Wolf Song-

By: Asha M. Night

Kendra swirled the water around her, making it dance with her will. The moon shone down, breaking up upon the waters surface. Notes fly from her lips lulling all animals to sit at the creeks bank, bringing all life to her as if she were a water nymph.

Birds grow quiet at a man approaches, surrounded in shadows. Black hair, olive skin, hazel eyes; that look black in the darkness, tall in stature. He steps close to the creeks bank, removing both shoes and black leather trench coat, lying it on the shoreline.

He steps into the creek, never minding the fact his leather pants will shrink and adhere to his body. The pebbles and sand move beneath his feet as he slowly walks to the nude water baby.

Kendra dips her head in under the water, her blue hair swirls around her. Only her eyes are visible as she watches the handsome stranger. Wondering: Should I swim away or stay?

The stranger inches closer, soon it becomes too deep for him to walk, so he goes spread eagle atop the water and pulls himself to her. Stopping her from escaping his grasp.

She raises her head, now wrenching her pale ankle out of his grasp. He releases her, causing her to move back a foot.

“Do not fear me water baby,” the stranger reassures her, “for I will not hurt you,” in a seductive Italian accent drawing her closer. “Who are you?” she asks, a bit fearful but with interest.

“My name is…Alessandro. And what is yours fair water baby?” he asks. “Kendra, how did you find me and do you realize my state of undress?” she asks of him.

“Why no Kendra. That is quite a beautiful name. Water baby suits you. Tell me, are you comfortable with me here, or shall I leave? I really shouldn’t have interrupted you and please, finish that song.”

“Alessandro, I am fine, you had just caught me off guard. I guess I can finish ‘that’ song. I want you to know, that there are no actual words. But the tones my voice hits, reflects the pain and hopefulness that the song represents.” She answers with humming a few notes. Low, deep, causing tears to form in her eyes.

Alessandro reaches to wipe a few tears from her sparkling blue eyes. “Why do you cry? Was it something I’ve said? As far as I can tell, I haven’t, but why?”

Kendra looks into his eyes, into his black pools, revealing that there was sincerity in them and in his question.

She answers with: It’s the song. Can’t you hear the pain and see the notes as they rise from my heart into the air around us?

“You’ve been hurt before, haven’t you?” Alessandro asks, fearing her answer. He can feel it in the air around him. Almost causing tears to mist in his eyes. ‘She is quite compelling.’ He thinks to himself. ‘But is still trying to mend a broken heart, that must have cut her quite deep, to cause such notes to fill the air around us.’

Kendra can only nod, agreeing with his statement.

“Kendra, I will not inquire if it is too much to bear to even think about. I too have a jaded history that still haunts me today. But I would like to keep that in the shadows.”

Kendra looks away for a moment, watching as otters and other life as they play around her. Alessandro grasps her chin and turns her to face him, “Please do not be offended or put off please. I know what kind of pain you are experiencing.”

“Alessandro, I’m sorry to cut this short. But it is well past midnight, and well, my family may begin to worry about me. They do not know that I do this. Goodbye.” Kendra swims to shore and walks about a hundred feet to where she’d left her robe hanging on a branch. She slips her feet into her sandals.

Alessandro watches as his kindred spirit walks away out of his view and out of his life.

Kendra walks to he families home that lies on the outskirts of a forest. The moonlight illuminates her path. Guiding her home. A light is still on, ‘How odd’, Kendra thinks to herself. She expected no one to be up.

A thought crosses her mind. ‘Maybe, I should stay out until dawn. But then again, it may only anger them more.’

Kendra walks to the front door of her parents’ two-story cabin. The family rooms light is still on. She turns the knob, there’s resistance and she releases and watches as the door opens to reveal her mother.

“Kendra, have you had an interesting night? And is this,” she says, grasping some of her hair, “why I never find you in bed at and after midnight?”

“Yes mother. Yeah, I go for a swim.” Kendra answers. “Kendra, I hope you know that is dangerous. But I’ve always known you belong in the water. It is your second home. It always has been that way. Just be careful. It isn’t safe to be out at night. But I cannot stop you, you are legal age. So I can say nothing. Just go to sleep Kendra.” “Good night mother,” she tells her, stifling a fake yawn. She walks to her room on the first floor at the back of the cabin.

Kendra’s mother turns the light off in the family room. Kendra stands in the dark in her room, letting her feet touch lightly as she proceeds to her room. She doesn’t want to wake her parents up.

She crawls into bed, not ready to even fall asleep yet. It is only three after two a.m. Her eyes search in the dark for something to hold her attention.

Her imagination begins to take over. She imagines a big black dog is watching her and walks forward. It climbs upon the bed and shifts into a man. Alessandro.

Kendra sits up to look at him as he crawls to her. She outstretches her arms to receive him. His arms go around her waist as he pushes her down. His face buried in her neck. Nibbling, biting, sucking. Kneading her flesh. She has to turn her face.

Her visions of lust are extinguished once she hears a low howling outside her window. She gets up to see what caused the noise, only to find a black dog with glowing eyes waiting outside. His eyes speak to her, saying: Let me in. Let me in.

She’s compelled to the window, pulling the pane up to let the haunting beast in. She steps back as the dog leaps through the window, landing at her feet.

The dog curls into a ball, slowly shedding its fur until a man is left. Cold and naked, he shivers from the cold night air. Kendra pulls her robe tighter around herself.

The man reaches up to touch her robe, but Kendra steps back afraid, just before his fingers can scrape the fabric. She notices his face is shielded by an inky black curtain.

“Kendra,” the man squeaks out. It takes her a moment to register the voice. She takes a step back forward and bends down to touch him. “Alessandro?” she asks the nude figure.

“Stay back Kendra,” he warns, “but yes, it is me.” He looks up at her, eyes still a glow. He arches his back, Kendra can only stare as he struggles to stay in this form.

“What are you?” she asks, walking toward him. Alessandro puts a hand up to stop her. “Here let me come close enough to cover you. You must be freezing.” She bends down, removing her robe and places it upon his back/

Alessandro pulls it tight around himself as he stands. “Thank you, and I am quite sorry if I had frightened you. I have still yet to answer your question. I am…in scientific terms…a…lycanthrope. In other words…” “You’re a werewolf.” She finishes for him. “Yes, but please do not be afraid. I will not hurt you.” She takes a step back as he tries to walk to her.

“Kendra, I’m sorry, I just had to see you again. I hope I haven’t scared you too bad.” His hair falls into his face. Kendra walks up to him and brushes a few strands of hair away. His eyes glow like kindled green flames at the center of his pupils. A small, faint smile curves upon his lips.

Alessandro slips his arms around her, “You feel cold. I’ll go and close the window and you can go and crawl into bed. I wouldn’t want for you to die on me. I’m still getting to know you.” He gives her a smile before he stalks to the window.

Kendra slips into bed. Heat fills the room as a space heater kicks on. Alessandro walks back and sheds the robe. For a moment, Kendra considers getting up to lock the door, but remembers that she’d locked it after she’d walked in.

She looks over at him, resting on his elbow watching his unnatural eyes. She feels a bit nervous, but it flows away when he smiles again. “Are you going to be okay? It must be hard to take in, Knowing that you have someone like me here. Do not worry, I will not harm you. You have caught my attention, I had heard you as I was walking tonight. I known that the change would come, so I thought it would be easier if I wasn’t in the city. And then I heard you. Your voice, that sheer pain tore right through me. Calling me to you. You have bewitched me Kendra. Now please sleep easy tonight, especially with me by your side. I shall protect you at all times and may the animals of the night bless your presence and protect you when I cannot. You have my word.” He kisses her lightly on the forehead, then strokes her hair. Lulling her to sleep.

Kendra drifts in dreams; running through a dark forest. Alessandro hot on her heels. Eyes a glow, he stops and howls at the full moon.

Kendra turns around thinking that she’d lost him. And starts to run again. She stops dead in her tracks. His eyes a glow, saliva rolling out of his mouth. He slowly stalks to her.

