Werewolf Boyfriend (Ivan-complete)

    “What do you mean you’re not coming back?” I roar into the phone.

    Miranda sighs and I can almost hear her eyes rolling. “Just like I said. I’m not moving back. If you need my photography skills, you can reach me here, but I don’t want to travel as much as I used to.”

    I’m in disbelief, ever since Miranda went on her last job she’s been different. She came back with photographs of the Hearthway Forest looking like the cat who ate the canary. I had overheard her talking about how she met someone, but I still couldn’t understand her unwillingness to come back to work like she was supposed to. 

    She moved! After returning and finishing the current job she had, she just up and left! She went back to Hearthway Hollow, claiming it was where she belonged.

    Where she belonged? From what I could tell Hearthway Hollow looked like a retirement town or a tourist trap. It didn’t look like the sort of place people ‘belonged in’. Aside from a few websites that claimed Hearthway Hollow was a hotbed for paranormal activity, there seemed to be nothing exciting about the place!

    “Listen,” I try to reason with her. “You are the best photographer I’ve got-”

    “I know,” she replies. “But you have to understand. I’m getting married. I’m starting a family. Maybe in a few years, I can start taking longer jobs again.”

    “This isn’t ‘Bridges of Madison County’!” I blurt into the phone. “You can’t marry some Italian housewife and act like nothing has happened?”

    She scoffs. “Have you even read that book? And that’s not the case. I fell in love. If you came to this town, I think you’d understand too.”

    “You grew up in New York!” I huff. “How do you go from that to some town I’m sure might be a cult.”

    “Goodbye boss, I’m glad we had this talk.” Miranda hangs up the phone, and I slouch back in my chair. I’m at a loss. Miranda was the best photographer I had. I couldn’t lose her to day trip jobs, and things around a town I was more than certain was a cult. 

    I decided I had to talk to Miranda face to face. I need to see her to understand what was going on. I needed to meet her fiance, know this place, and know why she's so stubborn about it.

    Hearthway Hollow was a town nestled in the middle of the Hearthway Forest which is part of one of the biggest nature preserves in the country. The town started small but has grown to have its own college, museums, landmarks, nature tours, all sorts of shit. It was also increasing in notoriety because of a vlog claiming the town was full of supernatural activity and a breeding ground of werewolves. People will believe anything, but because of the enormous wolf population in Hearthway Forest, I could understand how people would fall for such a story as werewolves.

    Ok so, the drive to Hearthway Hollow was a pretty one, but any hike through the Appalachia will give you the same feeling. The town looks bigger than it does in the photographs but other than that I’m not impressed much. I park in a great big parking lot in the downtown area. I then walk to the last address that Miranda gave me. It takes me to a florist’s. Inside I see several girls arguing over a display counter.

    “I’m looking for someone,” I say when I realize they haven’t seen me.

    The girls continue to argue loudly.

    “Excuse me-” I’m cut off my one who bangs her hands on the class counter. 

    “Ladies!” A booming voice comes from behind me. “You have a customer?”

    The three girls turn and stare at me. They all have the same eyes and face shape, just different lips and hair.

    “Oh shit,” one girl gasps. “Hi!” She waves. “Welcome to Feth Floral!”

    “Nice try,” the man who was behind me moves around me and into the shop. “Now what are you hens clucking about and ignoring customers for?” This guy is massive, like a mountain and the Great Wall of China had a baby. Like an orc but hairier. I consider myself a tall woman, but this guy dwarfs me in comparison. 

    “Waiting on you for the most part,” one with dark hair scoffs. She then looks to me. “Sorry about that, how can we help you.”

    “I’m looking for Miranda D’Arpino,” I reply. “I’m her editor.”

    A girl with strawberry blonde hair raises her hand. “That’s my wife!” She cheers.

    “Finance,” the dark haired girl scoffs.

    I wasn’t prepared to meet Miranda’s fiance at all. Not this soon. She rushes up to me and shakes my hand.

