How I met my Mate - being a Human

Routine

Mary POV

Luna Annie looked at me again from head to toe and then studied my face intensely. As if she was looking for an answer. But I didn't even knew which question.

It was true, we looked alike, I also had freckles around my nose. My eyes were the same shade of gray. And when I stared directly at her, I saw that she had a birthmark at her collarbone. It was a small brown crescent, I had the exact same birthmark but on my neck and not my collarbone. I had always thought that was a bit strange, normally you had whole spots. But the dermatologist, who had once examined it routinely, said it didn't look unusual to him.

It was strange that Luna Annie had the same birthmark as me, but there were always coincidences. Right?

So we looked alike, if you ignored the fact that Luna Annie was a werewolf. She was taller, more muscular and stronger than me and she had a aura that made everyone respect her. I don't know if it was something normal for werewolves, or only she had it as Luna. I would find out soon enough.

When Luna Annie was done with my appraisal, or whatever you wanted to call it, she just shrugged.

"How do you like it in the pack house so far? Have you had a chance to have a look around?"

"The kitchen is amazing, I'm already looking forward to trying out lots of recipes. My room is also very generous. Thank you very much for that Luna."

"Your room is furnished like any guest room, but it's nice that you like it. I'm also looking forward for you to try new recipes."

I went back to preparing the vegetables and the sauce for dinner.

We talked for a while before Irma showed me where dinner was being served.

We took everything into the dining area. There was a buffet on the wall directly next to the kitchen and on it were all kinds of containers that I hadn't noticed before. They were all to kept the food warm but didn't dry out.

When all the food was spread out in them, we sat down in the kitchen to eat something ourselves.

"We can eat in the dining room, but I thought you might prefer to eat alone tonight," Irma told me between bites. She was right, it was all quite overwhelming and I didn't want to eat in a crowded dining room. With lots of strangers, werewolves at that.

"Thank you Irma." I just said, Luna Annie also ate dinner with us in the kitchen.

She asked me about my childhood and, like Irma, she wanted to know what it was like for me as a human to live among werewolves.

"Has anyone ever told you that you don't smell just like a human?" she suddenly wanted to know.

I was drinking from my glass and had to concentrate so that I didn't choke.

"No, I've only ever been "the human". I said bitterly, making goose bumps in the air.

They both laughed at my remark. Irma sniffed in my direction as if to catch what Luna Annie was sensing.

"It's strange, you don't smell like a wolf, but you don't smell entirely like a human either. I can't explain it," said Luna Annie.

"Your nose is definitely better than mine." Irma said with a laugh.

We finished our meal, cleaned up the kitchen and then talked to each other.

Irma had explained to me that someone would put the empty containers in the dishwasher in the evening. I didn't have to come back to the kitchen until tomorrow morning and had the evening off.

I said goodbye and went to my room.

First I unpacked all my clothes and possessions before going to the bathroom. I treated myself to a long shower and washed off all the dirt. There was a medium-sized TV in my room, which I hadn't even noticed before. I zapped through the program for a while before falling into a deep sleep.

I dreamt of blue eyes again that night, dreams I'd had since I'd agreed to work in the pack house.

When I woke up in the morning, they still haunted me a little, I didn't know what this dream meant.

If they were trying to tell me something, I didn't know what that was, and if my life would depend on it. My eyes were gray and I didn't know anyone with blue eyes like that.

Sighing, I swung out of bed and got ready for the day.

I made breakfast with Irma in the morning. Then we prepared lunch and made arrangements for dinner. We had a short break in the afternoon before we had to cook dinner. Irma offered to show me around the pack area, which I declined. I wasn't ready to face the pack, the fear in me whas to big. I could tolerate them in small doses but not as a large group.

Besides, what if we met someone who hated humans as much as Tom did?

No thanks, I'd rather hide in my room for a while longer. Luna Annie had shown me the large library and immediately carried lots of books to my room. So I was kept busy for a while.

*********************************************

It was Sunday lunchtime again and Irma and I were in the kitchen preparing dinner. We made several casseroles so that we could have more of a break today and finish work early.

