Hi again. This story just came to me the other night and I really wanted to get started on it. I think I'm gonna concentrate on this particular story for the time being because I'm really excited about it (I hope you are too!). But don't worry; I got the whole summer to work on my other stories.

Summary: Serenity, born a Loki princess of an ancient and powerful wolf race, fled from her pack to live as a human. Five years later, and going by the name Usagi now, her life seems to have hit that point of perfect she'd never assumed she'd have. Her small advertising company is booming beautifully and has just landed a major client, she's getting married to her fiancé of one year in June, and she feels she's finally buried her past, and starting over new. But late one night she finds her past just won't stay buried, as Endymion, feared Loki King, comes calling to collect what's rightfully his, what was promised to him; Serenity. He begins to play a dangerous game of seduction that could very well destroy her fiancé and the happy life Serenity's tried so hard for. It might even drag her back to very place she promised never to go back too; her pack, and her wrathful father.

Side Note: when you see a group of words with 'these' surrounding them, it means they are speaking in thoughts.


THE CHASE

Chapter 1

Usagi found herself waking up -at what had nowbecome her 2 am ritual for the last three years- with more intense pain than usual. What was usually just a light prickling across her chest and along her arms was now a tight stitching that burned her entire body. She needed to change, and she needed to change now.

She threw the soft, white comforter she lay under off her roughly, and was almost leaping out of bed before she realized that her rushed movements would end up waking her fiancé; who lay sleeping next to her.

For one horrific moment she thought he had, but he only turned over onto his side with a snore. She would have smiled, but the pain had increased to a constricting pulse that left her body rocking lightly in spasms; she let out a tiny grunt of discomfort instead.

She got up as quietly as she could, but her slow movements were torture, and if she didn't get out soon, she'd end up changing right here on the bedroom floor. Then the shit would really hit the fan, because the sound of tearing muscle and crunching bone would definitely wake her fiancé up; and Motoki wasn't ready for the sight that would greet him when he did.

'When do you think he'll be ready?' an ugly voice hissed with angry sarcasm inside her mind, 'When you're on your honeymoon? After you have his first child? Will he ever really be ready?' But now wasn't the time for an argument with her conscious just now.

Once she had slipped out through the bedroom door, she picked up her pace. She exited the apartment in only her cotton panties -ones with a print of happy bunny pointing to his ass where a pair of lips resided- and a thin white tank top; she didn't have time to think of putting on anything else. That was just as well.

She took the stairwell, which was thankfully deserted, and raced down the steps five at a time. She pushed past two swinging doors, leading through to the basement parking structure, and began to sprint at blurring speeds. When she found herself in the ally behind her apartment she stopped abruptly and fell to all fours.

She felt her body begin to shift, and while most would have assumed the pain to become completely unbearable by this point, the tight pressure of pain had actually begun to ease. When the change had completed, there was now standing a large and elegant wolf in place of Usagi.

Her coat was full and thick, almost silky in texture, and unnaturally silver; underneath the moonlight it glinted with lovely lavender highlights. Her conditioned shape promised speed and agility, but the prominent muscles in her hind and fore legs promised strength.

Her ears were overly large, like those of a German Shepard, which gave her a slightly more playful look, and her tail resembled more a fox's then that of a wolf's. Her muzzle was slim, long, and offered a powerful, deadly bite. But it was her eyes, a dazzling frosty-blue surrounded by a thin, bright rim of glittering gold that seemed to be her most entrancing feature. Inside them smoldered a chilling intelligence and a dangerous cunning. There was also, deep down, a hint of cruelty.

She let out a low growl; the smell of human was strong in her nose and left her uneasy, even after three years of the same thing. There were other smells too, both here in the alley and as far off as three blocks away, and all of them together made the wolf in her, anxious and nervous.

She trotted to end of the alley, with her ears strained forward, and peered out cautiously, even though she had already scented that the road was empty. When her eyes had confirmed it, she bounded out and cut across the street. She would take to the ally ways, traveling up toward the northern end of Cedar Hills suburbia, where a large, woodsy park resided.

She found getting there to be effortless, with all the streets clear of early morning strollers and only one speeding car to be careful of, and stray animals had been smart enough to leave her alone. But only when she was standing in the dewy, fresh grass of the park did she feel all of her built up tension release.

She breathed in deep through her nose and the smell of rich, rutted pine, sweet honeysuckle, and freshly turned earth, almost had her in delirious excitement. She saw everything in stunning, beautiful color and clarity, as if she were looking at everything through a microscope.

All her life this was what she had loved most about the change, the superior senses, and how she felt completely connected to nature and those who lived among it. She sprang forward in a sprint, and let out a joyous howl as she rushed past the open space of lush grass and into the closed off density of the tress.

She let the wolf's instincts guide her, take over her thoughts, and take control. She sprang over fallen logs and dashed through various branches and shrubberies with a soundless ease. She moved with an exhilarating swiftness that left her feeling weightless; like she were flying rather than running. She slowed down when she came to a small clearing, where a six-inch wide stream trickled through it, and bent down to gulp a few mouthfuls of sweet tasting water.

Her ears came forward at the rustle of movement behind her to the right, and her nose picked out the scent of a full-grown hare hiding in a shrub not to far away. Her mouth began to salivate and a hunger burned in her belly. She hunkered down low on her fore paws, shuffling forward only a little, and waited.

The hare scooted out of a berry bush a minute later, and when it took notice of her, it dashed back up the way she had come. She gave chase instantly, inhaling its fear like you would sweet wine, and nipped at its tail.

The hare was fast, but she was faster, and she brought it down in a matter of minutes by locking her teeth deep into its haunches. It gave a high squeal, but she gave it a rough shake in her mouth that had its neck snapping.

