Werewolf Girlfriend: Anna Part Three (complete)

When I first came to Hearthway Hollow, I never expected to find a home, let alone a family. Growing up, it was always a ‘fend for yourself’ situation. I had to be tougher, stronger, and meaner than everyone else, but here, I could just be me. Working for Billy, and having a role model like him who stands up for me even when I’m an ass, has been a real kick in the butt.

Not to mention Arlen. Meeting him and going through the courtship with him, I realized that the ‘lone wolf’ narrative was bullshit for me. I tried to keep up that appearance for so long, thinking it was the only way to survive. Now I couldn’t imagine living without that nerd.

Arlen has been away at seminary, returning when he can during breaks and holidays. It’s been hard, not always having him around, and it can get lonesome. Recently, I’ve had a nagging fear that my ‘rut’ is going to start. It starts as a  tickling at the back of my neck that travels down my spine, and I become hyper aware of my body. It’s happened to me before, and I remember how out of it I can be for a week. Just a slobbering monster only wanting to get her rocks off. This couldn’t happen at a worse time. Arlen is actually further away on an important school trip and I probably won’t see him for a month. I genuinely pray that I am overreacting and that my rut isn’t coming.

“Is something wrong with you, kid?” Billy’s big hand claps down on my shoulder and my nerves twitch all the way from the tips of my hair to end of my toenails.

I turn and look up at him, a bit sweaty and bleary-eyed. “Yeah, why?”

Billy sniffs, turning his head to the side. “You best go home and lock yourself up.”

“What? No way!” I shake off his hand and turn to face him. 

Billy glares down at me. “Go home, kid. I’ve seen this enough to know the signs. Hell, I’ve suffered them a few times in my life. Go home, lock yourself up, and try not to make an ass of yourself. I’ll send Maria by later to check on you.”

I puff out my chest, trying to put on a bravado. “You’re misreading things,” I laugh. “What signs? What are you talking about?”

“If you’re going into heat, I suggest you call Arlen,” he snarls. “Because if you don’t take care of it, you’re going to be hell to deal with later.”

“That’s not-” My face is red-hot as I even think about Arlen. “You’re crazy! And besides, I can’t call Arlen. He’s got that important trip he’s going on, remember? He won’t be able to visit home all month!”

Billy stands back, his hands going to his hips and he lets out a whistle. “Well, fuck.” He rubs the back of his neck.

“Yeah,” I scoff, rolling my eyes. “So, like-” I grunt and throw my hands up in the air. “Yeah!” I rub the bridge of my nose.

“Go home and wait it out. Like I said, I’ll send Maria by later to check on you. Just try and take care of yourself.” Billy is trying to sound paternal, but the last bit sounds like a joke. “Sorry, uhm-” Billy stutters. “Just go home, Anna.”

I grumble under my breath as I take my apron off and hand it to him. Leaving the shop, I walk down the street and try to keep my thoughts from wandering too far. With Arlen on my mind, I can’t help but imagine scenes we’ve shared in the past. The pit in my stomach is growing heavier and heavier as the tingles down my spine become harder to ignore.

When I reach home, I shut the door and sit myself down on the cold floor. I take a deep breath and bang the back of my head against the wall. Why, oh why, of all times now? I slump down to the ground and lay there for a long while, until my phone chimes.

I check the message, seeing it’s from Arlen. I pick myself up off the ground to read it. He’s sent a picture of it snowing at his campus with the caption: ‘wish you were here’.

I so desperately wish I was. “Me too,” I answer him. I sit my phone aside as I feel the heat growing in me. By tomorrow I’ll be some sex-crazed beast, I’m sure of it.

I wake up in the morning hot and sweaty, despite the fact it is mid-November and it’s raining hard outside. There is a thick fog over everything, creating an eerie atmosphere. I go into the bathroom and splash cold water on my face. I gulp water down, but that doesn’t fend off the growing desire inside me.

These ruts are natural. They happen maybe once to twice a year for about a week. Every male and female were suffers through them, especially once they’ve selected a mate. I should have known this would come up eventually. 

I go to the kitchen, turning on the coffee pot. As the coffee brews, the scent of it brings back fond memories of Arlen. The smell of coffee on a cold morning, he was always an early riser. He would bring me coffee and then we would fall back into bed to make love until it was as if we slept in.

“Fuck,” I growl as the ache is growing unbearable. “Stupid fucking piece of shit ovaries.” I bang my head on the counter. “All you bitches do is cause trouble.”

By that afternoon, it’s only gotten worse. I have tried to quell the desire on my own, and sometimes it works, but for far too short of time. I am laying butt-naked in bed, thrashing about in frustration.

I hear a key in the lock, and the door opens. I think perhaps it is Maria come to check on me, but then I catch a whiff of something in the air. I sit to attention, looking with alarm as Arlen walks into the bedroom.