She backs up slowly, before she turns into a dead run. Alessandro runs quickly changing forms. He jumps, tackling her to the ground. She screams, as he switches forms and sniffs her neck. He licks it, dragging his wet tongue up the length of her neck. Burying his muzzle in her hair. Her hands got to the wolf-dogs chest. She pushes with all her might. But the sinewy body of the “dog” presses harder, digging into her body.

The “dog” Alessandro pants in her ear. Sending reverberations to roll through her body.

He shifts forms again, Kendra screams. He places a hand over her mouth to stifle it. She just stares up at him and his nude form. His hips grind into her as he shifts his weight before he stands.

He gives her a smile before he shifts yet again and runs into the field. Sending dust and other particles in to the air.

Kendra sits up on her arms and stares for a few moments before she falls back exhausted from her fright.

She stirs beneath her comforter. Relishing in the heat from the sheet and from the human furnace behind her. His head rests in the crook of er neck and she can feel his wet breath on her.

His hands twindle in her hair, brushing her blue strands into her face. Meshing it with his own.

She notices, as she slowly becomes aware of her surroundings that, he has his arm wrapped around her. As if she were one of his possessions. ‘Maybe, he is really wanting to protect me. How sweet. She thinks to herself.’

She snuggles closer, drawing his long black hair over his chest, pressing it lightly. Reveling in the feel of silk. She can’t help but rollover to face him.

Kendra rests her forehand against his and watches his eyes glow, as they flitter open. He smiles noticing that she too has her arms around him. He leans in closer, grabbing her mouth with his, lightly sucking her bottom lip. And slips a hand beneath her breast. Gently squeezing it, little gasps escape her lips. And fire burns down below.

Her mother lightly wraps at the door, ending an intimate moment.

Alessandro jumps out of bed and bounds for the window. Once he hits the ground he shifts to his wolf form, making it into the woods without being seen.

Kendra pulls on her robe and opens her door a crack. “Kendra, you need to get up honey I know you’ve already graduated, but you need to keep a regular schedule…we’re going into town. Are you going with us or not?”

Kendra stands for a moment, thinking about whether she should or not. “Uh, yeah. I guess so. Give me about thirty minutes to take a shower and change.”

Kendra opens the door and stalks past her mother with a sour look on her face. She slams the door and throws the robe off. She jumps into the shower, cold water streams down her body. The shower feels great considering that she’d been abruptly raped from her surroundings.

She thinks of the night before, the man, Alessandro. Her mind drifts to when he walked up and then again when he jumped through her window, shedding his wolf skin. Then it hit her, Alessandro is a werewolf. He’d said he was, but it hadn’t hit her just yet.

She’d slept in the same bed as a werewolf. ‘What was I thinking?’ she asks herself. She tries to bang her head against the wall, but then realizes how gentle he was and how kind. ‘Maybe, loving a werewolf isn’t so bad. He was nice. Did I just think the word love? Especially after just meeting him? Yes. No. I couldn’t have.’

She shuts the water off and pulls a robe on, quickly drying herself. She changes into a black, laced up front dress. She combs quickly, pulling out a few strands of blue hair as she brushes.

Her mother stands outside her door, listening for signs of life. Kendra turns her music on as she tries to lace up her boots and pulls her hair into two pigtails atop her head. She dusts a bit of faery dust on her cheeks and paints her eyes black, under lining them with blue.

Her mother bangs on the door, “Kendra, are you ready yet? We need to get into town. Besides, I figured you might want to spend some time with Danika. Is that correct?”

Kendra cannot hear over her music. She hobbles as she tries to lace her boot and get to her door, knowing that someone was calling. “Mom,” she says as she opens the door, “do you mind? I’m trying to get dressed as quickly as I can. Now I know you had something to say…go on, say it.”

“Kendra, I was only going to ask you to hurry. Since you know that the stores don’t stay open too long and that we have a long drive ahead of us. Besides, I figured that you might want to spend some time with Danika. Am I right?”

Kendra pauses for a moment, holding back her answer. “Uh, yeah mom. Sure. I’ll hurry up. Just tie this for me?” She sticks her foot out so her mother can tie her laces into a bow. “Thanks mother.”

She climbs into the family car, right in behind her father and watches listlessly as trees pass by. Animals sit or “stand” at the edge of the forest watching her. She stares and shudders realizing Alessandro was true in his thoughts.

“Honey,” her dad asks, “are you all right? You look a little scared.” “Yeah dad,” she answers, “I’m pretty sure I’ll be fine. Just had an interesting thought. Don’t worry I’ll be fine.” She turns her head to face the windshield, hoping it will rest her fathers mind.

She leans her head back, resting it, hoping just to rest her eyes; not in an effort to fall asleep. Her eyes flitter before she sees black.

She is greeted by the wolf at the edge of a field. She’s walking, the wolf is following her every move. Eyes locked on her, tongue hanging out, using both nose and tongue to smell the air.

She watches him at of the corner of her eye. The wolf trots, his eyes hungrily wash over her. Taking her by surprise, worrying her a bit.

She breaks into a dead run, the wolf takes off after her. The wolf sends out a howl. Kendra trips as she turns around. She falls face first, the wolf is at her side when she turns over to face him. He sniffs over her body and shifts into his human form. His black hair flies around him, forming a dark halo to hang around him.

She gasps as she watches him change before her eyes. He reaches a hand to help her stand. “Don’t be afraid. I will not hurt you.”.

She snaps awake.

“Kendra are you all right?” her father asks, shaking her. “Huh? Huh?” she asks disoriented. “Uh, where are we?” she asks. “Kendra, we are in Shenoa. Do you now know where we are at?” “Uh, yeah, I just took a nap and lost track of time.”

Her father pauses for a moment, judging whether to or not tell her that she looked distressed as she dreamed.

“Kindi, honey,” he pulls her aside, away form her mom and sis, “are you all right? You looked a bit worried and scared. I don’t think your mother or sis noticed. But you can tell me you know. I won’t let your mom know.”

“Dad, do not worry,” she places a hand in the air, as in saying to hold off, “it was nothing. I can never control my body or facial expressions while I’m asleep. I didn’t mean to worry you.” She gives him a reassuring smile.

“Well come on kiddo,” her father says to not alert her mom as to their conversation. Kendra races up to where her mother and sister Jade are standing. “Kendra,” her sister pulls her aside, “I saw that dad pulled you aside to talk to you. What about?” Always prying of course.

“Uh, Jade, it was nothing. He was just worried that something might be wrong. I just had an interesting dream and my face kind of showed it.”

“Kendra, so it was that kind of dream, eh? It’s just he wouldn’t understand.” “Jade you have it all wrong. It wasn’t that kind of dream. I had a dream about a wolf.”

“Kendra are you scared of them? Is that why you had a dream about one? It’s understandable since they do live in the surrounding woods.

“No, I’m not scared of them. It’s just it hit kind of home.” “Was it because one of them killed one of us?” Jade asks with a glow to her eyes.

“Jade,” she screams at her, “How can you think of such a thing. Not it’s just it deals with me. Now shoo! Go away! You’re bothering me. Shoo!” She shakes her hands at her bothersome sister.

Kendra walks in silence as she walks into each store along the line. At the last one she sees Danika.

“Danika,” her mother says, snapping Kendra from her thoughts. “Hello mom,” Danika greets her. Kendra’s mother Chandrelle nudges her daughter. “Kendra, say hello.”

“Hello Danika. I’m sorry, I didn’t notice you. I’ve just been lost in thought.” “Kendra, would you like to go back to my house?” Danika asks. “Yeah, sure. Why not? Mom you don’t mind, do you?” she asks. “Of course you can. Why would I say no? Just be home by tomorrow afternoon. Danika she can spend the night with you, if that’s all right with you?” “Sure mom. It’d be nice to have someone over for a change.”

Kendra walks off with Danika to her car. Danika opens the door for her friend and waits to ask her what she’d been thinking so intently about a few moments ago. Due to the fact that it was a private conversation, she waits until they are seated in the car.

