"What did my mate like about being human?" I ask, struggling to formulate my thoughts.
Mara!
"What?"
"What?"
She stares at me oddly.
What did I just... Did I hear something? It didn't come from this woman, but I felt like... Did I forget something? I feel like I... or, maybe I... I can't tell... What was that again? Did it... say something? What was that strange... word…?
No, it must be this strange human body again. I need to adapt to it better...
"He liked that we could... discuss," she says. "He was curious about us, humans. About my powers as a witch. Your mate wanted to find ways to understand humans, to protect you... to protect the wolves."
"What is a witch? Is that a hunter?"
Oh, no, the words don't match. It's strange having a vocabulary, yet a lot of words just come out as I think, not because I actually understand them... So, so strange. She sighs, and gets up, crossing her arms.
"I am a witch, a human with... special abilities. I was born with it, and it makes me stronger than the humans."
"Why aren't you the Alpha of your pack then? Why don't you have a pack?"
"Human packs are different from wolf packs. They fear the stronger ones, so they... cast them out of their packs. I've never been with a human group for long; they avoid me."
"Humans are truly too strange and illogical. Did he succeed?"
"What?"
"My mate. Did he find a way to protect the wolves from the human hunters? Is that why he left? Don't you know where he went?"
Her strange skin suddenly changes color, going whiter. She looks down like a wolf showing submission. I haven't tried to attack her, though. She slowly shakes her head, another gesture I don't really understand.
"N-no, he... he couldn't. I... I made him change into a man, a human man so he could... see and understand humans better, but he... he wanted to be stronger and find ways to fight hunters off your territory. He... he didn't succeed."
I feel sad. Did my mate leave to find another way, then? Did he find another human, and decide to stay with them instead? I don't think so... I've seen a lot of human groups and he wasn't with them. Everything brings me back here instead. I don't understand.
"...Do you want me to teach you?"
"Teach me?"
"How to be powerful... how to be a witch. If I can... give you my powers, you'll be stronger, like your mate wanted. This way, you can... do what he wanted, and we can stay together."
"I don't understand. You said my mate didn't succeed."
"I can make you a witch! Witches are only... females, that's why your mate didn't succeed in what he wanted to do."
"...Will my mate come back if I become a witch?"
She takes a deep breath.
"We... we can try," she says. "If... if you become a witch like me, and we are both powerful enough, then... perhaps... perhaps we can make your mate come back."
Mara!
I turn my head. ...Who is calling me? No, they're not calling me, that's not my... What is my name? Oh, I'm a wolf. I don't have a name. Why did I think this was my name...?
"What's my name?" I ask the human.
