Chapter 5: The Problem

“Here in lies the problem.  If I take you home now before I tell you everything, you may say something to someone else and then they will surely think you are crazy.  Even worse, if they believe you, I will be forced to kill them because we can’t have humans knowing that we really exist.”  He says flatly as he stares me down.

Returning to the driver’s seat after shutting my door, he glares at me as if I am a small child who has just gotten in trouble.   “Then what now?” I ask snidely as I try to keep my composure.

“Well, you can stay seated and shut up for two seconds so I can tell you.”  He barks at me as I look out the window impatiently.

“Fine.” I yell while folding my arms around my chest and sitting there as quietly as I can. 

The last thing I need is to fall for him with his overbearing bad attitude.  He is gruff and yet so appealing to me as I sit there, doing my best not to want him to fill me again.  After all, he thinks of me merely as an object to carry his pups, not as someone to fall in love with.

Perhaps he refuses to get close to me because he thinks I will die in childbirth like the friend of his.  However, little does he know that no matter what he does, he can’t get me pregnant, at least not while I am still on birth control.  This is assuming I even agree to be his so-called mate at some point in time in the future.

Smiling, I turn my head to look at him and realize that he has been staring at me the whole time, waiting for me to acknowledge his presence before he continues. 

Looking at me sternly, he sits forward in his seat and stares into my eyes as he begins to weave a fantastic tale of a world quite unknown to me or any other humans for that matter.  But when he asks softly, “Do you have any questions?” I hesitate because I am suddenly too scared to ask.

Realizing that if I don’t, I may never completely understand, I sigh heavily and then ask quickly, “If you start to care and then I die, would you lose yourself completely to the animal inside you?”

Hesitating, he lets his head fall back against the seat before clearing his throat and replying softly, “Yes and no.  That only happened in their case.  Other than that, there is no real evidence, so I won’t know until it happens.”

Now I understand, or at least, I think.  Reaching over, I place my hand on his sweetly before I ask, “Will you take me home now?  I have a lot to think about.”

Gazing into my eyes, he is silent for a moment as it appears he is contemplating it over and over in his head.  Will he take me home?  Or will I end up among so many women on the walls of grocery stores, with missing posters plastered all over?

When he sits up and turns the key, I know my answer, or at least I hope I do.  So, as I smile and stare out the window, I begin to see familiar surroundings on the way back to my place.  Thank goodness he didn’t decide to kidnap me or worse.  Perhaps, I judged him a little too harshly.

Although, the minute he pulls into my driveway, I see his demeanor completely change.  No longer relaxed, he seems the exact opposite while sitting on the edge of his seat and looking at me as if he is about to pounce on his prey.  Could I have been completely mistaken?  Did he bring me back home to kill me and leave me for Kelly to find?

Swallowing hard, I reach for the door before I feel his fingers on my upper arm, stopping me from leaving.  “Ana, I feel that we got off completely on the wrong foot.”  He says with sadness in his eyes as he looks down at me.

“Actually, I don’t know about you, but I got off twice and that was exactly what I believe you were trying to achieve.” I state smartly as I look past him towards the door.

Amazingly enough, he releases my arm and then pauses before he says so softly that it is almost a whisper, “I will be back.  In a few days, I will knock on your door and expect you to come live with me, so be ready when I return.”

I can’t believe that he is telling me that I don’t have a choice.  Of all people.  How can this man be so stupid?

Sighing, I don’t look back as I stand up and quickly walk to the front door.  As soon as I open it, I hear him demand, “Remember, be ready.” 

“Great.  That is all I need.” I murmur under my breath as I turn and fake a smile.

Watching him drive away, I step inside and then take a long, hot shower to wash off all the guilt and the frustration this man has instilled in me.  Yet, there is this strange urge to obey his every demand, and I will never fully understand the way he makes me feel about him.  Finally, as I lie my head on my down filled pillow, I close my eyes as images of this strange man fills my brain. 

Did I just imagine all of this?  Was it merely a dream?  Tossing and turning all night, I finally get out of bed and grab a glass of milk before sitting down at the table.  As I look out the window and stare at the full moon, I find myself wondering if the story he told me was the truth or not?  Surely, it is at least a bit because he turned into an animal in front of my eyes.

After drinking the last sip of cold milk, I watch as a small rabbit hops across the yard playfully.  Is this what they eat to survive?  Or do they eat us?  We never did get that far.

With so many questions and so few answers, I sit there with my head in my hands before I finally fall asleep at the table.  The whole time I have dreams of werewolves and vampires masquerading as humans.