Love and Submission

Chapter Four

Olivia had never been so happy to see her school in all of her life. Or at least not as much as she could remember. The talk with her mother about responsibility in the endeavors of partying and s*x was still making her shudder. The woman was insane that was just all there was to it. They’d covered the whole birds and bees crap when Olivia had turned 12. Yet for some reason now they were in the ‘sharing’ phase of the mother-daughter talking so her mom felt like explaining, in detail, all of the ways she’d messed up when she was younger. There were just certain things that children never ever want to know about their parents and Olivia was quite positive her mom had crossed that line about five minutes into the conversation. A shudder rippled through her and she decided to turn her thoughts away from the horrible conversation or she would spend the rest of the day shuddering at random intervals.

She walked up the brick walkway to the center courtyard where she quickly located her friend Kate, or Kitty as Olivia affectionately called her. Of course Kitty’s blue and purple streaked hair was easy to spot anywhere. As were her four inch heeled combat boots and striking Goth attire. She looked up from her sketchbook just as Olivia started towards her and jumped up with a squeal. “Where were you yesterday?” She called as the distance between them closed.

“Sick.”

“You missed everything. They egged the cheerleaders! It was so good!” They being Chris and Todd or so Olivia assumed. Well at least they had gone through with the rest of the plan even though they had left her to be mauled by a rabid dog. “Hey what gives I thought you wanted it?” Kitty’s face was confused and almost a little frightened.

“I did I’m just mad cause they kinda left me in the woods the other night.”

“Jerks. Anyway it was classic.”

“Well damn I wish I’d seen it.”

“Oh don’t worry, I took pics.” Olivia smiled and Kitty returned it. This was why she and Kitty were such good friends. They made their way back to their usual table and then sat down. “So you feeling okay now?”

“Yea it was just a 24 hour thing I guess.” She said with a shrug. Of course she could still hear to an eerie extent and the perfect sight thing was starting to freak her out. She also could not stop eating for some reason. She rummaged through her bag for one of the granola bars she’d packed while Kitty brought her up to speed on the meager doings of the school social life. It wasn’t easy to hear her over the constant thumping that seemed to be going on in the courtyard today. It was probably someone just playing basketball but it was really getting on Olivia’s nerves to the point where she was grinding her teeth even as she grinned upon finding the granola bar. She had scarfed half the thing when she finally had to ask Kitty to repeat herself.

“Are you sure you’re feeling okay? You look a little wired or something.” Kitty watched Olivia with deepening concern.

“It’s ok I just can barely hear you around all the noise.” Olivia pressed her temples and looked around angrily for the offending ball and subsequent ball players.

“What noise Liv?”

“You can’t hear that?” Kitty just shook her head. “It’s like a whole bunch of basketballs being dribbled out of beat with each other or something.” Kitty frowned and reached a hand out to test Olivia’s forehead. “Seriously Kitty it's like thump thump thump thump….” Her voice trailed off as she figured out what the noise was. Her eyes widened as she looked around the courtyard and listened to all of their heartbeats. Kids she had known since elementary school all crowding around discussing whatever it was they talked about. Same as yesterday and the day before that and the day before that. Now all of a sudden she could hear their hearts beating. She swallowed trying to bring some saliva into her dry mouth but it didn’t work.

“Liv you look really scared…tell me what’s going on.”

“I think maybe I’m not as good as I thought I was.” Olivia said with a shaky voice. “I’m just gonna head home but I’ll call you later.” She rose and stuffed everything back in her backpack not caring about marks for neatness.

“Okay.” Kitty called to her back but Olivia was already moving past everyone. Now that she was worked up into a right panic she was noticing the smell. She could smell sweat, cologne, and perfume all in too large quantities and none of it blending together well. People were talking about her. They were wondering what was up with her and where she had been yesterday. She started to walk faster trying to get out and yet simultaneously not cause a scene. Once the thumping was down to a muffled tone she stopped and looked around. She had wandered into the woods behind her school. Where this had all started. But what was happening to her? What kind of infection turned her into a raving lunatic with superhuman senses?

