In anticipation of what was about to happen, I stripped naked while I watched him. It seemed like a good idea at the time. I chose clothing that wouldn’t be a big deal if it got ripped apart. Then I thought, “What the hell am I supposed to wear back home?”
I had only a moment to wonder when it would begin before I felt the first twinge of pain in my hands. I screamed as all the bones in my hands and wrists began to break and reform. The pain was sharp and immediate. After the initial shock, my adrenaline began to kick in, numbing me to the full extent of the trauma. But it still hurt. It hurt like hell. Burning pain tore through my feet and I looked down to see that they were twice their normal size.
My head felt like it was going to explode, as if I had the worst migraine ever. My jaws felt strange. It felt like my teeth didn’t fit in my mouth correctly all of the sudden. I screamed again, only this time it came out as a howl.
The transformation felt as though it took forever, but once it was over I thought it couldn’t have taken more than a few minutes.
Dorian was still beside me, only now he was a full-on seven-foot-tall wolfman.
“I’m still me,” I said, then immediately freaked out at the sound of my voice.
Dorian’s laughter was deep and frightening, but still obviously him. “Only a few are not aware of who they are when they first turn. You are only half-wolf now. By the end of the night, you will become fully wolf, and that you may not remember. But don’t worry, I’ll be with you.”
“You mean I’ll become a regular wolf?” I asked, looking down at my new furry form.
“You’ll look like a regular wolf, but be much larger. With practice, a werewolf can turn at any time into this form,” he said, gesturing toward his body. “But on the full moon, they have no choice but to turn, and to eventually go full wolf.”
“Oh.”
He smiled, and even though I must have looked just as creepy, it scared the shit out of me.
“Are you ready for the fun part?” he asked.
“You mean experiencing horrific pain wasn’t the fun part?” I said sarcastically.
“Let’s go for a run.”
He tore off through the woods and I followed. I was vaguely aware of some of the other pack members chasing rabbits and deer. I focused on Dorian and it took all my strength to keep up with him. We crashed through the trees, leapt over bushes, and eventually ran right into a small pond. What a rush!
We ran for what felt like hours. I wish I could remember more of my first night in werewolf form, but that is where it all goes fuzzy. No pun intended.
Chapter Five
I woke in a strange bed with Dorian’s warm hard body spooned against my back. I lifted his arm, so that I could roll to face him. Dark hair fell across his face like a silken curtain as he continued to sleep soundly.
The sun was up and neither of us looked any worse for wear. I had survived my first full moon! Yay!
I hated to wake him, but I had some things I needed to do today. Not that spending time with a gorgeous naked werewolf couldn’t be worked in somewhere.
“Dorian,” I said softly.
He brushed back his hair and smiled. Damn, he looked good for someone who just woke up.
“Good morning,” he said.
“Where are we?”
He stretched like a cat, and I admired the way his abs rippled and flexed.
“You followed me back to my place. I only live about an hour’s drive from your house.”
“We ran all that way?”
“You stopped to eat a deer,” he said with a smirk.
I was horrified. “I killed a deer?”
“Not exactly. It was hit by a car and you decided it would make a good snack.”
“Oh, gross! Can you give me a ride back home so I can use every mouth cleaning product that I own, please?”
Dorian laughed as he got out of bed. “Sure.”
I took a quick look around. “Where are my clothes? I was sure to take them off before … Oh, shit. They’re back in the woods somewhere.”
“I’ve got some things you can wear until you get home,” he said. “It won’t fit well, but it beats going out naked.”
“Thank you.”
A short while later I was wearing some of Dorian’s sweat pants and a big t-shirt. On the drive back to my place he asked, “What’s on your mind?”
“Hmm?”
“You keep staring out the window. What are you thinking about?”
“Everything. I don’t know how to sum it up. I still haven’t talked to John again. There’s this whole fight to the death thing you’ve got to deal with in a few weeks, and I need to go register myself as a werewolf.” I finally paused to take a breath. “Hank is still out there somewhere. Are we even going to talk about that? I mean, he was stalking me. He admitted it.”
“I think Hank will lie low until the next full moon. The last I heard, the police don’t have a suspect in Ethan’s murder, but he will probably still keep out of sight. I believe they are calling it a burglary gone wrong.”
“How do you know that?”
“One of us is a police officer.”
“Oh. You guys are everywhere. I had no idea. Speaking of police, I guess that’s where I’m going next, after I get dressed. That is where you go to put your name on the Lycan Registry, isn’t it?”
“Yes, it is. Do you want me to come with you?”
I shook my head. “I’d rather do it myself and just get it over with. I’ll probably talk to John after that. But, I’m free this afternoon if you’re interested.”
His grin was wicked. “That’s like asking if I’d like a steak. Of course I’m interested.”
“And every woman just loves to be compared to meat,” I joked.
“It was a compliment,” he said, laughing.
Dorian didn’t come in, but walked me to the front door. “Thank you,” he said. “I haven’t felt like this in a long time.”
