Werehuman

Who's Odd?

I woke up abruptly to Katie nuzzling my arm and taking up most of the cot.

"I'm scared," she whispered

"What?" I grumbled, shifting my arm around her so it wasn't pinned.

"I don't want to go home," she said. "I don't want to tell your family that you got stuck here. I don't want to leave."

"Talk to Keith? You know I can't do anything about it."

She pulled the blanket higher, uncovering my feet. I resisted the urge to growl at her. In many ways, Katie was much younger than I. Humans grew up slower than wolves and being a werewolf didn't help that. So I rubbed my fingers through her short hair, hoping to calm her down so I could go back to sleep.

"I heard them talking," she whispered. "They woke me up just now, coming in from hunting. They don't eat people, which is good."

"Very," I agreed.

"But they scouted my pack, talking about how juvenile, how inexperienced they were. Like maybe they could kill them and be rid of the whole matter. So if Heather doesn't kill me, Keith and Casey will."

"You can stay at the farm," I reminded her. "At least to tell them why I haven't come home."

"What if Keith comes looking for me?" Katie whimpered. "Conor, I don't want to die."

"You are not going to die," I told her firmly. "Katie, you need to take charge of your life. You're away from your pack, hanging out with a lone wolf, or at least, I was. You can fend for yourself. Surely there are other werewolves out there that aren't so..."

"Crazy? Irrational? Bloodthirsty? I'm pretty sure those are defining characteristics of being a werewolf. You are an aberration."

"A what?"

"You're not normal. Another thing they were talking about last night. Casey want to test you, see how different you really are. Especially since you look small and weak and not useful in a fight."

"I am too," I grumbled.

"I know you are, but they haven't seen you," Katie said. "And they're not used to werewolves being pacifists. Can you read?"

"What?"

"Letters? Words? You know, reading?"

"Only a little," I admitted. "Mainly numbers, to be honest. Susie Lynn has been teaching me, but I'm not a very good student."

"Well, practice," Katie informed me. "So I can send you notes."

I groaned and adjusted in the cot again. Katie cuddled up next to me and closed her eyes. I felt as if she had transferred her worry on to me. A pack war between Keith and Marcus wouldn't end well. I wasn't honestly certain who would win, but no doubt there would be casualties. Katie and I, for instance.

I opened my eyes again when light felt across my face. Keith was frowning in the doorway.

"Are you two a couple?" he asked, his voice gruff.

Katie woke up, and stiffened. I sat up in bed.

"No, I don't think so," I said. "Katie?"

"I just met Conor two days ago," she said. "Give or take a couple hours."

"You were sleeping together," he pointed out needlessly.

Katie nodded. "Your pack woke me up this morning so I came here. Conor has put up with my clinginess since I left my pack. I just...I miss being close to anyone. The guys in my pack just want to sleep with me, I mean sex, not actual sleeping. Conor has been more protective than anything else."