She sat down against a tree and put her head between her knees, taking deep even breaths. She was just overreacting that had to be it. Maybe she had gotten a concussion or something so everything seemed louder to her. Perhaps she really had knocked some wires loose and could now hear just a bit better. It was possible that a game of basketball could've been going on in the parking lot after all. She'd kept her head down as she tore out of the place. Now that she was out here nothing seemed out of whack. Although, now that she focused on it, she could smell the forest. She could smell the trees around her and the dirt beneath her with painful clarity. She whimpered and felt tears start to sting her eyes.

The sound of a twig breaking to her left snapped her head up. She had an overpowering urge to get up into a defensive position but ignored it. There standing in the trees was the same grey eyed stranger who had been outside her window last night. He froze as she studied him and made no move to come closer. A normal person would've screamed or ran but Olivia did neither. She was cataloging everything she saw about him away for future study. He was barefoot even though it was still a little too cold for that kind of thing, not mention dirty in the woods. His jeans were faded blue jeans with more than one tear and he was wearing a thin white t shirt. His choppy black hair was falling into those grey eyes. Now that she could see him closer they were almost the color of storm clouds. "Hello." His voice was deeper than she would've thought with a rumble that bordered on a growl. There was also the slightest hint of an accent to it that she couldn't place.

"Are you following me?" She demanded, frustration making her override any survival instinct. He didn't say anything but came closer until she got to her feet and pressed her back hard against the tree behind her. He stopped but he was close enough now where he could catch her if he lunged. They eyed each other tensely for a minute and even though she wanted to run something was telling her not to. She stared him down without blinking as he did the same to her until his mouth quirked up in a smirk and he leaned against the tree he was in front of. She tried to ignore the way the position outlined all of his perfectly toned muscles. Then he went and crossed his arms over his chest, thus flexing his biceps, and it was all for naught.

"We need to talk." He said keeping his eyes on her but not making it a challenge again.

"Feel free to start with why you're following me." Olivia gave him a level stare and tried to calm her racing heart. Curiosity is how children end up on milk cartons she berated herself mentally. He hesitated a moment. "If you're not going to talk I'm leaving."

"I bit you." She felt her eyes narrow. Okay this guy was obviously crazy.

"Oh really?"

"On your ankle and then your shoulder." He stated very matter-of-factly. She hadn't believed him before but now she was concerned. Had he watched the whole thing? How else would he know that?

"A dog bit me."

"A wolf, actually but it's a common misconception."

"A wolf? And you're saying that you are that wolf?" He nodded and Olivia had to struggle to keep a straight face. "So what you're some kind of shapeshifter then?"

"Werewolf, to be exact." She lost the battle with the smile so she shook her head.

"Riiiight. Listen pal, I'm really not in the mood for this. I'm outta here."

"You had a very high fever after I bit you right?"

"I already saw you watching through my window but nice try. Just so you know I’ll be calling the police about that."

"Everything hurt while you burned. Your bones, your veins, even your hair. Then you woke up and you were starving right? You could see farther, hear better, and differentiate between smells you never picked up before?" She felt her eyes widen and then her body began to tremble.

"How do you…how could you possibly…"

"It's the change. I went through it that's how I know. It's how I know what happens next and how to help you."

"Wait, wait. I am not a werewolf." She could hear the notes of hysteria in her voice and she wondered abstractly if he could too.

"You are, or you will be rather. The virus has already spread through your body and changed you. Now it'll spend the next month preparing for the real change." Olivia shook her head rapidly and waved her hands.

