Wolf's Bite

The Change Comes

The steady beep, beep of a heart monitor was Celine's first clue that she was not in her hotel room. Slowly she opened her eyes to see the plain white walls of a hospital room.

A whiteboard with her general information and doctor's name stared her right in the face. She hissed as pain racked through her. She shifted her position slowly whimpering when she felt the pull of stitches all over her body.

Memories of the wolf attacking flooded her mind and she cringed. How did she survive that attack? The wolf had been so intent on killing her. The fact that she was alive was a miracle. She turned her head to view the room. Two men were sitting in chairs on either side of her bed sleeping.

They were strangers, but she vaguely remembered waking up once before to their soft voices asking if she needed anything. One had sandy-colored hair while the other had pure midnight black hair. Both were handsome and well-muscled.

She let out a groan as she tried to sit up. Both men leaped to their feet awake and alert, like two bodyguards looking out for her safety. She would have laughed if she wasn't drowning in so much pain.

"You're awake," stated the sandy-haired man, as he rushed to the bed and gently as he could help her to sit up. Stuffing a pillow behind her back.

The black-haired man grabbed a plastic up on the bedside table and poured her some water before carefully handing it to her for her to sip. Helping her by removing the face mask that was helping her breathe.

"Thank you," she said softly as she handed him back the cup.

"No problem, it's the least I can do considering you were attacked at my resort," the man said, as he sank into the chair, "I've already paid the ambulance bill and I already instructed my staff to reimburse your money for the room. We look after our customers at Wolf's Hollow."

"Who found me?" she asked, "I was alone on the trail. At least I thought I was."

"We did," the sandy-haired man said, "We usually take a stroll down the trails before anyone else does to make sure they are well kept. We were surprised to find you there."

Celine leaned back wincing as her back came into contact with the fabric of the pillow, "I like early morning runs. I haven't done that in years." she said, "I thought I'd get a head start to the day. I didn't think I'd be attacked by a wild animal."

"You were lucky we were only an hour behind you, the wolf did a number on you. Doctors said if we had been any later you wouldn't have made it." the dark-haired man stated, "My name is Kyle Moore, and this is my right-hand man Max Harper."

"I'm Celine, but I guess you knew that," she said waving to the whiteboard.

"I had to ask one of my staff to find out who you were. Thankfully, Anna remembered you and pulled up your name from the computer," Kyle responded, "We then went to check your room to see if there was anything important you would want while you are in the hospital. Lucas brought your purse and phone."

"No one called my mom did they?" she asked quickly, "I don't want her to know about this. She'll be frantic."

"I don't think so, but then again I don't know if the hospital did after they pulled up your medical information," replied Max, "We have been staying here to monitor you anyways. We were worried."

The fact that these two complete strangers would sit by her bedside to watch over her was touching. She couldn't remember the last time anyone had cared about her welfare besides her parents.

Processing everything the two men had told her, she sank tilted her head back. No doubt her wounds were severe from the feel of it. She could barely move and they pinched or hurt. So much for a restful week's holiday.

She would be lucky to be out of the hospital at the end of the week. Closing her eyes she took a deep breath and sighed heavily. Knowing Morgan, she wouldn't approve of an extra week's holiday. With or without a doctor's note since Celine would be able to work from home.

"Are you in a lot of pain? The doctor left a bottle of pain meds for you," asked Kyle.

"Oh heavenly lord, yes please," she piped up, turning her head swiftly towards the man, "I hurt all over."

The man stood and carefully shook out one pill into his palm and gently placed it against her mouth so she could take it. Then helped her sip the water to wash it down. She returned to relaxing waiting for the pill to kick in.

"There is something we must discuss with you Celine," Max said slowly, his gaze going towards Kyle and back to her again.

Celine opened her eyes and looked at the man with a raised eyebrow. She prayed what he had to tell her wasn't bad news like that she wasn't going to be able to walk again due to the damage done by the wolf's teeth to her legs.

"You weren't bitten by any regular wolf," started Max, as he ran a large hand through his hair, "You were bitten by a werewolf."

Thinking the man was crazy, Celine broke out into laughter. The fact that a grown man believed in such things as werewolves were ludicrous. Crazy. As her laughter died down she saw that neither man was laughing. They looked worried and unsure.

"You have to be kidding me," she stated, "A werewolf? There is no such thing as werewolves. Those are just fantasy tales told in books and by adults to scare children. Complete myth."

Both men looked at each other, then back at her. Faces grim, and mouths set in firm lines.

