APPETITE

by Kathyrn, Lorraine

  "Indeed," Anna said, grinning at Charlie. "Now, what did you want to see me about?" she asked, leaning against the exam table.

  "Well, uh..." Charlie began, glancing at Damien. "Hey cowboy -- you think you could step out for a bit? Maybe go see to the unloading or something?"

  "Charlie?" He cupped her chin, tilting her head up to look at him. "Is there something bothering you?"

  "No," she smiled at him. "I just would like to talk to Anna privately. Girl things, you know."

  "Sure?" he asked, hesitant to leave her.

  "Go, Damien. She'll be fine." Anna moved to the door, holding it open for him.

  "Alright." He bent and kissed the tip of her nose. "I'll see you back in the apartment."

  "Okay."

  He moved to the door, pausing and turning towards Charlie again. "You're really sure?"

  "Damien! Go!" Charlie laughed, shaking her head as he left with a small wave. She hopped up on the exam table and crossed her legs.

  "So Charlie, how can I help you?" Anna asked as the door swung slowly closed behind him.

  "Well, I have a lot of questions."

  "I can imagine," Anna said with a warm smile.

  "I'm not even sure where to start."

  "Start wherever and I'm sure we'll eventually get everything covered."

  "Alright," Charlie said, looking down at her lap. "Um, well, okay...so Damien says I'm his mate." She glanced at Anna, who nodded and smiled. "And he wants me to become like him, to become a werewolf. Which I want to do, except...well, I'm a little wary of the ceremony, but nothing I can't get over, I guess." She could feel her cheeks getting red but couldn't stop it.

  "The ceremony? Why?"

  "I have...I was abused by my ex-husband," she began.

  "Oh, Charlie -- I'm sorry," Anna said, putting her hand on her arm and giving her a gentle squeeze.

  "It's alright. I mean, it's not, but it was a long time ago," she paused for a moment, taking a deep breath. "I have some pretty bad scars, pretty embarrassing scars, actually. And I understand, what with the sex and all, everyone will see them if we go through with the ceremony. Which is what I'm not very happy about, but I will deal with it." She gave Anna a shy smile and shrugged at that. "But...I'm really worried that...if I do this...will they be visible when I am a wolf?"

  "Oh," Anna said, breathing out a sigh. "I don't know. Wolves heal amazingly fast-"

  "I saw."

  "But I'm not sure how pre-existing scars would fare." She looked at Charlie thoughtfully for a moment. "I think it would depend on the scar, the severity of the original tissue damage as well as the depth. Can I see them?" she asked, grabbing a pair of gloves out of the dispenser on the wall behind her.

  Charlie thought a minute before nodding. "Alright," she said. Sitting up, she steeled her nerves for another minute before raising her shirt. She turned her head towards the door and closed her eyes, unwilling to watch as Anna inspected them. It was bad enough to feel her fingers, she didn't need to see them, too.

  "Your ex-husband did this to you?" she asked softly. Charlie nodded, and Anna was struck by the courage it took her to reveal this, not only to her, but to the whole pack when she was claimed by Damien. She had liked Damien's mate upon their first meeting, and now she knew she was right. She didn't know the story behind the scars and didn't want to, but that didn't stop her protective instincts from flaring up.

  'If you ever hurt Charlie I will personally torment you for the rest of your life,' she sent to Damien.

  'You'd likely have to get in line,' he sent back, proud and amused. 'Besides, do you think I would ever do anything to hurt her? I would navigate my way through the seven circles of hell just to see her smile.'

  "Alright, Charlie, thank you." She took off the gloves and threw them in the garbage, moving to the sink and washing her hands. "They don't look too deep, Charlie. I wouldn't worry too much about them when you change."

  "Really?"

  "I think you might have some interruption in your fur where they are the deepest, but that would likely be the worst of it." Anna said, nodding and smiling at her. "In fact, I think some of the shallower, thinner scars might fade once you do change."

  "That's possible?"

  "I believe so. I'm going to do a bit of research on it if you don't mind. Contact some other packs," she held her hand up to stop Charlie's protest, "just to ask what their experience has been with turned humans. I won't give them anything specific, I promise."

  "Okay. Thanks."

  "What next?"

  "Well, Damien told me a little about having babies, that it's difficult for you to get pregnant-"

  "I'm going to stop you right there. It is not difficult, per se. At least, I don't think it's any more difficult for me than for you."

  "But you don't have babies as often as humans do."

  "That's not exactly 100% accurate, Charlie. We have a much more limited time when we can get pregnant. For you, for the average human, you're fertile, you can get pregnant, for a few days about once a month, right? And with anyone who produces healthy and active sperm." Charlie nodded. "We can only get pregnant after we mate, and only from our mate, and only when we go into heat, which is usually just a few days every 10 to 13 months or so, but the periods in between can be as long as 20 months."

  "Really?"

