Hunter had watched Sheila for many years before he worked up the courage to risk her rejection. Sheila now has the opportunity to join her lover as a wolf changeling. She could live another one hundred years with her lover if she can survive the change and the man who can give that to her.
It was a week before full moon and Ash watched as Hunter left the small cabin in the forest. The broad shouldered wolf had asked Ash if we would bestow his curse on Hunter's woman. Ash had laughed in his face when he had first heard the story. A woman so deeply in love she wished to join him in his cursed existence just for the extra years it would give them together? He had thought Hunter was telling him an elaborate tale to use him to revenge himself on some tart who had crossed him.
The story had piqued his curiosity enough that Ash had followed the wolf home. He did indeed have a hot woman waiting for him at the small cabin. Ash had damn near drooled at the sight of her throwing herself into the arms of her man. He had only been gone a matter of hours and she treated him as though he had been away for months. The memory of her warm wanton greeting could still make him roll his eyes to back of his head.
Ash had watched the pair of them for the last week. They were so deeply in love it hurt to see them. He wondered at the chance of a woman ever looking at him the way Sheila regarded Hunter. Ash gave a bitter laugh; he had been on the receiving end of a woman's lust turned to scorn. Life was fine when you light fire within their bodies, make them hot and tight and then turn limp in your arms. It was another story when they saw the first sign of his beast.
To become a werewolf, or changeling, was to become physically stronger. To have enhanced senses. It was to live with a beast inside your own body. At times of heightened emotion or sensation that beast rose closer to the surface; even breaking through that surface occasionally.
Ash had had more than one woman run screaming from his bed because his wolf had broken loose. Maybe just the eyes would run to amber and reflect a little in the dark. Or his claws would burst through his fingers, once his ears had shifted from being neatly at the side of head to furred points.
He had learnt to take a woman deftly in the dark; not to linger over her pleasure since there was no gratitude to found in it. It had cut deep to watch Sheila take such profound pleasure in bringing forth her lover's beast. To actually see joy in the place of horror because she knew her lovemaking had driven him beyond his control. He had seen the lithe blonde proudly stroke her fingers along the sensitive seam of furry pointed ears whilst Hunter lay buried inside her.
Ash had made his decision; he could watch no more. He would end this torment tonight. Once more Ash paced a short distance and back again. He had bargained with Hunter that they would meet in a few days and that Hunter would share his woman with Ash. He had spent the last week salivating over the promise of burying himself inside her. Simultaneously planning on how he would pleasure and punish her beautiful body. He had even thought to take her back with him but any fool could see that Sheila was devoted to her wolf. She was not tied to Hunter through the merest desire for a hot fuck.
With a hiss of frustration Ash forced himself to walk up the wooden steps to the front door of the cabin.
Sheila lay on the couch with her book. She rolled her neck to one side to ease the gentle ache there. She placed her book face down and open on her stomach; too distracted to read. Her lover was out hunting. He had left her to go and change forms and quench his blood lust in the darkness of the forest. It was the only time they were apart and Sheila missed him. She gave a smile when she thought of the changeling wolf that Hunter had found, his name was Ash and in exchange for sharing their bed he would gift Sheila with the ability to join with Hunter fully. Hunter's status as a hereditary wolf meant he could not create werewolves except to father them.
Sheila turned her head towards the window at a sound from outside. A glance at the clock told her that it was too soon for Hunter's return. She wondered if he prowled outside their cabin and toyed with the idea of looking for him. Sheila gave a sigh; she had made a promise to Hunter that she would not leave the cabin without him whilst Ash was in his territory.
Abandoning her book Sheila decided to fetch her self a glass of wine. She gave a stretch and smiled as her aching muscles protested the movement. Slowly she moved from the sofa, smoothing down her dress as she rose. The autumn air was chill in the cabin, she wore only a sleeveless white shift dress since she had planned to light a fire for the dark evening alone. She looked at the fireplace but couldn't raise the interest to light the fire; it seemed like a waste without Hunter to share it with. Pulling a shawl from the back of the sofa she wrapped it around her shoulders to warm of the cold.
As she turned she caught sight of a movement through the door pane. Frowning Sheila closed the distance. There was only one lamp lit in the room but it threw its glare on the glass and she could only see herself reflected. Sheila pulled open the door. She gave yip of surprise and stepped back. The tall man before her started and looked back at her with an equally stunned expression.
To Sheila's surprise the man turned and hurried down the steps. As he passed through the small strip of light from the window Sheila caught a glimpse of dark gold hair.
"Wait." She called. "Ash? Is that you?"
The man stopped two steps from the bottom and half turned towards her. His face so wary that she could almost believe he was afraid of her.
"Please wait. You are Ash aren't you?" Sheila spoke softly not wishing to startle him any further.
He turned fully towards her, one hand on the rail. Very slowly he raised his pale eyes to meet hers. He nodded his answer but didn't move.
"Won't you come in?" Sheila licked her lips nervously. Hunter had worried for her safety with this new wolf nearby and she was asking him into their home when Hunter was away. This man before her may well be a wolf underneath his battered jeans and t-shirt but he still seemed more afraid of her than she of him.
Ash hesitated before slowly retracing his path up the steps. He cursed himself for not leaving sooner. He took a calming breath and reminded himself of what he came to say. Resolute he walked towards the wolf's woman.
As Sheila closed the door behind them she waved a hand towards the plump sofa for him to sit.
