Chapter 18.2 - New Werewolves for the pack – part 3

Aniya crossed her long and furry white arms over her chest, and her voice sounded cold in their heads, “|… Because I am a level-headed Luna, that’s why. I intend on gathering around us a huge group of Werewolves and for that, I need money to prepare our defences and enough food to last for weeks if we have to. After I find out everything I can about the Hunters, they will have a lot of problems if they ever come after us. ...|”

Nick slowly nodded and answered as he finished cleaning and closing the last bag, “|… It seems your Werewolf nature might be affecting you because you used to be calmer. The way you sounded right now, it looked as if you wanted to kill them all. ...|”

“|… Or it might be because I don’t want to lose you or any of my friends. If I have to rip the heads of some xenophobic Hunters, so be it. ...|”

Nick spoke as he was going to the door, making Aniya shiver, “|… You forgot your parents are also in that group. I wonder what would happen if one of them was aiming at me or your friends near you. ...|”

Aniya followed him in silence, thinking about his words. She climbed the stairs first and waited for Nick to throw the bags at her.

He climbed next, followed by Lisa, Anna, and Jack, and while Nick was closing the entrance to the secret hideout, Aniya put one bag over her left shoulder, and as she stood up, the noise of the bulbs in the chandelier breaking made Nick snort as he was closing the closet. “|… You broke more lamps, didn’t you? ...|”

“|…Aww, shush! This ceiling is too low, it’s not my fault! ...|”

While Aniya was removing the glass from her body, Nick was using his leathery back paws to push the small pieces to one corner of the room, exiting through the door when he finished, followed closely by the others, who were still hesitant in their movements.
After exiting through the back door, Nick increased his speed, running on three paws, with the others jumping on their fours instead of running, and Aniya at the back, giving indications to each of them about which set of paws to use, trying to make them feel more comfortable running instead of only jumping.
When they finally reached the big rock where they hid the bags underneath the previous night, Nick rolled it to one side, while the others quickly and carefully dug a hole, trying to get to the bags. Lisa and Anna pulled the covered bags out, and Aniya put in the hole the ones that Nick and she were carrying.

Lisa carefully unwrapped one bag and covered her nose with one copper furry paw. “|... The smell is hideous! Do we really have to search here, Luna? ...|”

“|… What? Do you prefer that an amazing leader like me do it? That is a job for an underling, so underling, search for my jewellery! ...|”

Lisa answered as she used one claw to search among the flesh that had blond hair, meaning it was the right bag. “|… You are getting way too used to ordering us around, you brat! ...|”

That mockery earned her a slap on the head from Aniya. “|… Less talk and more searching, underling! We don’t have all night here. I want to go for a nice run, and you are wasting precious minutes with so many complaints! ...|”

With Lisa and Anna working together, they found Aniya’s earrings, the belly button piercing, and her herrings, and Jack pointed to the damaged rings that were broken when Aniya’s fingers increased in size during the change. “|… Luna, I think these need fixing. The rest is okay, but we have three rings here that are broken. ...|”

Aniya tilted her head as she was looking at Jack Holland, who was showing her the damaged rings on his open palm. “|… I like to hear you call me Luna with so much respect, instead of the mockery I sense in Lisa. We may need to search for proper terms for you, Anna, and this mocking copper Werewolf. ...|”

While Nick was helping Anna and Lisa cover the hole again after putting the four bags inside, he sent a mental message. “|… Considering they are our second in command, what about calling them Beta? We can use Delta and Omega for the lower ranks. At least, it was like that in my parents’ community. Their position in the ranks might change if others more suitable join us. Normally, the Betas can fill in for us because they are usually very dependable, whereas the Deltas and Omegas are mostly fighters. ...|”

Lisa’s excited voice made them jolt, “|… Then I want to be a Delta! I am an awesome fighter! I am not as good as Aniya, but I can manage a guy nearly double my size! I may need to learn how to use these big and sharp claws and my pretty teeth, instead of the sword I normally use. These claws are strong, or what? ...|”

As an answer, Nick slapped one side of the huge rock that was going to be used to disguise the hole and took from it a chunk that fell on the soil with a muffled thump. His voice explained, as they were all looking at the missing piece on the big rock, “|… These claws are strong, alright. With enough strength and with the right angle, you can slice a Hunter in two, together with the weapon he would be carrying. ...|”

Lisa grabbed the small piece of rock and they all heard her overly excited, “|… This is so cool! I have never had such strong fingernails! Can they even slice rock? Damn! ...|”

Nick rolled the big rock back to its place, and his long snout made a weird grin. “|… Does anyone want to go for a run? ...|”

