Emily turned at the sound and was rewarded with the sight of Leigh sauntering down the hall in her direction. She was carrying an earth-friendly, reusable grocery sack and Emily's nose told her immediately that it contained meat of some sort.
"Hey, you." Leigh called out.
"Hey!" Emily blushed a bit, flattered by the familiarity and warmth in Leigh's greeting. "I was just looking for you."
"Looks like you found me," Leigh smiled, as she made it to her apartment door. "You'll never guess who I ran into as I was leaving the store..."
Emily knew exactly who but still said, "Cara?" Hmm, this means they wouldn't have much time to talk. She needed to hurry.
"Yep. We didn't talk for long. Poor girl looked anxious to get inside."
"Hey do you have a minute to talk? Um, in private before Cara gets back?"
"Oh. Sure. Hang on, let me get these steaks inside, and I'll be right over, cool?"
"Thanks!"
True to her word, Leigh was done in a flash and soon both girls were sitting on Emily's couch. So many questions, so little time. Emily's mind didn't know where to start.
"So how long have you been a werewolf?" Emily blurted out.
Leigh laughed at Emily's abruptness, "Guess we're going to jump right into it, huh. Hmm, it's been about three years or so now."
"Wow. And does Veronica know?"
"No. She's a good friend and all, but I can't trust just anyone with this secret. Actually, the only other people that know are also werewolves."
"Oh so there's others? Veronica said you were going to a friend's house tomorrow night, are they one too?"
"Oh yeah, there's a few here and there. The owner of that bar you went to is one plus her mate, the one who gave Cara those shots. But she's kind of a bitch and saw you two coming a mile away. She enjoys messing with newbies."
"And your friend?" Emily prodded.
"Oh yeah, that. My 'friend's house' is just what I say when I go into the woods alone. I know of other weres, and they know me, but I'm not really part of any pack. I do my own thing and it works for me." Leigh said with a shrug.
"So you're a lone wolf so to speak," Emily said with a smile.
"Yeah I guess you could say that," Leigh started laughing heartily.
Emily found her laughter infectious and soon both were giggling uncontrollably. In the midst of their laugh, Leigh placed her hand on Emily's knee and let it linger once they had stopped. The mood in the room switched from jovial to sensual in a heartbeat and the two found themselves locking eyes, drawing ever nearer to each other until they could feel each other's breath tickle their faces. Without even knowing she was doing it, Emily placed her hand on the small of Leigh's back.
"You know," Leight said, eyes still fixated on Emily's, "maybe I don't have to be alone anymore..."
And just as their open mouths were about to meet, the glint of exposed canines catching the last rays of the setting sun through the window, they heard the door opening. Cara had returned.