Gilbert continued to stare down at the Wolf Hunter badge, panic seizing his gut. Had this all been some kind of elaborate trap? Had everything Hansel had done for him, the kindness and care, all been a lie to try and get more information out of him? Hansel seemed much too weak to actually kill a wolf so maybe he had been hired by the Wolf Hunters as some kind of spy. Whatever the case, he wasn’t safe here. He had to get out of this cottage fully healed or not. God, why had he thought for the first time in his life someone actually wanted to be kind to him without an ulterior motive.

With his heart still pounding in his chest Gilbert hobbled towards the door as fast as he could manage all the while biting back the sea of emotions threatening to overwhelm him.

The icy air hit him hard as he finally made it outside, it was so cold that each breath he took burned his lungs. It was extremely hard to move through the snow on crutches but Gilbert did his best until one crutch suddenly caught on a root covered by the snow and he fell face first into a snowbank. He struggled to get up, fumbling as he attempted to brush the snow from his clothes, when suddenly he heard a voice.

“Gilbert? What are you doing?”

Gilbert’s heart nearly jumped out of his chest. Standing there was Hansel. His cloak fluttered behind him as the wind wisped through his hair. His nose and cheeks were pink, he must have been out in the woods for awhile now. With a start Gilbert realized the boy's sleeve was stained red and he smelled of fresh blood.

“When were you going to tell me?” Gilbert growled.

“Tell you what?” Hansel asked, his hazel eyes so wide and innocent that for a moment Gilbert really wanted to believe in them again.

“You were a Wolf Hunter this whole time,” he hissed.

Hansel’s face turned ashen. “Wha...how did you...”

A ripple of anger passed through Gilbert. “Were you ever planning on telling me? Or were you just going to send in a cronie to kill me once you had milked all the information you needed?”

Hansel’s face was unreadable. “I didn’t ever plan on hurting you. I promise. Taking care of you had nothing to do with-”

“Bull fucking shit!”

Hansel sunk to his knees next to him in the snow. “Look at me Gilbert. Can’t you see I’m telling the truth?” Gilbert couldn’t bring himself to do what he asked, turning his head away from the boy even further. Hansel sighed heavily, reaching out to touch his arm. “Gilbert...please…”

And then all of a sudden Gilbert’s entire body felt hot.

His breathing suddenly began to quicken, his heart started to pound. Shit. Not now. The timing for this couldn’t be worse. He had never gone into a heat this quickly before but here he was, his entire body feeling like it was burning up.

He swatted Hansel’s hand away. “Don’t touch me,” he hissed, hating the way he couldn’t keep his voice from trembling. “Get away from me.”

Hansel’s eyes widened. “Gilbert, what’s wrong?”

“I SAID GET AWAY!” He roared.

Despite his words the little idiot didn’t move. Gilbert’s entire body was beginning to ache and suddenly, as his gaze fell to Hansel, he had the horrible urge to rip the clothes from him and claim his delicate body for his own. Gilbert fought the heat’s impulse, biting his lip so hard it bled. He could taste the iron in his mouth, and he clenched his hands into fists, his claws biting into the flesh of his palm. His vision was starting to go hazy.

“I’m not leaving you,” Hansel whispered, “come on, let me get you inside.” Hansel leaned closer and the scent of honeysuckle and violet overwhelmed him, the sweet smell of Hansel taking over his senses. It was suffocatingly delicious, he could practically feel the warmth radiating off the boy. They were so close to each other that he could smell the metallic scent of iron from his blood mixing together with the untamable wave of desire welling up in his chest. The wolf continued to fight but he had no idea how much longer he would be able to hold off the beast inside of him. Hansel’s form was beginning to blur. He had to warn him to stay away. 

Gilbert’s lips parted slightly, “Hansel, you have to go. If you don’t leave...I might...Hansel...please…” He felt Hansel’s arms suddenly wrap around him as the boy began to try and move him back towards the cottage.

What was he doing? He needed to run. Was he crazy? Those thoughts kept racing through his Glibert's head until Hansel finally managed to pull him through the door.

Gilbert looked to him now, fighting the heat with every remaining ounce of self control he still had. “Hansel, run,” he whimpered, “it’s...the only way you’ll be safe from me…”

And then just like that the human part of Gilbert was gone and the beast came out.