    “You’ve come to steal her back, haven’t you?” She winks at me.

    I huff and nod. “In a sense yes.”

    “Uh oh, Rosie has been threatening to fight you,” one of the girls laughs.

    I chuckle. “Well, I don’t intend to fight. I’m just hoping to not lose my best photographer.” 

    Rosie eyes me, looking me up and down. She then crosses her arms against her chest. “She told you that she wasn’t quitting. She’s moved, and she’s not taking big jobs right now.”

    “But I need her for those jobs!” I argue. I then sigh and shake my head. “I’m sorry, but you have to understand the situation I am in.”

    “Miranda isn’t going to like this,” Rosie sighs. 

    I nod. “I don’t like it either.”

    “You may be here for a while,” Rosie says. “Do you have a place to stay.”

    “I was hoping to only be here for the day,” I answer, now realizing how brash that was.

    Rosie shakes her head. “Let me finish here, and I’ll take you to our house. You can stay there unless Miranda says something different.” She turns back to her sisters, and they continue arguing like nothing had stopped them before.

    “New to town, eh?” The giant man says to me.

    I look up at him and reminded how stick thin I am. I look like a matchstick compared to him. “I am,” I mumble.

    “Well, welcome, enjoy the place.” He looks me over, and I feel a bit uneasy. “I’m Ivan by the way.” He then motions across the street. “My dad owns the hardware store here.”

    “Ok,” I murmur, wondering why he’s telling me this. 

    “Is Ivan flirting?” One of the Feth sisters chimes.

    Ivan’s cheeks go dark red, and he scoffs. “I’m just trying to help!”

    “Aww! That’s adorable. Just ask her out for coffee?” Rosie laughs. “We’re gonna be screaming at each other over this display for a while!”

    I stare up at Ivan. My stomach churns. I’m more used to asking people out, that’s always how it had to be for me. I’ve never had a big, hunky man ask me out before. Usually, I only get asked out by weirdos and perverts who saw me as some sort of conquest or wanted to prove something. Ivan seemed shy and clumsy but genuine.

    “I uh-” Ivan rubs the back of his head.

    I shrug. “Sure. Why not?”

    His face to the tips of his ears turns bright red. “Ok, uhm...it’s next door.”

    I follow him, stepping into the cafe right next to the flower shop. I’m impressed, the cafe isn’t some hole in the wall like I expected. It was lovely inside.

    “What would you like?” Ivan asks, his voice cracking slightly.

    I hum and look over the menu. “Espresso,” I start. “And whatever a creme brulee muffin is.” 

    “Those are really good,” he replies. “Go ahead and take a seat, I’ll order for us.”

    I have to admit, Ivan is attractive. A big hulking guy with thick, masculine hands, dark hair that was already graying at the temples even though he couldn’t have been more than thirty. I smirk, seeing that his ass was nothing to laugh at either. He was shy too, which was cute.

    I pick us out a seat, and after a few moments he comes and sits across from me at the table. He sets my muffin down. “The espresso will be here in a second.”

    “Thank you,” I look up at him. “Aren’t you going to have anything?”

    He shakes his head. “I ordered coffee. But I already.”

    “Bug boy like you looks like he needs to eat a lot.” I cut my muffin in half and offer it to him. “You said they were good, right?”

    He smiles shyly and takes the offering. “Thank you.”

    “I don’t like being the only one eating,” I reply. “Makes me self-conscious which I try never to be.”

    “You’re gorgeous, I don’t see why you would ever be.”

    I nearly choke on my muffin. I’ve been called a lot of things in my life, bitch, disgusting, remorseless, freak, maybe sometimes pretty, but never gorgeous. I look up at him, feeling a surge of emotions I hadn’t felt since I was a little thing.

    “Oh, well,” I dab at my mouth with a napkin. “Thank you.”

    He glances aside for a moment then looks back at me with shy puppy dog eyes. “We don’t usually get such glamorous people here.”

