Chapter Three 

        Well that didn't go as planed . HIS  thought went straight to  Sorin. Sorin was an ass sometimes . As far as advice goes he never let him down.  A call to him will clearly fix this train wreck of a situation he put himself in... Sorin always knew what to say to calm him and really he was kinda good with the opposite sex, so agents his better judgment he picked up the phone. I'm sure i didn't mess this up he assured himself  as he waited for his friend to pick up.
       whats up buttercup, sorin teased.
       Okay before you say anything I think i Messed up big time. I uh, kinda asked her to remodel the cabin so it would be more suitable for when she moves in. What if she sees its current state and thinks I'm horrible for letting it get this far? For fuck sake's what am I supposed to do? I'm freaking out here man. Rafe paced the office and waited for a solution to his current, totally his fault situation.
     You did what, Sorin screamed into the receiver. Oh man your so messed up. Poor Jane is probably freaking out. I mean it is a bit on the creepy side.You basically asked her to design her future house and might i point out your not even dating. When i told you to get hip with the ladies this is clearly not what i had in mind. Basically and not so elequently spelled out that you had another girl. Officially putting her in the so to speak friends zone. Dude your helpless.
      I mean you did say to make a move. Then i basically berated her when she bumped into me this morning. Then there was the iPod and finally i made her cry. How else could I have fixed this mess? Clearly the ways of women allude me but I did the best I could given the horrible moment we shared. Oh greatand mighty Sorin,  will you spill unto me your mighty wisdom of the ladies, Rafe spat out sardonically.
         You can fix this. You just need to relax Rafe. Take the opportunity to get to know her. Let her come to you. Don't just jam your self in her face. The project will last awhile anyway. See what she likes, make he tick. Let  her picture you and her together. It takes a lot to get to know a woman but when you do, she is putty in your hands. If Jane is as sweet and shy as you say she is this will work. Patience has never been your thing but in this case you had better learn to have some. With that Sorin hung up the phone.
         Rafe stood in the center of the office. Leave it to Sorin to be wise when that's exactly what was needed. Jane could not be won by acting like a scared child. Soft prodding would have to work. Perhaps I came on too strong but at least I can have her to myself. Slowing down his heart rate was difficult. Turning into his wolf in the office would not be a good idea. However thinking of all those males around her made for a very jealous  shifter. Jealousy was not a good look for his kind and led to a lot of bloodshed over nothing very quickly. Humans did not know shifters existed. Let alone that violence came so natural to them. Back along time ago  the existance of monsters that stood at there boarders was the known. Peace was easily obtained Until they wasnt.Shifters got along with others for a timeand then were nearly hunted  to the point of extinction.  All because of one incident. An angry shifter fighting for his Mate and unborn cub. Those were rough times. Now only existing only fairy tales they would remain safe. Until there came a time when they were exposed again.
        They were the stories of creatures in the dark. They were the fables mothers told children to get them to behave. Around the world the stories were told each given a different Names and descriptions. One truth remains Those stories were true. Humans have a funny way of forgetting. Depending on how you look at it perhaps its just another coping mechanism. The threat for humans now were little to none. Due to new laws made to protect the clans.The threat of exposure for the shifters was huge. When the Human Race learns the truth The hunt will begin again and Rafe did not want to be the cause. If only the humans could understand then maybe things would not be as hard as they are, Rafe shook his head.
         The people he loved have randomly felt the hate of human kind through the years. It didn't help that he himself would have to turn Jane to seal the deal with her. If she refused she'd be killed. The secrete was not his alone. She could not be trusted to keep it. Rafe hoped she would be receptive to the idea of being a wolf. From what he gathered about her though following her he found that she preferred the out doors to some fancy vacation any day. He often trailed behind her as she strolled into his territory to the river and chuckled when she had trouble lighting a camp fire. Jane seemed to love the snow, The ice and being alone. A good traits to being a wolf. His wolf. This female is wise enough, strong enough to run his clan and protect his people. Jane had a strength an aura about her that commanded a room. Not that she would recognize it but he saw the potential there. He had dated before Jane it was a fast and quick to end relationship he had with a girl named Leann from the office. In the end all he saw was greed, hate and self absorbed behavior. Leann appeared to be the one. In the end she was not. Over hearing her tell another woman in the office that she had no feelings for him but rather his wallet instead. A low blow but one that had him scared to try again. Then there was Jane.  Her interview had been brilliant and witty. She was smart but struggled to find a job where she wasn't  looked at like an object. The easiest thing he ever did was say yes and hired Jane on the spot.  When it came to the job she was always on task finishing long  before all her co workers. She always had time to bring him tea or offered to help in any other way. An asset to the company for sure. An asset to his life. .Frankly his wolf wouldn't want to live in if she rejected him. The wolf stirred within Rafe. Easy boy we wont kill her but i agree we wont stand to lose our mate ether. Feeling his furry friend clam at his soothing words, Rafe had the strength to finish the rest of the day. Tomorrow he will meet with Jane on her turf and discuss the future house that needed to be finished. 