The week had gone by quickly, with all the new impressions and tasks.

I had cooked and eaten with Irma every day. When she wanted to take me around the puases and show me the surroundings, I always refused. Slowly, however, I ran out of excuses and didn't want to tell her the truth. That I was afraid.

As promised, Luna Annie visited me again and gave me a crash course in the most important rules of the pack. The rules were similar to those at the orphanage. However, they weren't as strict here, so I hadn't to show respect at all times. Of course, I couldn't say or do certain things without there being consequences. But I wouldn't do most of it in a City without werewolves either, as it was unkind even among humans. There were 2 basic rules for me in the pack. Respect for the Alpha and Luna, as well as the Beta and Gamma and their mates. The Alpha and Beta were absent at the moment to discuss something about the pack that I didn't understand.

The second rule was a bit strange for me, but nothing I couldn't comply with. Werewolves were very sensitive to physical touch. I was not allowed to touch any of the mated mates. It wasn't as if I wanted to touch other werewolves, especially not on purpose. But Luna Annie still told me to be careful where I walked and that I didn't accidentally knock someone over. That was also rather unlikely for me, as I had avoided the pack so far and had never come into contact with anyone. Except for Irma and Luna Annie, of course.

Luna had told me about her and Alpha Marc, they were having a baby and she had had some questions about food. She had had a special craving for cookies, so I had baked them for her on a free afternoon. It had been my an excuse for Irma.

"How was your first week at the pack house?" Irma asked me, bringing me out of my thoughts.

"Good, there were lots of new things to learn."

"You learned quickly and your bread is amazing."

"Thank you. How are you?"

"Me?"

"Yes, you've been on your feet all day and you're pregnant. Don't you have any complaints?"

Irma started to laugh.

"Mary you're so sweet! I'm fine, we werewolves are very resilient, but thank you for your concern."

I was blushing, it still happened to me that I embarrassed myself with statements like that.

"So I think we're done. It's best if we meet here just before 5 to get dinner ready. What are you up to this afternoon?"

"I got a book from Luna Annie. About werewolves and she asked me to read it."

Irma nodded, "You can't hide forever."

"I'm not hiding."

"Really? You've never wanted to leave the pack house this week."

"Yeah, it uhhm..... It's been a busy week and I still have a lot to learn. And I don't want to upset anyone by doing something that's considered indecent among werewolves."

"Mary. We're not as bad as you think. I don't know what happened to you at Savina's and you don't have to tell me. But no one will hurt you here, you're under the protection of Luna Annie and Alpha Marc. We take this very seriously and no one would hurt you without being punished and that's something no one wants. Just think about it."

Irma picked up her bag and said goodbye to me before walking out of the kitchen.

I couldn't get her words out of my head. Would everyone really leave me alone? I really didn't want a repeat of what had happened to me with Tom. I closed the door to the kitchen and went to my room on the second floor. On the way there, I almost ran into a woman. She was taller than me and had long black hair.

"Oh sorry." I said and automatically lowered my eyes.

"Oh please, I almost ran into you, I should apologize, not you. Hey, you're the new cook."

"Yeah right, I'm Mary." I looked at her, she had unusually green eyes and a round face.

"Your bread is so good. I'm Liz. Nice to have you with us."

"Thanks." I smiled at her compliment.

"As I have to go but I'll see you in the evening, for dinner."

With that, she ran on, leaving me standing there.

I went upstairs to my room, still thinking about the conversation with Liz. It had been the first time I had met and talked to someone from the pack. She had been nice, very nice. Could what Irma had said really be true? Was I safe and accepted because I "belonged" to Luna and the Alpha? I couldn't forget my tormentors from the orphanage and the pain they made me endure. Maybe I had to see this as a new beginning and give the pack a chance. I had only had good experiences so far.

I turned my full attention to Luna Annie's history book. By the time it was almost 5 o'clock, I had read the book, written down my notes and questions and made a decision. If Irma wanted to eat with me in the dining room today, I would say yes.

I closed my room and went downstairs to the kitchen.