Even with my considerably fast wolf healing, it took a week for Callum to let me return to the room where I had been staying before. I suspect it was because we were having a good time talking and theorizing, but he would never admit it. He said it was because I needed to heal.
I hadn't seen or heard of Harlan since that night, and when I asked Callum about it, he said, "Harlan left the pack house and hasn't come back. None of us know why. It is extremely like him." This only made me worry more.
Selene had visited me as well, and when I asked her, she said, "He does this sometimes. He often feels overwhelmed and needs some time for himself. He'll come back, he just needs space."
So I decided I would give it to him, the time that he needed.
"Thank you for letting me stay here, Selene," I said as she escorted me back to the room I was using, the one that was close to hers.
"This is and will be your home for as long as you need it," she said calmly. "You can redecorate it as well, it is yours." She then pointed to a few boxes that now decorated the corners. "We managed to rescue your things from the crash. A few things are broken, but we figured you'd still want them."
"Thank you," I said sincerely as I beheld the boxes, not wanting to open them at all for some reason. Instead, I found myself asking, "Can you give me a tour of the place?"
"A tour of the community or the pack house? Yes to both!" she said excitedly.
"I want to know the others. Do my part, I guess." She looked even happier at that.
"Of course! But first, you need to change. Those clothes won't do."
I looked at what she was wearing. It was a flowy pink sundress that made her curvy body look fantastic. I, on the other hand, was wearing a sleeping gown.
"What should I wear?" I asked.
"Anything. Just not that. It's pretty see-through," she whispered. "Normally, it wouldn't matter, but some males can be a bit aggressive, mating season being around the corner and all."
"Is mating season what I think it is?"
"If you think it is about a bunch of horny werewolves trying to hump each other so they can find their mate and procreate, then yes," Damien said as he leaned against the doorframe.
"Damien!" Selene looked away, embarrassed, and Damien only smirked.
"You are just too cute," he said as he stepped into the room and hugged her from behind. "I love it when you get so flustered," he whispered in her ear, but I heard it clearly. Selene only got progressively redder.
A particular scent tickled my senses, something I had never smelled before but still somehow knew what it was. Arousal.
Selene cleared her throat and tried to calm herself as she said, "You shouldn't eavesdrop, Damien," she nagged.
"I know," he mused. "What are you going to do about it?"
Selene cleared her throat again as she tried to still herself. Damien only smiled mischievously.
"I said I would..." she stopped, not being able to think clearly, "give Maya a tour.."
"Fine," he said, kissing her cheek sweetly. "Cockblock," he said to me before exiting the room with a smile so bright it could outshine the sun.
Selene only glared at him, relaxing when he was no longer in the room.
"I'm sorry about that. We haven't been mated for very long, so the urge is still strong," she whispered.
"That was hot." I was not going to lie, the way he whispered in her ear and touched her carefully but comfortably was making arousal pool in my stomach. Had it really been that long?
Selene giggled, even though she was a little embarrassed.
"Well, it was normal. It will happen to you once you find your mate," she said, taking a deep breath. "Change into something comfortable. I'll be waiting outside."
We ventured into the terrain around the massive mansion they called "pack house." I ended up going for jeans and a purple long-sleeve but loose blouse. It was what seemed most appropriate. Though I have a feeling that if I would have shown up in less see-through pajamas, she wouldn't have cared.
Selene was very maternal, and that became very clear the further we walked. The pack house was a little bit far away from where the rest of the community lived. The rest of the pack lived about ten minutes from Miracle by foot. It was a little neighborhood of houses scattered in the woods.
Everybody was kind to me, but extremely adoring of Selene. They respected her and feared her, but loved her for her kindness and attention to detail. I could see that, in a way, she was everyone's mother. A fearless warrior and a kind and fair leader always down to help. I could see how Damien loved her. Hell, it was impossible not to fall for her.