"No this isn't possible. I mean this s**t just doesn't happen. Werewolves aren't real. I must still be asleep." Suddenly she was pressed flat against the tree and the grey eyed werewolf-stranger was flush against her. He captured her chin with his fingers and pressed his lips to hers, hard and possessive. For a moment she let the sensation just run through her before her rational brain kicked in. Her knee shot up to his groin and then she shoved his shoulders. She was surprised when he ended up curled upon the dirty forest floor coughing and sputtering. "If you ever do that again pal, werewolf or not I will not be responsible for my response." Olivia tried to look fierce but her companion just looked frustrated.

"Connor." He snapped at her, rubbing his cheek.

"What?"

"My name is Connor, not 'pal'." They were quiet for several moments while Olivia labored to get her temper under control and Connor seemed to be focused on breathing normally.

"Okay. Say that just for one insane second I might put some credence to your little delusion. Why?"

"What?"

"Why me?"

"You're my mate." Mate. She’d heard that before. During her fever dream. The certainty that it had all been a dream was starting to falter.

"Huh?"

"You. Are. My. Mate." He enunciated each word like he was speaking to a child.

"I heard you before."

"Then what's the question?"

"How can I be your mate? What the hell is a mate? You don't even know me!" He frowned a bit and c****d his head to the side while considering her argument.

"You are Olivia Jane. You live at 416 Prescott Street, in the basement particularly…"

"What's my favorite color? What kind of music do I like? What do I want to be? Or did I guess…" Her voice trailed off and she looked down at the ground. She heard him sigh and looked back up at him.

"I realize we've gone about this a bit backwards and that is completely my fault." She scoffed but didn't say anything. She watched as he ran a hand through his black hair and rubbed his skull briefly. "I intended to show you what I was in the forest that night and then talk to you, get to know you and stuff."

"But instead you decided to bite me?"

"Well you were leaving. I didn't mean to bite you so hard but once I'd realized what had happened there was no taking it back. I was still going to change and then explain things but you kicked me in the face!"

"Don't hold your breath waiting for an apology."

"You kicked me in the face!"

"You bit me!" His eyes flashed a quick yellow before sliding back to gray and he took a deep breath.

"I’m sorry. As I said, I didn't mean to."

"You did it twice."

"The second time you ran! Out of all the dumb things you could've possibly done you give a wild animal your back and then run! Don't you understand that once you run we have to chase? You're lucky all I did was bite you! I wanted to kill you." Olivia felt her eyes widen which caused another rake through his hair by Connor. "Then of course you beat me upside the head with a tree."

"It was a branch."

"It felt like a tree." Olivia smirked but didn't say anything.

"That doesn't make us even."

"I know." Connor said quietly. They were both silent a moment.

"I don't even know why I'm arguing this with you, it's not like I believe you." Olivia shook her head with a small smile.

"You don't?"

"Hell no. Werewolves are movie stuff."

"I am a werewolf Olivia, and so are you."

"Yeah, prove it." Connor smiled and Olivia felt her heart beat speed up at the perfection of the expression. When he smiled he flashed a set of dimples she hadn't known were there. He sank to his knees and then leaned forward so he was on all fours and locked eyes with her. The beautiful stormy gray lightened to amber and then yellow before finally settling on golden. Olivia watched with wide eyes as his teeth grew into fangs and sharpened. He gritted his teeth before the next part and she had to cover her mouth to keep from screaming. As she watched his bones slid out of his skin and reformed themselves into a distinctly more canine skeletal structure. His skin peeled away and then reattached itself over the new appendages, sprouting coarse black hair at an alarming rate. The whole process took maybe five minutes tops but it felt like it was all in horrific slow motion for Olivia.

When it was finished the giant black wolf shook itself and then turned to face a now seated Olivia. Her knees had given out at some point during the impossible display. The wolf came forward slowly and sat down on its haunches in front of her. On instinct she brought her knees up and pressed herself harder against the tree. Her eyes refused to blink as she studied him. The fur was definitely the same shade as Connor's hair had been, and Connor was certainly nowhere to be seen. His eyes watched her with intelligence too. Way too much for an ordinary wild beast. This was either the most elaborate prank she had ever been the victim of, or heard of for that matter, or he was telling the truth. Her brain rejected that as a possibility but the evidence was overwhelming.

