Dearest Tammy,

Master

Tears fell onto the paper as Tammy read it a third time. Eventually she set it down on the table and turned to look out the window. The sun was setting. Somehow they had lost a full day. The party had been Friday evening and Tammy had not opened her eyes until the sun was dipping toward the horizon on Saturday. Every part of her ached from frantic mating and there were no answers.

The water heater only took only a moment to do its job and Tammy turned it as hot as she could stand. An old friend of her mortal family had once told her that hot water could fix anything and right now she needed fixing. Though she would have preferred a bath, Tammy felt so gross that she did not want to sit in a pool of her own filth. The bite-marks on her skin had mostly healed, becoming purple bruises, but all of her muscles felt as if they had been cramping for hours. The damn demon had also managed to bring her period about a week early and that just seem to add to her bitchy mood.

Hot water hit her skin and made her jump. Goosebumps erupted across the whole of her and she braced her hands against the wall with eyes shut, enjoying the sensation.

“Tammy?" Angela called out as the door opened a crack. “Can I join you?"

“Did you read the note?" Tammy asked as she took up the soap and began to scrub dried cum out of her aching personal spots.

“Y-yeah," Angela said, and Tammy could tell by the tone of her voice that she had been crying.

“Alright," Tammy said and soon her pack-mate joined her.

The shower was large enough for their master to stand in while in his full werewolf form which meant the two women had no problem sharing the space. A spout had been installed on two separate walls and one of them was detachable. Tammy admired her little-sister.

No … she's my pack-mate. Master wants us to stay lovers. I guess that means we should get married and stay together for life. Part of me wants that too but I don't know if we should. He was controlling our minds, after all. Maybe we should break up and never see each other again.

“Don't do that," Angela said and Tammy froze.

“What?" she asked with wide eyes.

“Please," Angela said firmly, “don't think about leaving me."

“How … did you-"

“We're connected, Tammy," Angela said, cutting her off. “We've done more than just fuck a bunch. I'm sensitive to the magic of our kind. I can hear the spirits and sense all of the things you and Master were fighting about. I could practically hear your thoughts, just now, and if you think I'm letting you go … you're dead wrong."

“Angela … I-," Tammy began but her pack-mate just hugged her hard.

“I love you, Tammy!" Angela said through a storm of emotion. “I'm not letting you go! I'll marry you or stay your secret lover or whatever you want me to do! Don't … just don't you dare think about leaving me!"

“Alright," Tammy whispered. “God, Angela … I love you too."

She finally said it. There was silence then as they held each other, tears falling silently into the stream of the water. Eventually they parted to and finished their bathing but once they had left the shower they sat together on a couch in the front room. They did not want to be out of touching distance of the other and it took time before they started talking again.

“Did you get that paper done for Doctor Sullivan's class?" Tammy asked.

“Yeah," Angela replied dreamily. “He wants me to go all the way to PHD land with him."

“Full biologist?" Tammy asked. “He liked your ideas about RNA replication that much?"

“He says I have a lot to learn but he wants to read more about my ideas," Angela said with an embarrassed grin. “He says the cure to everything is in my head and he wants me to learn everything he knows. Something about me curing cancer or something."

“And what do you think?" Tammy asked.

“I don't know," Angela said. “I mean … curing cancer would be great but who would actually listen to a lesbian werewolf." Something about that statement seemed way funnier than it should have been and the pair burst into inappropriate laughter. When they settled down they spent some time kissing and then they settled back and stared out the window as the stars began filling the sky.

“That needs to be the title of your blog," Tammy said as the laughter lingered.

“I think people might show up looking for porn and get all weirded out when they found my talking about molecular biology," Angela said.

“Redefines trap," Tammy said. “Just think of all the good you could do. Nerd girls don't normally look as good as you. You could cover your blog in sexy pictures and be all like … these bonds just stick together like … like …"

“Are you a carbon sample?" Angela cut in. “Because I want to date you."

“Oh … my god," Tammy said with a snort. “That was horrible."

“I know," Angela said. “I'm rather proud of that one."

Tammy leaned over and kissed the woman she loved and then the pair of them cuddled on the couch in silence. It was nice just sitting there and enjoying each other's warmth. Their former master was always forcing them together and feeding their hunger but something about this just felt … right.

“He's not coming back this time," Angela finally said.

“I know," Tammy said as her anger flickered back to life.

“I want you to let him go," Angela said firmly.

“I can't," Tammy said.

“Yes you can," Angela insisted.

“No," Tammy said but then her girlfriend pulled away and forced eye-contact. A ripple of feral excitement and terror rippled through her body as fearsome beast stared her down. None of the usual timid posturing could be seen and Tammy found herself unable to speak.

“Tammy, you need to let him go. This is our chance to step away and leave it all behind. I like being a werewolf too, but I'm willing to give it up for you." Angela paused but as Tammy's objections came into her mind the smaller woman addressed them. “Maybe we can transform and go for a run every evening. If we don't use it we lose it but I'm sure we can hold on if we want to. Besides, it's great exercise."

Tammy chuckled but she was still amazed at how assertive Angela was being. “You really want to let him go?"

“I do."

“And what about the others?" Tammy asked. “Do you think the demons and other things will just leave us alone?"

“They should if we stay out of their way," Angela said. “I'm willing to give those dice a roll."

Again, the silence rolled in. Abigail shifted her body and the pair of them snuggled together on the couch and rested. “Did you call your dad?" Tammy Asked.

“Yeah," Angela said softly, “he wants to meet you."

“What did you tell him?" Tammy asked sternly.

“Just … that I'd met someone," Angela said a little defensively. “I might have mentioned gay rights and I think he got the message. He said he's not going to make any decisions until he's met you."

“So, want to elope?" Tammy asked as Angela began to blush uncontrollably.

“I was thinking we could just act like a perfectly normal lesbian couple while fighting the forces of evil."

Tammy felt heat buildup in her chest and she looked steadily at the woman she loved. “So that's your plan? Mild-mannered lesbian scientist by day and kick-ass werewolf crime fighter at night?"

“Just like that," Angela said with a sly nod. The pair of them giggled and then Angela suddenly gasped a little. “I'm done with all of this Master crap. I just want to be with you and live a normal life. But you have to admit, all of this stuff that's happened to us makes for a really good super-hero back-story."

“Well shit," Tammy swore, “it really does."

“Hey … you swore," Angela said.

“Yeah," Tammy said and then she tried out all of the cursing she had not been allowed to do for the past year.

“Well, sounds like that works," Angela said as she wrinkled her nose a bit. “I think I prefer the non-swearing Tammy better."

“Alright, love," Tammy said, “I'll work at not swearing."

“Love?" Angela stated as she looked like she might start to cry.

“Oh … dammit," Tammy said. “This is why I don't like getting all … well we were talking about your parents and the future … you know …" she paused and huffed.

“It's okay," Angela said as tears of delight trickled down her cheeks. “I'll say yes if you ask."

“Yeah … uhm … right." Tammy paused and looked away. She closed her eyes and contemplated the future. She could go to Ansa and get his help chasing her former master. She could hunt him down, kick his ass, and demand answers. She could do a lot of things that would put Angela in danger and none of that seemed feasible. What happens if we lose the wolf. Would I be okay with that? Well, no … but would it be worth it for her? Is she worth it? Is she?

Tammy opened her eyes and looked at Angela's face. The woman she loved was in pain. She knew of the conflict inside of her lover and she was terrified to lose her. Without meaning to, Tammy ran her hands over Angela's face to wipe away her tears. Gentle hands gripped hers and held them tight. In that moment, the future was uncertain but the path was clear.

“Angela, will you marry me?"

THE END