-1I stepped out into the cold winter air. After a few hours with Tori, I had come down from the dorms to look for Storm. It was almost sunset. Normally he was back by now. Or for all I knew he was off with the new girl. Goddess knew if it weren't for Tori, I would be.

A few people were grouped around the grounds. The witches had warmth spells where they sat and the wolves really didn't feel the cold.

Then I heard a lupine whimper and turned around. Storm was about three feet from me, holding a tiny grey and white pup that looked starved.

"What the hell are you doing with him?!" I gaped at the wolf pup, he snuggled closer to Storm, eyeing me cautiously.

Storm smiled slightly. "This is Ven. His mom and dad died, and his pack was gonna let him die, so I decided to help him."

"You are one crazy bastard." I muttered.

"Ohhhhh! It's a puppy! Oh my God, he's adorable!" Sweet Goddess, not Rosa. Cousin or not, I hated her.

"It's not a puppy, ditz, it's a wolf." I snapped.

She gave me a sneer, "Same thing."

Storm growled. A warning that Rosa had crossed a line. "A wolf and a dog are different. Dogs did descend from wolves, yes. But dogs are tame. We are wild."

She eyed Storm a moment. "Really? Well I couldn't tell, looking at you."

Silence. I could feel Storm's outrage brewing. I noticed he was shaking. Ven whimpered. Storm was so close to Changing it was scary. I'd seen him lose control only once, and once was all I really wanted to see it. He'd almost killed the poor bastard.

That bitch! Goddess, I wanted to Change. To rip her body to bloody tattered shreds. I wanted to taste her blood, salty and hot running down my throat. My inner wolf howled in the pleasure of the bloody, sadistic fantasies running through my mind.

I caught the pungent smell of fear that tainted the air, made my mouth water. The werewolves outside turned to watch, there excitement was tangible.

"Don't you know when to keep your mouth shut?" Erin's voice, sweet and calming, broke my attention. "I mean, Goddess, you're such a bitch. And why? Because Storm refused to screw a cumsucking whore."

Silence met her words. I grinned. This was something only a teenage girl could accomplish. Rosa knew she was beat. She curled her lips in a sneer and stalked, she seemed to be doing that a lot, away.

"Okay, get lost, vultures!" Damon yelled, glaring at the crowd. "Unless you wanna be wolf chow, that is." He started forward, conjuring a few magic fire balls. "I'll see ya later."

I felt Erin's hand on my shoulder, caught the sent of her magic. I realized she was calming my inner wolf. /Storm Lupa?/ Ven growled.

/No. Not Lupa, not yet./ I replied softly. To Erin, I said "Thanks. I almost lost it there."

Erin smiled coldly. "I wish she would have started something with me. I'd curse her back to hell." she paused, then asked, "You can talk to him, can't you?"

"To Ven? Yeah." I said softly, and Ven whimpered, sniffing hungrily at Erin.

"Poor baby looks starved." She rested her hand on Ven head. Not really the smartest ideas ever had. But Ven didn't attempt it bite her, just struggled in my arms. She laughed, "I think he wants down."

"Somehow I doubt he wants down. Are you, like, the Animal Whisperer?"

"Maybe, are you Cujo?"

"You refer me, a werewolf who is bigger than you, to a psycho dog? I could eat him." I let mock hurt and indignation color my voice.

She eyed me cautiously, "Not much bigger."

"Wench! I should eat you for that! In fact, I'll tie you up, then eat you." That idea had possibilities.

"Try it, fur ball, and I'll zap you."

"Oh, I'd really like to see that."

"Tie me up, and you will."

"So I can eat you without being zapped?"

"Only if you're a good boy."

"I'm not a good boy. Would you settle for me not ripping anyone to bits?"

"If that's the best you can do…"

I snorted softly. Something cold and wet landed on my nose. "Oh, look, snow."

"I was wondering how long it would take you to notice." She laughed slightly and shook her head.

"What? If you wanted me to pay attention you should have said something."

Erin's lips twitched as she fought a smile. "Right. Mental note added. It's getting dark… we should get back to the castle, I refuse the meet the vampire residences here."

"They aren't that bad." I said as I followed her the entrance of the castle. She snorted but said nothing.