"How many?"
"Timber!" Henry shifted uncomfortably in his seat looking as though he didn't want to answer.
"That's not - what?"
"I want to know how many women you've been with." Timber had raised her voice slightly as she demanded a response.
Henry hesitated for a moment in uncomfortable stillness before replying, "Thirty-two."
Timber felt her eyes swell up with tears. She regretted her question instantly. She thought a couple of women she could deal with but thirty-two was far more than she had expected. How could she possibly compete with thirty-two women? The pressure was enormous and the weight left her struggling to draw breath. They were probably all beautiful, with perfect bodies and plenty of experience. How could she live up to that? With her body, there was no way she could live up to his expectations.
"Timber, I'm sorry," said Henry with anguish in his voice. "I started when I was eighteen right after I left Haven. I had been confined most of my life and I just wanted to be wild. I was hooked after the first time. I was never in an actual relationship so I was free to sleep around. That's what my life was back then. Sex and drinking. I'm not like that anymore. I promise. That's why I moved out of the state. I couldn't live that life anymore. I wasn't happy. You were the unexpected curveball I needed to make me realize that I was right in changing my lifestyle. You make me happy."
Timber thought about what he said and she displayed a small smiled. She made him happy. But still...."So, do you miss it? The freedom to sleep around? You don't mind being with only me?"
Henry got up from his chair and pulled Timber up from hers. Then he pulled her into him.
"I have more freedom being with you than I have ever had in my life," said Henry. "I am able to be who I am and I don't have to hide what I am. I would never trade that for anything. I love you Timber. Nothing is going to change that."
Timber didn't doubt his loyalty, but she wasn't convinced she could live up to his standards.
"How pretty were they? The women you slept with. Were they as beautiful as Xianna?"
"Timber, why do you want to know how pretty they were?"
"Because I have to know what I'm competing against," said Timber. "You have lots of experience. I don't have any. I'm still a virgin. You were my first kiss. Not to mention there's all of this," she added gesturing to her figure.
"Timber, look at me," said Henry. "You're not competing with anyone. I didn't love any of those women. To be honest, the sex was never that great. There was no intimate connection. It was purely physical. When we go to that level, I can promise that it will be amazing for both of us because there is love as the foundation."
Timber kissed his cheek and then buried her face in his shoulder. After a few moments of silent tears, Timber pulled away and wiped her eyes.
"I love you too, Henry."
He smiled, kissed her nose and then said, "Go and take your shower. I'll clean up dinner."
Timber nodded and walked down the hall to his bedroom. She liked the way Henry's room smelled like lavender. She grabbed her pajamas out of her light blue suitcase and went into the hall bathroom. She showered and shaved her legs as quickly as she could so she didn't take up too much hot water. When she finished, the mirrors had only a minimal amount of steam resting on the bottom of the glass. She got dressed, brushed her teeth and her hair, and then put her hair into its usual French braid so it didn't poof up while it dried.
Henry was sitting on the couch when Timber reached the living room. When she went to sit beside him, she noticed that he had already fallen asleep. Not wanting to wake him up by sitting down, Timber covered him with a blanket before she Turned and curled up in the recliner. The idea of trying to compete with thirty-two women was still weighing on her mind. She knew that sooner or later an occasion would arise and Henry would not be able to resist anymore. He was a man after all. Timber made a mental note that biting her lip drove him nuts so that when the time came, she could tell him what she wanted without having to speak.
Timber had just dozed off when she heard Henry move. Thinking he had woken up and was going up to bed, Timber remained still with her eyes closed. When he moved again, Timber opened her wolf eyes and looked at him. His face was worried and afraid and his body was tense. Timber knew he was having a nightmare but he was a deep sleeper and therefore difficult to wake up. She jumped down from the recliner and then jumped on to Henry's lap. The weight of the impact from Timber's paws leaping on to him woke him up with such a start, Timber fell off him and landed on her side on the floor. She rolled and got back on all four feet and looked at Henry.
