Forrest's refusal to go to the hospital to get his burns treated seemed odd to Awa, though she kept her suspicions to herself. She watched as he waved off the concerned co-workers, his grimace fading far too quickly. Suspicion prickled at the back of her mind—maybe regenerative healing was yet another trait of werewolves she hadn't fully grasped. She hadn't gotten the chance to figure it out when she fought Kelsey; the fight had been too fast, and the chaos had escalated before she could test anything. But Forrest's quick recovery now? That was more evidence to add to her growing list of observations.
After a few awkward goodbyes, Tina joined Awa in her car for the drive home. The tension between them was palpable, thickening the air. Awa focused on the road, but she could feel Tina's eyes boring into her, waiting for an explanation.
Finally, unable to take the silence any longer, Tina spoke up. "What was that all about today, Awa? Was that really an accident?"
Awa didn't immediately respond. Her fingers tightened on the steering wheel as she considered her answer. "What do you mean?" she asked, feigning innocence, but Tina wasn't having it.
"You know exactly what I mean. The coffee. The pins. The... everything." Tina's voice was sharp, demanding answers. "You've never acted like this before. What's going on with you?"
Awa bit her lip, avoiding eye contact. She had hoped to brush off her antics as simple mishaps, but she should've known better. Tina could see right through her, just as she always had. Denial wasn't going to work.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Awa mumbled at first, hoping to deflect, but Tina pressed on, relentless.
"Come on, Awa. This isn't like you. You've been... different lately. Is this about Forrest? Is there something you're not telling me?"
Awa felt a knot tighten in her chest at the mention of Forrest, but she didn't want to go into details—not with Tina, not now. She'd be better off keeping her cards close to her chest, especially considering her evolving abilities and the secrets she was still unraveling herself.
But after a long pause, and seeing the disappointment etched in Tina's face, Awa sighed and finally admitted it. "Fine," she muttered. "Yes, it was on purpose. Happy now?"
Tina's eyes widened in surprise, clearly not expecting Awa to admit it so easily. "What? Why, though?" Tina demanded, her tone turning from confused to concerned. "What's going on, Awa? Why are you acting like this?"
"I don't want to talk about it," Awa snapped, her voice sharper than she intended. Her stomach twisted with guilt at Tina's hurt expression, but she kept her resolve. She couldn't explain—not yet. Tina wouldn't understand, not without knowing about everything: Kelsey, the werewolves, the cravings, the... change she was going through.
Tina shook her head, visibly frustrated. "You're not welcome back at the office if this is how you're going to act, Awa. I can't have you stirring up trouble like this."
Awa didn't argue. She simply nodded, her face expressionless, but inside she felt a mix of emotions—annoyance, guilt, and an undercurrent of something darker. It wasn't jealousy, she told herself, but rather a strange obsession with finding answers. She wanted to understand why Forrest smelled so good, why being near him stirred something primal within her. And why was her craving for him fading, while other scents still tugged at her instincts?
The rest of the drive was spent in uncomfortable silence, with Tina occasionally glancing at Awa as if trying to figure out what was going on in her sister's head. They didn't speak again until they arrived at Beatrice's school.
Pulling up in front of the gates, Awa parked the car and stepped out. The quiet was still thick between them, and the weight of the unresolved tension followed them like a shadow. They both walked into the school to pick up Beatrice from her after-school program. It wasn't uncommon for them to be late due to work, so they had arranged for Beatrice to stay in an extended care program on busy days. But Awa's mind was elsewhere—still focused on the weirdness of the day.
As they walked down the hall toward Beatrice's classroom, Awa's nose twitched. That familiar, tantalizing scent—rich and earthy—caught her attention. She glanced around, her senses now heightened and sharp. A couple walked ahead of them, chatting quietly as they moved toward another classroom. The man... he smelled delicious. Not quite as strong as Forrest, but undeniably enticing. The woman beside him, however, had no scent at all—just an ordinary human presence. Awa felt an odd twinge of curiosity.
Why can't I smell her? Awa wondered. Was it possible the man was a werewolf, but his partner wasn't? How did that work? Were there levels to these creatures, or something she hadn't yet understood?
Her curiosity got the better of her. She quickened her pace, trailing just behind the couple as they turned into their son's classroom. As she caught up, her eyes landed on the boy. The child had a faint trace of the same scent, but it was diluted—almost as if the werewolf blood wasn't fully present in him yet.
Awa exchanged pleasantries with the couple, making small talk while her mind raced with questions. They picked up their child and left, the scent fading with them as they walked out. She couldn't help but wonder—why do some smell stronger than others? Was it their age? Their strength? Their lineage?
The questions swirled around her head as she met up with Beatrice, who came running out of her classroom with a big smile. "Mommy!" Beatrice exclaimed, her little arms wrapping around Awa's waist.
"Hey, sweetie," Awa said, ruffling her daughter's hair before taking her hand and walking back toward the car with Tina beside them. But her mind wasn't entirely focused on Beatrice. She was still thinking about the man, about the scent, and about why some werewolves seemed to radiate it while others didn't.
She had much to learn about the world she was now a part of, and with every passing day, the mystery only deepened.
As they reached the car and buckled Beatrice into her seat, Awa leaned back against the driver's door for a moment, her eyes drifting back toward the school. Who else here smells like that? she wondered.
And more importantly—why?