Born Under a Blood Moon

I was minding my own business, trying to get as far away from Mother and my sisters as possible, before they realized I had disappeared. Despite being terrified, having not been allowed outside since before I could remember, I was willing to run away into the big unknown. It had to be less scary than where I was coming from. I had been riding the bike for what seemed like hours and ended up in an area that wasn't very populated. The road I was on was surrounded by small open fields and dark shadowy trees. Behind me, you could still see the lights of buildings and passing cars on the interstate. Ahead of me, there was darkness and the occasional streetlight. The road was mostly lit by the full moon.

The bike I had regretfully stolen glided quietly in the night, the only sound it made was the sound of the tires striking the road. You would think, with how quiet it was, I would have heard the creature running toward me, but I never did. It struck me from the right side, sending me and the bike flying across the road then down the embankment on the other side. I grunted at the impact from whatever it was that had hit me, and then again as I landed on my back in the dirt.

I couldn't breathe, my lungs stunned into silence by the impact. So I couldn't even scream when I saw the malevolence standing above me.

It looked like a large dog or wolf, but its eyes were red in the moonlight. Its lips were pulled back in a snarl, framing very sharp teeth and fangs. Drool dripped from the corners of its lips. The moonlight made his fur darker than it probably was. As the creature leaned its face closer to me, a piece of drool broke off and hit me on the cheek, making me whimper.

I finally drew enough breath and let loose a high-pitched scream. The wolf/dog creature jumped back at the sound then let out a growl and attacked. Instead of going for my face like I thought he would, he bit me in my stomach. He pulled back with his mouth full of my torn flesh, and I screamed again, the pain sudden and intense. The wolf/dog shook his head, dropped my flesh, and came at me again. This time he tore into my thigh.

He looked up at me, again with my flesh in his mouth, but it was different this time. He started chewing then swallowed. I could swear he smiled at me with blood dripping. I just knew he was going to eat me, piece by torturous piece, until I finally succumbed and died. Maybe I would have been better off never having left home in the first place.

I don't think I ever stopped screaming. As soon as my breath would run out, I would draw more in and continue the scream. So I was startled into silence when the wolf/dog threw back its head and howled. He stopped abruptly after a particularly long howl and looked to the trees on his left.

He then looked down at me. Snarling, he pressed his muzzle against my cheek, and I could smell my blood on its breath. I whimpered when he swept his tongue across my face in the worst doggy kiss ever. He snarled at me one last time before bounding away, back from where he first attacked me.

I laid there crying because I was too hoarse to scream anymore, unable to move or even think. I could feel myself getting weaker by the minute from the quick outpouring of my blood. I could hear my heart pounding in my ears.

After a while, I felt like I wasn't alone anymore. I didn't know if it was the wolf/dog coming back to finish me off or something else entirely. I just knew that something was coming towards me. I felt myself tensing up, preparing myself for another attack. I frantically twisted my head from side to side, trying to see how I could escape but knowing I was too injured to move.

I gasped when I saw what walked from the shadows of the trees into the moonlight. It was a pure black wolf with bright eyes that glowed in the moonlight. As it got closer, it seemed to shimmer, and the next thing I saw in its place was a man, but not just any man. This man was breathtakingly handsome. He looked to be very tall and fit. It was hard to make out all the details of his face, but what I saw frightened me, yet I wasn't afraid for my life.

I had enough time to notice he was completely naked before blacking out.

A while later, I heard voices talking over someone screaming, then I felt myself being lifted up before blacking out once more.

***

I don't know how much time passed, but it was full of scattered images and sounds. There was pain, and a lot of it. I kept seeing the tall man almost every time I opened my eyes. He was always sitting near me with his eyes focused solely on me, face pinched with something I couldn't name.

I finally awoke to early-morning light streaming into the unfamiliar room I was in. I surprisingly felt no pain, and I briefly wondered why. I stared at the popcorn ceiling for a while before looking around.

I was in a small room with three doors. I was assuming one was for the closet, one for the bathroom, and one to lead out of the room. There was a small window to my left, which let in little light. The walls were a dingy white, and there was very little furniture. There was the bed I was in, a dresser, and a chair that was currently occupied by the man from the night of the attack. He was sleeping, his head resting on the back of the chair and his legs propped up on the end of the bed. He had really long legs.

I took the time to study him while he was unaware. He was a very long, very fit man. Now that I was coherent and able to see him much better, I could tell he was of Asian descent. His hair was long, silky, and black, and it went well past his shoulders. His eyes were almond shaped, he had a narrow nose and surprisingly lush lips. He was magnificent. He was dressed in a pair of slacks with a long-sleeved shirt and a pair of black shoes.

I wanted to look away, but my eyes were drawn to him. I think he felt me staring at him because he started to stir. He shook his head and stretched, pulling his shirt up to show his well-defined abs. He opened his eyes, and immediately they turned to me.

I tried to avert my eyes, but again, his eyes just held my attention. I started to blush, realizing he had caught me staring at him. He stood up, his black eyes never leaving my face. "So you are awake," he stated in a deep voice. A voice that made me think of warm summer nights and intoxicating sin.

All I could do was nod slightly as I looked up at his towering form. He looked like he wanted to say something, but he shook his head and turned to leave the room.

I suddenly became afraid and didn't want to be alone. I had no clue who this man was, and I don't know why, but I instantly knew that I was safe with him, that no harm would come to me while he was near. What the hell was wrong with me?

"Wait!" I said and instantly regretted my outburst. He turned back to me with a raised eyebrow. I blushed and fiddled with the blanket covering me, avoiding his eyes. I mumbled, "I don't want to be alone." He stared at me for a moment, studying my face, though I had a feeling he already had my face memorized after all the times I had caught him staring at me.

He nodded, "I won't be long." Then he walked out of the room, only to return before I could blink a second time.

He sat back down in the chair, his elbows propped on his knees. I felt awkward, I'd never been alone with a man before. Heck, I had only seen men on TV. But for some strange reason, I felt safe with him. Was I going to react like this to every man I met or just him?

It wasn't long before I heard noises coming from the other room, and I soon saw why as a couple of people entered the tiny room. I immediately tensed up and started shaking. I felt a warm hand cover mine, and I almost immediately stopped shaking. I looked down and saw a tan-colored hand covering mine. I followed the arm up and saw it was attached to the Asian man. I really needed to find out his name so I could stop calling him the "Asian man." I gave a small, shy, but grateful smile before turning my attention to the two people who had entered the room.

It was a man and a woman. The woman was short with dark skin. She had long, chocolate-brown hair, tied back in a ponytail. She was wearing a long colorful skirt and a white blouse that didn't cover her shoulders. She wore a lot of bracelets that jingled when she moved. She reminded me of the Gypsy's I had seen on TV.

The man was very tall and built like a linebacker. He had close-cropped light brown hair and bright blue eyes. He was very attractive and exuded a sense of authority, even though he barely looked twenty-five. I was immediately intimidated by him, and I couldn't look him in the eyes.

They stood at the end of the bed, staring down at me. I tightened my fingers around the Asian man's and waited for them to say or do something.

The woman spoke first, "How are you feeling, dear?"

I looked up at her and saw her smiling, her eyes full of warmth.

"I am okay, I suppose. I don't understand what happened and where I am, but despite that, I am okay."

