Packmates Forever

This is a simple short story that I could not stop writing until it was finished.  I leave explanations up to the imagination, and will not interpret it.  It felt too personal, even though I now share it. 10 pages of text, so enjoy it in the short parts it was originally written in, and separated by a few lines.

“A strange question.” She raised an eyebrow delicately.

“Oh? Why is that?” I smiled a little at my friend.

“Do you see the woman at the table near the door?” She nodded, her lip curled in a dismissive snort.

“Who could miss her? She's flaunting herself so vulgarly, its disgusting!” I nodded.

“Who is looking at her?” She looked around.

“Nearly everyone! Men and women are almost drooling over her!” Then she looked my way. “Except for you.” I smiled slightly. “Why?”

“What did you call her behavior?” She frowned a little, then nodded. “That's why. Do you see the woman behind me?” She lifted her gaze.

“I almost missed her. She's sitting quietly, and reading.”

“How is she dressed?”

“Well, to be honest, plainly. A nice shirt, I guess, and a long skirt.” I nodded.

“What else?” She frowned.

“What else? I don't understand.” I lifted an eyebrow.

“You saw the other woman's behavior, so what do you see about her?” She took another look, a closer inspection on a woman that I had thought deserved more then a cursory glance.

“She's quiet. Undisturbed. Neat, and...holds herself... well, she is sitting alone, but uses her manners. Strange.”

“What?”

“Now that I look at her, she's quite pretty.” She looked a little bit longer. “She's a little bit plump, or thicker then the flashy one, but....she looks better.” She turned back to me. “What do you see?”

“Modest. Demure. Not coy. Not flagrant with her looks, but she has them. When she walked in, most people barely noticed because the other one was causing such a stir. I noticed though. Hard to miss someone with that sparkle in her eyes.” My friend frowned.

“Sparkle?”

“Life. She's experienced it, bares the scars, but is not defined by it. That's what I see anyway.” I put my cup down.

“So, what do you want in a woman?” She smiled. “I know you think you answered, but you only said something about her looks, and a little on her demeanor.” I smiled.

“I hoped you had missed that.”

“Nope. Spill it, mister!”

“Alright. Loyal. So loyal, she would be almost obsessed with me. My problem is that most of the women I meet don't feel the connection that creates that quality. I even have a strange dream that spells it out.” She smiled.

“This sounds too good to let go. Keep going.” I shook my head.

“Its gonna sound strange. I wake up to find her laying beside me. She's already tied my hands to my side, and she watches me closely as I wake. Then she smiles, and says what I have waited to hear. 'You belong to me now.'” My friend frowned.

“She breaks in, ties you up, and you like it?” I laughed lightly.

“I told you it was strange. Call it an attachment to someone who shows me loyalty to an extreme degree. If I am all she wants, and goes to any length to get me, she has my attention.” She nodded slowly.

“I understand. Your ex just up and left, and showed you more then once your value....to her.” I swallowed, and colored lightly. It was a fair, but uncomfortable assessment. “She still haunts you?” I shook my head.

“She left her stamp, her mark, but she no longer haunts me. She was the past.” My friend laughed.

“And the past can stay where it is. Buried.”

“What is it about hunting, and wolves, that you find so appealing? You've mentioned that your dream woman seems to be hunting you too.” She asked, a bit of a gleam in her eye. I swallowed a lump in my throat that suddenly formed. Somehow, I felt completely naked under that gaze.

“Well, wolves are loyal, so that's self explanatory.” I stopped. I knew she wouldn't be satisfied with that explanation. “Alright, not only are wolves loyal, but they stay with one mate, normally for life.” She smiled across the table, and though she was my friend, it felt like she had just peeled away a layer of protection that I wanted to keep in place.

“That makes sense, considering your history.” That knowing smile, and gaze made me drop my eyes again.

“And hunting, well, a hunter has a few options. They either set up bait, to lure an animal to a place they want them, set up a tree stand, and wait for the prey to come to them. They can also track them. Another method is to become part of the environment, unobtrusive, and eventually the prey just accepts that you're there, like them.” She smiled a soft smile.

“I think I understand. Do you think she's hunting you?” I shrugged. “Aren't you worried she might be?” I chuckled.

