I sat in the parking lot of the mall, gripping the steering wheel, just watching the people go from their cars to the doors. They had no idea what was going on in the world. They had their blinders on as they went about their lives. I almost felt bad for them. Almost. You couldn't really blame them for their ignorance. They didn't even know. When they grew up reading the fairy tales, were told that they were fake once they were adults, and that was it; real was real and fake was fake. That's how I thought. I finally forced myself to get out of the car and faced the bitter cold. I hurried inside and into the closest store.

As I stood at one of the many clothing racks I couldn't help but kept looking over my shoulder. I was so scared that at any moment I'd see those golden eyes piercing my soul. Or see that snarling snout clamping down on my throat. I could not get my heart into shopping, which was unusual for me. I pushed one dress after the other around barely glancing at them. I finally gave up, and grabbed a knee-length black number in my size, and headed for the shoes.

I hoped that shoe therapy would help calm my nerves. After all I was in a crowded mall. Nothing was going to attack me in a crowded location. I perused the shoe section searching for something that stuck out at me. Anything really. However, they all seemed to blend together in a sea of blacks and whites with the occasional sequined pump. I stopped at the end of the wall of shoes. Sitting about halfway up were a pair of bright red, satin pumps. They were a deep red with beautiful rhinestones on the toes. I grabbed the shoe and went in search of a sales associate to find a size eight for me.

I sat on the little bench with a tiny nylon sock on while examining the shoe on my foot. They were perfect. I took my finds to the closest register and waited to be checked out. I continued looking over my shoulder just waiting for something to attack me. Or at least chase me.

"Are you alright, miss?" the sales clerk asked, interrupting my thoughts.

"Hmm? Yeah, I'm fine."

"You sure? You seem kind of on edge," she eyed me suspiciously.

"Oh, I have a big date tonight. I want to make sure the boyfriend doesn't see the new outfit."

"Okay."

I took a second to really look at the sales associate. Despite her having a high pitched voice, she wasn't a young teenager. She was actually middle aged with obviously-dyed black hair. Her gray eyes flitted around, always watching people. She struck me as one of those types that had to survive on drama and the apparent drama here was catching shop lifters, or at least accusing someone of it. I handed over my credit card, and stood there biting my lip.

"That's some dress," she said.

"Yeah. I thought it was nice," I mumbled.

I took a quick peek at what she was wearing, a shirt that was too tight, and ill fitting. The buttons were straining to keep her bosom covered, and I could see the muffin top that her pants created popping through the bottom of the shirt. The woman was a hot mess.

She gave me a snide smile, I grabbed my bag, and vacated the store before she could make another comment or ask another question.

I kept the doors of my car locked and the windows up the entire way home. The only thing on the roads was the brown slush left over from the plow trucks. I was anxious to get home and get ready. I had very high hopes that Connor would at least be able to keep my mind off the wolf, and the impending death that was apparently coming my way.

I couldn't wait to get home. It seemed to take forever to get to my street. I looked around the yard like a paranoid psycho. When I did get to my room, I was happy for the solitude. I knew mom wouldn't bother me, and I could take my time getting ready. Well, take my time as long as I was finished in an hour and a half. I hadn't realized that I spent so much time shopping. I stared at the black dress and red shoes sitting on my bed. For not really paying attention to the dress, it was smoking hot. The back of it was cut out, and there were rhinestone accents around the waist. It would look amazing with the shoes I bought, and I didn't even do it on purpose. I sat at my vanity, plugged in everything for my hai,r and pulled out my makeup. I had no idea what I was going to do. I sat there staring in the mirror. I had never been so nervous about anything. I wanted to look perfect for him. Weighing my options I turned to the straightener and curling iron. I went to town on my hair and face.

Once I was satisfied I turned to my clothes. I hoped that the dress looked as good one me as it did sitting there.

I heard the tale-tell sound of rocks under tires and ran to the window. Connor's BMW was coming down the drive way. My heart fluttered a bit, and I quickly shoved some clothes into my black and blue messenger back. As a second thought, I tucked the silver axe in with the clothes. Instead of my regular clunky shoes, I grabbed my trail running sneakers.

"Hello, Elaine. Is Elysse ready."

"Probably."

"Hi, Connor!" I smiled from the top of the stairs.

"Elysse, you look amazing," he said breathlessly as I descended the stairs.

Even my mom smiled. As I grabbed my jacket, she hugged me. It was the first time in a long time that she just hugged me.

"You look beautiful, honey," she held me tighter, the soft, fleece blanket felt amazing around my back.

"Thanks, mom."

"I'll see you tomorrow," she winked while walking back down the hall to the office.

I laughed. That woman was something else. I paused in the doorway watching her walk down the hallway and to the office. I knew she was going to just sit at the desk reading all night. I worried that the wolf would somehow track down my scent, or have followed me. My thoughts immediately went to mom. I had no idea if she was going to be safe, or if I should even tell her. I couldn't help but feel as though I was being super paranoid. She would be fine. She had to be fine.

I did not have too much time to dwell on mom and her anti-social tendencies, because a pair of halogen headlights blinded me. I squinted and tried to see who had such ridiculously bright headlights.

"Automatic starter. Sorry," he smiled at me and extended his hand for me to take. The same surge of electric feeling ran through my body.