It's a wolf thing

Sara's POV

Thank goodness Katie got me those potions, I did not think I was going to get through the day the way I was feeling. Opening and closing my hand, I could feel the cut getting tighter as it was healing - I can not remember what happened, I'm going to have to ask Katie if she knows what I did. Scooping up some water, I splash my face, wiping my eyes, trying to feel less grungy. I run my fingers through my long auburn hair to remove the knots and give it a shake. This will do, I think, and head back down to the porch to see what the plan is for today. After yesterday I am torn. Part of me wants to stay away from Drew so as to not get in the way of his life, but then I want to go on our usual trips. Being with him is the highlight of my day. When I reached the door, I could see Drew and Katie talking, it looked as though he was leaving without me. I cannot hide the hurt on my face when he makes eye contact with me - did sitting in a different seat offend him so much? He looks at me equally as hurt. I changed my expression to a smile when Katie turned to look at me, "Come on sunshine, let's go shopping!" I smiled, genuinely pleased at the thought of spending the day with Katie. On the other hand, there was a small lump in my throat over Drew leaving me behind.

We began walking into town, returning to the same little store as the previous day. Katie wasted no time asking for 2 outfits and leaving without even trying them on - she assured me they would fit as the seamstress knew our sizes. After leaving the store, Katie started heading in the opposite direction to the house. "I thought we were just going shopping today?" I furrowed my brow, confused. Katie raises her eyebrows, smirking at me. I felt like I was missing something. The longer we walk, the fewer people appear until there is nothing to see around us except sandy, dirty floors, trees in the distance and a large stone archway - I wonder if this is somewhere special for the wolves? A warm breeze tickled my skin carrying just a hint of pine scent, while Katie stared at me expectantly as if I should know what this was - I stared back blank-faced, waiting for some explanation. When it was clear she was not going to speak first, I spoke "Cool rocks." She smiled her crooked smile "Yes and here we complete the sacrifice," she cackled. My eyes shot open in bewilderment. I study my surroundings trying to find a way out of this, my heart in my chest. The wind picks up, blowing sharp sand onto my visible skin. I rub my fingers over my sweaty palms where the scratch is almost healed. I'm going to have to try and run, but I will never outrun her if she shifts into her wolf. My mind is going one hundred miles per hour when her cackling turns into fits of laughter. I stared at her befuddled. She did not just do that - I smacked her on the shoulder for teasing me, twisting my face at her to tell her she was mean- that little she-wolf! The breeze is settling once more, gently blowing my hair now. A clap fills the vast empty space as she slaps her hands against her thighs still in hysterics over her tormenting gag. "You finished?" I playfully pout, finding the humour now my heart rate was returning to normal. She had a cut on her hand the same as mine - I cannot help but notice it as she lifted her hand up, showing me 1 finger as if to gesture she needed a minute. "What happened to your hand?" Her eyes grew wide and she stopped laughing almost instantly. Clearing her throat, she simply replied "What happened to your hand?" We were at an impasse, neither of us wanted to answer - a typical battle of wills. "Fine, keep your secrets!" I snapped. A pang of guilt hit my chest but I did not feel guilty- it was like a foreign invader had entered my body trying to take control. I gripped my chest shuddering at this feeling. Glancing at Katie, I saw her eyes look filled with shame. "I'm sorry..." She ran her hand down her face "... we were drunk and to be honest, I have no idea how it will work with you - it's a wolf thing." My mouth fell open as I tried to understand what she was talking about.

"What is a wolf thing?"

Blowing out a large breath of air, she continues "It's a sacred bonding ritual, performed under the light of the moon - it's rarely practised at all - let alone with a human. I am so sorry - I don't what I was thinking." Her shame and guilt hit harder into my chest, causing me to take a step back. I think back to the previous night, remembering what happened. The giggling, the hand, cutting, the promises we made to each other, they were all coming back with this small reminder. I felt elated. I truly had a friend, a bond like no other - it hurt me to think she regretted this. "Does it shame you to be bonded to me?" She looked taken aback. I cut in before she could speak "Please do not lie to me Kate, I can feel your shame."

"I am ashamed. I am ashamed that you were not fully aware of what this entailed and I could not reverse this even if you wanted to." Her guilt was eating me alive, I hated to think she felt this way. "Then you can remove your shame and guilt - there is no place for it here. I am a big girl, I make my own decisions and I, for one, am grateful to have found a friend, such as yourself." Katie's head turns from staring at the ground at such speed to meeting my eyes. I stared at her, willing her to see the honesty in the words I had spoken. "You do not have to be kind to me Sara." It was like pulling teeth trying to get her to hear me - like really hear me.

