Chapter six

Dr. Scott gave me two gowns so I wouldn't flash anyone on the plane. He tried to hide his snicker of amusement, but I saw the look that passed between him and Derek. I ignored it, put my gowns on, and stomped off toward the main entrance.

The driver didn't blink, but the pilot openly grinned at my attire. I sighed and settled in for the flight. It was a pretty snazzy little plane. Large, leather captain's chairs (that swiveled!) in elegant bone color, a small round cherry table bolted to the floor on one side, and plush navy blue carpeting set off the inlaid wood accents on the walls and the hand-blown glass light fixtures. I buckled in and thanked Derek for the blanket he tucked around me. I don't remember much after that until Derek shook me awake as we were getting ready to land.

"I called ahead. One of my pack will be waiting at my house with some clothes for you. We can go out shopping tomorrow if you like, but you seem pretty beat. Let's get you home and settle in for the day, okay?"

When the pilot opened the cabin door, a brisk wind whistled through my gown. I couldn't help the shiver that ran through me. The pilot handed me the blanket I'd left on my seat.

"Here, take this. It's too nippy for you to be out there without proper clothes."

I thanked him and grinned ruefully as Derek wound the blanket tightly around me. I wasn't expecting him to pick me up, but the next thing I knew we were out the door and Derek was sprinting across the pavement to the waiting car. A short ride later and we were in Derek's SUV heading for my new home.

It felt so weird to think of it as my new home. I had no idea where I was going, what it would look like, or what to expect. Derek was silent as he drove and I found myself reluctant to break the silence. So much had happened so fast that if I thought about it too long I started to panic. What was I going to do now? I couldn't be an accountant, the papers I signed expressly forbid it. I could go to college for something else, but I didn't have a clue what I wanted to do. It was all so sudden and permanent. I found myself wishing I could call Samuel and talk it over with him, but I knew I would never be able to speak with him again.

Bad enough to have to start over. Worse to be doing it completely alone. Though, I did have Derek. Sort of.

He seemed like a decent man. Sort of serious, quiet, but not somber. He'd laughed with me a few times, and joked a bit here and there. I wondered what his house was like and if I'd be comfortable there. Would we get along or would we drive each other nuts? Why had he volunteered to take me home with him? Did he feel sorry for me or was it more an obligation because he'd turned me into a wolf? It was all too much to worry about so I tried to tune it out and look at the countryside.

We were on a little two-lane road that twisted and turned through tree-covered mountains. The trees towered over us, taller than any I'd ever seen before. The pines were so odd; they grew straight up with almost no branches until the upper half sprouted out like a Christmas tree. The further we went, the more remote it became. As we drove, the more leafy trees began to arch up over the road until it looked like we were driving through a tunnel of leaves. It was incredibly beautiful but very different from the somewhat urban area where I used to live.

In only a couple of hours, we pulled up outside a rather modern home. It was sided in cedar and went silver-gray with age and there seemed to be windows everywhere. There wasn't another house in sight, so the windows weren't covered at all. The house was perched on the side of a mountain with trees surrounding it on three sides. The fourth side faced off the edge of a cliff with a breathtaking drop down the mountainside to the Pacific Ocean. There was an oversized deck with a dozen or so Adirondack chairs placed so that people could watch the ocean while chatting. I stepped out of the SUV and took a deep breath of chilly air that was full of the scent of brine. I could just barely hear the waves of the ocean far below us. It was utterly peaceful and I knew that while it wouldn't be easy, this refuge would help me find my place in this new life of mine.

I looked over and found Derek watching me. I couldn't help it, the smile started from somewhere deep inside me and spread over my face. "It's wonderful here. Thank you for bringing me home with you."

I could see the pleasure in his eyes at my words, "I'm glad you like it. C'mon, let's get you inside. We can sit on the deck later if you like."

Derek grabbed his suitcase and my pitiful Wal-Mart bag and led me up the deck and into the house. The inside was open, spacious, and comfortable. There was a large, wood-burning fireplace in the center of one wall with a lot of chairs and sofas grouped here and there. His hardwood floors gleamed in the light with soft, wool carpets adding color and warmth. It had a welcoming feel that made me want to curl up in one of the chairs near the fire with a good book.

"Noelle, are you here?"

