APOLLO RISING (The Apollo Saga, Book 1) by Sage Arroway Page B

there, I couldn’t run,” his voice dropped to a little more than a whisper. “And then it saw me.”
    “Omigod. And then what happened?” She was sitting on the edge of her seat.
    “I don’t know. I think I scared it, or something. I thought I was next. I really thought I was a goner.” Tyler could feel the fear crawling just beneath his skin, the way it had the night of his attack. He tried to shrug it off, but the memories were so powerful. “And then it came at me.”
    “And that’s when you were attacked?” Allie seemed to be pressing him to get to the point.
    He didn’t want to say much more. He would rather spare her the not-so-glorious details of his encounter, but after a long moment, he continued, reluctant to say it aloud. “No,” he sighed, feeling disappointed that his story probably wasn’t going to be glamorous enough to impress her. “I was never attacked. It pushed me out of the way and ran back into the woods.”
    “What?!” Shock was evident in Allie’s eyes. He could see the wheels inside her brain turning. “Then how’d you--?”
    Tyler cut her short, deciding to save her the strain of trying to get from point A to point B.
    “I got scratched, okay. I know it’s not the bravest story, but it’s the truth. I’m no hero. When it pushed me, its claw dug right into my thigh.” His eyes motioned toward the unnatural mark on his right leg. “Right there, you can still see the scar.”
    There was a brief moment of silence before Allie burst into laughter, doubling over the shotgun.
    “ What?! ” Tyler questioned, feeling even more ridiculous than he already did. “It’s true. You wanted to know—”
    She held up her hand to stop his words and catch her breath, “Stop. Stop, stop, I can’t—”
    “Great,” he rolled his eyes, “just great.” This is why he had never told anyone. Frustration began to build in his veins, but the blood rushed to his cheeks instead. He couldn’t possibly feel more vulnerable.
    It took Allie a few more seconds to make eye contact again. Biting her lips, she strained to set her mouth in a hard line “I’m sorry,” she chuckled under her breath, fanning her flushed cheeks. “Okay. Whew! So…it pushed you—” she seemed to be having a hard time keeping it together, “and then what?”
    “Nevermind.” If Tyler’s arms were free, he would’ve crossed them.
    “I’m sorry,” she apologized, trying to hide her grin. “It’s just—”
    “Not believable, I know,” he interjected. “That’s why I’ve never told anyone since then.”
    Allie’s eyes softened, she seemed endeared by his admission. “I’m sorry,” she said again. “I’m listening now, go on.”
    “There’s not much more to tell,” he reminisced. “Everyone pretty much reacted the same as you just did. No one believed me. The police decided it was a bear, but I know what I saw.”
    “So when did you know for sure?”
    Tyler swallowed hard, memories of his first painful change flooding his mind. “About a month later.”
    Her voice took on a slightly more serious tone, “You changed? Like last night?”
    He nodded.
    “And you never saw the thing that attacked you again?”
    Tyler shook his head, and wondered quietly if he would ever meet his maker again.
     
     
     

Chapter 13
     
     
    Allie’s face softened completely. “I believe you,” she said with a look of authentic compassion, her eyes resting on his longer than ever before. “So tell me, what does it feel like?”
    Tyler frowned. He couldn’t tell yet if she was interested in him, or his story, and as the first person to ever dig into his past, she was digging a little too fast. “Why are you asking me so many questions?” 
    “I’m just curious.” Her eyes narrowed another time, “Are you gonna tell me?”
    He wanted to trust her, but instead he tested her, “Are you gonna untie me if I do?”
    She smiled—at least she wasn’t laughing at him anymore, “Maybe.”
    “Well,” he