Werewolf Queen

Hollywood played up immortality. The truth of it was every family I ever had was dead. All of my childhood friends died many years ago. Sure I never aged but the world aged around me. The longer I lived the more I hated it. The world had become a dark place for me. I was hunted constantly for being something I didn't choose to be. But in all that dark Jade was my light and I didn't want to let her go. Not even to time. I was selfish for it.

I heard screeching tires and I perked up.

"Something's wrong." I said.

"What?" Jim asked.

I got into my truck and I heard the distinct sound of gunshots.

"Someone is hurt." I said and Jim closed the smoker and got in the truck. I peeled out of the driveway towards the sound of Nikki screaming at someone.

"What's going on?" Jim asked as he held on as I took a sharp turn towards Water Tower Road.

"Nikki is screaming." I said.

"How could you possibly hear that?" Jim asked.

Jade's car was taking up both lanes. A truck was parked farther down the road.

"Shaun you fucking idiot!" Jade screamed.

I bounded out of my truck and over the hood so I could see her. She held Jessie in her arms. Blood was pouring from her chest. Nikki was on the cell phone with 911. I could hear Jessie's heart faltering. She wasn't going to survive until the ambulances got here.

I got down beside Jade who had blood staining her arms and shirt. I took her shaking hand and placed it over Jessie's heart.

"Save her, please save her." Jade pleaded and looked at me, eyes more intense than I had ever seen them.

"Jessie I need you to hear me now." I said. "Get Nikki, Jim, and Shaun away." I told Jade. I took Jessie into my arms and she left. "Jessie can you hear me?" I asked very sternly.

She looked up at me and nodded slightly.

"I can save you but you're going to have to change. I know you don't believe me now but I'm a werewolf. I can infect you with lycanthropy and you will live. This gunshot will heal. But if I don't do this you will die. Your heart is failing already."

"I don't want to die." She whispered. "Lauren." She whispered over and over. "I want to live for Lauren."

I nodded. I controlled the change to just one hand. We could do that if we knew how to control it. "I'm sorry but I'm going to have to cause you more pain." I said.

She nodded again.

I cut my fingertips with my thumb nail and dug my claws into her side. I would have to make a full change to bite her and I didn't want to do that with too much blood and asshole Shaun near.

Jessie never cried out or winced. Only here eyes widened. "It burns." She said.

"I know sweetheart." I said. I watched as the infection took over her body. The bullet that was in her chest pushed its way out. I watched as that closed.

"Jade." I called out.

Jade came running.

"Cancel the ambulance now." I said. "I have to take her for a run."

She just nodded and ran back to Nikki who was still on the cell phone.

I stood up and took Jessie to the line of trees and sat her one the ground. She was flexing her fingers. I took off my clothes and she watched me.

"Do the same." I ordered.

She did without hesitating.

"Now let go of your mind. The change will come." I said and already began my change. I watched her carefully as I finally fell on all fours. The first change was always the toughest. It was if the beast exploded from the body, as if it were always there waiting for the exact moment.

I heard Jessie whine in protest as her transformation began. Just a few moments later she stood just shy of my height with black fur.

Oh my god what the hell has happened? She screamed in my mind

I told you what I was and I gave you the choice. I answered.

Does Jade know?

She has known since the beginning. And before you ask she isn't one. We are the only two.

Can I tell anyone about this?

And be committed to an asylum? Even if you are to prove it and someone does tell the wrong person, there are people hunting us. And even if it's not them, the government would take you and you know what the government does to new species.

I would be dissected?

I have seen it before. I answered truthfully.

So why did you tell Jade?

Because she is my mate. I answered. If Lauren truly is your mate, you will know almost immediately. If she isn't I wouldn't tell her.

Are there lesbian werewolves? I mean as mates? Usually with animals there is only male and female.

You are what you are; being a wolf doesn't change that. I'm sure there is a she-wolf out there for you. Now let's run so we can get back and give some good explanation of why you aren't dying or hurt for that matter.

What will running do?

Calm the beast.

We ran. It was good to run beside another werewolf again. Unlike movies we could change at any time of any day but we were forced to on the full moon. We had no choice. We ran until Jessie stopped from exhaustion. I stood over her until she regained herself and we went back to where we left our clothes.