She smiled at me. "It's OK, dear. That's completely understandable." She sat on the edge of the bed. "Let's begin with who we are. I am Thelma Smith, the local healer for the Pack." She motioned to the man, who was still standing, "This is Fletcher O'Connell, the Alpha of the Blood Moon Pack." She then turned her attention to the Asian man, "this is Riley Nakamura, the Alpha's son and second in command."

I looked over at Riley, glad to have a name to use for him now, though I wondered how he could be the son when he hardly resembled the Alpha. He looked from Thelma back to me, and his face softened into a slight smile, which for some reason, I had a feeling he didn't do often. I smiled back tentatively, then turned back to Thelma.

I cleared my throat, "My, uh, name is Calliope Anne Miller," my brow furrowed, "but everyone just calls me Poppy." I shook my head, "Um, what do you mean when you say 'Pack,' and 'Alpha.' Exactly what happened to me?" I looked at each of them in turn as I asked.

They looked at one another, and Thelma spoke, "Well, dear. You are on Blood Moon Pack grounds right now. The Pack refers to them being Werewolves. The Alpha here runs the Pack, he keeps them safe and prosperous, and Riley is his second in command. He backs the Alpha in his decisions and takes care of things that the Alpha doesn't have time for." She took a breath and continued, "We found you several nights ago. You had been attacked by a rogue werewolf and were left for dead. Luckily Riley had been tracking him when he heard his howl and went to investigate. We sent out trackers to find your attacker, but we lost his scent when he went into a human community."

I stared at her, eyes wide. "You're kidding. Werewolves are on TV, not in real life. I was attacked by a dog, not a werewolf. This is some kind of joke." I insisted. I looked pleadingly at Riley, hoping he would tell me it was a joke.

He wrapped my hand with both of his. He spoke in that sinful voice, "I'm sorry, but it is not a joke. It's real." I shook my head, "But it's only on TV and the news. Mother said everything on the news and TV was made up. That it was for entertainment purposes. Though, I could never figure out why they always broadcasted bad news if it was to entertain people." I couldn't believe what I was hearing, but it sorta made sense.

I was surprised that I wasn't more afraid than I already was. I felt like I should be hysterical, but yet I wasn't. I looked at our clasped hands, comparing the color difference as I asked, "What does this mean for me?"

It was Thelma who answered, "Well, dear. It means that having been attacked by a werewolf and survived, you are now one as well. There is no cure, and once bitten, if you survive, you always become a werewolf."

I bit my lip, now starting to become afraid and realizing the gravity of my situation. I had jumped out of the frying pan into the fire.

They looked at one another again, and once more, Riley spoke, "One, you will turn at the next full moon. Two, you will be adopted into the Pack and this will be your home. You will be safe here."

"So, wait. You're saying I am now a Werewolf? Does that mean I will want to eat people now or what?" I was surprisingly more intrigued than scared. It couldn't be worse than where I had come from. I shuddered inwardly at the unwanted memory.

They all chuckled. "No, you won't want to eat people. Though you will want to eat a lot more meat than you had before. You will also want to eat a lot more than normal. Werewolves generally eat four or five meals a day with snacks in between. That is because our metabolism is faster than a human's, and we need to keep our energy up to get through a day. When we shift, we need to eat even more to make up for the energy that it takes to go from one form to another." I looked at the Alpha in surprise, not expecting him to have been the one to answer my question. His voice was a deep timbre for one who looked like a college student.

He moved toward the door as if he was preparing to leave. "You will stay here until you are fully recovered. Riley and Devette will be here to keep an eye on you and to answer any questions you have. They will also get you anything that you need and will contact your family to let them know you are okay. There will also be guards stationed to help keep an eye on you. We will figure out what else needs to be done when the time comes. Sorry this happened to you, but welcome to the Pack." He nodded at Riley and, with one step, was out of the room. Shortly after I could hear that he was gone completely.

Thelma stood up from the edge of the bed. "I will be going soon too, dear. But first, I need to examine your wounds to see how you are doing. Riley, if you don't mind, could you go to the other room while I examine her?"

Riley let go of my hand as he stood up with a nod, I let go with surprising reluctance. He looked down at me from his towering height. "I will be close, so don't worry." It was as if he could sense my apprehension.

I watched as Thelma pulled down my blankets, exposing my chest and then my stomach. She didn't stop until she had pulled the blankets to my knees. I felt my face heat up in a blush at being exposed for the first time in front of someone.

She first looked at the wound on my stomach, and I was surprised to see it was nearly healed, just a little bit of scab and redness left to heal. "How long have I been out for it to be completely healed?" I asked her. She clucked her tongue before answering, "You've been out for three days, nearly four. But since you are a Were, your healing is expedited by the virus. You should be completely healed in another day or so. But unfortunately, because it was a Were that attacked you, you will be scarred. We can heal all wounds with no scarring except those from other Weres and silver."

She moved to the wound on my thigh, and it looked the same as the one on my stomach. "You are free to get out of bed and move around, but do take it easy. You will be sore, and you will need to stretch and exercise to make sure those muscles don't stay stiff. You'll want to keep your flexibility. I now give you a clean bill of health." She stood up straight, covered me back up, and smiled a warm smile at me. She then headed to the door, "I will leave you to get some rest."

She turned to me at the door, "It was lovely meeting you, and I am glad you are healing so well. Glad to have you part of the Pack. I am sure you will love it once you get adjusted. Rest well." With that, she was gone.

After a few moments, Riley appeared in the doorway. My eyes couldn't help but be drawn to him. I was feeling a little awkward now that I was completely awake and alone with him. There was just something about being around him I couldn't explain. I felt tense but safe. Apparently, I wasn't alone in my feelings because Riley cleared his throat before speaking, "Are you hungry by chance? I could grab you something quick if you are."

I hadn't thought about it before, but now that he said something, I did feel a bit hungry. I nodded, "Now that you mention it, I am." He nodded, "I will be back in a few minutes with a couple of sandwiches and something to drink." Before I could say a word, he was gone and I was left alone.

I looked around the room, staring at nothing in particular. I thought I would like being alone, but it turns out I didn't, something I wasn't expecting. I didn't know the man, but I missed Riley's quiet and larger-than-life presence. I couldn't understand why I was so drawn to him. I hadn't been drawn to the Alpha, so maybe it was just Riley I was drawn to. I didn't know. I had no idea how to socialize with anyone, let alone a man. He was very intimidating, like the Alpha, but I wasn't scared of him. I was not a fan of those who were strong and had power over others, but I had a feeling, or a hope, that Riley wasn't the type to do that. I had enough of that from the home I had run away from. I didn't want to be around that again, yet I couldn't help but feel safe when around this unusual male.

I didn't know where this would lead, but I decided I would just go with the flow and see what happened. It couldn't be worse than Mother's, could it? It was all I could think to do, given the situation I now found myself in and with no way to change it. It had to be better than where I had come from, didn't it?

I knew my life was going to change. I knew that when I ran away. But now I was wondering how much change this new development would cause. I hoped it was all good. I don't know if I could take any more bad. Seems like my whole life was bad changes, and I felt I was due for something good.

I looked at the doorway when I heard movement in the other room. Riley soon appeared carrying a tray with food and a bag that had something that looked like drinks in it. He placed the tray at my feet and set the bag down on the floor. He went to the closet and grabbed several pillows.

"Let's get you sitting up so you can eat easier." He stated. He put an arm under my shoulders and pulled me up into a sitting position before I could respond. The blanket fell into my lap, exposing my naked breasts to his eyes. We just sat there for a moment, me blushing a bright tomato red, and his eyes dilating with some unknown expression. I squeaked and quickly pulled the blanket up, covering my nudity. He cleared his throat and finished putting the pillows behind me as a nice cushion to rest against. We didn't say a word about my accidental exposure.