“Like what?” I asked as I reached to hug him.
“Happy. Considering that Ethan just died, I probably shouldn’t say that, but it’s true. When I’m near you, I can’t help it. I feel free.” He looked embarrassed. “And now I sound like a nut job because we just met.”
I laughed. “No, you don’t. I feel a connection with you too. I can’t explain it, and I would kiss you, but I ate a deer.”
We both laughed as he kissed my cheek and said he would call me later.
“Did I give you my number?” I asked.
“Yesterday while we talked and you sat on your hands,” he said, still laughing softly.
I retrieved my key from its hiding place and went inside. When I turned on the lights and saw John sitting at my kitchen table I nearly jumped out of my skin.
“Son of a bitch!” I yelled. “Don’t do that.”
“You didn’t come home last night,” he said softly. “I know I probably get creeper of the year award for showing up like this, but I was really worried, Freya. Are you okay?”
I walked over and hugged him tightly. “I’m okay. Make us some coffee and I’ll tell you everything.”
Two hours and one pot of coffee later, John was still asking questions.
“So, Dorian is the guy we saw in the road, with the glowing eyes?”
“Yes.”
“And he is an alpha werewolf, and you are now sleeping with him.”
“That’s right.”
“Is it a werewolf thing?”
“John,” I said, rolling my eyes.
“No, I’m being serious. I know you haven’t dated in a while. Are you into this guy just because he’s a werewolf and has all these crazy pheromones going on? Are you sure you don’t want to look for a normal guy?”
I sighed, and ran a hand through my hair. Eww. Was that blood? I really needed a bath.
“John, I am not normal anymore, remember?”
He looked surprised, as if the thought just occurred to him. “Oh, right. Sorry. So, do you really want to date this guy?
”
“Yeah, I do. Does it bother you?”
“Not exactly.”
“What does that mean?”
He hesitated before saying, “It means he scared the shit out of me the other night. That was a big, tough, mean looking dude. And now you tell me you had sex with him. I’m just surprised.”
I considered his description before saying, “I don’t think he looks mean.”
“Well, maybe you’ve seen him smile, but I’ve only seen that scowl he had and the glowing eyes.”
John shivered and I laughed.
“You might like him if you give him a chance. He’s not all muscle and no brains or anything. He’s a librarian.”
John nearly choked on his coffee. “You’re fucking with me. That guy is a librarian?” He snorted with laughter. “That rhymes with barbarian. I’m sure there’s a joke in there somewhere.” He laughed harder.
I shook my head. “It’s good to see you’re not freaked out that I’m a werewolf. I was kind of worried about that.”
“Seriously? How long have we known each other now? You think I’d let a silly little thing like a change in DNA stop me from being your friend? Pffftt. Perish the thought.”
I took a shower and made myself presentable, deciding to leave my reddish-brown hair down for a change. John was still there, but that was not unusual. He had continued to talk to me through the door while I showered and was still talking while I applied my makeup.
“So, you really kicked that chick’s ass?” He looked impressed.
“I was winning, yeah.”
He moved closer and propped against the wall beside my vanity. “If she was an alpha, aren’t you abnormally strong for a werewolf?”
“I don’t know. Maybe I should ask Dorian. I suppose it’s no different than regular people. There are varying degrees of strength and skill.” I hesitated, then decided to ask John what was really on my mind. “Okay, this might be too much information, but I want your opinion on something.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Okay.”
John has always had an interest in the occult, everything from ancient folklore to modern magic practitioners. In his spare time he was working on a master’s degree in Occult Studies. Such a degree didn’t exist until a few years ago, when werewolves went public, shortly followed by vampires. Now that the public knew these things were real, they couldn’t wait to analyze it all. So, why was an E.M.T. studying this? Because it’s what he loved. John liked to help people. He was fascinated by the human body, but I think what he’d really love to do is be a wizard. And that had nothing to do with all the hours he played games online.
“It’s about magic,” I said, still hesitant.
“Well, you know that’s my thing. If I ever decide to go for a Ph.D., I’ll probably do my thesis on magic throughout the ages. So, what’s your question?”
“Hmm. This is awkward. I’m going to just blurt it out. When Dorian and I had sex, I felt something magical.”
John laughed. “It’s called an orgasm.”
“Don’t be a dick,” I said, jabbing my eyeliner at him. “I’ve had an orgasm before. No, it was like this rush of power, like something primal. Have you ever heard of anything like that before?”
He looked thoughtful for a moment before answering. “There are all kinds of sex magic. Sex can be used to bind people together magically. But there’s normally a spell required for something like that.”
I started putting away my makeup as I listened and tried to be sure the “magic” wasn’t in my mind. “Yeah, there was no spell.”
“It could have something to do with you both being werewolves,” he suggested. “I’ve got a class this afternoon. I’ll try to check it out after that, see what I can come up with.”
“Thanks. I appreciate it.”
