Enchanting deception

Roommates

The next morning Tase and Titan woke up to soft humming and the smell of freshly made waffles. He stretched carefully and barked excitedly at Adalinda. She turned around and smiled. The morning light, illuminated her making her eyes and hair pop out even more.

- Good morning roommate! Breakfast is ready soon, although I don't know if doggies like waffles. Till I finish breakfast, do you want to go out a little? - Titan barked and Adalinda opened the heavy lock on the door.

- Don't wander too far away! - she said and Titan rushed out into the piled up snow. They checked the house from the outside. The house was built inside a huge, mossy old stump. Had one floor where Adalinda's bedroom was located and the base floor, where there was the living room, bathroom, and kitchen. They took a stroll around the house and Tase said.

- Buddy, if I have to stay like this, how on Earth will I eat and use the restroom? - Titan laughed at Tase.

*- Like a wolf!

- Yuck! No!

*- Come on! We are counterparts!

- I'll have to get used to it I guess. - soon they heard a cute whistle.

- She really thinks we are a dog... - Tase said and they marched back to the house. Adalinda prepared a big plate with waffles on the table. She pulled one of the chairs away and set a plate for them.

- I think you are high enough to reach the table without a chair. Good appetite doggie! - she said and dug in her own portion. Tase ate his breakfast and they both admitted that she was a great cook. After breakfast, Adalinda washed the plates and went to the living room followed by her new companion.

- Do you want me to read you a story? - she asked and Titan put his big head on her lap. Adalinda's eyes widened and she cooed.

- Oh! You want cuddles?! I'll give you cuddles! Come here! - she sat on the carpet and started to pet Titan's head and back.

- Your fur is so soft and beautiful! - Her touch and voice was calming and the scent of honeysuckles filled the room getting on Titan's fur as well. Titan heard a cracking sound from the outside and rushed to the window snarling. There was something hiding in the forest. Adalinda walked next to him and pet his head soothing him.

- Sh... Don't worry, those bad wolves won't come here again. - Adalinda said, her kind and cute voice had a sharp edge this time which only made Tase and Titan more curious about the girl.

- I wish she could understand us without shifting back. - Tase said.

*- If she were part of our pack she might be able. But she is definitely not a wolf.

- Other creatures could become pack members as well usually. But... We don't have a pack anymore.

*- In this case, try to mind-link her. It might work! As a lone wolf you maybe able to make a connection with her. - Tase concentrated to reach Adalinda's mind and kept calling her name.

- Adalinda. Adalinda. Adalinda. Can you hear me? - suddenly Adalinda caught her head up and started to look around.

- Who is there? - she asked and got up walking to the windows carefully.

- Did you heard that as well? Someone called my name! - she said with a little curiosity in her voice, but she moved cautiously.

-It works Titan! - Tase said happily in their shared mind and Titan wagged his tail.

- It was me Adalinda! I'm the one calling you! - Tase said and she turned around. Their eyes met and she gasped.

- Repeat it.

- I'm the one calling you, Adalinda. - she laughed and started to walk up and down.

- I've been alone for too long. It looks like I'm going crazy! The doggie is talking to me in my head!

- You are not going crazy Adalinda! I'm really trying to talk to you. - she stopped and walked to the boys. She grabbed Titan's big head and pushed her forehead against his.

- What are you? - she asked and the atmosphere in the room got colder.

- I'm a shifter Adalinda. - she released Titan's head and took a cautious step back. With a sceptical expression on her cute little face she asked.

- Shifter? What kind? - Titan sat down and Tase connected to Adalinda's mind again.

- I'm a werewolf - with eyes wide open Adalinda ran up to her bedroom. Titan and Tase rushed to the bottom of the stairs and stopped there as they heard her shutting the door closed.

*- Should we follow her? - Titan asked and Tase shook his head.

- Let's wait. - Adalinda shut her door closed and sat with her back pressed against it.

What!? A werewolf? Will he eat me like in the fairytale the wolf ate red ridding hood?! Mom and Dad told me about shifters but I've never seen one in person except for Denise... What should I do? His eyes... They look like his. She got up and opened the door slightly peaking out. Adalinda saw the wolf sitting patiently at the bottom of the stairs. She took a deep breath and gathered her courage. If he was dangerous I was already dead. Also... I want to have some company and no one stayed with me before. I have to be brave for what I want! Come on Lin! Don't be a coward. It's not like he can do you any harm if you are careful! - Adalinda hit her cheeks gently and kept thinking. - What do you know about werewolves? Oh... They are naked when they shift back... So I'll need some clothes for him. Adalinda walked to her huge chest at the end of her bed. It held all the memories of her deceased family. Some pictures, jewelry, and clothes. She grabbed a robe and opened the door. At the bottom of the stairs Titan and Tase waited but they became more and more impatient with every passing minute.

- We maybe should just leave.

*- I agree. She is cute but weird. I mean her scent is overwhelming... - as soon as Titan said this, a long robe fall down the stairs right in front of them.

- Shift back and let's talk that way! These voices in my head are creepy! - Adalinda screamed and Tase chuckled. He shifted back. Due to the injuries and lack of experience the shift was still somehow painful but nothing compared to the first time. He put on the dark blue robe and screamed up.

-You can come down now! - soon he heard the now familiar footsteps carefully coming down the stairs and Adalinda stopped in the middle. Her jaw almost dropped at the sight of the young man. He was so handsome! Amber eyes, pitch black hair, strong jawline. He was really tall compared to her and several years older as well. Although he wore a robe, she could see his fit body and wide shoulders.

- What's your name? - she asked in a low voice.

- My name is Tase Hidalgo. The youngest son of Alpha Gordon and Luna Emily Hidalgo. My wolf is called Titan, you already met him previously. - Adalinda kept her distance and sat down on the stairs. Tase chuckled.

- What's so funny?! - Adalinda asked and crossed her thin arms across her chest puffing her face a bit annoyed.

- Sorry! It's just interesting that you keep your distance from a human, but a bear sized wolf wasn't a problem at all.

- I got used to the animals, but I haven't met a human in long time. - she admitted. Tase sat at the bottom of the stairs and looked up at the little girl. She seemed now so lonely and fragile.

- Thank you for saving us and treating our wounds. - Tase said after a brief pause. Adalinda smiled at him.

- No biggie! But... May I ask what happened to you? Why were those ugly wolves hurting you? - Tase told her all he knew so far and at the end of the story he got surprised by Adalinda. She rushed down the stairs and hugged Tase strongly, she tried to be careful with his injuries.

- I'm so sorry for your loss and because of how I acted! You can stay with me if you want! - she said and Tase hugged her back. His heart fluttered a little by the closeness and kindness of the girl. He needed this little comfort after the tragedy and he cried a bit resting his head on the slender shoulders.

- Thanks, but, I don't want to be a burden. - Adalinda broke the hug and frowned her eyebrows.

- You are not a burden to me! We can be each other's family! - she said extending her pinky and Tase laughed between his tears.

- Sounds nice. Although, werewolves live in Packs.

- Then let's make a Pack! Tase grinned and they shook their pinkies.

- Deal! We will find a name later. - after a short pause he asked.

- How did you end up here all alone? - Adalinda smiled and got lost in her thoughts for a moment before she started.