In the Shadow of Moonlight - Ch. 24

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#24 of In the Shadow of Moonlight

A young woman becomes a werewolf and finds she strongly identifies with her wolf side. Eventually, she must choose between the human world and the wild.

Following her heart, Sophia makes an ill-advised decision.

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Chapter 24

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Should I have rejected the invitation to hang out with Maggie? Sophia asked herself for the thousandth time after leaving the Outdoors Club meeting. It would have been a great way to make friends. Human friends. And rejecting shopping to go to the mountains when it's almost winter is definitely not what a normal girl would do.

A glance at the wall clock showed there were only ten minutes left of school for the day. It had been a long twenty-four hours and every time she thought about changing plans and meeting up with Maggie agitated the wolf that now seemed to reside in her all the more. Unable to focus on class, she tried to occupy herself by doodling in the margins of her notebook.

Someone in a seat in front of her raised their hand, and a sudden wave of oddly metallic deodorant caused her to mess up the line she was drawing. But I'm no longer a normal girl. Why couldn't I be normal? Why can't I want to be normal?

The more she tried to force herself to consider heading to Bruin's, the more she found herself aching to hear the sound of trees swaying in the wind and the bite of the cold on her cheeks. She missed the strong scent of pine in the crisp mountain air... the feeling of her claws digging into the frozen ground... the taste of warm, fresh meat and blood as her fangs sank into muscle and bone...

"Alright class," Ms. Evans, her sociology teacher, announced loudly. "I want you to answer the three questions at the end of chapter twelve for tomorrow."

Sophia looked down at her notebook thoughtfully, the page was mostly blank aside from the left margin of her notebook. There, she had roughly drawn the face of a girl - a girl with the fangs and sharply angled ears of a wolf.

Wolfgirl, the two syllables echoed through her head.

Quickly, before she forgot, she wrote down the assignment and started organizing her things. The final bell rang and she was out the door before most students had even stood from their desks.

That should do for a couple of hours, Sophia looked down at her backpack sitting on her bed. I'm just going for a walk. I'll be back with plenty of time to finish my homework.

Haphazardly, she gathered the school books, folders and notebooks she had emptied out of her backpack into a pile. Increasingly feeling claustrophobic in the house, she picked up the backpack and inspected it. So far, the safety pins she had been using to patch the hole that some critter had created seemed to be holding.

Almost ready, she assured the restless Wolfgirl that she had taken to imagining pacing around her mind as she laced her boots. I'm not furry today.

The assurance didn't seem to calm the wolfish figment, if anything she became more insistent. When Sophia had arrived home, she had contemplated dropping her backpack at the front door and heading straight for the wilderness. However, Sophia's more rational mind won out, insisting she at least get her boots and a water bottle.

I don't know the difference between what I want or she wants, Sophia grabbed her boots and headed for the kitchen. That should bother me, but it's been so hard restraining myse... her. I feel so much more alive when I'm her.

Sensing it was at the cusp of freedom, the Wolfgirl pushed all the harder against the restraints Sophia had placed on her. Barely taking the time to pull the knot on her last boot tight, Sophia stood up so fast she nearly knocked over the kitchen chair she had been on. Unable to be contained any longer, Wolfgirl pushed Sophia out the backdoor as fast as her legs could carry her. It took nearly a superhuman effort just to pause long enough to close the door.

Tonight, I'm her, Wolfgirl wanted to run and Sophia ran.

The weather had warmed up above freezing over the last couple of days and patches of mud punctuated piles of slushy snow. Her boots were caked in mud by the time she was across the field and her breaths were fast and hard. Ahead of her, the world was a mess of whites, grays, yellows and browns and a damp, rotting smell seemed to permeate everything. With every step, her backpack bounced against her back, causing her shirt to wick the sweat from her increasingly drenched back.

Despite the dour state of the land around her, each step which carried her away from the world of dead wood and flame wrought metal felt lighter than the last. In Sophia's mind's eye, it wasn't her, but Wolfgirl bounding towards the mountains and taking in every scent on the wind. Finally, as trees started to grow in frequency and the land started to slant upwards, increasing fatigue forced Wolfgirl to slow her gait. Pausing briefly to take a long drink of water, Wolfgirl resumed her prowl.

Everything is so different today, Wolfgirl took in her body and the world around her as she walked. I feel like I'm numb...

Each step felt distant as her foot was insulated from earth and stone by soft cotton and hard leather. Her hands, separated from the world by wool and polyester, felt like they were trapped in a warm cocoon. There was no feeling of the wind through thick fur, only the feeling of cloth rubbing against bare, human skin. Instead of her ears freely rotating towards an unexpected sound, the world was eerily silent.

Most disorienting of all, no rich tapestry was meticulously detailed by her sense if smell. Where Sophia had felt overwhelmed by the unfamiliar sensitivity of her nose over the past few days, Wolfgirl felt almost blind now. Thrilled as Wolfgirl was to be away from the artificial human world, she felt anxious and vulnerable with the stunted olfactory and auditory senses available to her.