    Glamorous he calls me! I bite back my smile, and my espresso and his coffee are delivered. “So what do you do, Ivan?” I ask. “You said you father owned the hardware store?”

    He nods. “I help there sometimes, but I work at the hospital,” he says.

    “Oh, what do you do?” I ask.

    “I’m the head of surgery.”

    I nearly spit out my coffee. “You’re a surgeon?” I gasp.

    He nods. “My mom’s the Chief of Medicine at the hospital,” he replies. “Growing up, I always admired the work she did, so I wanted to follow in her footsteps.”

    Great ass and a doctor? Did I strike gold or what? I’m actually starting to feel nervous around him. “That must be a very stressful job,” I say.

    He nods. “It can be. But I enjoy it, I like helping people.”

    “That’s really admirable,” I reply. “So your dad owns a hardware store, and your mother is a doctor? Do you have any siblings?”

    He smiles. “Two sisters,” he says. “One owns the hobby shop, and the other just moved back to town. She’s done all sorts of jobs, she has like, five degrees.”

    I stare hard at him. “Five degrees? Who the heck needs five degrees?”

    “My sister,” he chuckles. “She’s technically a genius. I think she’s trying to become Bruce Banner.”

    “So is she as big as you?” I ask.

    He shakes his head. “My sister is actually kind of tiny, especially compared to my dad and me. But, you know how like a chihuahua thinks is massive and a great dane thinks it’s tiny? I think that’s how I and my sister work.”

    I chuckle. “So, are you the baby of the family?” I ask.

    I shake my head. “Kamila and I are twins.”

    “Yet she came out tiny, and you came out supersized?”

    “We were both the same size as newborns, I just grew, and she didn’t,” he chuckles. “She likes to tease me and say we were supposed to be triplets, but I ate the other one.”

    “That’s dark,” I scoff.

    He then smiles at me. “What about you?” He asks. “Do you have any family?”

    I clam up. I’m not sure what to say. I do have a family, but we don’t talk anymore? My father called me a disgrace and kicked me out the house when I was eighteen? My mom calls me up drunk to blame me for things out of my control?

    “No,” I answer. “I’m afraid I’m alone in this world.”

    “Oh,” Ivan tilts his head. “That’s too bad. I’m sorry.”

    I laugh. “Don’t be. I’m perfectly fine with it.”

    He looks sad for a moment, he then turns his head as Rosie comes walking in. “You two look cute together,” she says.

    “Are you ready?” I ask.

    She winks at Ivan. “Are you?” She asks me.

    I stand up. “I think so. I think I depressed him.”

    Ivan follows. “You didn’t, really.”

    I smile at him then hand him my card. “Keep it close. You may need it. Thanks for this, I actually enjoyed myself.”

    I follow Rosie. “I parked out back, do I need to follow you in your car?” I ask.

    “Oh no, I always walk to work,” she says, and we head to the parking lot. “Oh wow! That’s a fancy ass car!” She marvels. “I’ve never seen a Porsche in person!”

    I unlock the car, and she climbs inside. She oohs and awes over every little thing, pressing buttons and then squealing. “My ass is hot!”

    I bite back my smiling, trying not to laugh. “Where do I need to go?” She asks.

    “Make a right out here and go up that hill,” she tells me.

    The hill we go up might as well have been something Wile E. Coyote plummeted from. We drive up the cliffside and then to a house that literally is on a cliff. How the hell Rosie ‘walks’ to work is beyond me. I have to admit, the view must be spectacular from the windows. Rosie leads me inside, and I can see Miranda’s taste everywhere.

    “Babe!” Rosie calls out. “Babe, come out! We have a guest.”

    Miranda walks out from the back, dressed in pink gingham pajamas that look too short for her legs. “A guest? You could have called and told me I was just-” she stops when she sees me. “Fukcing really boss?”

    “She had a date with Ivan,” Rosie grins.

    “Not the point,” Miranda puts her hands on her hips. “What’s the big deal, Boss?”

