The Wolf Within

She Doesn't Know

** Lia’s POV **

I didn’t really want to leave, but exhaustion had started to creep in since I hadn’t gotten any rest last night. I was so excited that I had finally gotten to officially meet her. Dakota… I thought to myself, such a beautiful name. Her eyes, her smile, the way she spoke. Everything about her just had me completely captivated, but there was one huge thing in the way of us being truly together:

“She doesn’t know she’s a werewolf.”

Al jerked her head in my direction, her eyes wide with shock and confusion. “What do you mean she doesn’t know she’s a werewolf? How could she not know?” She let out a gasp. “Is that why she has a pet cat?”

“What is your obsession with that cat?” I finally asked her.

“It’s an Alpha cat! I swear! And that’s beside the point, can we go back to that original statement? How, in the Goddess’s name does she not know she’s a werewolf?”

“I don’t know, but I guess that’s why she didn’t show me her wolf last night. Al, I’m not crazy right? You felt her wolf too?” Thankfully we were at a stop light as I turned to look at Al. “Tell me the truth.”

“Yes, I definitely felt her wolf. Though I’ll admit something about it felt…. Trapped.” She looked out the windshield and continued. “I’ll be honest Lia; I have no clue what to do here. She’s at least heard of werewolves, right?”

“Yes. I told her the “legend” about our Pack and she was completely infatuated. She said she always felt connected to wolves. She even said she’d always wished she could be a werewolf, then she asked me if I would want to have the abilities of the majestic creatures!” I almost yelled, my frustration kept growing and was only amplified by the fact that I didn’t know what to do.

“Well you should have told her right then.” Al said, matter-of-factly.

I tossed her a look that clearly read ‘oh really?’ dripping with sarcasm.

“I mean, what better time to say it! ‘Not only would I accept the powers of such a majestic creature, I am that majestic creature you love. You are too!’ See? How hard would that have been?” Al scoffed.

“You realize she is a twenty-seven-year-old woman. Correct?” I stared at, more than frustrated. “She would think I was crazy.”

“Yeah, I guess you're right.” Al admitted, sinking further back into her seat, her face completely baffled.

We sat in silence for a long while on the drive home. Every now and then Al filling it with stupid ideas to get Dakota to embrace her inner wolf. “We could make her play fetch?” and “We could take her hunting and tell her, ‘You are only allowed to kill it with your bare hands and teeth’”.

As we parked at the Ranger station, she sat straight up and grabbed my shoulders and turned me to face her. Thank Goddess I just parked.

“You should consult Strega Tali!” she had practically yelled. She was right. Strega Tali would be able to shed more light on this situation than anyone else could.

“Al! You are brilliant!” I said, “I’ll arrange to meet her in a few hours. First, I really need some sleep.”

“Yeah, no kidding.” Al replied. “Your eyes look like shit.” She said as she got out of the car. “Don’t worry though, I don’t think Dakota noticed one bit. She was too distracted by those biceps of yours.” She teased as she made her way past the Station and toward the pack house.

I got out of the car and headed up to the station, I knew I wasn’t in any mood to deal with the pleasantries required of me when entering into a house filled with my pack. Instead I opted to sleep on one of the many cots in the ranger station’s break room. Before I fell asleep, I reached out to Strega Tali via mind link.

Strega Tali, would you have time to meet with me around seven tonight? I understand if you are busy, but this is important to me.

For you dear, of course. Her gentle, aged voice responded. I will see you at seven. Don’t be a minute late.

Of course not Strega. I replied and added a quick but very grateful, Thank you.

Mmhmm, she replied. Now sleep tired one.

I never did get used to how much Strega Tali knew, it was as if she was always watching us. However, it was also comforting to know that she always knew exactly what we needed; to grow stronger as an individual, as an Alpha, as a Pack.

As I drifted to sleep, I only hoped she could help show my partner needed so she could grow into her wolf.

***

When I awoke, feeling as refreshed as I could after several hours on a cot, I saw the sun was beginning its descent. I got up and checked my watch, it was five forty-five in the evening, that left just enough time for me to grab some dinner before heading to Strega Tali.

I had a nice big stretch, gathered my things and made my way to the pack house.

Frankie, I reached out via mind-link, would you be free to grab Al and meet me in the pack house kitchen?

Yeah, we’ll be right there Chief. Frankie responded as I walked up the main porch steps.

Upon entering the lobby, I was relieved to see that it was mostly deserted, save for a couple of pups making their way to the common room. “Hi Alpha,” they called as they passed me.

“Good evening kids,” I replied, offering them a smile as we passed each other.

I could smell the delicious scent of dinner cooking in the kitchen, my stomach made an eager growl and I was painfully reminded of how empty it was. I walked into the kitchen and saw Tess, the head chef, busily chopping away at some vegetables. “Good evening Tess,” I called out over the sounds of chopping and sizzling. “May I be of any assistance?” I asked when I was next to her, I was practically drooling inhaling the delicious aroma of spices as I approached.

She was in the middle of cooking one of my favorite dinners: Meatloaf with a barbecue glaze, with sides of mashed potatoes and grilled vegetables. “Sure,” she said, “you bring the bag of corn ears over here and start shucking them.”

“You got it,” I replied as I grabbed the bag and sat myself next to the big garbage can. I had taken pride in raising a pack that helped each other. Other packs would keep things separate, saying that a person’s job starts and begins with them. I, on the other hand, always had the ‘it takes a village’ mentality. I encouraged my pack members to think the same way.

