Meredith
That night I actually slept peacefully. I didn't have dreams of werewolves or anything like that. But when I awake the next morning, the sun streaming through the windows onto the soft sheets and creating a blanket of warmth, I feel numb. It's like I've been living in an alternate universe. I mean werewolves, really? I am a human being like everyone else... at least that's what I thought.
I lay beneath the soft sheets for hours as many things filter through my mind. Although the thought of werewolves being real is hard to believe, I know it's true. And what worries me is that it doesn't scare me. I freaked out last night when I was told everything but after a good night of sleep and some time alone to think, I realise that it doesn't matter.
Why do I care whether Eliot, Chase and Emily are werewolves? I've always seen them as human beings and they've done nothing but show kindness towards me. On the first day that Chase met me, he punched Jack twice because he witnessed Jack handling me roughly. Emily took me out shopping and became an instant best friend. We continued to meet every week after that to have lunch together, she's practically a sister to me. And then there's Eliot. That handsome man with the striking blue eyes and compassionate soul. He's been my hero since the day I locked gazes with him in the hallway.
I sit up slowly in bed, smiling as I rub my palm over my swollen belly and push the sheets away from my body. I haven't felt the baby move yet but I'm hoping it will happen soon. It's silly to think this but I believe that once I feel the baby move inside of me, it will become more real and I'll have a proper connection with my baby. As I said, it's silly but I can't wait to feel that first little flutter of my baby moving. It's exciting to imagine.
I slip out of bed and quickly use the bathroom before heading downstairs with one thing on my mind. I'm not surprised to see that everyone is already up and eating breakfast. I'm usually the last one up in the mornings. They're all talking quietly amongst themselves, Eliot has his back to me with Chase opposite him and Emily next to Chase. Chase is the first one to notice me standing timidly at the entrance to the kitchen. His eyes widen at the sight of me and he begins choking on whatever he's eating.
"Chew your food, Chase." Eliot mutters and I grin a little.
Chase shakes his head and motions towards me. Eliot turns around with a scowl on his face until his eyes meet mine and he lets out a relieved sigh, his expression relaxing.
"Meredith."
The kitchen is silent for a moment as Eliot and I just stare at one another. I see movement from behind Eliot but keep eye contact with him.
"We'll just leave yo-" Chase begins but I cut him off. I want them all to hear this.
"I don't care." I state bluntly.
Eliot frowns in confusion and opens his mouth to speak.
"I don't care that you're all werewolves." I answer his question before he can ask it.
"What?" Emily whispers from behind him.
I look over at her and shrug.
"I've been thinking about it all morning and I realise that it doesn't change anything. You're still Emily and you're still Chase. You've still helped me during the past many weeks with Jack and the baby."
I can feel Eliot's burning gaze on my face but I keep my eyes on Emily as she slumps back into her seat with relief and smiles happily.
"I freaked out last night. Finding out your friends are werewolves isn't exactly a normal occurrence but when I had time to think about it alone, I decided that it doesn't matter what you are. None of you has ever hurt me, if anything you've protected me with everything you have and I couldn't be more grateful. So no, I don't care that you're werewolves. I can live with it."
Emily keeps her smile bright as Chase wipes his forehead dramatically with the back of his hand in relief. I meet his eyes and giggle as he winks at me cheekily. I finally look to Eliot. His expression is hard to read.
"You can live with it?" I nod smiling softly at him.
"But-" I hear an exaggerated groan from Chase and roll my eyes.
"That's never a good word." He grumbles and slumps back into his seat next to Emily.
"But I don't want any more secrets. I want to know everything about werewolves and your history with Jack. I don't want to be kept in the dark with anything just because I'm a pregnant human OK? I'm not that delicate."
"Ha! Your reaction last night says otherwise." I narrow my eyes at Chase.
"Shut up."
Eliot finally cracks a small smile and relaxes in his seat.
"You want some breakfast?" Emily asks me.
"Please."
I move to sit next to Eliot, not missing the huge smile that Emily produces as she stares at us both. I give her a pointed look to which she giggles before leaving the table to get me a plate of food. I turn my attention to Eliot and nudge him softly with my elbow. His piercing blue eyes capture mine instantly.
"I'm fine. You don't need to look so worried." I tell him, not missing the concern in his eyes and the stress lines on his forehead.
"Why are you so calm about me turning into a wolf?"
"I've freaked out already. And anyway, who am I to judge you for something you were born with? I'm pregnant with a forty-year-old werewolf's baby. I really can't say anything." Eliot winces at my pregnancy statement but I just shrug it off. I've accepted it.
Emily sets a plate of food down in front of me and I thank her as I start eating. There's a comfortable silence as we eat and I'm thankful that none of them are acting weird around me now that I know their secret. Once breakfast is finish, I insist on washing up the plates much to Emily's protest and then I head back upstairs to have a shower and get dressed.
It's when I'm brushing my hair that there's a knock on my bedroom door.
"Come in!" I call out to them.
I poke my head out of the bathroom and smile as Eliot walks into the room, closing the door behind him.
"Hey. What's up?" I ask as I chuck my brush down next to the sink and walk into my bedroom.
Eliot sits down on my bed with a sigh and I raise an eyebrow as I sit down in the spot next to him.
"I know that you said you're fine with the whole werewolf thing but nothing has really been explained to you yet."
As Eliot talks, he stares down at his hands that are placed in his lap and fiddles with his fingers. He's nervous. I'm a little surprised. Eliot has never really been nervous about anything but here he is sitting on my bed looking a tad scared. I've told him already that I've accepted the werewolf thing so what can he possibly be worried about?
"Explain it to me then."
He says nothing. I place my hand over both of his causing him to finally look up at me.
"What is it that you're so worried about? I'm not going to change my mind, Eliot."
He visibly swallows before answering.
"Us."
I frown in confusion.
"What do you mean?" He looks down at our hands again.
"Can you feel it?"
"The connection you spoke about? Yeah, I can feel it still." I squeeze his hand in reassurance. Isn't it good that we have a connection? He should be happy about it.
"But it's more than just a connection Meri... we're mates."
"I remember you saying that last night. What's the big deal?" He shakes his head and stands up.
"Forget it."
I grab his hand and pull him to sit back down. He's not leaving without explaining it. He came in here to talk to me so that's what he's going to do.
"No. Explain it to me. No secrets remember."
Eliot turns his body to face me and keeps hold of my hand as he talks.
"You've heard of the term soul mates, right? It's a human term."
"Yeah of course. It means that everyone has another destined to be with them. It's like their other half. But not everyone believes they exist." I tell him.
As I said before, my mum used to tell me stories of soul mates. I always believed that my parents were soul mates, that they were made for one another. Their love was pure and it's something I've always dreamed of having myself. Of course, the stories she told me were just stories but I do believe some people are just made to be together.
"Exactly. Well for werewolves, we have mates. It's the same principle as soul mates. We all have someone that is destined to be with us. When you find your mate, you instantly create a connection with them and there's a certain electricity between them both."
My heart begins to pound rapidly against my chest and my eyes widen at his description of everything I've felt since meeting him. The connection, the electricity and the sparks I feel whenever we touch.
"When I said to you last night that the sparks you feel when we touch are caused by our connection, I mean that-"
"We're mates." I finish in a whisper.