    I huff. “I came to try and talk some sense into you! You can get married and start a family, but why here?”

    Miranda rolls her eyes. “Can we not talk about this now?” She scoffs. “I’ve been trying to work all day, and frankly I have a headache coming.”

    “Then I probably shouldn’t tell you I invited her to stay with us.”

    The look Miranda gives Rosie would have killed a lesser man, but Rosie looks unphased. “I think if she stays here a couple of days she’ll see how great this town is! Then you won’t have to argue with her anymore.”

    Miranda scoffs and shakes her head. “Then you’re making dinner!” 

    “I’m cool with that,” Rosie smirks. “C’mon Boss, I’ll show you to your room.” She takes me towards the back to a room where the back wall is a sliding glass door where the view almost took my breath away.

    “This ok?” She asks.

    “Holy shit, how did you two afford a place like this?” I ask.

    “We got a deal from Ivan’s dad. He owns most of the mountain,” Rosie says as she pulls back the curtains more.

    “So...he’s a doctor with a rich dad?” I ask.

    Rosie eyes me and then glares. “Ivan’s one of my best friends. We grew up together. He’s the nicest person you’ll ever meet, and his heart is both made of gold and as breakable as glass. Don’t be a bitch to him. He’s too good for that.”

    “Oh, I-” I stammer. “I wouldn’t.” I cross my chest. “Scout’s honor.”

    Rosie sniffs. “You do anything to hurt him, even a paper cut, and you’ll be hearing from me,” she growls. She then smiles. “Other than that I hope you enjoy your stay!” She leaves the room so I can get comfortable.

    I unpack my suitcase and set my medicine out on the table. I have enough to last me a few days, I wasn’t planning on staying at all. But now, I may have to call my doctor to call in my prescription of estrogen. 

    I have dinner with Rosie and Miranda that evening, and although I try not to eat fried foods, Rosie made the best fried chicken I’ve ever had. I had two helpings of it as well as her green beans.

    “You better kiss my wife’s ass,” Miranda tells me after dinner. We’re sitting on her back porch, sipping wine while Rosie slices us some pie.

    “Do you really want me kissing your wife’s ass? She may start to like me better,” I smirk at her.

    Miranda chuckles. “I know for a fact she’ll never do that.”

    “She is cute though. Good job catching her,” I say.

    “Quite the opposite really,” Miranda replies. “I was all gung-ho for escaping this town. Rosie was the one who captured me.”

    “So this town is a cult?” I tease.

    Miranda scoffs and rolls her eyes. “Don’t tell me you watch that vlog too?”

    “Watched it, don’t take it seriously,” I laugh. “Don’t worry, I don’t believe there are werewolves in your backyard.”

    Miranda looks away from me and gulps down her wine. “So, are you planning on seeing Ivan more?”

    I shrug. “Maybe. He’s cute and all. Could be fun while I’m here.”

    “Are you going to tell him then?” She asks.

    I tilt my head to one side. “If I’m only going to be here for a few days, what’s the point of telling him?”

    “And what if something happened and it got serious?” Miranda asks. “What then?”

    I scoff. “Then I’d tell him,” I growl. “I’m transgender, I’m not ashamed of that.”

    “Then why not tell him now?” Miranda asks.

    Rosie comes out with the slices of pie then. “Here you go,” she hands me a plate then sits in Miranda’s lap, both of them sharing from the same plate.

    “Ew, you two are disgusting,” I chuckle.

    “Disgustingly in love,” Rosie chirps.

    “Ok, babe, even I think that’s gross,” Miranda kisses her cheek.

    When I step out of the shower that evening, I take a long hard look at myself in the mirror. My breasts are small, I’ve not gotten the top surgery, but the estrogen has given me the cute little ones I’ve got now. I don’t have much for hips, but my waist has always been thin. I run my fingers through my hair, remember how Ivan called me gorgeous and glamorous. He was right about that, but it was nice hearing it from such a handsome man.

