Chapter Twenty-Seven: A Gift For Tammy

Celeste:

Being stuck in wolf form blew, everyone on the couch slumbering away. Hopping off of their laps, the floorboard creaked as I walked over to the window. Looking out at the quiet night, my wolf ears scanned the forest for any enemies. It was nothing but the creatures singing their night songs, boredom plaguing me. Wishing that I had hands, the past day felt so embarrassing. Sitting down, strong arms wrapped around my neck. Novi ruffled the top of my head, a raw steak on a plate resting in his palms. The smell was so alluring, disgust scrunching up my nose. Sliding it over, my fangs wrapping around the steak. Running his hand through his hair, he plopped down next to me. Playing with my fur, the steak was gone in seconds. Wiping off my mouth, an idea came to mind. Scooping him onto my back, my fur danced in the chilly night air as I leapt out the open window. Pounding into the forest, his real smile brightened his face. His deep laughter echoed in the still air, the sound of his laugh causing my snout to smile a bit. He looked like a child lost in an epic adventure, his smile never fading. A dull depression had been hiding behind his false smile since his mother passed, so hearing his laugh warmed up my soul. An ash gray speckled mountain towered over us, my large paws climbing up with ease. Stopping at the top, my breath hitched. The small town's lights twinkled in the inky blackness, the Northern Lights swirling in the midnight sky. Enraptured by their magic, a scratch behind my ear caught my attention. A gentle Novi hugged my neck, his love melting my heart. My tongue licked his face, his finger poking my nose.

"Shame none of this is as beautiful as you." He commented proudly, watching me lay down. "You are more beautiful than the diamonds in the sky. No one compares to your beauty." Leaning on me, his navy hair stood out against the white fur. Cupping his hands around one of my huge paws, he kissed the top of it. Nothing needed to be said, the hours whizzing by. Feeling him lean on me sent my nerves into a false lullaby, a calm wave crashing over me. The orange rays of daybreak broke over the mountains, my snout sliding Novi on my back. Watching me warmly, we skidded to a stop in front of his old man's apartment. Leaping into the window, nobody was awake yet. Following Novi to the kitchen, the radio roared to life the moment he turned the button over. Whipping up a bowl of eggs and a bowl of pancake batter, the ancient gas stove clicked to life. An idea popped into my head, there was no way his father actually liked that stove. The damn thing took five tries for flames to come to life, Novi cursing to himself. Opening the cupboards, an electric griddle sat in my teeth. Patting me on top of my head, his fingers wrapped around the griddle. Plugging in on the empty counter, he pulled out a stick of butter. Dragging a couple of chairs over, they both creaked the moment I jumped up on them. Taking the spatula in my teeth, my paw held down the pan. That must have been a funny sight to see a giant white wolf cooking up scrambled eggs, Novi cocked his brow oddly. Hiding a crooked grin underneath his hand, Amy and everyone else stumbled into the kitchen. Rubbing their necks, Amy ran up to me. Scratching behind my ear, his old man took over. Dragging the chairs back into place, Amy flipped her hair, her fingers tickling my belly. Pure bliss glistened in my eyes, this all felt so good. Giving into her gift of petting and scratching, my muscles melted into a puddle.

"Time to eat, Amy!" Novi announced proudly, sliding a plate of food on the table. "Celly, I promise to make some pancakes once you change back. I love you either way just so you know. I do want to get you home, so that we can be home where your clothes are. Hurry up and eat you two." Sliding Saint his plate, Novi's genuine smile stunned him. That was a far cry from yesterday where he had lost his cool. His old man ruffled the top of my head, passing me a piece of pancake. Winking at me, he placed his finger to his lips. Swallowing it down whole, Novi's eyes narrowed at us. Grinning widely, his old man finished up. Throwing an apron over his head, he tossed us the key.

