I drank a glass of milk and went into bed. Morpheus’ arms quickly led me to sleep and I dreamt of the beach, castles and turtles, and family all night long.
The next day went by at the speed of light. Adélie and Esthelle escorted me to the hair salon in spite of my reluctance. They said my hair was a wreck. It would have been vexing if I didn’t agree with them. An hour later, my rotten hair was as curly as it used to be, only much shorter. The curls barely skimmed over my shoulders, but they would grow back and be their wonderful selves. I felt pretty, and that’s what mattered.
The following week slunk away fast. Adélie taught me everything she knew, even though I knew most of it already, no offense, and all went on smoothly. The pink dress grew into me, I pared the fruits and vegetables like a chef and plated up like no one else – I’d even add some art to it when I felt inspired. The job wasn’t ideal, but it was mine. The clients were mostly amiable, and I had the best boss in the entire world. I had been allowed to serve instead of staying in the kitchen only, and it was refreshing to talk with other people, smile and move.
I was blossoming into this new world and leaving behind the cocoon of misery and self-pity I had constructed over the years, and my petals were blooming slowly. To cut a long story short, I was fine, and it was nice to think of myself only for the first time.
Chapter 8
“Maddiiie, it’s Saturdaaay! Get uuuup!” Esthelle yelled from the other side of the trapdoor.
I growled and burrowed my head under the pillow to dim the sound of Esthelle’s sweet and painful voice. I confess: ever since I had been given the choice to wake up whenever I wanted on weekends, I was always grumpy when someone else than myself woke me up.
Two weeks had already gone by ever since I’d arrived at the witches’ house. I had taken my marks and I knew the city much better since the girls had insisted that I visited it with them. I was the best at my job, and the clients seemed to like me. Even if working in a restaurant wasn’t my dream job, I enjoyed it. The atmosphere was warm and kind, the food was delicious and the employees I had learned to get acquainted with were all very nice. Thanks to Adélie’s cooking skills and my various and quirky cravings, I had managed to gain a few pounds. I had still much more to gain, but at least I didn’t feel like a skeleton anymore.
The lycanthrope’s whiff kept following me wherever I’d go. Whether it was at the supermarket or going to work or running in the woods full wolf mode every other day, I was unable to shake his scent off. I had no idea what this freak was up to but no need to worry: I had a good feeling about him. I’d start worrying when his scent would not be perceptible anymore. In fact, I’d probably need to start now because it was growing thin.
Living with the witches was actually working very well. They were not harassing me and they let me have all the free time I needed, just like they said they would. Of course, I was both living and working with them so we were constantly around each other; but I didn’t mind, I loved them. My instincts hadn’t failed me, they were the nicest people I’d ever met. Esthelle’s good spirits would always warm up my heart with her everlasting smile and excitement, and she reminded me of the sun warming me up with her rays. And God knows I needed happiness. Adélie was the embodiment of calmness and she knew how to comfort me whenever I felt anguished or blue. Her advice was very most welcome, and I loved talking to her: we’d sometimes have those deep conversations about our species, or her personal life, and I’d share about my pack days too.
There was now trust between the three of us and I was hoping that in time, I’d get more information because my thirst for knowledge would not easily dry up. I wished to know more about their powers and how it all worked, their aging skills, and their way of living together. I had so many questions. Were all those clichés and myths and legends about them true? Where did the brooms and warts come from? And what about black cats? I realized it might seem like childish questions, but in my former pack, those questions were taboo. I was guessing it was a little too out-there and I knew a thing or too but still I needed to get to the truth.
My former pack… About that… My mind was restless, I was swallowed by guilt even though finally living my best life and tasting happiness. Daniel, Lola, Clemencia and my grandmother were still there, in my head and in my heart, always, no matter what I did. I was blaming myself for having left them behind and I already knew I’d never forgive myself for it. Yet there was no going back in time and going back there didn’t feel like the best idea. I escaped death by hair’s breadth, and I wouldn’t have a second chance. So, I just kept on hoping they were all right. Which was totally stupid because nothing was going on fine in that damn pack, even I couldn’t begin to think what they were going through. That is to say, if they were still alive. My worries were eating me from within and my guilt was killing me slowly. But I deserved it. And there was nothing I could do about it. I was trying to live with it and I’d cherish all my happy times thinking of them.
