UnMasked

by Yara Gharios

  She continues to stare at me, egging me on with her smile, and I stare back with something that can only be labeled as respect. An understanding passes between us, a mutual acceptance. I return her smile and join them on the seat next to Daniel.

  “Eggs, sweetheart?” Mom asks me sweetly. She, too, smiles at me. There’s a proud glint in her eyes, a twist in the corners of her lips, which reassure me that she’s still here for me.

  I nod at her. “Yes, please, and anything else you know I like,” I add in my guy voice out of habit. I cough and tell myself to stop using that voice with people who already know.

  Next time I talk, I won’t hide behind that mask anymore, I decide.

  While Mom plates up for me, I take the time to openly analyze what everyone else is feeling. My family is behaving like they’re completely at ease, as I hoped they would. They’re helping me take my stand.

  Sadie and Cade are naturally the same, although Sadie seems more excited than anyone else at the table. She even waves frantically at me when our eyes meet, even though there are only two people between us. I chuckle and wave back.

  There’s curiosity from her family –minus Zoey– as they assess me, but Zack seems to be the least uncomfortable and just as outspoken as ever. He stares at me with a puzzled look on his face, and I find out why when he speaks.

  “Are you really a girl, Michael?” he asks. “My mommy said you are, but you don’t look like a girl.”

  His mother tries to shush him at the same time that those who find my presence between them strange freeze in their movements.

  “It’s okay, Mrs. Creed,” I assure her in my regular voice, surprising everyone, including my family.

  I feel the piercing gaze of one particular person, but I pointedly ignore him and address the ten-year-old. There’s no point in ignoring the gigantic elephant in the room, too.

  “Yes, I am a girl, Zack,” I tell him calmly, making some people at ease once more. “And you can start calling me Dylan, if you want.”

  “Why did you pretend to be a boy?” he follows up, apparently excited that I answered him.

  “It’s a long story, but after I finish school on Wednesday, I won’t be doing that anymore,” I promise him. “I might even start looking like a girl. But that doesn’t mean you should go easy on me from now on when we play foosball. Just because I’m not a boy, doesn’t mean you’re stronger than me.”

  “It’s not because you were a boy, silly, it’s because you’re older than me,” he points out teasingly, making me hold back a laugh. “But I can still beat you just like before.”

  I narrowed my eyes at him. “I will take that challenge. When we get back from school, prepare for a match.”

  He grins and holds out his hand for me to shake from across the table, which I do heartily. My gaze then flickers to Cade’s family sitting next to him. I’ve never officially met his parents, although I know who they are. But his brothers Jared and Sam are familiar, and I know they’ve never really liked me. It doesn’t magically change now that they know. I didn’t expect it to. Yet, there’s no trace of the hate or even disdain they held towards me. We have a staring match until Jared finally nods his head at me, and Sam gives me a tight-lipped smile. That’s all I need for now, and I nod back at both of them.

  Jason is another story altogether. He doesn’t hide the fact that he hates me as he shoots daggers my way every five seconds. That’s when I notice Reena’s absence, and I wonder if she’s with her parents. A moment later, though, Logan’s phone rings and he picks it up at the table. It’s not like anyone’s talking, so why should he take it outside?

  “Give me an update,” is what he answers with.

  I jump involuntarily at the sound of his voice. It doesn’t go unnoticed by anyone at the table, and his eyes meet mine for a second. I’m the one to look away this time, forcing myself not to blush.

  “I found an address for Mary Lee,” the voice of Reena’s father anxiously replies on the other end. “It’s definitely her, but Reena’s not with her.”

  Confused, I frown. Reena’s gone?

  That’s when Logan stands up, saying, “What about the others? Any luck there?”

  “Yes actually, Colton thinks she–”

  By then, he’s out of the room. My guess is that he’s decided to take this conversation somewhere more private, namely his soundproof office. Really intrigued now, I look at the only person who could give me answers in this situation. However, Sadie, understanding what I’m trying to ask her with my look, shakes her head and mouths ‘later.’ This is going to be one awkward breakfast.

