The Last She-Wolf

2_ Wolf within

•••

I watched as Dylan walked away, leaving me alone after showing me to the guest room. The bed was enormous, covered in soft blankets and plush pillows, but as I stared at it, I felt nothing but confusion. Everything in this place was foreign to me. From the way the lights flickered with a switch to the strange machine he called a “TV” mounted on the wall. I felt like I was in a different world.

I hesitated for a moment, then cautiously approached the bed, my fingertips brushing the soft fabric of the comforter. Lying down on it, I sank into its softness, but the comfort I should’ve felt didn’t reach me. I couldn’t settle. I had spent my whole life sleeping on the cold forest floor, beneath the stars, with nothing but the earth beneath me. This bed felt like it was swallowing me whole.

I stared up at the ceiling, my mind swirling with everything that had happened. My parents. I saw their faces in my mind’s eye, their expressions filled with urgency and fear. The last moments before the spell took hold of me, and before I was trapped in my wolf form, bound to the forest. It felt like a distant memory, but now, everything was flooding back, my pack, the war, the scent of blood, the pain of losing everyone I had ever known.

I closed my eyes, but the images only grew stronger. My parents’ voices echoed in my ears. I could hear them calling my name, warning me, but the memory slipped away before I could hold onto it.

I sat up suddenly, my breathing heavy, my pulse racing. I couldn't be here. Not in this room. Not surrounded by walls. I needed to be free. I needed the forest.

Without a second thought, I made my way to the window. The cool night air hit me as I pushed it open, my muscles tensing with anticipation. I slipped out of the room and landed silently on the ground below. The second my feet touched the earth, I felt an overwhelming sense of calm wash over me. I ran as fast as I could along the empty roads, my heightened sense of smell helping me find the familiar scent until i got there.  The smell of the woods reached my nose, the comforting scent of pine and damp soil grounding me.

I moved quickly, slipping into the cover of the trees and letting their familiar embrace surround me. The further I went, the more at peace I felt. My heartbeat slowed, and the tension that had gripped me since entering Dylan’s world began to fade. Here, I was safe. Here, I could breathe.

I found a small clearing and lay down, curling up in the grass. The stars twinkled above me, just like they had so many nights before when I was still... whole. I closed my eyes, and for the first time since I’d been forced into human form, I slept.

The next morning, the sun was just beginning to filter through the trees when I felt someone grab my arm. I jolted awake, eyes wide, and came face-to-face with Dylan. His expression was a mix of shock and frustration, his dark eyes boring into mine.

“Katrina! What the hell?” he snapped, pulling me to my feet. His grip was firm but not painful. I blinked at him, still half-asleep and trying to understand why he was so upset.

Dylan let out a long sigh, running a hand through his dishevelled hair. “You... you can’t just run off like that. I woke up, and you were gone! I thought something had happened to you. Do you have any idea how worried I was?”

“I’m fine now,” I said, looking around the forest. “This is where I belong.”

His brow furrowed, confusion flashing across his face. “You belong in the woods?” He exhaled sharply. “How the hell did you even get out without waking me up? You know what, forget it. Come on.”

He didn’t give me a choice, pulling me along with him back toward the car. I could feel his frustration radiating off him, and I stayed silent as we walked. My mind was still back in the woods, still clinging to the peace I had found there. Being back in his world made my skin itch.

We were back in his apartment before I knew it, and Dylan was pacing the floor in front of me. He was clearly trying to make sense of the situation, but I could tell he was reaching the end of his patience.

“Okay, Katrina,” he said, finally stopping in front of me. “I’m trying to help you, but you’re not giving me much to go on. You need to tell me something, anything, that can help. Do you have family? Is there someone I can call?”

I shook my head.

He pinched the bridge of his nose, clearly frustrated. “Okay... what about friends? Do you remember anything that could help me figure out where you’re from?”

Again, I shook my head. There was nothing I could tell him. My life as a human was a blank slate. The only memories I had were from my time as a wolf, but I couldn’t explain that to him in a way he would understand.

He stared at me for a moment, then sighed, his shoulders slumping. “How old are you?” he asked, his tone softer now.

“Eighteen,” I replied automatically, the knowledge coming to me as if it had always been there.

Dylan seemed to mull that over for a moment, then nodded. “Okay, at least I know you’re an adult. This would have been a lot worse if you were a minor,"  he muttered the last part to himself, but I heard him. My hearing was just as heightened as my smell.

For a second, he seemed to relax, but then his expression hardened again. “You know what? I’m calling the police. Maybe they can figure this out.”

I stiffened as he pulled out his phone, his fingers quickly dialling a number. I had no idea what the police were, but the look on his face told me that this wasn’t a good thing.

He spoke into the phone, explaining the situation to someone on the other end. From what I could gather, the police didn’t seem too concerned. I caught snippets of the conversation, something about me being an adult and that they couldn’t do much.

Dylan hung up the phone with a sigh, looking more defeated than ever. “They think you’re just a runaway. And since you’re eighteen, they’re not going to do anything unless someone files a missing person report.”

"Fuck! What have I gotten myself into?" He vented. I just watched him, sensing his anger and his heart racing.

Dylan rubbed the back of his neck, clearly frustrated. “I guess you can stay here for now,” he said finally. “At least until we figure something out.”

I nodded, grateful, but my mind was elsewhere. All I could think about was the one thing that mattered most to me.

I needed to shift back

I could feel my wolf inside me, I could feel everything, but why wouldn't she come out.

What was really wrong with me?