Riley grabbed the tray and placed it across my lap. There were two paper plates, both with sandwiches that looked to be roast beef. The meat was thick on them, there was also lettuce and my least favorite, tomatoes. There were also some potato chips on the plate to round out the meal. It was simple but looked appetizing. Just at that moment, my stomach decided to let itself be known and growled. I blushed and Riley chuckled.

He reached down into the bag, bringing out a couple of cans of soda, a rarity to me. He popped open the tabs and handed me one, before grabbing one of the plates and sitting down into the chair. I looked at the plate left on the tray and wondered how I could wrap my mouth around such a thick sandwich. I took the tomatoes off, and that made it a little more manageable, but it still looked uber thick. I glanced over at Riley and saw he was having no difficulty biting into the sandwich. I shrugged my shoulders and decided to give it my best shot.

It was difficult, but I managed a decent bite. It was delicious. I chewed quickly and took another bite. It was the best thing I had ever eaten, I was sure of it. Before I knew it, the first half of the sandwich was gone. I looked wide eyed at my plate, surprised at myself. I grabbed a chip and munched on it as I looked over at Riley. He was well into the second half of his sandwich, and his chips were already gone. Here I was worried about looking like a pig, and there he was almost done. I took a swallow of soda to hide my smile and nearly groaned in delight. I rarely ever got to have a treat like this.

We continued to eat in silence. The only thing heard was the crunching of our chips and sandwiches. Before long we were both done, and I groaned in satisfaction.

"That was delicious, thank you," I told Riley.

He gave me a smile, and it eased the firm look he seemed to always have. His eyes had crinkle lines when he smiled, and he even had dimples. He became even more attractive, though I had no idea how that was possible.

Out of nowhere, I yawned a huge, noisy yawn. I gave a small squeal in surprise and blinked rapidly. Riley laughed a low startled laugh that came from deep within. He started gathering up our mess, piling it up on the tray. Without a word, he left the room, only to return a few moments later.

"I think it is time for you to rest now. Tomorrow we will find you some clothes and get you up and moving around. Build up some of your strength. I will introduce you to Devette, who will also be around to answer your questions and help you get adjusted to Pack life." He turned to leave, his hand on the light switch, when I found myself once more calling out, "Wait. Don't leave."

He looked back at me with a raised eyebrow. "You need rest. I will be in the other room while you sleep. It's okay." He tried to reassure me, but I wasn't having it.

I looked down, a blush staining my cheeks. "I know, but could you please stay? At least until I fall asleep? Please?" I implored.

He studied my face as he thought about it. He came to a decision and turned to sit in the chair, reaching up to turn out the light. "Only until you fall asleep, then I am going into the living room. Okay?"

I nodded, then thought he might not be able to see, so I answered him verbally. I settled down into the bed, removing some of the pillows to get more comfortable. I didn't think I would be able to fall asleep quickly, because of everything I had learned and because of Riley's presence, but I found out I was wrong and was asleep in moments.

I awoke the next morning to the smell of food. My stomach growled to let me know it knew there was food nearby. I looked around and saw I was alone, part of me disappointed that Riley hadn't stayed. I slowly pushed myself up into a sitting position, keeping the blanket close to my chest.

I heard a noise from the other room, and just as I began to hope it was Riley, I saw that it wasn't. A tall mocha-skinned woman arrived in the doorway. I tried to hide my disappointment from showing.

The woman was very pretty. She had long hair done in thin braids that hung to her waist. She had an oval face, with a small upturned nose and hazel eyes. She looked to be very tall, six feet or taller. What was it with nearly everyone being the size of a small building, I wondered. This woman had the build of an Amazon and the presence to back it up.

She smiled when she saw I was sitting up. She jiggled the bags I didn't notice she was holding. "Good morning, I brought you some breakfast and clothes." She plopped down onto the edge of the bed and started pulling out wrapped packages from one of the bags. They turned out to be breakfast sandwiches, and she handed me two of them then gave two to herself. She handed me a couple of hash browns. She nodded to the sandwiches, "Go on, dig in," she encouraged.

I gave her a small smile and grabbed one of the sandwiches. It was a sausage, cheese, and egg biscuit, something I had never had before. I took a bite and discovered it was actually really good. I quickly ate it and moved onto the next one. The hash browns were gone in a couple of bites, and soon I was licking my fingers clean.

The woman reached into another bag and pulled out two bottles of juice and handed me one. I downed it in a couple of swallows. I smiled gratefully at her then blushed as I let out a small burp. She just smiled at me.

She gathered our mess, put it back into a bag, and grabbed the two other bags she had brought. "I didn't know your size, so I had to guess. I hope they fit you alright." Out came some panties, a bra, a couple of t-shirts, and a couple pairs of shorts.

"We can go shopping when you are up to it to get you more. For now, these should do." She stood up, "The shower is in there," she pointed to the door on the far left, "go ahead and take one, I am sure you could use one after all that you've been through. I will be in the living room. If you need me, just yell." She walked to the doorway, carrying our trash. "Oh, by the way, my name is Devette, but you can call me Devie." She grinned at me and walked out.

I sat there on the bed for a few minutes before trying to stand up. I sat on the edge of the bed, my feet on the carpeted floor as I gathered my strength to stand. I slowly put my weight on my feet and stood up. It was a weird feeling being vertical after being horizontal for such a long time. At first, my legs didn't want to hold me up, but they quickly adjusted.

I turned and gathered an outfit and carried it with me, naked to the bathroom. Once in there, I set my items on the counter and looked in the mirror. What I saw was as bad as I had hoped I wasn't.

My shaggy, uneven blonde hair looked like a wild rat's nest. It was all over the place. My bright green eyes looked huge in my face. There were dark circles under my eyes. My normally chubby face was a lot thinner and a little paler than normal. It was also streaked with dirt and blood. It looked like someone made a half-hearted attempt to clean my face because there were wipe streaks. I was embarrassed that people, and by people I meant Riley, had seen me like this.

I looked down at my body, noticing the wound scabs were already gone, just redness remained. But what surprised me most was that my body was a whole lot thinner than normal. I was, as of a few days ago anyway, plus sized. But now I looked like I had lost nearly half my body weight. I liked it a lot.

My breasts though not huge to begin with, were also a lot smaller. Not sure how I liked that yet. I did like they seemed a bit perkier then they had been. That was a plus. I twisted, trying to look at my butt, but I couldn't really see. I just had to hope it was a bit perkier too.

I looked at myself in the mirror again, shook my head, and sighed. I had never been vain about my looks. Why was I now? I had a feeling I knew, and I wasn't sure if I liked it. I turned to the tub and adjusted the water to just this side of scalding. I stepped in and immediately started scrubbing my scraggly hair clean. I washed it three times before I was satisfied. I washed my body just as many times and still didn't feel wholly clean. I found a razor on the edge of the tub and set about attacking the forest that was my legs. I ended up with a lot of razor burn and cuts, but I was satisfied for my first time shaving.

By the time I felt like I was done, the water had turned cold. I stepped out, shivering, quickly grabbing a towel and rubbing myself vigorously dry. I then wrapped what little hair I had in the towel turban style.