“Kendra, what’s eating you? I can feel that something is bothering you. You know you can tell me.” “Danika, I met someone. Last night. You know how I usually swim at night. Right? Down at my creek?”

“Yeah, of course, we’ve both done it. Do keep going.” “Well Dani, I was out there last night, singing if you will. ‘Cause you know that I do not sing. I him. And this dude. Handsome guy walks right into the water. And I see him later. You’ve heard of lycanthropy? Where humans turn into wolves?”

“Yeah, duh, there isn’t a single reason you can come up with that I wouldn’t know of that. SO what about it? Do you think he is?” Danika asks curious.

“Think, think? No, I know he is. But there is more. I won’t mention what else, but that is not important. But I think I’m…in love!” “Are you kidding me? Come on Kendra, you’re in love with a wolf.” “Yes, yes, I know. It’s hard to believe, but it’s true. I can’t believe it. Please don’t laugh Dani. I’m foolish but, it’s love.”

“Kendra, why would you think of such things. I would and will never laugh at you. Come on, what kind of friend would I be if I did?”

“I just don’t know. It’s just I don’t want to recipricate into something that had happened before. But I believe, hint on believe, for a moment and seriously think that it is genuine and true. I can even feel it burn in my chest.” She tells Danika as she is driving down the road to her house.

“I can not speak for you, but I’ll tell you what I think. But I must ask, what it is that you truly feel for him and around him? I need to know before I tell you what I think.”

“I feel…comfortable with him. Deep down…I just feel like we are meant to be.”

“Kendra, I envy you. You need to do what you feel and listen to your heart. I say, pursue what it is you feel. If you are meant to be, he’ll stick around. Do not worry, all things work out in the end.”

“Thank you Danika. I know that it will. So what are we going to do tonight?” Kendra asks with a smile.

“I think we should return to the scene of the crime,” Danika answers with a devious grin.

Time passes and it shortly becomes midnight when Danika and Kendra arrive at her creek. The moon’s still full and they shuffle down to the waters edge.

Kendra first removes her clothing, dropping them at the creeks band. Danika follows suit and removes hers as well. Kendra slips into the water. Inch by graceful inch. She leans her blue head into the water as her friend walks into the creek as well.

“Do you think he’ll come?” Danika asks her relaxing friend. A bit anxious to meet her friends mate.

“I hope so,” she answers, “he can probably smell me or at least knows I’ll be out here.”

Danika leans back and floats atop the water, listening to the melody of the frogs and crickets, as they sing in harmony.

Everything goes quiet as the man walks up. Alessandro. Kendra notices him first and nudges her friend. Danika almost completely slips beneath the water to hide her nakedness.

Kendra just stares as Alessandro sheds his clothing and enters the water. Danika almost passes out at the sight of him.

Danika pulls herself to her friends side. “So this,” she says in a whisper, “is Alessandro.”

“Yes,” she answers too in a whisper.

Alessandro swims to Kendra and wraps his arms around her and draws her close. Smelling her hair at the nape of her neck.

“You smell good Kendra,” he compliments her and then asks, “and who is your friend?”

Kendra blushes, knowing that this is probably embarrassing her, being so close to a man like this. “Uh, well,” she starts, giving Danika a questioning look, asking, ‘Should I?’ “This is Danika. She’s been a friend of mine for as long as I can remember. Uh Danika, please stop trying to hide beneath the water.” She tells her.

Danika raises her head and opens her mouth but no words can escape.

“Danika, say something.” Kendra prompts.

Danika swims to her friends side and offers her hand to him. He accepts it and greets her, “Hello Danika. Please do not be afraid of me.”

“I’m not afraid,” she chokes out, sounding unconvincing. Alessandro gives a small chuckle.

“I’m sorry,” he says, “but you cannot fool me. I can feel your fear and apprehension. Don’t worry, both of you are safe with me. You are safe in knowing me. But if you girls don’t mind, I need to leave. I have some business to take care of.” Alessandro swims to shore and walks up the bank.

He pulls his clothing on, without batting an eyelash to hi audience. He slips into the surrounding bush and leaves without even saying goodbye.

Kendra and Danika just stare off into space as they watch where he’d, just departed.

Alessandro listens to the wind. Someone’s hurt. A deer.

He runs as fast as his legs can carry him. He finds himself standing in the midst of a wounded doe. A friend of his, in her animal form. Rae.

The doe, Rae, shudders and convulsions wrack her body. She senses his true nature, knowing the wolf lies deep inside.

He places a hand on her muzzle, calming her down a bit. He sniffs the air, gunpowder, very near. The hunter is close. ‘Probably a poacher,’ he thinks to himself and growls. He undresses, knowing that he cannot protect her in this form.

His body doubles over, ribs cracking; claws sprouting from his fingertips; hair sprouting all over his body. With the scent of blood on the air, the scent of revenge is added too.

He crouches low as the poacher walks though the break of trees, following the trail of blood. “Aww, so that’s where you’ve gotten yourself. Should’ve stayed put, you wouldn’t have suffered as much. Well don’t you fret,” he says as he lines her up in his sight.

Alessandro leaps as the bullets leaves the chamber, striking him in the shoulder. He shifts forms, landing atop the man. The man screams, pushing him off. “What are you?” he asks.

The doe, Rae, shifts as well. He screams again. Rae stands up. Blood leaking from her wound. She walks slowly to Alessandro’s side, kneeing beside him as the poacher stares at them, disbelieving what he’d just seen.

She applies pressure to his shoulder wound as she holds her side. She screams at the man who’d shot her, “You could have killed the both of us you murderer. Run, run before my friend wakes up and finds you. Run!”

The “man” runs into the forest, as fast as his frightened legs can carry him. Alessandro murmurs, “Kendra, Kendra.”

“Kendra, is that who you want?” she asks as she applies a bit more pressure to his wound, knocking him from his semi-slumber.

“Rae,” he says as he clutches his shoulder. “Are you okay?” he asks.

“Uh, yeah. Just a flesh wound. I’ll go and see a doctor about. Are you going to be okay? You took a bullet for me and I would have sworn hat I’d have died if you hadn’t jumped. Alessandro, I’m worried, our secrets will be revealed.”

Alessandro wraps an arm around her, flinching at the pain, saying, “We both knew this day would come. Just keep your ears open and don’t shift unless it is absolutely necessary. Don’t listen to the call of the forest. Stick to the city. It was dark, so maybe that poacher,” he says with a growl, “didn’t see what we looked like. Just keep your ears open. I’ve got something to take care of.”

“Huh, what do you mean?” she asks.

“Don’t worry, it has nothing to do with tonight. Well technically not tonight. Bye Rae.”

“Goodbye Alessandro.”

Alessandro finds his pants and just carries his shirt. It wouldn’t be too smart to lace a shirt over a fresh wound. He sniffs the air. Kendra. ‘She’s not too far.’ He tells himself. He runs as fast as he can and as far as the pain allows him. He comes to a house that is not hers. ‘She must be staying with a friend.’ He sniffs again, it’s Danika.

He finds a pebble and tosses it at Danika’s window, making a little tick sound. Kendra runs to the window, seeing Alessandro standing outside, clutching his shoulder. She opens the window, “Alessandro come,” she tells him.

“Kendra, that would be mean. Wait, I’ll go and unlock the front door. Don’t worry, my parent’s are fast asleep and anyway, they sleep heavily. But you still need to be quiet. Please don’t wail, I know you’re hurt. Kendra go downstairs and unlock the door. I’ll go and get my parent’s first aid kit.” She claps her hand, snapping, “Now go!” Kendra had been in a stupor.

Kendra races downstairs, her steps light as a feather. Alessandro waiting, clutching his shoulder. She flicks the light on as she pulls him inside. “Let me see,” she says as she pulls his hand away. She gasps, “You’ve been shot?” she asks.

He looks away for a moment, “Yes,” he answers, “a poacher was going to fire a final shell into a friend of mine. I ended up stepping in its way. Protecting her from a gruesome fate. She’d already been hit once, she was going to die if I hadn’t stepped in.”

