Once Upon a Mate

3

I don't have wings, so I have never flown before. But the feeling that's coursing through my veins as I dip and weave around trees towards the lake has to what flying feels like.

If not, then flying holds no appeal.

It only takes a few minutes to reach the lake and in that time span, I thought of nothing. Every negative human emotion that has plagued me over the last few days, releases from me like a balloon slipping out of my hand, floating away to be forever lost in space.

The water reflects the sunlight like a million diamonds embedded in the still water. A work of art that no artist can recreate.

I curse myself for being in such a rush and not bothering to strip first before I shifted. Now I can't even take a swim unless I want to chance being discovered skinny dipping.

I settle for lying on my belly at the edge of the lake, my paw dipping into the cool water idly, just to create some shimmering ripples.

The sun warms my fur as I let my eyes wander the peacefulness that the lake has to offer. Birds fly overhead and small rabbits scurry from the undergrowth, minding their own business and ignoring the lazy wolf by the water.

Ash grey eyes stop me in my tracks. The eyes, so beautiful I'm almost certain that I'm imagining them as they watch me from just beyond the trees.

It's almost like I can see an entire lifetime dancing behind the iris' and it's calling me, begging me to be a part of it.

Mate.

Power is the next thing that I notice, radiating off of him and shocking me like an electric wire. The current pulsing through my veins, making my heart thump wildly in my chest as the wolf - my mate - steps cautiously out of the trees.

His dark grey wolf head tilts slightly and I can almost guess that if he were in his skin, he would be smirking.

My own head tilts in response and I can't help but notice the contrast between us already. His dark grey wolf to my light grey wolf.

Almost as if we are two halves of the yin-yang. Perhaps we are. I mean we were created just for the other.

One soul, two bodies.

In a moment of self-consciousness, I can't help but wonder what he thinks of my wolf. Does he see me as what he has always been looking for?

A small part of me wants to shift, knowing that I can't talk to him as wolves, but another wave of self-consciousness hits me.

If I shifted, I would be completely naked, in front of my mate.

My mate takes a slow, deliberate step forward, keeping his ears low to show me he isn't a threat. On instinct I stand taller, prouder, letting him inspect me like I'm on display for him.

I know that I shouldn't seek his approval. Like what he sees or not, I am his mate and this is what he gets. But I so badly want him to like what he sees so far.

Because I very much like what I see.

I feel his breath on my fur as he sniffs me. A pleasant shiver fighting to roll down my spine as he presses his side against me, practically claiming me as his own by pressing his scent onto me.

I nearly jump out of my skin when he nips my tail. I turn quickly to face him and something in my expression causes a wolfish laugh leaves his muzzle.

I do my best to glare at him but I want so badly to smile at him. He drops his head and taps his muzzle to my shoulder, before straightening out and standing proud.