"I'm afraid there is such thing... we... are werewolves." Kyle replied, gesturing between him and Max, "We are worried that the wolf you encountered tried to kill you. Not only that it. Bit you. Which means you may turn in a few days' time."

Celine frowned, looking between the two very serious men. They were crazy, both of them were. She had been bitten by a wild wolf. Just an ordinary wolf. Not some made-up creature of every child's nightmare.

"I need sleep," she said, closing her eyes and resting further into the pillows. It wasn't a lie, but maybe when she woke up both crazy men would be gone and she wouldn't have to think about what they had just said.

******

Max and Kyle looked at each other with worry. The report from Fredrick and Marcus had told them that the wolf was no ordinary feral wolf. It had deliberately led them to the edges of their territory before doubling back again. Making the two trackers think that it had gone on.

Reports from Dominic Fallon from the New Acres Pack told them that the wolf had not crossed into their territory. Which meant it was still loose in their territory and looking for another victim.

They watched the woman as she slipped into sleep, her breathing becoming shallow and soft.

"Do you think Doctor Swain made a mistake?" inquired Max, a bit hopeful that the doctor had messed something up and the woman would be okay.

"Not likely. Doctor Swain, checked her blood two hours ago and she still has traces of wolf DNA mixing with hers," Kyle replied, "She'll change in a couple of days. I'm sure of it."

"Do you think we can convince her?" asked Max nervously, "I mean she is a human. Obviously."

"I don't know Max, but even if we can't convince her. When the change happens, we have to be there for her," declared Kyle, "It's not her fault she was bitten by a rogue wolf, and it's sure not safe to leave her unsupervised before or during her first change."

Max cursed, as he rubbed his face with his hands. His gaze held the worry that Kyle felt in his heart. The woman had been an unlucky victim of a wolf attack and now she was going to have to go through the change and become what they were. Werewolf.

Normally, wolves were selective when biting a person. They only changed someone who was willing to become what they were. This woman hadn't even gotten the choice.

"Do you think Fred and Marcus will find that asshole?" asked Max, "I need to tear through something. If only to feel a little better about this whole thing."

"I can't answer that. We'll know when we hear from them next," replied Kyle, "Until then we stay and keep watch. Help her through her change. After, if she wants to go back to her own home. We let her go. If she stays, I'll adopt her into the pack."

Max heaved out a heavy breath, as he sat back, "This bites," he muttered.

Echoing the exact feelings that Kyle had about this whole ordeal. He would keep his word though. The first change was hard on a new werewolf. To make matters worse, she was a human who had not had a choice in being turned. So it would be doubly hard on her.

The first change was overwhelming for everyone. The sudden shift in bones, body organs, and the onslaught of sensitivity to smells and hearing. Along with other needs. This woman would go through her first heat cycle two years after her first change. Drawing wolves from nearby to her and calling for a mate.

Sometimes males fought over a single female to the death just for the right to be her mate. Kyle would warn her of the changes to come, but until they happened she may not believe him.

He would offer her his pack for protection if she needed it. She had been attacked on his territory and damn if he didn't feel guilt over that fact. Second, it was only right that he and Max take care of this woman and make sure she was safe and protected.

When he looked at Max he could see the man was worried as well. Changes were never easy and the determination on the man's face told Kyle he was not alone in his feelings. The man would stay to help her through the trying times to come.

******

Celine woke up once more, the pain wasn't as bad as before. She heard low voices murmuring on the other side of the curtain. Two she recognized as the two crazy men who told her she was going to become some wolf creature. The other two she didn't recognize at all.

A few moments later she heard two sets of footsteps leave the room and Kyle and Max appeared around the curtain.

"Why all the secrecy?" she asked teasingly, "Some kind of conspiracy theory you don't want me to know about?"

Both men's lips twitched as they took their seats on either side of her bed.

"No, but the doctor just checked you over. You are healing wonderfully. Most of your smaller cuts and bruises are starting to fade," replied Max, "They are still worried about that gash on your thigh though. They just made sure it was the one that was the worst."

Celine nodded and reached for her phone on the bedside table. Immediately Kyle grabbed it and passed it to her. She gave him a small smile of gratitude before texting her mother to let her know that she was in the hospital after a minor encounter with a wolf. Playing down the severity of the wounds and letting her mother know she was alive and well and being looked after by two gorgeous men.

Immediately her phone rang and she answered it.

"What do you mean you are in the hospital?" her mother's shrill voice said over the speaker. The severity of the pitch had Celine pulling the phone away from her ear.

"Mom, calm down. I'm fine. Nothing major just a few bumps and scratches. You should have seen the other guy," she said jokingly.

