Melissa stood at the sink, rinsing her mug, her mind still swirling with Ross's confession. Scott sat at the table, picking at the last donut, sensing his mother's unease.
"Scott… can I ask you something?" she said quietly, almost to herself. "When Ross said I was his soulmate… do you know what that means? Is it real?"
Scott looked up, surprised, shaking his head. "I… I don't know, Mom. I've heard stuff about mates in werewolf stories, but nobody ever explained it to me. I mean, I feel close to Allison sometimes, but nothing like what Ross described. Maybe it's different for bears, or maybe I'm just not strong enough yet. But I do know he really loves you I can smell it radiating off him".
Melissa sat down across from him, searching his face for answers. "He said it's a supernatural thing. That most people never feel it, not even most alphas. But for him, it's… overwhelming. Like he can't ignore it. I don't feel anything like that, Scott. I care about him, but it's not… magic. It's just me."
Flashback
Melissa's memory didn't begin with laughter, but with nerves. She remembered standing in front of her closet, second-guessing every outfit, wondering if she was being ridiculous for feeling like a teenager again. She'd barely finished her shift at the hospital when Ross's message pinged her phone:
"Date tonight? I've got a surprise. I'll send a driver to pick you up".
She'd smiled, a little wary but mostly excited. When she arrived, the sun was just dipping below the trees, painting the sky in streaks of gold and lavender. Ross was waiting by the entrance, shifting his weight from foot to foot, looking almost bashful beneath the neon sign. He held two putters — one pink, one green — and a pair of tickets.
"Mini golf?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
He grinned, holding out the pink putter. "I figured we could both use a night off from being serious adults. Plus, I've never actually played as a grown-up. How hard can it be?"
She took the putter, her smile growing. "You're on, Agent Arctos."
They started at the first hole, a simple ramp through a plastic castle. Melissa went first, sending her ball rolling neatly through the drawbridge and into the cup. She turned, triumphant. "Par!"
Ross crouched, knees nearly to his chest, and tried to mimic her stance. The putter looked like a toy in his massive hands. He swung, and the ball shot off the green, bouncing off a rock and landing in the fake moat.
Melissa burst out laughing, covering her mouth. "Oh my god, you're terrible!"
Ross straightened, mock-offended. "I'm used to full-size sports. This is… precision work." He retrieved the ball, his long arms making it look effortless, and tried again — this time, the ball ricocheted off the castle wall and rolled to a stop, inches from the cup.
"See?" he said, grinning. "Improvement."
They moved through the course, each hole a new challenge. At the windmill, Ross had to crouch so low his knees nearly touched the ground, trying to time his shot between the spinning blades. Melissa watched, giggling, as he missed the timing and the windmill smacked his ball back at his feet.
"Sabotage," he declared, shaking his head. "This course is not Giant-friendly."
Melissa doubled over, tears of laughter streaming down her face. "You're going to break it!"
He looked at her, mock-serious. "If I do, you're my alibi."
They played on, the competition quickly devolving into playful banter. Melissa teased him mercilessly, and Ross took it in stride, his deep laughter echoing across the course. At the pirate ship, he tried to duck through the low doorway and nearly got stuck, his shoulders wedged between the fiberglass walls.
"Need a hand?" Melissa called, barely containing her laughter.
Ross wiggled free, straightening with a sheepish grin. "I think I'm violating some kind of safety code."
They paused at the snack bar for sodas and popcorn, sitting on a bench beneath a string of twinkling lights. Melissa watched him, noticing the way he relaxed in the soft glow, his usual intensity softened by the silliness of the evening.
"Having fun?" she asked, nudging his knee with hers.
He looked at her, eyes warm. "More than I expected. I haven't done anything like this in… years. Maybe ever."
She smiled, feeling a flutter in her chest. "Good. You deserve to have fun."
He reached for her hand, his fingers dwarfing hers, and squeezed gently. "So do you."
They finished the course, Melissa winning by a landslide — though Ross insisted on a rematch, claiming the course was "clearly rigged for people under six feet." As they walked to the parking lot, Melissa felt lighter than she had in months. She glanced up at him, catching the way he looked at her — like she was the only person in the world.
"Thanks for tonight," she said softly.
He smiled, a little shy. "Thank you for inviting me. Even if I was terrible."
She laughed, reaching up to touch his cheek. "You were perfect."