Who's Noelle? I wondered. Derek hadn't mentioned a girlfriend or a wife, and surely he would have. Wouldn't he have to clear it with her before bringing a strange woman home with him?

"I'm here, I'm here! I was just making sure her room was ready."

A beautiful young woman came running down the stairs. She was very petite and slender, with long black hair flying out behind her. She turned the corner to take the last of the stairs and stopped dead at her first sight of me. I had just enough time to take in her middle eastern complexion and dark eyes before she shot a glare at Derek that had me thinking, Uh oh.

"Why is she wearing a hospital gown? And no shoes? It's freezing out there!"

One corner of Derek's mouth quivered, "Kimberly, this is Noelle Gregory. Noelle, this is Kimberly Sparks."

Noelle looked back at me, "It's very nice to meet you, but I'm still waiting for my idiot cousin to answer my question."

Cousin? Derek was as white as they come and Noelle looked like she belonged in an Arabian Nights fantasy. I wondered how that was possible, they sure didn't look related.

"I'm not an idiot. She lost her temper and shredded the clothes I bought for her, so she had to wear that."

Noelle glared at him, "Yes, you are an idiot. Are you telling me you don't have a sweatshirt and a spare pair of running shoes in that suitcase you're carrying? How about a pair of gym shorts?"

It was amusing to watch him squirm a little under her baleful stare, "Okay, I'm an idiot."

He sighed and slid one hand through his hair, "I'm sorry, it just didn't occur to me to give you some of my things."

I had to smile, "I didn't think of it either, so I guess we're both idiots."

Noelle rolled her eyes at us and gestured to me, "Come on up and see your room. I brought you some basic items to get you through the night. Derek said we could go shopping tomorrow so you can pick out the stuff you like."

"Now, wait a minute. I said I would take her shopping tomorrow. I never said anything about you tagging along with us."

She shot him a look that would freeze anyone in the place. One of her elegant black eyebrows arched up and she asked, "Since when do I need your permission to go shopping?"

"That's the whole problem. You enjoy it far too much. We'll be there for hours," he growled.

"Derek, this woman doesn't own a single piece of clothing of her own. You'd be there for hours anyway, so just stop growling and deal with it."

Noelle grabbed my plastic bag with one hand and me with the other. "Come on, I put you in the guest suite. It will give you some room and privacy when this house is full of wolves and you want some quiet time."

I looked at Derek and raised my eyebrows helplessly as I felt her tug me up the stairs. After a right turn and down at the end of a hall, she threw open a door and pushed me inside.

I took one look and gasped. There were windows everywhere. It was almost like being outside in the forest. There was a fireplace here, too, though this one looked to be gas. A king-size bed with a beautifully carved headboard was centered on the wall to my right, while a small sitting area in front of the fire was on my left. There was a flat-screen TV mounted on the wall that pivoted just enough so it could be watched from the bed or the sitting area.

Noelle led me further into the room and showed me a large walk-in closet. "I put a couple of pairs of sweats in there, as well as a pair of sneakers, some basic underwear and socks, a couple of t-shirts, and a robe. I was going to lend you some of my clothes until Derek told me how tall you are. We're about the same size, but my jeans would look like capris on you! These aren't much, but tomorrow will fix that."

"Honestly, anything that isn't two hospital gowns and wet socks is a major improvement. Thank you for everything."

"You're going to love this, I promise," she grinned as threw open the door next to the closet.

Inside was the most beautiful bathroom I'd ever seen. A small moan of pleasure escaped me when I saw the double-sink vanity. On the other side of the room was a huge walk-in shower tiled in tiny squares of pale blue and green sea glass with a waterfall shower head. The toilet was tucked behind a partial wall for privacy. At the end of the room was an oversized soaking tub big enough for several people surrounded by more windows.

"Noelle, don't hate me. I can't thank you enough for everything you've done, but I must get in that bathtub right now. It is imperative to my sanity."

She laughed and I knew she hadn't taken offense. "Go. Soak as long as you like. There are towels in the linen closet here and candles, too, if you want them. I brought Chinese food from town for dinner, but that will stay until you're ready."

I already had the taps running before I heard the door close behind her. In addition to towels, there was a variety of bath oils and bubbles in the closet. I picked one at random and dumped some in. I thought it would take forever for that huge tub to fill, but only a few minutes later I was sliding into hot, vanilla-scented water with three or four inches of bubbles on top. I quickly twisted my hair up and tied it in a knot on my head. One thing about having a little natural curl meant I never really needed a clip to keep my hair up. I'd wash it when I was done soaking, but for now, I just wanted to float and forget.

