It's not a curse

IT"S NOT A CURSE                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

I fell to the forest floor,letting the agony course through me .My bones popped as they shifted and changed,my teeth elongated and fur spread across my body.I breathed in a deep shaky breath,it was done.I glanced down at my stopwatch lying on the ground it read five seconds,that was three seconds faster and at least five times less painful than the last time i had morphed.I bent down my head and nosed the string of my stopwatch over my ears and around my neck.I then trotted out of the clearing and toward a small trail,one that i had used repeatedly the last few weeks.                                                Three weeks,had it really only been that long sense my world had changed forever.The warm smell of pine tree's surrounded me and i felt at peace. The trail stopped as i came upon the lake,i went straight up to the edge and gazed down at my reflection. Blazing blue-green eyes and a wolfs face stared back at me.My fur was black with natural shiny amber and blonde streaks in it that truly became noticeable only in the sunlight unless you were looking closely. I was at least three times larger than any wolf i had ever seen,on all fours i was about four feet tall.I closed my eyes and felt the transformation take over me. My paws turned into hands and my snout receded,it was a lot less painful turning from wolf to human than it was turning from human to wolf.I have been training my body to turn faster and in the process found that the more i did it the less painful it was. I walked over to a pine tree near the start of the trail and snatched up a set of clothes i had stored there.As i pulled on my sports bra and a pair of knee length sports shorts i thought back to how this all started.................THREE WEEKS AGO.........................It all began on a Saturday,i was woken by the feeling of danger and rolled to the side just before a booted foot stomped down in the spot i had just been laying.My stepfather glared down at me,he must be in a good mood today because the kick was aimed for my stomach enstead of my head.I shot up off the forest green tiled bathroom floor where i sleep  and backed up several steps before looking up at my stepfather Rick.He was a large man well over six and a half feet tall and a body of solid muscle,he has short cropped blonde hair and piercing ice blue eyes a strong jawline and thin lips that were at the moment curled into a sneer as he stared down at me.He would be considered handsome  by most but to me he was as ugly as his personality.He married my mother five years ago when i was fifteen,and three years ago she was in a car accident and fell into a coma ,she was currently on life support. I had never liked my stepfather Rick from the moment i met him .Sure he looked like a nice guy,he was rich ,intelligent and good looking but i just got a bad feeling from him ,i also didn't like the way he looked at me. My mom fell for him right away ,she was a thirty year old woman and he was a young twenty three year old man who was supposedly smitten with her, thats all it took . My mother Lana was a beautiful woman with long ,silky black hair with amber and blonde streaks .I inherited my hair from my mom the only difference being hers was straight and mine was naturally curly. Her eyes were a warm brown ,she was a good mother and i loved her. Her one big flaw was how easily she fell in love ,and always for arrogant good looking men. Her relationships never lasted that long,so thats why i hadn't been that worried when she brought home Rick. I thought he would be gone in two weeks or so like the last one but a month went by then two and before i knew it mom was picking out wedding dresses. She looked so happy that i just couldn't bring myself to tell her how i felt about him,so i just stayed to myself and tried to avoid him. Most of the time i succeeded but the few times i was around him my skin crawled. After the wedding things were normal for about a year until he started to hit her.The first time i was walking towards the stairs leading up to my room when i glanced into the living room. My mom was handing Rick a glass of red wine and it slipped out of her hand falling on his white dress shirt  and staining it blood red. He flew up off the couch and slapped her across the face making her head whip to the side. He turned and saw that i had witnessed what he'd just done and smiled at me.He lifted her head around to face him again and then backhanded her across the face in the same spot  he had just slapped her in  ,all the while still  looking at me with that disturbing grin pasted to his face. This time the impact was so hard she went flying to the ground knocked out cold. My hands clenched and unclenched as rage coursed through me. I surged toward him uncaring that he was a mass of muscle that outweighed me by at least one hundred and twenty pounds. I was strong for a girl,once i had seen this man punching and kicking his ten year old son and i beat the crap out of him and called the cops ,still i knew i didn't really stand a chance against Rick. As if reading my mind he turned towards me with an amused look on his face and arms spread wide as if to say come and get me. He was mocking me and i swore to myself i would make him regret underestimating me . I threw a punch at him with as much power and velocity  as i could muster . My right fist slammed into his gut,a grunt escaped his lips and a surprised look crossed his face. I figured it must have hurt a little because as my left fist went flying towards his face he dodged right and then grabbed my left arm and jammed  it painfully behind my back . Then he slammed me into the carpet and pressed his knee in between my shoulder blades and into my spine,i let out a wheeze from the impact. Rick leaned down so that his lips were right next to my ear. "Dont play games you cant win Ashlyn."                                                                                                          I shuddered in fear and disgust as he kissed my forehead."Dont hit people who can't fight back Rick !."  The humor in his voice vanished as he hauled me off the floor and said."An eye for an eye Ash !." He then socked me in the stomach. I thought to myself about how id'e love to rip out both his eyes before i blacked out. After that incident i thought my mother would be getting divorce papers   immediately but instead i listened to . "It was my fault Ashlyn i shouldn't have spilled the wine." or "He didn't mean to hit me so hard." So i took matters into my own hands. I went into the kitchen one day while mom was out shopping,Rick was sitting at the counter eating a sandwich.He looked up as i walked in he seemed surprised and more happy than i would have liked that i had sought him out. That was until he heard what i had to say .I was scared but that wasn't going to stop me from saying what i needed to say to protect my mother. I glared at him and said in a voice as commanding as i could make it. " If you ever lay your hands on my mother or myself again i will head straight to the nearest police station!." His cheerful little grin vanished off his face. "Go ahead." His tone sounded bored but i could feel the anger beneath it."I own every Police officer ,Judge,Lawyer,Social worker and Fireman in this town." He drawled. "Money buys you everything." "Obviously not a soul." i thought to myself bitterly. As the year progressed so