I grabbed the panties and looked at how scanty they were. I was used to full briefs, but these were like half the size of what I considered normal, something my sisters would wear. I shuddered. I sighed and stared at them for a few minutes before putting them on. They barely covered my hips but were surprisingly comfortable.

Next was the bra I was given. Thankfully it was a sports bra, and just a tad bit loose in the cup department, but it was serviceable. The shorts were denim and only partially covered the scar that was mid-thigh. I slipped on the red t-shirt. It was thin and as soft as a feather. I took the towel off of my hair and ran a brush through it, slicking it back. It was the best I could do with how shaggy it was.

I padded into the bedroom towards the doorway leading to where Devie said she would be waiting. I wiped my hands nervously on my shorts before stepping through.

I walked into the living area and discovered it was one big room. There was a kitchen off to the left side, but all it had was a small stove, small refrigerator, and a single sink. There was a microwave and coffee maker on one of the two small counters, but that was about all. I could see a door next to the kitchen, and I could only assume it was the pantry.

The rest of the room had little to no furnishings. It had a beige couch that could seat two people, and a recliner chair on either side of the couch that were mismatched colors. There was an old, beaten wood coffee table in front of the couch.

There were no other furnishings that I could see. If it wasn't for the big windows on each wall, the room would be dark and gloomy, but those windows let in a lot of light and cheered the place up some. Then I noticed the dust and grimaced.

Devie was sitting on one of the chairs that was furthest from the bedroom, one leg crossed over the other, swinging idly as she waited for me. She motioned for me to sit down, and I moved to sit on the recliner opposite her, feeling like I was to be interviewed for a position in an exclusive club.

"How are you feeling?" She asked me.

I shrugged my shoulders, "I am OK, a bit sore and tired, but better than I was, I suppose."

She nodded. "Well, I hope you don't mind, I want to get to know you a little bit, and I want you to feel free to ask anything you want."

I groaned inwardly, I just knew it, I was being interviewed for an exclusive membership. I didn't really want to talk about my past. I wanted to leave it there, in the past. It was still raw and painful. But I guess I could understand why she wanted to know me better. I was someone unknown entering a very closed group of people for the first time. I guess I'd want to know me better too if I was in her shoes.

I sighed and settled more comfortably into the chair. "Okay, what would you like to know?"

She got more comfortable as well. "Well, where do you come from? Is there anyone wondering where you are? Where were you going the night you were attacked? That sort of thing." The questions shot out of her rapid fire.

I made a face. "I am from around here, well the city. I think it's called Tampa. As far as I know, I was born and raised there. I don't care if they are wondering where I am, I am not going back, no one will ever make me. And I had no particular destination in mind when I ran away, just as long as it was as far away as possible." I frowned.

Devie's hazel eyes were wide in shock and sympathy. "Why wouldn't you care if they were wondering about you? Why were you running away?" She seemed genuinely interested, a bit morbidly so, I thought.

My shoulders drooped, I didn't want to talk about this, but maybe if I did tell her, I wouldn't have to talk about it to anyone else again. She could tell them what I tell her and leave me out of the telling.

I looked down at my hands as I answered her, "I don't care about them, and have no care if they are wondering about me. I ran away because I was sick of the abuse. I had been locked up in that house, not seeing the light of day since I was 5 years old. I was used as a punching bag for my Mother and two sisters whenever they felt the need to hit something. I don't care about them, and I refuse to ever see them again." I looked up at her, a look of determination and worry on my face, "Please, whatever you do, don't let them find me. I won't, I can't go back there." I pleaded.

She looked horrified but quickly tried to hide it, "Oh my God. I am so sorry that you had to go through that. I don't blame you for wanting to run away. We won't let them harm you ever again."

I wanted to believe her with all of my heart, but I was afraid that I would be found by Mother, and I think that would be a far worse nightmare than my suddenly becoming a Werewolf.

She quickly tried to change the subject and make like we hadn't just discussed something so detestable. "So, um, until you are completely healed and have gone through your first change, someone will be with you 24/7. It will be me taking the day shift and Riley taking the night shift as well as a couple of guards outside and wherever you need to go. Occasionally someone else might cover if Riley or I get called away."

My brow furrowed, "Why does someone need to be with me all the time? I don't understand."

"Well, it is because we don't know you for one, and for the other, we think that the wolf who attacked you might come back. We are not sure 100 percent, but we don't want to take that risk."

I stared at her stunned, "Come back? Why would he come back? How do you know this?"

Devie sighed, "The other night, we had an intruder in the compound. He didn't get too close to here before he was discovered, luckily. Riley happened to find him sniffing around and gave chase. That damn wolf eluded us again, though, and disappeared without a scent to track."

I was immediately terrified. My attacker was looking for me? Oh God, maybe I should have stayed where I was and never left Mother's. At least there I knew the devil scaring me. Here I had no clue.

"I..I….I need to leave. I can't let him or Mother find me. I need to get as far away as I can." I started to panic. I got up and started pacing back and forth, agitated, my breathing becoming ragged.

Devie sat forward in her chair, her hand held out as if to hold me still, "Hon, it's OK. You are safe here. No one in the Pack will let anything happen to you. This is the safest place you can be. Trust me."

I side eyed her as I continued my pacing. I thought about it for a minute and sighed as I stopped pacing and faced her. My shoulders slumped, "OK, I will stay, this is probably a lot safer than me being on my own. But do you think only one or two of you a shift is enough?"

She grinned, "Hon, Riley is our best and most lethal fighter, and I am no slouch neither. But to ease your fears, the compound has doubled its security for the time being. The Alpha will not allow anything to happen to any of his wolves and their home."

I hugged my arms around myself and nodded. I found I was still to agitated to sit down and wandered around the living room, noting all the grime and dust layered everywhere.

I spun to face Devie, "Is there any way I can clean this place? It looks like it hasn't been lived in for years. And I need to do something besides stare at the walls."

Devie blinked and nodded. "Oh sure, let me call and get someone to bring us some cleaning supplies, and we can get down to it. I am sorry I didn't even think about giving this place a scrub down. We just needed somewhere to house you, and this was the only thing available." She stood up and dug into her pants pocket. She pulled out a phone, dialed, and spoke a few short words before placing the phone back in her pocket.

A few hours later, near lunchtime, we had put a huge dent into the grime that had covered the front room. Devie had set up some music through her phone, and we were working to the beat.

I was standing on a three-tier step stool, washing a window, bouncing my hips, and singing along to the music, forgetting for the moment the changes my life had undergone, pretending that I was normal and had a normal life. Devie was across the room, tackling the grime in the kitchen.

I was so into cleaning the window and the music that I failed to notice that there was a new presence in the room. I didn't notice until I happened to look at the reflection in the windowpane. I jumped in surprise, forgetting I was on a stool and started to fall.

Before I could even get close to the ground, I felt steel arms sweep me up. I blinked rapidly as I looked up into the iron gaze of Riley. My arm automatically went around his shoulders. I gulped at feeling his very warm bare skin.

He was wearing a tank top that showed off his whipcord lean arms, which were surprisingly covered in tattoos. I had not noticed before, I guess because of me being in shock. But he was covered in several tattoos of various types and figures. From the angle I was in his arms, I couldn't see them all, but I could tell that some of them looked like they could be Japanese tattoos.

I suddenly wanted to see if he had tattoos on other parts of his body. I blushed at the thought, then blushed even more when I saw Riley's eyes dilate. I was suddenly afraid he could read my mind, and that made me squirm in his arms.