“Maddiiiiiie, could you come have breakfast with us pleeeease?” I sighed exasperatedly. That kid was a pain in my ass. She was eighteen, but still, she was a kid to me.
I pushed the blanket back in a quick annoyed motion and held the lycanthrope’s tee close to me. His scent was almost totally gone, but I held on to it like the precious teddy bear I had left behind. That may be ridiculous but hey, that was me.
I got up and stretched. My muscles were a bit sore because I had gone running the night before. It was amazing. It would have been better with Bridget; I had been used to running with her. Now, I was running alongside the scent of Mr Invisible. Things were changing, I was adapting. Either way, it felt good. I was feeling refreshed, and happy.
“Maddiiiiiiie!”
“Oh fuck!” I put on a jacket on top of my pajamas and suddenly opened the trapdoor. Esthelle was standing down the ladder with a sparkly look in her eye and a huge smile on her face. There was no way to get angry at a face like that. “Would you stop yelling, you’re gonna round up the whole town! I heard you the first hundred times.”
“It’s breakfast time and I’m hungry, and there’s no stopping my stomach when it’s empty.”
I rolled my eyes at her, but curiosity urged me to go down the ladder. Something was off, the atmosphere of the house was peculiar. On the weekends, I’d usually have breakfast with the girls so that we’d establish the day’s program over coffee and jam. Tension was floating in the air. In the same way that I could sense anger in the lycanthrope’s whiff, werewolves could detect the spirits and emotions of those around thanks to their scent. If it was sugary, they were gay and joyful. If it was bitter, they were angry; if they were sad, it was salty like the tears. The worst one was fear, in which case the smell was utterly disagreeable. Obviously, there were thousands of possible variations and nuances, it was all about interpretation. I could detect concern, jealousy, pain, pleasure… Right now, anxiety was not coming from Esthelle, she smacked of sugar, like her own enthused self. Thus, it was coming from Adélie.
“Let me come down instead of staring at me, the food is not going to come to you,” I teased, pushing her so I could go through.
“You’d be surprised as to what a hungry witch can conjure up,” she responded hopping towards the stairs.
“Interesting…”
Once we got to the kitchen, my hypothesis was confirmed by Adélie’s worried look. Her straight black hair framed an anxious face and there were frowned brows above her purple eyes. I silently probed but she encouraged me to sit down. There was a boiling cup of coffee in front of me, and I immediately took a sip, which burnt both tongue and throat. Delicious. Esthelle started eating while humming, and her sister sat in front of me with a sigh. “We’ve got a problem. Or at least you have.”
“Hum, care to elaborate?” I wasn’t anxious myself. Yet. Just curious. I didn’t think we had the same definition of the word “problem”. Being attacked by your own pack, fifty to one, that was a problem. Spending weeks on the street without
any food or roof to sleep under and being disturbed by assholes looking to get laid, that was a problem. Anything else was small potatoes.
“I put detection spells here and at the diner so we could spot supernaturals in the area…”
“Oh? So that’s how you spotted me the first time?”
“Yes. But this morning, two creatures were lurking by the restaurant, and one of them was definitely a werewolf.”
My heart skipped a beat. A wolf. Could it be one of my friends? No, no way. I ought not to get my hopes up. It could be anyone, another wolf passing through the town or my own mysterious wolf. “And how is that a problem?” I said in a detached tone sipping my coffee.
“I don’t know. They might just be passing through the town, but the wolf could also be a member of your pack looking for you, no?”
“Former pack” I corrected.
“Don’t play semantics” Esthelle intervened with her mouth full.