The two men in the room just shook their heads clearly amused that she could joke at a time like this.

She spoke with her mom amiably, letting her mother know she was fine and that she had come away with far less damage than there really was earning to scowls from each man.

They remained quiet though, not outing her lies by scoffing or saying anything. It wasn't until she hung up that they chided her about lying to her mother.

"You don't know my mother. She'll be here in two hours flat. Flying by police like the hounds of hell are on her tail just to get here." stated Celine, "I may not be the only child but she acts like I am."

The men talked with her about her family, asking questions and making her laugh when they talked about their extended family.

A nurse came in and both men got up to give her privacy. While they were outside the nurse informed Celine that the two had hardly left her side for the past few days while she slept. Always just stepping out into the hall when a doctor or nurse came in. Asking after her welfare before coming back in to take up their posts.

"You are one lucky lady to have two devoted men at your side," said the nurse, "If I were you I'd marry them both."

Celine laughed, "I don't know them at all. They were the ones who had found me after the attack," she declared.

The nurse chatted for a bit longer before stepping out to continue her rounds. Both men returned and sank into their chairs.

Celine drifted off once more into slumber. Content and feel safe with the two men in the room.

*****

The fire burned through her body, Celine bolted awake gasping as the feeling of pure liquid lava seemed to burn through her veins and arteries.

Her heart thumped a quick one-two in her chest. Sounding like a drum in her ears. She bowed in the bed as a particularly painful ripple went through her.

Max and Kyle both held her hands looking grim, while a nurse and doctor rushed about the room. She cried out as her body practically rose off the bed. Pain sliced through her over and over again. She couldn't speak through it. She didn't understand what was happening.

Hair burst forth on her body bursting through the bandages like some crazy tarantula. Her bones seemed to shift and bend. Her organs slowly moved with sickening sound loud in her ears.

Her mouth felt full as it grew teeth and her mouth stretched out into a wolf's snout. She stood on the four legs covered in hair on the hospital bed shaking.

"Easy now," whispered Kyle, "Easy,"

The wolf on the bed looked at him, pain in her gaze. Her fur was a soft velvet grey. She was stunning in wolf form. Then it raised its head and howled low and mournful. Breaking his heart.

Kyle carefully extended his hand towards the wolf, knowing that any quick movement could get him in trouble. He talked in a low voice. Soothing.

Max remained quiet, staring at the wolf with eyes wide. Mouth agape.

The change hadn't been expected for another couple of days. To top it off. Kyle felt the pull for the female wolf.

"It can't be," Max whispered, looking at Kyle.

Kyle looked at the man, then realization dawned when he saw the man's eyes were golden. Just like his own were. This female was theirs.

The female whimpered a lonely sound and sank onto the bed. Her gaze flicked between Kyle and Max. Almost to be asking what had happened.

"Celine," Max whispered softly, "Celine. It's Max."

The wolf looked at him and licked his outstretched hand. A small sign of awareness and affection, before she turned her head to do the same to Kyle.

"You can change back. Just remembered what you looked like," Kyle urged softly, "Just remember your own features as a human."

Slowly the wolf closed its eyes, letting out a small huff of breath. So slowly did the change come, fur receding into pale skin. Quickly doctors threw a blanket over the naked body as it slowly went from wolf to human again.

The woman lay panting on the bed, tears in her eyes.

"What happened?" she asked.

"You just went through your first change," explained Kyle, "A little sooner than expected actually."

"You mean I'm a werewolf?" she asked softly.

"Not only that, you are our mate," stated Max with awe.

"What?" Celine asked shocked by the statement Max had just made.

"Damn it, Max, that little bit could have waited until she had processed what had just happened to her," snapped Kyle.

Max slapped a hand over his mouth, as his eyes widened. It would have been cute and funny if Celine wasn't freaking out in her head right now.

She was a wolf? A truly verified mythical werewolf? One that howled at the moon when it was full and killed innocent people?

Tears formed and she began to cry. What was she going to do now? How could she return to her life in the city and harm others?

Kyle gently reached out and rubbed her back which surprisingly didn't hurt anymore. The touch was soothing over the soft fabric.

"Shhh... it's okay Celine. We'll help you," he whispered softly.

Celine believed those whispered words, she trusted these two men when she didn't even really know them at all. Yet, oddly she now felt a kinship to them that was beyond her comprehension.

Max joined Kyle in stroking her back, soothing her as she sobbed through the turmoil in her head. As she struggled to comprehend that these two men had been telling her the truth about the myths. That she was now one of them. She wasn't in pain anymore from wounds caused by the wolf but a different pain altogether.

The pain in her heart.