Long nights

I sat on the stool, combing through my hair. Satisfied with my work, I began braiding my hair, Tying it off with my maroon ribbon. It started to cool here, causing goosebumps; sitting there wrapped in a towel didn't provide me with much warmth. Waiting there, I hoped June would return soon before I caught a cold from this. After waiting a few minutes, June returned with night clothes and a robe.

"I'll wait outside for you; come outside when you're done dressing," June said. With that, she once again left the building. I looked at the clothes I received; the nightgown was lacy with short sleeves. Slipping it on, I found that it came to my knees; slipping the robe on, it went down to my ankles. I tied the robe off, sighing heavily before making my way outside.

June was patiently waiting for me with a candle holder in hand. I didn't realize that the sun had set for the most part. We began up the path back to the cabin in comfortable silence. Catching crickets comforted me, and seeing the village's light ahead. Once we were back in the house, June brought me back to the bedroom I was in earlier. When I walked through the door, I turned around to thank June. I found that she had already started closing the door, then locked it!

I felt anger bubble up to the surface as I began yanking on the handle. The feeling of being trapped in this prison-like room didn't have a window, and instead of regular bedding, it had fur pelts as blankets: all the candles lit and neatly made bed. I walked over to the bed and climbed in. pulling the blanket up to my chin, and I found the bed was unbelievably comfortable.

Laying there, I had the time to think about how the past few days had been. Being kidnapped from my home and not knowing where I would end up was stressful. I felt awful for complaining about my life. This must be my punishment for not being grateful. Continuing this line of thinking, I almost did not register the click of the lock.

I sat up quickly and pressed my back against the headboard. The man known as alpha walked into the room, making his way over to the other side of the bed; he sat down on edge and took off his boots.

He spoke, "Did you like the nightgown I picked out for you" he began pulling the covers back.

Ignoring his question, I hopped out of bed. Putting some distance between us

"What do you think you're doing?!" I said. He paused what he was doing and gave me a confused look.

"I was getting ready to sleep?" he said in a confused voice.

I said in a raised voice, "I can't share a bed with you, I with you; I hardly know you!"

He pondered my question.

"Well, my name is Cole; I'm the leader of this pack."

"Did he say Pack!" I thought

"What do you mean by the pack," I asked.

He gave me a knowing look before answering ." Since we can transform into wolves as you witnessed it only made sense to call it a pack."

I had many questions for him, but one, in particular, came to mind. "Why do you have the ability to change into a wolf ? ".

His expression darkened as he pondered his words as if he wasn't sure what he should tell me. He finally spoke, "Father was cursed, and so were many others; he never said by what, but it happened nearly twenty-two years ago before I was born."

I was going to ask another question, but he held up a hand

"I know you have more questions, but I'm exhausted; I imagine you are too, so let us settle down for the night." With that, he got up and blew out the candles, causing the room to pitch black. I heard him crawl into bed. He sighed before he spoke, " are you just going to stand there all night, or am I going to have to drag you to bed? "

Not wanting to push my luck, I crawled into the bed and lay as close to the edge as possible, keeping the distance between us. As I settled into my side of the bed, I felt Cole's eyes boring into me "could you please face the other way? I can feel you staring at me." I said. The bed made a noise as I felt him turn over.

Once I was sure he was asleep, I drifted off into a dreamless sleep.