  Actually, all meals turn out this way for the next few days. Apparently, Logan ended things with Reena after her betrayal, and people were divided in what to think about it. Nobody openly condemned her for her actions, but I think it was clear that a betrayal to the alpha is not something they take lightly. While some people were quick to criticize her, others were more curious to find out her motives, since she ran away before anyone could talk to her about it. Nevertheless, her family certainly seemed to be very worried about her, based on her dad’s frantic tone when he called Logan. They have been looking for her since she disappeared, but without much luck. That explains why Jason hates me so much right now.

  For my part, I am relieved that she’s gone. Whatever shred of sympathy I may have felt for her, because I knew it wasn’t fair for her boyfriend to leave her alone so frequently, went up in smokes the moment she stole my first kiss and landed me in this situation. It’s safe to say I’m not one of the people who wants to understand her motives.

  My final day of exams is probably the first day I feel really happy. Not only am I done with school, and the pack has mostly started to accept me, or at least grown used to me, but Marianna is coming home tonight. I’m giddier than I’ve ever been when Cade picks us up from school; Daniel, Sadie, Zoey and I. Even Sadie is excited over the idea of meeting the girl I consider to be my sister, but for all the wrong reasons.

  “I can’t wait to ask her how she felt being the only one who knows your secret, or how many times she almost slipped up,” she declares cheerfully.

  I grin at her attitude. Yup, Sadie’s back to being Sadie.

  It’s great to be like this again, so carefree with her. Although it annoys me how she’s intent on giving me a makeover. I’m pretty sure she’s planning to rope Marianna into ambushing me and taking me to the mall. But I will be damned if I let them talk me into doing anything I really don’t want to do.

  “Marianna never slipped up. Not everyone has a mouth as big as yours, Sadie,” I tease her.

  Cade laughs while she turns around in the front seat and childishly sticks her tongue out at me. Danny basically just stares out the window passively, like he’s not even paying attention. He’s been this way for a few days, now, and I’m starting to get really worried. I should probably find a moment to talk to him about it, but right now, I just want to focus on positive things.

  “At least I didn’t blurt it out for the whole pack to hear,” she throws back at me tauntingly, breaking my train of thoughts.

  My eyes widen in disbelief. I’m glad that we can joke about this and all, but did she really just go there? “Are you kidding me? Did you forget how you almost put me in similar situations before?”

  She stays quiet for a minute before her shoulders sag in defeat and she sighs. “I know,” she finally acknowledges, which shocks me. I didn’t think she would actually admit it.

  She turns around fully this time, leaning against the headboard with her legs crossed over the seat to be able to better look at me. “Look, I know I was careless and almost blew your cover a thousand times, but you know I didn’t mean to. I was only doing what I did because I hated seeing you so controlled by that secret. It killed me that you didn’t have the freedom to be yourself. I know it was irresponsible, but I just couldn’t think of you as anything other than what you really are: my sad best friend, trapped in this miserable life. I wanted to make you
happy, even if just for a little while, and making you dress up the way you were never allowed to is the only form of freedom I could think to give you. I’m really sorry.”

  My heart swells when she finishes her long speech. I knew she cared, but I didn’t think her irresponsible behavior was because she cared. Regardless of what I said when I snapped at her the day we moved in, I didn’t blame her for anything that’s happened. I never did.

  “No, I’m the one who’s sorry,” I reply. “I don’t mean to be dumping my problems on you; you were trying to help me. I shouldn’t take it out on you, and you shouldn’t have to worry about fixing what’s wrong with my life. It’s not your responsibility, it’s mine. It’s unfair of me to make you deal with it.”

  She laughs, although I don’t see what’s funny, and shakes her head at me. “You don’t see it, do you?” she asks. “That’s what best friends do. If I was depressed, wouldn’t you want to cheer me up?”

