Meeting Werewolves

Esther

“Margaret, I didn’t see you there,” I say with what I hope appears as a smile.

“Charles said you sent him out on some errand. I have never seen him so in love before."

"We are very happy."

"Are you coming? You must.” She tugs at my hand.

“To the garden?”

She knits her eyebrows. “Yes. Are you sure you are okay?”

“Sorry, perhaps later. I’m going out for a walk.” I manage a smile.

Her shoulders sag. “Should I join you?”

“I won’t go far, I just need to clear my head. Wedding nerves.” I dart out of the house without waiting for her response, wanting to get out before more nosy coven members appear and convince me to stay, or worse offer to join me on my walk.

When I've ensured that Margaret has left, I get my car, and I go back to the bedroom, to get my 'food.'

I lead them out, my body feeling a little exhausted as I try to listen for any sounds of approaching vampires.

"I'm going to enjoy my food outside. In the forest." I smile at the guards and they nod in response.

We get in the car, and I discover that Charles' victims are tourists who are visiting LA. I give them money and hypnotize them to forget about vampires and to never set foot at San Bernardino Forest, before dropping them off at Los Angeles.

I mindlessly drive to nowhere, thinking about how mad Charles is going to be.

I park my car at Kings Canyon, and I run between the trees, the swooshing sound making me feel free.

I pause when I suddenly feel a presence that makes my skin crawl. I prepare to turn around and go back. That’s when I come face to face with it, the large black wolf.

I run with as much speed as I can master, and he follows, his growls getting nearer. I suddenly find myself lying on the ground on my belly, his paw resting on my back, and I know better than to move or think about getting up. I lie still, waiting for his next action. He is probably sending mink links to his warriors as I lay on the ground.

The wolf shifts into a human and places his foot on my back.

“What do you want in our territory?” He growls.

“I was...I was running. I wasn’t aware that I have invaded your territory.”

“Well, we just bought it. Princess Esther Carnegie, is it? I’ve seen you from a distance at some of these meetings and I was told that you are a dangerous spy.”

“So, are you going to kill me?” I ask.

“I thought vampires were already dead. I don’t see any crime in getting rid of one of you, mosquitoes.”

“Mosquitoes?” I growl.

“You are fast, you suck blood, you are nuisances, but you are hot, I have to admit that.”

I feel his foot on my back getting weaker as he goes on and on about how much of a nuisance vampires are.

I roll over as quickly as possible and I stand on my feet. The moment I move, he is fast enough to shift at the same time that when I’m standing on my feet, I come face to face with his wolf again.

He snarls at me, his hazel eyes raging, and we maintain eye contact, both ready to attack. We end up moving in a circle until I decide to make the run for it. He chases me, and we jump between canyons and rivers and I feel more tired.

Another whitish grey wolf suddenly appears, its growls loud and dangerous. It passes me, its eyes focused on the black wolf. After five minutes, I hear the faint and slow footsteps of the wolf as it comes back. I scrunch up my nose to try to get his scent, but I find it different and hypnotizing.

I slowly to get up, hoping to run if I can but the new wolf turns back to his human form.

“Are you okay?” He asks, his face marred with concern.

“Just a little wound, which will close in a moment.”

He nods and walks towards me, his hand reaching out.

"You know what I am. Right?" I eye him suspiciously.

"I guess. Why are you reminding me?"

"Because you seem way too relaxed. Werewolves never relax around us, they hate us, and every time we meet, we secretly want to be at each other’s throats."

He chuckles. "Your hand, please."

He stands in front of me, his body sculptured like a work of art. I shamelessly gawk at him, my low beating vampire heart rate going up as if it’s a human heart.

“You are naked, and you are distracting me.” I point out.