Author's Note: Thanks to everyone who read this!
Chapter Four
"…and I didn't mean to hurt you."
Virginia glanced up at him in surprise. "I thought you said you didn't remember that."
"I don't—but you're practically reeking of anxiety every time I look at you. Just had to put two and two together." He raised an eyebrow. "Didn't even have to be a wolf to figure this one out."
Virginia half smiled at that. "Guess not. But—why were you so out of control? I never imagined your cycles would be so bad."
He cleared his throat a bit bashfully. "I've had worse ones…" Virginia looked into his eyes in surprise.
"How do you know?"
He shrugged uncomfortably. "My theory on it is the less I remember, the worse it was. Usually they only come after something of huge impact just happened." He scratched his eyebrow. "I suppose getting out of jail, going into another dimension, meeting my life-mate, being chased by trolls, fooling a nearly omniscient/insane/evil queen, getting Wendell back on the throne, saving peoples lives numerous times, getting a royal pardon for all wolves in the 4th Kingdom and marrying aforementioned girl of my dreams—" he winked at her, "—all within a month is kinda much. Cripes, I'm even gonna be a father soon!"
Virginia laughed, and gave him a quick kiss on the nose. "I admit it is a lot to digest all at once. Even I have a hard time believing it sometimes." Wolf smiled, but Virginia quickly became serious again. "Though what was your worst cycle? And just how bad was it?" She swallowed, not knowing if she really wanted an answer.
Wolf was slow in giving one. "The worst one was when I was a lot younger…I don't remember anything that happened that night." He seemed to be staring into the past. "Nothing at all."
"What caused it?" Virginia said quietly.
Wolf's jaw squared. "It came two days after the farmers burned my parents. I guess the grief was still fresh in my mind." He fell silent.
"I'm sorry."
He nodded. After a few minutes of silence had passed, he crossed his arms and looked down at her. "All right. Next time shouldn't be as bad. All you have to do is keep me away from temptation and I should be fine."
"How do I do that?" Virginia asked bluntly. "Lock you in a closest until the moon's passed?"
"No, not unless you want the closet destroyed." He pursed his lips. "If we tie me up again, we'll have to get some chains or something. The stuff we've been using hasn't been holding up too well." He half-smiled. "Though there is an alternative…no, never mind. We'll just ask Wendell later if he knows a place we could get some good strong chains."
"What's the alternative?"
Wolf wrinkled his nose. "Wasn't a great idea—forget it."
"No, tell me." Virginia planted her hands on her hips.
Wolf rolled his eyes. "Alternative: You leave me loose."
She blanched. "Huh? Why?"
"See, I told you it was stupid…"
"No, really. Why?"
Wolf sighed. "Well you see, I think I get a bit more…wolfie if I'm tied up. I feel trapped, like I need to get free. I get a bit wilder." He shrugged. "At least if I'm already loose you'd have one less thing to worry about. We'd just need to go into the woods away from people for a few days so I can hunt, get it out of my system."
"Uhm…" Virginia toed the carpeted floor. "Would that really be…safe?"
Wolf frowned. "What do you mean?"
His wife looked distinctly uncomfortable. "I mean…I love you and all, and you're a great guy when it's not "that time of the month", but…"
"You worried I'll hurt you?"
"Well…"
He could read her answer as plain as daylight in her eyes. "You don't have to be worried, Virginia. I may get a little testy, but of all people a wolf would never harm his mate. Never."
She shook her head, chewing on her bottom lip. "How can you be sure? Last night you were threatening to eat me."
Wolf gently stroked her face, his dark eyes staring into hers earnestly. "Virginia, trust me. As soon as I caught your scent, I would never have been able to harm you. Really." He reached forward and wrapped his arms around her.
"Are you positive?"
Her husband smiled. "I'm a wolf, remember? I know these things." He leaned down and kissed her. "Now go get dressed so we can get some food. I'm famished."
THE END
