He lifted his nose and sniffed again. Padding silently through the trees, he followed her scent. Yes, there she was. Waiting for him, without knowing he was even a possibility.
***
It had been a long struggle, but she was finally starting to get stronger. Vickie Stark finished chemo early last December. Now it was the end of May and she was getting restless, always a good sign. After brain surgery, radiation, and months of chemotherapy, the tumour at the base of her brain had call for a truce and was now dormant. After some time in rehab, she could get around in the house, although she still used a walker.
Moving back in with her parents wasn't the worst thing about getting sick. Vickie and her family got along great. Her Mom and Dad remembered she was an adult, mostly, and even leftover casserole kicked hospital food's ass. Between her books, TV, and computer, she kept busy. Vickie just wanted to do something without anyone hovering and worrying. They even watched when she walked to the end of the drive for the mail. But since she did need the help and care, she couldn't really complain.
When the doctors found her tumour, she was living in the city, a year away from a biology degree. Vickie thought of the acreage as home. It was where she grew up and where her family lived. She loved the trees, and she even liked being woken up at ungodly hours of the morning by the song birds. But it was a little lonely being in a small town. She missed her friends in the city. She missed debating weird things like, whether the latest blockbuster has artistic merit, while drinking mochas. She missed being able to take care of herself. She missed her lost independence.
Vickie had never really liked bars or clubs. The noise gave her a headache, and now moving lights made her dizzy. She preferred going to movies or to a live performance. She was going to see a different kind of show this evening. The skies were clear, the night warm, so nothing would block tonight's meteor shower.
Vickie's younger sister, Jen, helped her take a sleeping bag and a couple pillows out the back gate, down a short path and into a clearing. They spread out the sleeping bag and Vickie sat down.
"Do you have the cell?"
"Yes, it's on the walker seat."
"Are you sure you'll be OK? I can stay with you."
"Jen, I'm barely out of the yard! Don't worry. If I need help I'll call." Vickie smiled up at her fretting sister and sighed, "I'll be fine."
"You are so weird."
"I love you too," Vickie replied. Jen just shook her head and left.
When she was gone, Vickie looked around and blushed. She was in the middle of a field, open enough to give her a good view of the sky, small enough that she didn't feel overly exposed. A combination of steroids and forced inactivity had lead to a weight increase that left her feeling unattractive. Vickie took off the oversized T-shirt and shorts she had on. Underneath, she was only wearing a light blue silk chemise that looked almost silver in the moon light. "
I just want to feel pretty and feminine," Vickie thought, "There's nothing wrong with lying in the middle of a field... alone... at night... in lingerie... People do it all the time.
"
"Sure they do," Vickie muttered, as she lay down. She arranged herself on her back and rested her hands on her stomach. Watching the sky, she let her mind wander.
***
Will Conall was enjoying the beautifully moon lit night. It was a myth that he and his kind had to change on the full moon. The light just made it easier to be seen, while making it harder for humans to assume they were just seeing a large dog. Silver did nothing to hurt him and Will didn't know anyone who ever thought a baby would be nice for dinner. But since werewolves were a myth too, there was no point to setting the record straight.
One thing that never made the story books was the ability to smell and taste emotions, and basic personality traits. Dogs could do this also, but his senses were better developed. People already suspect this. If you are afraid of dogs you are told, "Don't let them smell your fear." Dog owners talk about how Rex or Cookie is a wonderful judge of character. Scientists would say it's just reading body language. He knew better. Besides, describing color to the blind would be easier than describing the taste of joy or sorrow.
Will had a reputation in town of being a bit antisocial. He was always polite, but he didn't encouraged conversation, never feeling the need. He just preferred sticking to his own kind, where he could be himself. Keeping track of cover stories was a lot of work.
Women were another thing he didn't encourage. He had a few relationships, in University with humans, later with wolves from other packs, but sex without commitment did nothing for him. It seemed like pizza without cheese, missing something. Worrying about killing the girl also didn't help. Some of his pack brothers had a new woman every week. The way some of the guys chased tail, Will was surprised there hadn't been any "accidents".
