It was the dead of night. The full moon's shadow could be seen through the blanket of clouds quickly flowing across the skies expanse. A single shadow moved across the ground. Blink and it was gone. A young woman was standing in a field. Admiring the moon's inconsistent appearance. A slight chill in the air cause goosebumps to erupt across her delicate, pale skin. Shivering from the sudden chill, she turned to head home.
Yelping in surprise when a large wolf was standing barely ten feet away. It eyed her hungrily. After her initial reaction, she steeled her gaze with a glare that could cause even the most hardened criminals to quiver. The wolf stepped back slightly under her intense glare. She sidesteps the beast. Walking with a confidence in her gait. Refusing to ignore its innate curiosity, the wolf followed her to her home. Tilting its head when her scent disappeared as she passed a gargoyle near the end of her driveway. Perplexed by the strange behavior displayed by the two-legged. The wolf crept towards her home. However, it stopped short of the gargoyle feeling a static charge in the air. Its fur was on end, looking like a Pomeranian, the wolf backed away. An emotion it never felt before, fear, permeated its mind
Inside the house, the young woman stood by her front door the beating of her heart was the only sound louder than her slightly erratic breathing. The wards around her home sent a warning to the furry intruder at its border. She was disconcerted by the wolf following her home. She knew the dangers of being outside on a full moon. She thought the area was safe. She was unknown here away from her friends, family, and fame. She felt it was necessary to disappear for a while. She peeked, through her curtains, outside after waiting for about five minutes. The wolf had vanished from her sight but the feeling of being watched remained for the rest of the night.
As the sun rose over the horizon. A worn-out man appeared. Ragged breath came out in white puffs, chill bumps erupting over his naked form. The wolf was now to be dormant for another month. He slowly rose and limped to his home nearly a mile away. He was wary of any early riser who may see him on his journey home. He soon arrived home to a rundown shack, that provided for all his basic needs: shower, kitchen, and a small bed. He crashed on his bed not bothering with clothes since his home was cozy and comfortable.
Many hours later he arose, still groggy but more alert with each passing moment. He made himself a simple meal of toast, eggs, and sausage links. Slightly parched, he drinks greedily from a gallon jug of water he had nearby. After he nearly emptied the jug he stepped outside to feel the crisp, cool air of autumn. Slowly colorful leaves were dropping in the wind. Soon winter would be upon him.
He had a love-hate relationship with this time of year. He missed having a family to be surrounded by during the holiday season. His family had been taken from him in an extremely violent way. The aftermath made it hard to identify his bright, beautiful wife and newborn son. He knew who was responsible. However, the bastard continued to walk free because of some obscure, ancient law regarding those with Lupine traits such as himself. One day, he vowed Revenge. He knew it would not bring back his family, but at least he could finally have some closure.
The young woman woke up the next morning still wondering about the strange wolf from the night before. It had an almost human-like curiosity. She knew of those who could change under the full moon. However, the only one she knew had died only a few months before. Going into the bathroom to start her morning routine. Looking into the mirror her unruly, honey brown curls looked like a mane. Fitting, since she was a lion at heart. She took a leisurely shower since she had no plans for the day. The wolf slip from her mind as she relaxed under the scalding hot spray of the shower. Once she was finished she toweled off quickly. She hated the immense amount of scars covering her body. She was haunted most nights but the death and destruction she was a witness, and at several points a victim, of. The worst being a thick ropy scar across her chest that extended to her hip. It's still caused her pain even though it was a couple years old. Then, she had a demeaning and nasty looking scar across her left arm. She never looked at it unless absolutely necessary. It was a word that followed her everywhere back home. She escaped to America to hide her identity. She couldn't face anyone that knew her there. They looked at her with pity, adoration, or loathing. Then the post was full of job offers, apprenticeships, and dozens of threats on her life. None of her family knew about this. She burned them all not wanting to keep the reminders of war nearby.
He hated himself, more like continuous self-loathing, but it was all the same to him. He missed the ones he left behind in England. He wished he had the courage to tell them he was alive. But the shame of his disappearance caused him to bury his desire to admit the truth to those who were his friends. He had started countless letters each was tossed haphazardly into the bin in the kitchen. He addressed his best mates son the only connection to the past he lost many years ago.
His night was still a blur as it always was when the wolf was in control. One thing stood out though and that was a strange bought of fear the ran through his foggy memories. Also, a sweet scent that invaded his nostrils and seemed to linger at the cusp of his wolf's mind. It was familiar yet he could not place it distinctly. Trying to shake the smell from his thoughts he dressed in warm clothing since he needed to go into town to grab several supplies he was running low on.
He made his way into town quickly living only a couple miles from the edge of what could be described as a large village. Its stores provide for all his basic needs along with a few things he may want in the future. He entered the grocery store and the scent from the night before hit him in the face with renewed strength. He looked around quickly and then he had a face full of wild curls and a petite figure wrapped tightly around his torso. He looked down into familiar honey orbs and then he felt a sharp pain as the young woman smacked him in the back of his head. She had tears in her eyes but behind those tears was a show of relief and disbelief.
She wavered when she began, " Have you been here all these months? We all thought you were dead."
He felt the guilt amass in his chest knowing he hurt all of those he considered apart of his surrogate family. " I am truly sorry for hurting you Pumpkin. I needed to hide from the memories that confronted me back home."
She nodded as if she understood then, " I know how that feels it is why I am here in America. I am hiding from all the trauma I dealt with back home."
He relayed the information back' " so does anyone know you are here hiding out?"
She sniffled" Only Kings knows, but he is under an oath not to divulge my whereabouts to anyone."
" So pumpkin since you are hiding from everyone too. Do you want to help an old wolf out with some shopping?" he asked jokingly.
Her eyes widened in realization, " So you're the wolf that followed me home last night?"