“Are you okay?” He asks, tossing his bag aside and rushing towards me.

I clamber to the edge of the bed, grabbing him and burying my face against his neck, breathing in his wonderful, heavenly, god-sent aroma. I’m about to cry. I must be dreaming. This is far too wonderful to be real.

“What are you doing here?” I cry.

Arlen kisses me, and I just about maul him then and there. Instead I hold back, grabbing hold of him so he cannot escape, delusion or real.

“Billy called me.” Arlen rips off his sweater. “Our trip was delayed due to the snow, so I came home instead.” He pushes me down onto the bed, his bare chest pressing against mine.

“You didn’t have to do that for me,” I moan.

Arlen pushes himself between my thighs, opening up his pants. He’s already begun shifting, turning into his were form. It’s rare, but when it happens I get all the more excited. “I would do anything for you. I couldn’t stand it knowing you were going through this alone.”

I shift with him, clinging to him as his cock rubs against me. It feels like I’ve been struck by lightning. The real thing feels so much better than making do.

Arlen pants, sinking himself into me. I bite down on his shoulder and he snarls darkly. It feels like such a deep relief to have him here. 

“It’s so hot,” Arlen pants. “Holy shit, Anna.” His hips buck, going deep, then grinding in shallowly. He kisses me, rolling his tongue in my mouth.

I can barely speak, my mind is so clouded. All I want is for Arlen to keep fucking me. I cling to him, desperately trying to get across my feelings for him. 

Arlen’s knot begins to push in. My thighs tremble, and the sensation of him locking into place travels up my spine, shooting off sparks in my brain. I howl, arching my back off the bed and urging him to move harder.

“Anna,” he gasps into my ear. “I’m gonna come. I’m gonna come! Anna!”

“Do it! Do it!” I nearly scream. He fills me, flooding me with his load. For a moment, it is a relief. I lay back, my heart thrumming hard. As Arlen lays beside me I melt into the bed and curl up in his arms.

“Don’t worry,” Arlen whispers to me. “I’m going to take care of you for as long as it takes.” He kisses the top of my head. “I won’t let you suffer.”

I wrap my arms around him again. “You’re too good to be true.” I sniffle.

“I love you,” Arlen whispers. “I would do anything for you.”

And anything he does. Whenever the rut kicks in he’s there for me, tending to me and giving me whatever I need, wherever we are. In the kitchen, The bathroom. Even outside on the porch. Arlen takes care of me.

I’ve lost track of how many times we’ve done it, but by the end of the week both of us are exhausted.

“I owe you big-time,” I say one morning.

“Hey, I had just as much sex as you did,” he laughs. “You don’t owe me anything, Anna.” He kisses my forehead. “I just wanted to take care of you.”

“You did,” I run my hand down his chest. “I feel much better.”

Arlen kisses my neck. “Once this semester is done, I’ll be able to transfer to a school that is much closer.” He brushes his hand through my hair. “I’ll be able to live in Hearthway Hollow and commute.”

I feel tears spring to my eyes as I lock my arms around him. “That would be so wonderful! But you don’t have to.”

Arlen kisses me, pushing me down into the bed. I feel his heat growing along my hip, and I slowly guide him into place. We make love again then and there, without the rut - just us.

When Arlen leaves, his trip has been rescheduled for the following week. As the days go by, I feel normal again. I go back to work and I have to deal with Billy’s awkward conversations until he gets used to me again.

One day, as I’m at work, I get a whiff of the burger joint across the street. I grow unbearably hungry and leave the store in order to get something to eat. I scarf down two burgers and and three large fries without blinking.

After that, I notice my appetite is getting more out of control. I eat like I’m ravenous and nothing seems to satisfy. I start to get a paunch, but I can’t curb my appetite. 

One day, when Mrs. Locklear comes to the shop, she looks me over and sighs. “Something is different about you, Anna.”

I huff. “Yeah, I’ve put on a little weight. I’ve just been so hungry,” I grumble. “I mean, I just had my rut, maybe that has something to do with it.”

Mrs. Locklear’s eyes widen. “Arlen was up right?” She waves her finger up and down me. “During that little episode?”

I shake my head. “Yeah, it was really sweet.”

Mrs. Locklear’s lips press into a firm line as she tries to hide her smile. “Anna dear,” she chuckles, glancing over as Billy comes out from the back. “You’ve got a pup.”

Billy drops everything and turns to look at me. “Anna?”

I stare, wide-eyed and slack-jawed. “No that’s-” I stop, realizing how high that probability is. “Oh.” I slide my hands over my belly.

Billy is suddenly by my side. “What do you need? I’ll call Maria!” He dashes off to get his phone, always excited when puppies are about to be born.

Mrs. Locklear sighs and puts her arm around me. “I’ll take you to the pharmacy. We’ll get a big soda and a little test.”

