Chapter 21: Twenty-one.

Sammy was relieved to discover, that as she woke up her throat was barely tense and her nose had cleared.

She actually felt well rested and deliciously cosy.

No, cosy wasn't right, it was more than that, Sammy felt hot, hot and stuck.

Forcing her eyes open, she looked down to see two pointy ears, and a large fluffy forehead. Daniel was sleeping on her bed, in his wolf form.

No scratch that, Daniel was sleeping on her chest in his wolf from.

Groaning and mildly irritated by the intrusion, Sammy slid out from underneath the wolf, earning a small growl, as he then stretched out. Sammy watched with a raised eyebrow as Daniel slipped onto his back, his legs splayed in the air as he continued to sleep.

That's when she noticed it, the covering of wolf hair all over her relatively new bedding. Something she had only just indulged in.

Daniel was moulting, and his hair had shed all over her bed.

Sighing with annoyance, she grabbed her clothes abruptly and went for a shower. It was while in there her temper cooled off and she worked out exactly how she was going to get her own back on the man who had ruined her new sheets.

Once dry, she quickly dressed, and returned to the bedroom to dry her hair.

Daniel woke to the sound of the hair dryer and shifted back, awkwardly grabbing Sammy's damp towel from the floor to wrap about himself as he cbent over beside her.

"Hi," he stated, "Can I grab a shower?"

Sammy smiled sweetly, "Sorry, if I'd have known I'd have woken you sooner. I have to head out for an appointment, and the neighbours will be expecting a large wolf like dog to be leaving with me."

Daniel nodded, "Are you sure you're feeling alright?" He asked, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder out of concern.

"I'm feeling much better, thank you." Sammy replied, placing her hand on top of Daniel's, before adding, "You probably have enough time for a coffee though, while I dry off my hair. Don't want to catch another chill."

"Sure thing, can I get you anything?" Daniel added, taken aback by Sammy's change in attitude, maybe she was really starting to realise he wanted to be there for her.

"No thanks, I'm good." Sammy answered, smiling till Daniel had left the room.

Then she looked over at her ruined sheets and scowled.

Sammy finished drying her hair, and threw it up into a ponytail, before meeting Daniel in the kitchen with her fake smile.

"Are you okay to go now?" She asked him, as he put his mug on the draining board beside the sink.

"Yeah, I'm coming." Daniel stated, as he turned shifting mid step into his wolf form, the towel unwrapping and falling to the floor as he did so.

Sammy smiled heading to the door, before she paused.

"Daniel, I'm sorry but, it's just, well..." Sammy stuttered, picking up a lead from her jacket pocket, "No muzzle, I promise, but people will freak out if they see you going about loose, and I don't want anyone calling the cops. I'm not even sure how I'm managing to handle all this so well."

Daniel gulped, understanding her point but not liking it all the same. His gently head nudged her stomach, as he agreed to her request allowing her to put the lead over his head. He then consoled himself with the fact that at least she was willing to be seen with him, and not demanding he somehow hide himself.

Daniel would have been lying if he claimed the ear scratches didn't help. They did, a lot. He couldn't help but become lost in any contact Sammy gave him.

He followed her dutifully as they left the apartment and descended the stairs at the end of the corridor. The lead was relaxed around him as Sammy buried her fingers into his fur coat. He knew they were outside now, but his focus was lost to his surroundings with every caress of his mate's hand. He looked up to her face as they walked down the street. They must be walking to the appointment, it was nice that she wanted to take him with her. He liked when she included him, even if it were in his four legged form as opposed to two.

Still, Sammy was continually stroking him as they walked, and in his mind's eye he liked to imagine it was her way on holding his hand. That she needed the physical connection to him as much as he needed it to her.

He allowed her to lead him in through a door, and inhaled deeply, not once taking his eyes off of her beautiful face.

There was a very particular scent in here. Strawberries, and Coconut. Maybe mint as well? But they weren't fresh almost artificial. But, there was something else as well, something familiar, and it made him uncomfortable.

However, Sammy's hand was still caressing his ear and he was struggling to concentrate or even focus on what she was saying to the woman behind the counter.

Then they were moving again, moving further inside the building.

Shampoo! That was it. That was the artificial smell. Is this a hairdressing salon he wondered, and one that allowed dogs? That sounded unusual.

Then he heard a bark, and looked up away from his mate's form.

There were stainless steel tables with rubber mats on top. But why were there dogs up there?

Then all at once it happened, Sammy handed his lead over as he realised exactly where they were.

He was in the town's dog grooming parlour!

"Now Honey, you be a good boy, and then later I'll get you some tripe," Sammy smiled patronisingly at him.

The lady holding his lead smiled, "Aww, that's so sweet. He looks panicked that you're going. Gosh, hes just been glued to you this whole time huh? Aren't you just the sweetest Mama's boy ever."

Daniel had never wanted to maim and kill an innocent woman more in his life. But, he couldn't, Daniel was effectively stuck, he couldn't shift back, and he couldn't actually maul the poor woman just for doing her job. So, he had to just stand there and be babied by them both.

"He definitely has some codependency issues," Sammy smiled, "The rascal even snuck into my bed last night, and shed his coat all over it. My sheets are practically ruined." She added showing only Daniel her glare.

So, that's why she brought him here. Rather than talk to him about it.

Fine, he thought, eyeing her carefully.

Two can play at this game.