did his violence towards my mom  . It was as if he were trying to get my attention because he knew that i would come rushing to try and protect her. Once he called me while i was at the library. "Im going to have som fun with your mom if you want to come watch." He said it as if he were asking me to join them for a movie. Id'e rushed home to find my mother curled into a fetal position on the living room floor. There were several red welts on her arms and legs. Marbles surrounded the floor around her. I turned and saw Rick sitting on on the couch holding a bowl of marbles. He smirked at me picked one up and hurled it towards my mother. I quickly moved my body in front of hers so that my back was facing him,shielding her from the marble that shot into my back. I winced from the pain . My mother tried to stop me but i refused and continued to shield her from the barrage of marbles witch felt like bullets making welts blossom all over my back. "Rick pleaseeee stop." my mother begged him ."P p pleaseeeee!" She wailed ."Stop mom you dont need to grovel and plead to him!. I said . "Yes Lana do shut up! ." He snarled ."I don't want you to beg me to stop."He then smiled like the Cheshire cat." I want Ashlyn to."  I turned my head around to face him ."Never in your wildest dreams you sadist pig!." His eyes narrowed and he stood up ."Oh really." As he charged toward us his furious gaze was fixed not on me but my mother. I realized with dread that he knew that i wouldn't say what he wanted me to even if he beat me. If he beat my mother on the other hand. I stood in front of my mother who was cowering against the wall shaking like a leaf. As he came upon us i bent over my mother wrapping my body around hers and hoped he would kick me instead . He grabbed my hair in one hand tossing it to the side and then grabbed my bare neck . He dragged me up  and then shoved me into the wall holding me there by the neck . With his other hand he latched onto mom's wrist  he shook her until she stood up . ''Im a pig am i!." He twisted my mothers wrist and she cried out in pain ."Wait!" I shouted struggling against his restraint ,my chest filling with panic. "Why should i?!" "Im just a sadist pig!" He let go of her arm and snatched her finger in his hand ,he twisted it viciously and a crack resounded through the room. My heart dropped and my mothers agonized scream  rang in my ears. He reached for another finger and i choked out ."Wait please" He turned me around so that i was facing him."You can do better than that Ashlyn."  He gripped the finger next to mom's already broken one and her sobbing increased. ''Rick please stop ,im sorry, please Rick please?." I said it in the most pleading voice i could manage and i reached up and touched the side of his face softly stroking it . Silent  tears fell from my eye's and i was too scared to be disgusted by touching him. He immediately let go of mom's finger and my throat and his hard eye's softened. He raised his hand to my face and wiped away a tear gently. It took all my control to not flinch. "Now was that so hard?." He murmured still gazing into my face. I slowly moved my hand off his face and back down to my side and said . "No it wasn't, im sorry ." "May i please help mom with her hand." I ventured softly. He jerked a little and looked down at my mother. From the look on his face it looked as though he had forgotten she was there. His jaw hardened and he gave me a nod then walked out of the room  . I collapsed to the floor and then hugged my mother . She turned to me . "Im so sorry honey it was all my fault. " "I was the one in the wrong it was all my fault." She repeated like a broken record and i lost all hope of her ever accepting what he really was,a sadistic twisted bully. Then at the end of the year, she got in the car accident . It was the day before my eighteenth birthday. The next day i had packed my stuff ,i was eighteen and an adult i no longer would have to put up with Ricks abuse. I would get a job and an apartment and visit my mother in the hospital until she woke up ,then i would get us both out of that town and start a new life elsewhere. I should have known better. When Rick realized that i was leaving  he snapped . First he picked me up and threw me like a rag doll and i wasn't a lightweight. I was one hundred and thirty pound of taut muscle. But he threw me like i weighed nothing i could do nothing but brace for impact as i crashed into the coffee table. The table collapsed as my head smashed into one of the table legs,breaking it in half. He marched over hauled me up again and slammed me into the wall,pinning me there with his body. My head swam and i groaned. Ricks ice blue eye's were dark with anger and something else that i didn't want to acknowledge. My face paled and i turned my face away from his eye's . His hand grasped my chin and forced me to face him. "Do not look away when i am speaking to you!." He said with a snap. Blood dripped down my forehead in a small trail and Rick took in a sharp breath looking alarmed. "Now look what you made me do to you Ashlyn." He said in dismay ,reaching up to touch the blood. I slapped his hand away with my hand that wasn't pinned to my side by his enormous body. "I didn't MAKE you do anything!" I growled. " Im eighteen and can leave if i wan't to!."                                                              "Not if you want your mother to remain on life support you won't! ." He replied in irritation . A shock ran through me as i realized he was right. He had control over whether my mother lived or died. He saw defeat register in my eye's and stepped back almost reluctantly ,releasing my body from his hold. I let out a breath of relief as he started to walk from the room . He paused at the stairs. "You will stay in this house with me forever Ashlyn."  "Dont even think about trying to escape me."  As he climbed the stairs he said as an afterthought ." You are to sleep in the bathroom downstairs from now on." I clenched my jaw and slid to the floor exhausted. Why had i thought it would be that easy to escape. A year passed . A year of me terrified that he was going to try to do something to me physically other than hitting me occasionally. A year of no progress in my mothers condition. I was not even allowed to leave the house unless it was to go on a run in the forest or visit mom in the hospital. Another year and there i was in the bathroom with the forest green tiles staring up at my stepfather. It was my twentieth birthday. We were supposed to go visit my mother yesterday but Rick had said he didn't feel like going and that we would go tomorrow. "When can we leave to go see my mom."  