Eternally Hers

Part Seven

Saoirse Kane

I followed behind Arabelle as she walked down the streets of downtown Roseburg, catching glimpses of her numerous expressions as she took in all the shops along the main strip. For a late October afternoon, it was understandably chilly, but my lycanthrope beloved was only clad in the same pale turtleneck and jeans, not at all bothered by the weather. The wind brushed through her hair often, and my breath caught in my throat every time. She was so effortlessly beautiful, it almost hurt to look at her.

​The trees on this street were of varying colours, they turned that way every year in the fall, and I knew Arabelle had never seen anything like it by the way the awe fell on her face as we drove here. Having lived in Hawaii her entire life, it was intriguing to see how she responded to such a different atmosphere.

​She looked back at me then, looking peaceful. I sent her a smile.

​"So is there anything fun to do here?" She asked me, slowing to match my stride. "It's beautiful, but it's kind of boring, no?"

​"It's a small town," I reminded her, "there's certainly things to do, lots of physical things."

​She smirked.

​"I meant like hiking and sightseeing," I chuckled, flicking her forehead. "Though there can be lots of that too, if you'd like."

​"I thought you were-" she made a face, scrunching her nose up and crossing her eyes, "-taking your time with me."

​"We only just met," I informed her softly, "I certainly don't want to rush you. We have lots of time to do other physical pursuits, sweetheart. We haven't even kissed yet."

​Arabelle's tone dropped seductively, and she looked at me out of the corner of her eye, a smirk back on her pretty face. "Do you want to kiss me?"

​Her behaviour brought me back to her little stunt this morning, where she had seduced me so effortlessly and then disappeared into the closet, leaving me absurdly bothered. In my two hundred and fifty years, I'd never been so impacted by someone. We hadn't even done anything! Just seeing the muscular curve of her abdomen, the wave of her hips, the deep colour of her skin. Having her breathe in my ear. It would have only taken another ten seconds before I sent Dorothy out and had my way with my seductive little beloved.

​"Of course," I finally answered her question, shooting her a small smile. "I've wanted to kiss you since I first laid eyes on you."

​Shocked by my open reply, her smirk dropped, and she turned her eyes forward, clearly thinking to herself. It was amusing to watch how quickly her moods switched back and forth. I'd met enough werewolves to know their emotions were high strung and vulnerable, but I'd never been close enough to one to personally witness it.

​One moment she was seductive and flirtatious and the next her cheeks were tinted a deep red. She would be unruly angry and then perfectly content. Hot and cold, almost. I'm sure if she had wolf instincts, she would have shifted out of pure emotion already.

​We walked for another couple minutes before her phone began to buzz in her pocket. She pulled it out and glanced at the caller, sighing deeply as she picked it up. "Hello, Mother."

​'Arabelle, why don't you answer your text messages?' Isabelle Warren's voice rang on the other line. I smiled to myself. Isabelle was the epitome of a doting mother. It was very sweet to watch, especially when her wife made her own rebuttals.

​"I'm out with Saoirse right now," my mate replied, looking at me to shoot me a dramatic eye roll. I chuckled.

​'Oh, is she there? Hi, Saoirse! Are you taking care of Arabelle?'