Kierra

Always thought her having the key for it in the same area was a bit redundant, but now knowing the place is full of animals, I don't see too much thievery going on. By the time I get it started and into the driveway, they've gone inside. Firming my seeming lack of a spine, the vehicle revs and shoots down the roadway.

Jerking myself back into reality, I make the turn before I go into the ditch. Grinning like a fool, I slow down and go a bit more leisurely, you know, down to thirty or so. One of these days I'll remember to keep a hair tie on me again, my hair is going to be a mess.

Oh well, if I'm not presentable enough he can kiss my tail. Actually, no, he can stay the hell away from my tail, damn creeper. Really don't want to be anywhere near him if he's in animal form, there is such a thing as too big.

Few hundred yards from the house's driveway I slow even more, feeling eyes watching me. Stopping, I sit there and lean back.

"Can come out, I'm not in the mood for games."

"Are you ever?"

Dirk.

Another kid that seems to be hanging around. His laughter in my head lets me know I didn't scare him that bad last time I was here, or he's good at hiding it. My eyes go right to him as if I could hear the direction he came from.

As a young timber wolf, he still has some growing to do. Padding out from the treeline in front of me, his tongue is lolling from his maw in a canine grin.

"Think you know the answer to that."

He barks at me, ears flicking.

"Lead the way then."

Dogs aren't the only ones who make weird noises when they're hyper, wolves do to, and that's what's coming from him now as he bounds ahead. Shaking my head with a small smile, I follow after. When I threaten to run him over, he finally stretches out his strides.

The thinner road leading up to the house isn't quite as long as the one at Ava's, so we reach it pretty quickly. Green eyes watch as the young bi-colored wolf trots up to the male sitting on the front porch steps. The road keeps going to the large garage straight ahead, but I stop right when the area widens on the property.

A thick treeline follows on each side of the driveway leading up to the place but thins to almost nothing in the clearing around the sprawling building. Few trees in the 'front yard', but nothing dramatic. Turning the vehicle off, I sit back again and look at the place, ignoring the man ruining the view.

Haven't even seen the inside yet, but I know I want it. Thinking back to my conversation with Chandrika, my eyes peruse the grounds that I can see. Nope, no plots large enough to grow anything to the length Ava does.

I'd feared I'd be coming back to a smirking superior looking male, but that isn't what I see when I finally look at him. Charcoal hair is tied back loosely and blue eyes watch me from the strong-featured face as he stands. Why are a lot of the handsome men such dicks? Doesn't seem quite fair.

He motions out from him, causing the smaller wolf to turn and take off towards the trees. Dirk looks back at me when he hits the edge but then disappears within them. An eyebrow raises as I become snarky right off the bat.

"Got him trained like a good little doggy, don't you?"

Gabriel frowns at me and I realize just how much of a bitch I'm becoming. Sighing, I raise my hands and look down.

"I apologize, that was uncalled for."

Don't like when I'm wrong, but I can admit to it when I am.

Usually.

Getting off the ATV, I step away from it and move closer, stopping a few feet before the stairs. He's up a few steps, and I'm already short to his over six foot and several inch frame, so I don't want to have him hovering over me. Stuffing my hands into my pockets, I take a deep breath and look up at him. The Alpha isn't looking me in the face, more at my hair. Granted it is a bit windblown, but I'm sure it's the color he's after.

"Is that natural or did it appear after?"

I shake my head, trying to be more civil.

"Silver came after, all the rest is natural. From what I've seen of others, there are the most common changes, but when turning furry, you tend to be the color that your human hair is."

He keeps looking, so I do a little spin for him.

"And when you're 'furry', you are all silver? No other color?"

Shrugging, I face him once more, hands kept in my pockets.

"From what I've been able to see, yes."

Alpha gives a small nod before sweeping a hand behind himself, motioning me to come hither. Puffing out a breath, my hands come out as I make my way up. He moves up to the porch as well and opens the door.

I hesitate before going in, the male standing next to it and waiting for my decision. Needing to do this, I walk in resolutely.

"You act as if you're walking to the stocks."

Can hear the playful note in his voice, so I play along.

"Well, you tell me, is that what I'm doing?"

He smirks while coming in behind me, closing the door firmly. A thread of fear makes its way down my spine, but I brush it off. I walk in further, then turn so he isn't at my back.

