I am standing in front of the house, on the other side of the road. Correction. I have been standing in front of the house, on the other side of the road for three hours.

'Make that four.'

From time to time I have tried to take a step but I end up in the exact same spot every time.

I tried going through the garden.

'Didn't make it to the fence.'

I tried jumping directly to the second floor.

'Fell face first on the concrete.'

I even tried to simply walk to the door.

'Broke your arm trying to reach the knob. I still don't understand how you managed that.'

Let's just say something is bothering me.

'Let's talk about the elephant in the room.'

Mammoth would be more accurate.

'Let's talk about the Sun in the room. MOUHAHAHAHA !'

I start to roll my eyes.

'It's big enough to express the extent of your problem though !'

Remind me when is it that I get rid of you ?

'You can't, that's the beauty of it. Stuck with me for eternity.'

I can't help looking up to the sky, to the fading Sun behind the clouds. Pleading.

What did I ever do to deserve this.

'I don't understand what's making you so wary.'

I think...

'Yes ?'

Well... I.. I think...

'Dear me. We'll still be here next week.'

Real mature, really.

I look at my feet, feeling stressed out more than ever.

I've decided to not care anymore. I'm tired of not being able to do anything the way I want.

'When have you ever done anything against your will ?'

You know what I mean. I can't show who I am, I can't have fun in case I destroy the planet...

'Such a hard life !'

Yes it is ! It's difficult. And not fun. And boring.

'Alright. Then what are you going to do differently then ?'

I won't hold back.

'Which means ?'

Since I'm depressed when I ignore him, and I feel like I can't spend too much time without him I'm going to go all out. I don't care if I'm not Nate's mate. He's mine. And even if it turns out he's not I'll still try to make him fall in love with me. To make him lose his mind for good.

'OH MY GOD !!!!!! YESSSS ! You're finally doing something smart ! I can't wait to see that ! What's first ? Second ? What are you waiting for ? When do you start ?'

I haven't thought that far yet.

'Get naked. This always works.'

I'm trying to keep some dignity here. I'll still be here in two hundred years, I can't go and destroy my legacy.

'Then what ?'

We'll see.

As I watch the front of the house I see Leila get out with a warm cup of tea in her hands. I wait patiently while she crosses the street to come meet me, a gentle smile on her face.

"Time to get in Sweety. The sun is setting down, you can't stay outside like that." She says calmly sipping on her mug.

"If people who can't stay out during the day are called children of the moon what am I supposed to be ?" I ponder out loud. "I mean this is ridiculous ! I can't go skinny-dipping at midnight like everybody else, I can't watch a meteor shower or the equinox, but more importantly I can't pretend to be a werewolf who transforms to the full moon !"

'I wouldn't mind the burns to see that !'

She doesnt reply to my rant.

"So what did you do for a week ?" She asks curious.

"I wasn't gone that long." I mumble.

"You've been gone for eight days. You're friend came by twice, seemed to be worried you fled."

"Are you talking about Pierre ?" I inquire and she nods in answer.

"We had to convince him to stay a little longer."

"They can't afford to refuse to help us."

"Still, the boys were getting fidgety."

"It reminded them they are not the ones in control." I shrug.

"What made you leave ?" Leila asks without pushing for an answer.

"Nate didn't tell you ?"

"We found him passed out on the floor when we came back with the biggest black eye I've ever seen. But he didn't say anything. He's been in a fool mood since then though."

"He's the one in the wrong."

"But you won't tell me what he did."

"I've already forgotten what it was about."

"Sure, you have forgotten." She fakes shuddering. "I'm afraid to see what pay back will look like."

"I won't do anything." I roll my eyes.

'That's not what we agreed on !' My wolf exclaims baffled.

"You mean you'll let it slide ?" She furrows her brows.

"Something like that."

"Just let me know when you decide to not do anything so that I can leave the country before hand."

I feel my skin prickle under the first rays of the moon.

"Let's get inside before I light up like a big giant torch." I sigh.

"Nice coat by the way."

"Right ?" I beams looking the fabric up and down, sliding my hand along the fur lovingly. "I found it in a house."

"Of course you did." She smirks knowing my tendencies to steal anything I fancy.

She tried to bring me to CTA once, it stands for Compulsive Thieves Anonymous, I don't even know how she managed to find it. But it didn't work. Actually it made things worse because it didn't make me think differently and the other members seemed convinced by my point of view -stealing is good for your health because you get to wear things you like whenever you want and it's also good for your budget because it's free- by the end of the meeting. That week news related an increase of fifty percent in the city's robberies. Of course I gave of my own time by robbing a jewellery and distributing my earnings to the poor like a true Robin Wood. I just kept a necklace I noticed through the windows and a magnificent ring with diamonds.

I haven't stepped three feet inside the house before they are all surrounding us impatiently.

