Eternally Hers

Part Eleven

Arabelle Warren

​"I think I'm gonna go for a run."

​Saoirse turned away from her computer to look up at me, her hair in a messy bun on top of her head that flopped to the side with her movement. She was clad in some leggings and an oversized Harvard crewneck today, and she looked scrumptious, as always.

​"Oh? I can come-"

​"That's okay," I assured her, stepping forward to kiss her head quickly. "I know you've got your writing deadline. I just haven't shifted since I got here, and I'm getting kind of antsy."

​"Are you sure you're good to go alone?" She frowned at me, the corners of her lips slanting downwards. "I know you don't know the area too well..."

​"I may not have wolf instincts, but I do have wolf senses," I tapped the tip of my nose, perking my eyebrow at her. "I'll be gone for an hour or two. Will you be done writing by then?"

​She looked back at her computer screen where she'd been writing all morning and sighed. "I'm not sure. I have to have this in by tomorrow morning and I still have quite a bit left. I kept pushing it off since you got here..."

​"Then get it done," I said, leaning over her shoulder to peck her cheek. "I'll bring my phone and leave it with my clothes so if you need me, text me. Are we eating dinner together?'

​"Of course," she replied quickly, spinning around in her chair to face me, lifting her hands up to hold just below my hips. "Be safe, okay? With this Vampire around, I worry."

​I rolled my eyes at her playfully, slapping her hands. "You'd worry about me anyways. I'll be fine. Have you met my parents? I did physical training for hours every week. If I happen to run into them, well..." I smirked, "that would be the end of the Vamp problem."

​"Don't get too cocky," she replied playfully.

​"Oh, baby," I smiled smugly, moving away from her and towards the study door, "don't count on it."

​She laughed and spun back around in her chair. "Go before I don't let you leave."

​I laughed loudly as I left the room. As if! The woman barely touched me outside of snuggling in bed and the occasional forehead kiss. Three and a half weeks with the woman and she hadn't kissed me a single time! There was no fucking way she didn't want to kiss me as much as I wanted to kiss her! We were mates, for Goddess sake.

​So then why hadn't she?

​Shaking the thought away, I grabbed my phone off the kitchen island, slid on some shoes, and made my way out the back door. It was sprinkling, but nothing I couldn't handle. I would just have to find a dry place to leave my clothes when I shifted so I didn't have to walk all the way back in damp leggings – if I could even get them on wet!

​If worst came to worst, though, I would just grab my clothes in my wolf form and hit my paw against the back door until my mate came to open it for me.

​She hadn't seen my wolf yet, though, and I wanted it to be somewhat... special? When Werewolf mates saw their wolf form for the first time, it was one of the most significant milestones of their partnership. Revealing that part of myself was important to me, even if my mate wasn't a Werewolf herself.

​I began walking through the woods briskly, enjoying the cool air. With a body temperature as hot as mine, the November air felt refreshing. Being outside, surrounded by lush forest, was equal as refreshing, both mentally and physically.

​The forests in Oregon were much different than Hawaiian forests. I didn't know how to even explain the difference, but it was a significant one. It was colder here, the air was brisker, crisper, almost. I found myself enjoying the walk immensely.