Willow's Choice

Eighteen

I stared at the trees that expanded for miles, the white snow and green of the pine contrasting against each other.

I had no idea if I could still do it.

I unbuttoned my pants quietly, sliding them off, my sweater following as I stood in my undergarments, the cold air causing goosebumps to ripple over my skin, but I wasn't cold.

I saw Valor next to me, studying me quietly.

I closed my eyes as I concentrated, feeling the familiar sensation of heat rolling over my skin, but it felt different, more intense.

I cried out as my bones began popping out of place, the pain causing me to drop to my knees. I hadn't shifted in months and my body was no longer accustomed to the shift and it hurt like hell.

I blinked and then I was on all fours, the pain gone and I was suddenly shaking out my fur, what stunned me most was that my fur was obsidian black as I stared at my reflection in the glass door.

I turned as I stared out at the vast expanse of trees on the territory.

I raised my head, howling triumphantly as I let my wolf have her way.

It wasn't long until I was racing through the trees like a bullet fresh out a gun.

I could sense Valor behind me as he struggled to keep up, shifting human to hunt and then back again into my wolf as I ran with Valor.

I slowed after a few minutes when I came to the familiar body of water that Valor and I had been in a few times before.

I longed to feel the warmth of the water against my skin.

I closed my eyes, concentrating and sighing out contentedly once I was on my own two legs, clutching the tree as I evened my breathing just as Valor approached.

I watched as his eyes widened and he smiled as he pointed to my hair.

"Its black now." He said chuckling.

I gripped a lock of my shoulder length hair and sure enough it was stark black.

"It suits you." Valor said with a wink.

I watched as he shed himself of his clothes, standing straight up confidently as he stared back at me.

I gripped his hand, tugging him against me as I pressed my lips against his and then I shoved him backwards into the water.

I watched as he came up, shaking his hair as he laughed darkly.

"Oh, you're going to get it." He said.

"Is that a promise?" I asked playfully.

He hissed back and I laughed as I dove in the water, swimming out into the deep where Valor now was, him able to stand still whereas I could barely manage to keep my head above the water.

He laughed as he gripped my hand, pulling me against him as he held me in his arms.

I wrapped my arms around his neck loosely.

"I love you." He whispered.

I smiled as I looked up at him.

"I love you too." I said and I kissed his cheek softly.

I turned as an unfamiliar scent hit my nose and as if on key I heard, "How sweet."

Valor immediately placed me on his back, standing straight up as he stared at the auburn haired stranger.

"Who are you and why are you on my territory?" Valor asked as I gripped onto his tensed shoulders.

"I am Nicolas. Just passing through. I smelled dinner, but I take it she's yours. Care to share?" The man said as he eyed me. His eyes were pitch black. The color giving away his choice prey, one strictly forbidden against our kind, humans.

"She is mine. I'll gladly escort you to a new hunting ground where the deer are plentiful if you give us some privacy to dress." Valor said as he walked towards the shallow water, both our torsos exposed, my chest hidden from the mans wandering eyes as he grinned.

"She must be delicious in more ways than one by how greedy you are being." Nicolas said.

"Get off my territory right now or I'll end you where you stand." Valor warned.

I watched as the man stood straight up, defying Valor's request.

"Get to the house." Valor whispered to me as he set me down.

"I am not leaving you again." I growled.

Valor nodded quietly and I dipped low, grabbing his shirt from the tree it hung in and placed it over me quickly.

I dug my toes into the sleet covered earth and I watched the stranger, his eyes flashing between Valor and I and the few feet of space that now separated us.

I knew I was faster in my wolf form, but how long it would take me to shift now was still unknown.

I watched the man flinch and then he was barreling towards Valor.

I growled, diving towards the man who threatened my mate, shifting in a second as I caught the man by the neck and I slammed him into the cold earth, ripping his head from his body in one quick motion.

I shifted human, staring down at the mans now still body, my adrenaline pumping as I looked up at Valor who touched my back, causing me to flinch.

"I've never seen you move so fast." Valor said to me.

"I didn't want him to hurt you." I said.

Valor lifted me and suddenly the trees were a blur as he ran and it wasn't long we were at the house, but what I didn't expect was for us to be on the roof.

I cursed as Valor held open the window to our bedroom and I shuffled in quickly, laughing as my bare butt it our wooden floor.

Valor watched me silently, staring at me and I felt myself grow a tad self conscious.

"Damn, you're gorgeous." He said as he looked at me.

"I literally just gave birth. Have you seen my stomach?" I said as I stared at him.

"Have I seen your new curves? Absolutely." He said as he grinned, his eyes running down my body as I began to dress, his hands finding my hips as he pulled me against him, his lip planting kisses down my neck.

I closed my eyes as I relaxed into his touch.

"Valor. W-We need to get downstairs." I said, gripping his arm as I held him against me, allowing him better access to my neck.

"Your body tells me otherwise." Valor said as he kissed my lips.

I kissed him a moment longer, pulling away to finish putting my shirt on which he kept trying to remove.

I laughed as he sighed.

"Valor. My parents are downstairs and I can guarantee, I want you just as much as you want me, if not more, but it's going to have to wait." I said as I tapped his crotch before walking out.

I heard Valor's hiss and I laughed, quickly shutting the door as I made my way downstairs.