In response, he let go of my legs and let me slowly slide down the length of his body. I could feel every hard bit of him. I felt something uncurl inside me and reach out for that part of him that matched mine.

As I slid down, I felt him getting harder, and my breathing hitched.

I knew what went on between a man and woman, thanks to the TV shows, movies, and books that Mother and my sisters had watched and read. I had even heard my sisters talking about boys in their school and what they had let them do. I used to dream that I would get to feel what those women had felt, but I never thought it would happen in reality, and I was scared for it to.

I couldn't tear my eyes from his. He drew me tighter against him, and I couldn't help but let him. I swallowed again as his we just stared at each other. Just as I was wondering what was happening, I heard someone clear their throat, and it broke the moment.

I blinked as Riley shook his head as if to clear it, and he stepped back. Regretfully he let me go, and I was left standing on my own as he was suddenly across the room as if he was Superman himself.

In that moment, I wanted to shoot Devie for ruining the mood, yet I was also quite thankful.

Devie was looking from Riley to me and back again with a huge smile on her face. I didn't understand why she was so happy about something that didn't even happen.

I avoided looking in Riley's direction and picked up the rag I had dropped when I fell. I heard bags rustling, and then the smells of delicious things hit my nose.

Despite myself, I looked over to where Devie was now standing with Riley, and I saw they had spread out containers of what had to be food on the counter. I sniffed the air, and my stomach growled at the scents.

I blushed, Devie laughed, and I saw a small smile on Riley's lips before he turned away to grab some plates from the cabinet.

I walked closer, identifying the scents as I drew nearer. I could smell fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, potatoes, and what seemed to be coleslaw. I licked my lips in anticipation.

Devie handed me a plate when I drew near and motioned for me to help myself. I looked at the food before me and wondered how we were supposed to eat through two buckets of fried chicken, one having extra crispy and the other with original, and nine bowls of sides.

I watched Riley and Devie pile their plates high with chicken and various sides, shrugged my shoulders, and copied them.

They headed into the living room, placing their plates on the coffee table there. Riley and Devie sat on the couch, pretty much leaving me with only floor space if I wanted to use the table too. I sighed and sat cross legged in front of them.

Riley suddenly jumped up as if forgetting something and went to the refrigerator. He pulled out a couple of two liters, grabbed three glasses, filled them with ice, and came back to the couch.

Without a word, he poured us each a glass and then went back to eating his lunch. I just blinked before diving into my own meal.

We ate in silence—except for the music still playing—for a few minutes, before Devie spoke, and I died inside.

"If you were locked away from the outside world, how do you know a lot of these songs that have been playing, and how to read and other stuff?" She asked around a mouthful of chicken.

I dropped my fork, losing my appetite. I had hoped she wouldn't want to talk about my past anymore since I had told her, especially in front of Riley, but apparently, I was wrong.

"Locked away? What are you two talking about?" Riley demanded. I looked at him through my lashes, then away, as I told my tale for the second time in a day.

The whole time I spoke, he didn't take a bite. His attention was solely focused on me, making me nervous.

"I told Devie earlier about why I didn't want to be found. It's because Mother and my sisters are horrible people. I ran away from them so I wouldn't ever be beaten again. I got tired of being their whipping girl, never seeing the light of day and hearing a kind word. So I left them. I waited one night for them to pass out from their stupid drinking and pill popping, stole someone's bike, and headed towards the sunrise. I don't know how far I had gotten before the attack happened, though." I randomly stirred the potatoes on my plate, not wanting to look at him and see pity.

"And the reason I know a lot of these songs is because my sisters loved to play the radio. They loved to listen to 98 Rock and 93.3. Music was my only bit of happiness, and I looked forward to the times they listened. Same with reading, everything I know is either from the radio, TV, or books. Though Mother always told me it was just for entertainment, nothing on them was ever real." I shrugged and took a bite of tasteless potato. I looked up and saw Devie with an apologetic look on her face.

I looked at Riley and what I saw scared me. He looked like he wanted to murder someone. His face was tight, his jaw clenched and a pulse ticking in his cheek. His eyes were flashing from black to amber so fast it was dizzying. Somehow I could sense his fury, it even had a scent to it, something I couldn't name, but it smelled like fire and brimstone.

I jumped and nearly screamed when he suddenly jumped up and left the house, door slamming shut so hard that the walls vibrated.

I looked at Devie in shock. She looked as shocked as I felt. "Wh…what's wrong with him?" I asked her in a whisper. She frowned, "I don't know. But I do know it is better to leave him be while he is like this. He's in a dangerous mood, and I feel for anyone who gets in his way."

I looked down at my plate and gave up eating completely. I pushed the plate away and stood up. I went into the kitchen and started cleaning up our lunch and putting the leftovers in the fridge.

I stopped and turned suddenly to face Devie, who was bringing the plates from the table. "What right does he have for getting mad at what I said? It happened to me, not him, not you or anyone else. Me. ME!" I screamed the last and threw a container of coleslaw against the wall.

I dropped to the floor, placed my face in my hands, and cried all the tears I had not let myself cry in years. All I had ever wanted was for them to love me. I have never understood what I did wrong to deserve the beatings and hateful words. I had tried to be a good daughter and sister, but it was never enough.

I didn't realize I had spoken aloud until steel arms once again surrounded me and a voice rough from holding in their rage answered me, "It was nothing you did. You were an innocent child who should have had the love of their parent and siblings. It's their fault, never yours."

I looked up into Riley's face, tears streaming and nose running, not caring how unsightly I must be. I stared into his eyes, trying to see if he was just saying words or if it was true. Something there made me believe him, and I gave a little nod with a sniffle. He gently kissed my forehead. It soothed me but not enough. I wrapped my arms around his neck and cried again, crying until I couldn't cry anymore. He just held me, rocking slightly and lightly stroking my back.

I don't know how long we sat there, me curled up in his lap and him sitting with his back against a cabinet, but it must have been a long time, because of the shadows growing inside. I didn't want to move. If I moved, I would have to face Riley and everything that had transpired, and I was perfectly content to just sit in his arms and not say a word.

This thing with Riley, I didn't understand it. Why was I so OK with being near him, and sitting in his arms? He is the first man I had ever met, shouldn't I be afraid of him or something? If anything, I felt safe with him, like as long as I was with him, nothing bad would ever happen to me again. It was like somewhere inside me knew this man could be, would be important to me. He would bring me joy, happiness, and sorrow, but most of all, the love I had never had before.

It was puzzling, and I wanted to explore it, but the part of me that was the abused little girl didn't. She just wanted to stay in his protective arms forever, and at this moment, so did all of me.

I think I must have dozed off because the next thing I knew was Riley gently shaking me. "Come on, we need to get up. My legs are numb from sitting like this for so long."

I sighed and blushed as I moved to get off of his lap. I didn't want to, but I had to, I had already made a spectacle of myself enough for the day. I stood next to him and stretched. He stood and did the same. I couldn't help but stare. His shirt rode up, showing his abs. They even had tattoos on them too, though I couldn't see what they were in the dimming light and wished I could.

I blushed when he caught me staring at him. He just grinned, wrapped an arm around my shoulders as if I was his best friend, and guided me to the living room couch. "Neither one of us finished lunch. Do you think you could eat something now?" He asked.

I thought about it a moment and nodded. He pushed me down onto the couch and headed back into the kitchen. He warmed up everything using the microwave and brought it back to the coffee table.