"Are you alright?" asked Henry looking worried. Timber nodded. She Turned back into a girl and sat on the floor in front of Henry.
"What were you dreaming of?" asked Timber.
"The night I got bitten," said Henry wiping the sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand.
"Tell me," said Timber. "I want to know what happened that night." Henry raised an eyebrow but Timber was still and attentive so he sighed in defeat.
"I was seven years old the night I received my bite. My mother had told me that I needed to be home from my friend's house before the sun went down. He lived around the block so I saw no reason I couldn't stay another half an hour. My mother worked the night shift and I knew she wasn't home to scold me for showing up later than I was supposed to. The sun had set and I made my way home by the light of the full moon. I was only a few houses away from my own when something moved in the bushes in the park across the street. Instead of continuing home, I went to investigate. That was my biggest mistake. It jumped out at me and bit my shoulder. I don't remember much after that. I lost a large amount of blood and the werewolf venom was killing me."
"How come you didn't die?" asked Timber with her hand covering her mouth.
"A Higher found me within a minute of my bite and brought me back. I learned later that they were looking for a new werewolf and the Higher had found him but could not reach him in time to prevent my bite. There's no known cure for werewolf bites yet, though your aunt has been working on it. The venom you gave her has been useful to her. Anyways, it was then I learned about Haven and how close we actually lived to its borders. I was taken to a special hospital inside the gates where I received treatment for my wounds by the Nephilite, Queen Aiyanna Ryan. My mother was brought to me and informed of my condition. I was told that there were two possible outcomes for her reaction. Either she would become over protective of me or she would shut me out and reject me. My mother was the one to shut me out. I learned from my sister after I left Haven that my mother told everyone I was dead."
A tear fell from Timber's eye and she grabbed his hand. Henry took a breath and continued.
"My first transformation was excruciatingly painful but I was still small and I was kept safe within the confines of Heiligdom. There were other children in Heiligdom and so there was a school taught by highly trained and well-respected teachers. I received a thorough education just as I would have outside the gates and I graduated with honors. Upon my eighteenth birthday, I was given a choice. Since I was not deemed dangerous because of my choice to take the medicine, I could either remain in Haven outside of the Heiligdom walls, or I could leave Haven all together and live as normally as I could. So the minute I could, I left. I took all of my possessions, took the small amount of funds I had earned over the years and walked out of the gates."
"How come you chose to take medicine but others don't?" asked Timber.
"It was explained to me this way: When werewolf venom enters the body, it can mess with the mind. In some cases, it will change one's entire personality. It's very common because most people don't have the mental willpower to prevent it. I was one of those with a strong will. There are others like me who managed to hold on to themselves. Not all were so lucky. Those who were not able to fight the change will never be allowed to leave Haven."
"So you never left Haven at all while you were there?"
; "Myself and a few others were able to leave on field trips so we could see what life was like outside of Haven. The enchantments placed around Haven were lifted in a certain area so we were able to leave. The school is completely government-funded, though, we were self-sufficient when it came to food. The field trips were paid for and I enjoyed every single one. I hated Haven. It was a prison to me. I loved the activities and my school, but I was never able to venture out of the gates. Most of the other students hated it too, though not many would ever be allowed to leave. I'm one of the lucky ones."
"Okay," said Timber trying to think. "So you left Haven and had a.... umm.... wildlife. You don't have any kids out there do you?"
"No," said Henry bitterly. "It's impossible. After your mother was discovered pregnant, it became a rule for all male werewolves to be 'fixed'. I had my surgery when I was thirteen which is the age they considered males to start becoming curious. I can never have kids of my own and strict law forbids me to adopt in case I lose control and bite my child."
"That's horrible! Why do they think they can control your life like that?"
