Getting Answers

"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Allegra asks over the rushing water of the shower.

"You're the one who was excited about there being a pack," you remind her.

It's been about a week since you and your two friends paid a visit to the haunted house your brother manages. A week since your life got severely changed. Maybe for good. At least it feels good. You've got a girlfriend now. You occasionally turn into a big surly hellbeast. Your girlfriend is into that, so that's smoothed over a lot of worries you might have otherwise had.

And as far as the outside world is concerned, you've always been like this. People definitely treat you differently, but it's not like they're noticing the change in you, it's just that this is where you fit in the world since that damned machine loaded you up with muscle, attitude, and a supernatural monthly visitor.

It's taken some getting used to. You and Allegra stuck pretty closely together for the first couple of days, so you could warn each other if either of you started to slip and shift. That worked for the most part, but you've found that being around each other while shifting also tends to send both of you spiraling into the hairy scary. That was fun a few times, but you both agreed it's a pretty big risk.

And now you're getting ready to meet the pack. Because there definitely is one. You weren't the only girls who wound up weird after meeting Lilith's crew at the haunted house, and you've been spotting them around town all week. Tall, muscular, and rowdy to the last. A fair bit of leather and wild hair up top. Like they were born to this. You guess that's how you and Allegra look to them too, so you're not about to complain.

It was about midweek that one of them finally approached you. A bitch with a tall-crested mohawk dyed purple, snakebite piercings dangling from her lower lip. A part of you idly wondered how that looks when she shifts, but that might've just been your mind running away with the first whiff of her musk confirming she's like you. She introduced herself as Roxy, and told you the pack is getting together over the weekend.

She also mentioned Lilith was going to be there. It seems she's kept up with the new infectees. You'd think it sounds like she's leading this new pack, but when the two of you last talked, it seemed like she's just keeping things warm for you. That's something Roxy seemed keen on too, as she said the girls are all eager to meet you.

And that's tempting, you know? You already feel badass, but here you'd be the alpha bitch. Whatever weird D&D bullshit your brother wrote up that's running your life now, it's still good to be the top dog.

Besides, that means if Lilith is trying something shady they'd listen to you instead.

Right?

It's all a bit much to think about in the shower. You've found that you never really shed that edge of animal musk, though with a good shampoo and body wash you can at least mask it to the point that you don't reek of wet dog. Still you've definitely got signs that you're not quite human, and they're at their most obvious when you're stripped down. Ever since your first shift your nipples have been so dark as to almost look black in the right light. Sometimes there's more than just two, which is as awkward as it is thrilling when they decide to make their presence known under your clothes. Allegra is always amused when she sees you squirm and realizes what's happened.

Then there's your body hair. You've found that you can at least keep some of it neat if you shave in the morning, but your legs and armpits almost always have stubble by the evening. There's no helping the jungle between your legs. You've tried shaving that thick thatch of unruly red hair, revealing your dark, animal netherlips. As interesting as that was, it was growing back already as soon as you rinsed off.

So you're a committed bitch. What's not to like?

And then you realize Allegra is still talking.

"Look, I'll admit that I'm not entirely opposed to hanging out with a bunch of... our kind?" She says idly over her shoulder as you step out of the shower and start toweling off.

"They're probably the only people in town who really get what we're going through," you note as you wring your hair into a towel and reach for the blow-drier.

"I guess I'm just... well, we've only kind of started figuring out what we are to each other, right?"

"You're my girlfriend," you reply without hesitation. "I'll even say you're my mate if that feels right to you."

You're not looking in her direction, but your twitching ears can hear the little noise that escapes her lips just before the bedsprings squeak a bit from a full-body shudder.

It damned well does feel right to her.

It takes a moment before she manages to speak again.

"...what if Lilith's there?"

"I'm pretty sure she will be," you chuckle. "She's got nothing on you, babe."

"Damn," she snorts. "I might need to hear you say that a few more times so it sinks in."

You can hear the smile in her voice, though.

"So let's raise some hell, yeah?" You grin in her direction.