“Its a dream, right? She doesn't harm me, so should I really worry?” My friend laughed lightly, and that lifted my eyes. “What's so funny?”

“You never could wear a mask, or a second skin to keep those uninvited guests from taking a look into your mind. You actually hope she's real.” I colored a bit, and she laughed again, but not unkindly. “You want this uninvited guest to be real, so you can feel wanted!”

“Not wanted. This feels different.”

“You want her obsessed with you! To never give up, and stay with you no matter what! Why?” This time, it was my turn to smile.

“She never gives up, and always shows up when I fall asleep. She's loyal, and somehow, in spite of being her property, it feels right.” My friend shook her head in amusement.

“She's a dream! How can you be owned by a dream?”

“I have no clue. I guess I'll find out tonight.”

I heard a throaty chuckle as I opened my eyes. I could feel her warm breath on my throat, and the mesh of her mask brushed against my chin.

“I heard you murmur as you woke. I'm glad you still remember me.” She lifted the bottom edge of her mask, just enough to expose her lips, and she laid them on mine. She put her mask back in place and snuggled in closer, paying no mind to the ropes that held me firmly in place. “I do not like you looking at other ladies in coffee shops.” I cleared my throat.

“How....”

“Did I know? I know you didn't stare, and for that, I will not punish you.” Her strong arms tightened about my waist. “But you belong to me. Never forget that.” She sighed contentedly as her leg slipped over my thigh. “Now go to sleep.”

“Will you be here in the morning?” She chuckled softly again.

“Maybe some day I might stay, but I haven't really caught you yet. Keep struggling. It will only make the trap hold you tighter still.” She lightly bit my chest. A subtle reminder of the teeth marks she left me that first night. “Its so much fun to hunt the wolves who think they are the kings of the forest. My prey is in sight, and no matter how fast you run, I will have you.” She lifted her mask again and kissed my lips ever so lightly.

“Now go to sleep and remember. I'll stay only when you know me in the light of day.” Obediently, I closed my eyes, but could not see her smiling lips as I growled in frustration. Then she whispered softly in my ear.

“You're not the only wolf that hunts at night.”

“Something is bothering you.” My friend noticed right away, but that was not a surprise.

“Oh?”

“You've been a little more quiet then usual.” I nodded.

“Yeah, I guess its her.” I gestured to the younger woman at the front of the shop. She still wore the skimpy outfits, very short skirt, and no cares as to who saw what she wore underneath.

“What about her?”

“Bothers me, that's all. Did you see the bruises?” My friend shook her head. “On her arms, and on her ribs where that top reveals them.”

“I see. She's being abused.” I nodded. “Do you think that's why she behaves this way?”

“No idea. It might be, or its her way to control something in her life. You know what its like.” She nodded solemnly, and lowered her eyes. Too many people know what its like.

“Come on. I don't want to keep seeing this.” We got up to leave, but the younger woman was far too loud, and pressed just the right buttons.

“Did you get an eyeful, old man?” She asked, with a snort and a laugh. She was relaxed in such a position that the whole coffee shop could get an eyeful, if they so desired. I turned towards her, and kept my eyes up. She frowned angrily.

“Why do you do this to yourself? You're better then this!” I turned and walked out the door amid some pretty vocal derision. My friend chuckled.

“You just had to say something, didn't you?” The more demure woman at the back of the shop hid a smile.

“Finally. I wondered when it would happen.”

As always, when my friend and I sat down with our tea, the shop was bare. It quickly filled up with the rabble that always got their looks at the young lady, but this time left disappointed. She was there, but she wore a pair of jeans, and a fully buttoned up top. She sat at her table, alone, with none of her former admirers.

“Well, that's quite a change. Do you think....” She started to ask, but I got up before she could finish. She smiled as I approached her table.

“Hello.” I said plainly, a simple greeting. She looked up with a frown.

“Oh, its you! I hope you're happy! Look! No friends, and I'm all dressed up too!” I smiled softly, which took her off her guard.

“Why don't you join us? There is more then enough room.” She looked at my friend squarely, then back to me.

“Won't I be bothering you both?” She asked, with quite a bit of a tone in her voice. My smile disarmed her again.

“My friend doesn't mind, and neither do I.”

“I knew you wouldn't be able to sit back and watch her sit alone, you old dog!” I smiled.