  "Yeah. Those are rare, and usually someone who has such a long lapse between will be in heat for a few weeks rather than a few days."

  "Wow."

  "So it's not that it's more difficult to have offspring. It's that the opportunity doesn't present itself as often."

  "I see," Charlie said, her brow creased in thought. "And if there are other...inhibiting factors? How likely is it that there would never be a pregnancy?"

  "Inhibiting factors? Have you had a hysterectomy, Charlie?"

  "No."

  "Tubal ligation?"

  "No. Nothing like that. I was thinking because of my age."

  "Your age?"

  "I'm 40."

  "I see." She smiled at Charlie, trying not to tease her. She already considered her pack, more than that she thought of her as a friend, and didn't want to make her uncomfortable. "That's actually pretty young for us, you know."

  "Yeah, that's kind of what Damien said. I was just wondering if it's different for me because I wasn't, you know, born the same?

  "Not at all. In fact, I think it might be the opposite. But that is something I will also ask some of the other packs about." She watched Charlie relax a bit at that. "What next?"

  "Explain what you mean when you say you go into 'heat'. Is it like it is for other animals? Like you see on the Discovery Channel?"

  "Yes and no. It's kind of a cross between wolves and humans, I guess."

  "How so?"

  "Well, first the female's hormones go a little crazy. We ovulate like mad for a few days, which brings about changes in our pheromones."

  "Pheromones?"

  "Our scent. It doesn't change our scent, but it..." Anna trailed off, looking for the right words.

  "Adds a layer to it?" Charlie offered, thinking about what Damien said the other day.

  "Exactly. And while all of us can smell the change, it really affects our mates."

  "How?"

  "Their hormones go a little crazy in response to ours. Which makes them fiercely protective. Their sperm production increases tenfold, as does their stamina."

  "Their stamina?" Charlie asked, her brow cocked.

  "Both the male and female, actually. Their bodies respond to each other's, the need for each other becoming nearly overwhelming. The hormones working to make sure the they have sex as much as possible while they are fertile." Anna smiled at the faint grimace on Charlie's face. "It's not like the couple are out of control or anything. It's not like you're going to be in the middle of WalMart and just have to hump Damien," Anna said, and Charlie laughed.

  "I was getting a bit worried," Charlie said. Up until that last bit she was thinking going into heat
might be something to look forward to.

  "Well don't be. You'll still be able to function pretty normally. You'll just be exceedingly...horny when you see each other."

  "That's all." Anna nodded. "And this happens on average once a year or so?"

  "Yep."

  "What if Damien's not around when it happens?"

  "Well, the odds of that happening are pretty slim, actually."

  "Oh?"

  "He'll notice, subconsciously anyway, that you are getting ready to go into heat, and probably won't leave your side. He'll get overly protective, jealously so, because he won't want any other males near you until it's over. And since it's Damien...well, let's just assume no one will even see you for a few days, but he's likely to keep you so busy you won't notice until it's over." Charlie laughed and blushed at that.

  "He's a good guy, isn't he," Charlie said, making it more a statement than question.

  "He is one of the best." She looked at the woman sitting on the exam table before her and smiled. "Can I be honest with you?" Charlie nodded, mentally bracing herself. Against what, she didn't know, but Anna's tone put her slightly on edge. "Damien and I go way back. We grew up together here, on the ranch, and were always pretty tight. Me, him and Darian, and Tony were kind of our own little gang." She smiled, and Charlie couldn't help but smile back at the wistful expression on her face. "It was great. And I was devastated when Stacie made her play for him. Not because I thought I was in love with him, but because I knew she wasn't. I didn't know why she did what she did, I just knew it was wrong. And when it hurt him so deeply...had she still been here I would have killed her." She sighed, crossing her legs at the ankles and leaning next to Charlie against the exam table.

  "I almost didn't believe it when the rumors spread this week about him finding his one. The entire pack was buzzing about how he was smiling again -- really smiling -- and laughing, and I didn't want to believe it because I didn't want to see him hurt again."

  "You believe it now?"

  "Oh you bet I do," she looked at Charlie with a big smile. "You are his as surely as he is yours. Try to remember that when people will get in your way."

  "Did you two date?"

  "Date?" Anna echoed, tilting her head and considering her words carefully. "Sort of. We paired up occasionally at ceremonies and hunts when we were younger, before Stacie got her claws in him."

  "Paired up as in went to homecoming and prom or paired up as in had sex?"

  "We paired up sexually, Charlie," Anna said, watching the other woman's face closely. Charlie noticed the scrutiny and gave a soft laugh.

  "Don't look so worried, I'd already figured as much." She shook her head and slid off the table, leaning against it next to Anna. "After what Eva told me about pack behavior, I have to assume there are few here who haven't been with him."

  "Not quite," Anna laughed. "Most of us are pretty selective."