I don't know how long I soaked in the tub. It was the first normal thing I'd done in a while and the whole experience seemed to help me with the thread of panic that always seemed to be running through the back of my mind. It was the first moment I'd had to relax since I woke up in that hospital. When I felt the water starting to turn cool, I sighed and reluctantly climbed out.

My hair still needed washing so I peeked in the shower and found a variety of shampoos, conditioners, and soap. Noelle, it seemed, had thought of everything. After scrubbing my hair, and everything else, I pondered this new body of mine. I'd been in the hospital for over a week and yet I still didn't need to shave. Not my leg, not my pits. What the hell? I decided to ask Noelle about it at some point. It had to be a wolf thing but damned if it made any sense.

Noelle had set my plastic bag on the vanity, so I had a comb to get the snarls out. A quick search through the drawers yielded me a hair blower and I took advantage of it. When I was done, my white and silver hair flowed over my shoulders, stopping a few inches above my waist. I'd worn my hair like this for several years, but it generally got in the way a lot if I left it down. So I started a French braid over my left temple and worked the braid diagonally around the back of my head until it ended at the base of my skull near my right ear. I continued braiding the tail until it hung down over my breast. Another drawer had some basic hairpins and black elastic bands so I borrowed one for the end of my braid.

Noelle had left me a choice of gray or pink sweats. I chose pink with a white t-shirt because the color suited my mood. I pulled them on and went in search of Derek and Noelle. They were in front of the fireplace in the great room with a bottle of wine.

I curled up in a chair next to Derek and smiled my thanks when he poured me a glass, "Feeling better?"

"Yes, much. That bath is wonderful."

Noelle grinned, "I told him I watched you fall in love. He's only a little jealous." Derek shot her a tight look that wasn't quite a frown, but close to it. She only grinned more and I realized she was having a blast teasing him.

"The Chinese place in town isn't much, but it's not too bad. How do you feel about Mongolian beef, General Tso's chicken, and eggrolls?"

My stomach growled loudly enough for them both to hear it. "I feel quite favorably toward all of that."

"I'll go grab it. Be right back."

Derek turned and seemed to search my face for something. "You look better. More relaxed."

I took a deep breath, "It's a lot to deal with all at once. I get to thinking about it and then I start to worry and the next thing I know it feels like I'm going to lose my mind. But the bath helped and I think I'll be okay as long as I just take it one day at a time and stop thinking so much about the future."

"One of the reasons I invited Noelle over is that she has some experience with what you're going through. I thought maybe knowing there is someone you could talk to who would understand it, in a way I never will, might help."

It did. The little contact I'd had with her had been nice and I was beginning to trust Derek enough to take him at his word. "I'll keep that in mind, thank you for thinking of me like that."

"You'll meet the rest of the pack tomorrow evening. I didn't want you to be overwhelmed and you're still healing so I imagine you'll want an early night."

I nodded, "I think that's a safe bet. But I'm ready for some food right now."

Noelle came in carrying a huge tray of food. There was a lot more than the beef and chicken she'd promised. I raised my eyebrows in surprise but she just laughed, handed me a plate, and told me to dig in. We didn't talk much while we ate. Me because I was starving, but I think Derek had warned Noelle not to ask me a million questions. I could sense her curiosity but she very tactfully didn't pry. I wasn't even sure how I should answer questions at this point and I made a mental note to discuss it with Derek before meeting his pack tomorrow night.

Derek filled my glass again when I finally finished stuffing my face. Everything had been delicious and it was an effort not to burp. I looked around at the decimated remains and was astonished to see that we'd eaten almost everything. I guess my surprise must have shown because Derek shot me a wry grin, "I told you wolves have big appetites."

Noelle didn't stay long after we finished eating. I assumed she lived here with Derek, but she laughed when I asked her where she was going.

"Home, silly. I have a place in town. Derek's the only one living out here in the middle of the woods."

After she left, I watched the fire and wondered when I would have my place again. I'd been living on my own for so long that living with someone else was a foreign concept. I was trying to imagine what Noelle's place looked like when I fell asleep in the chair.