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4_ Out of place

The next few days dragged on, each one slower than the last. I tried to focus on my daily routine with Dylan, but every day felt like an eternity, filled with anticipation for the full moon. The thought of finally reuniting with my wolf consumed me, stirring something restless and wild inside. I needed to feel whole again.

That evening, just as I was about to settle down after watching one of the countless movies Dylan had left for me, I heard the front door creak open. I jumped off the couch, expecting it to be Dylan alone, but my heart skipped when I saw him walk in with a girl by his side. My eyes fixed on her immediately, scanning her from head to toe. She was tall, slim, with a sharp, pretty face framed by dark, wavy hair. She smiled at me, but I couldn't bring myself to return it.

Who is she?

Dylan walked over to me, greeting me casually, but I barely noticed. My mind was still stuck on the girl standing too close to him, her presence stirring something within me, something primal, something possessive. It was like she had crossed a boundary that I didn’t even realize existed until this moment.

“This is Claudia, a friend of mine,” Dylan said, his voice casual as if this was a normal introduction.

Claudia smiled wider and said, "Hi."

I still didn’t respond. I couldn’t. The strange, gnawing sensation of territory and ownership flared up inside me, and I had to bite my tongue just to stop myself from growling.

Dylan noticed my silence and quickly added, “I told her all about you, Katrina. She’s going to help you.”

The words hung in the air for a moment. My heart dropped at the implication. I looked at Dylan sharply. He told her? I couldn't hide my shock.

“You told her I’m a wolf?” I blurted out, my voice a little too loud, a little too blunt.

Both Dylan and Claudia’s eyes widened. Dylan quickly raised his hands, his face pale, and rushed to fix the damage.

“She means, uh... she loves wolves,” Dylan stammered out, casting a nervous glance at Claudia. “You know, she grew up in a cabin, in the woods, away from people, with her parents... So she loves wolves.” He shot me a look, silently begging me to play along.

Claudia blinked, a bit confused but nodded. “Oh, I see... that must’ve been hard,” she said sympathetically, but I just stared at her.

My mind was still reeling from Dylan's sudden deceit. He hadn’t told her the truth, which left a bitter taste in my mouth. But what I couldn't help was how uneasy I felt around this girl. I couldn’t place why, but I didn’t like her being so close to Dylan. I could sense it now, that possessiveness wasn’t just about territory. It was about him.

Dylan cleared his throat awkwardly. “So, there’s a party tonight,” he said, shifting the subject quickly. “I thought maybe you’d want to come with me... you know, get out of the house a little.”

I blinked at him, confused. “Party?” I asked, unsure what that even meant. The word sounded strange, foreign. I had no idea what he was talking about.

He smiled slightly, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “It’s where a lot of people get together, listen to music, have fun. I think it’d be good for you to experience.”

I stared at him for a moment, processing the idea. Then he added, “Claudia’s here to help you get ready.”

“Get ready?” I echoed.

“You know, dress up, look nice,” Dylan explained, glancing at his clothes on my body.. “Maybe something more... girly?”

I frowned, glancing down at the clothes I had grown used to, the oversized shirts, the soft pants that smelled like Dylan. “But I like these,” I argued softly, not understanding why I needed to change.

“I know,” he said gently. “But trust me, this is just for fun. No one’s going to tease you, and Claudia’s here to make sure you look amazing.”

I didn’t quite understand what the fuss was about, but if it was important to Dylan, I decided to agree. “Okay.”

Dylan gave a relieved smile. “Great. Good luck, Claudia,” he said, then walked away to give us space.

Claudia and I headed to my room, and the unease lingered in the air. I couldn’t help but watch her every move. She dropped her bag on the bed and glanced around curiously before pulling out a piece of fabric. “I brought something for you to wear,” she said brightly, holding up the object. "It's my dress, I hope you don't mind."

I frowned, staring at the unfamiliar garment. “What’s that?”

Claudia laughed lightly. “It’s a dress! Here, try it on.”

I took the dress, eyeing it suspiciously before deciding to strip down right in front of her. I was used to being naked in my wolf form, and in human form, it didn’t bother me. But Claudia looked a little taken aback and quickly averted her eyes until I finished pulling on the dress.

When I stood in front of the mirror, I barely recognized myself. The dress fit perfectly, hugging my figure in ways I’d never seen clothes do before. It was strange, but I didn’t hate it. I stared at my reflection, mesmerized by how different I looked.

“Wow,” Claudia breathed behind me. “It looks better on you than it does on me.”

I glanced at her, unsure of how to respond to that, so I just smiled. She motioned for me to sit down so she could style my hair, and I obeyed, still a bit wary of her.

She worked in silence for a bit before finally asking, “So, what was it like, living in the woods with your parents?”

I tensed, caught off guard by the question. I didn’t know what to say. Dylan had made up the story about me living in the woods, but the reality was far more complicated. I simply answered, “Lonely.”

Claudia nodded, her eyes soft with sympathy. “What about your parents?”

At that, my breath hitched. A wave of memories threatened to surface, memories of my mother and father, of the life I lost. But they were fragmented, just flashes of faces and emotions. I didn’t know where they were now or if they were even alive.

I didn’t answer. I couldn’t.

Claudia must have sensed she’d hit a nerve because she quickly apologized. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to pry.”

I swallowed the lump in my throat, forcing a small smile. “It’s okay.”

After a few more minutes, Claudia finished styling my hair and turned me back toward the mirror. I was amazed at the transformation. My hair fell in soft waves, framing my face in a way that made me look  delicate. Pretty.

"This is nice," I commented, admiring my hair.

"One last thing," she reached for her bag and brought out a much small bag with things in it.

"What is that?"  I asked.

"Makeup," she answered, her face twisted in surprise, "you really don't know much of anything, do you?" She then asked.

"I didn't, but Dylan has taught me a lot," I told her, feeling a little proud of my tiny accomplishment.

"That's cool," she said. She brought out the colorful tools from the bag and applied a litte makeup on my face before she was finally done.

“You look amazing,” Claudia said with a smile. “See? You’re beautiful.”

I stared at my reflection, my heart swelling with a strange warmth. I wasn’t used to compliments, but I could feel the sincerity in her words. “Thank you,” I said softly, my lips curving into a genuine smile for the first time.

When we stepped out of the room, Claudia announced we were done. Dylan stood up from the couch and turned to look at me. His reaction was instant, his eyes widened, his mouth fell open slightly, and for a moment, he was speechless.

“Wow,” he finally breathed, his voice filled with awe.

A flutter of warmth filled my chest as I saw the way he looked at me, his gaze lingering on me with something I hadn’t seen before. I didn’t know what to say, so I just stood there, feeling both shy and proud under his gaze.

Claudia grinned, clearly pleased with her work. “Told you she’d look amazing.”

Dylan nodded slowly, still staring at me like I was someone he’d never seen before. I shifted on my feet, a little overwhelmed by the attention but secretly enjoying it.

“Ready for the party?” Dylan asked, his eyes finally meeting mine with a soft smile.

I nodded, feeling a strange mixture of excitement and nervousness for what was to come. Tonight would be another step into the unknown, but this time, I felt a little more prepared.

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