“I understand,” is all she says as she leads him upstairs, turning the light off before she leaves.

Danika is waiting upstairs once they finally get up there. “What happened?” she asks.

“Alessandro was shot. What do you have Danika? Do you have an ice pack around here, some gauze, tweezers and at least some antibiotics?”

“Yeah, I’ll go and get it. You said that Alessandro has been shot, by who?” Danika asks concerned.

“He hasn’t told me yet,” she answers as she leads him to her friends bed. Danika makes her way downstairs and puts some ice in a bad and walks back up to her bathroom. Pulling down bottle after bottle of pills.

She walks back into the room to find Kendra holding Alessandro against her, stroking his hair. She drops the bottles onto the bed, interrupting their intimate moment. She opens the first aid kit and pulls out a bottle of an antibacterial wound wash. She tells Alessandro to lie down and places a towel beneath the wound and pouts the wash on it. Causing a deep guttural growl to erupt from his throat.

Both blood and wash pour out and over his skin. His hands grip the sheets, claws sprout from his fingertips, ripping the sheet. Kendra grips his hands pulling them out of the torn sheet. She holds them and places them on his lap.

“Now Kendra, I’m going to need you to hold him down as I put this antibiotic powder on him. This isn’t the ‘normal’ way to use it, but, this will have it directly in the wound. It may sting and then I’m going to use some gauze to pack it and I’m going to tape it. Now don’t you two get too frisky tonight, I do not need blood on my sheets. It’s going to be hard enough to explain the blood on the towel. I guess I can say I started my period today and didn’t get out of bed in time and I used this to mop it up and myself. Does that sound good?”

“Yeah,” both Alessandro and Kendra agree.

“Well, okay, this is going to burn.” She says and then opens the capsule and pours it into the wound and then another. Alessandro leans back into Kendra, arching his back. His eyes glow with his pain and his own nails dig into her skin.

Danika begins to place gauze in and on the wound and continues on to tape his chest. Kendra places a hand upon the gauze to hold it in place for and watches as Danika holds up the shell that she’d dislodged a bit earlier as she was talking to Kendra.

“Ah, a 12 gauge slug. Damn! I’m surprised that this hole isn’t much bigger. Please be careful. This is going to take a long time to heal and I pray that you heal quickly.” She tells him as she points to his wound.

“Do not worry,” he assures her, “I think that Kendra and I can behave ourselves.” He winks at her.

“I must agree with him, I wouldn’t want to hurt him. With him in my care, he should be fine.”

“Good,” she replies and tells them, “Since I’m sleeping in the floor, I don’t really want to hear anything or see anything. It’s bad enough about both of us swimming together, but me without someone is cruel. Go to sleep you to and promise me, not to allow animal instinct to take over.”

“We promise,” they say in unison. Nodding and then looking into each others eyes and two toothy smiles creep upon their lips.

Danika walks over to her wall and tells them that she is going to turn off the light and to get comfortable, since she didn’t intend to get up again.

Alessandro settles between Kendra’s legs and she grasps his head and rests it against her bust.

Kendra closes her eyes and slips unconscious holding on to his hand.

“Kendra,” she hears whispered to her on the wind. She turns looking, right, left, then right again. “Kendra,” it says again, “turn around. Face me Kendra, face your destiny.”

She turns around and wakes up just before she sees what it is she is intended to see.

She grips Alessandro’s hand tighter and sits up realizing it is still dark. She slips from beneath him and stalks downstairs.

The door jams as she tries to pull it open.

“Damn door,” she mutters as she pulls against the doorframe. It flies open smacking her in the face. She feels a trickle roll down her upper lip and wipes it away. Warm, she smells it. Blood. “Aww, damn it,” she mutters, “what more can go wrong?”

She makes her way back upstairs and opens the door to the bathroom. The light blinds her.

“God, why do you hate me?” she asks, opening the medicine cabinet and everything falls onto her.

A hand reaches out and catches a bottle before it smacks her in the nose.

She turns around and gasps. Her hand goes over her heat to calm it. “Be still my beating heart,” she whispers.

“You’re bleeding?” he asks.

“Yes, the front door hit me. I was wanting to go outside and it’s such a beautiful night and I was hoping to maybe go swimming.”

“Ah, I see,” he answers, “well, will you let me help you. I’m worried that you just might have broken the bridge of your nose.” He grabs some toilet paper and pinches her nose below the bridge. He rubs a second finger over it. “You’re lucky it isn’t broken. It would be a shame if we’d have to bandage it.”

“Never mind in doing that.” She tries to prompt him in not doing a thing.

“No, just give me a moment to remember my first aid training. I just hope that everything I’m doing is correct. Lean your head back and it should stop the bleeding or maybe it is you are to lean forward.”

She leans forward , noting that the pressure on her nose is causing her to feel faint. “Alessandro,” she says, gripping his arm.

“Oh sorry,” he says, releasing her nose.

Her knees give and he slips his arms beneath hers.

“Kendra.” He says as he pulls her up, kissing her cheek.

“Kendra, wake up.” He kisses her again. She raises her head.

“Alessandro.”

“Yes, are you going to be all right?”

“Let’s just go outside. Please?” she asks and he nods in compliance. And lifts her off her feet and carries her out the front door.

“Kendra, why were you trying to go outside?” he asks.

“I couldn’t sleep and I thought I could sneak out without you knowing. You know that you shouldn’t have carried me. You need to let your wound heal.” She answers and chides him.

“Never mind that fact. I will be fine. I heal quite quickly, but don’t let my instincts scare you. I might be a little…different.” He warns.

She gives him the look, what do you mean? She asks with her eyes.

“Never mind. It’s just that I might be aggressive towards you and I want you to beware. I will be like a wild animal until I am fully healed. Do not worry, I will not harm you.” He says, with his sexy Italian charm.

They climb back to Danika’s room and Alessandro holds her close. She smiles and snuggles closer in his arms burying her nose in his chest, inhaling the scent of his cologne and his own spicy musk. She pulls his face down to meet hers and kisses him on the cheek.

"Now what was that for?” he asks.

“I just…feel like it. It feels right for me to be here with you. This is my way of showing affection.” She slips into his arms asleep. He slips an arm beneath her legs and carries her to her friends bed, lying her between his legs.

They drift in dreams, connected by touch. Kendra dreams of Alessandro lying at her side. He’s cradling her head as their two children play at the foot of their bed. He smiles at her and it feels so right. It brings tears to her eyes as they come to sit upon her legs asking for hugs from the both of them.

She turns to face her window and notices that the moon is full and see both of her children and Alessandro shift into wolves. They leap for the window, stopping to call back to her in the tongue of wolves. “Come join us,” her two little ones cry, “Be with us mother.” “Yes, come love.” Alessandro calls in her dream and she looks down at her chest and hands. Watching as fur sprouts and her back recurves.

She takes one look at her room before leaping out the window, joining her family.

Tears form at her eyes as she awakes in the mid morning sun. Alessandro looks at her and smiles a cute little smirk.

“Did you sleep well?” he asks, smiling exuberantly.

“Wouldn’t you like to know?” she asks and gets out of bed. She walks to her friends bathroom and climbs in the shower, wanting to leave with the last word.

She strips down and turns the water on. Hearing the door open, she asks, “Who is it?”

A voice answers, “Who ever you want me to be?”

“Ooh let me think.”

‘Stop thinking Kendra. You know who this is.”

“Oh do I? And who is this Kendra?” Both laugh at her comment. They finally calm down to a civil point and then he asks a serious question which catches her off guard as she squeezes the shampoo bottle.

“Kendra, sweet. Did you sleep well? Did you have any interesting dreams?” she gasps. “Are you all right? And is that a yes?”

“I’m sorry,” she answers, “but, uh, yeah. It is something private. It was only a wish for the future. So please, never mind it. I usually have innate fantasies, dreams, etc. So please, do not bother with this.”

“If that is what you will, Kendra,” he answers, trying his best to be a gentleman. Knowing that it will ease her worried mind.

