~Haiden~

The rays of the morning sun had not yet bled over the eastern mountains, and the songbirds still silently slumbered within their little twiggy nests. I stared contently with glowing eyes upon my mate's delicately sleeping face. Intense overwhelming love swelled in my heart while she unconsciously mumbled about lasagna. My gaze swept over the sensual curves and valleys of her naked sun-kissed flesh, causing a low growl of approval to quietly rumble within my chest. Her beauty stole my breath away, and despite her not wanting to be here, I was beyond elated to finally have her warming my bed... Our bed.

It had both shocked and pleased me that she'd let me mate with her despite her openly resistant attitude toward me. Even though it hurt me deeply, I couldn't blame her for her bitter disposition though. In human culture, what I had done was technically considered kidnapping and we were a predatory species that preyed on her kind. She was frightened and didn't understand lycan customs. Didn't understand that it was my goddess given right to take her. And so, I was going to have to do my best to make her feel more comfortable here, which was exactly why I'd chosen to arise at this early hour.

I leaned in and nuzzled her soft dark hair, inhaling the tantalizing scent of lilacs and summer rain. Then, being careful not to wake her, I pulled the blanket away from my body and climbed out of the bed. My bare feet padded across the olive green carpet as I made my way over to the balcony, still nude from our lovemaking. The doorknob didn't even make a click, as I silent as the grave, snuck outside.

The early morning air was cool and crisp, with the scent of the approaching autumn lingering faintly upon the breeze. The river violently rushed and the wooden floorboards were still damp from the storm. Yet the clouds had parted to reveal a plethora of twinkling stars threading through the silken midnight blue with their shimmering rays. I looked to my left, smiling as I glimpsed the wooden hot tub I'd made. I couldn't wait to stargaze with Isabelle while we soaked in there together.

Then, without skipping a beat, I leaped over the railing. My bones cracked and my muscles expanded, while I shifted into my beast form before landing on the plush grassy ground. Long black claws dug into the soil and a maw full of razor-sharp fangs hung agape, as I arose as a lycan beast. A formidable form given to us by the goddess of death for one sinister purpose alone. Devouring humans.

Not that I'd be doing that though. It just so happened to also be our fastest form and I wanted to return before my love awoke. None of our pack ever did such things unless it was the full moon anyway, and most of us loathed ourselves when we did have to do it. I, however, didn't mind the curse too much. I'd become numb to the bloodshed and had grown cold from not having a mate for so long. Although, I wondered if that would change now that I had Isabelle with me.

My paws dug through the bed of forestland loam and leaves, as I raced through the winding trees and branchy bushes. Every smell was enhanced like a tangible silken thread shimmering through the air, beckoning to be followed. And every sound was magnified, from the whoosh of an owl's wings flapping upon the wind, to the lightly tapping footfalls of a tiny spider crawling across a distant log. Yet, I paid no mind to sound nor smell and continued on my way.

A few roe deer hastily scampered off as I entered my favorite mountainous meadow. The silvery moonlight glimmered upon a winding stream that cascaded down mossy stones on the mountainside, making it sparkle as if bejeweled by diamonds, and enchantingly illuminated the tall grass and wavering wildflowers. I had to suppress the instinct to chase after the deer. The pack would be going on a hunt tomorrow night anyway, and I currently had a mission to focus on.

After continuing to run through the forest for a short while longer, I came to an abrupt halt, digging my claws deeply into a thick maple trunk to help myself stop. An abundance of purple wolfsbane blooms quivered in the breeze before me, followed by a moonlit field of grapevines. I crouched down to survey the area, taking in the sight of the still broken-down backdoor to the little stone cottage. 

Movement beneath one of the old oaks caught my attention and my pointy wolf ears perked up. I heard the scraping of a shovel cutting through the soil, and saw the man who had chased after Isabelle in the field digging a ditch. I lowly growled and my fur bristled up in anger and jealousy. Not only was he was a hunter, but also a man who Isabelle seemed to trust more than me. 

He and a couple of other humans had been responsible for a few deaths in the pack. That was why we had made a point to shift close to this particular town. We had been seeking revenge. They anticipated that we'd do such a thing too, and seven or so men had been waiting for us with their guns. They were all fools though. Every one of them but him had been devoured.

I snarled and began to stalk around the wolfsbane, taking a cleared path into the field. Just the mere memory alone of how my mate had called out to him to save her from me had me aggressively baring my teeth, with drool dripping from my menacing maw. I was going to kill him.

But then I realized why exactly he was digging at this odd hour. He was burying the elder whom Isabelle seemed to care about. I stopped stalking him and growled in irritation. I would leave him be and allow him to bury his dead, only because Isabelle had been fond of the old woman. Although, he would not be so lucky the next time our paths crossed...

I hunched down and quickly shifted into my human form since it was much smaller, feeling my fur become smooth skin and my bones and skull completely break and change shape. Then I pushed my hair out of my face and continued making my way through the grape field. An owl hooted off in the distance while the cordate-shaped leaves fluttered beautifully in the pale moonlight. Clusters of plump purple grapes dangled on either side of me like those seen on olden tapestries of succulent fruits. I plucked one from the swirling tendrils of the vine and popped it into my mouth, savoring the sweet and juicy flavor. 

Fuck, that's delicious... 