‘If your friend needs help, you help them.’ I would tell them, ‘so if you see someone could use an extra set of hands, I encourage you to ask if they need help. If they say no, that’s fine. If they say yes, help.’ After all, being a tight knit group of wolves was what the Guardian Pack was all about. You can’t fully trust your fellow hunters, warriors, or guardians if you don’t think they’ve got you in return.

As I finished shucking the last ear of corn, Frankie and Al walked in. “Hiya Tess,” Al called out. “Anything we can do to help?” Frankie asked.

“You bet!” Tess replied and quickly put the two of them to work. “Al, can you add the glaze to the meat loafs, then put them back in the oven. They should be done after about ten minutes. Frankie, can you use those muscles of yours and mash these potatoes here?”

They both rolled up their sleeves and got straight to it. “I’ll take those from you now, hon, if you’re all finished with them.” Tess said to me as she reached for the bag of freshly shucked corn. I nodded.

“So, Al told me Dakota doesn’t know she’s a wolf.” Frankie started. I wasn’t too surprised that Al had spilled the beans to her mate. Al looked back to me and shrugged, then went right back to saucing the meat loafs.

“And who is this, Dakota?” Tess looked back to me and asked.

“She’s our Alpha’s fated mate.” Al responded.

“Really? Well congratulations Alpha!” Tess replied, her eyes filled with happiness as she came over and embraced me. Tess was always like a second mother to me and I was happy to see she at least approved of my mate’s name.

“Thank you, Tess.” I smiled at her and she went back to cooking. One thing I loved about Tess; the woman was a vault. She heard a large majority of the gossip around the pack, but she would take those secrets to the grave unless it was a matter of someone’s safety.

I turned my attention back to Frankie. “Yeah, she doesn’t know. That’s why I asked you and Al to meet me here, I figured you both would like to come with me while I spoke to Strega Tali about this. Maybe you guys can help me gain some insight on some things I wouldn’t think to ask?” I looked up at them, hoping they would both be willing. I may be their Alpha, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to order them around like a power crazed general.

Frankie and Al looked at each other and then back at me, both holding their classic ‘are you stupid’ expressions on their faces. “Duh, of course we are coming with you!” Al said.

“Well, it’s settled then, if you’re meeting with Strega Tali you best not be late.” Tess chimed in, as she ushered Al and Frankie to sit with me at the small prep table in the kitchen. “Now eat your dinner and get out of my kitchen.” She laughed and turned to bring the rest of the food to the dining room.

***

After we ate, we made our way to the Strega Tali’s hut. It was a traditional little hut the Strega had built herself and rarely left, except to treat the sick who were incapable of making their way to her. It was a small cob house with a thatched grass and leaf roof. Inside the space smelled of sage and there was a slight haze in the air. I spied the small three sticks of incense, burning away on one of the shelves next to the open window.

It was a small studio like room, with no corners, almost like a yurt. Her bed was placed against the wall opposite the entrance and shelves were lined up along the right side of the hut. Each shelf was packed with various magical items: bottles, some filled with ingredients and others with elixirs and potions, bones, skulls and feathers were strewn about among the many books and magical tools she often used. To the left was another window framed by cabinets and her cooking top. A rack of pots and pans hang from the frame of the roof along with a great many bundles of herbs. Candles were positioned strategically around the room, giving it a small warm glow.

In the center of the room was a little round table, surrounded by four chairs and covered in a silk cloth; which had the constellations and other magical symbols sewn onto it. At the very center of the table rested a deck of tarot cards, covered in their own special silk and tied neatly with a string. A single, tall candle sitting close beside it, offering its light.

“Welcome, welcome!” The old woman said as she stepped out of her bathroom to hug each of us. Her wrinkled face lit up with the largest smile as she said, “It’s so nice to see you all.”

“It’s lovely to see you too Strega.” I replied, returning the smile. She was always so sweet and made all of the pack members feel like her grandchildren.

“It hasn’t been that long has it?” Frankie asked as she hugged the short, plump woman.

“It’s been long enough,” she replied, very matter-of-factly, as grandmothers do when they’ve missed their grandchildren for too long. “Now, let’s not waste any time my dear,” she began as she finished her hug with Al and gestured for us to take a seat. She made her way to the chair that sat between her bed and the table. Al took the chair to my left, while Frankie to the chair on my right, I sat in the chair across from Strega Tali.

“I sense you’ve found your mate my dear Alpha. Congratulations, I know it’s been a long hunt.” The Strega commented, beaming with pride and excitement. She continued, “but I also sense there is trouble in what should be paradise.” Her eyes looked at me scrupulously.

“She is unable to access her full self, stuck in the only world she has ever known. The human world.” Strega Tali paused and took a breath. “The ancestors have information to tell you my dear, information they feel you need in order to help her through this transformation.”

“What do they need to tell me, Strega, please, help me. Help us.” I asked, my voice more desperate than I had intended to let on. I couldn’t help it, the magnetism of a werewolf’s mate is the most intense pull anyone could ever experience and I had waited so long for it.

“We will. Look to the cards my child, and I shall share with you what they wish you to know. Make ready any questions you may have in response so we may clarify what they tell you further.” As she said this, she reached for Al and Frankie’s hands and nodded for me to take their other ones, forming a circle. “First, we must make the space ready.”