  I know the point she’s trying to make, but there’s only one thing that I hear in the entire sentence. “I wasn’t depressed,” I contradict. “A little stressed, and tired, yeah, but not depressed.”

  She gives me a rueful smile. “Trust me, Dyl, you were. I know it when I see it. But what I’m trying to say is that you would do the same for me.”

  I let the matter drop and grin at her. “Well that’s because it’s very easy to make you happy,” I playfully reply. “Nothing gets you down so simply.”

  She laughs again. “True,” she concedes, “but everyone has a weak spot. Right now, I want to find out what Marianna’s is. The way you described her is too perfect. I want to see her flaws, what makes her human.”

  Marianna’s plane landed about an hour ago. Mason picked her up from the airport, so they can spend a couple of hours together before she comes back to us and we steal her away. No one objected to her staying at the pack house with us, thankfully.

  Although I know I’m only going to see her in an hour, I’m impatient for the time to pass by. It would have gone slower if not for the fact that I’m kept busy by those in the pack house who have started accepting my presence again, namely the teenagers and young adults.

  When the four of us walk in, I find Connor and Andrea sitting on the loveseat, cuddling up and giggling together in front of everybody, –gross– Nate and Sam locked in an arm-wrestling match, and Jared and Zoey laughing on the couch. The latter two are the only ones who look up when we come in. Zoey usually drives back with us from school. However, being a sophomore, she has a different exam schedule that ended last week.

  Daniel absent-mindedly joins her and Jared on the couch. Cade and Sadie take a seat on the other couch. As for me, I lean against the doorway, watching my brother and Sam sweat it out.

  “So Dylan! How does it feel to graduate high school?” Jared asks with interest.

  I flash him a grin. “I haven’t graduated yet, so why don’t you give me a few days to think up an answer?”

  I have to say, it’s a big relief to finally be able to talk normally. I’ve been doing my ‘guy’ voice mechanically for years now, but it was always pretty tiresome.

  “Please don’t say something like, it feels like I’ve finally accomplished something and I’m so totally excited to start the new chapter in my life,” Jared puts in using a very high-pitched voice. Is that supposed to be me? “That’s too girly.”

  Although I’m still smiling, I roll my eyes. Unbelievable. Every day, they find a new way to make a pun out of my gender. It’s all good-natured though, and I’m not offended. If it wasn’t for their joking about it, this conversation might have been awkward.

  “You guys are idiots,” I reply.

  “You would be too, if you were a guy,” Sam huffs out as he tries to take Nathan off guard only to end up losing his focus and almost dropping his arm.

  I grimace at the childish attempt, and I’m not the only one who finds it stupid.

  Jared slaps him on the back of his head. “That was basically a compliment to her and an insult to yourself. You’re losing your touch, bro.”

  The slap makes him jump, giving Nate the upper hand. It’s just what he needs to slam the younger guy’s arm against the table.

  My immature brother throws both his hands up in the air and shouts, “Victory!” Then he stands up and does a ridiculous imitation of the moves made famous by the king of Rock.

  “Aw man!” Sam complains. “I was doing fine before you slapped me!”

  Jared laughs at that. “Don’t blame me. You were already doomed when you started talking.”

  “Hell, you were doomed when you sat down on that chair,” I join in.

  He narrows his eyes at me in a mock-threatening manner. “You’re getting on my nerves.”

  “I think you’ll live,” I reply in an overly sweet voice.

  “You want to get on her nerves,” Connor’s voice suddenly interjects, “try asking her about her period.”

  Horrified, I blush. “Ew! That’s disgusting!”

  Everybody erupts in laughter, much so my embarrassment. It goes on this way for a good while, and I lose track of time. The only indicator that an hour has passed is when the doorbell rings.

  “She’s here!” I yell and run to the front door.