"Lock up when you go." His old man sang excitedly, twisting his hair into a bun. "Then drop the key at the counter, I will have some lunch to bring home. Behave for Celly, Miss Amy and Saint. I will rip out your throat if you think about harming my daughter-in-law Mister Saint. Do we have an understanding?" Saint nodded nervously, a lump forming in his throat. The icy look in his eyes when he threatened him with a bright smile sent chills up my spine. The two of them finished up , Novi putting the leftovers in the fridge. Waiting patiently while they did the dishes, my golden eyes watched out the window. Car keys jingled, surprise widened his eyes the moment I leapt into his arms. Groaning gruffly, he tossed me over his shoulder. Locking up with his free hand, Saint and Amy clambered into the back. Opening up the passenger's side, the car sank slightly as I popped into the seat. Novi marched into the deli, coming out with two bags in his hands. Crashing into the driver's seat, the engine roared to life. Tree flashed by my window, wolves watching from behind the bushes. Relief washed over me, the gate of our town greeting us. The gate creaked open, Novi pulling up to our home. Tammy, Avalanche, and Jarod waved at us, their jaws dropping at my natural elegance. Brushing past them, Novi followed me. Amy and Saint lingered in the hallway, Avalanche rushing up the stairs. Ignoring Novi's protest, he sprinted to my side. No, not now. I was going to change back soon, Novi tossing the blankets over me. Bones crunched, my muscles shifting back to my human form. Poking my head out, Avalanche's face lit up with pure happiness. It felt so great to be back to normal, Novi clutching me close to his chest. Scarlet burned my cheeks, the blanket falling. Releasing me, Novi shoved Avalanche out of the room. Jumping out of bed, my shaking fingers were preventing me clasping my bra. Novi clasped my bra with ease, he pulled an emerald sweater dress over my head. Poking my head out of the room, Avalanche was already talking to Amy and Saint. Sliding down the railing, my body smashed into Avalanche. Spinning me around, his gaze fell back on Saint. Dragging me into the other room, he pinned up against the wall. Rage seethed in his eyes, his long hair pulled into a ponytail.

"Do you want to explain why Saint is sitting at the table, and not killing you!" He demanded in a hushed tone, Novi coming down the stairs in one of his many Navy suits. His light gray vest contrasted his black dress shirt. Adjusting his navy tie, his brows raised with suspicion before walking past us. Rolling his eyes, his attention turned back to Amy who was drooling over the bags of food. Even though he had a good foot on me, horror widened his eyes the moment I pinned him to the wall. Claws grew from my hands, my powers flaring up. Cold sweat dripped off his brow, his inner wolf knowing his place.

"I nearly killed him." I whispered harshly, Amy looking up at me. "I ripped him apart, tore out his throat but the fucker was still alive. Not sure how. Considering what I put him through, I believe that was punishment enough. Besides, I don't like to kill unless I have to. Play nice, so he gets better at some point. Besides now I have a servant of my own. He can't kill me or harm me in any way without me knowing. Take a chill pill. Consider him an extra body guard. Wouldn't you want your dear cousin to be safe." Shaking his head, a wicked grin danced across his lips. It appeared my point had been made, the two of us sticking our tongues out at each other.

"I will never understand your train of thought." He mused playfully, his golden eyes twinkling. "You really are a special breed of a woman." Letting him go, Tammy tripped down the stairs. A bunch of old clothes tumbled to the floor, Jarod catching her just in time. Her pink hair traced the floor, her seamless black dress hugging her curves perfectly. Cocking my brow, the clothing was about Amy's size. Novi must have made a call or something, the guilty look in his eyes telling me the evidence I needed.

"Those are my old clothes." She sang a little too pleased in my opinion, dragging Amy off. "Time to get you out of the little sailor's dress. There are no ships around here." Jarod ran his hand through his hair, the bag of clothes hanging off of his fingers. His green eyes laughed at his mate's behavior, his strong silent personality still standing strong. Novi wrapped his arms around my waist, his lips brushing against the nape of my neck. Rubbing my shoulders, his lips kissed the top of my head.

"It's nice to hear your voice again." He growled huskily in my ear, running his hand up my thigh. "You look especially delectable in that dress. Perhaps we could play a bit later." Tammy cleared her throat, Amy looking a bit more comfortable in a black sweater, and a pair of black jeans. Tammy still held her hand, the two of them smiling up at each other. An idea flickered in my mind, the two of them watching me with quiet expressions. The next words tortured my heart, chipping at it slowly. They belonged together, my mood shifting.

"Do you want her to be your mother?" I asked tiredly, my muscles locking up. "You two look so happy together!" Bright smiles lit up their faces, tears welling up in my eyes. Smelling that she couldn't have children, this would be a most welcome gift. Trembling in Novi's arms, the tears streaming from Tammy's eyes validated my feelings. Novi tossed me over his shoulders, taking me away before I lost my control. I really hope she didn't think that I was betraying her, Tammy's black dress was the last thing I saw. Jarod ran up to Tammy, her ugly tears soaking his shoulders. A broken look shattered Novi's face, tears streaming down his cheek. Thomas knew better than to get in the way, letting Novi lock the office behind him. Falling to his knees, he clutched me close to his chest. Fat teardrops soaked my head, unsure of what was going on.