As an answer, Aniya remembered something, looked down, carefully touched her womanhood with one paw, and made a slow, low growl. At the same time, her voice reached them, “|… This is weird! I was having my period today, but in this form, it stopped. It’s kind of weird. Is this normal for Werewolves? ...|”

Nick explained, making Aniya growl back, annoyed. “|… My mother once told me it could also be a defensive mechanism so that a female Werewolf had nothing to hinder her in case of a fight. You asked, no need to growl, you know? ...|”

Without waiting for anyone, Aniya darted into the thick forest around them, with the others right on her tail, following her lead and trying to catch her as she mocked them.
…

The sun was about to rise, and they were all seated on the edge of the forest, at the back of Aniya’s hideout. Nick was leaning against a tree, Aniya tucked between his legs and resting on his chest. On their right, Jack and Anna were in a similar position, and on Aniya’s left, Lisa was lying on the ground, looking up at the stars.

After some minutes of silence, Lisa’s voice reached their minds, “|… You know, I never expected having this body would be so much fun. I am faster, more flexible, and stronger than I ever was. I can smell everything, see in pitch black, and hear a leaf falling a bunch of metres away. It’s a shame I wasn’t able to enjoy this for the past few years, only fearing what I would do if I ever got free of my restraints during a full moon. Thank you for this, Aniya. ...|”

“|… It was my pleasure, Lisa. You know that. No need to thank me. I am sure if it was the other way around, you would do it for me. For many years, we have been almost sisters, and despite how crazy you are sometimes, I love you, you dumb redhead. ...|”

While Lisa was snorting, Anna asked, “|… Miss Aniya… I mean, Luna… Changing back, is it as painful as the first change to this body? ...|”

“|… Yes, a lot, but yesterday it lasted less than changing for the first time, and today, the pain only lasted a few seconds. I think that as we change while being conscious, our minds seem to get used to the pain, and it hurts less with each change. It’s probably better if you call me Luna when I am white like this, and Miss Aniya when I am Human, just in case someone is around. ...|”

Anna nodded her long head and snuggled a bit more against Jack Holland, changing position so that she could look at him.

Her voice went to his mind as if she was whispering, and none of the others heard her. “|… You know what this means, don’t you? We no longer need to fear our change. We can… perhaps… ...|”

Jack whispered back while staring at her, “|… Have a family… Finally, we can be happy without fearing if our kids will be like this or not. I want that, Anna. I would be a fool if I didn’t. You know how much I love you, and our beasts were the only thing standing between us and our love. Now that we are in control, we don’t need to fear anything anymore. Except for the Hunters, but it seems we have three friends to protect us, and if more Werewolves join us, it will be even safer. You know, Miss Aniya is indeed amazing. You are very lucky to be working for her. ...|”

Anna glanced at Aniya, who was looking at her claws as she caressed the white fur over her legs, and whispered, “|… Yes, she is indeed. It was a challenge, in the beginning, to get used to her sudden mood changes or how easily she got annoyed when I made a mistake, but she didn’t stop teaching me and she always praised me when I did something right. She forced me to learn other languages and to study Management and Marketing, and I can now go to any meeting in the company in her place and not make a fool of myself. She gave me fashion tips and recommended me to her exclusive salon, saying that I must always look good, because I could use my looks as a distraction to fool men in meetings or cocktail parties and make them agree with my ideas. ...|”

“|… And that actually works? Do men get distracted in meetings that easily? ...|”

“|… Oh, yeah, you have no idea how a hair flick or a slight smile does wonders in a meeting with stubborn men! Or if I show a bit of cleavage. I can say the stupidest thing or the smartest thing, and they won’t even notice. They just smile and nod. Miss Aniya also taught me that, saying that I should only use my female characteristics as a last resort if everything else fails. I got some interesting deals or my ideas approved very easily, making her congratulate me on several occasions and receiving a nice bonus as a prize. She may be a bit moody, but she is always fair. Depending on how well I performed, she scolds as easily as she praises. The best boss I have ever had. ... |”

Jack rubbed his long snout on Anna’s head, “|… If I recall correctly, she was the first boss you got, ever since you graduated from college. ...|”

That remark earned him a bite on his nose, as Anna whispered into his head, “|… You know what I mean, fool! I know I was lucky when she chose me among the hundreds of people that applied to be her assistant. I was also the only one that went at her throat when she mistreated me when we first met, by mocking my lack of a proper resume when she had already interviewed many people with more experience than me. She made me so mad with her comments and the way she seemed to see me as a mere inconvenience that I threw my file at her face and jumped over the table to slap her. She easily pinned me down, and she then whispered in my ear that I was hired, because I was the first one to be honest with her, and she valued honesty over any past working experience. ...|”

Jack Holland caressed Anna’s head again, and they remained in silence for a while, waiting for the first sun rays and the scary and painful change that would happen.
…