CHAPTER ELEVEN

Hermione paced herself. She didn't want to hyperventilate but she found it difficult to catch her breath. Her chest tightened with each intake of air as she scrambled away from her home as fast as her legs would lead her. The sloping hills beckoned her to reduce her pace, the lush field laid out before her dangerously uneven.

Struggling with the weight of her bags, Hermione stumbled and rolled down the heath landing in the purple heather. The Apparition point from Hogwarts never seemed as far away as it did just now. Her bags tumbled down the slope along with her and landed near.

As she struggled to right herself, a familiar hand appeared in front of her, offering assistance. She looked up to see a grim Severus staring down at her. He was obviously mad at her, his mouth straight and rigid, as he heaved her up off the ground. He held onto her bags, having already retrieved them from where they had fallen when she stumbled.

"Have you been following me, Severus?"

"What would I have found if I had, Mrs. Lupin?" He stared at her accusingly, willing her to read his mind.

"So, back to formalities so soon, are we?"

"After you refused to stay with me, I followed you to ensure that you didn't run into Lupin. And can you guess what I found instead?"

"I only went back because I realized I'd left some work materials. Remus had company, so I didn't stick around."

"That doesn't explain why you were crying when you left."

"I… I heard him talking to Ron about me and I couldn't believe what I was hearing. He was… he was very sorry for everything and he told him…" She looked up at him, wondering if she should share what she heard.

"What did he say?"

"He told Ron that he loved me and that's when I ran."

"I can only take solace in seeing you flee from him too. You seem to have a penchant for taking off."

"I also have a penchant for having over-protected friends, too," she said pointedly.

"When we were in my rooms I explained that I only followed you earlier because I was concerned for your safety. And rightly so, considering what I found when I entered your chambers."

"Severus, I am grateful to you, I really am. And I'm sorry about not staying with you, but I need to stay away from you and Remus. I need to make a decision and I want to give each of you proper consideration.

"I understand, Hermione, but do not take forever. A man can suffer injury to his ego for only so long." Severus pivoted on his heels and walked away with purpose, a steady stride taking him back to Hogwarts.

Hermione stared at Severus' retreating form. He was walking so fast that he quickly disappeared behind the rolling hills that led toward Hogwarts. Watching him leave made her ill. Despite her efforts, she found herself short of breath and she needed to calm down. He was clear, he would not wait forever. She had to make her decision, but even in choosing she was hurting him. He wanted her to live with him and had even insisted. However, she could not allow herself to live with another man while she was married. She was experiencing a physical reaction to her inner turmoil. Her body was rejecting the stress and she was nauseous. Woozy, she held her head and willed her body to become well.

She looked back at the castle she had called home for so many years of her life and thought of the two men who lived there, who wanted her. It seemed that she was welcomed to call Hogwarts home so long as it was a home with Remus or with Severus. They both wanted her to call their place home. She wanted neither. She wanted a home of her own, and she would not find it at Hogwarts.

For a self-made and independent woman she seemed terribly dependent on men. It was Saturday, the day after her thirtieth birthday and here she was begging another man for a home. She felt indigent.

Only two people had complete access to Harry's home and she was one of them. Hermione never visited Harry unannounced before, so long as she didn't count the time she came through his Floo and ended his night with that Frances tart. Although, he had invited Hermione in… at her insistence. No, this would be the first time she would see herself in. There was no time for Owls or Floo calls. She was coming over now.

Although she still felt sick, Hermione Apparated into Harry's flat appearing just inside his vestibule. After a quick search, she realized that he wasn't home. That was fine by her. She needed a hot bath, a change of clothes, a nap and no questions asked until she had all three. She was deeply sleepy and hoped to make good use of Harry's guest bedroom as soon as she had bathed. She made her way toward his guest bedroom to deposit her bags and found a lovely home office replete with a small collection of books, desk and Table Quidditch replete with little magical players on wee brooms fighting for the Quaffle! However, there was no bed.

She would have to make the best of this situation until she made her choice between Remus and Severus, or until she found her own flat. If she did that then she wouldn't have to choose between them.

Maybe she could find herself a nice young man to sweep her off her feet. As it was, the older men in her life were most assuredly cantankerous. Severus was grouchy. Remus was Grumpy. If only she'd fancy herself as Snow White, maybe she could deal with her two crabby dwarfs. No, her life was certainly no fairy-tale. Although, she might as well don a red cloak as she had her very own wolf.