I avoided looking at Riley. I was embarrassed about my breakdown and him having been there to witness it. For the first time, I noticed there was no music and Devie had disappeared. Even the mess I had made on the wall was cleaned up. I must have really been out of it if I had not noticed her cleaning or leaving.

I tensed as Riley sat next to me and his leg brushed mine. He handed me a plate, and then he dug in. I didn't know if I could eat, but I needed to try. So once more, I piled my plate high and surprisingly did have my appetite back.

The food was delicious, and we ate in silence for a few minutes. I was too busy concentrating on my plate to try to make small talk. A little scared to do anything but eat.

We were nearly done eating when he spoke, "I am sorry about how I acted earlier. You're right, I had no right to get upset like I did. But the thought that yo….anyone went through what you did, got to me like nothing else ever has. No one should be treated like that, especially you. To be a wolf is to have a family that will love you. It's unheard of for our people to be treated so."

I side eyed him, wondering what he meant, especially about me. I shrugged, "I probably would have reacted the same if the situation had been switched."

He turned to me suddenly and grabbed my hands, holding them tightly in his, "I want you to know that you will never have to worry about them again. The Pack and I will keep you safe. This is your home now, and I want you to be happy here."

I couldn't look into his face, afraid I would see something that wasn't actually there. I didn't want to be disappointed, so I kept my attention on our hands. He had strong rough hands, as if he worked with them a lot. They felt like they could hold the world. They were so strong and so dark compared to my pale ivory ones.

"I want to be happy here. I truly do. But everything is so new and different from what I am used to. I am afraid I won't ever be able to adjust fully. I am not used to being free, to being treated decently. It's like a dream I don't want to wake up from."

He tipped my face up to look at his, I could see the sincerity and care there. How could someone who just met me care? I didn't understand it, but I found that as quickly as everything was happening, I was starting to care for him too. What in the world was going on here? I was so confused.

I couldn't look away. His eyes were mesmerizing. We stared at each other for a few minutes before I realized his face was drawing closer. I couldn't blink or move away. I wanted to know what he was going to do.

My eyes closed as his lips lightly brushed mine. My first kiss.

I leaned closer and felt his tongue trace my lips. They parted with a sigh. He deepened the kiss. I blinked my eyes open in surprise then closed them again as his tongue explored my mouth. I mimicked him, not knowing what else to do. He groaned and wrapped his arms around me, and I, in turn, wrapped my arms around his neck.

The kiss was full of want and desire and things I could only wish for. It seemed to go on forever, and I didn't mind. As first kisses went, it was a doozy.

He pushed me back against the couch, our lips never parting. He placed his right knee next to my hip, and his left hand slid under my shirt, tracing my ribs. I gasped against his mouth. He trailed his lips down my neck, licking and nibbling as he went. He stopped at the space where my neck met my shoulder and inhaled deeply. He growled softly, and I tingled all over at the sound. I felt something deep within stretch and reach out to touch him. Like calling to like.

My hands were on his shoulders. I had no idea where or what to do with them. He nipped at my neck, and I whimpered. He paused, and I whimpered again, not wanting him to stop. I didn't know what would happen, but I so wanted to find out.

He suddenly pulled away and stood up. He frowned, "I am sorry, that shouldn't have happened." He then walked out of the house, and for the second time that day, the door was slammed shut.

I sat up slowly and pulled my shirt down. I wrapped my arms around myself and wondered what the hell had just happened. What did I do to cause him to leave?

What were we doing? Why wasn't I upset that he had kissed me? I was more upset that he stopped then starting. I stared off into space as I thought about what had happened.

I nearly jumped out of my skin when someone knocked at the door. My brow furrowed. I slowly got up and made my way to the door. I couldn't look through the peephole because there wasn't one. I slowly opened the door, not knowing what to expect. I opened the door all the way once I saw it was Devie at the door.

I stepped back and let her enter. "Girl, I don't know what you did, but you have got Riley in a tizzy again." She came in and sat on the same chair she had sat on earlier.

"I have him in a tizzy? What the hell is a tizzy anyway?" I demanded as I moved to the coffee table and started cleaning it up.

Devie laughed, "It means you have him all agitated. He came to my place, unable to stay still. Told me I had to get back here cause you were all alone. Then he disappeared into the night."

I scoffed, "he should never have kissed me, then maybe he wouldn't be in a tizzy."

Devie's jaw dropped. "He kissed you?!" She fell back in her chair in shock.

I blushed and nodded. I started washing the dishes that had accumulated throughout the day. I made the water soapy and as hot as I could stand it. I let the normal routine of cleaning dishes to distract myself of what could have been.

Devie wouldn't let me forget it, though. She kept exclaiming how shocked she was that he had kissed me. Was it really that big of a deal for him to have done so? Was it because it was me he had kissed? Or something else? I had no clue and doubt I would get to understand anytime soon.

Finally, Devie calmed down and shut up about the kiss. I was grateful. I finished the dishes and started wiping down the counters, even though they had been scrubbed hard earlier in the day. I needed something to do. I wasn't really used to just sitting around doing nothing. Mother had seen to that.

Once I was done with the kitchen, I moved to go on to the bathroom, since that had not been done yet today. Devie stopped me, "Girl, you have been cleaning all day. Take a break, relax, cause tomorrow we go shopping."

I stopped mid-stride, "Shopping? What do you mean, shopping? Like going out into public?" I demanded. She nodded eagerly. "Oh no, I don't do public. Never been there, never doing that." I protested.

Devie's face fell in disappointment, "What do you mean? Have you tried being in public? I will be there, there isn't a thing to worry about. You need clothes and necessities."

I started to shake my head but stopped when I saw Devie's hopeful look. I hung my head and slumped my shoulders, knowing this was a mistake but agreeing anyway, "fine, OK, I will go shopping." She clapped her hands happily and gave a huge smile.

Maybe it will be fun, I tried to tell myself.

HA!

The morning dawned way to quickly for my taste. I had barely slept all night, all I could think of was kissing Riley, and shopping, sometimes both at the same time. I threw the covers back with a groan and got up out of bed.

I grabbed another set of clothes and headed to the shower. I must admit taking a shower every day was real nice. Before, I was lucky if I got one once a month, weekly was unlikely, and daily was a definite no-no.

After Devie had gotten my consent to go shopping, she had turned the music back on, and we had attacked the bedroom and bathroom. I should have been exhausted after doing all of the scrubbing, but I still had not been able to go to sleep.

I took a hot shower but turned it to cold so that maybe it would help me wake up. All it did was cause me to yelp and shiver.

I stepped out with another shiver and quickly wrapped a towel around myself and my hair. I looked at myself in the mirror for the second day in a row. I saw that my face and body were impossibly thinner than yesterday. I was now slim, something that was a nice change.

My breasts were perkier, not any smaller, just a lot perkier. The wounds looked like months old scars. I tried to look at my butt again but still couldn't make out if it was any perkier either. My tummy was nice and almost flat, something I had never seen.

I grabbed the panties and slipped them on. They were baggy on me today. I guess it was a good thing I was getting new clothes today. I sighed and slipped on the rest of the clothes, which were all baggy on me now. I frowned as I tried to think of something to use as a belt to keep the shorts on.

I went into the bedroom to try to find a belt, a string, anything that would work.

I jumped when a knock sounded on the bedroom door, then relaxed when I saw Devie poke her head in.

