Chapter 18: Building Trust
321words
As evening approached, Liam announced it was time for me to leave, as he did every day. Our routine was established: he would drive me back to my car, remind me of the rules, and we would part until the next morning.
But today, as we drove through the forest, I decided to break the pattern.
"Liam," I said quietly, "I think we need to establish more trust between us if this arrangement is going to work."
His hands tightened on the steering wheel. "Trust is earned, not established."
"I agree. And I'm trying to earn yours. But it's difficult when you won't even tell me basic information about werewolves that might help me treat Jackson more effectively."
He was silent for a long moment. "What do you want to know?"
The question surprised me—I hadn't expected him to be so direct. "For starters, how many are in your pack? How does the hierarchy work? And most importantly, how does the transformation process normally function? I need to understand what's normal before I can identify what's wrong with Jackson."
Liam sighed, a sound of reluctant concession. "There are fifteen in our pack. The hierarchy is... complex. As Alpha, I'm responsible for everyone's safety and well-being. Jackson is what we call a Beta—a trusted member with certain responsibilities."
"And the transformation?"
"Normally, it's painful but manageable. We can change at will, though the full moon forces the change regardless of our wishes. Jackson's condition makes even the voluntary transformations difficult, and the forced ones are becoming dangerous."
I nodded, absorbing this information. "Thank you for telling me."
He glanced at me briefly. "Don't mistake necessity for trust, Charlotte."
"Charlie," I corrected automatically. "And I don't. But it's a start."