  I fling the door open and find her standing there with a suitcase next to her. She looks exactly the same, with tiny differences: her blonde hair now almost reaches her stomach, and her fringe has grown out. She’s lost some color from the climate in France, but she has the radiant glow of a newly engaged girl to make up for it. Her green eyes shine with delight, even though I can see the exhaustion of jet lag in the bags underneath them. But her smile takes all the attention away from that.

  She’s dressed in the warm clothes of a wet spring. Judging by the scarf in her hand, I’m sure she’s starting to feel the change and will be in lighter clothes in no time.

  I squeal and throw my arms around her neck, pulling her to me as she wraps her own around me. I can’t believe how much I missed her. Hugging her again feels like coming home after a long and tiring day. I have to stop the tears of joy from flooding my eyes.

  “I can’t believe you’re back for good,” I whisper against her shoulder.

  “Believe it, soeurette,” she replies softly. “I’m not going anywhere anymore.”

  That’s when the first tear falls, the first sob builds, and the floodgates open once more, but this time out of joy. I don’t even want to stop them.

  CHAPTER 11

  Daniel

  The relief that comes with my sister being happy again couldn’t have come at a better time. Though she’s still going through some issues with Logan, she is much more comfortable in her own skin now. For that reason, I can relax again, to a certain extent.

  Evidently, Zoey and I haven’t come forward about our relationship. We don’t have any more excuses. Truth be told, I think we’re both just enjoying the secrecy, the thrill of sneaking out to see each other.

  There isn’t anything hanging over our heads. Now, we just stay quiet because we want to enjoy it while it lasts. We don’t need to ask anyone’s opinion on anything, and we don’t have to worry about third parties barging in and stealing our time together. Only John is in on it, but no one knows about him, so it’s not like that’s a problem.

  Speaking of, Zoey and I have had more free time on our hands, and we decided to use some of it to spend time with John and get to know him. Since meeting him face to face for the first time, we have gone bowling together once, just the three of us. He told us about his mother, and what kind of parent she is, where he grew up, where he went to school, what kind of friends he had then and what his friends are like now. That’s as far as we’ve gotten in the one time we’ve had a normal lengthy conversation.

  In general, he seems like a pretty quiet guy, reserved and mysterious. I get the sense he’s more forthcoming than usual with us, because of Zoey. She eases the roughness around his edges. She makes him relax just with her smile. He looks
at her with a glint of pride and protectiveness, the way a brother should always look at his little sister. He also let her win at bowling, pretending it’s a lack of talent on his part, which is a bonus.

  Nevertheless, I’m not sure how close I can get to him. Mostly, he talks to Zoey about her life, and I chime in, but sometimes, he engages in conversation with me, about me. He’s tried to ask me a few times about my family. I’m naturally hesitant. There is still the matter of him knowing we’re werewolves that keeps me on edge.

  Today, seeing as Michael is busy with Marianna’s arrival, and everybody else is either looking for Reena or hanging out, Zoey and I slip out to go see John. We called him a few days ago to make sure he’s free. It’s the first time he agrees to make the longer ride and come to us, instead of meeting us halfway as we usually do. He says he wants to save us the trip.

  This time, we’re meeting at a more private site, to avoid being seen in public together. Zoey was the one to choose a park near the old golf court where we had our first date, because mostly elderly people frequent it, and even they don’t come around often.

  “You haven’t really told me what you think of John,” Zoey says during the car ride.

  I frown at her. “I did tell you.”

  “You didn’t say anything beyond the fact that you don’t trust him.”

  “I didn’t say I don’t trust him specifically, I said I don’t trust that he’ll keep our secret.”

  She gives me a no-nonsense look. “Don’t correct me on a technicality, Daniel. What do you really think of him, as a person?”

  I am not avoiding answering, per se, I’m just cautious not to hurt her feelings about her brother. “I think he’s genuine when it comes to you,” I reply. “I believe he’s trying hard to have a relationship with you, and it’s real. I mean, he’s not playing you or anything.”