His face drained of color and i saw a glimmer of panic in his eye's for a second  before it vanished. I had never seen him look panicked before and though i was curious i didn't dwell on it. He snatched me by the hair and yanked me towards him. "We will leave when im good and ready!." He snarled his face now mere inches from mine. He looked down and stared at my lips. His eye's glazed over and i started to panic . Over the last year he had been getting decidedly worse  with how much he looked at and touched me . Like times where he would stroke my hair in favor of ripping it out . Those times made me prefer he ripped it out instead. I gently cleared my throat and he snapped out of it and roughly shoved me away. I gladly scurried to the other side of the bathroom.He took a deep breath "Go on your run ." "We will leave when you get back." My eye's which had been focused on the ground shot to his in startled surprise. He didn't like it when i ran and he barley tolerated it. He never suggested it!. He was hiding something but i wasn't going to turn down a chance to run. He left the bathroom and i locked the door and changed into my sports bra and sports shorts.I put the knife i carried around for protection in my pocket . I always had it with me when i went on a run. I was about to pull on a shirt when i looked at myself in the mirror. I was no longer a child . I was about five foot six now. I looked down at my toned stomach and fingered my belly button ring. I smiled softly as i remembered when my mother took me to get it for my fifteenth birthday. We'd spent well over ten minutes looking at the piercings before i found one i liked. It was a regular ring with a little wolf head charm hanging from it. The wolfs head was raised and it was howling. That had been just before she had met Rick. I pulled on my shirt and yanked my hair up into a ponytail trying not to cry. She still hadn't woken up after two years. I pulled my running shoes on, tossing the unwanted thought that she may never wake up from my mind. I unlocked the bathroom door and peeked around the corner and scanned the living room.  Rick was nowhere in sight. I went  out the front door and headed for the back of the house. The forest was right behind the house ,vast and beautiful it was my favorite place to relax and explore. I headed out on one of my favorite trails. I went about two miles before i came to the stop in the trail . Typically i turned around and headed back once i got to the end of the trail . But there was a narrow deer trail right next to it that i had always wanted to check out. I took a deep breath and lifted my shirt to wipe the sheen of sweat off my face. I headed towards the trail. As i went along birds chirped merrily and i noticed with pleasant surprise the trail was quite beautiful. Trees encased the trail almost like a wall and their branches were so closely knit together at the top that barley and light shined through. It was like walking through a tunnel of trees. I continued through the stunning trail admiring the beauty of it all. The only sounds to be heard were my breathing and the dull thud of my feet on the forest floor. My pace faltered and i jerked to a sudden halt sucking as much air as i could manage into my lungs and holding it. An eerie silence was all that greeted my ears. I let out the breath and concentrated trying to remember when the sounds of birds chirping had ceased. It couldn't have been more than three minutes ago and i had been on the deer trail a total of five minutes according to my watch. I looked ahead and saw that the trail got gradually wider and sunlight streamed through like a beacon from some break in the trees up ahead . I suddenly felt as if something was watching me and a shiver of fear coursed through me but i quickly dismissed it in my curiosity about what lay at the end of the trail. I felt two voices warring in in my head. The sensible one saying i should turn around immediately and head back the way id'e come as fast as possible. The frisky one urging me to head toward the source of the light and see if what lay beyond the tunnel of trees was as enthralling as what i had seen so far. My curiosity won out against my better judgement. I quickly jogged towards the light ,deciding i would take a quick look to sate my curiosity and then head back towards the prison that i called home. I reached the end of the trees and stepped out into a clearing . The light blinded me and it took a second for my eye's to adjust to the sudden change. When they did i gasped in wonder. A luscious meadow the size of a football field greeted me . The grass was a soft and vibrant green and so long that it  was just slightly short of reaching my calves. It swayed in the gentle winds caress. A lone Weeping Willow tree stood like a sentry in the center of the meadow . It was breathtaking. I went ridged as i sensed the predatory gaze on me." Dont panic Ash " I thought to myself. A deep guttural growl sounded from across the meadow and i searched with my green-blue orbs through the trees on the other side of the field . Deep yellow eye's stared back at me  from the far end of the field .It's body was veiled by the trees but i froze in utter terror . I had never seen such monstrous eye's and i stood rooted there as the beast slowly stalked out of the veil of trees, branches snapping under the weight of its body. It stepped out revealing a body that resembled a cross between a bear and a wolf . It was huge,close to nine feet tall with dingy ,grizzled ,mud brown fur that had patches missing from it . It had spittle dripping from it's mouth like a rabid dog and it's crazed eye's were fixed straight on me. It broke into a run and i flew into self preservation mode. I turned and ran as fast as i could. I tore into the tunnel of trees knowing that he would be on me in a few seconds . I reached into my shorts pocket  and withdrew my six inch knife with brass knuckles on the grip. I was glad now that i always carried it with me when i ran. I pulled off the sheath and stuffed it back in my pocket . I gritted my teeth and stopped in my tracks ,ignoring the instinct to keep running. I flipped around grasping the knife firmly in my grip. I was shaking like a leaf. The beast was closer that i had feared and it leaped into the air flying toward me like a bullet. It's jaws were wide open and yellowed fangs glistening with saliva were aimed straight at my throat.  I darted to the side and instead of latching onto my throat it's jaws clamped down on my right shoulder. Pain ripped through my arm but i knew i had to concentrate. My only chance would be while it had ahold of me . I raised my left arm and quickly slammed my knife as hard as i could into the side of it's head . The knife slid in just behind it's right eye. I rammed it in to the hilt and i heard the crack of bone as the knife penetrated through it's skull. The creature released my shoulder and let out a fearsome wail and for a heart stopping second i thought that i was going to die ,because if a knife through the skull didn't stop it nothing would. But the wail died into a gurgle and then ceased altogether as the beast toppled to the ground. I quickly let go of my death grip on my knife and pulled my fingers out of the brass knuckles on the hand grip before i got dragged to the ground with the beast. My shoulder was bleeding profusely but i had to make sure the beast was dead before anything else. Blood dripped from the hopefully fatal wound on it's head and i stomped my foot down on its mouth to see if it would react. It didn't move . A fang fell out of its mouth and i picked it up and put it in my pocket. I then bent down and put my palm in front of it's snout to see if it was still breathing. No moist, warm air escaped it's nose or mouth but i waited a full minute before i was satisfied that it was in fact dead. Letting out a sigh of relief i stood and took off my shirt . I winced as i peeled it off my injured arm. Blood coated my right arm and was dripping down my fingertips. I clenched one end of the shirt in my teeth and the other in my left hand and ripped until i had a long strip of fabric . Still holding one end in my teeth i wrapped the makeshift bandage around my shoulder loosely. I then reached down and grabbed a stick off the trail and put it in the gap in the fabric