The Whispers and The Wolf

Twelve

As Conlan continued to undress, my breath quickened. My palms got sweaty.

“Don’t be frightened…Don’t be afraid of Fate…”

“Wh…what… what are you doing?” I asked shakily.

“Ye wanted proof, I’ll give it to ye” he was now in nothing more than boxers and a white tshirt. Neither left anything to the imagination. I could see every muscle, every curve, every THING. I licked my lips ever so slightly and I’m sure his eyes went dark again. It was like he tried not to react. Padding over to the patio doors, he slid them open and stepped out onto the decking, then down on to the grass. Quick on his heels, I didn’t want to miss a thing but I tried to keep a bit of distance… Incase I needed an escape plan.

When he got into the middle of the grass, he turned around and took a final look at me. “Don’t run, do ye hear wee birdie?”

I gulped and nodded my head. What the hell was I about to witness? I still expected Robyn to jump out at any moment. “Surprise, you’re a lunatic!” But she didn’t appear. God how I wish she was here. Conlan got down on all fours and I saw his whole body tense. I can’t say I didn’t notice his perky ass cheeks get even tighter. What I would give to run my hands over them… I heard the loudest, ear-splitting cracks that snapped me back to the here and now. I covered my ears with my hands but I couldn’t look away. I felt equal parts curious and horrified. Conlan’s limbs contorted and stretched, his clothes ripped off his back and every inch of his muscular body began to sprout fur. Claws elongated from his hands and feet, he doubled, then tripled in size. And it was done.

In front of me, in the middle of my garden was a humongous beast. A pure white wolf the size of a bear. Conlan had transformed before my eyes, into a f*****g werewolf.

…

The next thing I knew I was lying on the couch with an ice pack on my head, my eyes kept fluttering open and closed again: I was unable to actually speak or move, passing in and out of consciousness, but I knew someone was with me.

“Oh there ye are hen… come on Autumn… come back to us lass” the voice faded in and out, I didn’t know if I was dreaming. I squinted enough to see the shape in front of me, my vision focusing on her kind face and wild hair.

“Sadie?” I croaked. How did she get here?

“Oh hen, there ye are. Now don’t sit up, I’m here to take care of ye. Poor lass, ye took quite a bump to the head. He felt awful, he ran off once I got here and hasn’t came back.”

He? Conlan? The memory of what I had just witnessed smashed into my head and started to panic. My breath came quicker than I could control. “No no no no…” I couldn’t stop.

“Shhhhh lass, it’ll be ok. Don’t be frightened, nice and calm.” She cooed, stroking her hand on my arm. She knelt next to me on the floor next to the couch where I lay, with a large, ancient-looking book in her lap.

Don’t be frightened…

“Sadie, with all due respect… WHAT THE f**k?!” My head was throbbing, I could think straight. I pushed myself up, trying to regulate my breathing but it was no use. Nothing could stop this panic.

“Let’s begin with this- I will not accept swearing!” She scolded. Like with Conlan, I got the vibe that not many people messed with Sadie so I instantly shut my mouth, closing my eyes and taking the deepest breaths that I could. As more air got into my lungs, my body relaxed and the shaking stopped. Ready to open my eyes, I took one last deep breath in and exhaled.

“Sorry” I muttered. “Sadie, I need an explanation. It’s that or I’ll phone the hospital myself. If what I saw was true then I need sectioned.” I half laughed. Sadie was NOT laughing.

“Listen lass,” she began, her hand on my arm again. “I don’t know when he’ll be back, but ye can bet that he will be back. I suggest that ye read this. It should explain enough that ye can ask the right questions.” Sadie handed me the book. It looked medieval, maybe even older. I was reluctant to even touch it. I didn’t want this dream to become reality. I was scared.

“Don’t be afraid of fate…” They Whispered.

“I’m off home Autumn. Please tell me you’ll look at the book? If he doesn’t return tonight, I’m asking ye to call me. I’ve left my number there on the side. I’m only over the hill.”

I was too busy staring at the book to notice that she left. I sat there until the sun began to set over the hills, only noticing when it was too dark to see. “Alexa, lights on”. My smart speaker obeyed and the spotlights glowed on the ceiling. I stroked the cover of the book, feeling the embossed ancient text that I didn’t understand. I opened the book carefully, there was no going back now.

The paintings inside were crude, primitive. The text too old for me to understand. But the message was clear. The Moon rose in the sky and her rays shone on the wolves, allowing them to soak in Her magic. When She disappeared from the sky, the wolves turned to men, waiting again for their Goddess to rise. She repaid their loyalty by giving each wolf a lifelong partner. Someone to share everything with, someone whose passion and love would never fade.

She rewarded the werewolves with a Mate.