I ignored her and her sister, too. I stared back at her concerned purple gaze. I understood. It was crystal clear. She didn’t want to put herself and her sister in any danger. All good things come to an end. I should have known I couldn’t stay here forever. The witches had already done a lot for me and I wouldn’t want to put them through anything in return. If Adélie was right and it was a member of my former pack, it’d all end up in a brawl, and there was no way I’d take the sisters down with me.
“Don’t worry guys. I’ll be gone by tomorrow. They’ll follow me and you’ll have nothing to worry about.”
“What?!” Esthelle said before she choked on her pastry.
Adélie tapped her back before giving me a death stare. Oh come on, it wasn’t my fault she was choking, I couldn’t be a scapegoat forever. I jadedly finished up my coffee whilst making plans for my departure. I had just gotten my salary, which Adélie had graciously given me in advance. It wasn’t much, but it was enough to start over in another city with less difficulty than my beginnings in this one.
“Madelyne!” Adélie scolded. “There’s no way you’re leaving.”
“What?” I said astonished. “But you just said that…”
“You misunderstood,” she interrupted. “I have let you know of my concerns because I was worried about you, not us. We’ll solve this problem together, and we’re not kicking you out.”
“Oh.” I was a bit shocked. In my former pack, no one ever thought of my safety or my well-being, and I assumed it would be the same here, but I was wrong. Again. I needed to remember that the witches – or these ones at least – were the exact opposite of William and his minions. They’d never let me down. “I’m sorry. This is not something I am used to, and I thought you were scared to get in trouble.”
“I almost had a heart attack!” Esthelle snubbed. “Do not ever do that again. Please.” I smiled when she turned her command into a request in extremis. She was smart and she knew how to go over the stupid hypersensitivity of werewolves. Orders were much more smoothly accepted with this simple please, and my wolf-self was not offended. And besides, I wasn’t feeling threatened by the little witch. The she-wolf liked her and saw more as a clumsy wolf cub than someone who might seek to control her, and me.
“So, what’s your plan?” Adélie asked sitting back.
“I think it’s best if we wait a few days. Those supernatural beings haven’t done anything yet, they might be innocent ones passing through here. Let’s just see what happens, whether they somehow attack us or just move along, and we’ll act accordingly.”
“That’s a very alpha-like speech,” she smiled.
“Totally,” Esthelle added.
I didn’t answer. I felt ill-at-ease. I might have the abilities and the strength of an alpha, but I was far from being made of the right stuff to be so. I had no experience whatsoever, just the ambition. And what good are strength and power if one doesn’t know how to use them? I still had a lot to learn if I ever wanted to lead a pack. And all of this was pointless anyway, because no one would ever have a female alpha for a leader, so, end of story.
Two hours later, I was grocery shopping with the girls. Unlike last time, I finally had my own money, and I couldn’t buy anything and everything, so I stuck to low-cost brands and managed well enough. At that rate, I could start saving up and maybe pay back the money I owed the witches.
After that, as Esthelle had learned that I had only been to the movies a few times in the course of my miserable she-wolf life, she insisted we go to the cinema. I wasn’t much enthused at first, but eventually stopped being sulky.
“Shall we get some pop-corn?”
“Obviously! No movie without pop-corn,” Esthelle explained picking up the biggest size possible.
If we’d managed to agree on the snacks, choosing a film to watch turned out to be more difficult. Adélie was very easy-going and so she let Esthelle and I fight about it. She wanted to see a rom-com while I was more inclined to see a horror movie. I had to be truthful: my being a woman of character didn’t come across my liking rom-coms, quite the opposite – I was all about wishy-washy things. It was just that watching couples being happy on screen was just a reminder that I’d never know happiness myself. All my past relations had ended dreadfully thanks to my dear old Willy who, no surprise, had destroyed those relationships because I had allegedly been disobedient. I had gone through enough traumas to be willing to get back in the game. Men could be fun, but only occasionally, and feelings-less, otherwise, it was too risky and complicated.
