Almost a month had passed since I was abducted.
We found out, just my bad luck, that my attacker had actually worked for the hotel we were staying at. He did live on the other side of the river but his work place was so close to my old apartment that he could slip out during his breaks to go and post his filth through my mail slot.
The night I was abducted, the wolves had come back to check on me at the hotel, where they had found the room empty. They had tracked my attacker to his home, earlier that evening, but he wasn't there. He was at the hotel kidnapping me! They immediately headed back to his house, after checking with the front desk to see if I had gone out. They heard my screams as they approached the house again and thankfully made it in time to rescue me.
The police found his body about a week after the incident. Someone had reported him missing from work. There was a small article about it in the local paper and it appeared that he was wanted in two other cities for indecent acts against women and attempted rape. I didn't condone murder but the world was better off with him being gone. I had no doubt in my mind that he would have ended up killing me after he got tired of torturing me first. The police also said to be on the look out for a rabid dog, which they thought was responsible for the attack. Sky actually pretended to take offense to being referred to as a rabid dog.
Black Claw had been a huge help while I was recovering. I had just accepted an offer on my old apartment and the deal was set to close as soon as all the paperwork had been signed.
He even went to view other properties he thought I might like and myself and Grey had narrowed it down to three. We were going to view them when we headed back to town tomorrow. This would be the first time I had been back there since the attack and I was feeling rather nervous.
Sky was helping me wrap up all my art for the upcoming exhibition. She had taken an interest in what I was doing and I set up a space for her in my studio so she could learn from me and start creating her own pieces. I taught her how to mix her colours, different brush stroke techniques and how to mark out her canvases. She was a quick study. She liked working with her hands. She loved digging around in the soil when she tended to the plants. I suggested we get a pottery wheel and she jumped at the idea, smiling from ear to ear.
She asked if she could attend the exhibition and I told her she was more than welcome to. I could tell she was genuinely excited about this new experience and not just because she wanted to act as my body guard. She was finding it hard not to shadow me everywhere I went, just to make sure I was safe. Several of the others had mentioned that she was too protective over me but she didn't seem to care.
Grey was grumpy at times because his sister refused to move back into her own cabin and every time he mentioned that to her she'd just brush it off.
I loved having her around but I was looking forward to spending a few days alone with Grey. Sky had gone off to sulk when her brother informed her that it would just be the two of us going. I wasn't going to get involved in that argument, so I left it up to them to sort it out.
Black Claw invited her on a hunt with himself and Running Wolf. That would help take her mind off not being invited on this trip. I was relieved she'd have something to keep her busy while we were away.
I was watching Black Claw closely when he was around Sky. Ever since the attack, he had been watching her with more than just passing interest. Every time she was carrying something or tending to the new vegetable gardens, he would race over to offer his assistance. I would often find him hanging around our cabin and I was sure it was to catch a glimpse of Sky. She seemed totally oblivious to the whole thing. Poor Black Claw, someone would have to take the job of pack matchmaker soon. He and Sky would be good together. I was silently rooting for them because they both deserved to find happiness.
I decided that I would approach the subject of changing from human to werewolf with Grey while we were alone together on this trip. I hadn't brought it up before but with our mating ceremony about to take place, now was the time to do it. There wasn't much time left, my art exhibition was scheduled for next week and a few days after that I would formally become the pack's Alpha female.
I was looking forward to it. We had put off the ceremony while I recovered from my ordeal and I didn't want anything else postponing our big day.
We arrived in town and headed to a charming bed and breakfast that Grey had booked us into for our stay. The elderly owner of the place, named Alice, showed us to our room. She was a bubbly, round little lady and I instantly warmed to her. She was the type of person that instantly brightened up your day and one couldn't help but smile in her presence. She was fussing over Grey already, plying him with homemade cookies as she poured us both a cup of tea. I giggled and told Grey we may have to stay here every time we came to town. Grey told me, with a mouth full of cookies, that he didn't think that would be wise because he'd likely end up getting fat. Alice beamed at him as he polished off the remainder of the treats.
By the end of the day we had gone to see the three houses on our list. They were all well maintained and suitable for our needs. One stood out from the rest. It had a lovely sunroom that looked out onto a secluded courtyard with a Grecian style fountain and beautiful flower garden. It was rather perfect, with three good sized bedrooms and a lovely large kitchen that opened out into the living area. I could already visualize where I would put everything and I turned to find Grey smiling at me, as he dialed the realtor's office to arrange the sale. He could tell I was sold on the place, he didn't even need to ask me if this was what I wanted.
I liked that he took charge and anticipated my needs. I was used to relying on no one but myself and having someone I could finally depend on was like a weight lifted from my shoulders. Grey was going to be a very good life partner and I was very much looking forward to our future together.
We had an appointment the following day to arrange all the paperwork for the new house.
We spent the rest of the day buying art supplies and we went to a few galleries.
Alice made us a delicious dinner and we spent the evening chatting with her. She had three children and had recently become a grandmother. She showed us pictures of her family and spoke fondly of her late husband. You could see how much she missed him and my heart ached for her. I could only imagine how great the pain of losing someone, that you've spent half a century loving, must be like.
Later that night, I lay in bed with Grey's arms wrapped around me. He made love to me and I was still blissfully floating on a cloud of pleasurable sensations. His touch still awoke a wildness within me like no one else ever had. I've heard so many people say that the passion you feel for your lover dwindles over time and you settle into a comfortable sense of contentment and friendship. I had come to feel that sense of contentment but the passion we shared was still there and I didn't see that fading away in the future. I was head over heals in love with Grey and his touch always ignited a fire within me that I had only felt with him.
I turned around till I faced him.
"Grey there is something I have been meaning to discuss with you."
He opened his eyes and smiled.
"You ready for round two already sweetheart?" He grinned at me. "Give me five minutes to recover and I will be happy to oblige you."
I giggled at him. "Well I won't say no to that darling but this is a totally different subject. I want you to keep an open mind about this and listen to my reasons for wanting to change.
When I was alone in that hotel room with Sky, she brought something to my attention that I never knew was an option for me. She said that she had read in a few werewolf texts that it was possible for a human to become like you. I have been thinking about it and I would like you to consider changing me."