He started to walk past me, then stopped and put his hand on my shoulder. “Are you sure you want to do this Lycan Registry thing alone?”
“Yeah, I’ll be fine. I want to do it as soon as possible. I heard on the news about this waitress who was turned, only she waited two months to report it. She got fired and sued.”
“What the fuck?”
“They said she endangered customers by serving them food.”
John rolled his eyes. “People are so stupid. It’s not like she was bleeding all over the food.”
“I know. But you understand my concerns, right?”
“Totally. Get it over with before your next shift.”
I laughed. “Do you mean before I go back to work, or was that a werewolf joke?”
He busted out laughing. “That one wasn’t on purpose.”
***
My hands shook slightly as I opened the door to the police station. Why was I so nervous? I hadn’t committed any crimes. Unless, eating road kill was a crime. I was still trying not to think about that.
The woman at the front desk smiled sweetly. “What can I do for you?” she asked.
My voice shook. I had to clear my throat and try again. “I need help with the Lycan Registry.”
“Oh, you want to see which of your neighbors is a werewolf, huh?”
“Um, no. I need to register.”
Her smile disappeared and she took three steps back. You know how people say, “I won’t bite?” I fucking wanted to bite her. What a bitch.
“It’s on that computer in the corner,” she said, pointing. “You can read the registry or click the button to add your name and information.”
After that, she took another step back.
“Give me a fucking break, lady. I have no interest in eating you.”
For such a life changing thing, adding my name to the registry was really simple. When I clicked “send” a message appeared telling me that my employer would be notified immediately. Well, that’s just great. At least I didn’t have to tell them personally.
I could certainly understand why people would try to hide and not register. I could also understand why so many who were turned ended up losing it and being hunted down. That woman’s reaction made me want to hurt people. But, it’s not fair to judge the world by a few morons.
I hurried up and left before she pissed herself. Why couldn’t everyone take the news like John?
On my way back to the car, Dorian called. “What about lunch?” he said.
I sighed. “I don’t feel like being around people.”
“You just registered.” It wasn’t a question.
“How did you know?”
“I had the same reaction. Fuck people then.”
I laughed.
“How about I bring over Chinese?”
“I think this whole dating thing is going to work out just fine.”
Two hours later, Dorian was at my door, looking sexier than ever. He had two large takeout bags.
“Think you brought enough food?” I teased.
He shrugged. “Werewolf appetite,” he said.
While he put everything on the table I asked, “Don’t you have to be at work?”
“The library was closed over the weekend, and today is my day off.”
His whole demeanor changed suddenly, as if a dark cloud had settled over him.
“What’s wrong?”
He shook his head. “Ethan’s funeral is tomorrow.”
I moved closer and put my hand on his back. The warmth of his skin burned me through his thin shirt and I wondered if my temperature ran that high.
“Should I be there as part of the pack?” I really didn’t want to go, too many bad memories. But, I felt I should offer. Then again, who has good memories of a funeral?
“I would say yes, but I’m not sure I should put you in that situation. Folks around here knew Ethan was a werewolf. There might be some reporters there. You’ve got enough to deal with right now, without having your face in the paper with this.”
“Are you sure?”
He offered me a weak smile. “I’m sure. He never liked a big fuss about anything, so the ceremony will be brief. Ethan was a
man of few words and I think his funeral should reflect his life. Respectfully, of course.”
“I get how you meant it. That makes sense.”
Chapter Six
Dorian didn’t stay the night. I think he needed to be alone, to grieve his friend and mentor. I wanted to help, and made sure he knew I was there if he needed me.
“You do know that, right?” I repeated.
“You’re very kind to someone you just started dating,” he said, smiling slightly.
“Well, you’ve seen me naked. It only seems fair.”
Dorian laughed as he pulled me close. “I feel like I’ve known you for so much longer than a few days.”
“Same here,” I said.
He kissed me softly. “I’ll see you sometime tomorrow.”
***
My supervisor called early the next morning to let me know not to come in.
“I’m sorry, but we can’t have you serving anyone anything consumable,” he said.
“It’s not like we run a four star kitchen. We serve cookies and coffee.”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“Couldn’t I just work the other half of the store and sell and stock books?”
“I’m sorry, but I need someone who could work at either station.”
A rage so fierce overtook me that for a moment I saw red. “Well, fuck you too, Jim.” And on that note, I hung up.
I spent most of the morning looking online for a new job. I had a bachelor’s degree in Philosophy, but that wasn’t exactly in high demand. Hey, I did what interested me. I had a full scholarship right out of high school and my mother encouraged me to do what I enjoyed. I shook my head. I didn’t need to think about her right now.
I could always go back to college, but I really had no interest in it. I just wanted a job that I enjoyed and to be able to pay the bills. It might sound simple, but I am simple, always have been. Happiness comes easily to me, as I believe it does to everyone who will allow themselves to enjoy the life they have.
I stepped outside to enjoy my coffee and breathe in the fresh air, but that small pleasure was short-lived.
Taming the Alpha Page 101