I soundlessly snuck across the flower encircled stone patio and leaned against the side of the cottage, warily watching as the man continued to dig the grave off in the side yard. Upon closer inspection, I could see that he was far too grief-stricken to be paying much attention, with tears streaming down his cheeks and his chest heaving with sorrow. The elder's body was wrapped in a floral burial quilt, softly illuminated by a small lantern beside her. The golden glow of the lantern seemed to dance with the silver rays of the moon, gilding her quiescent body in dichotomic elegance.

Silently, I slipped into the home unnoticed. The living room was still in shambles, but there had been a poor attempt to wipe away the blood. I made my way up the creaky mangled stairwell and entered the moonlit room that I'd first found Isabelle in. And also where I'd regrettably killed Codrin. I grimaced at the haunting memory. My pack was my kin, and I shared a brotherly bond with my cursed brethren which I held dearly.

His body and the other girl were gone, but unlike in the living room, there had been no attempt to clean up the blood. It had become putrescent in the summer heat and stunk terribly of rot. Flies had buzzed their way in and were zip-zoodling all around the sticky dark red puddles. Unfortunately, I had come here to sniff out Isabelle's belongings. I sucked in a deep breath of the repugnant odor, determined to this for her. I really wanted her to feel comfortable and at home in our cabin, and I figured that retrieving her things might help.

The floorboards softly creaked as I walked over to the dilapidated bed frame to see if she might have had any special blankets or something. I crouched down and sniffed the bedding. Half of the bed had a sort of snake-like reptilian scent... The other girl's smell. I shivered in repulsion, then moved to the other side. It smelled sweetly like lilacs and summer rain. I sniffed deeper into the mattress and smirked triumphantly to myself. She had been very aroused in the night. No doubt because I'd been howling for here.

Moving on, I sniffed out a black suitcase filled with a few random things that were definitely hers, some clothing strewed around, and lastly, I found a journal on the nightstand. Slowly, I pulled the journal up to my face, taking in the whimsical daffodil picture on the peach-colored cover and the flax leather binding. Using my pointer finger, I gently glided a claw over the front and I smiled knowing that it was hers. It would be wrong to take a look, I knew that. A complete invasion of her privacy, no doubt. However, I found myself suspiciously glancing around the room anyway. 

Surely it wouldn't hurt to take a quick peek...

My claw hooked around the edge of the cover and I unscrupulously flipped it open. Although I had been expecting personal details about my mate's thoughts and feelings... and secretly hoping that she'd written about the wolf she'd been hearing in the night... I was delighted to find a bunch of skillfully drawn birds with little poems written about each species beside the pictures. 

I smiled taking in every little detail of her beautiful art and written word. From the feathered red crest of the northern cardinal to the speckled wings of a downy woodpecker. The final drawings were all European species, including a turtle-dove and a couple of icterine warblers. I noticed that she'd titled a page "Hoopoes Bird" but there was no drawing nor a poem to go with it. I hummed in thought.

Does my mate wish to see a hoopoes bird? That could certainly be arranged...

I closed the journal and tucked it into the suitcase along with everything else that I'd collected. I carried it in my arms as I carefully made my way out of the house, being cautious not to be spotted by the grieving hunter, and made my way back to the forest. Once I was there, I shifted back into my beast form and held the suitcase within my massive jaws, then hastily made my way back home.

The white linden blossoms seemed lambent in the fading moonlight as I returned to the cabin and shifted once again. I crept up the porch steps and in through the front door, hoping that Isabelle had not woken in my absence. The door quietly clicked behind me, then I paused to listen. Callie was softly purring on her favorite chair and Isabelle's soft even breaths were coming from up in the bedroom. I happily smiled.

My mate is still asleep. 

Hastily but silently, I made my way up the stairs and returned to the bedroom. My eyes glowed and the breath was stolen from my lungs as I took in the exquisite sight of her. Her hair was wildly disheveled from our lovemaking. Her plump lips were unsophisticatedly hanging open. And the sheets were tangled around her awkwardly sprawled out limbs. She looked exquisite and the love I felt was unfathomable. 

I had only been gone about an hour or so, but it felt more like a century. I gently placed the suitcase down next to her dresser and began walking toward the bed. The closer I got the more aroused I became, feeling myself grow painfully hard as I carefully crawled back into the bed. Her body was responding as well, with her sweet arousal becoming stronger in the air and her little pink nipples pebbling up into tight peeks for me. Trying not to awaken her, my head dipped down to the crook of her neck and I breathed in her wonderful scent. Unable to resist the strong urge to nuzzle her, I did just that.

My fangs ached to mark her, but unfortunately, I had to wait until she was no longer contaminated with wolfsbane. Marking her would strengthen our bond and give us the ability to conceive pups. I was certain that once I did so, she would feel as I do, and I could hardly wait for that.

Gingerly, I wove my arms around her and pulled her slumbering frame against mine. A low growl vibrated in my throat as I felt her nipples pressing against my chest and the heat from her weeping center warming my cock. Then I practically hissed in shock, silently baring my fangs as she began rubbing up against me in her sleep, sensually rotating her hips to paint my cock with her glistening arousal. 

What the!? ...Holy fuck!

"Mmm... Oh, Haiden..." She literally moaned in her sleep, making me clench every fucking muscle in my body to restrain myself. "Please... Haiden..."

I wasn't going to stop her since she was my mate and I was really enjoying the fact that she was doing this, but I also wasn't going to make any advancements while she was unconscious. So there I laid, trying desperately to maintain self-control while my mate moaned out my name and humped my rock solid dick in her sleep.