Kendra reaches through the curtain, Alessandro turns around and fumbles looking for her a towel. He grabs a white one and hands it to her.

“Thanks,” she replies as she steps out.

Out of the blue, she asks, “Alessandro, do you love me?” He stands still, not knowing what to say; how to even answer such a question. “Alessandro, you do not need o answer. Of course you wouldn’t, you know. We’ve only known each other for a few nights. Just forget that I asked, I was only curious to know.”

He clasps a hand over his chest; a bit relieved from her words. “I would have answered Kendra, but you caught me off guard. But, yes, yes I do. You’ve bewitched me with your haunting notes and your graceful presence. I can feel, hear every single note that passes through your lips. And I truly love every blue hair on your head. So do not think I do not.” He kisses her head before she makes her way to the bathroom door.

She scampers out, almost running into her friends door. “Danika, Danika. I need to speak with you.”

“Kendra,” Danika calls from downstairs, “I’m in the kitchen, working on breakfast.”

She races downstairs, almost knocking Alessandro over. “Kendra, are you all right?” he asks with care in his voice.

“Uh yeah, just need to talk to Dani.” She answers flustered.

He waves his arm towards the kitchen and tells her, “Be my guest.”

“Kendra, what’s wrong? You sound worried.” She asks her friend as she comes through the kitchen door.

“Well,” she starts, “nothing. It’s just that I’d asked Alessandro if he loved me…”

“And,” Dani prompts.

“He ended up after a moment of surprise, answered yes and that I bewitched him. Help me.” She walks to her friend, resting her head on her shoulder.

“Kendra,” she says, patting her head, “there’s nothing wrong and that’s good.”

“Dani, are you sure? I just have this horrible feeling creeping inside of me. Something’s wrong. And I have…feelings for him, that I cannot explain. I should feel like this so soon. I care for him.” Tears fall onto her cheeks.

“Kendra, stop crying. This is perfectly normal. And it’s good you care for him. You like him don’t you?” she asks her friend.

“Yeah. He’s kind, sweet, caring. Especially he respected me, when he first met me. I’ve never imagined I’d find that in someone. He’s just so perfect for me and it’s truly frightening. I don’t really know how to feel. You’ve known me for a long time. You know I haven’t dated much.”

“Yeah, I know. But I have a good feeling about him. From him. You two are great for each other.” Just as Danika finishes her sentence, Alessandro steps through the door. Kendra pulls away from her friend for a moment.

“My ears are burning,” he tells them and takes a single look at Kendra, noticing her tears. “Kendra, are you all right?” He steps over to her, wiping her eyes and stroking her hair. “Kendra, don’t cry. Please don’t cry. What’s the matter? You were fine when I’d just left you.”

“Alessandro, I thank you for your courtesy, but I need to take a walk. Clear my head. And don’t even think about following, my heads swimming and…I’m scared.” She stalks outside, her eyes are averted to the ground. She prays he doesn’t follow.

Up ahead of her is a stream inside of a small patch of forest. A bit like the one that surrounds her own home. The stream bubbles and gurgles, almost as if greeting her. She looks down into the water, watching as small fish and turtles stop and stare at her.

A peace succumbs her. Restoring her soul, renewing her faith in the almost always true thought, that good always comes from adversity.

All water life scatters as a woman approaches. She crouches on her haunches as she too looks at the stream.

Kendra looks up and finally takes notice of the stranger. “Who are you?” she asks the woman, The woman looks up at her and says nothing for a moment. “Miss, who are you?”

“You’re Kendra, right?” she asks eyeing her.

“Who’s asking?” Kendra asks.

“My names Rae. So are you Kendra?”

“Yes, but why do you care?” she asks warily.

“I was curious as to who you were. I’m a friend of Alessandro’s. I’m the reason he got shot last night. He was trying to protect me, and, I’m thankful he came in time. That hunter almost had me. I got away with a scratch. You know about his secret right, I’m guessing?”

Kendra gives her the oddest look she can manage. “Whatever do you mean?” she answers trying to protect him.

“Miss Kendra. You know what I mean. Either he showed you or told you. So I guess he must trust you. I’ll let you in on my secret too. You know what there are eyes all over the forest? Well, I’m a set, never forget for a moment that some of us might be human. Not an though are. My animal form is that of a deer. I can shift forms. But what of you?” She looks at Kendra with curiosity in her eyes.

“Well, I’m pure human. Well I guess, but I can control some elements. Mainly water, but why am I telling you this?”

“Because, we are allies in this war. Both Alessandro and I are afraid that our secret will be revealed. You love him don’t you?”

She feels tear well up inside, she doesn’t know how to answer. “I guess. I don’t know, I’ve only known him two days. But we have this connection. I don’t know.”

“Ahh, you two are soul mates. Mystically inclined, both of you. How sweet?”

“Whatever. I just know that love shouldn’t come so quickly in, I guess, this relationship. I don’t even know what’s going on here. My head is so mixed up. Ahh,” she says. Birds fly from their perches.

“Calm down Kendra. It’s all right. Do you care for him? Are you happy when he’s with you? And when you are with him, does it feel right? As if this is where you are supposed to be at this moment in life.”

Kendra looks down at the bubbling spring, gaining courage to answer.

“Yes. I‘ve got to answer yes to all of your questions. But this is hard for me. Love. I’ve never felt for him what I do, for anyone else. This is different. I’m like drawn to him like a magnet. He’s everything I’ve always wanted, but then again, I’m scared.”

“What is there to be scared of?” Rae asks. Hoping to draw out what’s wrong.

“I don’t know. It’s just a feeling I have. A foreboding sense fills the air around me. Trying to make me take notice. Maybe I’m just scared of you know loving him and that by loving him, I’ll lose him. And I do not want that,” Kendra answers, baring her soul to Rae.

“I understand. You’ve found him again, in this life and you do not want to lose him. You then must seriously care for him and love him. Go to him. Be with him. He needs you.”

Kendra stands and thanks her. “You are right about everything. I’ll be going now. Thanks again.”

She runs back to Danika’s house. As she bursts through the front door, she sees a pan of boiling water on a coffee table in the living room.

“What’s going on?” she asks. Noticing Danika’s mother changing the dressing on Alessandro’s shoulder.

“Kendra, you’re back.” Danika’s mother Kaela states.

“Oh, hi mom,” she greets her.

“What are you guys doing?” she asks, staring at Alessandro. Danika dips a cloth into the boiling water.

“Kendra, we’re cleaning his wound. He really should have gone to the hospital for something like this. But Danika’s done a great job of caring for it. Do not worry, she’s already explained the situation between you two. It’s cute, your first boyfriend.” Kendra blushes at Kaela’s comment.

Danika presses the cloth to Alessandro’s side. He grits his teeth. Danika grabs a pan, holding it below his shoulder to catch some of the fresh blood. “It’s healing nicely. A bit less blood than I expected. But none the less, that’s great. Alessandro, do you mind in holding this cloth to your shoulder, so I can try and add more antibiotics to your wound? You’ll need to lie down for me.”

“Sure,” he answers, sending a sad glance to Kendra. He presses the second cloth to the wound. He lies down and pulls it away, allowing her to pout the antibiotic into the wound. He stifles a scream.

Kaela grabs Kendra’s hand, holding her back. She is forced to watch as they redress his wound with gauze. Once he is taped up, he pulls his shirt over his head and walks to Kendra. He grazes his hand over her nose. She touches his hurt shoulder, causing him to wince in pain.

“Kendra,” Kaela tells her, “what was that for?”

“This morning, I was smacked in the nose by the door as I was opening it and it caused me to bleed. And you know, he deserved it, since it is still hurting.” She smiles, in his direction.

“Kendra, you’ll regret it later,” he warns darkly.

“Oh really?” she asks, almost taunting and steps out the front door. Alessandro follows close behind.

“Kendra. Alessandro. Won’t you stay for breakfast? It wouldn’t be right if you didn’t.” Kaela calls to them.

Kendra looks to Alessandro for the answer, with seeing none, she answers, “Yes. I guess we will. Thank you Kaela. Well what has been fixed?”

