Yes, barely

Rondo nuzzled into her neck and she felt his tongue slide across her throat. He nipped at her ear, letting her feel his teeth but not breaking skin. Even though she couldn't see it, she knew that he was slowly starting to change. His face was becoming more elongated and his teeth were becoming fangs. She gave a muffled yelp when his teeth found her ear and he seemed to be snapped out of his desires.

He pushed off of her and leaned against his tree again, breathing heavily and not meeting her eyes. She could see now that Rondo was a frail man. Although he had all this raw power at his disposal, he tried hard to rein it in. And he had convinced his "Wolf" to help as well.

"Sorry miss. The name's Lobo. That's what the pup, Rondo, calls me at least. His mental state isn't what it used to be. So when things get too tough, I take over. He wanted you and was afraid of you, so it drew me out. I'm more impulsive than he is so please forgive me for that."

Venus slowly released her sword and closed her eyes. She knew that she couldn't back off now without taking the chance of provoking him. So she decided to forge on ahead.

"I'm here for your father."

"Rondo's father."

"He is your father as well. One body, two people. He is worried about you. And your mother is dying."

Rondo's eyes flew up to hers and she saw them change again. Now she had the man, not the wolf.

"My mother? What happened?"

"She grew ill and time has not been good to her. Your father said the healers are just trying to make her comfortable, but she wants to see you once more before she dies."

Rondo shook his head sadly.

"I'm a monster! If I walk into that town... I can barely keep myself from doing things to you because of how you smell and how I hear your every breath and heart beat, and you've faced my kind before. I can smell it on you, the blood and the pain. If you can't control those enough to stop me from becoming... aroused... How can I expect innocent people to? I could hurt them!"

"You arn't a monster! I have seen and killed them. You have so much more control. Even your wolf side is gentle and hasn't hurt me. I will be right there with you so even if things do get bad, I can help."

She saw the eyes change again and a sly smile crept onto his face. Lobo was back and he was up to something.

"I can make him go and I can keep us in line. But I'll will need you there. Having you there will help Rondo stay calm. But I am going to need a little assurance first."

"What kind of assurance," She said as she narrowed her eyes at him.

He grinned and she could see that he truly was wolfish in this state.