  "I see. It's just a select few that give the goings on that 'free-love' vibe?" Charlie teased, making Anna laugh again. "Sounds like a couple of my former band-mates."

  "Oh?"

  "They would actually get their junk shaved and pedicures before we played a wedding if the parents of the bride were divorced."

  "You're kidding," Anna chuckled.

  "Not at all. I have never met two bigger sluts in my life." She smiled at Anna. "They were good guys, though. When they thought with their big heads, anyway." She sighed, stretching her arms out in front of her.

  "You were in a band?"

  "For a bit when I was younger." Charlie gave Anna a nostalgic smile.

  "What did you play?"

  "I sang, actually."

  "Really?" Charlie nodded. "Do you still sing?"

  "Only when I'm happy, apparently."

  "So you've been singing lately?"

  "Yeah, I have," Charlie laughed.

  "What next?" Anna asked after a few moments of companionable silence.

  "What's going to happen to me?"

  "What do you mean?"

  "I mean after the mating thing. Damien said I would become a werewolf, too?"

  "Yeah, you will. Not right away, though."

  "That's what he said. But he said some things would change right away."

  "Oh, well yes, that's true. You will take on some traits almost immediately." She cocked her head, her brow creased. "And you'll likely notice some transient changes. Mostly in your personality."

  "Such as?"

  "Intense mood swings is a big one. Extreme fatigue. Increased appetite and sex drive, too. But those usually fade after a week or so."

  "You don't have a pamphlet or something on this, do you?"

  "A pamphlet?"

  "Yeah. You know, like they give out in doctor's offices? Something like 'So you've decided to have breast implants', only it would say 'So you've decided to become a werewolf'? It would list what to expect and how it happens. Pretty helpful for possible pack members and non-werewolf mates."

  "No. But it might be a good idea to write one up. I could sell it to the other packs and we'd make a fortune." They laughed together and fell back into silence again.

  "What next?" Anna asked.

  "You know -- I can't really remember now." She shrugged. "I'll most likely think of it as soon as I leave."

  "You know where to find me when you do." She smiled as Charlie stood up and moved towards the door. "And as soon as I have any further info for you on your other questions I'll let you know, alright?"

  "Sounds great." Charlie paused, her hand on the door lever. "I want to thank you for being so honest with me, Anna. It means a lot."

  "You're welcome." She followed Charlie out towards the lobby. "I'm so glad he found you. Not because he found someone, but because he found you."

  "Really?" Charlie turned to look at Anna closely as they came to the center's doors. "Thanks. That...thanks."

  "I'll see you soon," Anna said, watching as Charlie made her way towards the main house.

  Charlie walked through the ornate wooden doors to the main house and made her way up the stairs. She tried to keep her eyes down as much as possible, unsure how to acknowledge those around her that seemed to bow their heads. She saw the doors to Damien's apartment and almost sprinted to them in relief. She walked in and quickly closed the door behind her, leaning against it and chastising herself for being such a ninny.

  "Damien?" she called, walking to the entryway to the great room and poking her head in. She didn't hear him. "Anyone home?" She turned around and looked at her boxes and bins that were stacked along the wall of the formal sitting room. "Might as well get started," she mumbled, sorting through them. She stacked all the containers of clothing and shoes on one side, and her containers of household goods on the other. What pitiful piles they be, she thought.

  "We should go ahead and take the clothes and stuff upstairs," Damien said from behind her, making her jump.

  "Godammit!" Charlie said, turning to face him with her hands on her hips. "Would you stop sneaking up on me? I swear, one of these days you're going to give me a coronary."

  "Sorry, my love, but I just couldn't resist." He smiled at her, his eyes twinkling mischievously, as he approached and took her into his arms. He bent and brushed his lips against hers softly. "Did you have a good talk with Anna?"

  "I did." She put her arms around him and looked up into his eyes. "I appreciate you being so understanding about that."

  "I wouldn't say I was understanding as much as I was aware I had no choice."

  "Smart man." She rested her head on his chest and tightened her arms around him.

  "Charlie? Is everything alright?" he asked, somewhat alarmed by her behavior.

  "Better than alright," she sighed contentedly. They stood like that for a few minutes until he broke the silence.

  "Why don't we take your clothes upstairs and unpack?" He put his hands on her shoulders and leaned back to look at her.

  "Sounds good," she said, stepping away from him and turning towards her
stuff. She picked up a box labeled 'undies/jammies' and put it on top of a bin labeled 'dresses/skirts/foo foo', squatting down to pick them both up.

  "What is 'foo foo'?" Damien asked, stacking three big boxes labeled 'boots/shoes/belts n junk' and picking them up.

  "Show off," she muttered, making him grin at her. "It's fancy clothes and stuff."

  "Why 'foo foo'?"

  "It's what my mom called it." She followed him upstairs, walking carefully and rolling her eyes at the easy way he ran up the stairs.