Chapter 1

I stuffed my hands in my dark grey sweater. Jeez it was cold today.Puffs of snow floated down and one flake landed on my dark brown hair.I shuffled awkwardly along the side walk thinking about home. I would have to cook dinner for my dad after I got groceries . . . I had been totally focused on my thoughts that I didn't notice a low growling from the bushes. I turned around. A dark grey dog was looking at me sadly and it gave a pathetic whine.

"Why hello there. You're pretty cute eh?" I reached down and scratched the dog behind the ears. His eyes seemed so large and intelligent. Maybe petting a wilddog wasn't the best idea but I was a dog person after all.

A feral growl ripped through the dog's throat and stopped the repentent look in the dog's eyes.My eyes widened and I took a step back.

"Well I better get going."

The big dog curled its lip and lunged forward. It seemed to gently bite down on my arm. Suddenly a sharp throb ripped through my arm. I gave a muffled scream. The area around me swayed and moved. Then everything went black.

"Hello Ms. Williams. Please wake up."

I opened my eyes as I listened to the smooth voice faintly carrying an English accent. A man with wavy dark brown hair and green eyes looked back at me. He looked familiar. As I looked at him I noticed his formal grey suit and pants with a grey bowler on his head. He seemed to dress like my grandpa. I grinned at that but I winced from the sudden throb in my arm.

"I'm sorry about that. Did I bite too hard?"

I looked at him oddly.

"What?"

The man stared at me with a hint of familiar remorse in his eyes.

"Er . . . nothing. I just have to say please do not ask about where you are."

"Why would I ask about that?" This guy was getting annoying!

The man looked at me with extreme sorrow.

"I shouldn't have done it," he muttered softly, "I was desperate for a companion but is it alright to bring an adolescent into this?"

He abruptly turned toward me. "Please understand that what I am about to show you is not something that should alarm you. Because," his voice was barely audible, "You can do it too."

"What's your name?"

"What? My name? It's James Thompson. A name that I wish you would never hear."

He glanced at me and then began taking off his hat, his satin suit, his vest, and his shoes. James cleared his throat and then crouched down. First it began with his hands. They trembled along with his whole body. Then his dark hair suddenly covered his whole body as his face elongated into a wolf like face. His arms shrank to small paws and a tail sprouted, ripping his expensive pants. Suddenly there was no James Thompson before me but a large wolf.

The wolf looked at me ruefully. The first thing I did wasintwine my fingers behind my neck. The wolf was dark grey with the same sad eyes that James had. It was about five feet tallwith a length of about six feet. I must be honest I was scared.

"Stay away fromme!" I scrambled backward in a frightened manner, grapling for something to grab. The wolf\James nodded sadly and in the blink of an eye was James in thetattered remains of his suit and pants.

"Now that I've showed you I have to telll you. I'm a werewolf Anne,and now because of me you're a werewolf too."

"What did you just say?"I whispered.

"You're a werewolf." He looked at me apologeticly with a handsome grin.

"Of course I am and you're the easter bunny."

"Ms. Williams, I'm serious right now. I can show you that you are . . .a werewolf but that might shock you." He lunged forward faster then I thought a human could move and clenched the arm where Iwas bit. Suddenly I snarled at him. As soon as I did it Icovered my mouth in horror.

"It's normal don't worry." He gave me that apologetic grin.

"Uh okay. But first of all how do you know my name?" As soon as I said it Itried to jerk my arm from his grasp. Helooked at me wryly and the muscles on his arm rippled as he held on.

"I would'nt chose just anyone to be with me. I sort of . . . stalked you."

"You what?!"

He pulled me with him as he sat on a leather chair. And then for the first time I really looked at where I was. I was in a large house, with a large high vaulted ceiling, an intimidating portrait of a man in 19th century clothes hung above a marble fireplace. I turned and saw a couch across from the chair James was sitting in and a little distance away was the kitchen.

"Where am I?" I breathed.

He grinned. "Well you're in my very expenisve home that's a ways away from your city. Look closely outside. Where do you think you are?" He gestured grandly with his arm, a playful grin on his lips. I glanced over his shoulder, uncomfortabley shifting my position on his lap. On his lap?! I leaped up in shock. I must have been so absorbed in looking around the room that I hadn't noticed how I was sitting. I glared at him angrily and curled my lip. He looked at me noncalantly, giving a glance at me here and there.

"Well, do you know?"

My anger faded slightly and I looked outside. There were thick trees surounding the house but a small area was cut off to see a spectacular view from the mountains. I blinked in confusion. The mountains? I pulled from James's grasp and pressed my face to the window. I smelled the pine, the fresh mountain air and then . . . I smelled a beautiful warm tasty scent. It seemed to make me float as I almost ran toward the large oak door to get outside. Suddenly a firm grasp stopped my movement to the door knob. I turned slowly curling my lip, absolutely furious. A throaty snarl ripped through my teeth as I tensed.

"Let go of me," I growled.

"You're very amusing when you're mad," he said teasingly.

This time a odd sensation swept over my body when a wave of anger covered me. It was a crippling throb that made me fall on the ground twitching.

"Stop it before I hurt you," James murmured softly.

"Was that you?" I asked through clenched teeth.

"Well you see, since I was the one tha bit you I could control you as if you were my slave. . .but I won't do that because I'm a decent person." He looked at me, his green eyes rather sad. "Come, I better show you how to use your powers before you hurt someone." He grabbed me firmly and dragged me up the marble stairs. I growled softly, not even bothering to keep that in check. I glanced around when we went into the large room. The walls were made of mahagony and the carpet was made from sewed fur skins. There were mounted animal heads on the walls along with old guns.Then I saw a wolf head. It was a black wolf with amber flinty eyes. James followed my gaze to the wolf head.

"Don't worry,it wasn't one of us," He smiled playfully.

I rolled my eyes but then I saw the main attraction, an iron cage.