"The safety of others. Their goal, as far as my kind are concerned, is to wipe us out. My life is in no danger, but they're trying to prevent other people from getting bitten. Other extremely dangerous creatures are prevented from breeding as well. When Haven was first established, they attempted to keep the males and females apart. People lost their lives when the males broke free in search of a female. Now they make it impossible for dangerous creatures to reproduce at will."
"What about the ones who are not dangerous?" asked Timber. She was thinking about the Nephilite Henry had mentioned.
"If they serve a purpose for the good of humanity then they are allowed to breed if they choose," said Henry. "There is one creature, I don't remember what they are called, but they possess the ability to cure mental illness but they are so rare that most people cannot afford the remedy. Bouffies are allowed to breed as often as they want. They're harmless and they don't live long. Aiyanna, the Nephilite, can heal a large amount of wounded at once. She was called when I received my bite. However, she also holds the power to cause mass destruction. Because of that, she is not allowed to bear children. Not that it matters. Aiyanna is immortal. In time, she will be a Higher and given control over Haven."
"So the Highers are immortal?"
"Yes, but they weren't born immortal. They were given immortality as well as magic. Lord Frost is the oldest Higher. From what I know, he was born when the Vikings just started sailing. His skill in combat is unmatchable. He's also fluent in most world languages, including Latin and Greek. However, Aiyanna is the only one that I know of who was born immortal."
"How do you know so much?"
"I read Haven's history," said Henry. "Lord Frost was also very active in my education. I got to know him on a personal level. Same with Lord Avanti. He trained me in combat. He was taught by Lord Frost."
Timber was now burning with curiosity. Henry grew up in Haven, and Timber was born there which meant they shared common roots. Timber wanted to know where she was born.
"Henry, where is Haven?"
"Idaho."
"You're joking!"
"No, I'm not." Henry took a deep breath. "Haven resides in the forests of Idaho where there are not many humans nearby. The reserve is split into sections connected through large underground tunnels. I was born in a town near the front gate though no one knew that gate was even there. It's too well hidden. When I was attacked, the trip from my location to the gate took less than twenty minutes. When I left, I stayed close to the gate because I was afraid that I may need to go back on the full moon. I did not. When I came here, I was not only trying to escape my old lifestyle, I was trying to permanently escape from Haven."
"I'm glad you came here," said Timber.
"I am too. I can't imagine my life without you."
"Do you want me to stay with you tonight?" asked Timber.
"I would like that, just not in the bed. I would like to save that." Timber lay down in front of Henry on the couch and pressed her body against his. He held her tight and Timber felt him fall asleep almost immediately. She smiled and let herself drift into a peaceful and restful sleep.
Timber was awakened around eight in the morning by her phone ringing loudly. It was the first day of Thanksgiving break and she had planned to spend the morning sleeping in. She had been up late to celebrate Emily in her play of 'Alice in Wonderland'. Grace made a lot of sugary foods and Timber and Emily gorged themselves a little too much. They were up until four in the morning laughing and dancing around Emily's bedroom. Timber had hoped to get a full eight hours of sleep after the night before, but it turned out that Xianna and the girls had other plans.
A week before Thanksgiving break, Xianna had gotten a part-time job after school at Purity Supermarket and moved into the small studio apartment in her brother's backyard outside the south side of town. Timber missed seeing Xianna all the time but at the same time, she was glad she had her room back even though it was only a week she shared it. Xianna didn't just disappear, though. She called Timber frequently, sometimes for no reason. Timber answered her ringing phone even though she would have rather ignored it.
"What do you want?" Timber demanded sleepily.
"Did I really wake you up?" came Xianna's disbelieving voice on the other end of the line.
"Yes," growled Timber. "Is there a reason you called or did you miss me so much that you couldn't wait to hear my voice?"
Xianna laughed. "Actually, we're all going to Eggheads for breakfast and then we're going to go shopping downtown. Did you want to join us?"
"How soon?"
"Half an hour," said Xianna.
"I'll be there," said Timber.