It was a bit scary, how intense Remus could get. What was most scary was how possessive he had become. It was unfathomable how he thought she was having an affair. He was being unreasonable. Of course, Severus charging into her chambers like her very own knight in shining armor wasn't doing much to support her innocence.

Without further thought to her current predicament, Hermione made to get her three criteria met as she walked into Harry's bathroom for her hot bath.

Sinking into the steamy water, Hermione's thoughts returned to Severus and his declaration about not waiting forever. He had been in her life for so long that it was difficult to imagine a life without him. Even in her marriage to Remus, after Severus overcame his initial rage, he and she were able to reform a friendship, tentative as it was sometimes, it was nice to still have him around. What would her life be like if she didn't choose Severus? Would he ever be friends with her again? She didn't think so. He was hurting and if she didn't leave Remus he would be beyond hurt and would probably never see her again. That thought made her sick. A wave of nausea gripped her and she was overcome with dizziness. Hermione attempted to relax in the bathtub as sleep called to her.

xxxxx

Running through the forest, Hermione's feet were tearing on the rocky path. The woods called to her. They howled her name. The voices echoed and bounced off the trees, threatening to find her. Her torn skin was bleeding and she was out of breath… but she could not allow her human frailties to stop her. The wolves were hunting and she was their prey.

She was terrified and ran through brush and dirt. The woods howled and the call carried on the wind. They were out to get her. Pain gripped her chest and she tumbled into the dirt. Panicked and unable to gain purchase she scrambled away from the howling. It echoed through the forest… appearing to come from every direction. She was no longer certain which way to escape, from where she had been running, or toward which direction. It no longer mattered as those who howled were now all around her.

Certain of their victory they slowly advanced. Frightened and dirty, she remained on her knees, her fingers pressed into the dirt. The pack surrounded her and escape was no longer possible. One wolf stood out as the leader of the pack. His canine eyes bored into her, with purpose… with intimacy. He slowly advanced, gracefully gliding along the terrain as if he owned the land. His pack followed his lead and they surrounded her, looming over her as she attempted to back away. Her retreat was halted as she backed into a jostling wall of fur, as soft as down and as hard as stone.

Terror turned to dread as she realized that there was no way out. This was it. With no possible way to escape she was at their mercy. She desperately looked around, beyond the massive bodies of her captors, hoping to find someone, anyone, to save her. However, she was all alone in the forest with the wolves.

The leader's gaze didn't waver. His eyes were as gray as steel and almost as expressionless. He appeared as strong as he was menacing. Yet, his eyes called to her. Something about him was… familiar.

Abject fear became tenuous curiosity. As she became lost in his eyes, he cautiously approached her as if he'd known her fear. Was it possible that he wanted to comfort her? The moisture from his breathing coated her face and she was mesmerized.

He was… beautiful.

The leader, strong and purposeful, nuzzled her face and quickly dipped his head to lick her tattoo. She briefly panicked, wondering what he was about to do but after the firm wet stroke of his tongue on her body, she was lost to him.

The darkness that gripped her soul vanished. Warmth wrapped around her, seeped into her bones, and comforted her like a cozy blanket. She was safe. She no longer wanted to run away and couldn't remember why she would want to.

The leader nuzzled Hermione until she turned over and he positioned himself behind her. The pack excitedly yelped and amid anxious snapping from the group, he mounted her. He wrapped his mouth around her tattoo and sunk his teeth into her skin. She was paralyzed, unable to move away and unable to scream. He moved over her, covered her, his front paws pressing her down into the soil, holding her still and forcing her head low. His hind paws spread her legs. Helpless, she felt the seeping tip of his massive penis slide between her spread buttocks until it pressed against her unwilling sex.

He meant to take her.

Confused, Hermione turned her head to look at the wolf that held her. The leader stared at her with the understanding of a human. He was reasoning – calculating in his movements. They were not the rote movements of millions of years of instinct and evolution. He was purposeful and he wanted her.

A low rumble emanated from his throat and Hermione thought that he would bite her again. He appeared to place effort into clearing his voice as his rumble changed into a low howl. In unison, his pack backed away a few feet but continued to look on. The leader turned toward Hermione and in a gravelly voice he enunciated, "You are one of us now!"

He spread her legs further apart and, with purpose, thrust inside of her. She screamed, and he howled into the night.

A/N: Thank you for the warm reception this story has received. I appreciate each and every review! As always, thanks to the mighty Wartcap for the fabulous beta.