Declan laid on the bed of the guest room and stared up at the empty ceiling as he thought over the events of the day. The conversation he’d had with Maria had only made him more anxious to find the woman and the cure. He needed to be able to turn back into a wolf to rescue his pack from Gabriel. And, potentially rescue Gabriel from himself, if there was anything left to save.

The woman he’d met at the gas station who called herself Lindsey, had turned out to be an exceptionally kind person. He thought back on their interactions from earlier in the day.

As they entered her house in the late afternoon after he’d followed her, Declan looked around and saw pictures of her with two young boys.

“Are these your sons?” Declan asked.

Lindsey smiled and nodded. “Yes. They are staying with their father this week,” she explained. “No offense, but had they been with me, you probably wouldn’t have been able to come over. You never know with people sometimes, especially in this crazy world.”

Declan looked at her and said, “But you trust me around you?”

The woman blushed furiously and turned away from him as she walked into the kitchen. “Are you hungry?” she called. “I can whip something together quickly.” Declan wanted to refuse her offer, but his stomach grumbled loudly.

“I could eat something,” he said in response. She appeared before him again and smiled.

“Here you go,” she said as she handed him a towel. “The bathroom’s around the corner on the right-hand side. You should be able to find everything you need in there, and I think there are extra razors beneath the sink, oh, and toothbrushes too if you wanna shave and stuff.”

Declan held the towel between them as though he was unsure whether he should take it or not. Her kindness was overwhelming, and he wanted to ask where it was stemming from.

“Can I ask you a question?” Declan asked.

“You just did,” she said, laughing. “Sorry, mom humor, I guess. What is it?”

Declan smiled at her for a moment before continuing. He pulled his eyebrows together and said, “You’ve been extremely generous to me, and you don’t even know me. I just wanted to know…”

“Why am I doing this for you?” Lindsey said, completing Declan’s question. He nodded at her and watched as she made her way to the couch and sat down. “Well, it’s certainly a good question,” she said. “One I’ve been trying to answer myself since meeting you.” She absently twirled a ring around her finger as she continued to think before responding. “I guess, the best answer I can give you is this. This world’s gone mad. And maybe it’s always been like this, but I feel like there was a time not that long ago when talking to strangers and helping people out was the right thing to do, and not something which you had to constantly second guess, you know? I know it might be naive of me, and I know that this could definitely be a bad decision, but I feel like, well, I wanna live in that kind of world again, even if it has to begin with me. So, I went out of my comfort zone and offered you my help. Does that make any sense at all?”

Declan nodded and said, “More than you know.” He pulled the towel closer to his chest and added, “I’m really grateful for this. You have no idea how much you’ve helped me already.” Lindsey smiled at him and nodded before standing up from the couch and walking back to the kitchen.

Declan stared at her briefly and then turned in the direction she’d told him to take a shower and get himself cleaned up in. As he entered the bathroom, his reflection made him cringe. He’d caught snippets of his appearance in windows, and in the mirrors of his car. But nothing captured the whole picture quite as well as a bathroom mirror.

His beard had grown thick around his face, and his eyes had dark circles underneath from the endless nights of sleeping in the back seat of his car. His hair had grown long and stuck out oddly from behind his ears. His shirt was dirty and looked ragged and worn, and as he took it off, he noticed with dismay how much skinnier he looked. Declan closed his eyes briefly, and at that moment, he wanted nothing more than to just go home.

He opened his eyes and walked over to the shower and turned the handle, so that the water started pouring out. It was cold to the touch at first, but Declan could feel it beginning to warm up, and that sent shivers through his body.

He opened the cabinet beneath the sink and scavenged for the razors and toothbrush she’d told him about, and he also found a pair of scissors. Looking at himself in the mirror, he decided to try to give himself a haircut. Gripping clumps of hair at a time, he snipped madly away at the long pieces, and watched as the strands fell carelessly around the sink and then down to the floor. He didn’t really care about the unevenness of it, he just wanted it gone.

Once he finished, he did his best to collect all the hair and dispose of it in the trash. He climbed into the shower, and the red-hot water scalded him, but he stood there and embraced the heat until it numbed him. He washed his hair and his body. Then with the razor, he shaved his beard from his face using the small mirror in the shower. When he got out of the shower, the mirror was fogged up by the steam. He grabbed the toothbrush and toothpaste, and started brushing his teeth slowly as the mirror gradually revealed his reflection.

Staring back at him was an entirely new man. His face looked ten years younger, and although he still had a slight tan line from where the beard had been, he couldn’t help but smile at how much better he looked. His haircut hadn’t turned out as badly as he’d presumed, and he felt refreshed and renewed.

He wrapped the towel around his waist and made his way into the living room where he’d left his backpack with his clothes. When he walked over to where he’d left it, he found that it was gone.