I wasn't shocked to see Jade waiting but was to find Nikki there. She startled when she saw two huge wolves trotting closer. I tilted my head in question at Jade. She could always understand what I said with no words at all.

"She wanted to know why I was lying. She saw the bullet wound, she saw the blood. She wanted to know why I cancelled the ambulance. My dad fell for the lie that she wasn't really hurt. Just a bad flesh wound."

I began to change back. Nikki just watched in amazement. Jessie was having a harder time doing it.

"Just see yourself standing on your own two feet again." I told her.

She closed her eyes and huffed but I could hear the bones cracking with the change. Jade came closer with clothes for Jessie and I. Jessie's change was almost complete. I kissed her cheek as she handed me my clothes.

"Well so much for romantic but I wanted to do this today and I don't think you'll be in a good enough mood for trying for romantic." I said as I put on my clothes.

"You know me so well." She said and crossed her arms.

I grabbed my cargo shorts that were now covered in Jessie's dried blood and pulled out the red velvet box and handed it to her.

Nikki came closer and watched her open the box. It was a teardrop diamond, a simple thing as most engagement rings were.

She looked at me with tears. Oh dear lord I made her cry. Crap. I went up to her and Nikki went over to Jessie thankfully.

"Jade Woods, would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?" I said taking her hands.

"About damn time!" Nikki yelled.

I paid her no attention. "I know people usually know each other longer than a few months before asking and if you think it's too soon I will wait for an answer." I said as my heart dropped hoping that weren't the case. Never before had I put my heart on the line like this.

"Well are you going to put it on me or do I have to put it on myself?" She said quietly and looked into my eyes with a smile.

I took the ring from the box and put it on her left hand. She threw her arms around me and whispered, "I want to be able to run with you too." My heart soared. She had thought about it while I had tormented myself over it.

Shaun was sitting on Jim's couch in handcuffs. His eyes widened when he saw Jessie uninjured. He glared at me.

"Who the fuck are you?" He asked.

"Jade's soon to be husband." I said and got close to him. I knelt to his level and stared into his eyes. "You see, these girls are in my protection, Nikki, Jessie, and Jade. If something else is to happen by your hand then I'll make sure they never find the body." I said and let the beast cross my face. I felt my features change for just a brief second but enough to scare the shit out of him.

"Daniel, you heard him, he's threatening me."

Daniel was standing not two feet away and I knew he heard.

"Let me tell you something boy." Daniel started. "If you step foot in this town one more time and I get wind of it, I'll help him hide the body and it will be like you never existed."

"I'll tell the warden about this!"

"And who is the warden going to believe? An escaped convict or a sheriff?" Jade said.

"The Correctional Officers are here." Jim said walking into the house.

The officers escorted Shaun into a very armored vehicle. It seemed they were happy to get him back.

I turned to Jade, "I'm so sorry your birthday got ruined."

"Ruined my ass." She said and flipped up her ring finger. "I think this tops them all."

"Well before we get into celebrating I want an explanation." Jim said. "I saw Jessie and she was clearly shot in the chest. Now why isn't she dead?"

I sighed. He didn't believe after all.

"I'd like to know too." Daniel said. "I'd like to know why I lied to keep the paramedics away."

"Would you believe a Christmas miracle?" Jade said.

"No Jade, it's okay." I said. I'd have to be gone by morning. I wondered if she'd come with me.

"Sit down." I told Daniel and Jim. "Legends are usually based on fact. I healed Jessie because I infected her with what I am. I am a werewolf. I am not the only one obviously. I will not stay here if you don't want me. I will be gone before morning."

"You're not going anywhere." Jade said. "If you make him leave I'm going too."

"Now who said anything about making you leave?" Daniel asked.

"It's just something I've grown used to after so many years."

"How many?" Jim asked.

"I've been what I am for 105 years." I answered.

"Impossible." Daniel said.

"Show us." Jim said.

"Can we go outside? I don't want to break anything."

"The garage." Jade said. "Too many prying eyes."

Everyone followed Jade to the garage. My heart was hammering. I wanted outside because the gun on Daniel's belt scared me. If it wasn't silver it wouldn't kill me, but being shot really hurts.

I took off my clothes yet again.

