Chapter 9

   Scarlett pov

“Oh, honey! Werewolf claws, can you believe it? Snagged them from the store down the street, and I just know you’re about to lose it! Just kidding,” my voice was barely a whisper because I was still trying to pull myself together. 

Seriously, it was wild how she just waltzed into my room like she owned the place without even knocking. I shot her a look while I stayed curled up on the floor, hoping the clueless wonder would take the hint and scream. 

“Alright, since you’re obsessed with werewolves, I guess I’ll be on my way.” She looked all kinds of confused, but I could see the suspicion brewing in her eyes. 

“Marian!” I called out as she turned to make her exit.

“What’s up, Scarlett?”

“I’ll catch the bus or something to work, so don’t stress about me.” 

“Oh, I’m not worried at all. Just get your butt off the floor and put some clothes on. I’ll be waiting outside.”

I nodded, blinking like a lost puppy, trying to nudge her out the door with my head. 

“I’m on my way out already!”

As soon as she shut the door behind her, I sprang to my feet, racing to the mirror. My claws were gone—vanished without a trace. A wave of disbelief washed over me; this was a transformation gone horribly wrong. 

A smirk crept onto my lips, but my cheeks flushed with embarrassment as I realized my hair was a tangled mess.

“Oh no!” I could only imagine how wild I must have looked to Marian. She might think I had completely lost my mind.

I dashed into the bathroom, my heart pounding with anxiety, a torrent of thoughts crashing over me like a storm. What if she discovered my true self? I wouldn’t hesitate to protect my secret, even if it meant hurting her. 

My hand fumbled for the shower tap, and as the water poured over me, I closed my eyes, trying to drown out the relentless visions that haunted me after each transformation. Memories of my son flooded back, reminding me of the sacrifices I made to keep him safe.

Leaving our home was a choice I had to make, but that coward of a husband, Markus, didn’t care about our well-being. I often wondered how I ended up with someone so weak. 

“I miss my family!” I whispered, feeling a rush of adrenaline surge through me, electrifying my veins. I trembled, slowly sinking to the floor. Shaking my head, I longed for peace—for myself and my family. Just as I was lost in my thoughts, Marian’s voice shattered my moment of solitude.

“I’m coming in to bathe you.”

“No, stay back! I’m done unless you’re secretly a lesbian and after my ass or my Virginia!” I shouted, my voice reverberating off the walls.

Marian's laughter bounced off the walls, followed by her cheeky comment, "Well, someone's got a bit of a spark today! And no, Scarlett, I’m not eyeing your... ahem, assets. Just checking if you need a hand." 

I let out a sigh, caught between relief and embarrassment. "Just give me a sec, alright?"

"Take your sweet time, Scar. I’ll be in the kitchen brewing some coffee. You know, to help you recover from your... werewolf hangover?" Her playful tone had a sneaky hint of curiosity.

I groaned internally. Marian was inching closer to the truth, and I couldn’t let her stumble upon my secret. Not now, not ever.

After my shower, I mentally kicked myself to be more careful around Marian. Sure, she was my new friend and I was crashing at her place, but my secret was a ticking time bomb, especially after the whole Markus fiasco.

I wrapped a towel around myself and stepped out, spotting Marian in the kitchen, coffee in hand, gazing out the window like she was pondering the meaning of life.

"Hey," I said, trying to play it cool.

Marian turned, concern etched on her face. "Hey, Scar. You alright? You looked a bit... off earlier."

I plastered on a smile. "Just a little stressed, that’s all. Work’s about to get wild."

Marian nodded, but her gaze lingered on mine, as if she was searching for something deeper. "If you ever want to spill, I’m all ears."

My heart did a little flip of gratitude, but I knew spilling wasn’t an option. Not about this. Her words echoed in my mind—what was she really getting at?

"Thanks, Marian. That really means a lot." I glanced at the clock. "We should hit the road. Don’t want to be late for work."

As we stepped out, I couldn’t shake the feeling that Marian was scrutinizing me more than usual. I had to keep up my act, no matter how tough it got.

Stepping out beyond the gate in my little gown, I made sure to adjust it to a knee-length style, just like Marian advised. She insisted I should channel my inner lady instead of rocking my usual baggy jeans and Polo. When she turned to check me out, a smile broke across her face.

 "You look stunning, Scar! This has to be your go-to outfit; you’re practically a celebrity!" 

“Oh please, save the compliments! I can’t even picture myself in this dress.”

Marian chuckled. "Come on, Scar, you're selling yourself short. You have a killer figure, and that dress hugs all the right curves. You should dress up more often."

I rolled my eyes, feeling a blush rise to my cheeks. "You're just saying that to make me feel better."

"No, I'm serious!" Marian insisted. "You look stunning. And I'm not just talking about the dress. You have this... glow about you today."

I shifted uncomfortably, unsure how to respond. The glow she was referring to was probably the aftermath of my transformation, but I couldn't tell her that.

"Thanks, Marian," I said, trying to downplay the compliment. "Let's just focus on getting to work on time."

As we walked to the bus stop, I couldn't help but feel self-conscious in the dress. It was a far cry from my usual tomboyish style, and I kept adjusting the hem to ensure it didn't ride up too high.

I get to fake my identity the second time, rubbish!