He leaned down, and for a moment, the world narrowed to just the two of them — the scent of popcorn, the distant laughter of children, the warmth of his hand in hers. He kissed her, gentle and sweet, and she felt something shift inside her — a sense of possibility, of hope.
But as they lingered by her car, Ross hesitated, searching her eyes, and then spoke, voice trembling with vulnerability.
"Melissa… I know this is sudden, and maybe it's crazy, but I think I'm falling in love with you. I've never felt like this before. Not with anyone."
The words hung between them, heavy and electric. Melissa's heart thudded painfully in her chest. She wanted to say she felt the same, to let herself fall, to believe that happiness could be simple. But the weight of responsibility pressed down on her — Scott's face, her own doubts, the world's judgment.
She shook her head, tears pricking her eyes. "I can't. You did everything right and That's the problem. I feel like this could be forever, Ross. But I can't. You're so close to Scott's age, and I… I can't. What would people think what would Scott think, I'm sorry."
He reached for her hand, but she stepped back, wiping her eyes. "I just… I need to protect myself. And Scott. I hope you understand."
Ross nodded, pain etched across his face. "I do. I wish things were different."
Melissa smiled through her tears. "Me too. Thank you, Ross. For tonight. For everything."
Flashback end
Scott shrugged, looking apologetic. "I wish I could help, Mom. I'm still figuring all this out myself. Maybe you'll feel it someday, or maybe you won't. But I think Ross just wants you to know how much you mean to him. Even if you don't feel the same way, he'll still be there for you."
Melissa nodded, her expression thoughtful and a little sad. "I just don't want him to get hurt. Or to feel like I'm letting him down. I need time to understand all this."
Scott smiled gently. "He knows, Mom. He said he'd wait. And I think he really means it."
Melissa squeezed Scott's hand, then stood and headed toward her bedroom.
She closed the door behind her, leaning against it for a moment. She walked to the window, looking out at the morning light, her thoughts racing.
Soulmate. The word echoed in her mind, heavier than she expected. She'd always believed in love, in connection, but this… this was something else. Something bigger, older, stranger. Ross felt it — he was certain. But she didn't. Not yet. Maybe never. Was that fair to him? Was it fair to her?
Scott said he was still learning. Maybe she was too. Maybe this bond wasn't about magic or fate — it was about choice. About letting herself be seen, letting someone care for her, even if she was scared. She didn't know if she'd ever feel what Ross felt. But she did know she wanted to try. She wanted to understand. And maybe, just maybe, she wanted to see where this led.
Melissa sat on the edge of her bed, letting herself breathe, letting the uncertainty settle into something softer — hope.
When she returned, she found Scott at the front door, and Allison stepped in, her eyes wide with worry.
"Hey… is everything okay?" Allison asked, glancing between Scott, Ross, and Melissa.
Scott stood, nerves visible in the set of his shoulders. "Allison, there's a lot you don't know. I promised my mom — no more secrets. I want to tell you everything. About me. About… what I am."
Allison's gaze flickered to Ross, then back to Scott. "Scott, you're scaring me. What's going on?"
Scott took a deep breath. "I'm a werewolf. I have been for a while. I didn't tell you because I was afraid, you'd be scared, or that you'd leave. But I can't keep hiding it. You deserve to know."
Allison stood in the kitchen doorway, her eyes wide and uncertain as Scott's words hung in the air. For a moment, she just stared at him, as if waiting for the punchline to a joke that never came.
"A werewolf?" she repeated, her voice barely above a whisper. "Is that why you're so strong? Why you act so weird during the full moon?"
Scott nodded, his hands twisting nervously. "Yeah. That's why. But there's more. You're my anchor, Allison. You help me stay in control. When things get bad, thinking about you brings me back. You're the reason I can stay human. Your family they hunt werewolves".
Allison's breath caught. She pressed her hand to her mouth, her mind racing back through every strange moment, every time Scott had disappeared or acted distant. The pieces fell into place, but the picture they formed was terrifying.
"I care about you, Scott," she said, her voice trembling. "But last night, my aunt Kate… she told me werewolves were dangerous. She even showed me Derek — she was hurting him; said it was to keep people safe. And my dad he mentioned we are going to be having a serious discussion he was banged up and wincing when he moved his arms" her eyes flickering to me
Ross stepped forward, his presence grounding the room. His voice was gentle but firm, cutting through Allison's confusion. "Allison, I can understand what Kate told you. But the supernatural world isn't just monsters and hunters. Most of us just want to live in peace. There are rules, traditions, and people who protect others — supernatural or not. I'm a werebear, a shifter. My mother was a Druid, someone who used magic to heal and protect. Not all hunters are like Kate, and not all supernatural beings are threats. Some of us dedicate our lives to keeping the peace. When you get a second, we will need to talk about Derek and where he is however".