"Is nudity necessary?" Jim asked and turned away.

"I've ruined enough clothes over a lifetime; it's a pain to keep replacing them." I answered. I began to shift and I watched just Jade. Her eyes held fear and sorrow. She was tense and kept moving herself between me and Daniel. She knew too. I would never let her do something so stupid but she was trying to protect me.

"Don't freak out." Jade said. "Daniel, can I take your gun?"

"What for?" He asked.

"So you don't shoot him."

He handed the gun to her and she backed away. They followed her lead. I fully changed and laid down in the most non threatening way I knew. I wasn't on my back to show my belly, I would never do that, but I was as flat to the floor as I could get.

Jade came up next to me and sat down. I put my head in her lap.

"You've known?" Jim asked.

"Yes." She answered him.

"And you still want to marry him?"

"Yes." She answered.

"Daniel?" Jim asked. "What do you think of this?"

Daniel stood there with his hand on his chin deep in thought. "I think we need a new cop." He said.

I raised my head and looked at him.

"No one is perfect. So what if you and Jessie sprout fur. I've never had a problem from you since you came here. I don't see what the problem is."

"Dad?" Jade said.

"Well if you love him that much I won't say anything."

"We'll leave you to change back." Daniel said and everyone but Jade followed him and shut the door behind them.

"If you do choose to leave I'm coming with you." She said as my bones shrank and formed my human body.

I held her in my arms closely as tears streamed down my face. I don't know why I did. I think it was acceptance. I had never been accepted anywhere before.

"I love you Jade." I said.

"I love you too." She replied.

Jade

Jessie, Nikki, Derek, and I sat on the roof of my house watching the fireworks. Jessie had went home for a couple of hours and then called me crying. She came to the realization that Lauren was not her mate. She couldn't explain that the years of love just vanished in a heartbeat. I felt so bad for her. She and Lauren fought the entire time and now Jessie claimed my second bedroom. I didn't mind at all. I never did mind when it came to Nikki and Jessie. They were my sisters in my heart and I loved them as such.

The greens, blues, purples, reds, and whites lit up the night sky and the smell of gunpowder fill the air. It was one of my favorite smells. It brought memories of my childhood but made me miss my mother.

Jessie was enjoying her new found abilities and jumping off the roof every chance she got. We never had to get down for drinks or blankets. She loved the jumping. I noticed though that she sat near Derek more often. He had explained that since he made her it would happen. A wolf was always close to their maker for a while, like a child to a mother. She didn't mean to do it; it just made her feel better.

I brought my knees up to my chest and rested my head on them. Derek ran his fingers up and down my spine. Not a sexual thing but a relaxing one. He was comforting me. The fireworks finale started and the sky stayed lit up with a rainbow of colors for a full five minutes until we could hear the national anthem playing from the school.

The other two girls went in the house and Derek and I stayed on the roof.

"So when would you like to run with me?" Derek asked.

"The sooner the better." I answered.

"It does hurt." He said.

"I can handle it." I said and laid back on the blanket staring at the stars. I could see the Big Dipper almost immediately. He grabbed my hand and kissed it gently.

"And you've thought of the no children thing? The shift is too harsh on the body any attempt will end up in miscarriage."

"You said you couldn't give me children anyways."

"Lycanthropy does make us sterile but there was always artificial."

"If it isn't yours I don't want it." I said.

"You say that now." Derek said and turned away. "But in a couple years you will want a child."

"Then we can adopt." I said. "I just don't want to be pregnant with someone else's kid."

"It's not the same Jade."

"Why are we even having this discussion?" I asked. I was getting pissed. Why couldn't he see that I wanted him? I wanted to be by his side in any way, shape, and form. Children had never been important to me. I tolerated them but I didn't like them very much. I know it's a horrible thing to say and that I would change when I would have my own children but damn why couldn't he see what I wanted?

I sat up and went to the ladder that Nikki and I used.

"Please don't walk away mad." He said to me.

"I'm not mad, I'm pissed." I said and went down the ladder. I went inside and he was suddenly there and I had a searing pain in my side. He pulled me outside and put me in his truck. I was writhing in pain as what felt like flames shot through my body. He got in and started the truck and we were on the highway before I knew it. I could feel an ache in my bones.

