The winds shifted and Tarja caught the scent. She stopped dead in her tracks. Nikolas. Her eyes scanned the trees.

"I know you're there!" she hollered. "Come out and face me Nikolas." The elder wolf emerged from the brush.

"Long time no see, princess," he sneered. "Have you been well?"

She shrugged. "I'd be better if you hadn't shot me." The male wolf grinned crookedly.

"You make such an easy target when you're distracted by feelings. It must be a female trait."

Tarja grimaced. She had been thinking too hard that night. Maybe if she'd just gone through the transformation she would have been able to seek him out and kill him. But it was her fault.

"I'm not distracted now," she said. "Should I kill you now or wait to do it in front of Claudio. I'd love to shame you, you arrogant pig."

He growled at her and began stripping his clothing. The hair sprouted out in grotesque tufts on his body. Facial features elongated and fangs protruded from his snarling mouth.

"Still hideous," Tarja chuckled as she too began the transformation. It took less time to do it now, since she was desperate.

Nikolas wasted no time. He jumped her and they tumbled to the ground.

"Where did she go?" Akito strolled into the room and gave them all a hard stare. Shigure looked up from his laptop.

"She went out, I believe," he said. "Probably for a walk." Akito gave a curt nod and left the house.

The air was cool and dusk was settling. He took the beaten path down the lake and stared out at the water. Hardly a ripple, the wind silent. Then, a noise. Sounded like a high-pitched whimper.

He stayed within the safety of the trees as he rounded the corner. Looking around a giant oak, he was stunned by what he saw. Two abnormally large wolves that were standing mostly upright were battling each other.

He watched in rapt fascination as the two tore at each other's flesh. The reddish colored one grabbed the grey one by the throat and toppled him to the ground. Claws dug into its shoulder.

The wolf let out a howl and the red one growled something that sounded very sinister. It let the grey one up and it ran off.

Akito's foot hit a branch as he began to back up. The remaining wolf looked up at him and they locked eyes. He knew instantly who it was.

"Wolf-girl?"

Tarja looked over at Akito. His eyes were wide and his heart was racing. She wasn't lying! She really was a werewolf.

She dropped out of wolf form, the fur falling from her body and returning to its human form.

"Believe me now?" she grinned weakly. She dropped to the ground and lay still. He approached slowly.

Kneeling by her, he turned her over. She was breathing shallowly and seemed to be injured badly. He gently cradled her in his arms and picked her up. Grunting from the effort, he slowly made his way back to the house.

"Yeah," he muttered. "I believe you."

"What the hell happened to you?" The blonde woman wrapped her arms around Nikolas.

"Get off me, bitch," he snapped at her.

She growled and gave him a shove. "I don't like names," she told him sharply. "Now what the hell happened?"

"Julia," he looked at the blonde, a hint of a smile on his face. "She's gotten stronger."

"She did this?" Julia raised her eyebrows. "Our little princess has indeed grown up. Claudio would be pleased if she'd come back to him."

Nikolas chuckled. He knew Tarja wasn't going back. She'd fallen for that doctor. He'd witnessed their lovemaking. Mating was only done between two that were destined to spend their lives together. Tarja knew the ways too long to forget. That doctor belonged to her and she would make sure no one else harmed him.

Julia came back with an herbal salve for Nikolas' wounds. She rubbed the horribly scented balm onto the burning wounds, cooling them instantly.

"Are you going to cross her again?" she asked.

"No," he speculated. "I'm going after that new boy. I think I may be able to hurt her through him. Just a guess."

"Hmm," Julia sighed and embraced her lover.

"What happened?" Hatori pulled Tarja out of Akito's arms. The boy sagged tiredly against the wall.

"She was attacked," he whispered. "Hatori?" His voice was soft. "She really is a wolf…"

They'd taken her into the bathroom. Hatori laid her still form on the floor and assessed her wounds. She was cut up a bit, but not too badly.

Shigure wet a cloth and began dabbing at the sluggishly bleeding cuts. Her breathing became steadier as they worked and she opened her eyes.

"Where am I?" she gasped. Hatori gently pushed her back as she tried to sit up.

"You're alright, just lay back and relax," his voice was gentle and it didn't take Shigure long to figure out the reason why Hatori had been so relaxed and calm lately.

Hatori was in love with her. Shigure smiled to himself. It was about time the poor dragon found a girl to melt his frozen heart.

He sat back and watched Hatori care for her. Good job, Tarja. I haven't seen so much emotion in his eyes for a long time.