    My phone chimes and I see a text message from an unknown number. “This Ivan. Just messaging so you’d have my number.”

    Perfect timing. “I was just thinking about you,” I reply.

    “Were you?” He texts back quick.

    I smirk. “I’m not sure how long my stay is. I didn’t bring enough of my medication with me. When I call my doctor who should I refer him to?”

    “What is it you’re needing?” He asks.

    I hesitate to answer, but I do anyway. “Hormone therapy.” 

    “Oh, then that would be Dr. Amanda Fallon. I’d get your doctor to contact them right away to be safe.”

    “Thank you, I appreciate that.”

    I get dressed, expecting that to be the end of it, but to my surprise my phone chimes again.

    “Would you like to have coffee again?” He asks me.

    I bite my lip.

    “Maybe lunch?”

    I smile. “I’m not a morning person, lunch sounds fine to me.”

    “Ok great. I can’t wait to see you again.”

    I bite back the grin that’s trying to blossom. “Yes, me too.”

    I go to bed, happy to have something to look forward to tomorrow. Although, I wake from my sleep by a harsh shaking. I growl and whine. “Oh my god what?” I look up, seeing Miranda staring over me. “What the fuck?” I huff. “What time is it?”

    “You need to come see this,” she says to me, almost yanking me out of bed.

    She leads me outside where a dead bear is laying in front of my car.

    “What the fuck?” I scream.

    “It’s for you,” she points. 

    I stare at her in horror. I don’t know what to say. There isn’t even anything to say except what I’ve already said! 

    She sighs. “Well, you said you didn’t believe werewolves were in my backyard,” she starts. “That’s not true. In fact, one lives closer than that.”

    “What the fuck are you talking about Miranda?” I laugh at her.

    “Hearthway Hollow is much more than some cute little town. It’s a sanctuary for werewolves.”

    I snort. “Ok, the dead bear is a bit of overkill here. But really?” I scoff.

    “Listen to me,” she scoffs. “I went through the exact same thing when I came here. When Rosie courted me, I about lost my mind. I nearly stole a car to get out of her.”

    “Rosie?” I ask. “Rose your fiance? She’s a werewolf?”

    Miranda nods. “And whoever left you that bear is too.”

    I look at the bear then back at Miranda. “Why would the guy who ate red riding hood leave me a bear?”

    “Because they’re courting you! They want you to be their mate,” Miranda huffs.

    I take a deep breath. “You’re fucking crazy.”

    “Is she?”

    I turn around, expecting to see Rosie. Instead, I see a massive beast. I stare up at them, and I nearly scream until Miranda cups her hand around my mouth. 

    “I’m moving the bear until Adam gets here,” Rosie says. She goes to the bear and puts her jowls around its neck, dragging it out of the way.

    “How?” I gasp when Miranda lets me go. “H-how? What? How?”

    Miranda sighs. “Yeah, I know, it’s too early for you. Come on in, I’ll get you some coffee.”

    “Wolf...bear!” I gasp.

    Miranda takes me inside where she better explains things. She tells me more about Hearthway Hollow and its traditions, including the courtship rituals. Apparently, this ritual started a long time ago to combat some of the more violent werewolf tendencies. Oh my god, I can’t believe I’m saying all this. But the courtship ritual made it so werewolves could choose their mate, show them how they could provide and take care of them, and allow their mate a choice.

    “Well, I say no,” I huff.

    “Just like that?” Rosie asks.

    I stare at her. “Yes! Just like that! I don’t want a werewolf bringing me dead things!” I scoff.

    “You get to keep the meat,” Miranda replies.

    “What am I going to do with a literal ton of bear meat?” I snap. “This is insane! I haven’t even been here twenty-four hours! How can I be getting courted already?”

    “With werewolves, it’s an instant thing. We just know right away who our mate is.” Rosie tells me. She then looks dreamily to Miranda. “I knew. The werewolf courting you knows too.”

