A Nurse Among Wolves

Chapter 20: Miren

"Where are we going" I asked as Roman and Rowan lead me through the woods.
"We have something really special planned for tonight" Rowan said, giving my hand a squeeze.
"Something really really special" Roman added, squeezing my other hand.
"Ooookkkkk" I gave them a suspicious look. The guys had been acting really weird since Ash and Torin had come had from the wood shed. Ash was usually pretty easy going but all afternoon he had been practically glued to my side. That was until the sun started to set. The look in his eyes when he noticed was heart breaking.
"This had better be good" I mutter trying to catch my breath. My boys might all be athletic gods in disguise but my fat ass was anything but athletic.
"Miren" Torin said, standing in the middle of a clearing we had just come into.
I stopped dead, a chill running up my spine "what is going on?" I ask, searching their faces "your starting to scare me" I say taking a step away from them "where's Ash?"
"It's alright Miren" Torin says softly "nothing is going to hurt you but there is something that you have to know" he stops and takes a breath "something about us that you MUST know if this relationship is to be real". The look on is face is the same sad, broken one Ash had when he had left me that afternoon saying that he had something to do.
"What is going on Torin" I ask, my voice breaking with uncertainty.
"It's alright mitt hjerte" Ash's deep voice comes from the woods behind Torin. The air rushes from my lungs in relief but as I take a step towards him he holds up has hands.
"Stop, please little" he says, head down, voice shaking "please do not make this any harder then it already is".
"What do you mean Ash, why can't I come near you!" There are tears on my cheeks now, the fear of losing these men far greater then anything else.
"Do you not want to be with me anymore, do you hate it so much you don't even want to touch me" I had never understood the term clawing fear until that moment. I was like the pain was a monster who was trying to crawl it's way out of my throat.
"NO!" Ash roared, taking step towards me before stopping himself "it's just that I don't want to make this harder then it already is". He sounded as broken as I felt.
"I don't understand, what is this all about?" I was begging now, my pride a thing of the past.
Ash took a visible breath before replying "it's about this my love".
Before my eyes I watched as one second Ash changed from a man into a gigantic wolf. I gasped but didn't move. If someone had told me that one of my four boyfriends would suddenly change into a giant wolf before my eyes I would have told them that whatever they had been smoking had gone bad. But here I was, having an existential crisis in the woods with three guys and wolf that seconds before was also a guy. I blinked a few times just to make sure that what I was seeing was real. After the initial panic that had formed during all the dramatics settled this didn't seem so bad. I mean yah I should totally be freaking out maybe even checking myself into the grippy sock hotel but for some strange reason the idea that Ash could turn into a huge wolf was far less scary then him wanting to break up. Oh yah we are totally getting a long stay in grippy sock paradise.
"Your a wolf" I finally said, slowly. The wolf nodded.
"We all can turn into wolves" Torin said quietly from beside Ash.
"Are you afraid of us now" Rowan asked, head down.
"Are you guys going to eat me" I asked, a smile pulling as my lips as even wolf Ash shook his head.
"We would never hurt you"Torin almost shouted.
"Could never" Roman added looking a little panicked.
I tipped my head, taking a moment to study wolf Ash. After a few seconds I took a step forward, when nobody moved I closed the distance between us. I was now standing in-front of a wolf who was easily 10 feet on all fours. Although his body was different when I looked into his eyes I could still see Ash there in those now silver pupils. I lifted my hand and didn't have to wait long before Ash closed his eyes and pushed his head against my hand. He had the softest fur I had ever felt.
"I don't care what you form you take" I said resting me forehead against his "I love you for you" pulling back I gave his nose a kiss.
"Can you turn back so we can talk?" I ask stepping back. The next moment there stood Ash. BUTT. ASS. NAKED.
My eyes snapped to his face where I saw the most arrogant smirk I had ever seen on a man. Oh so thats how you want to play is it. Suddenly i was in work mode and the fact that he was just all out in the breeze didn't bother me anymore. He must have realized something had changed when I folded my arms.
"Who was the genius who thought up this hair brained scheme" I asked in my best nurse voice.
"mitt hjerte, we did this because we thought you would be frightened and would want to run away" Ash told me, looking very much like a little boy being scolded.
I kept my mouth closed when a reflexive response tried to pop out. Who was I to deny their worries. I took a deep breath unfolding my arms and trying to calm my chaotic emotions.
"Your right, I'm sorry" I tell them "you had every right to be worried, I'm sure not everyone has taken the whole wolf-man thing every well"
"Then you don't hate us?" Rowan asked.
"Hate you? How could I ever hate you!?" I was shocked that they had ever thought I could.
All at once all four were hugging me, petting any part they could reach.
"We love you Miren" Ash said quietly.
"We all love you" Torin added. I could feel the others nod in agreement.
"I love you too" I told them, soaking up as much of them as I could. If this what it meant to be loved by four magical men that damn sign me up!