Chapter 5

"You're awake early." Kyle comments, fixing his tie as he walks into the kitchen the next morning.

"I couldn't sleep, so I thought I'd make you breakfast." I say, smiling as I wipe a little sweat from my forehead with my sleeve. Why is the house so warm today?

"I'm actually running a little late." He sighs, rushing to grab a bottle of water from the fridge.

"I figured." I grin, sliding the tub of food towards him with a napkin on top.

Kyle arches his eyebrow slightly in wonder, before shaking his head and smiling.

"You're amazing, thank you." Kyle leans in and kisses me, short and passionately. Moving my lips against his, I draw him in closer with my hand, my mind going wild with scenarios right now.

Kyles quiet chuckle resonates as he pulls back, his blue eyes twinkling with surprise.

"I'm liking this change, but I really am going to be late for work." He says, disappointment in his voice.

Nodding, I reach up and kiss him quickly before waving him out of the door. The moment he's gone I sigh softly, relieved. Wait, relieved? Why am I relieved? Shaking my head, I shrug off my weird attitude and consume my complete attention with cleaning, ensuring every surface and floor is sparkling.

As the day passes slowly, I do my usual routine. It's when I'm lounging around the house that I realise how warm it is, so I head upstairs to the thermostat, turning it right down.

Throwing my hair up into a bun, I sigh softly with relief when cool air hits my heated neck. Much better.

Still, even as I begin to cool down I begin to feel agitated, a familiar feeling when the wolf wants out. Given that I have nothing left to do, and Kyle isn't here, I pack a extra set of clothes and exit the house. Leaving the city takes almost an entire hour, the traffic and people only serving to make me more irritable.

By the time I reach the woods my skin is crawling, the urge to shift growing so intense that I break into a sprint, heading deep into the woods. Until I know no human would stumble across me.

Only then do I hide the bag I'd brought up in a tree, the shift ripping itself through my body, shredding the flesh from my bones as I hit the dirt, screaming as my human form snaps and bends itself to that of a beast. The pain burns through my body, a searing agony that I'll never get used to. My clothes fall around me in shreds, my hands digging deep into the soil as they grow, altering as they shift into huge paws, thick Snow White fur spreading from my paws and up, following the path up my arms as my body shifts fully.

The moment I feel the pain vanish, I know I'm no longer myself. The predatory instincts inside me come alive, the power and confidence that oozes from me leads me deeper into the woods, without fear. I remain alert, ears pricked and eyes sharp as I trot through the woods, inhaling deeply, listening for the sound of movement.

For a while only the trees and my steps make noise, until a low grunting sound echoes in the distance. My body becomes rigged, the urge to hunt taking over, my kill drive riding high. Naturally my body moves silently, listening, watching as I hunt down the creature, with skill that I was born with. A natural hunter, a killer.

***

Ringing the water from my hair, I walk out of the rushing river, heading back to my clothes hidden up a tree. The cold wind on my wet naked skin felt nice, I felt completely free, more than I usually do after a hunt. Perhaps it's because I've finally cooled down, maybe it's because I've been so on edge the past couple of months.

Brushing it off, I get dressed and head back to the house.

The moment I step into the house, the smell of pure seduction hits my nose. I couldn't explain it, the scent was like nothing I'd smelled before, I instantly become intoxicated. Searching the house to find the source, scale every room and floor, quickly becoming agitated when I find nothing.

"You're going crazy." I mutter, scrubbing my face with my hands, sighing heavily.

Attempting to distract myself from the warmth of the house, and my irritable attitude, I pour myself a glass of ice water and head to the back patio, sitting on the step as I stare out at the endless gravel back garden. Personally I would give anything to live in the middle of the woods, it's where wolves belong, it's our home. Kyle doesn't seem to feel that way, I think he's spent so long being around humans that he forgets he's part beast.

I wasn't sure how long I sat outside, hours I assume. I was enjoying the breeze, even if it didn't smell or sound like home, it's helping to keep my body cool.

"What are you doing out here?"

The sound of Kyles voice makes me jump slightly, having not heard him approach, too deep in my own thoughts.

"The house is too warm." I sigh, standing from the step.

"I'll check the thermostat." Kyle sighs, kissing my forehead before heading back into the house.