and twisted it twice so that it was snug against my throbbing arm. I then held the stick in place with my elbow so that i could reach my ponytail . I pulled the hairband out and my hair fell against my back and shoulders in curly waves. I shook my hair to the side and then secured the stick to my arm with the hairband. Satisfied that the bleeding had stopped i stepped towards the body of the creature . I reached down and grasped my knife and gave a sharp jerk. It didn't come loose from where it was lodged in the beasts head. I let out a heavy sigh, braced one foot on it's muzzle and yanked backwards. It slid free,blood and a substance i didn't want to think about spurted out spraying my face ,chest and abdomen with dark blood. A wave of nausea slid over me and it took all of my control to not throw up. I wiped the knife off on my shorts as best i could before placing it back in it's sheath and then slipping it into my pocket . I would wash it and myself off thoroughly when i got back to the house. After one last look at the body of the creature i set off at a slow jog,my head dizzy from the loss of blood. By the time i got back to the house i was exhausted  both mentally and physically . My shoulder was throbbing painfully. I opened the door and dragged my weary body inside and shuffled toward the bathroom/my room . I was almost there when Rick came charging down the stairs. "Where have you been!" He said furiously." You should have been back  two hours a-." He cut off,staring at me in shock . "What happened to you?!" He belowed in a alarmed tone . "Where did all that blood come!?" from He strode toward me and surveyed my body his eye's filling with heat as his gaze ran over my bare stomach before snapping up to my shoulder. "Take that thing off ." He motioned to my makeshift bandage the worry leaving his eye's as he realized my wound was not fatal and anger replacing it. "I said take it of Ashlyn!" Im fine i said tiredly ,sickened by his roving eye's and his worry. He was always injuring me and then acting worried and caring when he was the one who did it to me in the first place!. He was sick . I tried once again to walk toward the bathroom but Rick grabbed my arm in his vice-like  grip ."Do as i say Ashlyn!"  A fierce anger and frustration coursed through me. I just wanted to be left alone to treat my wound,was that so hard to ask! "LET ME GO NOW!" I roared grabbing his hand and ripping it off of me . He looked shellshocked. I turned and stormed into the bathroom slamming the door shut and locking it. Surprisingly he didn't bother me. I  ran a hot bath and soaked in the water washing the blood,grime and tension from my tired body,i also washed off my knife. When i got out the water was darkened with blood. I drained the dirty water and then looked at my wound which suprisingly didn't hurt much  anymore . My head on the other hand was pounding and i had never been so tired in my life. I looked at my shoulder confused. The wound had been much larger,the gaping holes that had been there not ten minutes ago were now small bite marks . I disinfected it and wrapped a bandage around the wound.I pulled on a large t shirt and underwear . Then i walked over to the pile of blankets on the ground that was my bed and fell upon my pillow pulling a blanket over me and falling asleep immediately .  I didn't wake up until the next day at 9:00 AM ,which was surprising considering that i went to sleep at close to 1:00 PM yesterday . I felt great. No, great was a understatement . I felt amazing . I stood up and walked over to my mirror undoing the bandage on my shoulder which now did not hurt at all . As i removed the bandage i realized why. It didn't hurt because there was nothing there ,the wound was gone and  there was no sign that my arm had ever been injured . I was stunned,how was this possible ,did i dream it all?.  I looked down at the floor and sure enough there were my bloody clothes in a heap next to the bath tub. I padded over to them and reached into my shorts pocket and pulled out the fang of the beast. It still had my blood on it . I picked up the ruined clothes and tossed them in the trash . Then i  washed off the fang and tied a leather string to it ,turning it into a necklace . I  took a shower and then placed the necklace  around my neck. I would go and visit my mother today no matter what.Rick  only allowed me to go and see her once a week and i wasn't going to miss one. I got dressed and then walked into the living room. I guessed that Rick would be furious over what i said to him yesterday and that the only reason he left me alone yesterday was to think of ways to punish me today. So i decided that i would try to appease him by making him breakfast. Something i had never done for him before so i hoped it would diffuse his anger somewhat. As i made chocolate chip pancakes i resisted the urge to put worms in his. I finished making breakfast , putting scrambled eggs, crispy bacon and fluffy light brown pancakes on a plate for him and then made a plate for myself . I poured orange juice in a glass for each of us and as i was turning to put the orange juice back in the fridge Rick  strode into the kitchen. I quickly put the juice in the fridge and turned to look at him. "I made breakfast ." I watched his face carefully to see his reaction. I needed him in a good mood to be able to see mom today.  He just stood there staring at the food with a blank stare . I prepared myself for him to explode but he just sat down poured syrup on the pancakes and started eating. I warily sat down on the opposite side of him and started eating . I wolfed down my food like i hadn't eaten in days,i hadn't realized i was so hungry. I heard a moan from across the table and saw that Rick had a blissful expression on his face and as he shoveled another forkful of pancakes into his mouth a groan of pleasure fell from his lips. I let out a sigh of relief ,thanking my good cooking skills. "So "I let out in a rush  "We are going to visit mom today sense we didn't go yesterday right?"  He froze for a second the blissful haze leaving his eye's before continuing to eat his posture now rigid .  I was confused,  he never acted like this when it was about visiting mom. He loved it when i asked to visit because it just reminded him of the power he held over me. I waited as he finished eating ,knowing that if i said anything right now he would get angry. He finished the last of his eggs and then raised his eye's to meet mine. "What happened to you yesterday?" He said ,his voice holding a cold tone. "Why were you covered in blood and what happened to your shoulder?!" "I was running on the trail and slipped in a pile of blood from a dead deer." I lied." I hurt my shoulder in the fall." His eye's narrowed ."Why would a dead animal be laying in the middle of the trail?"  "Animals are killed all the time ,a wolf or a bear must have killed it." I said ,assuming a dismissive air.  "So whe-" He cut me off."Let me see your shoulder." He ordered,pushing back his chair and standing up. I quickly rose to my feet and took several steps backwards. " I cant i'd have to take off my shirt and im wearing a regular bra not a sports bra ." I said ,dread filling me as i saw his eye's darken with lust. " Surely you don't expect your STEPDAUGHTER to show you her bra?" I said ,emphasizing stepdaughter. "I am only eight years older than you and you are not my daughter!." He yelled. "You don’t even think of me as your father."  