She hung up the phone and leaped up out of bed. She threw open her closet door. She grabbed a light pink cable knit sweater, a pair of white jeans, and dressed quickly. She threw her long hair into a messy top bun to keep it off of her neck, slipped into a pair of ankle booties, and grabbed her purse before darting out of the bedroom. She hit the top step and felt naked so she rushed back to add her pearls, gold earrings, lipstick, and mascara before running down the stairs as fast as she could.
"What's your hurry?" asked Chad, looking up from his coffee and that morning's edition of the Fort Bragg Advocate.
"The girls are waiting for me downtown," said Timber. "I'll be gone all afternoon. Love you! Bye!"
Timber ran out of the front door, accidentally slamming it behind her. She flinched a little but kept going. She ran around the corner and straight down Oak Street towards downtown. A quarter of the way towards Main Street she saw a familiar blue Honda heading in her direction. It pulled over and Henry rolled down the window.
"Running late for meeting your friends downtown?" asked Henry with a grin.
"Yeah. How - ?"
"I was at Radio Shack getting jump starters for my car," said Henry. "I recognized Gina's hair going in Egghead's. She's hard to mistake for someone else. Do you want a ride the rest of the way?"
Timber grinned and went around the front and climbed into the passenger side.
"Thank you," said Timber gratefully as she buckled herself in. "Uncle Chad sold his car yesterday to pay for his medical expenses and Aunt Grace and Emily are at the store, so I couldn't drive myself. I'm glad you picked me up."
"You're welcome," said Henry. He turned his car around. "I've never seen your hair like that."
"Oh, I was sleeping in when Xianna called me. I didn't have time to brush my hair or do anything else with it."
"I like it," said Henry. "You look really pretty." He paused for a few minutes looking a little unsure about something. "I have a question for you. It's going to sound incredibly stupid but I have to ask anyway. Can I call you 'Baby'?"
Timber turned strawberry and went into a fit of giggles. When she managed to calm down she looked at Henry. "I'm sorry. I'm not laughing at you. I've never had a pet name before. It took me by
surprise especially coming from you. Yes, you can call me 'Baby'."
Henry grinned and pulled over in front of the restaurant and Timber thanked him with a kiss. She opened the door and climbed out of the car. When she turned around to close the door, he leaned over and said, "Have fun, Baby."
Timber's face turned grapefruit and her lips formed a gleeful smile as she closed the door. She watched him pull out and drive off before going into the restaurant.
Eggheads Restaurant was a small family-owned restaurant that was themed around the 'Wizard of Oz' movie. There were even scenes and characters from the movie painted on the wall and a yellow brick road painted on the floor. Timber liked coming in here when she could because the food was fantastic. In the middle booth Xianna, Gina, Kendra, and Ashley were all looking at her with the same look of expectancy.
"Wow, you're pink," said Xianna as Timber sat down.
"Was that Mr. Santelli?" asked Gina.
"Yeah," said Timber knowing exactly what she was about to be accused of.
"Did you spend the night with him?" asked Ashley.
"No," said Timber.
"Then why are you so pink and why did he drop you off?" inquired Xianna.
"I was running here and he was heading home from the Radio Shack. He saw me and gave me a ride, that's all."
"That doesn't explain why you're pink," said Kendra.
"He umm... He called me 'Baby'," said Timber. She felt her face go from grapefruit to tomato in seconds. The girls giggled.
"That's so cute," swooned Ashley.
"So what's the plan for today besides breakfast?" asked Timber.
"I don't know yet," said Xianna. "I wanted to get out of the house and enjoy my day off. I'm not sure how adults can work full time and take care of kids. Do they sleep?"
Timber felt a small ping in her heart. Xianna wasn't used to living alone and her brother and his fiancé worked a lot so Xianna felt lonely. Still, it was better than her last long-term living situation. She had only been on her own for a week and a half and she was having trouble adjusting.
The Timber Effect Page 17