Chapter 5

5

Erin decided to get a little dolled up for the meeting. He may be a psychotic-stalker-werewolf thing, but he was cute.
She took a nice long shower, enjoying as the steaming water poured over her
body and cleaned her soft skin. She used her most fragrant and body-enhancing shampoo, it smelled ever better than usual. The jasmine swept over her senses and she closed her eyes, arching her back, and letting the water cascade through her hair. She groaned as the smell overpowered her mind, it was so soft and sweet. She smiled blissfully, just letting the shower swallow her up for a limitless amount of time, and she fully relaxed.
After the shower, Erin took special care to blow-dry her hair in a way that gave it
a cute little wave. She applied eyeliner, mascara, and even a bit of lip shine. For Erin, makeup typically consisted of lip balm if it was cold and maybe some eyeliner if she looked particularly tired; but this was a special day. Naturally, she wore her black tank top to offset her golden locks, but emphasize her curves.
Erin made a final check in the mirror; perfect.
In a small town, everything is just down the road, a 5 minute walk. At 2:45, Erin found herself at the Lilly Coffee and Tea Company. She ordered her usual, a caramel hot chocolate. She made her way to a table, and sat there, alone, staring at the single chair across from her. She was alone until 3:00, when Rob appeared in the doorway. He made no eye contact, but went straight to the counter. Erin listened to him order, his voice was a low purr.
"Small Sumatra."
Good Lord, she thought, what a boring guy. Who drinks plain unflavored coffee anymore? This is the twenty first century! Despite that, though, she couldn't help but feel her hair rise as he spoke to the woman at the counter. His tone just made her want to roll over.
Rob sat across from her, and took a sip of his coffee, no sugar or cream.
"Erin." He nodded, smiling slightly. "You are a werewolf." No reaction from Erin, she simply continued to stare as if he had still said nothing. "Alright, well, I apologize for biting you. You startled me. And I do mean this sorry, because when my pack finds out they're going to probably, well, beat on me a little." He growled under his breath, aggravated.
"Alright, well, okay." She leaned in her seat. "Let's say I believe this whole werewolf thing. What exactly did you want me here for?"
"A lot of things. I'm starting to realize that it has not quite hit you yet; the fact that you are a werewolf."
"I think you're full of crap." She grinned a bit, rolling her eyes.
"Heightened senses." He stated flatly.
Erin bit her lip, remembering the morning. How she could really taste her breakfast, and when the coffee mug shattered. But she shook her head.
"Hangover."
"Nein." He grinned. Erin tapped her feet impatiently, she wanted to say something but wasn't sure what.
"Okay so it was a little weird." Uneasiness swept over her body. Could this really be happening to her? Could she be a creature out of myths and movies? Hollywood just made that stuff up to sell those old boring black and white movies, or so she always believed.
"Erin, I promise I am going to help you. I promise. Trust me." Rob put his hand on hers, and she felt safe. But at the same time, the realization that all of this werewolf nonsense may be real made her unsure. She inhaled sharply, and her expression turned fierce.
"Why the Hell would you do this to me?" Her voice was a low hiss, and Rob was taken aback. He hadn't expected her to change so quickly from scared and confused to, well, an angry psycho.
"I told you, I didn't, I uh, I didn't intend for this to happen. I-" His eyes expressed genuine concern, but Erin was having none of it.
"No! It doesn't matter what you had intended to do. The point is: You turned me into a MONSTER!" Her tone had become truly hostile, and she raised her voice to a shout.
"We need to leave." Rob left a dollar on the table, sat his drink in the middle, and took Erin's hand. His grip was firm, and he tugged her to her feet. Erin groaned loudly, and by now she had attracted the attention of all of the other coffee drinkers in the shop. Rob smiled at them nervously as he pulled Erin outside. She continued to shout criticisms at him as they left.
"If you ruined my life, I will make sure you never forget it! You're a selfish ass! You should-"
Before she could finish, Rob had pinned her against the coffee shop's exterior. His face was close to hers, and she could smell his breakfast on his breath: bacon and a protein shake.
"Will you stop it? I know you're mad, but don't freak out like that; especially not in public. I don't want to attract any more attention." Erin frowned and shoved him away from her, and to her surprise he budged. Rob stepped back twice, caught himself, and grinned.
"You're going to get very strong, you know that? Alpha female material." He moved close to her, again, and put his hands on her shoulders. "Erin, trust me. I'll help you get through this." But she shook her head rapidly.
"I don't want to get through this! Why can't you understand?" Her voice cracked, and a tear ran down her cheek. "I want to go back to normal! I don't want to turn into a dog on full moons or eat raw steak or not be able to wear my silver earrings or, or, or..."
"Or have better hearing, sight, sense of smell. Or, God forbid, heal quicker, have a higher immunity, or have a family away from family. It's not all bad, Erin, okay?"
"You're a monster! Hell, I'm a monster too now!" She growled not a human growl, but a hoarse dog's growl. That was the final straw for her, and she began to sob uncontrollably then crouched down onto the ground, banging her head into the bricks behind her. Rob bent over, kneeled at her level, and looked her in the eyes.
"Look, Erin, I'll admit this won't be a vacation to Bermuda. But I promise I'll help you learn to like it. Learn to live with it. It'll be fine." He frowned, staring at her, but she continued to cry. "Come with me."
"Where the Hell to?" She rubbed her jacket over her eyes as she yelled the words at him. He extended his hand and helped her up.
"My home. We need to talk, whether you like it or not. Certainly, we can't talk out here." Erin stared at him, sobbing lightly. This whole thing didn't seem safe; this was a random guy she didn't even really know. She didn't even know his whole name! But still, she felt like he was trustworthy.
Something about Rob just made Erin want to be with him. She wanted to be protected by him. These feelings were so strange, but they overpowered all of her senses, including her usual logical mindset.