He said  calming down ,as if the fact that i didn't think of him as my father was reassuring to him. "What?!" I shouted feigning  surprise. " I have always thought of you as my father." I lied assuming a hurt tone. "Don’t you think of me as your daughter ?" I would have never been able to lie so well if i hadn't been so afraid of his intentions . His eye's took on a pain and rage i had never before seen in him. "You don't mean that." "Your lying !" He belowed. "Don't you think i know you cant stand me!" He started stalking towards me. "If you would obey me i wouldn't have to hurt you!." I backed into the fridge my heart racing  "Do you think i want to hurt you!" "I love you !" He screamed ,his voice breaking. " I only married that stupid mother of yours so that i could be with YOU!" He closed in on me, grabbing my shirt by the shoulder and ripped tearing my shirt down to my armpit . I shoved him backwards . "I want to see my mother!." I screamed at him, tears rolling down my face. "YOUR MOTHERS DEAD!" He screamed back ." SHE DIED FOUR DAYS AGO !" My tears stopped and i just stared at him trying to process his words. A deep sadness filled me that was soon replaced by a sense of peace. She wasn't suffering any longer. My mother died three years ago and now she could finally move on. I could move on. Despite my acceptance a loneliness filled me. I would never see my mother alive again. I wiped the tears from my face and strode out of the kitchen. Rick followed behind me looking baffled. He probably thought i would be sobbing my heart out heck so did i. I  walked toward the bathroom and stopped when Rick grabbed my arm . "What are you doing ?" He said in a soft voice eyeing where part of my bra was showing from his attack on my shirt. I looked up at him and said with as much venom as i could . "I am leaving!" "I am leaving you and your psychopathic ways.!" "You are a bully  and a sick man!" "And i cant stand your guts!" I yelled at him . "Your not going anywhere" He said in a deadly tone. " Do you know how long i have restrained myself around you." "You are staying right here with me." He reached for me and i was consumed by not fear but rage. I reached up clamped my hand around his neck and picking him up by the neck . He let out a strange sound in between a yelp and a gurgle and i tossed him across the room effortlessly . He crashed into the wall and through the stone plaster before crumpling to the floor white dust and stone pieces surrounding his form . He started coughing and slowly got to his feet but i wasn't done yet. I  stormed  across the room to him and punched him in the side before he could react . I heard a crack as my fist connected and  he flew backwards once more into the plaster . My anger disappeared when he coughed up blood and then passed out and i realized  what i had done. I picked up a two hundred and fifty pound man with one hand and tossed him like it was nothing, i actually broke his rib when i punched him.I started pacing . What was going on with me ,first a stitch worthy wound heals in one night and now im the hulk?!.  My ears twitched in agitation and my tail swished back and forth. I froze and slowly reached one hand behind me and grabbed MY TAIL!?. I looked behind me and sure enough there was a fluffy tail the color of my hair in my right hand . I ran into the bathroom and looked in the mirror .  Perky wolf ears  were perched on the top of my head . I reached up and touched them. I gave an experimental tug and felt a sharp pain from pulling to hard.  Now i could spend aimless hours trying to find some scientific conclusion for this before having to admit what i already knew. Im a werewolf. That’s the only explanation, i got bit by that unearthly wolf like creature and now i was a werewolf .  But i was confused about  the fact that  i wasn’t covered in fur . The only signs of transformation were the ears ,tail and . I opened my mouth and poked the sharp fangs with my tongue . Sharp little fangs  two on the top two on the bottom  that were now my canine teeth. I felt liberated . As soon as i stopped freaking out the ears,fangs  and tail retracted  and i touched the bare spot on my lower back just above my butt where my tail had disappeared .   They must only come out from extreme emotion. I got excited again just thinking about how i had tossed Rick and my ears and tail shot out again. I felt bad that i cracked his ribs but  i shouldn't ,he deserved it. I walked over to the closet  and pulled out my duffel bag tossing in sneakers,sandals ,toiletries,my sleeping bag,a sheet ,a baseball cap  and some clothes. I then grabbed my backpack and tossed in my hatchet ,some para-cord, a bowie knife ,some candles and waterproof  matches  ,my ipod ,a sowing kit and a magnesium fire starter. I also took off my fang necklace and placed it in a side pocket. My mothers old boyfriend had had one good thing going for him that we both had in common ,he loved to camp . So he bought us all of this gear and would take us out camping. My mother couldn’t stand camping  and he was gone in three weeks. He was the only one i missed out of all her boyfriends even though he was full of himself he loved the outdoors and he taught me the way of the forest. I stripped off my torn shirt and pulled on a new one and then pulled on my hiking boots tucking my pants legs into the boots before lacing them up.I strapped brass knuckle knife to my pants  then grabbed my wineskin  filled it with water and put it around my neck. I picked up both bags and walked to the kitchen glancing at Rick still lying on the floor   and grabbed a medium sized pot and a frying pan stuffing them in my backpack. I reached underneath the sink and snatched several garbage bags ,then went to the garage and grabbed a tarp a map and a compass. I strode into the living room and set my stuff down. I walked over to Rick and picked him up . I walked over to the couch and set him down. He let out a low groan of pain as he  came to. His eye's widened as he saw me "H hhhow did you?" He stuttered. "Im leaving now you might want to get that checked out ." I said pointing at his side. I turned picked up my bags and headed for the door and opened it. "YOU CANT LEAVE ME !" He screamed  "I will find you ,you cant hide from me!" I was shocked that even after he had witnessed my superhuman strength first hand he still had the gall to scream at me. "Goodbye Rick." I said before closing the door . I walked towards the forest feeling free. I was amazed at how fast i could go without getting tired . I had the duffel bag  slung across my back  and my backpack  secured to my front. I ran for about six hours before deciding to stop at a creek. I put down my bags and took a swig of water from my wineskin and took off my boots. My stomach growled and i remembered that i hadn't packed and food . I decided i would fish so i grabbed a stick to start making a fishing spear when i saw the deer. I froze my whole body rigid,i felt my fangs protrude and the wolf inside me growled ."Meat!" The buck  which had been grazing on the other side of the creek leisurely looked up with alarm when my fangs,ears and tail came out. He took off like a rocket and before i knew it i was chasing him. I ran going faster and faster when i felt this overwhelming pain course through me and i crashed to the ground . Mind blowing pain shot through me and i heard cracks and pops . I felt like it took forever for it to stop but it was only about ten seconds. I looked down and saw paws . I didn’t think, i ran. I flew after the deer who by now had a good lead on me but somehow i knew i could catch him. I was moving so fast that the trees around me were just a blur and i quickly caught up to the deer i dove at him trying to make it quick by latching on to his neck . He went down and i yanked but instead of ripping out his throat like i'd planned i took his head clean off .  