Tamer Of Wolves

~Aruba~

Bold- wolf conversations

By nightfall, I'm well out of the pack territory now. The Blood Rose Pack lives close to the western border of Montana, and I easily cross the Rockies with the help of a generous passerby and into the state of Idaho. When I'm dropped off in the small town of Salmon, in the county of Lemhi, I go into a nearby hotel.

I step into the hotel lobby and the boy behind the counter looks at me. Once he sees me, he blushes and tries to calm himself. He's such a cute little goofball, I think to myself.

I walk up to the counter, wallet in hand. The boy behind the counter can't be more than 25, maybe 27 at the most. That would make him 1 year my senior if he was 25. Before he does anything else, he flashes me Flynn Rider's signature move: The Smolder.

Sorry, buddy. That move ain't working on us.

I stifle a giggle at my wolf's sudden outburst. She barely ever talks, but when she does you'd better shut up and listen.

Calm down, Aruba. He doesn't know any better. He thinks he can woo us, and you know boys, I reassure her.

I try to buy time to talk with her by coughing a bunch. And that earns me some stares.

Sure, he can try to woo us. But we are looking for our mate. Not a boy toy, I hear Aruba grumble.

I almost burst out laughing when I remember I was about to get a room. I calm myself down, and revert my attention back to the boy behind the counter.

"I would love to be able to get a room for three days. How much will that cost?" I ask in my cheery voice.

Oh brother. Can we just get a room already? I hear Aruba sigh.

I ignore my wolf and listen to the boy.

"It costs $50 a night ma'am. So three nights would cost you $150," he tells me. I nod and give him the cash from my wallet. "Thank you.... Jeremy," I read his name tag and Jeremy blushes. Aw, he blushed, I think.

He blushed! Oh my goodness, alert the media: a boy blushed at you saying 'thank you!' Aruba mimics my voice in an annoyingly high-pitched tune.

Jeremy types something into the computer, and he sneaks a look over at me. I pretend to not notice, but I guess Aruba does too. Her discontent at being noticed by anyone but our mate growing with every minute.

"So, what's a princess like you doing in a crusty place like this?" Jeremy asks, still typing away on the computer.

Trying to get a damn room! Suck up the rejection and give her the damn key!!! Aruba's yelling so loud I look around nonchalantly to make sure that no one can hear her.

"Umm, running from my past," I joke nervously. He chuckles awkwardly, obviously trying to think of something else to say. Finally he brightens up, apparently finding the words. "Well, so you are mysterious!" He exclaims, turning to me. "You don't just look like it." It takes me a minute to decide whether that was a compliment or an insult, but I just want my room.

Well, so you are a douche. You don't just look like one, Aruba snaps back with so much sass it takes all my power to not fall on the floor and laugh.

Aruba, quiet down. Please, I beg her silently.

Well this boy better get hopping. I'm getting restless, Aruba retorts.

Oh really? I couldn't tell, I say back. Man it felt good, cause I barely ever win at our sass-offs.

"Hey, can ask your name?" Jeremy's question snaps me out of my thoughts. I sigh out of impatience on the inside.

Bitch! Let me at him, Marina! I'll get the key in no time at all! I hear Aruba demand.

I ignore her. "Marina," I tell him. "Marina Osment."

"Jeremy," he tells me. "Jeremy Frank."

I'm so sick of waiting. And I can tell Aruba is, too. I pretend that my phone rings and that I have to take a call. "Jeremy, I have to take this. Can I have my key and we can continue this conversation later?" I ask as sweetly as I can. I don't want to hurt his spirit, I tell myself.

Jeremy's face falls, but brightens at the very next second. "Alright. I'll see you later?" He asks, hope lighting his gaze. "You betcha," I reassure him.

You betcha never! I hear Aruba mumble. I really need to lecture her about manners, I make another mental bullet point on my mental list of things to do.

Jeremy smiles and hands me my key and I pretend to answer the call I have to fake talk to. I walk down the hallway and into the elevator. I'm in room 237 on floor 5.

Catch ya later, loser! I hear Aruba sing-song yell.

We really need to work on your manners, I tell Aruba sternly.

Well it ain't my fault that you had to flirt with Jeremy, Aruba replies.

Look, it's my first day out in the real world. Away from Ian. You can't tell me you'd rather go back, I tell her.

Aruba stays silent for a moment. You're right. I'm sorry. I never want to see Ian again. He almost raped you! My wolf yells.

I feel a pang of affection to hear that my wolf cares about me. You would've had the chance at having a real mate stolen from you, Aruba. I couldn't bear it if you weren't happy, I tell her. And I mean every word I say. Having your wolf being mad at you is like having one of your kidneys mad with the other. Then, because they're mad at each other, instead of you being able to pee and poop, your kidneys will be throwing all of it back and forth at each other. Just imagine that. Your insides: the scene of the aftermath of a college frat party.

I finally reach my room and once I see the bed, I'm asleep before I even hit the bed.

Have a good nap, Aruba, I tell my wolf.

Bitch, please. I always do, Aruba replies back with a mixture of pride and drowsy.

I chuckle quietly as sleep takes it hold on me.