I have no claws or fangs today, Wolfgirl shivered, as a draft of cold air made its way down her sweaty back. No fur either.

Icy fear swirled through her mind as she became keenly aware of the ruthless hostility of the world she had entered.

I don't belong out here, Wolfgirl seemed to waver and fade as Sophia felt panic rising. I should have gone shopping.

At the thought of the safe, but artificial human world, Wolfgirl recoiled strongly. She far preferred the freedom of the wild to a sterile cage - even with a form ill-equipped for the former.

No, I won't go back yet; I can't, Wolfgirl overcame her feeling of vulnerability and reasserted herself. At least for a little while.

Still, the lengthening shadows created by the rapidly setting sun made Wolfgirl uneasy. She was all too aware she'd be lacking the lupine night-vision she'd had just a few nights before. Ahead, branches formed fearsome shapes in the gloom that dissolved as she got closer. It wouldn't take much for a cougar or bear to hide in the darkness until it was too late.

I suppose a bear would be hibernating at least, Wolfgirl stopped as a smell of interest grabbed her attention.

It took another half a second before Sophia's conscious brain caught up and recognized it as the faint scent of animal scat. Although Wolfgirl couldn't make out anything on the forest floor in the dim light, she traced it to a pile of pine needles. Getting to her hands and knees, she sniffed at it even as melted snow soaked into the knees of her jeans.

It was definitely scat and... that was about all she could tell. After a few more sniffs, she gave up detecting anything useful from it in frustration. Her sense of smell was just too human.

This is fun, Sophia got back to her feet. But it's almost dark and it's getting cold; I really need to head back,

Wolfgirl didn't seem to hear however and was busy getting excited over something new in the air. Furrowing her brow, she tilted her head back and sniffed. Sophia couldn't consciously identify anything, but Wolfgirl was absolutely certain something was there. Taking a step forward, she continued sniffing.

Shadow! Joy blossomed in her chest at the recognition. He's close!

Although she couldn't even begin to describe how, Wolfgirl recognized it as sure as she would her own scent. All her worries vanished and she strained to determine which direction the scent came from. Alas, even as comparatively superhuman as it was, her nose proved inadequate for the task.

He'll have to find me, Wolfgirl began pacing impatiently, the sound of her boots loud in her ears. At least he'll be able to hear me.

By the time she heard a quiet *chuff* behind her, Wolfgirl was starting to worry. The thin denim of her jeans made for poor insulation in the falling temperature and her thighs were starting to feel numb. Hunger was starting to gnaw at her and she became keenly aware she had not brought food.

However, all her discomfort was forgotten in her elation at hearing the familiar sound. Wolfgirl turned, trying in vain to wag a tail that wasn't there. For a moment, she could see nothing, but then moonlight glinted off a pair of approaching eyes. Wolfgirl got onto her hands and knees in preparation to meet her friend in the manner of a wolf.

Shadow gave a soft, questioning whine and Wolfgirl was disappointed she couldn't understand him like she had a few nights before. Still, it wasn't hard to guess the source of his confusion.

"I changed back," she told the wolf regretfully. "Well, mostly."

Shadow whined again, but this one sounded worried. Wolfgirl could hear his claws clicking against the hard ground as he slowly approached her.

"I probably shouldn't be out here, but I couldn't stand being away any longer," Wolfgirl admitted.

Silence fell for several seconds, and then what sounded like a deep, but pleased yip came from the darkness. The sound of nails clicking against the ground started again, faster this time. Although she still couldn't really see him, Wolfgirl started crawling forward as fast as she could. Excitement and relief washed through her as her nose contacted his leathery snout. Opening her mouth instinctively, she reciprocated his greeting licks as they slid across her teeth.

I hope he's not offended, Wolfgirl felt a flash of shame as she leaned in to run her small, inadequate human tongue across his long incisors. Wow, this feels sooo good.

Eager to feel his fur against her cheek, Wolfgirl stopped licking and brushed her cheek against the short fur on his muzzle before leaning forward to rub her shoulder along his torso. Several layers of clothes dulled the sensation, but she could have melted into his soft, but strong side.

As she was rubbed against him, an electric thrill emanated from her nose as she caught a whiff of a faint, but musky aroma. Her breath caught at the unexpected sensation and she had to exhale sharply. After finding a proper breathing rhythm again, Wolfgirl inhaled slowly, trying to draw in as much of the scent as she could. The feeling of electricity started up again and she let herself fall into it. The wave spread through her chest, across her stomach and then went further.

Sighing pleasurably, she felt her panties suddenly getting wet as her fluid lubricated down below. She jerked slightly as wet fabric brushed against her suddenly swollen and sensitive folds. The smell of vaginal fluid joined with Shadow's own masculine scent. Heat flooded through her and she suddenly felt extremely hot. Reaching up, she yanked off her hat, letting her ponytail fall across her shoulder.