I picked the deer up in my jaws and trotted back to my bags. I had to learn to manage my strength . Once i got to the creek i lept over it and  set the carcass down then i padded over to the creek and shoved my bloody muzzle in the water washing it off. I looked at my reflection in the water and was confused. I didn't look at all like that creature . I looked like a actual wolf only much bigger and with my own fur and  eye color. I also didn't feel crazed or out of control . I wanted to cook the meat before i ate it even though i could probably eat it raw . I didn’t know how to go about turning human again so i just closed my eye's and focused imagining my hands and feet. I felt a wave of pain roll through me but it was nothing compared to changing into a wolf. When i opened my eye's i was human again,naked but human. Then i remembered my clothes  i dug through my duffel and pulled out sports shorts and a sports bra . I put them on and then ran to where i had changed . "Just great." I muttered picking up the shredded clothing.  Thankfully i had taken off my boots at the creek,i loved those things and i didn’t want them ruined .I picked up my knife which was unmarred. I jogged back to camp and gathered firewood  i got a good fire going  grabbed my bowie knife and then walked over to the deer . I skinned and gutted it and then cut off large chunks of meat . Once i had enough meat to sufficiently gorge myself and have  leftovers i sniffed down a grizzly bear and tossed the rest of the deer to it.I didn’t want to waste meat. The bear first looked at me like i was insane then caught my scent and cowered." No it's okay Mr. bear." i said in a soft tone . The bear let out a whimper and took off . "Wait !"  I said. "Arent you hungry?!" I chased after him and he bellowed in fear . "Im not gonna hurt you you big baby." I grabbed him by the scruff of the neck with one hand and pulled us both to a stop. "Here take it " I said jabbing the deer toward him ."I just want to help you." He wailed like i was murdering him ."Urg here!" I said and i stuffed the deers haunch in his wailing mouth and then backed away . He took the hint and started chewing but kept his wary brown eye's on me. "Jeez you would think your anorexic ." I chided ,satisfied that the meat wouldn’t go to waste i ran back to camp and put my meat in the frying pan. I cooked all of it and wrapped some in one of the garbage bags to eat tomorrow morning . I ate my fill  brushed my teeth and then pulled over pine boughs and made a sleeping area . Then i got out my sleeping bag and had the best sleep i have ever had in a long time. The next morning i washed off in the creek packed up and then went on my way . I continued that routine for about two days before i came upon a town. I decided to camp about five miles from town and right next to a lake and stream and started building a shelter . I made a small cabin using branches the width of my arm making it just big enough for me to sleep and have room for my bags i put the tarp over the top of the roof for a rain barrier and covered it with pine boughs. I also scattered the inside with pine boughs. I gathered stones out of the creek and and made a pile . When i felt that i had enough i went to the lake and dug until i got clay. I gathered glob after glob and stacked the stones using the clay as mortar. I made a dome and covered it all with clay. I had it so that there was a shelf so that i could set the fire underneath it and cook things on the flat shelf above it . It was like an oven. I left it to harden and practiced changing into a wolf as i had done a few times in the last two days. And that is how            it was for two weeks and three days.  ----------------------BACK TO THE PRESENT-------------------------                                                  I finished pulling on my clothes and i headed towards camp . I decided to go berry picking and i fished a garbage bag out of my backpack then set out. About ten minutes into my search i heard buzzing and i looked up and saw a beehive up in a tree about eight feet up.. I licked my lips as i thought about the sweet honey inside. I transferred the mulberry's and blueberries that i had gathered to the deerskin pouch i had made a few days ago . I pulled the rawhide strings closed and tied the pouch around my waist. I could build a fire underneath the tree and put pine needles so the smoke would make them calm but i decided on a faster method. I opened the bag  ran at the tree and jumped ,my tail coming out and swishing in excitement at what i was about to do. I closed the bag around the beehive holding it tightly so no bees could escape and as soon as i landed i took off before any bees near where the hive had been couldn't sting me. I ran for a mile and then stopped. Now i had to figure out where to shake out the remaining bees inside the bag. I heard them buzzing angrily from inside . Finally i just let the bag open and ran with the bag behind my back i had a hold of the hive and by the time the bees got out of the bag i was far enough away they would never catch me. I ran like that for a good mile and a half before heading back to camp with my catch.  I emptied the bag out on the ground and after whacking  two stray bees with a pine bough i reached down pulled off a chunk of honeycomb and stuffed it into my mouth groaning with pleasure from the overwhelming flavor.I spit out the wax from the honeycomb making a pile of it that i would use later for candles. I looked up as i heard a crack of branches on the ground and saw a bear standing there looking at me bashfully . Not just any bear i realized,it was the bear that i had chased after and tried to feed . "Hey bear." I said softly, surprised that he would come to me after he ran away from me like i was trying to castrate him. He let out a shy."Uuwaaaa." He took a step forward hesitantly. "Come on im not gonna hurt you." I coaxed softly trying not to laugh . He was a huge grizzly bear and he was afraid of me?!. Finally he started ambling  toward me and i noticed he was staring at the honey like it was heaven itself. I let out and incredulous snort. "So let me get this straight." I said as he sat down next to me and i handed him a chunk of honeycomb which he took in his paws. "You run away from me when i try to give you a lovely chunk of deer ,but when i have honey you come running to me like a sugar addict!?" "What kind of a bear are you?" His only response was a delighted hum as he licked his paws clean and then turned to me and held out his greedy paws for more. I let out a laugh and after handing him another chunk i said ." You know what im going to name you ."  