I stare at his back as he walks away, disappointed and slightly annoyed. When we started dating a couple years ago Kyle would always kiss me, he'd come home and ask me how my day had been, we'd talk about stuff and laugh. Now this is what I get, a kiss he would give his mother and his back.

"Get your head out of the gutter, Adrielle." I scold myself, keeping my voice low so Kyle doesn't start thinking I'm crazy.

Heading through to the kitchen I place my glass in the sink before heading upstairs to find Kyle.

"Is it broken?" I ask with a frown.

"No, there's no heating on, Adrielle. Maybe you're getting a fever?" Kyle says curiously, pressing his hand against my forehead.

Rolling my eyes I push his hand away.

"Wolves don't get fevers, Kyle, that thing is broken." I say pointedly, crossing my arms at him.

"I'll have it checked but it seems good to me." He says, still watching me with that slight frown as if somethings wrong with me.

I try my best to ignore it, but the longer he stares at me the more agitated I become.

"What?" I snap finally.

"Are you feeling ok?" He worries, ready to reach for me again as if his touch will magically heal me right now.

Grunting, I ignore him and walk back downstairs, figuring if he's just going to keep saying stupid stuff then I probably shouldn't be near him right now.

Why is he so annoying? Better yet, why am I suddenly finding him so annoying?

***

KYLES POV

Adrielles steady heartbeat fills my ears faintly, alerting me of her sleeping state. Given how strange she's been acting today I figured I'd at least check for a fever, especially since she's saying the house is too warm. Even to my body the temperature is aired, not warm, not cold.

As quietly as I can, I take out the thermometer from it's packaging and head into the living room. Adrielle lays curled up on the couch, her head resting on two cushions. Her position is one she usually takes when she's in pain, which means she's definitely coming down with something despite her denial.

Gently, I brush her hair away from her ear, being extra careful not to wake her as I place the small end of the device in her ear canal. Given that she's a very light sleeper, I do it quickly as scan for it to get her temperature. Once it reads it on the screen I move away, leaving her to sleep.

'39.3' the small digital screen reads.

Wide eyed, I stare at my sleeping girlfriend with worry. Wolves don't tend to get sick, it's highly unheard of, and yet here she is coming down with some kind of illness. For wolves to have a temperature is dangerous, we already have that extra boost of warmth in our DNA so it's vital that we don't overheat. Adrielle is too warm.

Deciding to leave her be for now, I sit back and wait for her to wake up. It'll be easier if she's awake and cooperative.

Almost two hours pass, eventually Adrielle wakes from her disruptive sleep. I make no comment on the fact that she was moving around a lot, making a couple of whimpering sounds as if she's in agony.

"Kyle, whats going on?" Adrielles voice is husky with sleep, yet alert, tense as always.

"I checked your temperature, it's above average." I explain, placing one of the flannels into the bucket of ice water I'd prepared.

"So? I've been asleep, it's bound to be." Adrielle complains, a strange thing on her I must say. Usually she's very quiet, cooperative, submissive. This strange attitude is what made me think something was off before I left for work earlier.

Now I know there's definitely something wrong.

"The first time I checked it, it was just below forty. When I checked it over an hour later, it was forty two. You need to keep cool." I sigh, wringing our the flannel.

Adrielle doesn't argue once I hand her the cold damp flannel, if anything she appears relieved as she places it on her forehead. Even if she doesn't tell me much, it's easy to see that she already feels better. I can only hope that she decides to open up to me, the one thing she's never done.

Not dwelling on it right now, I fix a couple more flannels for her, placing them on the warmest parts of her body, between her thighs, her stomach, and her armpits.

"Thank you." Adrielle murmurs, her eyes closed as she lays still. Smiling slightly, I brush back her clammy hair and kiss her cheek adoringly.

"I'll be right back." I promise.

Grabbing a glass from the kitchen, I half fill it with ice and pour some coke in, finishing it was a straw. If her body is run down, she'll need the extra sugar, especially since she hasn't eaten anything today.

"What's this?" Adrielle opens her eyes, frowning at the glass of coke.

"Just coke, the sugar should help keep you energised." I respond, placing the straw at her lips.

Adrielle sighs, taking the glass from my hands. Sitting across from her, I switch on the large tv and put on a movie, distracting Adrielle for now.

Why is she suddenly sick?