"Sorry I'm late." I joke and one alpha in particular doesn't look my way.

"We thought something went wrong when we didn't hear from you." Xavier starts without preamble.

"I needed to go see a friend of mine in Siberia." I justify myself defensively.

"On foot ?!"

"Of course not. She couldn't make it this far that fast." Noriko contradicts him.

Yes I'm that fast. And I even took my time.

'Cheeky little fox.'

Exactly ! In a good day I could have gone and been back in three days.

"Then how ?" He wonders.

"I took a flight." I lie.

"And ? Did you do what you needed ?" Nate makes himself heard, finally acknowledging our little group.

I smile sweetly at him.

"Everything's worked out perfectly. My friend is going to help us rally the tribes over there."

"Great." He grits his teeth.

"I actually have to go back to New Orleans earlier than planned, something came up and since my father is in California the pack needs me there." Xavier interjects. "I wish I could have helped more."

"Don't worry. Once we talk to the merpeople we'll be on our way back too."

"Then I'll see you in California when I can." He nods. "I'll go finish packing up my things."

He leaves and the room falls quiet.

"Isn't there anyone else we could contact ?" Noriko inquires, apparently she hoped to keep on travelling for a little while longer.

"For now that's all we can do. Also, we need to form a battle plan and train everyone once we go back. It'll need time. An army would be useless without a plan."

"I guess." She shrugs.

"Just so you know, I'll ask for your ideas. We'll see how good of a leader you can be." I taunt her and her eyes shine in defiance.

"Alright. Enough for today. I'm going to make dinner. Anyone wants to help ?" Leila cuts in sending glances my way.

"I'll help." Noriko answers quickly.

I'm about to answer too when I hear Nate clear his throat.

Not now. Not now. NOT NOW.

'NOW. NOW. NOW !'

It'd be nice if you were on my side once in a while.

"Can we talk ?" He asks running his hand over the back of his head.

"Sure." I shrug waiting for him to continue.

"Outside ?"

"Here's fine." I grumble.

"Outside." He sighs.

I roll my eyes and clench my teeth.

"Fine. Wait a minute." I answer raising my hands.

I close my coat tightly around me and go look for a cap, a scarf and gloves.

"Would you like sunglasses too ?" He rolls his eyes exasperated.

Actually...

I reach in my bag to retrieve my glasses.

"After you." I nod not ready for what's to come.

'You won't seduce him in that getup. That's for sure.'

"Don't you think you're overdoing it a little ?" He mumbles.

"You're the one who insists on talking outside. Not me."

"It's the middle of summer."

"I'm weak to the cold."

He has rolled his eyes fives times in the last three minutes. I wonder how many more times I can make him do it. We're standing in the center of the garden under the scrutiny of the blazing Moon, there is nowhere for me to hide.

"Look." He starts avoiding my eyes again, his fingers scratching his growing beard, it makes him look older and more tired. "I'm sorry about what happened before you left."

"You were being you. A prick." I shrug.

'I'll be old and gray before seeing any children.' My wolf wails loudly in my head and I can imagine it rolling around like a child.

"Watch it." He warns.

Ah... I missed his mood swings.

'Are you actually an M and I didn't know it ? Is that it ?'

Of course not.

"Just stating the truth." I continue nonchalantly.

"I may have gone too far but don't you think you overreacted a little too ?" He tries to put the blame on me.

"Enlighten me." I nod.

"I'm just saying, any shewolf would gladly agree in this situation." He states self-confidently.

I laugh because there really isn't anything else I can think of at this moment. It takes me a minute to control my laughter before I talk.

"Are you seriously putting me on the same level as Cory and the likes ?"

"What's so different ? You're all females."

I don't know if you're spewing out nonsense just to piss me off or if you truly believe these misogynistic views. But more importantly they don't have any aspirations in life other than giving birth to your pups in an attempt to gain some vain recognition."

"And you don't ?"

"Puh-lease. Why would I ? I'm smarter. Stronger. Faster. And more beautiful, let's not forget that." I list off my fingers one by one. "I don't need a man to protect me."

'Sure, keep going. You're doing such a great work so far ! Now you decide to crush his masculinity. Obviously that's the way to make him fall for you.' My wolf groans desperate.

"A wolf alone isn't stronger than a pack." He argues.

"Wanna bet ?"

'For the love of the Sun will you stop ! You're digging a grave so deep we'll come out on the other side of the planet !'

I see with amusement his hands run wild in his hair.

"You are so frustrating." He growls. "I can't have a normal conversation without you getting out of line. Every time you speak so disrespectfully my wolf wants to murder you. Do you have any idea how difficult it is becoming to restrain it ?"

"An arrogant puppy inside the body of an arrogant man." I sigh dramatically.

"See !" He exclaims sending his arms flying in front of him. "That's exactly what I'm talking about ! Why do you keep pushing your luck ?!"