    I scoff and shake my head. “Is it Ivan?” I snap.

    Rosie flinches. 

    “The only person I have met outside your family,” I point to Rosie, “is Ivan. Is it him?”

    “I shouldn’t tell,” Rosie murmurs.

    “And what if it was?” Miranda asks. “Does that change anything for you? Does it still make you nervous?”

    “Maybe not!” I snap. I then slouch and hold my head in my hands. “This is so much! Werewolves, courtship, everything.”

    Rosie comes over and puts her arms around me. “Ivan is a good man,” she assures me. “You said so yourself you liked him.”

    I huff. “It’s not him,” I look at her. “It’s me.”

    “What about you?” Rosie asks.

    “Aside from being a bitch you’re ok,” Miranda says.

    I chuckle and grin at her. “She’s right.”

    Rosie smiles at you. “Just give it a chance. If you feel uncomfortable at all, you just have to tell him. That’s all.”

    “He asked me out for lunch today,” I sigh. “I don’t know how to even approach him now.”

    “The same way you would before,” Rosie says. “Just because we’re werewolves it doesn’t change who we are. It just gives you more options in bed.”

    I snort and grin at her. “I can see why Miranda likes you so much. You’re funny.”

    After calming down, the butcher comes to pick up the bear. His name is Adam, and he’s the Alpha of the town, leader of all the werewolves in Hearthway Hollow. That seems hilarious to me because he looks more like an angel and a pirate had a baby. He’s beautiful.

    After that, I drive into town to meet Ivan. I feel incredibly nervous for several reasons, not just the werewolf thing. Well, mainly for the werewolf thing. I meet him in front of the hardware store, and he beams when he sees me.

    “Sorry I’m late,” I tell him. “I had something to clean up this morning.”

    There’s a guilty look to his eye. “Nothing too bad I hope.”

    I smile softly at him. “Nothing too ‘unbearable.’”

    His eyes go wide, and he chuckles. “Ok, so...you know.”

    “Putting two and two together was never my thing, but I know how to add it all up.” I shrug. “So, you’re the big bad wolf.”

    He shrugs. “Big, but not bad.”

    I reach out and take his great big hand, clasping it in mind. “Where are you taking me for lunch, Dr. Werewolf?” I ask him.

    “Oh well,” he mumbles. He squeezes my hand then smiles gently at me. “I was going to see what you liked.”

    “Anything but Italian. I can’t stand Italian food.”

    “Oh wow, I may have to rethink this whole courtship then,” he smiles down at me.

    I grin back at him, feeling a little more at ease. “Can we not...talk about that?” I ask.

    He furrows his brow. “Is there something wrong?”

    I sigh, and my hand slips from his. “I still don’t know how to take it,” I murmur. “Werewolves and rituals and just…” I run my fingers through my hair. “You have no clue as to who I am, and yet you’ve already decided I’m your mate?”

    He retakes my hand. “It’s instinct,” he starts. “I don’t really know how to explain it better, but in my gut and in my heart I know it is you.”

    I shake my head. “What if you’re wrong?”

    He smiles softly at me. “Then I’m wrong,” he replies. “But that’s very rare.” He touches my cheek. “You’re a stunning woman. I want to get to know you better.”

    I look at him and nod. “I want to know you better too,” I agree. “So, you should know, I’m transgender.”

    He smiles. “Like I said, a stunning woman.”

    I sigh with relief. “Thank you, for that.”

    He takes back my hand and kisses it. “Now, there’s this Chinese restaurant next door. It may not look great, but it’s probably the best food in town. Or do you have an issue with Chinese food too?”

    I squeeze his hand. “It’s my favorite actually.”

    He grins at me. “Then let’s start this date.” He leads me inside as my heart leaps into my throat. Dating a werewolf sounds like something from a young adult fantasy series with an unnecessary love triangle. But this Is me, and while I’ms till having trouble wrapping my head around it, it is my romance.