After our small trip, I’ve locked myself in the bathroom at work. As I wait for the results to appear, I’m not exactly sure how to feel. I don’t feel bad about it. If I’m pregnant that’s actually fine with me. 

Billy knocks on the door. “It’s time, Anna,” he says.

“I will say when it is time!” I snap at him. I then take a deep breath and look at the test. Sure enough, it reads positive.

I unlock the bathroom door and step out, flashing the test to Billy and Mrs. Locklear. “I guess I need to call Arlen,” I whisper.

“Are you okay?” Billy places his hands on my shoulders.

I sniffle and rub at my eyes. “I’m really excited!” My voice squeaks. “But I’m so scared too!”

Mrs. Locklear wraps me up in her arms before Billy can. “That’s being a parent.” 

I give Arlen a call, but he doesn’t answer right away. I know he’s probably busy, after all, it’s the end of the semester. I call him again, still no answer. I send him a text I have something important to tell him. I look at the pregnancy test, considering sending him a picture of it. But no. He deserves to hear about it rather than get an alarming photo.

That evening as I’m eating my weight in garlic bread, Arlen finally calls. “I’m so sorry I couldn’t reach you until now,” he huffs. “I’ve been having a really, really shitty day. I could use some good news right now, or just you,” he chuckles.

I lick my lips, wondering if a pregnancy is good news to him or not. “Well, uhm, news and me is what I have.”

“That’s good, so what’s going on?” he asks. 

I suck in a deep breath. “Well, uhm… remember when I was in my rut?”

“It’s not happening again is it?” Arlen laughs. “Because, I mean, I wouldn’t mind that at all.”

“No,” I fidget nervously. “My news is because of that.”

Arlen goes quiet. “It is?”

“I’m pregnant,” I spill. “So yeah!” I laugh, then sob in the same breath. “I’m happy but at the same time I’m scared.”

“Wow,” Arlen whispers. “Oh, wow.”

“I’m sorry,” I gasp. “Was this-”

“Anna!” he laughs. “This is amazing!”

I swallow back the lump in my throat. “Is it?”

“It is!” Arlen laughs and sobs. “I’m coming home. Right now. Just wait.”

I gasp. “No! You can’t!”

“It’ll be fine, I need to see you now. I’m coming home. I love you so much! I will see you so soon, like a blink.” He hangs up and I sit there grinning like a fool.

He’s home the next day, and as soon as I see him at work he’s down on one knee. We get married the following weekend - we simply go to the magistrate’s office and sign the papers with Maria and Billy present.

Once the semester is over, Arlen moves back home, transferring to a school that is much closer to graduate. He goes to every doctor’s appointment he can. He’s there for the first heartbeat, and he carries the sonogram with him in his wallet wherever he goes.

“What do you think about Naomi?” he asks. “If we have a girl?”

“More bible names?” I yawn. I roll over, looking at him as he’s reading over his bible. “I thought we agreed we’d choose a name once we actually met the kid.”

“I’m just excited,” he chuckles. “And I want to be prepared. I don’t want to blank in the moment.” He sets everything aside and lays back down beside me. He places his hand over my belly and smiles. “I just can’t wait to meet them.”

“I know.” I nuzzle up to him, kissing his neck and cheek. “They’re just as excited to meet you.”

“I just want them to know how much they’ll be loved,” he whispers. “And I get so worried they won’t understand or know that.”

“You’re being silly, you know that right?” I kiss the tip of his nose. “This baby will know. Hell, I bet it already does, what with everything Billy has done already. Not to mention my brother and Violet.” I cup his cheek and look into his eyes. “You’re going to be an amazing father, Arlen. Don’t doubt that.”

Arlen pulls me in close and wraps his arms around me. “Thank you.” He squeezes me tight.

The day the baby is born is extremely stormy. There are harsh winds that buffet the car, and the rain comes down so heavy Arlen can barely see through the windshield. Once we get to the hospital, I’m rushed inside, a little soaked but ready.

Hours upon hours later, the baby finally arrives screaming into the world. “It’s a boy,” the doctor says.

I look up as Arlen holds his son in his arms. The baby already has a mess of hair, smeared with white grease and blood. After the nurse takes him to be washed, Arlen runs over and kisses me.

“He’s so perfect!” he laughs brightly.

When the nurse returns, our son is clean and his fluffy dark hair is already starting to show curls. “Hi,” I whisper to him, unsure of what else to say. I look up at Arlen with a smile. “Are you blanking?” I chuckle.

“Yeah,” he gasps, tears in his eyes. “I really am!” He laughs.

I look back down at the baby. He grunts and whines, wriggling in his wrappings. “You came on a day that has me inspired,” I whisper to him. “What about Noah?”

“Noah,” Arlen whispers. “It’s perfect.”

I kiss the top of Noah’s head. “Welcome to the world, Noah.”