Chapter 3

Cathy didn't seem to mind Magnus's silence. She continued chattering, her hands moving wildly as she spoke. "So, I've got about a million questions. Like, do you guys really turn into full wolves? Or is it more of a partial transformation? I saw this documentary once about werewolf myths, but I'm guessing reality is way different. Oh! And those magical tattoos? That's got to be the coolest thing ever."

What Cathy really wanted to know was why she couldn't get her body temperature down? Why did she suddenly want to rip his clothes off? Was that a werewolf thing too? One of their supernatural abilities? Because if so, that was cheating.

Magnus remained motionless; his phone now forgotten. His fingers drummed imperceptibly against his thigh, a barely-there rhythm that only he could feel. His tattoo beneath his shirt seemed to pulse with a soft, curious energy. Restless energy.

"I mean, I've always been fascinated by supernatural stuff," Cathy rambled on, oblivious to Magnus's lack of verbal response. She had to keep talking, take her mind elsewhere, because her vaginal muscles were clenching and unclenching as though she were about to orgasm. "My friends back home thought I was weird but come on! Magical creatures living right alongside humans? That's mind-blowing! And here I am, sitting next to the actual Alpha. Can you believe it?"

She reached for a piece of bacon from his plate, completely at ease. The pack watched in stunned silence, expecting Magnus to react at any moment. But he simply observed her, his blue eyes tracking her movements with an intensity that went unnoticed by Cathy. Thankfully unnoticed.

Cathy leaned in, seemingly unbothered by Magnus's continued silence. "Fun fact, I was totally obsessed with vampires before werewolves. Edward Cullen? Total dreamboat. I mean, who doesn't love a brooding immortal who sparkles? But now? Werewolves are way cooler. No offense to my past vampire fantasies." She paused, blushing slightly. Maybe she shouldn't have mentioned the fantasies part.

She wiggled her eyebrows, completely unaware that Magnus was listening intently, his fingers barely twitching against his thigh now. The pack around them held their collective breath, waiting for some reaction. Any reaction.

"I used to write the most ridiculous fan fiction," Cathy continued, completely unselfconscious. "Edward and Bella? More like Edward and my imagination. I bet he'd be way less interesting in real life. Probably would just brood and play piano all day. At least werewolves seem like they know how to have fun. Do you guys have epic pack parties? I'm imagining full moon dance-offs or something."

Magnus's lips twitched almost imperceptibly. Only Beta Remus, watching from across the room, caught the subtle hint of amusement in the Alpha's eyes.

"I mean, vampires are cool and all," Cathy rambled on, "but they seem high maintenance. Cold skin? Constant brooding? No thank you. Werewolves seem way more fun. Plus, you guys can actually go out in sunlight. Major upgrade." She gestured enthusiastically, nearly knocking over her water glass.

She reached for another piece of bacon, completely at ease. The magical tattoos fascinated her. "Those animal spirit tattoos? Coolest thing ever. I want one. Well, if I could. Which I can't. Because I'm human. Totally human. Absolutely normal." Though normal people probably didn't feel this attracted to potentially dangerous werewolves.

Her proclamation of normalcy made several pack members snort into their coffee.

Magnus remained silent, but his eyes never left her. His tattoo beneath his shirt seemed to pulse with an energy only he could feel – a curious, almost playful vibration that contradicted his stoic exterior.

"Oh my God," Cathy burst out, seemingly to herself but loud enough for everyone to hear, "can we talk about Jacob Black for a second? Total werewolf heartthrob. I was always Team Jacob, even though I was madly in love with Edward. Is that weird? Loving both? I mean, Taylor Lautner shirtless? Come on!"

She glanced at Magnus, who remained utterly still, but something in his eyes suggested he was listening intently. His tattoo beneath his shirt seemed to flutter with a barely perceptible energy.

"Like, Jacob was this passionate, hot-blooded werewolf who would literally transform to protect people," Cathy continued, gesturing wildly. "And Edward was all marble-skinned and melodramatic. But Jacob? He was raw. Powerful. Totally understood pack dynamics. I bet real werewolves are nothing like those books, right?" She looked at Magnus hopefully, but he remained silent.

The pack members exchanged knowing glances. Some looked horrified. Some looked amused. Magnus remained an enigma. A frustrating, attractive enigma.

"I mean, in the books, Jacob was always running around shirtless, all muscular and—" She caught herself, blushing slightly. "Not that I'm comparing or anything. Just, you know. Literary research." Smooth, Cathy. Really smooth.

Magnus's eyebrow raised a millimeter. Only Remus noticed.

"Werewolf transformation must be so complicated," she mused, completely unaware of the tension her words were creating. "I'm dying to know! Is it painful? Magical? Romantic? Wait, do werewolves have, like, destined mates? Oh my God, that would be so cool!"

Her stream of consciousness continued, a tornado of curiosity and pop culture references. The pack watched, mesmerized by her absolute lack of fear or filter. Or common sense.

Cathy leaned in conspiratorially, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "So, real talk. Do your clothes rip when you transform? Like in the movies? I've always wondered about the logistics of supernatural shifting. Do you just… burst out of your outfit? Like…Shrrr…Boom. Does the pack have a special clothing budget?"

Magnus remained silent, but his eyes held a mixture of amusement and something deeper – a mysterious intensity that seemed to dance just beneath the surface.

"I mean," she continued, completely oblivious to the pack members' horrified expressions, "if clothes just explode off, that means you'd be naked when you turn back, right? Hypothetically speaking." She wiggled her eyebrows dramatically. "Not that I'm interested. Okay, totally interested. But professionally curious!" The lie was obvious even to herself.

She leaned closer to Magnus, dropping her voice to a loud whisper. "I'm a total professional about this. Totally mature. Absolutely not planning to accidentally-on-purpose hang around the forest edge during a shift or anything."

The dining hall exploded in nervous laughter.