He smells sooo good, Wolfgirl rubbed her face in his side luxuriating in the feel of his thick fur, wishing she could rub every inch of her body against his.

Shadow let out a quiet yelp as he suddenly tensed. Wolfgirl could feel his muscles shifting as his tail rose. She spread her legs slightly as she imagined him clambering on her back, his rod poking at her folds and then sliding into her wet entrance...

No! Sophia's eyes widened as she felt another round of warm fluid trickle out of her. I can't! This is wrong!

Mentally flailing about, she tried to picture Logan, someone, anyone. Slowly, she felt her arousal ebb and she realized she was panting. Shadow let out a disappointed whine as she withdrew her face and shoulder from his side.

"I'm sorry," she apologized sharply. "I like you, but not like that. I mean, you're a wolf and I'm human."

Am I? Wolfgirl felt herself blush. Am I not a werewolf? A wolf-girl?

"And there's a boy," Sophia explained, trying to distract herself.

Shadow let out a low, menacing growl that made Sophia's blood chill.

"Ah, we're not going out... yet. I've wanted... I want to," Sophia babbled on. "He's attractive; I mean you're attractive too, for a wolf."

Sophia sat on the ground, her damp panties clinging uncomfortably to her still blood-engorged labia.

"I guess I'm a werewolf, but..." she hugged her knees close, flustered. "Oh, why does this have to be complicated."

Shadow let out a chuff before stepping out into a moonlit patch of ground. Sophia's face reddened at the silhouette of a long rod-like appendage underneath the wolf, although she couldn't bring herself to look away. Distantly, she realized she was shivering and getting very tired all of a sudden.

Oh, I can still smell him, Wolfgirl quivered.

Stepping forward, he caught the sleeve of her coat with his teeth and gently pulled.

"Come with?" Sophia asked hesitantly, starting to shiver violently. "Just a minute."

Luckily, she had dropped her hat close by and she pulled it down over her ears. Shadow waited patiently in the moonlight until she stood. By this point, Sophia's legs were quite numb and she couldn't help her teeth chattering. The big wolf yipped and started trotting away. Folding her arms around herself, Sophia unsteadily followed.

So cold... Sophia stumbled over an unseen root, barely keeping her balance.

After a few dozen yards, Shadow stopped in front of a bulge in the hill and whined softly. There, a large pine tree had fallen, excavating a large hole in the side of the hill with its roots. Shadow nudged her leg tenderly and Sophia dropped to all fours and crawled into the small cave. Lying down on the hard ground, she struggled to get her backpack off before curling up into a ball.

What little light there was in the cave disappeared as Shadow clambered in after her. Wiggling forward, he shifted his back until it was pressed up against her. Grateful, Sophia uncurled as much as she could and embraced his warm body. After several long minutes, feeling started to return to her legs and her violent shivering subsided.

"Thank you," Sophia whispered.

For the next ten minutes, Sophia just lay there, holding Shadow tightly. With her face pressed into his back, her nose was saturated with his scent and she could think of nothing she wanted more. When she felt she could move again without shaking, she uncurled a bit.

"It was foolish to come out here," she admitted. "I wanted to feel like I did during the full moon. I was so happy and felt like I could do anything."

Shadow made no noise, only wiggled further back against her.

"I didn't even think werewolves existed two months ago," Sophia continued. "Now I am one and all I can think about is how miserable I am when I'm not trying to be a wolf."

Her stomach growled and she felt Shadow raise his muzzle briefly. She laughed miserably.

"It doesn't help me, but I brought you something," she said, reaching behind her for her backpack.

Dragging it over herself, she wrestled the middle zipper open with a gloved hand. Immediately, the cave was filled with the savory smell of the doggy treats she had been saving. Her mouth watered as Shadow squirmed excitedly. Taking one out, she held it in front of Shadow, letting him sniff it. Then, she felt a tug as he clamped his mouth down on it, his teeth clicking. She giggled softly as he noisily chewed.

"They do smell good," she grabbed another one out of her bag and sniffed it. "I guess what's good for a wolf is good for a wolf-girl."

It smelled slightly stale, but it had a savory, meaty aroma to it. Bringing it to her mouth, Sophia bit into it. To her delight, it had a strong beef-like flavor. Overcome by hunger, she scarfed it down, licking at the crumbs that had fallen onto Shadow's fur. Grabbing the last two in her bag, she gave one to Shadow before consuming the other. Feeling better, she basked in the feeling of the wolf's powerful body.

He's so caring, so loving, Sophia thought. I'm a werewolf; would having a wolf for a boyfriend really be so wrong? I don't have to do... all that.

"I love you," she whispered and gave the wolf's head a lick.

Shadow's tail jerked and she felt him gently lick her gloved hand that was draped across him. Feeling safe and her hunger sated for the moment, Wolfgirl closed her eyes and smiled.