He chewed blissfully . "Im going to name you Pooh bear." I patted his head and he closed his eyes as i scratched behind his ear's. He rolled over baring his belly and i laughed before scratching it for him good as he hummed in pleasure. His fear of me completely gone . We lay in the sun for a couple hours and he was still around by the time i cooked supper. I boiled venison and then boiled the berries adding a little honey to them. I put the meat on two flat rocks that i carried up from the stream and drizzled the berry sauce on it. "Pooooh it's ready ." He hurried over from where he had been laying guarding the honeycomb . I knew he wanted to eat more but he didn't touch it until i gave him some. He was quite the respectful bear. He dug into his food  licking the stone clean and then looked at me with soulful brown eye's. "Oh you greedy beast!" I chided him laughing . "Fine last bit." I said handing him a chunk. "Now that’s it for today understand." He just licked my hand. I chuckled and finished my food then put away the honeycomb. When i entered my small cabin to sleep he curled up right outside the door. "Goodnight Pooh." I said as i bedded down.He let out a throaty sound in reply. The next morning i woke up to find Poohs head and front paws inside the doorway . His head was resting on my leg and he was in a dead sleep. "Wake up Pooh ." I yawned. He didn't stir. "Pooh wake upppppp." I said it a little louder. He let out a snort and nuzzled closer to my legs. "Oh well i guess you don’t want any honeycomb for breakfast and i will just have to eat your share."  I said dramatically . He shot up and ran over to the stone plates sitting down in front of his. I grinned . "So now your awake." He let out a dignified humph. We wound up eating the rest of the honeycomb for breakfast and i decided we would search for another beehive and this time i would put the majority of the honey in a jar to use in small amounts for flavor instead of gorging on it. I had carved a small wolf figure out of the wax from the first beehive instead of making a candle out of it like i had planned. I grabbed the bag that i had used yesterday and we were off. I stopped as we were leaving camp. Would Pooh be able to outrun the bees? ,i worried before coming up with a solution. Pooh would be forced to stay a safe distance from the hive while i got it ,then i would drop him off at camp before going a safe distance to release the bees. We walked searching for a while and went about three miles farther than i normally traveled from the camp. We were about to turn and head back when i smelled honey and heard bees." Pooh stay here." I said sternly,he looked sad but he sat down. "I will be right back don’t look at me like that." I went about two hundred yards and there it was. This one was was larger than the last one i noted with delight. This one was a little higher up than the last but it was of no matter. I was able to leap ten feet high  thanks to my wolfy gift. I got the hive and ran for it .I would travel about a half mile away from Pooh to make sure the bees that were outside the nest were gone before returning to him. I laughed as i ran for a bit thinking about how i a werewolf was running away from little bees. I looked down for a second not watching where i was going and ran into what felt like a solid wall.  The wall let out a "Omph" as it fell backwards and i fell on top of it.  I sat up and stared in shock down at the wall underneath me. Which wasn’t a wall at all but a man. A very hot man i thought to myself as i studied him . He looked to be about my age maybe a little older. He had deep blue eye's with grey flecks in them and pitch black hair that was cut short. He was tan and very muscular if the rock hard abb's beneath my body were any indication .  I blushed as i realized i was still sitting on top of him and i rushed to my feet still gripping the beehive bag tightly. My wolf was in chaos screaming inside me excitedly that this was our mate . I balked at the thought but he smelled sooooo good like leather and crushed pine with nutmeg . My thought process stopped as he stood up. He was about six foot three inches tall and even more mucular than i had imagined . I restrained myself from ogling him again and let out a nervous cough. "So um im sor-"  He cut me of as he growled . "Mine!" "Excuse me?" I questioned but before i could ask what he meant by saying "Mine " he stepped towards me leaned down and nuzzled my neck. My mind went blank my ears ,tail and fangs shot out and my throat went dry. All i could think about was how right it felt with him holding me. I felt safe and happy . That was of course right  before he bit me . I felt a sharp pain right above my collarbone before a wave of pleasure and happiness washed over me and i let out a gasp and almost dropped the bag . I shoved him backwards against my wolfs protest the moment the overwhelming feelings went away and he fell on his rear end and looked up at me as if he was surprised that i would push him away the stupid moron. I glared down at him furious with myself for letting some crazed idiot stranger with a bite fetish anywhere near me even if he was gorgeous . Which also meant he was probably a playboy jerk. ''What in the world is wrong with  you you piranha! " He smirked up at me and i realized for the first time that he had ears like mine popping out from the top of his head .I looked behind him and saw a black tail. "Your like me?!" I marveled. "Of course i am. " He said rising to his feet and dusting off his butt . "Why did you push me away?" "Im your soulmate,i know you felt it." "You are out of your mind. " I said to him slowly. He looked at me like i was daft. "You are my soulmate and i just claimed you."He said just as slowly ,i bristled."Didn’t you learn this when you were a pup ?" "Don’t worry i am a good alpha and i will make you a happy mate." He stepped towards me and leaned down for a kiss. I stood transfixed on his full pale  lips and before i knew it he was kissing me. An electric currant coursed through me and a warm tingle settled on my body  . I had no idea kissing was this good. I had never been kissed before. At this thought i remembered that my first kiss had just been stolen by a complete stranger cocky werewolf with a teething problem and i pushed him away and then opened the bag of bees and took off .  I felt satisfaction as i heard him cursing as the bees stung him. But when i heard a particularly loud ."Ouch!" I found myself desperately wanting to turn around and make sure my mate was all right and beg forgiveness for doing such a thing. My wolf howled at me in anger that i would harm my own mate. I cleared my mind and knew that before i headed back to camp i had to mask my scent and the answer came to me in a very unpleasant form. I stopped as i passed by several piles of fresh bear poop. I bent down and started rubbing the foul smelling dung all over me. I heard a snap and for a second i thought that crazy piranha was after me but it was just Pooh . He looked at me like i had lost my mind." Oh shut up i bet some of it is yours!" "come here quick." He barreled over to me and i hopped on his back  ."Alright lets go home." He wrinkled his nose in disgust at my smell and then started to run towards camp. When we got back i tied the bag and put it in the cabin then grabbed my Suave kids  two in one conditioner and shampoo. It was strawberry scented and i loved it even if it was for kids . It made my hair silky smooth. I ten headed to the lake  and stripped off my crap covered sports bra ,shirt and shorts . Pooh followed behind me . I washed my hair and body thoroughly then washed my clothes and hung them on a branch to dry. I looked at Pooh swimming in the lake and then washed him as well. By the time we went back to the camp we were both squeaky clean and smelled like a fresh patch of strawberries. I kept thinking about the piranha jerk and it irked me. The next morning i decided to go into town.  