    Jane thumbed through mindless cat videos waiting for the rest of the day to pass. Getting sent home early was never a thing. Mind ending thoughts swarmed. Oh my god I must be in trouble. This must be it I'm losing my job. There was the bumping him over in the office thing and she showed her lady parts with zero remorse. Then again Rafe did say she would be designing his house for him. The sheer terror of seeing her boss with another woman was too much and not only that shed be compelled to apologize about her showing Rafe her lady parts. For fuck sake's she swore under her breath. Oh she would apologize for her behavior, but she would also point out that HE didn't actually turn the other way. No he had sat and enjoyed the tension as much as she had. Nothing to be angry about I guess we were both to blame. Him for bumping into her, and she for doing the same. Just two people in the same bad spot. The only thing is Rafe was the brightest part of the day. He is an ass but he's a cute ass. So why throw him under the bus. Just because he was with someone else. It didn't make any sense. Its not like they were together or anything. Something still didn't feel right about it. As far as things go Jane felt a connection to him. This connection was strong. To bad she wasn't able to just say hey I like you. People like Leann were strong as well as beautiful. They knew how to be overly sexual and in almost all cases were not single for long. Leann and her boss had dated for about a year or so. There relationship was out there for everyone to see and by see I mean judge. They were the A couple. The couple to be really. Everything looked like it was heading down the isle. Until one day Leann cane into the office with tears in her eyes.  Its not Jane hated Leann, not exactly, its just something that felt right when they didn't work out. Getting pleasure out of someone else s pain was a bitch move. All the same she deserved it.
          As an adult you learn the rules. The rules were, don't be obvious, desperate and know your spot on the dating food chain. Jane's spot was somewhere between a mole and a prairie dog. You know the ones who hide themselves in the dark holes at any sight of change or danger. Depressing  if you could imagine. The body was OK, the face was pretty, but her shyness killed any hope of having a boy friend. Every time she felt brave enough to hit on Rafe it ended quickly and abruptly. Jane wanted Rafe as much as she wanted the man in her dreams. Except Rafe was real and attainable. Needing to be around him for this project was going to be hard. The job would be easy. Not eye humping him was the hard part, Jane thought. Sighing she went to he bedroom and retrieved her portfolio shed made in collage. It wasn't much but would serve her well in this situation. She will give him the basic idea and finish without incident. She'd get in and out without losing her head. With the calm side being her preferred demure also came a temper. The important part is to stay calm. Three pages into her portfolio Jane settled on contemporary cottage. Blue wall white trim. The curtains will be white and chocolate brown cotton  floor length with burlap ties to hold them open during the day. Cream colored sofa set with periwinkle and deep red colored pillows paired with deep brown throw blankets. The house will be beautiful. Satisfied with the progress she decided it was better to stop, opting for a shower instead.
      The ability to know when to quit is the key after all. A bubble bath is all she needed. dimly lit candles lined her counter the music from the living room set just right. The only music that clearly fit this mood was "Stabat Mater Dolorosa", Grave in F minor. softly she let herself slide down the tub. This was the  best time for her to just let go. Slowly submerging herself all the way past her ears in the water. Her face barely above the water. Closing her eyes Jane listened to the opera . The water reminded her of being in the audience letting the melody's take her to another place. One where nothing and no one could reach her. The notes covered her in a blanket of sheer bliss. Notes carried her soul from her chest and softly caressed her inner being. They Flew by one by one leaving a gift of peace. Jane felt as if her body was soaring under water past great coral reefs teeming Full with life.  her hair swearled over her skin as she turned and moved within the salty brine.  Until Slowly the Water that held her dissipated. She found her self soaring over a mountain scape. Bright white caps of snow licked the sunset. The suns glory was shrouded in pinks and oranges. She soared so high she felt like if it continued she'd lose her self in its majesty. It wasn't until her feet touched the clouds did the realization that day led into night and night gave birth to glorious colors  of royal blues and purple lined in white. The stars shining so Brightly the ground appeared both dark and light. A cabin  tucked away so close to the forest it felt safe. Soaring ever closer to the cabin before gently touching down just a few steps away. In the distance she heard A wolf cry. With pure instinct Raising her face to the night sky  Jane Howled like the beast Who had haunted her dreams did so meany times before. Feeling the weight of his heart through the cry in the night Jane woke. Cold and gasping. The Music must have stopped some time ago. Its just a dream she cooed to herself nothing to be scared of. Except this dream felt real. She could still smell the pine in the air. Spooked out if her mind it was best to get out and call it good. It wasn't until the next morning when she realized her voice was no where to be seen.   they felt more like visions. Visions even she could not say weren't a reality, Her reality.