Love and Moonlight
Love and Moonlight
First Meeting
For Fifteen years, I have lived with my pack. And each year I gain more and more of their trust. In the human world I was seen as an outsider but here, among my own kind, I am at home. I am apart of the pack. I am Princess Anna Valintegra.
I run with them, my pack. My family; my true family. Our leader, Grandfather Solomon, leads the way. His strides are long and powerful. My three surviving uncles, Simon, Aaron, and Benjamin, flank me on every side and My Aunt Olivia trails behind me.
As we speed through a clearing another wolf joins us. The scar around the wolf's neck and the dark brown fur gives his identity away. It's Hannibal, my betrothed. Most of the wolves in our pack look the same, black fur and golden eyes. The unique color of Hannibal's fur is one of my favorite traits about him, that and his kind eyes. He's twice my age, I'm twenty and he's forty-three; but I think I love him, I guess I do. I don't know what it feels like so how can I tell? Even if I don't, I won't complain. He's who my grandfather has chosen for me, and he is who I will love.
"An enemy wolf pack has entered the hunting grounds. Can you smell them, Leader?" asked Hannibal through our mind link. "Yes, we best go investigate." My grandfather replied.
We turned to the east and kept running until we came to a break in the trees. There grouped together around a freshly killed deer, were four unfamiliar wolves. Three were gray and the largest of them, whom I assumed to be the leader, was snow white. Their eyes shone silver in the starlit night.
My brethren and I circled around them, snarling and growling. They stood their ground, returning our threats. The white wolf stepped out in front of the rest. "I'm Hector, leader of the Heiken Clan. Hunters have driven us from our land in central Austria. We do not mean to take land from you. We are only passing through." His voice calm and reassuring. I wasn't buying it for a moment.
"How do we know you aren't lieing!" I snarled, baring my sharp teeth. Hector turned his powerful head towards me, seeming to notice me for the first time. His silver eyes glistening with amusement and something else I didn't recognize. He stepped towards me and Hannibal sprang to my defense. He snapped at Hector's paws, making the absurdly large wolf yelp and jump back from me. "Keep away from her!" He snarled, his gold eyes flaming in fury. Hector leered at us, "What a beautiful wolf you are." He mused, his eyes fixating on me. "I'd love to see you in human form." Hannibal and I both growled at him then.
"That is enough!" barked Grandfather, shooting us a warning glare. "I will overlook you for now, Hector. You and your pack have a week to move out of my lands. If you are not gone by then, we'll be forced to attack." Hector's toothy grin broadened, "Understood", He turned back to his small group, "Back to the den!" he ordered, and they all shot off through the thick forest.
Back at the Valintegra family compound, I sat in the sitting room, reading a book. The door opened and Hannibal walked in, wearing his usual jeans and thin, white undershirt. I'd be the first to admit I take great pride in fashion and normally his attire would annoy me but he had the body to pull it off. His casual clothing combined with his dark brown wavy hair, bristly, strong chin, and abundance of scars gave him a rough, bad boy appearance. He may be forty-three but he looks half that. Werewolves age much slower than humans, thankfully. The funniest thing about it was that even though he looks tough, he's a complete softy. He is in all honesty, the sweetest, gentlest man alive, yet another of my favorite traits.
"Hello darling." I greeted him with a smile. He grinned back and collapsed on the couch next to me. He heaved a heavy sigh and rested his head on my breasts, wrapping his strong arms around me. I laughed at his adorable show of affection and playfully combed his unruly hair with my fingers. "What's the matter?" I asked. Usually the only time he snuggled with me was when we were in bed. "I didn't like the way that guy looked at you." He admitted. I leaned my head against his and sighed, "I didn't either." He tightened his hold on me, "I think hector wants you." I laughed at his words, "Dose he?" I asked. His gentle eyes hardened severely, "It isn't funny, Annie." He growled. He was the only person alive that I would allow to call me that. It sounded cute when he said it, instead of childish. I pulled his chin up and crushed my lips to his. My tongue parted them and met his in a struggle for dominance. He was such a good kisser! I stopped the kiss after a few tantalizing seconds. My body was scorching hot. I couldn't wait for nightfall so we could sneak away to his bedroom.
"You have nothing to worry about. You are the only man I want and the only one I need. I love you." He leaned down and kissed me again. I wrapped my arms around his neck and tangled my fingers in his hair. His lips left mine and began a trail down my neck and along my collarbone, leaving burning heat in their wake.
A knock on the door made us both spring upright on the couch. He slid further down on the couch and pretended as if he'd been sitting that way the entire time. I straightened my violet shirt and my black skirt and ran my fingers through my long, wavy hair. "Come on in!" I said and little Mia, Benjamin's seven year old daughter skipped to me. She smiled brightly and handed me a folded sheet of paper. I opened it, revealing a family portrait, draw in crayon. "Aww, this is lovely, Mia, thank you. I'll hang it up in my room tonight." She giggled and pecked my cheek then skipped back out the room.
As soon as the door closed behind her, Hannibal let out a chuckle. I glared at him, "What?" He grinned happily amused, "It's just that…you don't really show much emotion. But when you're with the pups or me you're all smiles." He leaned towards me and whispered into my ear, "If I didn't know better, I'd say you were showing a genuine emotion."