“Well,” Danika answers for her mother, “I had been working on some scrambled eggs and toast. With white gravy and biscuits also. I figured that Alessandro will need something to tide him over for the day. Especially since he needs energy due to the fact of last night.” She pauses and continues on. “After you left a bit earlier, Mom and I ended up finishing breakfast and got Alessandro to take a minute and relax in front of the TV. We figured that he shouldn’t be doing anything since he is incapacitated.”

“Kaela, you didn’t mind that he stayed over too?” she asks a bit worried.

“No, I didn’t. It really doesn’t matter anyway, just as long as they behave, I do not really mind if any guy stays over. And since Alessandro was hurt and I know you Kendra, I had absolutely no problem with him being here. And besides Kendra, I know you’re too shy to try anything here, especially with an audience.”

Alessandro coughs, stifling a laugh at Kaela’s joke.

Kendra jabs him in the ribs.

“What?” he asks, trying to sound innocent.

Everyone files into the kitchen and breakfast is served. Plates were already set and everyone reaches for the utensils.

Alessandro’s hand is pushed away as he tries to get his share. Kendra notices and digs in to the mess, retrieving a spoon and dishes out some breakfast for him. Knowing that he is almost helpless right now, since he really shouldn’t be doing much. Guilt sets in and she directs him to sit.

Breakfast doesn’t last very long and Alessandro shows his ravenous side. As each plate is put before him, they disappear as quickly as they had arrived.

“I’m so embarrassed,” he lets them know, “I didn’t realize how great of a toll this has put on my body. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to eat almost all of your food.”

“Alessandro, it’s fine.” Kaela replies, hoping it will ease his embarrassment. “At least someone, appreciates my cooking.” She glares at Danika and Kendra.

“Thank you mom,” they say in unison.

“You’re welcome. It’s nice to hear once in a while.”

“Thank you Kaela. For everything.” Alessandro tells her, showing appreciation. “I think Kendra and I need to leave. But thank you again.” He stands and cups Kendra’s elbow with his hand. Guiding her to the door.

“Thank you mom,” Kendra tells Kaela before leaving. “I appreciate everything you’ve done for both of us.”

“You’re welcome, and good luck you two. Have a safe trip home.” Kendra hugs Kaela and Danika goodbye and walks out the front door with Alessandro at her side.

They walk into the forest, crossing the stream Kendra had sat by earlier. For close to fifteen minutes, they walk in silence.

“I met someone interesting today,” she says breaking the silence.

“Oh really, do tell? He inquires.

“She said her name is Rae. Your doe friend. We had an interesting conversation and it was a hunter that shot you?”

He can only look into her eyes. Letting them answer, ‘Yes.’

“It was a noble cause I know. You were protecting a friend. That is totally understandable. Would you do the same for me?” she asks.

“Of course and more. I’d lie my life down to protect yours. I love you and you know that.” He answers. His eyes shift as he searches the woods. He can hear footsteps. “Kendra, get down.” He tells her as he pushes her into some bushes.

She watches behind mesmerized eyes as his handsome body unfolds before her. Bones crack in her ears, as she watches black fur envelope his body. The wolf lifts his muzzle to the sky, sniffing the air finding the intruder.

The scents familiar. The hunter. He gives a warning growl. The man steps from some brush and presses his 12-guage to his shoulder. Kendra hears him discharge an empty shell casing. Her heart skips a beat. The man aims his gun at Alessandro.

“So you’ve come back for more, wolfman. Good, cause I wasn’t finished with you last night.” He taunts.

Alessandro growls, hoping this will end in violence.

The man calls out, “Dear, come out. I know you’re here. Watch as I murder your lover. I know you are his lover. Watch as I rid the world of another abomination.”

Kendra stands up and screams, “NO!”

The hunter looks at her, Alessandro jumps on the man, ripping the shotgun from his fingers. He growls angrily as the man struggles and gives idle threats.

Kendra runs to retrieve the gun. She fires a shot into the sky, discharging the shell. A single shell is left in the double barrel Winchester. She points it at the murders head.

Alessandro climbs off of the man and shifts into his human form. He reaches for the gun and breaks the barrel over his leg. He tosses the two pieces to the man.

“May you rot in hell for what atrocities you’ve committed against nature.” He spits at him, showing disgust as if it were a sour taste in his mouth.

He looks down at Kendra. He takes her hand in his, and brings it to his lips. He lightly kisses her hand. He takes one more look at the murder, who only stares at them blankly, and walks to get his clothing.

It takes him only a few moments to find his clothing.

Exhilaration fills his body. It is now lust that fills his eyes, now glowing a bright red. He grabs her hand and places it upon his heart and uses his other to touch her face. “Do not be afraid Kendra. I will not hurt you. And please, do not be afraid to touch me.” He tells her and leans into kiss her lips. He presses them hard as he pushes her against a nearby tree.

“Kendra,” he says breathless, “I love you.” And he brushes her lips again with his, parting her lips with his tongue, cradling hers with his. His hand moves to her breast, kneading her nipple with his fingertips. She gasps, feeling a new sensation roll though her body.

She takes a deep breath and mouths a reply, “I love you too.”

She leans into him and grabs his mouth with hers, causing intrigue to fill him at her boldness.

He pulls away for a moment, grabbing his shirt and lies it down upon the ground. His hands move to the hem of her dress and he pulls it over her head and lies it parallel to his shirt.

She shivers feeling the wind brush against her skin. His hands move to her back, unhooking her bra and tosses it aside and pulls her to his chest. A gasp escapes her lips as she feels their skin touch.

His lips kiss her cheek and then fall down upon her neck. She lets her head fall back as he kisses her shoulders.

She gasps as his hands move to her hips. “Alessandro,” she says interrupting. “Could we please stop or at least slow down?” His gaze falls upon her and a smile curves upon his lips.

“Sure,” he replies, “I guess we can. Maybe we should save this for later. You’re still in shock I presume and my shoulder will be healed soon.”

She watches as his red glowing eyes almost fill his pupils. ‘He must have a plan’, she thinks to herself.

Alessandro bends down to hand her both her bra and dress. He slips his clothes on with a grace that can only match that of the wolf inside of him. Kendra hooks her bra and pulls the dress over her head.

They walk to her parent’s home, walking past the creek where they met. She pauses for only a moment and then moves on. She senses a change is upon them.

Smoke billows from the chimney, inside waiting is her family. Just sitting down for dinner.

Step by step, she inches to her home. Taking in the aroma of tonight’s dinner, Chicken and dumplings with mashes potatoes and brown gravy. Her mouth waters, feeling hunger pangs eat away at her from the inside.

Out of the corner of her eye, she watches Alessandro makes a break for the house. ‘Traitor,’ she thinks to herself, ‘running off to leave me here suffering.’ Hunger and sheer exhaustion pull her down tot her knees. She cries out, raising her hand to the sky, telling Alessandro to “wait”.

He turns around and races back to her side, scooping her into his arms. “I’m sorry, it was wrong for me to leave you. I guess it was just the animal inside.” Kendra grumbles at his explanation. “Please do not be mad at me, my water baby.”

“Whatever,” she grumbles, still unhappy.

He carries her to the house, lightly rapping at the front door. “Kendra,” her mother says, as she greets her daughter, “what’s wrong? And who is this?”

“Uh, mom,” she stammers, “This is Alessandro and I’m just, uh weak. I haven’t eaten in hours, I’m famished.”

“Kendra,” her mother growls, “why is he here?”

“Mom, he’s a guy I know. Do not worry, I’m in safe hands.”

“Come in the both of you. It’s quite cold outside, wouldn’t want you to die of pneumonia.” Alessandro walks through the door and carries Kendra to the families kitchen.

“I’m just worried Kendra,” she says, explaining why she was gruff with the two of them. “I’ve heard some weird things that have been going on around here. Alessandro, I think you might want to spend the night here. It wouldn’t look too good for us, if we sent you on your way in such dangerous times right now. You can leave at dawn if you like.”