"Hey hon, how are you this morning?" She asked. I shrugged my shoulders and motioned to my shorts. "I'd be OK, I think, despite the lack of sleep, if it wasn't for these shorts being too big for me now. Do you have any thread or something to fix these?" I looked up at her.

She looked thoughtful for a moment, and then it looked like a light bulb went off, and she darted off to only return a moment later. She came towards me with what looked like a twist tie from a loaf of bread. "I got an idea," was all she said. She proceeded to grab at two of the belt loops on my shorts, pulled them together, and then tied it with the tie.

It looked like a hack job, but it worked. I was no longer in fear of my shorts falling off. I smiled.

"Cool, now that that is settled, we can go to breakfast. I am starving," Devie announced. I looked at her quizzically. "Go to breakfast? We're not eating here like yesterday?"

She grinned, "Nope. Today we are going out into the wide unknown and eating." She actually cackled.

My eyes widened in shock and sudden fear. I don't know how to be in public. I couldn't remember a time I ever was in public, if I even ever had been. My world consisted of 4 walls for the last sixteen years. Even though I had gone out into the wide world when I ran away, I was so focused on getting away I didn't pay attention to anything else.

I was terrified. The only thing I could cling to was Devie, and I hope she didn't let me down.

She led me outside, and for the first time, I was out in the open air, feeling the sun beaming down onto my cooled from the inside flesh. It was bright, very bright and very hot. I was instantly sweating.

She quickly ushered me to a little white sporty car. It hinted at fast and dangerous things. Despite my misgivings, I immediately liked it.

She opened the passenger door for me, and I slid in. The seats were doe soft leather and hugged me. The dash looked like something out of an airplane, all gadgety and stuff. She slid in beside me and showed me to buckle up. Once we were both buckled up, she put the car in gear, and off we went.

If memory served from past TV shows, there should be speed limits, but Devie drove as if no such thing existed. I didn't mind, it was exhilarating. Though, her shouting and cussing at the drivers who got in her way was a bit scary. The scenery past by so quickly that I couldn't take everything in.

Far too soon, we arrived at our destination. A place called Denny's. If the smells coming from the building were any indication, it was going to be delicious.

We got out of the car and headed inside. A woman greeted us with menu's in her hand and a cheerfully fake smile.

"Just the two of you today?" She asked with a chirp.

Devie shook her head no and held up three fingers. The woman nodded and grabbed another menu. Then led us to a booth near the front of the restaurant, but Devie quickly told the girl we'd like something in the back. The girl turned and led us to the back. I wondered who the third person was. Part of me hoped it was Riley, but the other part didn't want to face him yet. I hadn't seen the other person who was to guard me, so maybe it was him.

Devie motioned for me to take the seat that was against the wall, and she took the one that left her back to the room. She slid in and sat sideways so she had a view of the room.

I didn't understand why she had me sit facing the room, when she should have taken that spot. It wasn't until I noticed a small commotion up near the front that I understood.

It was Riley. Yay, yet damn.

I felt my jaw drop and was afraid drool would start pooling out of my mouth when I caught sight of him. He was absolutely gorgeous, and I wasn't the only one to notice neither. All the women in the restaurant were staring and even some of the men.

He was dressed in black slacks, with a black tank top and over that a red silk shirt that was left unbuttoned. It gave teasing glimpses of his tattoos, just enough to make you want to undress him and see where they all lead. His long black hair was loose and pulled back in the front. He completed the gorgeous look with a pair of wraparound sunglasses, which seemed to be looking at me.

I heard a snicker, and I shot Devie a glare as I closed my mouth and acted like I didn't notice him. Which was extremely hard to do since I could almost feel him getting closer. It was as if I had a tuning fork and it was always tuned to him. It was weird. How could I be so attuned to him?

He slid into the booth next to me. I glanced at him before glaring at Devie again and slid as far over as I could. I didn't want to touch him. I was afraid to touch him.

He took off his sunglasses and looked around before looking at Devie, then me, and then back to her again. "Morning, ladies. How are you today?"

"I'm great, looking forward to shopping, even if it isn't for myself," she grinned.

I mumbled and shrugged, and was saved by answering more clearly by the arrival of the waitress. She couldn't take her eyes off of Riley, and I couldn't blame her, because despite myself, I kept glancing at him out of the corner of my eyes. He was a sight to behold.

"What would you all like to drink?" the besotted waitress asked us, without looking away from Riley. I didn't like the way she was looking at him, as if he was a meal she was going to devour. I felt something rise inside me, something that didn't like her staring at Riley. It felt like it was right beneath my skin, stretching my flesh to come out and gouge out her eyes. I had no idea what it was, but it felt like something else lived in my skin.

I let out a small moan at the intensity of the feeling. It was most painful and intense. I don't know what it was, but it wanted out. I felt a growl leave my throat as I looked at the girl, who finally took her attention off of Riley when I growled. I lunged at her, and if it hadn't been for the steel band suddenly around my waist, I would have reached her and bit her face off.

"Oh my god, look at her eyes." The girl exclaimed in stupefied shock. Devie quickly told her what we would drink and that we needed a few more minutes to consult the menu. She seemed completely unaware of the danger she was potentially in, stupid girl.

The girl went away, looking back a couple times as she did so. I struggled at the arms holding me to Riley's side, desperate to reach the girl and teach her not to stare at something that didn't belong to her. He was mine, dammit.

I felt lips and words being said against my hair in a soothing voice. I didn't want to be soothed, I wanted to hunt, to rend, to ruin, but Riley persisted on speaking to me softly and soothingly. It slowly started to work. I didn't know what he said, but it calmed me, and whatever was in me down.

It wasn't until I had calmed down enough that I understood what he was saying. He had been whispering over and over, 'it's OK, I am yours and you are mine.'

What did he mean by that? He was mine and I was his? I didn't understand. I don't know if I wanted to understand. But for some strange reason, what he said made sense. I was completely confused and didn't like it.

I reluctantly pulled away from him, and he was just as reluctant to let me go. Once I was on my side of the booth again, he grabbed my hand and held it between us under the table. I tried to pull away, but he wouldn't let me. After a few attempts, I gave up and just let him hold it. Besides, I didn't want to admit to him or myself that I liked it.

I turned my attention to Devie, "What happened? Why did I want to attack her?" She looked at me then at Riley, who I noticed out of the corner of my eye give a slight nod. "Well, because you are a new wolf for one, and it's harder to control when you are new. Also, because you felt she was encroaching on your territory."

I shook my head, "my territory?" I didn't understand, but I had an inkling.

"Me," Riley stated. Fear realized.

I looked at him wide eyed. "You? How can that be? You're not territory and you are not mine."

He shook his head, "You're still thinking like a human. A wolf is possessive of those they consider their mates and their family."

"Mates? What do you mean 'mates'?" I demanded. At this point, Devie got up and left us alone. Saving her hide perhaps. I glared after her, mad she had left me alone without an answer.

Riley sighed and turned towards me in the booth. He took both of my hands and looked at me with an intent yet earnest expression.

"Mates or life mates as they are called, are those who are best suited to each other. Those whose like calls to like. The other half of your soul. Like us, we are meant to be together."

"Together? I'm sorry, I am confused. What do you mean together? Living together? Friends for life or something?" I just couldn't grasp what he meant, or I didn't want to. I didn't know, but I was terrified.

His brow furrowed, "together as a man and woman should be."

My eyes widened in shock. Did he mean as man and wife? Holy hell, I wasn't expecting that. Heck, I don't think I ever expected to end up with a man. It was a foreign concept to me. I don't know if I liked the idea or not. Though it could be nice to kiss again. I blushed at the thought.