“Maddiie, please, I dig romance! I don’t want to see a horror film in the movies when I can see one every morning in the mirror!”
I burst into laughter, and Adélie followed; what could I answer to that? Esthelle was a good negotiator and I could do nothing besides giving up. “You’re right, you look dreadful! But fine, you win,” I sighed
I was too glad to go to the movies to complain about the movie itself. Esthelle danced for a second and ran to the counter to buy the tickets. As soon as I set foot in the dark room, the lycanthrope’s scent hit me with full force. My senses were in one hell of a state, my stomach ached and my wolf-self restlessly whined while my eyes looked for him. He was here, I knew it, I could feel it.
It didn’t make any sense.
I sat between Esthelle and Adélie with my fists clenched in order to remain in control. There was nothing I wanted more than to let the she-wolf have it her way and run towards this lycanthrope and his powerful, maddening, woody scent. Only I couldn’t, and I couldn’t let the girls know either, because the wolf would definitely hear it and God knows what he might do then. I didn’t believe him to be hostile, but I might be wrong. He might also be the wolf that had passed by the restaurant, and then he was accompanied by another supernatural, yet I could spot no other in the room. My instincts were telling me that this restaurant-thing wasn’t his doing.
He was only lurking close to me.
I didn’t give a toss about the movie that had just started, being too focused about scrutinizing the people in the room to find who that stalker of mine was. My heart leapt when I finally did. Here he was, five rows before mine, on the right. I recognized his messy dark hair, which covered at least half his neck. I recognized his burly back and his sturdy shoulders. I had been close to him less than a second but I never would have forgotten him. What on earth was he doing here? I wanted to jump above the row of seats to get to him and see his face. No, actually I wanted to jump on him. Damn those hormones, I could slap them.
My eyes were fixed on him and my fists clenched throughout the whole film. He was perfectly still. The only concerning thing was his breathing. It was regular and quelled, and soothing. His notoriously angry whiff was also imbued with anxiety and desire. It didn’t make any sense. Why was he feeling that? He was my own movie. Entertainment, suspense, emotion, he had it all, besides the main plot, or at least I could not fathom it yet.
I was the first one up when the lights turned back on. The witches looked at me with amazement, and when I reme
mbered that they had asked me to let them know about the wolf’s schemes, I silently spelled out “WOLF”. Their eyes grew wide, but I stayed focused on the wolf. He had just gotten up, like most people in the room.
“Oh no. Don’t do it man,” I whispered when I figured out what he was going to do. He paused for a second – thus revealing he had heard me indeed – but it was hopeless. He was already following people out of the room. That idiot was going to blend in and disappear. Again.
I went towards the exit too, and he started running. It looked an awful lot like last time, and not to my utmost pleasure. He had a head start, and there were too many people in front of me, through which I unsuccessfully tried to make my way. He left without looking back and so I stopped.
I had lost, once more.
I wasn’t going to run after him, we all knew what little good it did me last time, and I wasn’t stupid enough to believe he was just waiting for me outside the door. I loathed that man. He was always ten steps ahead, he played with my nerves and got away from me when he deemed, I had seen enough of him. And why, for heaven’s sake? I was growing weary of his little tricks, and he was about to find out that I wasn’t known for my patience.
Someone touching my arm brought me back to reality. Esthelle and Adélie were right beside me, and I smiled reassuringly before we left with the remaining audience. The outside would be more comfortable for a questioning, which I had rightly supposed they would conduct.
“What was that about?” Esthelle never missed a chance to speak, I was starting to get used to it.
Esthelle never missed a chance to speak, I was starting to get used to it. I sat on the first bench I came across after I had looked around for the wolf, in vain. His scent was still in the air but he was long gone. If I ever saw him again, he would be hauled over the coals. Stalking: bad.
“No idea.”
“You’re gonna have to try being a little more specific,” Adélie said, sitting beside me.
She-Wolf I Page 10