“Thank you, I truly appreciate your hospitality. May I inquire as to where I’ll sleep?” He asks with his hopes high.

“Alessandro, you may sleep on the couch in the family room in the back of the house. It pulls out into a bed and I’ll bring you some sheets and pillows. And Kendra, you be good. I’m going to do bed checks tonight. Oh and please serve yourselves and I’m guessing you walked from Dani’s?”

“Uh yeah mom. This smells good.” She tells her mother as she serves herself up a plate. She first hands it to Alessandro.

“Thank you Kendra.” He tells her gratuitously. She nods in approval.

“Alessandro, where are you from? The accent, your look. I’m just curious if you do not mind me asking.”

“Why would I care? It’s Italian, my accent that is. I’m from Italy, I moved a few weeks ago with my sister Rae. Kendra, I’m sure you got to meet her right today?”

“Yeah. She seems nice,” she answers eyeing him.

“Uh, thank you Mrs.?” He asks.

“It’s Chandrelle Stewart. And you are welcome. This is my husband Rafe. Honey, tell him hello. You haven’t spoken all night.”

“Hello Alessandro.” He says and brings his coffee mug to his lips, allowing the dark liquid to pass through his lips. Lavishing his tongue in its rich dark flavor.

“Hello Mr. Stewart. I thank you for allowing me inside your home.” Alessadro says graciously.

“You’re welcome. So have you heard about the stories? About the werewolf and this girl who can shift into a deer?” He asks with an ulterior motive.

Alessandro gives him a questioning look. Trying to look surprised. He then answers, “No, no. But do tell me of how you know this. I’d like to know.”

“Well, I guess you should know the story. Since you do live here in this area too. I’ll warn you to stay in at night. We have wolves in these woods and other night creatures. But, a friend of mine has alerted me of the fact that these woods of mine are no longer safe. Kendra, you are not to leave into them without one of my guns you hear me? I’m going into town tomorrow to buy some silver bullets. But anyway. A friend of mine, had been in the woods one night, hunting. He’d wounded a deer and this wolf came up and tried to kill him. The wolf even changed to human and so did the young doe he was tracking. So now you know. I’d be careful.”

“Uh, thank you for warning me sir. I’ll be careful and thank you Mrs. Stewart, Mr. Stewart. If you do not mind, I’d like to turn off to bed. Kendra, will you accompany me for right now? I’d hate to be alone. You do not mind if we hang out in her room until my bed is made up?”

Kendra stands and walks to her room unaided, feeling a new sense of strength encompasses her. She pushes open her door, a warm room welcomes them.

She clicks on her light and eases her spent body upon the bed. She gives into the comfort of the heat and luxury of her bed.

Alessandro looks for a place to sit. Feeling a bit uneasy, nervous being in her room. “Sit,” Kendra tells him patting her sheets. He eases himself onto the edge of the bed and awaits her father to burst through the door with a shotgun or high powered rifle. Either which would do damage.

“Relax.” She says calmly, hoping he’ll follow suit. She leans closer and fingers a few strands of his hair. She looks into his eyes, seeing both fear and lust burn within him.

“I love you,” she blurts out, right before finding his. His arms slip around her, holding her in the kiss, not allowing her to step back from him in a sense. His lips move against hers, his tongue against her upper lip, parting them with it. He meets teeth and licks them, removing what was left of her dinner.

A knock rings at the door. “Alessandro,” her mother calls into the room. “Your bed is ready. I’ll show you to it if you’ll follow me.” He stands up, pulling his lips and tongue from hers. He touches her face with his hand and looks into her eyes before finding her mother waiting outside.

“Thank you Chandrelle.” He says hoping to hide his little burst of excitement. “Did you hear anything? See anything?” he asks her, being a bit worried.

“No,” she says coolly, stifling a laugh, “nothing. Ahh, you two are expected to do such things and feel that way. I think it’s sweet unlike her father. You might want to be careful though. There is something my husband left out earlier in his description.”

“What?” Alessandro asks, saliva sticking in his gullet, he chokes. “What did he not tell me?”

“Well, the man/wolf that had attacked his friend, well he kinda looks a lot like you. But it was dark so he couldn’t be sure. And he noticed he had a girl with him. You wouldn’t know anything about this?” she grins asking.

“Ms. Chandrelle, you take all of this in stride. Do you have ties to the supernatural world that Kendra has not told me about?”

“No, but it’s kinda hard not to see you, I know its you, as being normal. For heaven’s sake. My daughter can tap into the elements. What can I do, just ignore it. But do not worry, her father knows nothing of it. And I’ve learned to deal with it and help her to understand it. Besides, it’s quite interesting, the supernatural world. So do not think me biased. You can hang with Kendra, but no funny business. And you know what I mean. I know how guys are and I only said bed checks for the sake of her father. Now you just need to be in bed by sunrise. Is that all right with you?”

“Why yes, yes of course. I’m truly thankful.” He says with almost too much exuberance in his voice. He nods and walks back to Kendra’s room.

“So what did you and my mother talk about?” Kendra asks curious, with a close to an evil smirk on her lips.

“Nothing really,” he replies as he slips to her side, resting is head against the headboard. She moves to face him, resting her hands on either side of him.

“Oh really? Nothing?” she asks again.

“Nothing Kendra, I swear on it.”

She smiles sweetly, deviously. “You wouldn’t lie to me. Now would you?” She inches up him, aligning her face with his. He gulps, feeling nervous.

“Kendra,” he barely mutters, “what are you doing?”

“What?” she asks trying to sound innocent. “Am I making you nervous?”

He looks at her with an almost wild look to his eyes. She climbs off of him and closes the door. She reaches out and grabs her remote and turns it to the second tray. Music plays softly and she whispers into his ear, “What do you think?” as she pulls her dress over her head and tosses it aside.

His eyes go wide as he rakes her body with his gaze. “You’re lovely Kendra. Why the sudden seduction?”

She gives a husky laugh, “What seduction? Am I seducing you?” she tosses her blue hair and then says, “Maybe, just maybe I am.” A smile creeps upon her lips, “You know we never was able to finish what was started earlier.”

She walks to his bedside and grabs his hand placing it against her breast. She nuzzles his hand with her chin. “Alessandro,” she asks, “do you love me?”

Sweat breaks upon his brow as he looks into her eyes. “I love you, but why do you ask?”

She looks down at him, and brings his fingertips to her lips and lightly kisses them. “I wanted to know before I made any serious decisions. That’s all.” She pulls him up off the bed.

His eyes question hers, making sure he understood what it was that is on her mind.

Her hands leave his and fall to the bottom of his shirt, pulling it over his head. She leans into kiss his chest. Moonlight glints in through her window, playing on his olive chest.

She looks up at him again, her mouth moving against his flesh. He bends his head back, reveling in the passion that is building beneath his skin. He whispers her name, “Kendra.”

Her fingertips begin to massage his nipples, making small peaks of them beneath her fingertips. She leans in and presses her lips against them, drawing her wet lips across them. She tenderly bites down, nipping and pulling at them. His toes curl in delight.

Kendra occupies her fingers with the button on his pants, then his zipper. She slips a hand inside, gently stroking and caressing him.

He moans, “Kendra.”

“Quiet,” she tells him, pressing her bare chest against his.

She guides him back to her bed. Releasing him first, before pushing him down onto the mattress. He moves back farther onto the bed, with Kendra crawling to his feet, pulling at his pant legs, tossing them aside.

He sits up, Kendra crawls up the length of him and pushes him back down, She stretches her body across his. Her legs centered over his, rubbing herself against him, and begins to rub a hand over his chest.

In the darkness, Alessandro’s eyes glow gold. “Kendra,” he barely gets out, releasing a growl. “You do not know what you are releasing.” His eyes roll into the back of his head. He grabs her hand, which is resting on his chest and looks dead into her eyes. His eyes change colors, a deep red blaze envelopes his irises.

