Bound to the She-Wolf

Muffled voices from the first episode of “Coffee & Sunshine” buzzed in the silence of my tiny apartment as I watched it for the third time today. Lena, I admonished myself, you’re twenty-four and a respectable accountant, not some spoiled teenager. Get a hold of yourself and start getting ready.

The advice was sound. Daria’s bachelorette party would begin in two hours. I couldn’t fail her. My best friend from the university postponed her get-together, only to make sure it wasn’t on the full moon, so I could come.

On the screen, Yoon-ah was doe-eyed looking up at Ji-hoon, who had tripped and pinned her to the wall by accident, almost planting a kiss on her lips. I smiled at them being so cute together, knowing the sweet romance that was going to unravel between them.

With a sigh, I got up from the plush sofa and dragged my feet toward the wardrobe. Grey suits and pencil skirts took up most of the space. They fit my work perfectly, but I couldn’t wear them for a night at a bar. From the deepest corner, I dug out black jeans and a turtleneck in the same color and paired them with the least formal jacket I owned. For a moment, I considered wearing the pumps, but they seemed too old-lady-like, so I put on the combat boots instead, the ones that I used for long hikes in the forest.

I checked the mirror. My blond hair flowed down my back, a change from the usual ponytail. I hoped my green eyes were pretty enough as they were, because for the life of me, I couldn’t do decent makeup.

The outfit felt plain. Daria always preached the power of accessories. With werewolf healing abilities, earrings weren’t an option. From a small jewelry box, I retrieved a tiny emerald-studded moon on a delicate chain. The gold necklace used to belong to my mother. I discovered it while sorting her belongings after her death.

For a moment, I held the smooth, cold trinket in my palm, thinking about Mom. It must have been hard for her to raise a half-werewolf all by herself, but she never complained. Despite being human, she did her best to help her little wolf-girl.

I put on the necklace and pulled the red fur handcuffs from the vanity drawer. A perfect bachelorette party gift, according to the internet. I almost died of embarrassment ordering them, and now I wondered if I would even be able to give them to Daria.

I turned off the TV, after giving one last glance to Yoon-ah mumbling her name to love-stricken Ji-hoon. It was the end of November, but the club was just a block away, so I didn’t bother with a coat.

When I entered the bar, Daria’s red hair caught my eye. I didn’t know the two other girls sitting at her table, colorful drinks in their hands. They were witches, so I assumed they were Daria’s friends from the Cabal. Daria had gone back to her magical headquarters when we finished the accounting at the uni. All three were dressed to impress, with low necklines, sparkling jewelry, and stunning makeup.

I waved to her and pushed my way through the crowd. With this many sweaty, swaying bodies around, werewolf senses were a curse. She jumped up and hugged me, crushing me in her embrace and flooding me with joyful greetings. I wrapped my arms around her with a wide smile.

Untangling from her embrace, I made my way toward the counter to grab a drink. A huge man sprang up from his seat with a loud clank of metal as the stool hit the floor. His contorted face with clenched jaws loomed over a handsome guy with tousled, black hair and a mischievous glint in his blue eyes. The human, unaware of his opponent’s nature, stood no chance against a furious werewolf. My stomach clenched as my brain threw at me images of impending carnage.

At the exact moment the werewolf launched at the mortal, I put myself between them, facing the human. The hit on my back pushed out the air from my lungs. As we got catapulted, I grabbed the man by the arms and turned us around in mid-air, just before I rammed into the wall with a loud thump. A human spine would have been shattered at the impact.

When I caught my breath and looked up, I met the widened, blue eyes, and my heart skipped a bit. The guy I just saved was pinning me to the wall, the heat of his body reaching me through our clothes. His scent, reminding me of an incoming storm in the forest, made my head spin and my lower body clenched in longing. I traced the curve of his cheek with my finger, the dark stubble a gentle rasp against my palm. Deep down inside me, my wolf trembled with a guttural growl.

He will be mine. The thought was so foreign that it snapped me back to reality. My face was aflame, my breathing heavy. A snarl saved me from burning with shame. The giant werewolf from before grabbed the man by the arm and spun him around to face him.

I pushed myself away from the wall, ignoring the dent my body had left in it.

I clenched my teeth when pain shot through me like lightning. I had no fighting skills. I had never been interested in sports, except for long walks in the woods. I’d never learned to turn into my werewolf form. On the full moon, I would become a fluffy, white mutt, roaming the forest until morning.

But my strength, speed, and regeneration abilities were those of my father’s species. In a fight, I at least had a chance of surviving. The human would be shredded into pieces in a matter of seconds. So I approached the furious beast, my heart racing and my palms sweating. I wondered how long it was going to take me to heal after getting most of my bones broken. The year’s end is a busy time for an accountant. I should be at work, not in a hospital.

Through the hum of blood in my ears, I heard the human reasoning with the beast. He tried to shield me. I ignored my legs threatening to buckle and moved in front of him, getting the attention of the big man. His eyes, shadowed with grizzly, bushy brows, had bled into their yellow, animal form. He looked me up and down with a scowl, his gaze lingering on my chest. I blushed.

