite frame. She looks up at me, and smiles.
“Yes you do. It’s the pond that you went to last time.” She chuckles at the memory before her cheeks tinge a bright pink, and I know she remembered what happened after the leeches. Clearing my throat to keep from kissing her because she looks so cute while blushing I turn around, and head in the direction of the pond. I figured on the way I could try to prepare them for what they are about to see.
“I know you all know about Nina’s wolf. The white wolf has been extinct for over five hundred years. What I'm not sure about is how much you know about that story though, so I will tell you all what I know.” I turn around to look at their faces, and they all hold a mixture of confusion, and understanding. “Five hundred years ago was the peak of werewolf existence. The two strongest wolves at the time were of course the white wolf, but also the black wolf, and though many say the black wolf was a myth, and it was only the white wolfs that reigned supreme the black wolf did exist. In fact they were often mated to the white wolves, but there would only ever be two in existence at the time. I have been told there is more to their story, but that is all I was ever told.” I finish, and look back to see their thoughtful faces. We walk in silence for a few minutes while they process what I have told them. When we reach the clearing Grey is the one to speak up.
“How do you know for certain that the black wolf isn't a myth?” He asked tentatively, clutching Derek’s hand tightly.
“Because I am a black wolf. The first for five hundred years. Just as Nina is the white wolf. As proof I will show you my wolf.” I say as I begin to strip to my boxers. I see Nina’s face turn pink, and she looked away right before I shifted into my almost eight foot jet black wolf.