“That's Wolf to you.” And for the afternoon, she had a smile on her face that was neither pasted on, nor twisted sardonically. After we left the shop, the woman who always sits behind us smiled, tears in her eye.

“Just as I remembered it.” She smiled and rubbed a tattoo on the inside of her wrist. “One more visit, you old dog, then she's all yours to look after.”

I opened my eyes slowly, and felt the familiar warm body pressed against me. I murmured my appreciation, but frowned too. I wore no ropes this time. She sighed, and pulled me even closer.

"Its time for me to go." I sat upright.

"What? Why?" She smiled softly, pulled her mask up a little, and kissed me just as softly. The mask didn't hide, just obscured. "Is it because of her?" She smiled again.

"Its just our time, love. Remember my words. In the deepest shadow, and the darkest gray..." I closed my eyes.

"The wolf will come, and turn night into day. Packmates forever." The words could barely pass my lips. I wrote this for her only a month ago, but never told her.

"Those words will be forever branded on my heart, love. Goodbye." She disappeared out the window, as silent as the shadows of night, and left a deep pit where a hole had once been.

"Rrrr!" I growled something terrible, a feral reminder of who I really was, and sat for a few moments with my head in my hands. I couldn't go back to sleep now. The bed was more empty then it had ever been before. I needed to go for a walk.

The lights and sirens outside startled me out of my misery. There were police cars everywhere, an ambulance loaded a covered stretcher, and Coral, the young woman from the coffee shop, sat outside on the curb. She was barely dressed, speckled with blood, and had a look of shock in her eyes. No one paid any attention to her.

"Coral? Are you alright?" I took off my jacket and wrapped it around her shoulders.

"He's dead! I shot him!" I frowned.

"The one who did this?" I gestured to the bruises, and a new one just under her eye. She nodded.

"He saw us at the cafe! He was going to kill you!" I nearly growled, but said nothing. She didn't need to know. "I grabbed the gun, and we fought! It went off!" She started to cry, and I gathered her close. My own problems disappeared easily in the face of hers. An officer walked up to us.

"Sir? We need to take her to the precinct. She already told us the story, and the investigators are confirming it. We just need to collect what she may have on her hands, and skin, and finish her statement." I nodded, and helped her up.

"Which precinct?" Her jaw fell open as I took the information, and left my jacket on her shoulders.

"But....your jacket!" I smiled.

"I'll pick you up at the station in a few minutes. Keep it until then."

Coral was still in a state of shock when I picked her up from the station, so it was little more then me guiding her to my car, and buckling her in the front seat. She sat silently as I drove the few miles to my apartment, and passed her building.

“It will still be a crime scene. They won't let you in.” She started to cry.

“Where will I go?”

“You can stay with me for a while. You can take my bed while I take the couch, or if you prefer, you can take the couch. Its your choice.” She bit her lower lip.

“But you don't know me.” I nodded.

“That's true, but I know enough for now. There are neighbors on either side of me, so if you feel like screaming, you can. You'll be safe there.” She lowered her eyes.

“Is anywhere safe for me?” I gripped the steering wheel firmly, but released it, just in case she saw my anger. Not at her. At what happened to her.

“Take a look around. The bathroom is on the right, in case you want to freshen up. Get that blood off of you.” She nodded and seemed to slink into the bathroom, like a pet who had been too badly beaten not to expect more of the same.

Coral looked in the mirror, saw the bruise under her eye, and the haunted look still buried there. Was she mourning the loss of the one who gave her the bruise? No, she knew that much. Tonight, she would have her answer.

“Is he just like all the rest?”

Coral sat upright and screeched. She barely heard a crash in the bedroom not far from the couch she slept on. She chose the couch for safety reasons. She didn't trust beds. Vile people sleep beside you in beds.

Strong arms picked her up gently and held her to a large warm body. He held her and rocked her while she whimpered and sobbed helplessly, and each cry that wracked her body tore at the heart so recently broken. He held on to her just as much as he held her.

After an hour, her tears stopped, she lifted her head, and her eyes. She smiled shyly.

“Sorry. I didn't mean to wake you.” That soft gentle smile soothed her senses, but also put her on her guard.

“Its alright. I couldn't sleep anyway.” He put her back on the couch, and stood up. That made her frown. She was vulnerable. Didn't he want her? “Did you want some ice cream? I have some in the freezer.”