Trying to look around and keep my eyes on him at the same time isn't going to be easy, so I need to either pick one or leave. Making a show of being unafraid after he sees my movement, I look out over the room. The first thing my eyes fall on is the fireplace.

Of course there's going to be one; because I've always wanted one. Someone is plotting against me here. Now that the place has my attention, I forget about him totally as I move about the room.

Safe bet would assume this to be the living room, bare but for the brick surrounding the fireplace leading up to a chimney. Not gas or electric, all wood burning. You want a fire, you have to build it yourself.

Perfect.

Along the same right-hand wall, closer to the front door is a closet. The left side has two doorways, one leads into an office with empty wall shelving. Walking into it shows that it's bare too, so I'm assuming all the rooms will be. Not a problem.

Ideas for the room cloud my mind already, causing me to fall in love with it instantly. My smile can't be hidden as I go through it, running a hand over the bookcases. Thick, sturdy wood, no pressboard here.

Door in here leads to another room, a bedroom I'm guessing since there's an attached bathroom. I peek in, as long as it has a toilet and a shower it's good enough for me. It has both and a tub, a double-sink countertop, and a large mirror. Nifty.

The sliding glass doors on the outside wall lead out to the wrap-around porch. This must be the master bedroom and bath. Another doorway leads back into the living room, a partial wall on my left side comes out only so far.

Further down is a short barrier counter type wall with another opening on the other side, otherwise, it would be one big open entrance into the kitchen and dining room. Lots of counter space, open spots for a fridge and stove, the sink is already installed. Another set of sliding glass doors lead out to the back porch.

Going back to the living room, I go for the hallway next to the brick inlay, becoming even giddier as I see multiple doorways. First open space on my right is the stairs leading down, the next one on my left is a smaller room and has a larger window at the end. Makes sense with the washer and dryer hookups. Next door on my right is another bathroom, smaller than the master one, of course.

Two more doorways, one on each side leading to bedrooms. The last open area at the end of the hallway holds the stairs leading up. Everything so far, main rooms and bedrooms have been hardwood or tile, the stairs leading up are carpeted. The ones leading down weren't though, thankfully.

Chewing on my lip, I remove my boots and walk up in socks. At the top, it leads into a large open area, carpeted as well but for the area around the brick chimney. A railing is up so no one falls down the steps, and leads back to a small empty room. Way too small for a bedroom, so storage I'm guessing. The shelving helps the assumption along.

Grandmother’s house had small rooms like this, hers were smaller and tucked into walls though. The room next to it is another small bathroom, this one only has a shower though, no tub. To either end of the open area are sets of glass doors leading out to the veranda.

There are a couple more rooms opposite the stairs, one a bedroom while the other is open, no doorway. Not sure what it is. Not going to know what to do with all this space. The views from the glass are blocked right now from the blinds, but peeking out one, it's pretty awesome. Trees for days.

I go back down, put my boots back on, and head to the stairs that lead to the basement. No door to it, no railing either. The 'railing' are the walls to either side since it isn't a very wide staircase.

Wooden steps go down to a small landing then continue to the side, going down further to the cement floor. A short hallway leads to a cellar-like room and next to it's another small bathroom. This one has a tub, no shower. Whoever built this place must have known that bathrooms are the biggest thing people look for in a home. Jeebus.

Across the hall from it is a room that I'm guessing was meant as another bedroom since it's carpeted and has a closet. Pretty big, lengthwise, and no windows. Would be perfect for Faline.

Underground in a basement, sure, but it's an actual room with its own bathroom. Sort of. Further down the hallway opens up into another large open space. A foundation pillar is set to either end of the room, but not at the edge, and from the placement, they help hold up the living room.

There's one more room tucked back into the corner, glancing in shows it to be a utility room. Pipes, large water heater, and other things that I have no clue as to what they are. Walking back to the large emptiness, I look around.

Think a new nest would be perfect in here, a 'den' if you will. Plenty of space to bring in some of that foam padding stuff with the small triangles and pile blankets and such on it, won't be too hard or too soft.

Gah, I'm being all domestic an shiz. Creepy.

I heave a heavy sigh. This place is a bit bigger than Ava's, and from what she told me of the cost of hers, I know this one's going to be much more. So what pieces of my hide do I have to carve off to get it? Might as well go ask.