“Hey, Lindsey,” Declan called out, starting to panic. Everything he had was in that backpack, and without it, there was no way he could finish this journey. Is this why she’d invited him over? Was it to steal from him? It didn’t make any sense, she knew he’d notice it’d gone missing. “Lindsey!” Declan yelled louder, unable to keep the anger from his voice.

“Yeah?” she called out from the kitchen.

Declan proceeded to march in there. She turned to face him as he entered, and she nearly dropped the knife she was holding as she took him in, as if for the first time. Her gaze traveled over Declan’s bare chest and although he’d lost weight, it didn’t seem to have affected his attractiveness.

“Do you know where my backpack is?” Declan asked, ignoring the blush rising in her cheeks. “I put it in the living room, and when I went in there to get some clothes, it was gone.”

“Oh,” said Lindsey. Declan waited for more, but her mouth hung open without any words coming out.

“Oh, what?” Declan prompted.

“Sorry,” she said shaking her head, trying to break herself from the daze. “I hope you don’t mind, but I took your clothes from there and started washing them for you. They should be almost done drying now.”

Declan looked at the woman standing before him, and a sense of shame washed over him. He’d always been so quick to assume the worst of people, and that’s precisely what had led to his relationship with Noelle to end so abruptly. He shook the thought of her from his mind and took a few steps closer to Lindsey, who was still standing there, looking at him.

Declan let the towel drop to the floor, and he heard her inhale a huge breath of air. He pressed his body against hers and loosened the knife from her hands and placed it on the counter. He turned back to her and pulled her into his arms and brought his lips down to hers.

Declan didn’t know what exactly had set him off to do this, whether it was her generosity or perhaps the reminders of Noelle which made him desperate to forget. Regardless of all that, the force behind his kiss made Lindsey weak in the knees, and he had to hold her up, so she didn’t slip away. He teased open her lips with his tongue, and wantingly played with hers, lovingly tasting her insecurity and wariness, and willing it all away. Finally, she gave into him and put her hands on either side of his face and returned the kiss, equaling his force.

Declan smiled against her lips and started trailing tiny kisses down her neck and along her collarbone. It was clear that he was already prepared to go, but he wanted to pay Lindsey back for her kindnesses, so he didn’t try to rush anything. He unbuttoned her flowery blouse slowly, and then peeled each sleeve back from her arms, revealing a light pink bra underneath. Declan admired her for a moment, and Lindsey cast her eyes downward, self-consciously.

Declan tilted her head up and stared into her eyes and said, “Don’t ever be ashamed. You’re truly remarkable.” Lindsey blushed again, the redness of her cheeks making her freckles stand out even more.

Declan smiled and began kissing her once again, this time, gently as if suggesting to her that he could take control. Lindsey pulled away from him and let her eyes linger on his face for a moment before she reached behind her back and unclasped her bra. Now letting it slip from her arms and fall to the floor. Declan stared at her bare chest and licked his lips hungrily as he leaned forward to press his lips around her erect nipples.

Lindsey threw her head back in pleasure and moaned loudly as he massaged her breasts and continued to flick his tongue around her nipples with lust. She could feel the heat rising throughout her body, and she wanted him to stop and keep going, all in the very same moment. It was a beautiful kind of torture for her, and she couldn’t remember the last time a man had touched her in this way.

Declan reached down to the waistband of her skirt and pulled it down very slowly. He kept his eyes on her face as the fabric made its way down her legs and to the floor. He noticed the goosebumps decorating her delicate skin as his hand moved slowly up her inner thigh to the sweet spot between her legs. And as soon as his fingers pushed away from the soft fabric, he could tell that she was ready for him.

He inserted one of his fingers slowly into her and then pulled it out again, so that only the tip sat between the folds of her skin. He rubbed his thumb gently over the rough patch of skin, and he saw her suck in a huge breath as she was overcome with chills. Her body tightened against him, and slowly, he pushed two fingers inside of her and moved them rhythmically up and down.

Lindsey pulled Declan closer to her, and she bit on his shoulder softly, her moans reverberating against his skin. She reached down and began stroking him, making him even harder than he already was, and causing him to build up with anticipation. Declan kissed her roughly, and in one swift movement, he pulled her underwear down and cast them aside like they were insignificant. He pulled Lindsey down to the floor and laid her on her stomach so that her body was in contact with the cold tiles beneath her.

He saw the chills run over her and he grabbed her hips and pulled her up slightly, so that her head rested on the floor. Her perfect ass was pressed up against his hips. He massaged her sweet skin with his cock before finally plunging inside of her, causing her to cry out in pleasure. Declan grabbed her hips and gently rocked himself in and out of her until he heard her say something.

“What was that?” he breathed out as he continued the motion.

He stopped briefly to turn her body, so she was lying on her back and facing him. He leaned down to kiss her gently and then smiled when she pressed her fingers to his lips.

“I said, go faster.”

Lindsey placed her hands on top of his; tightening Declan’s grip on her hips. Then, without hesitation, he began moving faster against her, relishing her wetness. He closed his eyes and he could feel himself building up, but he was determined to make her finish first. Lindsey reached between her legs and massaged herself while Declan continued pushing in and out of her.