“Okay.” She said, a little bit puzzled. After he gave her a bowl of chocolate ice cream, she watched him closely, and even gave him several signals to let him know she was open to whatever he wanted to do. He never rose to the bait, and that made her even more confused.

“Goodnight, Coral.” When he got up, she cringed, but started to relax as he walked away. “You know where I am if you need me. If you're hungry, you also know where the food is. Help yourself.”

“What the hell!” She sat helplessly for several minutes, but as her fiery personality refused to be put off like that, she quietly slipped into his bedroom, and barely moved the bed as she slid up to his side. She smiled as she heard a soft murmur from his lips.

Taking some comfort in his response, she lowered her lips to his chest and lightly nipped at his skin, and slipped her leg over his thigh. He turned towards her with a sleepy smile, but came instantly awake when he saw her smiling eyes.

“Coral! No!” She frowned.

“But....” She cringed as he lifted his hand and started to cry as he gently rubbed her cheek.

“This is why I can't take you up on this invitation. You're too badly injured.” She looked up at him, her tears on her cheeks, which made him feel even worse. He hated to cause anyone's tears, let alone this tender young woman.

“But....I'm not hurt that bad!” Her tears still flowed.

“These tears are not from physical pain.” He smiled softly. “You're hurt in here,” he gestured to her chest, “and in there.” He pointed to her eyes. “You cringe in fear, and I will never take a lover who is afraid of me. Nor will I ever cause her fear.” He sat up, gathered her close, and carried her back to the couch.

“Please! Don't leave me alone!” She begged him. He put her down on the couch, sat down, and pulled her back into his arms.

“Go to sleep, Coral. I'm not going anywhere.”

“You!” Coral exclaimed. A husky voice chuckled, though her face was obscured with a mesh mask. She stood behind Coral, her hands on her shoulders.

“Do you remember me?” Coral nodded.

“You said I would find him! The wolf!” She smiled beneath the mask.

“Do you remember the words I told you?” Coral nodded.

“In deepest shadow and the darkest gray, the wolf will come and turn night into day! I remember!” She said sardonically. The woman held up her wrist before Coral's eyes.

“Do you know this mark?” Coral looked at her wrist. There was a tattoo of a wolf, with that simple poem, but above it, was a familiar scar.

“No! Its not possible!” The woman smiled softly, and wrapped her arms about her shoulders. She held her so gently that Coral began to cry.

“I know how hard this is for you. I remember it well. I just hope that old dog appreciates this.” She disappeared as quickly as she appeared.

“Coral? Who are you talking to?” He appeared at the open door to the bathroom, and looked at her quizzically.

“I...ah....no one, I guess. I was just thinking out loud.” She smiled to wipe away any of her doubts.

“Oh? About what? How do you like your eggs? Omelet? Over easy?” She bit her lower lip.

“An omelet?” He nodded.

“One three egg omelet coming up. What were you thinking about?” She smiled and followed him into the kitchen.

“I'm thinking about getting a tattoo.” He nodded.

“Lots of people have them. Me, I have too many scars. Like this one.” He held up his wrist.

“What the hell!” She rushed around the counter and picked up his hand. “How...what....”

“I know. It looks pretty bad, but its only superficial. I burnt my arm a number a years ago, and it healed like that.” She rubbed it softly.

“It looks like....a....wolf.” He smiled.

“Yeah, everyone says that, so I changed my name to Wolf.” She looked up and stared into his eyes, and tears began to roll down her cheeks.

“In deepest shadow, and darkest gray....” his face turned pale white.

“The wolf will come, and turn night into day. How do you know those words?”

“She told me.” She started to sob, and his arms came around her shoulders instinctively. “She had them tattooed on her wrist, with another tattoo above it.”

“A wolf, which was just below a scar.” Coral pulled back and held out her wrist. Wolf fell to his knees and wrapped his arms about her waist.

“Packmates forever.” A familiar voice said softly. Coral lifted her eyes, saw an older version of herself at the doorway, and saw another hand reach for hers.

“Come, my love. She's alright now. The wolf has got her.” She only saw his hand, but as the older Coral turned away and disappeared through a glowing doorway, she saw the inside of his wrist.

It was a scar in the shape of a wolf.