"I am not saying this out of some need to pretend it is all ok. Surely you can feel my emotions as I do yours right now - you must sense I feel so blessed to have met you." I could see she was battling within herself, still not fully convinced. I repeated my words from the previous night. "Does this mean your kinda my best friend now? " I reminisced.

She looked at me, her mind ticking over, taking her time to answer. I could feel her guilt floating out of my body before she even spoke the words "Yeah, I guess I'm kinda like your best friend now."

It took a few moments after the recent drama for Katie to explain why we were here, firstly promising me to keep this a secret for it could get her evicted from the pack. Concerned at how that sounded, I was unsure if this was something I wanted to be part of - after all, I have only just found somewhere I feel I belong and I do not wish to have to leave. I am uncertain how long I am welcome but would like to stay for the full duration of it. She asked me to trust her and inside me everything already did, so I agreed - nervous about what was about to happen. Katie reaches into her denim shorts pocket and pulls out her trusty pocket knife- I remember this with ease now. Without hesitation, she cuts her finger and wipes the blood onto the stone archway. "Have you not got enough cuts to heal?" I asked, stunned. She laughs again - it feels like she laughs at me a lot, "I'm glad my concern amuses you!" Wiping her bloody finger on her black vest top she raises it up, gives it a quick lick and rubs her fingers together to remove the now dry blood. "Look all healed already!" I am flummoxed, how has the cut healed already?

"How is that possible? The cut on your palm is still healing and the newer one looks as if it was never there, to begin with - what gives?"

"Ah, I wondered why you looked so confused - We heal pretty fast."

"...But your palm is still healing?"

"Yeah, that one will heal as quickly as yours does... which, by looking, is almost gone!" My eyes shot to my own palm and, much to my surprise, she was correct. It is almost completely gone. Returning my attention to the archway, I looked at Katie's blood seeping into the stone as if the stone were drinking it. When there was no more blood left on the surface, a bright purple light danced in the space between like waves in the sea. Our hands clasp together, she gives me a squeeze. "Do NOT let go."

Stumbling over my feet, I felt a hand on me tighten, helping me to regain my balance. The queasiness in my stomach felt like I had been spinning on a fairground roundabout for far too long. "Kay, long time no see girl!" A smooth velvet-like voice stated.

"You're okay, come on sit down." Katie led me to a small cushion stool before embracing the man in a hug. "Big A, how have you been?" she pulled back, still hugging him. 'Big A' was a big man indeed he stood over 6 foot tall, he had flawless dark chocolate coloured skin with short tight curled ink black hair - he had a face that lured you in. I focused in on his face, trying to get a close look - he had beautiful light pink eyes, with a small ring of white around his iris and just a touch of stubble on his face- he was a handsome man, there was no denying it. He was dressed in black jeans and a black shirt, casual yet still sharp. "Who's our newest guest?" His smooth voice soothed me as if drawing me in. Katie returned to me, checking if I felt better and helping me to stand.

"Hi, I'm Sara. It's a pleasure to meet you. I apologise for my entrance, the trip left me a little... woozy." I throw my hand out to shake his hand, he looks confused, takes my hand in his and proceeds to hold it in place. Katie explains this fine mine is Arius. "Do not worry yourself, it happened to the best of us the first few times we travelled here. The pleasure of meeting you is all mine, Sara". With that, he brought my hand to his lips and placed a delicate kiss on the top, before gently releasing me. "So are you a wolf too?" He almost choked at my question, which caused Katie to chuckle. It also brought the attention to another male and female that stood at a bar a few feet away, letting out a chuckle as they walked to slowly join the conversation. He recovered quickly, but avoided answering me by reversing the question, "No, not a wolf. If I may be so bold as you to ask, what is it are you?"

Smiling, I replied unassumingly "Oh I am nothing, just a little human." His eyes widened rapidly, spinning to face Katie. She nodded but this left him looking dumbfounded. He then turned his attention to the man who joined us. I had taken much notice of him prior fastened with tiny golden buckles. I had to double-take when I glanced upon his face. He had a long pointed face with pointed to now. He is a thin man, not as tall as Arius, but not short by any means. He was wearing a forest green tunic that came up his neck, features as if he was made from marble, his ears were large and pointed. He had the sides of his head shaven but the remainder of his long, blue-black hair was pulled up into a ponytail. His appearance was amazing - I have to admit his eyes had startled me, his whole eye was midnight black with a tiny iris-like white dot in the centre. It was as though the group were having their own silent conversation that I was not a part of. "Alwyn?" I heard Arius ask, though he added nothing further. The man with the pointed ears and midnight black eyes set his gaze on me, tilting his head as he did, leaving me feeling exposed. Shifting his attention to Katie for just a second, he then returned to gaze at me. "It appears the truth has been spoken, a human she is." He spoke but looked unconvinced.