“I’m almost there,” she breathed.

Declan gripped her even harder and mercilessly let himself rock against her. She arched her body up and her body convulsed against his, showering him with her sweet release. Then, Declan let himself go at the same time as he thrust himself into her.

They sat breathing together for a few moments before he removed himself and grabbed the towel from the floor. He used it quickly to wipe himself down and then handed it to Lindsey. She smiled at him and then left the kitchen without another word.

Declan walked into the adjacent laundry room where he found his clothes in the dryer. He slipped on a t-shirt and some boxers and jeans. When he walked back into the kitchen, Lindsey hadn’t yet returned, so he sat down at the table to wait for her. A few more minutes passed, and Declan started to get worried. Had he crossed the line? She hadn’t resisted or said no, but maybe she was regretting it now?

Just after that thought, Lindsey re-entered the room wearing a simple sundress with her hair pulled back into a loose braid. She smiled at Declan but didn’t say anything.

“Thank you for washing my clothes,” Declan said, in an attempt to spark conversation.

“Sure, not a problem at all.” Lindsey didn’t turn around as she spoke and there seemed to be something off about her tone. Declan started feeling awkward and wasn’t sure what to say at this point, so he remained quiet, hoping that she’d say something.

Lindsey pulled two plates from the top cabinet and sat them on the table in front of Declan, and in front of her own chair. She carried a few pots over and placed those on the table as well, with the silverware as an accompaniment.

“Let’s dig in,” she said quietly.

Declan watched her as she grabbed the serving spoon and she started to gather some pasta onto his plate. He reached out and touched her gently on her arm, and she froze in place.

“Lindsey,” Declan said quietly, “I’m sorry if I crossed the line. I just —I thought…” he trailed off unsure of what to say.

Lindsey smiled at him and put the plate down before looking up at him again. “You didn’t cross the line, Declan. It’s just… I’ve never been touched that way before.”

“I thought you were married before?”

“Yes,” she said nodding. “But our sex life was entirely about me pleasing him. He never did anything like what you did tonight —that was…” she trailed off again.

“That was what?”

“It’s so weird admitting this out loud to someone who I hardly know, but that was my first time ‘finishing’ during sex.” Declan’s eyes widened at her, and she smiled sheepishly. “Like I said before, sex was all about pleasing him, and once he was done, it didn’t matter if I had finished or not, which I never did.”

“That’s crazy,” Declan said quietly.

“Well, that’s a small part of the reason why I decided that a life alone would be better. You are the first man I’ve been with since that ended.” Declan smiled a little at that phrase. The thought that he’d done something good for her seemed to make him feel better about all the kindnesses she’d offered him. “Let’s eat.” She handed him the plate, and the two of them ate their food quietly.

They both ate for five minutes or so. Declan had been devouring every mouthful like a horse in a barn.

“So,” Lindsey said, breaking their silence, “tell me your story.”

“What do you wanna know?”

“Well, let’s start with why you are here and why you’ve been living in your car with, let’s say, limited resources.”

Declan thought a moment about her question. The truth was, he was there to find a witch who might have some way to restore his werewolf status. And ultimately, so that he could get back home and reclaim his position of alpha in his pack —but something told him that this story might be a little too unbelievable for her to grasp.

“I’ve been looking for someone,” Declan offered instead.

Lindsey nodded and said between bites, “Any luck so far?”

“Not really.” Declan sighed as he recalled the conversation he’d had with Maria earlier in the day. “I’m kind of at a loss, honestly. I’m not sure how to contact the only person who’d known about her, and well, they didn’t exactly give a specific location.”

Lindsey frowned at this and nodded as she considered his words. “Well,” she said finally, “my boys don’t come home until Friday, so you’re welcome to stay here as long as you need, or until you find the person you’re looking for.”

Declan smiled at her sweetly. It was so refreshing to finally meet someone who was kind and generous, just for the sake of it, and not because they were seeking something in return.

They finished their meals and Lindsey collected the plates from the table. Declan offered to clean the dishes, but she refused his offer. Instead, she showed him which room he’d be able to stay in, and gave him a fresh blanket to use. Declan thanked her again and decided it’d be best to turn in for the evening. Although he wasn’t tired, he needed time to think and to come up with a plan.

Declan rolled over on the bed and stared out the window at the bright moon which hung in the night sky. He could feel his eyes getting tired, and he let his mind wander as he thought about his pack, and about Gabriel and Maria. He drifted off slowly to sleep, and as he was about to enter a dream, Noelle appeared in his mind. Declan smiled to himself at the vision of her face, and although he hadn’t heard from her since she walked out of the apartment, he sent up a silent wish to the stars in the sky. One that said, that wherever she was, to let her be safe and happy, even if it was without him.

“The truth was, he was really trying to find a witch.”