Coyotes: Denis

Chapter 11: Tianguis

   Coming out of my rut had been truly awful. I had a voracious appetite, and my body was weak and sore for two days.

   Along with this, I had to deal with knowing that my mom talked to Denis and Lanette about what happened to me. Denis knew I had imprinted.

   I wasn't even sure how I felt about all of it, now that I was in my right state of mind. The day it hit me, there was suddenly a presence in my mind that hadn't existed before. As the fever took over, I felt like I was a mere spectator watching that /thing/ call the shots.

   My memory came in and out, but I would never forget what it was like to see her on my doorstep. I could /smell/ her as soon as she was in the yard, and I watched terrified as my leg kicked my bedroom door until it broke open.

   Mom was closing the front door, and I went crazy trying to break out and get to her. All of the previous week, Denis was the only thing I could think about.

   My ears burned from remembering what I had been thinking of /doing/ with Denis during that time.

   The fear in her eyes that morning hadn't phase me. Just being in her presence felt like cool water poured over me after days of an awful fever, and I needed /more/.

   The thought of it made my hands tremble from anxiety. I hoped I would never feel that powerless in my own body again.

   The worst part was that the beast who took over me was there to stay, lurking in the back of my mind. Whispering inner thoughts to me that I had little control over.

   There was one positive to it all. I had mustered the courage to write a heartfelt letter to Denis, asking if she would want to see me again. The next afternoon, I had a short letter addressed to me.

   "Dear Benoit,

   I can't wait. I'll see you in two days.

   -Denis"

   It was to the point, but it was all that I needed to hear.

   Honestly, I'm not sure how long I could stay away even if she hadn't replied. My instincts had me worrying about her more than ever.

   Part of me was disappointed that she was not affected by the imprinting in the same way I was, but mostly I felt relief.

   It meant that atleast one of us would be clear-headed when deciding whether it would work out.

   I was drawn to her before, but I never could have imagined that this would happen... It was another pile of guilt on top of what I already felt.

   Her entire life was the result of shortcomings outside of her control, and I hated to think that this would be another choice taken away from her.

   I knew she would imprint soon enough, a dark part of me even relished the idea, but we had some time to make a plan of action.

   Giving her that bracelet, scent marking her, and buying her those other gifts were acts of courtship. But I had gone about it the wrong way. Yes, she was receptive, but on the surface they were all just kind gestures.

   That had been my primary intention, and I was happy if that's all she took it for. I would be happy just being her friend. Atleast, I hoped so.

   Honest intentions didn't stop me from wanting to go about imprinting and courting properly. I hated to admit that I felt so sure of our connection that I was going to act as if it was an inevitable conclusion.

   A few days had passed since my mother left to mitigate for me. Now that I had returned to some semblance of normal, I wanted it to be the first day of making it up to Denis.