I loved reading and i hoped the town had a library so i could . I changed into a pair of clean shorts and a tank top and then turned to Pooh ."You cant come im sorry Pooh." He sulked until i told him he could come with me only until the edge of the forest.. I put on my sneakers and then we took off in a run for the town. When we got to the edge of the woods i hugged Pooh and told him i would be back in a bit. He turned and headed back for camp. I was lucky the library was right on the edge of town . I went in read for two hours then headed to the mythological section . I grabbed all the werewolf information books i could find and went to a nearby table to get started.  I got bored after an hour of finding nothing that related to my case in them and i grabbed a werewolf romance novel and started reading. I let out a snort at the way the female swooned and listened to whatever her mate told her to do. "Pathetic chick and a jerkwad alpha ." I muttered thinking about a certain jerkwad alpha piranha.  " I happen to like that book." I jumped in my seat and my wolf parts  flew out. "Hey you have got to be more careful ,we are in public." He covered my ears with his hands and i felt a warm tingle run through them. "Piranha" I tried not to shout. I slapped away his hands and focused and they went back in. "What are you doing here." I looked at him and almost let out a sigh of relief when i saw he had no bee stings on him that i could see. But of course he wouldn’t ,he was a werewolf and they would have long since healed. "First of all don’t call me piranha and i came here to get you ." "You’re a sly little vixen how did you manage to cover your scent?,i couldn’t sniff you out at all after i got away from all those blasted bees ." "Why, by the way were you running through the forest with a bag of bees?" He didn’t sound angry at all ,he looked genuinely  curious about how i got away from him ,as if it were some huge feat. "My eyes narrowed at him.I am a wolf not a fox and i will have you know the way i went about hiding my scent was not pleasant for me at all and WHY do you look so proud of me for dumping bees on  you! . I said incredulously. He sat down next to me and smiled.  "Im just happy that my mate is so clever. I am Drake by the way and you areee?. "Not telling ." i replied dryly . He frowned . "Look im not your mate." I said in exasperation,i was avoiding looking at him because i might not be able to stop  . "Yes you are and you know it,we are tied to each other." I could tell he was getting frustrated. "The only man that i will be tied to will be my husband." I stood up and started putting away the werewolf books. "So you are saying you will be loyal only to your husband?." He beamed. ''Yes." i said cautiously . "Great ,lets go." He exclaimed getting to his feet and grabbing my arm. "Wait ,where?" I tried to yank my arm from his gentle grasp. "To get married of course."He said brightly and i froze "ARE YOU NUTS!" I screeched making the whole library turn towards us. My cheeks reddened and i glared at Drake. "Sorry." I said   apologetically to the people near us.  "See what you caused ." I whispered furiously as we were leaving the library. "You are out of your mind if you think im going to marry you. " He just yawned so i stomped on his foot. "Ouch ! Jeez crazy woman." He muttered."Oh im the crazy one!" I said flatly.  He leaned down close to my face and i blushed my ears shooting out. He grinned when he saw the effect he had on me. He looked me straight in the eye's . "You will walk with me to the church and when we enter you will say your vows and nothing else,then you will sign the marriage certificate with a smile on your face now say yes. "Yes." i said and then gasped. "why did i say that! ,what did you do to me! ." He started walking and i found myself following him against my will. "Im sorry but it has to be done ,you belong to me and -." I cut him off "I don’t belong to anyone you barbarian piranha!." "And i belong to you ." He finished.  "What did you do." I said through gritted teeth as we came upon a church.He looked surprised  "Did your mother really teach you nothing about pack life?"  "Every male wolf can make their mate do what they want them to when they look them in the eye." "Alphas don’t even have to do that ,they just have to speak it in the command tone,alphas can also make other members of the pack obey." He shook his head angrily as he said."Some alphas abuse the power and treat their pack like slaves !"  I paled at the forced to obey part. "Now will you tell me your name or do i have to order you to ,i would prefer to not have to." He smirked at me and i knew i had no choice. "Ashlyn" I snarled . His face lit up ."Its beautiful " He said and i nearly blushed again ,how could this man make me go from one emotion to another just like that. "Don’t worry i am a good alpha and i care about our pack."  I was about to object to the our pack part when we walked into the church and i was forced to stop speaking. We walked down aisle and i saw three gorgeous men standing at the end near the pew. All three of them were tan like Drake and only about an inch shorter than him. All three of them had various shades of blonde hair cut short like Drake's. I noticed they looked alike somewhat. "They are triplets ." Drake said as if reading my mind." Gale the one in the blue shirt is our beta, he is a pretty serious guy and i don’t think ive ever seen him laugh." He saw the question in my eye's ."You are ranked higher than gale but lower than me ,you are the alpha female." I shook my head and glared at him. He ignored me and pointed to the next one ."That’s Levi ,he is our  third in command and is a general all around nice guy."  "And that." He pointed at the last man who was firing a nerf gun at his brother Gale. "Is Adam and he is not supposed to be here." At the mention of his name Adam turned and winked at me earning him a growl from Drake. "He is an idiot and a playboy !" He growled. "I thought i told you to stay home Adam ! "  "Oh i just wanted to see our new alpha female ."He drawled ." Your much prettier than our male alpha . He said raising his  eyebrows and i smiled at him . Drake didn’t look too pleased . "Get out Adam!" Adam looked at him in surprise . "Jeez man she only smiled at me what's the big deal." At the mention of me having smiled at Adam, Drake stiffened and i knew he was only ticked because i had treated him like he was jerk and had smiled at his pack member but had yet to smile at him but i didn’t care at the moment because he was a jerk and a brute ,forcing me to marry him. Adam realized that Drake was seriously upset and he lowered his head to both of us before leaving. Both Gale and Levi lowered their heads as we came to stand next to them." Alright ."Drake said lets get this over with. I kicked him in the leg and crossed my arms under my chest. "Um why do i get the feeling she isnt happy about this ." Levi said while Drake glared at me and rubbed his leg. Drake signed the marriage license and when it was my turn i signed it with a malicious smile on my face that had everyone backing up three steps  ,Gale and Levi signed as witnesses and then we went up to the alter and the pastor took us through our vows  .When he got to you may kiss the bride i gave Drake a .I dare you look. He didn’t heed my warning and gripped me around the waist pulled my body to his and kissed me . My wolf parts were out in full force and so were his but the pastor didn’t seem to notice