Chapter 4

That night, as I was getting ready for bed I heard the most horrible sound. A wolf howl. Sam's howl. But it sounded strained, weak and tortured.

Then there was a bang at the door.

"Emily!" cried Jared "We need your help. It's Sam, we can't calm him down."

We raced through the forest, the sounds of straggled snarling and howling getting more distinct.

"He's been a mess since that day he hurt you. Completely uncontrollable, we have to follow him everywhere. We can usually talk him out of it, but this time he just won't listen."

When we reached the clearing, Paul was in his human form.

Jared stopped to a hault, he took my hand and pulled me behind his body, protectively.

"I thought you were gonna stay in wolf form to try to calm him."

"It's no use." Said Paul, nursing an already healing wound on his arm. "He can't think straight. He just keeps playing it over and over again in his head. I couldn't bare it, I had to phase back. He won't attack us in human form."

Billy Black and Uncle Harry were nearby but a safe distance away muttering and mumbling to each other.

I stepped closer, still by Jared's side.

I peered over his shoulder and my heart sank at what I saw.

There was Sam, in wolf form, snarling at the others. He was surrounded by blood. I looked closely and could see that his legs were covered with bite marks. His bite marks. What had he done to himself?

"It's no good Sam. You are designed to survive." Uncle Harry said, firmly but softly.

"Sam, please phase back." Said Billy

His growling was so haunting. I wanted to cover my ears, but I was frozen to the spot.

Then Sam's eyes locked with mine. His growls turned into an agonized pine.

We stared at each other, lost in each other's gaze.

I don't know what happened then, but everything seemed the calm.

I found myself drifting towards him, not even blinking.

Jared took a step forward, but Harry raised a hand to stop him.

I held my damaged hand out towards Sam's muzzle, and he lifted his head to touch it.

I knelt now, so that we could be as close as possible to each other.

My heart eased. We looked deep into each others eyes.

That's when it finally happened. That's when everything clicked into place. I wanted Sam, there was never going to be anybody else.

Our breathing matched, breath for breath. Our heart thumped, beat for beat.

I stoked the side of his face with my hand.

"Sam, please phase back. I need you to help take care of me. And, I'll take care of you." I said, stroking his front legs.

He pressed his strong head to mine. We both shut our eyes, our souls finally giving in to each other.

I felt his form change in my arms, but didn't open my eyes. I listened to the change from a wolfs' tired panting becoming a mans heavy breaths. He sighed loudly once his transformation was complete.

Jared and Paul rushed to us.

"It's okay, Sam, we're just gonna sort you out." Jared said as they both got Sam back into his cut off slacks.

Harry and Billy kept their distance.

Jared and Paul backed away. Sam, still breathing deeply, managed to open his eyes. He looked at my face.

He lifted his hand slowly, as if it weighed twenty tonnes, and brushed his fingers over my ruined face.

"Oh, Emily...I'm so sorry."

We looked right into each others eyes. Just as we had the day we met. The day he both fell helplessly in love with each other. I knew it now. This wasn't nonsense. This wasn't a cruel curse.

This was the most beautiful gift that our ancestors had decided to bless us with. And we must treasure it.

"Will you ever forgive me?" He said through tear strained eyes.

I didn't say anything. I brushed his short hair with my hand, and kissed him softly.

"Lets get you guys home." Jared stepped in. He and Paul helped Sam to his feet. The wounds on his hands had started to heal, but he still seemed ever so weak. Paul lifted one of Sam's arms over his shoulder to assist him walk. Jared was going to take the other arm, but Sam would not let go of my hand.

"I'll take him Jared." I said softly. Jared just smiled back at me and followed behind. Paul took most of the weight but I supported him up as much as I could.

Then as we walked past the elders my Uncle Harry looked at me "It's all gonna work out fine Emily. You and Sam are meant to be together. You'll grow strong from each other. Apart, as you can see, you are both completely lost and hollow."

That was the truth. I did feel whole with Sam. Just feeling him near to me made me feel stronger.

Jared and Paul came with us back to Sam's house.

"We'll patrol tonight, Sam. It's about time you had a night off anyway." Paul said as they left.

We sat curled up in each other's arms for ages. I could see the sun setting through the windows.

We were sitting in practical darkness now.

There were still tears in his eyes, every time he blinked they would spill down his face and land on my shirt.

Sam squeezed me gently in his arms.

"Ya know what you said earlier, about spending eternity just looking into each others eyes." He said turning his head to look at me.

"Sam." I started, remembering my attack on him.

"I didn't mean all those awful things I said. I thought I did at the time...but now...everything just seems...so..."

"Much clearer?" He finished for me. He gently ran his thumb over the scars on my face.

"I don't want you to be afraid of me, Emily. The thought of loosing you was just too much for me to bare." He shuddered a little but stopped himself. He looked at me to see my reaction, afraid I would run. But I didn't even flinch. I knew he wouldn't hurt me now. He was going to protect me and I was going to protect him.

"I can't think of any way I'd rather spend eternity, then looking in your eyes." Those where the last words he whispered to me before we both drifted off to sleep in each others arms.

THE END