"Hold on just a few more minutes Jade." He said soothingly. His hand grabbed mine while the other stayed on the wheel and took the ring off my finger.

In movies they make you think that you have to wait until the full moon to change and that it takes that long to infect you. In all actuality the disease rips through your body within minutes and the change is sudden.

I held on as long as possible. He drove down a dirt road and we flew over every bump. He was going way to fast.

"Slow down." I tried to say but my mouth couldn't form the words. It wasn't made for human speech now. I felt my now sharp teeth and he slammed on the brakes. I caught myself before I slammed into the dash with paws. My jeans and shirt was tearing and my scream turned into a howl.

I was suddenly pulled from the truck and I let go. My shoes ripped from my large paws and my clothes were just tattered. They fell off me in large strips. I collapsed to the ground and whined.

"I told you it would hurt." Derek said.

I growled a response. He laughed.

"I'm shocked, you and Jessie have managed to keep your humanity during the first change. That's extremely rare. I don't even remember my first change completely."

I stood up and for some reason it thrilled me that I was taller than him.

"Jessie had the four legs down pretty much as soon as she changed. Let's see if you can walk without stumbling. Standing up is the easy part."

It was awkward at first, I stumbled a lot. Derek never once laughed at me and I was thankful. It wasn't like crawling like I thought it would be. It was simple yet hard at the same time. When you live 24 years with only two feet, four is ridiculous.

"Now that you got that down, let's run." He said and changed without undressing.

The rest of the night was a blur to me. Not that I didn't lose my humanity but it just seemed like it happened so quickly. The rush of the wind through my fur, the smells of the world that had never existed before, the sounds that you could never imagine were there. I did get laughed at for stopping to listen to the sound of a mouse's heart racing. It was a little overwhelming but I enjoyed it.

Dawn came and when it did I changed back. You'd think after no sleep for a while that I'd be tired but I was more energized than before. I felt that I could run a marathon or something.

We walked back to the truck and Jessie was parked behind us asleep in her car. I knocked lightly on the window and she startled. She smiled at me and got out with clothes and shoes for the both of us.

"You're a life saver." I said.

"I figured getting you out of town you would have changed in the truck." She said.

"I was lucky." I said as we got dressed.

"See you at home." She said.

The wind blew and smelled something familiar but yet I had never smelled it before. Derek and Jessie noticed it too. Derek tensed and a growl escaped him. Three men appeared through the trees only wearing shorts and nothing else. Not even shoes.

"I told you I smelled them." The one in back said. He had brown dreadlocks.

"So it seems we have wandered into your territory, I apologize." The one in front said. He had shoulder length dark blonde hair with a five o'clock shadow.

The other one remained silent. He also had brown hair but very short, almost a military high and tight but not short enough. He looked a lot like the blonde. Brothers by blood perhaps.

Derek moved in front of Jessie and I. It pissed me off for some reason. I could protect myself, I always had and that wasn't going to change.

"We were wondering if we could stop by and eat. It's been a while since we ran across any wolves and walking into a town like this kind of upsets people." The leader said.

"There is a lake a couple miles from here. It wouldn't upset anyone in this town." I said. "Jessie and I run a restaurant. You can eat there."

"Do you mind if we hitch a ride?" The blonde asked. "We have been on our paws for days." He said and held up blistered hands.

"I don't-." Derek started to say before I stepped on his foot. "Ow." He said quietly. I smiled. That was the first time I had ever hurt him.

"Jessie was going to head up there to get the grill started, there isn't room but for one more in the cab so two will have to ride in the back." I said and motioned with my hand behind my back for Jessie to get in her car.

"I really appreciate it. I would ask one more favor of your hospitality."

"A shower?" I asked.

"One would be lovely." The short haired one said.

"Get in and we'll get you all cleaned up before we head over to the restaurant." I said with a smile.

The leader got in the cab and the other two were in the back. I was squeezed in the middle and I could actually smell the anger coming off of Derek.

I had to admit the leader was pretty damn hot. The other two were good looking but just something about him made him stand out.

"What's your names?" I asked breaking the tension in the truck.

"I'm Brent, dreadlocks is Brian, and the other is Jack. We've been on the run since The Enlightened found our hideout a couple months back. We have lost them so I don't think they will come here."