CHAPTER FOUR

Being Louis’s girlfriend was unreal. 

It didn’t happen dramatically like in the movies, there was no kiss in the rain or a public declaration and dance number. 

He has just casually asked like he already knew the answer. 

And I had said yes. 

We started holding hands in school and sitting close enough that our knees brushed under the lunch table. We laughed over inside jokes. 

I should have been nervous, falling for a guy who hadn’t been here for more than two weeks but we saw each other everyday and that counted for something. 

Louis was intentional and made loving him very easy. 

Zelda loathed our relationship. 

And that honestly, made it even better. 

“Are you seriously dating Louis?” Zelda asked in the hallway one morning. 

“Jesus, Maya. He’s only been here like five minutes and you’re already acting like a love hungry dog in heat.” 

Her voice rang out louder with the last few words, students turned. I could feel the heat crawl up my neck from embarrassment but I didn’t flinch. 

“I guess when you’re used to leftovers, the first person who notices you feels like a feast.” Zelda said, flipping her hair as she walked past me, followed by her two minions. 

I didn’t even blink. I didn’t care really, especially not about Zelda. 

Louis was walking down the hallway and as he got closer to me, the noise in the hallway quieted down. It was like he was my bubble. 

And Zelda didn’t matter in it. 

*** 

Louis loves asking me questions. 

About everything. 

About my childhood and my dreams, my parents and every other detail he could think of. 

It felt like he was trying to know me in fast forward. 

“Do you feel like something inside you is… off? Like you don’t belong here?” Louis asked. 

The question threw me off. 

“I mean, yeah,” I laughed, “but who doesn’t? I’m waiting to be done with the school year and get into college.” I answered. 

He just looked at me, like he was waiting for a different answer. Then he kissed me, and every other thought vanished. 

By the time he ended the kiss, my mind was already boggled and I could see he was as flustered as I was. 

“Did you dream about me last night?” 

He always asked about my dreams, I had told him about the one with the red wolf. 

It had started weeks ago, the wolf always stood at the edge of the woods watching me. 

Sometimes it came closer but disappeared quickly and I would wake up sweating. 

I only told him once but it happened almost every night. 

He had seemed pleased that day. 

“Yes, I dreamt about you.” I lied. 

He brushed my cheek. “Dreams mean something, they’re not just your imagination.” He said to me. “If you’re seeing me in your dreams, then maybe I’m your soulmate.”

I laughed at his teasing tone.

*** 

As if having weird dreams wasn’t enough, I started hearing a voice in my head. 

It wasn’t a dream and they weren’t my thoughts. It screamed sometimes but I couldn’t make out what she was screaming for and sometimes she whispered. 

When I was around Louis, the voice spoke more. 

It liked him. 

The voice cried sometimes and other times, it snarled in anger, especially when Zelda was around me. 

I didn’t tell anyone about the voice, I would sound crazy but I googled it, a lot. 

Schizophrenia, auditory hallucinations and dissociative thoughts. 

I kept googling, trying to figure out what was wrong with me. 

I had no medical history and I had no idea who my biological parents were, what if there was something broken in me?

***

“I’m planning a birthday surprise for you.” Louis said. “I want it to be at night,” he whispered, his eyes bright with excitement. “You’ll love it. I promise.” 

“I’ve never snuck out of the house before,” I said, wringing my hands. 

“Come on, Maya, there’s a first time for everything.” 

He said that like there was something else, he wanted me to do for the first time. 

I nodded. 

“It’s not even really my birthday, I don’t think they know my birthday. They just picked a date, the day they found me. The day of the blood war.” 

Louis tilted his head. “That doesn’t mean it’s not special. Everything about you, is special.” 

*** 

On my birthday, my parents sent my cake to school. They always did. It was cute and it had a note. 

Love, Mom and Dad. 

It was sweet and quiet, just like them. 

I kept my cake in my locker, there were gifts from other students in the Anti Werewolf Youth Club, stuffed animals and candy as well as some nice ‘I hate werewolves’ merch.

*** 

That night, I wore a dress with my boots and went out the door, slowly. 