Allison's gaze flickered between Ross and Scott, her eyes shining with unshed tears. "So… all this time, you've been hiding this from me? How am I supposed to trust anything now?"
Scott's voice was soft, pleading. "I'm still me, Allison. I would never hurt you. I know what your family believes, but I'm not like that. I just… I need you to believe in me."
She looked at him, searching his face for any sign of the monster her aunt had warned her about. But all she saw was Scott — scared, vulnerable, and desperately hoping she wouldn't run.
Her voice thick with emotion. "I just need time to understand all of this. But I want to try. I want to be here for you."
Ross nodded, offering a reassuring smile. "You're brave, Allison. It takes courage to listen to both sides. If you ever have questions, about any of this, you can ask me too. You deserve the truth."
Allison squeezed Scott's hand, her grip tight, as if afraid he might slip away if she let go. "Thank you. Both of you. But I need to go and think. I've just found out my boyfriend is a werewolf."
She turned and hurried out, her footsteps echoing down the hall. The door closed softly behind her, leaving a silence in her wake.
Scott sat back down, shoulders slumped, watching the door long after Allison had gone. Melissa reached over and squeezed his hand, her own heart aching for her son.
Melissa lingered at the table, her mind still spinning. Ross and Scott sat across from her, the morning sun casting long shadows on the floor.
Melissa finally spoke, her voice soft but steady. "I need some time. To process all of this. I'm not saying no. I'm just… not ready to say yes, either. I need to figure out what I feel, and what I want."
Ross nodded, understanding in his eyes. "Of course. I want you to have space. Scott, if you want, you can stay with me for a little while. Give your mom some time to adjust. We'll both keep our phones on, Melissa. If you need us — anything, anytime — you just call."
Scott looked at his mom, uncertain. "If that's okay, Mom. I don't want to leave you alone, but maybe it's best for a bit."
Melissa managed a small, grateful smile. "That might be good. Just for a little while. This is your home and I'm not kicking you out Scott I don't think I ever could but. I need to… breathe."
Ross stood, gathering his things, but paused before heading to the door. He looked at Scott, then at Melissa, his tone shifting from gentle to purposeful.
"Scott, while you're with me, I want to help you learn more about what you can do," Ross said. "You're still new to all this, and there's a lot you haven't learned yet. I can show you how to control your abilities, but also how to defend yourself — hand-to-hand, the way my uncle taught me. You shouldn't have to figure it out alone."
Scott's eyes widened, a spark of hope and relief flickering across his face. "Really? You'd teach me… like, how to fight? Not just with claws and fangs, but… actually fight?"
Ross nodded, a small smile breaking through his usual seriousness. "Exactly. Most supernatural fights aren't about brute strength. It's about control, discipline, and knowing when not to fight at all. My uncle was a master — he taught me to use my size and strength, but also how to stay calm, how to read an opponent, how to protect others without losing myself. I can teach you all of that."
Melissa watched the exchange, her heart aching with a mix of pride and worry. She saw the way Scott straightened, the way his shoulders relaxed just a little. For the first time in weeks, he looked less lost.
Scott glanced at his mom, seeking her approval. "Is that okay, Mom? I need to learn how to be… whatever I am now."
Melissa managed a small, genuine smile. "I think it's a good idea, sweetheart. You shouldn't have to do this alone. And Ross… thank you. For looking out for him."
Ross gave her a reassuring nod. "He'll be safe with me. We'll start slow — basic stances, how to fall without getting hurt, how to defend yourself even if you're outnumbered. And if you ever want to see what we're working on, you're always welcome."
Scott grinned, a flash of his old self shining through. "Just promise you won't go easy on me."
Ross laughed, the sound deep and genuine. "No promises. But I'll make sure you're ready for whatever comes next."
Melissa watched as the two of them gathered their things, a strange sense of hope settling in her chest. She still felt overwhelmed, still needed time to process everything — but seeing Scott with someone who could guide him, who understood what he was going through, made the uncertainty a little easier to bear.
As Ross and Scott left, Melissa stood in the doorway, sunlight spilling across the floor. She let herself hope that maybe, just maybe, this new chapter would help them all find their way — one lesson, one choice, one day at a time.