It was a chilly Saturday morning.

Maeve was wide awake and sitting outside her porch. She thought about Treyton and their date today. Going to Big Bear was unexpected since it was far and up to the mountains. Something was exciting about going close to the mountains since Big Bear was known for its beauty. A familiar car drove close to her home; Treyton had arrived. Maeve stood up from the porch and got her small backpack. Treyton parked his car and got off. "Good morning, Maeve. Sorry that I had to make you wake up early."

Maeve went to Treyton and kissed him, making him blush. "Good morning to you, too, Treyton. I don't mind since I'm an early bird. Anyway, I was too excited to sleep since we're going to Big Bear."

"I admit that I couldn't sleep either; there are many things on my mind. So, are you ready to go?"

"Yup. I hope you don't mind, but I'm bringing my small backpack with some things for our little hike!"

Treyton smiled and nodded as he motioned Maeve to enter his car. When they were both inside and ready, Treyton drove off to the road and the freeway, leading them toward their destination. "So, um, about what happened a couple of days ago. I wouldn't have imagined that I would meet your mother too soon. I should have called."

"It's alright. You're a man full of surprises, so I shouldn't have been too surprised."

It was almost too ironic since Treyton was filled with secrets. "Y-Yeah. Again, I hope it didn't cause too much problems. I could tell that your mother looked curious but also cautious due to our age gap."

Maeve sighed as she looked out the window. "Yeah, but my mother accepts this is my life and decisions. Besides, one shouldn't judge a book by its cover."

"I hope she accepts me when I tell her what I am." Treyton's mind raced as he kept driving and realized they were approaching their destination.

"Many people have the same idea to head to Big Bear even early in the morning. I assume that we're almost there."

"Yeah, we're twenty minutes away, but luckily, I know Big Bear very well since my main home is here."

Maeve looked at Treyton, who chuckled as he tried to move to the furthest right lane. "You're kidding. I thought you lived at Palos Verdes."

"The house I'm in is one of the few homes I own, but Big Bear is my main residence. Sorry for not telling you; it slipped my mind." Treyton made many turns that eventually led to Big Bear. Maeve gasped when she saw the many mountains that were covered in bits of snow. The roads were wet since it snowed last night. The city was decorated in Christmas decor. "It's nice to be back home; I'm glad the city has already been decorated. What do you think?"

"What do I think? This place is so beautiful! It looks like we're going into a fairytale!"

"The Christmas Village won't be open for a couple of hours. Would you like to get a cup of coffee and then begin our little hike?" Maeve agreed; Treyton's nerves intensified because he feared she would fear and reject him. His mind was made up, and it was too late to turn back.

He drove to a nearby cafe, where they both got off, got their orders, and waited. "So, Treyton, why did you take us here?"

"My parents always enjoyed nature since we could be ourselves. My mother taught me more about its importance; she was a Wiccan."

"Wow, I didn't know that. I heard that Wiccans are fully entued with nature. Are your parents...?"

"They passed away not too long ago."

The employees called out their order, which Treyton picked up. The two sipped and ate their breakfast, and they continued to speak about the Wiccan tradition and the events that would occur in Big Bear. Once they finished their breakfast, they continued their journey. They eventually arrived at the road leading upward to Pineknot Trail; the vehicle was parked.

Treyton was relieved that there weren't many people yet but knew the trail would be packed with people in a couple more hours. He knew that he needed to act fast. "W-We're here. The trail is easy to walk on, and there aren't many people around so that we can enjoy more time alone together."

"Sounds romantic! I look forward to it. I brought extra water bottles just in case we get thirsty."

"Don't worry; I brought some things, too." The two got out of the vehicle with their belongings, and Treyton motioned out his hand; Maeve grabbed it. They felt each other's warmth and went on their way. Trees and bits of snow were everywhere, giving the trail a beautiful glow. The calm environment chilled Treyton's nerves. The more he withheld his secret, the more anxious he became. "I have to tell her."

Maeve noticed Treyton's uneasiness. He stopped in his tracks; she could tell something was bothering him. "What's wrong, Treyton? Are you feeling cold?"

Treyton slowly released her hand and walked close to the trail's edge. "M-Maeve, remember when I told you I brought you here to tell you something?"

"Y-Yeah." Maeve became nervous. "What's going on?" She slowly backed away as the worst-case scenario came to mind. "It's like those serial killer movies! Treyton would never do that, would he?"

"Maeve, you don't need to be scared of me. You know that I would never hurt you. I would never forgive myself if that happened. The thing is...I have a secret to tell you."

"What secret? Don't tell me that you're still married!"

Treyton's eyes widened. "What? No, that's not it! I-"

*HUFF* *HUFF* *HUFF* *RRRRGGGHH*

The two remained still when they heard a sound to their left. When they looked at the object making the sound, they saw that it was a black bear. The bear stood close to them and looked at them. Maeve's eyes and lips widened as her saliva became dry. "Oh...my...god..." she said in a whisper-like tone.

The bear heard her as it looked and slowly approached her. Maeve couldn't move due to the shock, but Treyton saw the bear getting closer to his mate and immediately got in between them. The black bear stopped as it gave a low growl toward him, warning him. Treyton's werewolf side got protective as his eyes slowly turned a golden color; he growled back.

It was his moment to show her the truth.

Treyton turned and looked at her. "This is my truth." He removed his coat and shirt, exposing his muscular body. His body cracked as he became more extensive, and his fur grew; his handsome features changed into a wolf appearance. His arms and legs got longer as his fur grew. Maeve trembled when she saw Treyton fully transform into a giant wolf. That was when Maeve finally realized what Treyton was.

He was a werewolf.