He stands up on the bed, taking her with him. He pushes her into the wall. He kisses her hand and strokes his cheek with it. He uses his knee, to part her legs and uses his lips to stifle a few of her surprised gasps. To himself he thinks, ‘This is what you wanted.’

He touches his hips to hers, she feels him press against her taut. His hands grip her thighs, and pulls the around his waist. His hands caress the soft folds of flesh. He moves her away from the wall and lay her down upon the bed. He pulls his lips away from hers and looks into her eyes.

He moves against her, she gasps, feeling him press against her. He leans back and slowly inches inside. Her hands twindle in his hair and then move to her sheets. She arches her back and gasps, tears begin to roll down her face.

Alessandro closes his eyes and opens them as they roll into the back of his head as he feels their flesh meld together and melt.

He leans down to her, feeling it come. His teeth grow longer. A desire burns inside and he leans down and bites into her shoulder. To stifle her scream, she bites her lip, she feels air pushed from her lungs, rocking her body into him and his teeth.

Her eyes roll back into her head, from both the pain and pleasure.

Alessandro pulls away for a moment. Feeling a change come on, he stifles it, holding only his left paw in his wolf form. He scratches his flesh, right above his left nipple and rests Kendra’s head against him. He rubs his fingertips over the wound and wipes it upon her lips.

For a moment she rejects the taste, the fabled metallic taste. But as time goes by, the blood loses it’s original flavor and becomes much sweeter. Almost like a fine wine.

Her senses sharpen, her eyes focus in the dark, both glowing gold and then red. Her teeth unfit for her own mouth grow and hair in new places sprouts up, while nails erupt from her fingertips. Her back cracks as the change comes slowly and painfully. Her bodies format changes.

Alessandro pulls away from her and stands nude in the moonlight. Kendra rolls onto her paws and leaps to the floor to sit before him. She stands up onto her hind legs and rests her front paws on his chest, she gives a big howl as she looks into his eyes.

His eyes go wild, as he hears light switches being flicked on and hears raucous footsteps making their way to Kendra’s room. He races to the window and rips it open. Kendra looks to him before leaping outside.

Alessandro shifts forms right as Kendra’s father kicks down the door, carrying a double-barreled twelve gauge.

As Alessandro leaps through the window, Rafe cracks off a shot. A deer slug whistles past his ear.

Kendra runs about fifty feet and watches as Alessandro leaps from the window. He races to her side and uses his mind to tell her to follow him into the woods.

They race to the woods, fighting thorough some brush. They come across Rae standing with her head bent and grass sticking out of her mouth. They shift forms, Rae chews on.

“Rae,” Alessandro tells his sister; Rae shifts forms, grass still in her mouth.

“What,” she asks, grass falls from her mouth, “Now look what you’ve done. I was eating that.”

“Rae, we need to leave. Kendra, will Danika allow all of us to stay with her?”

Kendra nod. “I guess, but let’s hurry. I’m cold.”

Alessandro looks her over and laughs. “Kendra, I can tell.”

She smacks his arm.

“Kendra,” he growls and clutches his shoulder.

All shift into their animal forms. They race ‘til daylight to Danika’s. Alessandro throws tiny pebbles at her window.

“Who is it?” Danika asks.

“It’s us, Danika. Alessandro, his sis Rae and me. Let us in, we’re naked, cold and hungry. Please, we’re being hunted. Open the window or let us through the front door.”

Danika walks downstairs, carrying three robes. A yellow one, with a duck on the breast. A pink robe with a cute little kitten, and a cream one with a pink heart on the breast. She opens the door to truly find them all nude. She gasps when she sees Alessandro, with his legs spread. “Ahem,” she chokes out.

Alessandro laughs and says. “I’m guessing you’re amazed.”

Kendra smacks her friend on the arm. “Stop staring. You’re only encouraging him. And hand him a robe please, I think the pink one will do nicely.”

Alessandro raises an eyebrow to Kendra and listens as she replies, “Yes,” she fires at him, “it will do nicely.” She smiles and winks at him.

“Get inside,” Danika, tells them. Everyone hurries inside.

“Your parent’s will not mind?” Rae asks.

“No, they shouldn’t,” she answers. “Do you guys need a ride? Alessandro, uh, you’re going to need some clothes.”

“What, so I’m not going to leave like this?” he asks with a grin on his face. In hopes of keeping the atmosphere light.

They slip upstairs. Danika passes both Kendra and Rae an outfit each and rummages through her fathers drawers and closet. Her father asks her, “What are you doing?”

She explains that they need help and an outfit for Kendra’s beau. He agrees to help and finds a nice suit for him to wear.

Kendra and Rae quickly apply makeup as Alessandro is fit with the clothing. He steps into Danika’s room and raps lightly on the door. Thy both look up from the mirror.

Kendra gasps, seeing as how handsome he looks.

“Boy, bro, you clean up real nice.” Rae tells him with lipstick half on her lips.

“You do too,” he tells her, “That rouge looks good on you.”

Being playful, she sticks out her tongue at him.

Danika’s father knocks on the door, “We need to go you guys. Is there anywhere I need to stop before we leave?”

“Yes, I’ve a place in town. I need to stop and get my money and green card. Rae’s too. So where do you think we can go?”

He ponders the question for a moment. “Catch a flight to Wyoming. You guys should be safe there. I’ll miss you Kendra, you’ve always been like a daughter to me.” He tells her as he hugs her tightly.

Danika hugs her friend. “Kendra, I love you. You will always be my sister. I hope you know.” She tells her and tears well up in her eyes. She wipes away her tears, almost too sad to pull away.

“Kendra, Alessandro, Rae, we need to leave. I’m afraid you guys have spent too much time here. Call us when you get to Wyoming. We will all miss you. I’ll go and pull the car around.” Danika’s father walks downstairs.

“Kendra,” Danika asks, “Why must you leave too?”

“Danika, it’s complicated and I love him. Well, we are now the same. I share his gift now and I must leave, lest I get both of us killed.” Danika nods in understanding what she is trying to explain.

“I hear the car. You guys need to leave. Don’t forget me.”

“I’ll never forget you Dani. You will always be in my heart. I’ll call you once I get there.”

They share one more embrace and Kendra grabs Alessandro’s hand and leads him downstairs.

Danika’s father opens the front door for her and seats himself in the drivers seat. “Kendra, would you tell me why you must leave? I promise, you can trust me. Is your father hunting you too?”

“How’d you know?” Kendra asks shocked.

“Well why else would you be running too. And so quickly. What’s wrong?”

Kendra looks back at Alessandro for verification. He nods and she replies hesitantly, “Well, Alessandro and I are, … lycanthropes…”

“Werewolves?” he asks.

“Yes,” she replies sullenly, continuing on, “Well, I must admit I’m what you’d call a…newborn. And it is my fault that we are on the run. I alerted my family to my new predicament and they answered with a shotgun.” Alessandro strokes the back of her head and then her hand.

“Oh,” is all he can get out.

“You aren’t scare are you?” she asks.

“No Kendra, but I must ask. What is Rae?”

“She’s a shape shifter like us, but her form is that of a deer. A doe. But what you do not know is that, many people can shift into animal forms. Alessandro and Rae, I’m guessing are or were born into their transformations. I…wasn’t. But I love him and death…cannot keep me away from him.”

“Waterbaby,” Alessandro murmurs.

“Alessandro, my knight in furred armor,” she grins.

Time passes by, an hour clicks away and they arrive at Alessandro’s house. Which is not too far from the edge of town. He races to get his things and his sisters as well. They rush to the bus station to get to the closest city with a flight to Wyoming.

A day passes by, and the plane finally touches ground.

Tears of joy erupt from Kendra’s eyes. Alessandro holds her close as they step out of the plane in Spokane.

Only a few hours later do they find a modest apartment for the three.

Alessandro seeks work, finding a job in construction, saving money to finally be spent on his own home.

As months pass by, their home comes under construction. When it is finally completed, it is located in a lovely field, fit with a forest in the back yard.

Finally the vision is complete, with them together running in their wolf skins. Finally completed…

And soon, her vision will be complete, her vision of her family…

The End…

50