Standing before me was Matei. I could only see his tall silhouette but I knew it was him. But something wasn't right. His eyes...they-they were amber colored, not the usual warm brown I was accustomed to seeing.

"Matei, what..." I began to ask, trailing off.

Suddenly, a small girl peeked out from behind him. But she wasn't normal either. Her eyes were also the same shimmery yellow color as his. My breathing came in ragged breaths as I felt my heartbeat speed up at the sight before me. As he moved into the moonlight that spilled from the opening of the tunnel, I got a better view. Dark veins ran across his porcelain skin and gleaming white fangs protruded from his mouth.

"Jemma, please, let me explain-" he started, making his way over to me.

When he took a step closer, a whimper escaped my mouth and I turned around. I ran back through the entrance but I could hear his footsteps pounding after me on the grass. My heart beat loudly in my ears as he chased me. Suddenly, his arms wrapped around my waist and we both went tumbling onto the ground. He held me fast, hands gripping my wrists tightly. I twisted around in his grasp to face him and those amber eyes bored down into mine.

He glanced up at the steadily rising moon before looking back down at me. In this light, I could make out every feature on his perfect face.

"What are you?" I breathed out slowly, swallowing the lump that had formed in my throat.

"Jemma, it's not what you think-" he started but I cut him off.

"What are you?" I demanded again, my voice firmer than before.

He let out a breath and the warm air fanned my face. I resisted the urge to shiver but still, goosebumps popped up on the skin of my arms.

"Promise you won't run away?" he asked me, his fingers pressing into my wrists gently.

I nodded, unable to speak and finally, he got off of me. Slowly, I sat up and he held out a hand to me. I glanced up into those unfamiliar eyes and hesitantly, took the hand he offered. A hand that up until now, I'd loved to hold and feel his skin on mine. It was the skin of a monster now...a mysterious creature. He released my hand as soon as I was standing and turned his back to me, walking over to the edge of the lake that moved steadily along beside the tunnel.

I waited patiently for him to speak but my whole body shook from nervous energy.

"I'm...not a monster..." he finally spoke, breaking the silence.

My eyebrows furrowed in confusion. It was almost like he'd read my thoughts, I thought with a snort. Matei must have mistook it for indifference though because he pressed on.

"I'm not! I promise you, I'm not. I..." he stared but trailed off.

Without even really thinking about it, my feet took me over to him and I stood in the moonlight.

"I'm a Wolfblood, Jemma..." he admitted, his voice soft and quiet in the darkness.

"A...what?" I asked, making sure to not stand too close to him.

"A Wolfblood," he repeated, still avoiding my eyes.

And suddenly, it dawned on me and my brown eyes widened in realization.

"That night at the house...and...and that day in the woods. The wolf I saw - that was you?!" I asked in disbelief.

He turned his face slightly and nodded, confirming it.

"You spared me and then you saved me from that other wolf...why?" I demanded, crossing my arms over my chest.

He was silent for a while and I thought he wouldn't answer me but finally, he did.

"Because you're special, Jemma Reyes-Hargreaves."