Wolfdale

FIFTEEN (Ruby P.O.V)

"I still can't believe how lucky we're, I must say she's taking it very well... maybe not at first, our poor girl almost fainted but at least she hasn't rejected us. Rose heaves a sigh of relief inside my head. These are her first words since we left the fair running. My wolf doesn't fully understand human feelings, she reacts according to her instincts, so when we face a situation where human emotions are involved she lets me handle it without interference. I could feel her pacing up and down my mind nervously but she remained silent.

She's right: Iselen is taking this very well. Although she put up a bit of a fight initially, I was expecting even greater lack of understanding and trust or at least have to deal with a woman on the edge of a nervous breakdown, but my mate is far stronger than I thought. She's perfect for me... and she has a real bad temper when she's furious. It's due to her Mediterranean blood, I guess...

"Can I see Rosie?" I pull away blinking in surprise while my wolf remains still before prancing joyously all around.

"Yes, yes, Ruby please, let me see her..." For the first time since I know Rose, which means for the first time in my whole life, my wolf flattens her ears against her head and begs with a piteous tone of voice. Amazing, my mate can turn the diva into a weeping puppy with just one word.

"Yes, of course you can but..." I hesitate for a second before talking again. "Do you mind if I go to my bedroom to change? The procedure's a bit... violent. I mean that my bones need to be broken to turn into Rosie's form, my skin changes, my hands turn into claws... it's a bit... shocking. I don' want you to be scared again. Besides, I have to get undressed... my clothes don't change with me." Iselen's cheeks are beautifully rosy right now. "Those wolves that you saw changing suddenly at the fair tore their clothes, they're probably in their homes right now getting dressed or maybe in one of the changing rooms in the parks and avenues if they have some clothes in a locker."

"Those are changing rooms? I thought they were public restrooms." I get up smiling and walk a few steps before stopping when I hear her whispering. "Does it hurt?" I think my answer for about a second but I finally decide to tell her the truth.

"Yes... the very first time you change is very painful, then you learn little by little how to control it and to accept pain. You get used to it, I guess. The more relaxed I am, the easier the change and l feel less pain."

"I didn't know that... Ruby, you don't have to do it." Iselen seems about to get up from the couch to get close to me but I stop her with a gesture of my tattooed hand.

"Don't worry, I've told you that I'm used to it. Besides, Rosie wants to see you too."

"Can you talk to her? I mean... she's there, with you, in your head."

"Oh yes, she's. And sometimes I can't get her to be quiet. Ouch!"

"What has happened?"

"She gave me a mental blow with her paw."

"Rosie, be nice!" My wolf lowers her head and whines when our mate scolds her. I can't help chuckling.

"She's very sorry." Iselen nods and smiles again. I've barely moved two steps when her voice stops me again.

"Why did you say that we were meant to be? Do you really think that this is destiny?" She stares at me with her eyes wide open in disbelief and I can't help smirking haughtily.

"Let's see... Somehow you made a mistake and you chose the only detour on a main highway that could take you to Wolfdale, you found a job and a little studio to live in as soon as you arrived and it happened that your new boss and landlady are good friends of mine, when I arrived to the tattoo studio I realized immediately that you were my mate... and your eyes are exactly the same colour as Rosie's fur. Don't you think all this is too much of a coincidence?" Iselen purses her plump lips while looking at the ceiling absentmindedly.