"I took away her ability to have children." He screamed venomously, wailing louder in my ear. "I am the reason she can't be happy. I am a monster who could have just calmed down and looked at the situation. We didn't even love each other. I don't understand why I was jealous. What is wrong with me?" Lifting up his chin, his wet eyes met mine. Wiping away his tears, this was the worst emotional point I had seen him at. The tears kept coming, soaking my fingers. Snots dripped from his nose, his claws growing from his fingers. Shock widened my eyes, his claws sticking out of my chest. Choking on my blood, all I could do was kiss him desperately as blood poured from the corner of my lips. His claws retracted, his trembling eyes falling on my bleeding chest. Gurgling out a healing spell, the wounds sealed shut. Spitting up blood into the trash can, he leapt out the open window. Groaning to myself, thunderclouds rumbled in the sky. Heavy raindrops plopped to the ground, the hot air lashed at my cheeks the moment I jumped out the window. His clan members watched while we pounded through the town, irritation burning in my eyes the moment he leapt over the fence.

'Damn it!" I cursed out loud, mothers covering their ears. "Why did this have to happen now!" Jumping over the fence, his feet pounded towards the cave. Something felt off, red eyes flickering in the bushes. An inky black haired vampire launched himself towards Novi, my body knocking him out of the way. His silver blade nicked my arm, my boot slamming into his chest. Fishing through my boot, my fingers wrapped around a black metal fan. Flicking my wrist in the vampire's direction, metal blades did nothing but cut up their ghostly skin. Novi popped up behind him, tearing off his head. Launching into the air, the heel of my boot smashed his head into a pile of brain matter and shattered bones.

"Sure you did that! Don't forget who you are now! You didn't murder them, and now they have Amy to dote on." I screamed over the obnoxiously loud thunder, watching the vampire turn into a wet pile of black ash. "I don't care about any of that! I love you, damn it!" His soaked hair covered his ashy gray eyes, his strong arms clutching me close to his chest. Shivering in the rain, it was fucking freezing. Placing me on his back, he climbed numbly up to our cave. Setting me down, he pulled out a bunch of dry wood that he kept in a secret spot. His whole body trembled, my steady hands taking the wood from him. Arranging it in the pit, I snapped my fingers until a golden flame danced on the tip of my finger. Touching the wood, a golden fire roared to life. Attempting to hold him, he shoved me to the side.

"You should leave me." He mumbled depressingly, the tears still flowing. "I ruined her life after saving it. How can you look at me?" Pressing my lips into a thin line, my hands wrapped around his. Fresh tears poured from my eyes, his mental state decaying by the second. Rage mixed with fear, my arms pulling him into my chest. Sobbing into my chest, his tears only made my dress a bit more soaking wet.

"They shouldn't have been sneaking around, and began talking about it with you. You would have let them go, right?" I pointed out firmly, his kind eyes gazing brokenly into mine. "Besides, it was her father that snatched her ability to have a child. He punched her in the groin, destroying her ovaries. That wasn't you. You two never could have ever had a child regardless. I could tell by the look in her eyes. She looked down at the ground and not at you. Truth be told that it was the way that she smelled. Her father's dark energy poisoned her ovaries, so don't worry about it. She never chose to tell you. I think part of it was guilt, you always seemed to want to have children. Do you understand?" Smiling warmly down at me, his lips pressed against mine sweetly. His hair fell in front of his eyes, my fingers moving his hair out to his eyes.

"I wouldn't have cared about them at all. Sure it would have hurt, but I would rather see her happy." He admitted sheepishly, refusing to look me in my eyes. "I am so sorry for hurting you." A gentle chuckle tumbled from my lips, a cute look caused a tender blush to rise to my cheeks.

"I fixed that in a second, so it's cool." I uttered simply, wiping the blood off of his face. "Let's just wait out the storm." Flashing me a wicked grin, my heart fluttered. Helping him to his feet, he spun me around. Holding me close to his heart, his heart rate had slowed down to a safe level. Sliding down the wall of the cave, he held me like his life depended on it. No matter what his issues were, my hand would always hold his.