She reached out one shaking hand to touch that jet black fur and froze when he leaned toward her hand. Once she was sure he wasn't going to bite her again she relaxed a very small bit and ran her fingers through the fur. It was shockingly soft. She grew bolder and moved her hand through more of the stuff when a deep rumbling stopped her again. Connor's eyes were hooded and the deep rumbling was coming from his chest. Did dog's purr? Or wolves rather. She'd have to look that up later. He fidgeted around until he had maneuvered her hand up to his ears. "What? You want me to scratch your ears or something?" He just leaned into her hand and purred louder. Okay, this was really weird but she obliged him and scratched behind his ears. He looked so blissed out by it that she couldn't help but giggle. He snapped his eyes open and watched her for a moment until she stopped. "Sorry, you just looked really happy." He nodded and then closed his eyes again. "This is just so weird. I still can't believe it's real." He nodded but didn't open his eyes.

After several minutes of scratching and another good shake he stepped back to the tree opposite her. The wolf panted and the bones slid out again, the fur disappeared and was replaced with soft human skin. This time she noticed the clear liquid that escaped when the bones moved and dripped onto the ground. She tried to ignore the curiosity as to what exactly it was. This time when it was over Connor was panting on the ground and holding himself, completely naked. Somehow Olivia had missed his clothes tearing to shreds while he changed. Operating on instinct again she moved towards him and stroked his hair while he tried to breathe normally. "Okay I believe you." He smirked but was still trembling slightly. She hugged her knees and stared down at him wondering if she really would be able to put up with this much pain. "That looks like it really hurts."

"It does. Normally, we change much faster but I wanted to show you what it looks like." Olivia's eyes widened to perfect ovals. "It'll be hard the first few times but then it'll be fast." She nodded and waited while he sat up completely unphased by his own nudity.

"Uh…" Olivia felt her cheeks redden and looked down at the ground.

"Sorry. Nudity isn't a big deal for werewolves. I guess I forgot to bring some extra clothes."

"That's ok. I should probably be getting home I think the school has probably called my mom."

"Ok, I'll change back and go with you."

"Actually I need some space right now. I need to figure this all out." He waited a moment while frowning.

"I don't think it's a good idea for you to be on your own. You're a newborn werewolf in less patrolled territory. I'll just stick around outside until your ready." Clearly he did not understand the concept of space.

"No I mean I need time to figure all of this out without you."

"I said it was a bad suggestion."

"It wasn't a suggestion Connor. If you're hanging around outside my house and following me around I'm not going to be able to decide what I want."

"It's not like there is a wealth of options Olivia. In a month when the full moon rises you'll change and you'll feed. It's not something you can take back."

"What if I don't want to be a werewolf?" She shot back angrily. He sighed and let his shoulders droop.

"I'm sorry, really I am, but you have to. That's just all there is now." Olivia was suddenly intensely pissed at him.

"Who the hell do you think you are just making life changing decisions like that for other people? I have a life! Sure it's boring and uneventful but it's mine and I like it the way it is! Maybe I had hopes and dreams huh? You didn't even ask me!" He shot to his feet and towered over getting angry by her shouting at him.

"I said I was sorry okay! I can't take it back. I would if I could but I can't so deal with it. You can still do the things you planned you just have to be willing to make some concessions. If you ignore this and me you'll change in a populated area and kill people. You don't want to do that do you?" Olivia was trembling with the barely contained fury she felt and she was dangerously close to hitting him again.

"Look just go away. I don't want to be your mate or whatever and IF I decide to be a werewolf I will never be anywhere near you!" She turned and stomped away from him then, only turning back when she realized she had left her book bag on the ground. She didn't look at Connor as she walked home angry but she could see in her peripheral vision that he was scowling at her with his arms crossed. Still completely naked. Whatever.