Gilbert jerked awake and was met with the strange realization that his lower back ached. Confused he went to move and realized with a start that his hands were once more bound to the bedpost. Then with a jolt, the memories of before he lost consciousness rushed back. He remembered the Wolf Hunter badge and Hansel finding him in the snow and then...he must have gone into heat. But he had been brought back into the cottage, presumably by Hansel. Did that mean...had he hurt Hansel while he was in heat? Panic swept over Gilbert and he began to desperately look around. That’s when suddenly the door swung open and he saw Hansel standing there. Something was different upon seeing him this time. For some reason his scent was stronger than Gilbert remembered, the smell of violets and honeysuckle almost overwhelming. Upon seeing him something primal in his chest ached to move closer to the boy. Gilbert quickly smothered the urge.

“You’re finally awake,” Hansel said softly. He moved forward, pulling his knife from his basket and quickly sliced through the ropes around his wrists. Once his hands were free Gilbert rubbed at his throbbing wrists, the skin there red and sore from the restraints. “Sorry for tying you up again,” Hansel said, his tone oddly timid. “You went into heat and I didn’t know what to do. The only thing I could think of to keep you from destroying the cottage was to restrain you until the full moon passed and you snapped out of it.”

Gilbert’s gaze quickly darted to the ground. “Hansel...when I was in heat did I...did I do anything to you?” He bit his lip, staring down at his hands. “I don’t think I could forgive myself if I made you my submissive.”

Hansel shook his head. “You didn’t.” And just like that a wave of emotions hit Gilbert like a goddamn tsunami. First was an overwhelming relief, but once the fear he had hurt Hansel was off his chest immediately following came the memories of his last few moments before he gave into his heat. Gilbert’s shoulders quivered slightly, maybe he had made a mistake and the badge wasn’t really Hansel’s. He couldn’t believe it...he still didn’t want to believe it.

He turned to look at Hansel now. “So,” he said slowly, “you’re a Wolf Hunter.” His heart was racing, practically praying for Hansel to say no.

Hansel’s face paled slightly but finally he gave him a small nod and an answer that made Gilbert’s heart sink. “That is correct.”

Just like that a hot, burning anger overtook the wolf. “Were you ever going to tell me,” he growled.

“I wasn’t. I didn’t think it was important you knew-”

“BULL FUCKING SHIT!” Gilbert roared. “Your job is to murder my kind and you didn’t think it was important I knew?”

Something unreadable flickered over Hansel’s gaze. “I was going to nurse you back to health and then we were going to go our own separate ways. I didn’t think I needed to disclose everything about myself to you when it obviously wouldn’t have helped the situation.” His gaze grew darker. “And besides, you’re angry that my job is to kill wolves but think about how many of my kind your people have killed.” His features grew colder than Gilbert had ever seen them. “Wolves have slaughtered countless humans, the Wolf Hunters were only put in place to try and defend ourselves. Don’t turn me into the villain when you and the other wolves are the ones who made us this way. I committed high treason by saving you. I could have left you to die.”

Gilbert shot him a fiery glare. “But you only saved me because I look like Ethan.” Hansel fell silent at that, his mouth drawing into a thin line. Gilbert’s chest felt tight and despite himself he could feel an odd stinging sensation at the corners of his eyes. “I’m right, aren’t I?”

Hansel’s gaze darted to the ground. “Yes.”

Gilbert quickly averted his gaze from him, turning his head slightly so Hansel couldn’t see the slight wetness in his eyes. “So if I hadn’t looked like him you would have just let me die?”

Hansel let out a low sigh. “No, I would have killed you.”

Gilbert buried his face in his hands, he refused to let Hansel see his expression. Wolves didn’t cry. He had made a point of burying stupid emotions like this...so why couldn’t he stop the hot tears from rolling down his cheeks.

“So, all the kindness you showed me, it was all some kind of act?”

“No,” Hansel said immediately. “None of that was a lie Gilbert. I may have taken you in because you looked like Ethan but the more I’ve come to know the real you the more I-”

“I don’t want to hear it,” Gilbert snapped. “God, I can’t believe that man was right about you all along.”

That caused Hansel to pause. “What…” he said slowly, “what man?”

Gilbert angrily wiped his eyes on his sleeve, finally forcing himself to look to Hansel once more. “The one that came to the door.”

“No one should know where this place is.”

“He said he was looking for you, it was this red haired guy.”

Hansel’s entire face turned ashen. Gilbert had never even seen Hansel react like this before. “Was he tall...really pale with purple eyes?”

Gilbert wasn’t sure if he was imagining it but he could swear there was a slight tremble to Hansel’s voice. Gilbert gave him a small nod. “Yeah.”

Hansel’s face paled even further and he brought a hand to his mouth. “Oh no…” he mumbled, his voice muffled from behind his fingers. “Oh God...oh no...oh God how did he find this place. I thought…” he sighed heavily, anxiously running a hand through his dark hair. “It doesn’t matter I guess nowhere is really safe.” His gaze darted to his arm. “I’m going to have to see him tonight. He won’t leave me alone if I don’t.”

“Who is he?”

“It’s better you don’t know,” Hansel said softly.

“What? So you have even more lies and secrets?” Gilbert growled.

Hansel’s lower lip quivered. “I never lied to you Gilbert, I swear it on my life. As for my secrets...I just thought it would be for the better if you didn’t know. I never intended to deceive you I just...I wanted to help but now I see I’ve ruined everything.” He turned around quickly so Gilbert couldn’t see his face, “I ruined this just like I ruin everything else.” His voice was meaker than Gilbert had ever heard it. “I’m sorry Gilbert, I’m really sorry. I...I completely understand if you’re never be able to forgive me. I should have told you what I really am I was just so scared that you’d leave if you knew.” He sighed heavily. “You’re probably going to want to leave now anyways, won’t you? Your leg still needs about another week to heal but I...I can try to figure out a way to-”

“I’m not leaving Hansel,” Gilbert said slowly, his gaze darting to the floor. “I’ll stay here until my leg heals. Regardless of your motivation or who you really are you still saved my life and nursed me back to health. It would be stupid for me to try and leave before I’m fully healed and end up getting myself killed because I couldn’t wait one more week.” He shifted slightly. “That being said...I’d be lying if I told you I could just forgive you and forget what I…” he stared down at his hands, “...what I now know about you. ”

Hansel finally turned back to face him, the shadows from the fire flickering across his face. His expression was unreadable. “So...how do you want us to proceed? Where exactly do we stand with each other now?”

Gilbert’s mouth drew into a thin line. “I’m not sure yet,” he said softly. “I think I still need some time to figure out how I feel about everything.”

Hansel lowered his head. “Of course. I completely understand.” His gaze flickered to the door. “I’ll give you some time alone. Besides...I need to go deal with some business.”

“You’re going to see that man, aren’t you?”

Hansel tensed, quickly turning towards the door. “Perhaps.”

“Who the hell is he? Why are you so scared of him?”

Hansel glanced over his shoulder now, meeting Gilbert’s gaze, “I told you, it’s just better if you don’t know some things. Sometimes keeping things from someone is the only way to keep them safe.” And with those words he grabbed for his cloak before disappearing out the door, slamming it behind him. The moment he was gone Gilbert rolled over on his side, burying his face in the pillow. His entire chest ached. This must be why wolves always trained to bury their emotions, feeling just hurt too fucking much sometimes.