Chapter 9: Clean

I started the bath and added all kinds of bubbles to the mix. I was going to make this bath one to remember! I caught a glimpse of my reflection in the mirror and froze. I was covered in mud, blood, and who knows what else. My hair looked black from all the filth and was knotted in various places. I looked out of place in this magnificent house. I unzipped Jame's jacket and let it fall to the floor. I was embarrassed by the fact James saw me looking like this. He must think I'm the ugliest creature in the world.

I rummaged in the drawers and found a comb. I hopped into the bath and went to work on my hair. It took a long time to comb my hair out completely but I did it. I scrubbed my body, my hair, underneath my nails, and everywhere else. I wasn't just a beast, I could clean up. James deserves better then the dirty creature I arrived here as.

When I finished cleaning I got out of the tub and went to pull the drain plug. The water was black and as it swirled down I imagined the old me going down with it.

I dried my body with the softest towel in the entire world. I found a blow dryer and fixed my hair. When I looked in the mirror this time it was like a whole new person stared back. I looked older then I remembered and my hair hit the middle of my back in long blonde waves now. I had short hair when I had run from my family. My eyes were bright green and staring into them made me want to cry. I don't know how long I had been wandering but it must have been years. I was skinny and my ribs were showing. I couldn't look any longer and I turned away to go into the bedroom.

I opened the closet to find it was filled with clothes. I fingered the various items feeling the soft materials. They all had news tags and appeared to be my size. Did James buy these for me? What if I hadn't come back with him? I went to the drawers next and found some under garments. I put them on then immediately took them off. They made me feel claustrophobic. I went back to the closet and grabbed a yellow dress that went down to my knees and hung loose on my body. I still felt restricted but it wasn't as bad as before.

I took a deep breath before leaving the room and could smell at least four other wolves besides James. Eric who came with James to find me before was one scent but the three others were new and clearly male. I unlocked the door and walked out. I went down the hall and to the stairs. The scents were closer and panic started to set in. I could turn around and lock myself in the room. As if James felt my unease he walked up to the bottom of the stairs and stopped. "Little wolf?", he asked with amazement. I nodded yes and crossed my arms over my body. What if I was ugly to him? "I will stay by your side so don't be nervous about them. My brothers want to meet you". He started to go up the stairs but I held up my hand and began my decent down. I needed to stay strong. I was a wolf and I came from power.