In human/werewolf sex an "accident" doesn't lead to 3 o'clock feedings. If a male wolf bites a human female, he must declare her as his mate, or she will die. Since werewolves mate for life, with no annulments, this is big deal. If the woman lives she becomes a bitch, literally. (The effects of a bite vary depending on circumstances.) To further complicate matters, after being bitten, women are unable to mate until they have completed the change to werewolf. (Mother Nature not being a fan of shotgun weddings.) This can lead to unusual love triangles. She is free to claim the wolf who is bound to her or any unclaimed male who wishes to mate with her. She could even choose not to mate and play the field. (Mother Nature being a fan of options.) Leaving Mr. Teeth a big ball of unrequited everything. (Mother Nature not being a fan of mating for convenience.) Human teeth were safer, since breaking skin was less likely, but even light biting was a no-no for safety reasons. Werewolves can find the no biting rule difficult because love bites are fairly standard for them. When they mate, instead of you may kiss the bride, it would be more accurate to say, you may bite the bride. (Although vows are all matings and weddings have in common as a ritual.)
Will knew all the horror stories. He knew to stay away from human in wolf form. He knew his wolf incisors easily could pierce human flesh and all the possible consequences.
Of course none of this was on his mind as he ran the perimeter of the estate or when he caught the scent.
A woman he couldn't quite place, was baring her soul to the wind and the earth. He could smell her gentleness and caring nature, her sense of humour and mischievousness, her vulnerability and her strength, and underneath it all, her love of life, tempered by loneliness and loss.
He lifted his nose and sniffed again. Padding silently through the trees, he followed her scent. Yes, there she was. Waiting for him, without knowing he was even a possibility.
He left the estate, heading toward the Stark home. When he reached the clearing behind their yard, Will stopped. She was the neighbour's daughter, Vickie, luring him with her scent, like a siren with her song. Except for her, the area was empty and a screen of trees hid them from the house.
The logical part of him wanted to change to his human form, and spend the night talking, learning everything he could about her. His body and his primal wolf side had another idea, explore her body and read her more directly. Instinct won.
Will slowly crawled toward her, trying not to scare her. Little noises came unbidden from his throat, begging her to let him explore her inside and out. He watched the fear that filled her eyes slowly be replaced by confusion. He reached her foot, placed his nose on her instep, and breathed in. She was complex, yet remained uncomplicated. Eyes closed, he slowly dragged his tongue up the bottom of her foot, off the end of her big toe. Information flooded his brain, confirming what he found in her scent. His eyes opened facing the sky. The streaking shooting stars mirroring the feelings streaking through him. He had to know this woman, all of her.
***
Vickie watched as the first meteors shot through the sky. The full moon was shinning so brightly, she could almost read by it. As she lay there, she thought about what life had brought her. She thought about how some strangers reacted to her now. Some tried to pretend she didn't exist, ducking past her to get through a door first, and then leaving it to slam in her face. Some treated her as if she were mentally challenged, talking to her companions, instead of her. Seeing the extreme reaction people could have to her, left her feeling insecure. Knowing she could trigger other's insecurities had Vickie fighting an insecurity feedback loop of her own.
She also thought about how normal she felt. She could jump up, sprint around the clearing and turn cartwheels, in her mind. That normal feeling would leave when she struggled to stand, a reminder of the loss of abilities, once taken for granted.
She heard a cough like sound at the edge of the woods. There Vickie saw a huge wolf. It seemed too big to be real, more like something out of a movie. Her mind was whirring, trying to think of a way to escape. Standing up was pointless; she would be puppy chow before she got to her knees. "
Ha, ha, puppy chow, good one, too bad no one will hear it
." All she could do was lay quietly and hope she didn't become dinner. The animal crept closer. Just when she was sure it was going to pounce, she heard a small whine, like a begging dog. Vickie had a flashback to her animal behaviour class. This was submissive behaviour.
