The Bad Month

Zeev still didn't budge to Natalia's urges. She was already stepping on thin ice. He was losing his patience with her. Natalia did not give up so easily. "Didn't you say, that you even hate being in this "human" form?" That was a low blow. Probably someone from the pub was listening to his and Roman's conversation.

"What did she say?" Patty mumbled to herself. Zeeve's ears perked up. He did hear her behind him. Natalia did it... she crossed the line. He won't play "nice" anymore. "Leave!" Natalia kept going... "Does she even know, that you can kill her, if you get intimate with her? You didn't tell her, didn't you?" she laughed. "I wish you would kill her, but I won't allow any wrench to take my man's body."

Zeev had enough and tackled her. She wobbled a little and then fell down the stairs. She is a werewolf; a sturdy beast... so nothing much happened to her, just a hurt pride. Crying and naked she ran out of his house. Zeeve turned back to Patty. He wanted to cheer her up, to comfort her, but... She didn't even allow him to touch her.

After she fell asleep, she had a nightmare. A ghostly being was scaring her in her dreams. It was kind of terrifying and it made her to wake up in a hurry. She was petrified, but as soon, as she heard Zeeve's breathing, she calmed down. It made her realize, that despite all of those words from Natalia's mouth, she still felt safe by his side.

He inched closer towards her and laid his hand on hers. "It's very simple. Otherwise, I wouldn't be able to be with you, like I wish." She looked up towards his eyes. "But still, why want you change for a simple human, when you have someone else in your life? Even when it was arranged, but I think your parents wouldn't agree with us two being together. We are two different species, if you want to say it like it is. You should be with your own kind and same for me."

Patty reached over her neck, head and put the necklace with the ring into Zeeve's palm. "NO! This is now yours, because you are now MINE! I gave it to the one I love. I waited years, till the moment I was able to give it to you! What can't you understand?" She was confused about his obsession and love towards her. Where did it come from? "How it is, that you love me for so long, but I never met you before?!"

Zeev laughed a little. "We did meet as kids not once, but twice. I guess it came that time!" He took a deep breath, so he could explain it without getting too emotional.
"It was a hot summer day, when my parents were slain by human hunters. We were not so far from here in the forest, hunting for deer. I was still a pup and learning my first lessons, when we crossed the path of one of them. He called the others. They started to shoot at us.

My parents tried to escape with me, they didn't want to engage in a fight, because they wanted to keep me safe, but they both soon succumbed to their firearms. They weren't ordinary guns, but full of silver. Those hunters were actively hunting for my kind. I fell down the steep mountain, when my mother pushed me as the last attempt to save me. I hid in a empty tree stump, when you found me and reached out.

I was scared I tried to bite you, but as a kid, you were stubborn and took me into your arms and hugged me. Despite being bigger, than you, you had that strength. It felt nice, warm, and for some reason safe. I embraced it. Your father came along and he had a scared look in his eyes. In the distance, I heard the hunters and got scared again. He took us both into his arms and ran far away from that place.

We ended up here in this apartment. I have a fond memory of it. He gave me food, water and cleaned me up. You and me, we spent the time together in each other arms, till he took me back to my people. He was carrying me on his back the whole time, until we crossed paths with Roman and his wife in werewolf forms.

Your father slowly reached for me and put me down in front of them and backed off. They stared him down, but allowed him to leave. Through tears, I explained to the whole village, what had happened to my parents. For the next five years, I lived with Roman and then I left and lived a nomadic lifestyle, till I met you... at the present time.
I would like to meet your father and thank him personally."

Patty flinched. "I should go now. I need to take a walk." He couldn't understand her. "Why? Can't you go another time? It's a heavy rainfall outside." She looked out of the window. "Yes, every year it is like this. I am already used to it and I must go. You can join me, if you want." He hesitated, but didn't want to let her go alone and curiosity bit him too.

They both ended up at the cemetery standing in front of a grave, with Zeev shocked. Patty opened up. "If you still want to thank him, now you have the chance."