"This has nothing to do with luck. I'm only stating the facts." I try to remain calm and composed when inside I'm jumping up and down the more angrier I can get him.

By now his canines are elongated and his eyes so brightly yellow that I am reminded of a scorching Sun.

A beautiful beast.

"Hope." He warns. "Stop before you regret it." His voice is a command and I feel the warning of the wolf laced within it.

"Do you want to see something amazing ?" I ask innocently my head inclined a little to the side and for a second he seems intrigued.

When my smile transforms into a sweet smirk his entire body freezes and his face fills with panic.

"Dont-"

"Here doggy, doggy." I cut him and pat my side condescendingly.

'Oh my God, you didn't.' My wolf cries incredulous.

Every vein is my body is singing in exaltation, my heart beating faster. In an angry growl the man transforms in the white beast I saw twice before. His bones crack and realign, his features contort as he tries to stop it only making the process more painful. His face morphs into one of a beast and his body covers itself with fur, his frame growing quickly, his arms and legs becoming strong paws. The wolf is beautiful beneath the rays of its Moon. Shining even more than its creator. In her stead I would feel a tremendous pride to have such a monster living to obey my every whims.

Now that's a thought.

"Hey there." I say clearly in the stagnant silence without a trace of fear in my voice.

That only makes the wolf angrier and I can see Nate trying and failing to take back control. The Moon is high in the sky now the tall tree in the back of the garden offers the shadows I desperately need. I take lazy steps in its direction and feel the beast ready to bounce, his fur ruffled on its back. I don't acknowledge it until I am finally in the tree's shadows. There, slowly, I take off my scarf and cap and let my hair fall loosely on my shoulders before taking of my gloves, next I let my coat drop to the ground and finally I take my glasses off. The wolf starts to move again wary of my every move, ready for any attack I might try. Its power is exuding from its entire body, its snout curled, its deadly fangs on display. We are facing each other, only a few meters away and the wolf is at least three feet taller than me. It stretches even more to show me just how much of a difference there is between us.

Big mistake Manny.

My smirk comes back and its menacing snarl reverberates in the night in warning. The alpha doesn't need to speak for me to understand its command : "Kneel before I rip your head off."

But you know me, I don't like to do what I'm told.

"See now, last time you let me pat your head so we'll have to try something else tonight." I explain.

Its eyes flash green, Nate is gaining back control as the wolf is confused.

Now we can't have that.

"You've got really soft fur by the way." I keep going. "I mean the color is a little... meh.." I lie dismissively with a grimace "but it's still okay, don't worry."

The wolf is back in front of me, angrier than ever, my body buzzing with its order to kneel and bow.

"Do you believe you're the strongest beast alive ?" I inquire really curious now.

I don't need a translator to catch its smirk.

"It's more like you can feel it, that it's embedded in your bones. Am I wrong ?" I wonder half for myself.

The wolf gives me a puff of acknowledgement. Apparently it likes being praised just like its master. Prideful people.

'Like you're any different.'

But I am a goddess incarnated.

"Now, that's not healthy for your ego." I continue. "And it's dangerous. There is always someone stronger."

Its laugh starts without warning and it's the cutest thing in the world but I can't lose focus right now. I have to make a point.

"You don't believe me ?" I ask softly and it rolls its eyes.

"Want to see what real power is ?" I taunt it.

The beast stretches again, alert, watching me.

'Are you sure of what you're doing ?'

Don't worry, I won't transform.

'Buzz kill.'

"Kneel." I say calmly and it starts growling.

I look it up straight in the eyes, addressing it and Nate at the same time. They both need to know that not everybody can fall under their control. I let my own power seep through my skin and my vision reddens, coating everything in blood around me. It's fur seems even more bright.

"Kneel." I order so low it becomes a whisper to the wind.

But my command is heard nonetheless. I see both man and beast fight against it for a second, their claws digging into the earth, their ears folding on their head in discontent, their white fangs ready to snap at my flesh. Finally I see the majestic beast kneel in front of me against its will and look at the ground in complete surrender and marvel at the sight. I sense my skin burn slowly.

That's how things are supposed to be.

I feel my lungs fill with pride and vanity

They are here to obey me.

I feel my power course through my body.

Everyone needs to kneel in front of me.

I see the marvelous bloodied world around me.

I'm royalty.

I feel the fear of every creature hiding in the tree.

I am a god.

I sense the anger of the Moon, taunting me.

This is my world.

'Hope ! Snap out of it !'

"What ?" I blink out of my hypnotic state, blinking repeatedly at the beast still on the floor. "Sorry." I apologies and attempt to pat its head but the wolf flinches. "Sorry." I reiterate. "Can you turn back ?" I ask as gently as I can.

'You broke my alpha !' My wolf howls.

The beast disappears and the man is back in his naked glory in a deafening silence.