Her Unforeseen Destiny

Memories Return

Emmeline's POV - Last Night

"It's okay, Emmeline. You're going to be okay."

This man is speaking to me but it sounds like he's a million miles away. The pain is excruciating and it feels like my body is going up in flames. A searing heat makes its way through me and I could swear that every bone in my body was breaking. I try to scream but the only sound that comes out of my mouth is a howl. 

All my senses are on high alert. It's like I can smell everything, see everything, hear everything. My senses are overwhelmed and I whimper softly. It's the closest sound to crying I can make right now. 

I can feel someone beside me, but the man is no longer there. Someone - something - nuzzles my head gently, and it feels good. It feels friendly and reassuring. I turn my head to see who it is. 

It's a wolf. A big, grey wolf. Its eyes are a deep brown and it's as if it's staring at me. I look back into the big brown eyes and realise that I'm not afraid of it. Of him.

I hear a branch snap in the distance and I can smell something. Animal. I sniff at the air. Deer. How can I hear something like that so clearly? How can I smell that it was a deer?

Realisation crashes down over me and I can't breathe for a moment. Slowly, I tilt my head down to look at my feet. Or, rather, my paws. Big, deep reddish-brown paws. 

I look back up at the wolf beside me. I don't know where I am. I don't know who I am. I have to get out of here. 

I back away slowly and the wolf tilts his head as if he's trying to figure out what I'm thinking or doing. I whine softly. In my own head, I feel like I'm about to cry, hyperventilate, or both. I shake my head and look up at the brown wolf. He takes a step towards me and I can't cope anymore. I need to get away from here. This has to be a bad dream. I need to wake up.

I turn on my heel and run. The feeling is one of freedom, but I'm also terrified. I don't know what to do and I don't know what's happening to me.

~

Emmeline's POV - Present

"How did you get me back here?" I glance up at Jamie, noticing that my face was now damp. I must have started to cry as I remembered some of the events from the night before. 

"Well, it was somewhat of a challenge," he smiles at me kindly. "You tired yourself out and shifted back. You were completely out of it. I hope you don't mind but I went through your bag to try and find out where you lived so I could bring you back here. I hoped that it would make waking up less... scary? Anyway, you had a paycheck in your bag and it had your address on it. So I brought you back here."

"Thank you," I mumble, before realising that he had brought me home and I was now in my pyjamas. "How... did I end up in my pyjamas?"

He blushes slightly and my eyes widen. Please tell me this random, somewhat attractive man hasn't seen me naked. 

"Well, when we shift back," he starts slowly, "we aren't... clothed."

I just stare at him. 

"I wrapped you in a blanket and tried to dress you the best I could without... looking." He glances away from me and I feel somewhat relieved. He's the first guy to ever see me naked, I think to myself. It's a weird thought. At least he had the decency to try and cover me up. "I figured it would freak you out if you woke up naked with a random man in your house."

I narrow my eyes slightly. He does actually have a point, although it's still weird to think that this man has seen me with no clothes on. I cross my arms over my chest as if this will make any difference to what he has already seen.

"Well," I sigh, exhaling slowly. "I suppose I should thank you for... helping me."

"I suppose you should," he grins at me, looking relieved that I haven't freaked out about him possibly - definitely - seeing me in the nude. "Anyway, I have a proposition."

"That sounds ominous." I look at him, wondering what on earth he might be about to suggest. Hopefully, it has absolutely nothing to do with seeing me in my birthday suit and that we can pretend that last night had nothing of the kind occur. He smiles at me before walking over to sit on the edge of the sofa. He's not right next to me but he's much closer than he was before. 

"It's nothing to worry about." He chuckles at my concerned expression. "I just wanted to suggest that you spend some time with us. Our clan. You're still a baby-"

"I'm 18 years old!" I exclaim, making him laugh again. 

"As a werewolf," he clarifies. "You're still just a pup as a werewolf."

I roll my eyes. I guess he is correct, but I still don't appreciate being called a baby. 

"Fine. Continue." I raise an eyebrow, waiting for him to proceed with this apparent proposition.

"I want you to come back with me to my clan. You can learn all about werewolves and get to grips with your new... side. Last night was the first full moon since you turned 18, so your wolf was finally able to appear. You'll be able to learn to control your shifting." He seems to be waiting for a response from me but since I give him none, he continues. "Maybe we can learn about your parents."

He has pretty much said the magic words. I sigh and purse my lips. 

"Fine." I stand up and he stands up next to me. I never noticed how tall he was. I'm not the tallest - only 5'4" or so - but he stood maybe a foot taller than me, or a little less. "I'll go with you, but only if you help me learn out about my parents."