“Why did they seem okay with their second request being rejected?”
He answered, watching the road, “Although you smelled good to them, they knew it wasn’t just right. When it is right, they won’t give up, which is why staying with me is so important. We have laws that control certain aspects of the social side of the pack. One is that unmated human females, like you, cannot be approached without the approval of the nearest Elder.”
“Then, why can’t you just tell them all ‘no’ for me in advance so we don’t have to mess with this whole Introduction thing?”
“Because I have to give them that chance to see for themselves that it’s not right. Was it that bad? Meeting people? No one treated you the way some human men have treated you.”
I couldn’t disagree. “How often is this going to happen?”
“Once a month.”
I sat up straighter and said, “No way,” shaking my head for emphasis. It was a cool enough place, but sixteen hours of driving in a single weekend every month would get boring. “Once every two months.”
“Every five weeks, with flexibility to switch weeks if needed,” he negotiated.
“Seven weeks,” I countered his offer feeling hopeful.
“Six,” he said with a sideways glance at me.
“Fine, every six weeks,” I compromised and added, “until I graduate. Then I’m going to college and won’t be obligated to take time out of studying for dating, or whatever you want to call this, if I don’t want to.”
“Deal,” he agreed.
He’d agreed too easily. Was that a hint of a smile on his mouth? Why did I feel like I just got the raw end of the deal? I’d have to play my cards carefully so I didn’t find myself hitched in some weird backwoods werewolf custom.
Chapter 3
Sam sat at the worn oak table set in the middle of the sunlit kitchen. He scowled at its dull surface and, when I walked into the room, transferred the glum look to me. I shook my head at his scowl. Ignoring it, I went to make him his morning coffee.
After two years of almost monthly visits to the Canadian werewolf community, this weekend would be my last and he didn’t like it. Happily, I hadn’t met a single werewolf that had any type of pull on me.
The way I figured it, I’d fulfilled my end of our deal. I’d finished my final exams yesterday, and passed all my classes, of course. I’d opted not to attend my graduation on Saturday. They could mail me my diploma. I’d rather not put this visit off for another week. I wanted to move on. After this weekend, I’d start working to save up what I could before moving on to college.
His familiar morning scowl didn’t solely relate to the end of our agreement. Sam and mornings didn’t mesh well. I’d realized that as soon as I’d moved in with him. Once we developed our simple routine, he tolerated mornings better. I woke up first and started a pot of coffee, not my drink of preference in the morning.
Sam without his coffee amused me, but it felt slightly cruel to witness. He stumbled and mumbled until he had his caffeine. With his werewolf metabolism, I doubted it really did anything for him, but he drank the pot himself anyway. I, on the other hand, usually grabbed a quick bowl of cereal or oatmeal after an even quicker shower and ran out the door for school, leaving him to his “Elder” obligations during the day.
I worked at a day spa as a receptionist after school as much as I could. After moving in with Sam, I’d discovered having work commitments ensured he couldn’t talk me into going to the compound more than we’d bargained. Sam was a great role model for responsibility and planning. It’s what he did for the pack. Knowing I’d need the means to get an education and support myself, he never tried talking me out of working. So, I worked and I tried to bank enough money to hold me over while I went to school.
Staying with Sam had been good for both of us, I thought as I measured out the coffee grounds. I kept him company outside the compound, and he provided me with the information I needed about the werewolves and the pack community over the last two years. Although Sam had shared so much of the werewolves’ life and culture, I knew I still didn’t know everything. And he’d kept me safe.
As an Elder of the pack, Sam was extremely down to earth and wise. He carefully thought through all decisions with a deliberate calm that I admired. He didn’t think of himself when making any decision, only the pack. The welfare of the pack ruled his life. Thankfully, even though he hadn’t managed to tie me to anyone, he considered me part of the pack. That meant, when I talked, he listened with his full attention, which I really did like.