"Fascinating," Arius whispered.

"Fascinating indeed..." mimicked the woman speaking for the first time. She looked at me dubiously, it was unclear how she felt about me being there. "How did you survive crossing here?" Did she mean to say I could have died?! I looked at Katie, shocked at hearing this. Katie looked puzzled. "What do you mean Diana, I brought her through the portal- she was fine." The woman made a hmmm noise, pursing her rose red lips, and sharing glances with the others. "Very well. Let us drink and get to know you better - welcome to The Omnis." She waves her hand and a club begins to visualize - was this here all along? The club is teeming with people, all with very different looks. The aroma of alcohol was strong in the air, it looked as though every person here had a drink. A long mahogany bar took almost the full length of the room to the left, in front sat multiple different stools which changed to suit the occupier, some were leafy and floral, others dark and pointed. Behind the bar was a mirror wall along with hundreds of bottles and glasses. Tending the bar was a young looking man with blonde shoulder length hair. On either side of his head sat a curled horn on either side of his head, much like a ram. "Meridiana, looking as beautiful as ever - what's your poison tonight?"

Not bothering to ask me my preference, she simply places an order for the regulars plus a drink I had never heard of - a veritas twist.

The drinks are dispersed and I still feel like an animal at the zoo. "Diana!" Katie puts her hand over my glass as I was going to take a sip. "Really Veritas - do you think it necessary?"

The tan-skinned beauty shrugged her shoulders. "I didn't think it would hurt..."

I asked what it was and Katie explained " It's a cocktail laced with a special elixir. The drinker can only speak the truth for as long as the effects last - usually a few hours." I considered this for a moment, it was certainly an underhanded move.

"Is it alcohol?"

"Yes," Meridiana stated plainly.

"Is it an enjoyable drink?"

"Yes." She repeated, her eyes glowed with excitement at the direction of the conversation.

I raised the glass, "cheers!" and drank it down in one gulp. "Can we get another?" I raised the empty glass with a defiant smirk on my face - let the games begin, I thought.

"Fascinating." Arius echoed his previous statement.

Needing the loo, Katie showed me the way, through a stunning red velvet hallway. The candlelight flickered as we walked through the hallways, moving around people as we walked to the bathroom. Katie, a little tipsy herself, took the opportunity to talk about me and Drew as if there would ever be a 'me and Drew'. My heart swelled when hearing his name, causing tears to fill my eyes. "I love him..." Those bloody drinks made me speak things I was not yet ready to admit to anyone, let alone myself. "... I love you all." I shift uncomfortably feeling put on the spot. "Then what's the issue?" The tears threatened to spill over, and a lump in my throat was making it difficult to speak. "I heard about Drew's wedding with Addison in a few months - it's so exciting for you all." Katie twisted her face. "Yeah, he and Addison were betrothed before he could even say betrothed." She pulls a yucky face, making me laugh. She must not understand what it's like to find someone you love. He is lucky to have found his soulmate in his childhood sweetheart. The pain I feel is indescribable, but I now know for sure I have to dig a hole and bury whatever feelings I have deep down. They have no place in his life.

The evening arrived quickly as the group chatted and joked all day, oblivious to everyone else around them. As Katie and I bid farewell to the group, they seemed genuinely disappointed we were leaving. Diana had even appeared to warm to me slightly somewhere during the day. Alwyn appeared to be friendly, but it was difficult to be sure he had a peculiar way of speaking, leaving most of what he would say open to interpretation. Arius, however, seemed to be mesmerized by me - I was still unsure of what they all were. "Now we are friends, would it be rude of me to ask - if you are not a wolf what are you?" He grinned at me and gulped his thick red drink. Terrifyingly, his face began to alter, pitch black veins crawling across his chocolate skin from his eyes, which I now realised were no longer pink but deep blood red. He teasingly opened his mouth - I watched in awe as two long sharp fangs grew. Adrenaline caused my heart to thump when he feigned to bite me, grabbing my shoulder and hissing into my neck. Whispering into my ear as if we were lovers "If you ever tire of being human, I can help you change that." I gulp at the suggestion, being something more than mundane is certainly enticing.