Adrian guided Aurelia tenderly, the forest floor crunching beneath them. When they entered a clearing, he placed Aurelia to her feet. He began to remove his black tuxedo jacket and his fingers worked their way down, unbuttoning the baby blue dress shirt he wore underneath it. His playful eyes watched as Aurelia, shy as a mouse, moved to undress behind a large blue pine tree.
"My wolf, Damon, is becoming very impatient with me!" Adrian laughed as he continued to undress, removing his dress slacks and swinging them over a low-hanging tree branch. "If it were up to him, he would've already shifted, shredding my clothes! Let me know when you're ready... I'll be here, already transformed and waiting for you."
She peeked around to sneak a glance at Adrian's toned body, biting her bottom lip after he removed his black slacks, her wolf purring, "Isn't he perfect?" in her mind.
Aurelia couldn't deny that King Alpha Adrian was more than attractive as well as gentle and kind. She watched in awe as Adrian transformed into his wolf Damon in an instant. She didn't even hear the cracking sounds of his bones as he shifted! Damon was the most intimidating and enormous wolf Aurelia had ever seen. He had long, wavy jet-black fur with a gray muzzle and tipped ears. His cerulean eyes glowed and Aurelia swore they held glints of swirling silver in them.
"My mate! My mate! FINALLY!" Amerie howled in delight as Aurelia transformed into her. The change became less painful since her first transformation on her 18th birthday, but she never got used to the sound of her body shifting, her bones cracking and reshaping. Aurelia always treasured her wolf's appearance as she had yet to see another wolf quite like her. Amerie had soft, bright golden-blonde fur, with silver undertones, which always seemed to reflect and glow in the moonlight. Her ears, paws, and tail held the slightest tinge of auburn while her luminescent eyes sparkled emerald green, with hints of shining gold and violet sunbursts.
Amerie jolted out playfully from the blue pine that Aurelia had shifted behind and trotted towards Damon. He howled in delight at the sight of her. Damon bowed then bounded towards Amerie. Joking, she teased Damon by quickly spinning around, nibbling his ears, then rubbing herself against him. His affection was apparent when he nipped Amerie's ears and pressed himself firmly against her side before they both began to run amiably through the dense forest.
They chased each other over fallen, damp, moss-covered trees, through crisp refreshing streams and smooth-stoned embankments for what seemed like miles. When one would catch up to the other, they would tackle the other playfully to the ground, nuzzle and lick each other's faces before the chase resumed all over again.
Amerie idolized the sounds of the forest at night. She would often find herself listening to the tones of cicadas while the wind blew the treetops back and forth, making beautiful music in step with the running waters and streams from the quarry. Damon and Amerie spent an hour or more together before they made their way back to the clearing where they left their attire. Both wolves, finally satisfied to have properly been introduced to one another, decided to transform and allow Aurelia and Adrian some time to connect as well.
Aurelia covered herself with her hands and ran shyly behind the blue pine tree to redress herself. Adrian clearly didn't have a bashful bone in his body as he stood in all his glory before getting dressed. Aurelia smoothed her hands through her hair and over her dress, making sure everything was in its place, then zipped up her ankle-heeled boots and came rustling out from behind the large pine. Amerie was ecstatic and Aurelia would be lying if she said she wasn't just as excited by Adrian and his wolf, Damon, too!
Enthusiastically, Aurelia remarked. "Adrian, your wolf is absolutely ginormous! I don't think I've ever seen a wolf as massive and striking as Damon. Your eyes are the most fascinating I've ever seen! I mean are those seriously silver swirls inside the deep ocean blue of your eyes?!"
Adrian shined a dazzling smile her way upon hearing her words and countered, "Damon is humbled by your compliment and insists we inform you that we find both you and your wolf spell-binding Aurelia. The way the moonlight reflects off of your coat is hypnotizing... and don't get us started on your alluring, enchanting eyes. I've never seen a wolf's eyes glow violet before. You, Miss Aviti, are simply captivating and I'm utterly spellbound."
Aurelia smiled, pure bliss overtaking her as she reached out and grabbed Adrian's rough hand in hers and admitted, "I feel the oddest sensations when you're around. My whole body seems to be on high alert... in a pleasurable way, and I can't get over how amazing you smell! Warm cinnamon mixed with an autumn musk which reminds me of delicious, warm apple pie and freshly baked cinnamon rolls!"
Adrian's eyes became that dark, ocean blue as he embraced her with a fiery passion and whispered, his tone seductive against her neck, "You, my Moon-Fated, smell irresistible with your vanilla, caramel scent. I swore I could taste Vanilla Bean Caramels when I crossed your pack's borders this afternoon! I instantly felt the pull of the Moon-Fated Mate Bond and was restless to find out who you would be! Dear Selene, Our Blessed Moon Goddess... I couldn't be happier with her wise selection."
Aurelia melted at his response. "I want to show you something, well a place… somewhere I haven't ever taken anyone, not even my mother." She glanced at him, a nervous fit, as she placed her hands behind her.
Aurelia parted the Weeping Willow's drooping branches which were covered in elongated leaves, to reveal the hidden walkway to her Sanctuary. Adrian followed behind her as she dropped the Willow's branches, placed his hands around her waist, and tenderly twirled her around. He looked into her eyes as he placed a light kiss on her forehead. He felt complete with her in his arms and vowed silently to himself to protect her with his life and always treat her like the amazing future Queen Luna that she was. He lifted his gaze from his gorgeous mate to the captivating scenery behind her and reveled in its breathtaking view.
Aurelia watched the expressions of Adrian's face as he took in the views of her Sanctuary. Caught in the moment, she leapt up into his arms and wrapped her legs around his waist. She eagerly planted her lips to his in a passionate, heated kiss. He delicately placed her backside against the soft bark of the nearest tree, her legs still wrapped around him, and explored her mouth avidly, thinking of where this Goddess had been his whole life. He ran his hands down her hourglass curves, memorizing every last detail of her and as if on que, they both broke from the intimate kiss breathlessly. They pressed their foreheads together and gazed deep into each other's heartfelt eyes.
"I want you to know some very important facts about me, Adrian. Facts about the things that I crave, about my deepest fears, and my life before Whispering Woods..."