Chapter Seven- The Date

Jasmine smiled as Aladdin and she flew on Carpet. The air whipped her hair behind her and the late afternoon sun warmed her skin. It felt great to be human and resented that she had to be a wolf every night, especially on full moon nights and eclipses. She had brief, vague recollections of the last three nights and wondered what tonight would be like.

I'll be on four paws and able to talk as well as aware of myself, but it's still risky to be around me as my bite can still turn others. According to the scrolls, anyone bitten will transform the next night. The eclipse occurs in daylight so that makes that very night the one where the bitten will change.

"Aladdin, I'm still concerned about being out here with you," she said as Carpet touched down at an oasis.

"It'll be fine," he said. "You are strong-willed and not afraid to fight back. That's how I see your biting urge: Something to fight and I know you can do it."

Aladdin's words stirred her fighting spirit and she felt bad that she had let her curse make her think that she was powerless to do anything about it. "Yes, I am strong-willed. I can fight it."

"Exactly." Aladdin laid out a blanket and put out the food. Jasmine eyed the meat almost hungrily. She had eaten no meat all day as she knew that meat was the only food her wolf body would tolerate. Her boyfriend plopped onto the blanket and patted the spot next to him. She did so, adopting a crouch position as the sky faded from bands of colors to velvety black.

Jasmine felt a tingle and stood up on four paws. She stared out into the night and marveled at how much clearer it was now. "I can see in the dark," she said before she ran off into the desert, enjoying the sights, sounds, and smells her senses brought her. She laughed and howled for the joy of being aware and embracing this part of her curse.

Aladdin had been alarmed at first when Jasmine ran off but he heard her laugh and then howl before he smiled. She's been locked up for three nights. She needed to run free and this will help her fight her urge even more. He munched on some fruit as he waited for Jasmine to come back.

He was in the midst of eating some grapes when a black figure came running toward the oasis. He tensed for a moment and then relaxed when he saw it was Jasmine. She slowed to a trot and stopped at the pond. He saw her lower her head to the water and nodded. She's thirsty which makes sense. She's been running and burning energy and water the whole time.

She paused in her drinking and appeared to be checking her reflection before she turned and headed his way. She laid down, pulled some meat toward her, and began to eat. "Oh, Aladdin," she sighed between bites. "It was wonderful. The speed, the wind in my fur, the sounds, and the smells! I loved it!"

Aladdin chuckled. "You needed this. I imagine being locked up is not a lot of fun."

"It's not. It angered me and the silver didn't help matters, either…Aladdin! Where's the silver!?" She glanced around in alarm and then in the basket.

"I took them out except for the strap." He held up the item. "I didn't think they were necessary."

"Not necessary?" she repeated. "They were the only things protecting you from me."

"I know, but look. I have no defenses, you're not locked up, and you haven't bitten me."

"You're right," she said slowly. "I haven't bitten you and there's nothing to stop me from doing so. I'm in complete control." She grinned and her tail swished. "Aladdin, please put the strap on. I want to play with you and I'm afraid I may bite in the heat of the moment."

Aladdin didn't protest as he knew Jasmine was right. He slid the strap on and he saw her flinch. "Jasmine?"

"I'm fine. A little weak and sick but I'm okay," she managed to say around the strap. She then struck a defensive pose and Aladdin took one of his own. The two circled one another, looking for an opening.

Jasmine moved a little to the left and Aladdin also did, only to find it was a feint. Jasmine charged from the right and plowed into Aladdin. The couple went down and across the sand, wrestling and tumbling. Jasmine growled playfully while Aladdin laughed. Jasmine took care to not scratch Aladdin. She did not care if she was injured as her minor wounds would heal instantly.

Their tumble came to an end with Aladdin on his back and Jasmine pinning him down. He saw a wolf's grin around her strap and her tail swished rapidly. He also saw deep affection in her gold eyes. He reached up, removed the strap, and kissed the side of her muzzle. Jasmine panted before licking his cheek. Something then seemed to switch behind her eyes a split second before she lunged down and bit his arm. He cried out in pain and he felt Jasmine leap off him.

Jasmine had Aladdin pinned beneath her and he had that grin she always found attractive. She flared her nose slightly to take in his scent and something in her brain clicked. The scent was that of a human, the race she was supposed to bite and spread her curse. Her biting urge was telling her to bite, to break the strap, and attack. No, I must not, Jasmine thought. I am in control and I will not bite.

But, I'm a wifewolf, said another part of her. Biting humans is what my kind does. I am also an alpha and I will do what I want.

No! Jasmine cried as Aladdin removed the strap and kissed her. My body may be a wolf, but I am still human. I will not bite! She panted and licked Aladdin's cheek.

You will bite, her wolf side said. You can't resist it; delay it yes, but you can't fight it forever. Do it. Now. Jasmine lunged down and sank her teeth into Aladdin's arm. His cry of pain made her urge fade and she leaped off him and backed away, tail tucked, ears folded, and whimpers coming from her throat.

Aladdin got to his feet, a hand pressed to his wound as he stared at his girlfriend. "Jasmine…why?"

"I was taking in your scent and my urge rose up in me. I was fighting it, really. But, it was too strong. I can suppress it for a little bit but I end up giving in." She bowed her head and whined. "I'm so sorry."

Aladdin had felt anger that his trust in her ability to resist had been betrayed but her genuine contrition broke his anger and his gentle side came out. "Jasmine, it's okay," he said as he approached her.

She backed up. "No! Stay back! What if I attack and kill you?"

"Jasmine, was that ever on your mind during the full moon? Is that what you feel now?"

"Well…no. My only desires were to escape and turn others. My biting urge has faded now that there is no one else to bite."

Aladdin finally reached her, went to his knees, and wrapped his arms around her neck. He felt her chin rest on his shoulder. "I'm sorry I didn't realize how strong the urge was. Also, I was going to be bitten eventually. It could have happened the other night."

"Hmm. You're right. You being bitten was going to happen."

"Now that it has, our precautions aren't necessary between us." Aladdin knew his friends were going to be dismayed but he could explain it.