As she strode towards the bus stop with quick steps, the now familiar car came to stop by her side. Neil leaned and opened the door of the passenger side for her. "Good morning Tanya," he greeted once she was seated by his side. "Good morning Neil," she answered, a little surprised to find him there. "Thought I would pick up my girl for college. You are running late, you know." She nodded. "I overslept. I was afraid I would miss the bus." "Relax, we shall be there in no time," he promised before pressing on the accelerator.
The first person they met as they entered the college gates, was Ray. "Hi Neil," he stepped in front of Neil, his gaze wandering to Tanya's face and then to their linked hands. Ray was tall, almost as tall as Neil, with thick brown hair and light brown eyes. He was handsome in his own way and quite popular with the girls on campus, though he seemed to be going steady with Rhea, a beauty belonging to the set of privileged kids. "Hello Ray," Neil greeted him in a tight voice, gesturing for him to move out of the way. Ignoring him Ray turned to her. "Hello Tanya," he extended his hand to her. Reluctantly, she took it, hearing the sharp in drawn breath from Neil. Despite it being clear that Neil wanted him to leave them alone, Ray continued, "Never saw you mixing with anyone before, but Neil and you seem to have become good friends." "Mind your own business Ray," Neil almost pushed him out of his way before dragging her behind him. This whole episode was watched with curiosity by the other students present on the grounds. Tanya cringed inwardly, they had given them the perfect fodder for gossip. They parted ways in the hall as she went to her social science class and Neil went to his class on Biology.
Tanya took her place beside Monica. She noticed the bruise, pressing her hand in comfort. "You and Neil have caused quite the stir on campus. A lot of girls are envying you," she remarked. "Probably thinking what he sees in me…." she joked. "Don't say that. You are beautiful in your own way. At least you have natural hair, not one dyed red or purple," she laughed referring to the current fashion of dying the hair in outlandish colors. "And no false lashes," Tanya piped in, joining in the fun.
At lunchtime Neil met her in the cafeteria. Monica and her boyfriend Vicky had joined them too. He placed the tray with their orders on the table and then slid into the chair next to her. His eyes suddenly fell on the bruise on her face, and he let out an oath. "What the hell happened to your face?" She sat awkwardly, unable to tell him about her domestic situation. Monica stepped in, explaining to him about her parents and her father's addiction. She sat through it, embarrassed, wondering what Neil would think of her. He did not seem to mind though, pulling her close and placing a kiss on her cheek. "Don't worry sweetheart. From now on I shall take care of you." Tanya felt tears flow down her cheeks. Neil exclaimed in concern. "Don't mind me Neil. No one has ever told that to me before. The 'taking care of' part. It is so sweet of you," she whispered. He took her hand in his own, bringing it to his lips. The gesture melted her heart. That day, when she went back home she felt a lot lighter in her heart and there was a bounce in her step. Tanya knew she was in love for the first time in her life. She couldn't have got luckier had she gone down on her knees and prayed to God everyday of her twenty one years. Neil was everything that she had ever wanted in her life and never hoped to get. The other girls were right to be envious of her.
Ray sat with Neil at the nightclub, staring down into his mug of beer, lost in deep thought. He looked up to see Neil eyeing the two girls seated a couple of tables away, and they too were giving him the come hither look. This did not bode well for the evening, Ray mused. Neil made a move towards them, and Ray quickly held his arm to pull him back. "No Neil, you aren't going that way," he warned. Neil glanced at him in irritation. "You aren't my keeper, you know. Just keep out of it Ray." "I mean to protect you from this foolishness, man. You can't take such risks," Ray pleaded. Neil looked at the exposed flesh of one of the girls in a minuscule dress. "Let me give them what they want and then they will give me what I want," he told Ray, his senses already stirring at the thought of the hunt. Their scent was driving him mad with the blood lust. At that moment he just wanted to disappear in a dark corner with the two women. A quick mating and then the kill, and his tormented wolf would be satisfied for the night. Ray got up, pulling him by the hand. "I am out of here and you too are coming back with me." He all but dragged his friend out of the nightclub. Neil breathed the cold night air deeply, and it seemed to clear his head. His breathing was still shallow from the excitement, his fingers extending into talons, his fangs out.
The two friends sat in Neil's bedroom, Ray on the couch and Neil sprawled on the bed. "You must be careful Neil. It would be better if you go back to our territory. You must take up your position as the Alpha." "With the shadow of this blasted curse hanging on my head?" Neil was skeptical. "It's very easy for you to say Ray. You don't understand the enormity of it," he scoffed at his advice. "I won't go back until I am ready to overcome the power of the curse," he looked stubborn. "I do understand. I am not only your friend but also your cousin," Ray bit out, "And that is why I am telling you to go back before you do any more damage." "You are lucky that your father was the younger son and escaped the curse. I am paying the price of being the only son of the elder one. For four generations this curse has been plaguing our family. Every Alpha has had to go through it. I have had enough of it. I wish to get rid of it now," Neil got up to pace the room like a caged tiger. Eventually, he poured a drink into two glasses, handing one to Ray, and went to stand at the window, looking out into the darkness. Of course, the darkness did not bother him. They were basically wolves, they could see very well in the dark. "Tanya?" Ray questioned. "Huh?" he leaned against the window. With his shirt open halfway and his chest exposed he looked devastatingly handsome, but Ray knew how ruthless and dangerous he could be. "You mean to use her…." it wasn't a question but a statement. "So?" Neil looked at him haughtily. "She is a decent girl who has no idea who or rather what you are. Don't do this to her. She has enough troubles of her own without you adding to it." "Cut it out Ray. I have made up my mind. Someone is going to pay for that curse, and Tanya just happens to be that person." Ray stood up in agitation. He felt a strange sympathy for that innocent girl. She had a fey quality about her and it stirred Ray's gentler feelings. "She won't be able to take it. She is a mere human," Ray did his best to dissuade his cousin. "I hate humans. Not like you. You are even dating one," Neil snorted. "Well, she seems to be my mate," Ray spread his hands. "Nonsense. She is as much your mate as Tanya is mine. I abhor the idea of a human mate. Renee is my mate. She is the most beautiful she-wolf in the whole territory." Ray just smiled. "Let us just leave this mate business to the Moon god, shall we. I am beat. I am going to my room," Ray said, making his way out of the room.
Neil lay in his bed mulling over the events of the evening. He had been so close at the nightclub. Had Ray not been there, he would have enjoyed the kill. His cousin was one of those rare werewolves who had a conscience. Killing was an anathema to him. He even preached against it to Neil. He himself had no softer feelings. He was raised to be an Alpha, a brave warrior. Killing came with the territory. How else was he supposed to protect his pack or maintain discipline among his subjects? He headed one of the largest packs of werewolves in the northern mountain region. Other packs not only respected them but also feared them. They had always emerged victorious in any battles for territory. The only thing he was wary of was the coven which resided deep in the mountains. The witches had been their sworn enemies for centuries. So much bad blood had flown between the two communities. The rare skirmishes which sometimes occurred, were a means of constant worry to the pack. They had lost some of their best warriors to the wrath of the witches. Hell, even the curse plaguing his life was placed by one of them. That was centuries ago, at the time of his great grandfather, a legendary wolf. Everyone said that he, Neil, took after him. Well, he was determined to rid his life of that curse and if the only way to it was through that human girl, Tanya, then so be it.