He sniffed, and his lips contorted in a disdainful grimace. Without a word, he spun around and marched out of the bar. A petite brunette rushed after him. I let out a breath, I realized I’d been holding.

“Are you all right?” Daria was right beside me, grabbing onto my hand.

I was dizzy. Nausea was rising in my stomach. My back burned with pain.

“Yes, I’m perfectly fine. Just need to wash my face and be back with you in a minute,” I blurted and ran to the bathroom.

I knew she would follow me, so I locked myself in the cubicle. I needed to gather my thoughts. I sat on the toilet seat, hugged myself, and closed my eyes. The memory of blue eyes and the scent of an incoming storm hit me like a train. My wolf stirred. He will be mine. I gasped. For the first time in my life, I was being my wolf self. And that version of me was frightening.

“Lena, is everything all right?” Daria’s worried voice tore me from my thoughts.

I limped to the sink, reassuring her on the way. I so wasn’t going to tell her the truth.

Her two friends were waiting for us at the table, chirping around the man I had saved. He was enjoying the attention, joking, and smiling at the beautiful girls. I wondered if they had played their magic on him. As soon as I came into view, he jumped up and ran to me.

“Are you hurt?” he asked, scrutinizing me for any sign of injury. My cheeks and ears burned.

“I’m fine,” I mumbled, passionately admiring the floor at my feet.

“It looked dangerous. The stupid wolf could have killed you. I hate those things!” he spat out.

“Watch what you’re saying, pal! Lena is —” Daria blurted.

“Just a bit shaken,” I cut in.

Daria shot me a knowing look and dropped the subject.

I learned that the blue-eyed handsome was called Adrian and owned a car and motorcycle workshop on the outskirts of the city. He became the main attraction of the evening, charming and flirtatious. The girls giggled as he complimented them and flaunted anecdotes.

His lips appeared soft and inviting, contrasting with a slightly harsh, dark stubble. Even from across the table, his rainy scent was making my heart flutter. I savored the melody of his low, warm voice, unable to focus on his jokes. When our legs touched for a brief moment under the table, a jolt of electricity shot through me. My gaze flicked to him, and our eyes met. Butterflies in my stomach beat their tiny wings. He will be mine. I turned away, hiding my burning face.

Well past midnight, we stood up to leave. Daria and her friends called a cab. I was on my way home when Adrian caught up with me.

“You’re not taking a taxi,” he stated the obvious.

“No, I’ll take a walk. I don’t live far from here,” I replied, not stopping my march.

“Can I walk you home? I haven’t had a chance to properly apologize for you taking the hit because of me,” he said.

“You don’t have anything to apologize for. It wasn’t your fault. It was an accident. I should have looked where I was going.” I smiled sheepishly, hoping he wouldn’t see through my lie.

He was going to say something when a big German shepherd ran from a side alley. Adrian stiffened, his breath shallow and ragged. I crouched and called out to the dog, and it came up to me, its tail wagging. I patted it on the head, as it licked my other hand. The leash was still attached to its collar. My companion was slowly backing away, his eyes trained on the animal.

“Rex, here you are!” An elderly woman called out to the dog.

“I’m so sorry. Rex saw a cat and pulled the leash out of my hand. I hope he didn’t scare you,” the woman blubbered, seeing the look on Adrian’s face.

“It’s all right,” I said quickly, handing her back the leash. “Rex only wanted to play,” I added with a smile, getting her attention off of Adrian.

“Thank you. Night is still young, have fun, you two,” she said, waving us goodbye.

“Such a cute couple,” she muttered to herself as she pulled the dog behind her. Fortunately, Adrian, with his human senses, couldn’t hear that.

“You’re good with animals,” he commented.

“It depends. Dogs love me. Cats not so much,” I admitted, avoiding his gaze.

This was a massive understatement. Every cat I met threw a hissing fit.

“Ok, so no cats on our first date. Noted,” he threw me a broad smile.

“On our first . . . what?” I almost choked.

“You know. A meeting. I’d love to take you out for dinner, to make up to you for this whole . . . situation,” he said in a low, warm voice. He stood before me, bowing his head to look into my eyes. He will be mine, I thought. I froze like a deer in the headlights.

“We don’t have to set up the date right away. Just give me a call when you have the time,” he said, handing me his business card, small, black with a stylized picture of a car.

“Of course . . . I’m just very busy, I don’t know when I’ll be free . . . I mean, it’s almost the end of the year, I’m an accountant . . .” I mumbled.

“I understand. No need to hurry. Just promise me you’ll call me eventually,” he grinned, making my heart melt.

“Eventually,” I repeated, my sight losing focus.

I stuck the card into my handbag, noticing I forgot to give Daria her present. We were almost at my apartment building, so I blurted a quick goodbye and ran away. “He will be mine,” was ringing in my head like a bell.