I knew my parents were already asleep by that time. 

My heart pounded as I walked through the gate, watching their room window. 

No light came on and there were no voices. 

I found Louis outside his house, waiting. 

He took my hand and led me into the woods. 

I laughed as we ran through the woods, I tried to ignore the voice in my head, the one that was now restless. 

Louis laid a big blanket down beneath the open sky, the moon was full and bright. Everything looked perfect and I felt my body glowing. 

Louis kissed me, it was warm and slow.

I kissed him back. 

Then all heavens let loose, he pulled me closer and I could feel the fire within him. 

We were both hungry and it felt like this was the only thing that could end the hunger, I didn’t know this feeling, my body felt like it wasn’t mine but I could feel it. 

I moved differently and I was wilder and stronger. 

The voice in my head was moaning as Louis suckled on my neck, he undid my dress. 

I didn’t feel self conscious, I felt alive. My body hummed with ecstasy as Louis’s fingers traveled over my bare skin. 

He worshipped me with kisses, then he moved me on so I was laying down on the blanket. As he took off his clothes under the moonlight, I was surprised at how toned his body was. 

Louis had the body of a male model and not an eighteen year old highschool student who barely participated in any sports. 

He kissed me and then I felt his fingers in my folds. 

“Louis.” I whispered. 

“Sheesh,” he whispered, placing a finger on my lips as he stares deep into my eyes.

“It would only hurt a second, I promise.” 

I nodded as he positioned himself in between my legs and thrusted in. 

“Mmmmm” I felt a sharp pain that quickly turned into a sweet pain. 

He kept going and as I looked at him, I could have sworn, I saw his eyes flash red but I paid no mind, my body felt good and the voice in my head moaned as I moaned. 

He raised me and turned me on all fours, I was in a different position while he continued. This time, it felt like I was filled with his body, like he was stretching me. It was too much to handle…

“Arrrrgh” I cried out, it felt so good. 

My skin tingled and then just as I was riding the wave and shaking, as I felt the warm liquid being squirted inside me, I felt him bite my neck in the heat of the moment. 

It didn’t hurt but It felt like electricity buzzed through me. 

I vibrated in response as my orgasm rocked me strongly. 

We collapsed on the blanket, crumpled up by our love making. 

I touched my neck, it was a deep, raw puncture. 

“Holy shit,” I said, brushing my fingers over it. 

I had read about stuff like this. 

“Is this, like your kink or something?” 

Louis laughed. “You can call it a love mark.” 

I laughed too, the voice in my head was probably as satisfied as I was. 

I reached for the knife to cut a cake slice I’d brought and the metal burned my skin. 

I gasped as I dropped it. 

“Shit!” 

I held up my palm as it looked like there was a blister but even as I stared at it, my skin began to heal. 

“What the hell?” I whispered, my eyes widening in disbelief. 

And then a blinding pain filled my body. 

I dropped on the blanket, it felt like my bones were breaking from the inside, my back arched and my nails clawed into the dirt. 

I screamed but it wasn’t a scream that came out. 

It was a howl. 

My body twisted and turned in agony. 

My bones rearranged, and my skin stretched and fur erupted across my body, my face felt itchy. 

I was on all fours, shaking and panting. 

I tore the grass with my elongated claws. 

I looked down and my hands had turned to paws. 

I stopped breathing. 

This couldn’t be real. I was having a psychotic breakdown after I just lost my virginity. 

Yes, that should be it.

I tried to find Louis but he was already stepping closer. 

He was smiling. 

“You’re beautiful,” he said, stroking my fur. 

I wanted to scream. 

But I wasn’t sure what sound would come out.

This dream look too real to be false. 

I had to wake up from this but I didn’t know what to do. 

Then Louis began to change too. 

His body moved as well, bones snapping and fur spread across his body. But it didn’t seem as painful or as long as mine had been. 

His human body disappeared and a large brown wolf stood before me, eyes the same brown. 

My vision narrowed. 

My heart raced faster than it should have. 

The last thing I saw was the moon. 

And I heard the voice in my head, howling in joy. 

As the world went dark.