"You mean, 'as a man and wife' type together? Isn't that a bit weird seeing as we've only known each other a few days?" I asked.

"Most mates know one another as soon as their eyes meet. I had a feeling you were mine when I found you, but I thought it was my imagination. Until last night. I wasn't sure until I kissed you. Everything seemed right, meant to be, I knew you were mine."

I tried to look away, but he wouldn't let me. He gently grabbed my chin and kept me from looking away. "Tell me you haven't felt it? Felt when I am near, felt right with me?" He demanded.

I closed my eyes but quickly opened them again when he gave my head a small shake. Looking into his face, I knew he was. I nodded and hoped I hadn't bitten off more than I could chew. After all, I was new to this outside world. I just prayed I didn't regret jumping into this so quickly, whatever this was.

He leaned closer to me, still holding my chin, and lightly brushed his lips against mine. "It will all be fine. This is meant to be. I won't rush you. We will take this a step at a time until you are ready." He promised. I nodded again, staring at his throat and hoping we didn't take it a step at a time.

Devie came back to the table at the same time as the waitress who stared at me warily. Riley looked at the waitress and told her we still needed a few minutes. She nodded. This time she didn't even look at Riley as if he were her dinner. She acted more like he was hideous, which was fine with me.

He motioned to my menu, "Go on, look and see what you would like to have. My treat." He smiled at me, and I nearly swooned. I turned my attention to the menu.

Everything looked delicious. I had no idea what to choose. "I don't know what to get, it all looks good," I complained. Devie and Riley chuckled. "Would you like me to pick something for you since I have been here before and know what is good and not so good?" Riley asked. I sighed, bit my lip, and nodded.

He smiled again and motioned to the waitress. Once she arrived, he and Devie gave the orders, and away the girl went. Riley leaned back and rested an arm around on the back of the bench seat. The tips of his fingers just grazed my shoulder. I felt him softly stroking the skin exposed by my own tank top, and it sent quivers down my spine.

Despite myself, I felt myself leaning against him. I couldn't help it. It felt like the right thing to do, not to mention safe. He wrapped his arm around my shoulder and pulled me close.

"Awww, aren't you two cute?" Devie cooed. I glared at her, and Riley shot her a bird. She just laughed. She turned a little more serious, "did you bring the suburban or the jeep?" she asked Riley.

"I brought the suburban, I didn't know how much crap you'd insist she needed."

"With you paying, you'd be lucky if it wasn't the whole store." She joked.

"I won't be surprised," he said dryly.

"Wait, how do I pay you back for this? I don't have any money except for the few dollars I took from Mother." I demanded.

"You don't have to pay me back for this. This is what wolves do, they help those who need it. Besides, I am happy to do this for you." He leaned over and nuzzled my hair, causing me to shiver and sigh. "I can't let you do that, I have to pay you back somehow."

He frowned slightly, "No need. It's a done deal."

"I can't let you buy for me if I can't pay you back. It isn't right."

He let out a soft growl, and it didn't scare me at all. In fact, it affected me in the same way his touch and kisses did. "Don't you growl at me. I did nothing wrong. It is only proper to pay one back for helping them out when they need it." I scolded, surprising myself for doing so. What the heck was I doing? I knew better than to back talk. I cringed inside, waiting for a hit that never came.

He let out a startled laugh, "OK, OK, you win. You can pay me back." He leaned close and whispered in my ear, "you can pay me back by trusting me and giving us the opportunity to let the mate relationship work."

I turned and looked at him, causing us to be a hairsbreadth from kissing. I figured this was going to be the best deal I was going to get from him. I could tell he was stubborn. I nodded.

He smiled and leaned just that little bit closer and kissed me, and this was no peck on the lips. I parted my lips at the insistence of his, and his tongue explored my mouth. I leaned closer and placed my hand on his chest. I lost myself in him, completely forgetting about Devie and the fact we were in a restaurant.

Devie cleared her throat, and we reluctantly parted, he rested his forehead against mine, and we just stared at each other and breathed each other in. We only parted completely when our food was brought to us.

We ate in silence. I didn't even know what he ordered or how it tasted. I was so deep in thought of this mate thing and trying to understand it as well as come to terms with something that was so fantastical. How do you come to terms with something like this? I had no clue, but I guess all I could do is try. It couldn't be bad, could it?

The waitress came back and took our plates as well as orders for dessert. I again let Riley order for me. I tried to break the silence, "so, ummm, what are we going to do exactly at the store?"

Riley looked to Devie to answer, and so she did with a bit more enthusiasm then I expected. "Well, you need clothes, everything from underwear to outerwear, shoes, and all sorts of girlie things." Why did 'girlie things' sound so ominous? I blinked owlishly at her.

Riley added, "plus, you could use a few things at the shack till you are comfortable enough to eventually move in with me." Move in with him? Oh holy hell, I didn't even think about that. What would I do living with a man? How do you even live with one? Are they safe or smelly mean ogres in their own home?

Our desserts were brought to us along with the check. Devie had a sundae, and Riley had gotten both of us a cheesecake. I had never had cheesecake. I hoped I liked it. I took a bite and moaned in delight. It was the best thing I had ever had. I quickly took another bite and savored it. Riley and Devie both laughed at how I was reacting. I ignored both of them and focused completely on my little slice of heaven.

I finished my cheesecake with regret. Wishing I had more, but knowing I shouldn't overdo it. I looked over at Devie, and she was just finishing her dessert as well. I felt rather than saw movement to my right, and I turned my head to look. It was Riley holding a piece of his cheesecake in front of my lips. I looked at him as I took the offered bite. I moaned softly, and the only way I knew it affected him was by the way his eyes went from black to wolf amber.

I pulled back, and we just eyed each other for a few moments before Riley turned back to his plate. He had been sweet enough to give me his last bite.

Riley cleared his throat. "So, ladies, are we ready to go? Duke will get your car Devie, so you don't need to worry about it."

"Duke better take care of my baby. Last time he dented the bumper." Devie muttered.

Devie slid out of the booth, then Riley. He turned towards me and held out his hand. I took it hesitantly, and he helped pull me up to my feet. I came to my feet and found myself full length against his body. Despite our height difference, we fit together like a glove. I looked up at him, and he leaned down and placed a kiss against my nose. I found myself smiling. He returned my smile.

He then placed several bills on the table, and we left. He led us to a huge black SUV. It looked like it could hold ten people comfortably. He opened the back passenger door for Devie, then held open the front passenger one for me. The step up seemed huge to my short stature. I looked at the huge SUV, daunted by its size. Riley placed his hands on my waist and lifted me up into the truck.

I was a lot higher up than I was in Devie's little car. I could see a lot of my surroundings. The sun was still very bright to my eyes. I hope I can adjust to it soon. It was annoying squinting at everything.

Riley hopped up next to me, smiled at me, and started the car. He set it in gear, and away we went.

I was nervous about this. I had a feeling it was going to be a lot different from the restaurant. But I had to do this, not just because I needed clothes, but I couldn't always stay inside. That would be defeating the purpose of running away. If I was never to go out, then I should have just stayed there.

I watched the scenery go by, noting all the types of businesses and people that were out and about. I never thought I would get to see something like this. It was amazing. I loved every bit of it that I saw. At one point, I found myself pressing my nose against the window, watching one of those skinny flapper guys dancing around. It amused me greatly.