She carried the rabbit in her mouth as she trotted up to the edge of the trees where it met with the wide-open field. She looked over her surroundings lightly, her spirits high, and found no one. It was when she had just begun to settle down and enjoy her snack that she suddenly caught the sharp and knowingly familiar scent of another wolf nearby. The rabbit fell from her mouth, which was now drawn back in snarl, and a deep, angry growl rose from her throat in a warning.

The scent was gone, as if it hadn't been there at all, and she wanted to be wrong, hoped that it would turn out to be all in her mind, but she knew better. She kept low to the ground, her ears pinned back to the sides of her head, and her whole body was wound up like a spring, ready for attack. But if it was him, what was the point, when she would only lose.

Her fears were confirmed when a moment later a huge, black wolf slinked out from the shadows just a few feet ahead of her. Its eyes were a hypnotizing dark Caribbean blue, with small flecks of gleaming bronze in them. They looked down on her with an expression of cool amusement, and something else; a darkening desire.

'Serenity'

The whisper was a seductively soft brush of velvet against her mind, and she felt her belly fill with languishing heat at the sound of it. The urge to come to him was strong, and it took everything she had to keep where she was.

'Endymion'

She answered back in a sneer, but she could feel him laughing at her. She let another growl trickle out at his taunting.

'You sound displeased to see me," he came forward only a step, "but your arousal, tells me something altogether different.'

She stayed quiet, but it was all the answer he needed. She wanted to inch back as he subtly made his way toward her, but her pride wouldn't let her. She stayed where she was, practically frozen, as he continued to talk in a sort of conversational way.

'It's been awhile, and I can see how you'd be surprised to me, but you didn't think I'd stay away did you? You must have known that I'd find you?' His tone was largely mocking and only slightly curious.

Deep down she had known, known all along that eventually he would come for her, but five years with no sight of him had her foolishly believing he had given up searching. And now it was too late to do anything about it; but she promised, that the only way she'd be coming home, was dead.

'Oh, it won't come that' he placated, sounding completely sure of himself, 'but speaking of home, your father sends his love.'

She bristled at the mention of her father, who hadn't known how to love his whole life, all four hundred years of it.

'I'd rather you didn't speak of him,' she bit out in concealedanger,'as you most of all, know about the discontentment between us'

He gave a small, accepting nod, and proceeded to stalk closer to her. 'I'd rather talk about you anyway'

She felt her body quiver excitedly at his words, and he looked her over carefully, almost ravishing her with his eyes. The heat in her was spreading, leaving her in a heady, hazy state of mind. Her limbs felt heavy, weak, and she wasn't sure she could take off even if she wanted too.

'You've obviously done well in the last few years' he had now come tostop an inch or so from her, 'and you still look as beautiful as ever'

She didn't say anything, couldn't, because he had lowered his head to rub his muzzle against the soft fur of her exposed throat and along the sides of her neck, and behind her ears. It was a vulnerable position for her, but she'd been too caught up in his enticing movements to care. Strong and enticing images rose up in her mind to overpower her; and aspicy scene of them in human form, making love right here among the trees and glittering stars, played out before her eyes.

She lay on her back underneath him, kissing and nipping at his hard expanse of sculpted chest. His hands came up to tangle in the glorious golden strands of her hair, pulling her up gently to roughly kiss her mouth. Her hands trailed hot fire as they slipped down the sides of his stomach and across his back and shoulders, her fingernails scraping deliciously into his skin as they did. She brought her hips up to grind against his erection in a slow fever, and he moaned in surprised pleasure. And then suddenly he was pressed deep inside her, rocking at a tantalizing, almost maddening slow pace in an effort to get back at her, before picking up his speed.

She pulled back from the sensual images as if she'd been doused in ice-cold water, and was left reeling from the vividness of it all. Part of her was still willing to let him have his way with her, wanting it just as badly as he did. But then she remembered her fiancé, who was sleeping soundly at home believing his future wife to be faithful, and she became absolutely infuriated with herself.

She rushed at Endymion then, using all of her strength to knock him over on his side. It was easy, Endymion having been completely unprepared for it, and she pinned him down using all of her weight. She sunk her teeth into the vulnerable flesh of his throat, keeping just enough pressure to make it uncomfortable but not necessarily painful.

'One wrong move will cost you your life' her voice was angry and full of promise, 'So I suggest you hear what I have to say'

'I'm listening' his voice was thick with desire and need, and she felt herself responding to it automatically; she pushed her own desire down with a hard, mental shove. He didn't seem too overly concerned that she could kill him in an instant if she chose.

'Things have changed Endymion' her voice reasoning now 'I no longer follow the rules of our kind, and I want nothing to do with them; and especially you. I don't belong to you anymore. I never did.'

'Nothing's changed Serenity,' the toneof his voice having become serious and disconcertingly patient, 'you've just made things complicated.' He gave a small pause before continuing in a low, sharp voice 'And you will always belong to me; you are my mate.'

Usagi all but growled in frustration when she heard the stark possessiveness in his voice. She realized bitterly that he had no intention of giving her up, and that he would always see her as a possession, something to have and control. But these were modern thirtieth century times and she was worth more than that.

'I go by Usagi these days and I'm living a whole other life now. I'm happy, for once, and mate or no mate, I've promised myself to another man.'

Endymion snarled in rage at the statement, and made to get up, but the increasing pressure she put on his throat stopped him.

'You can give your self to any man Serenity,' his voice was fierce, impassioned, and hateful, 'but it is only with me that you'll ever be content. Already, I'm sure, you've felt a hollowness, an aching emptiness in your soul that not even the man who makes you happy can fill. That will only grow, without me that ache, that longing, will grow unbearable. It will make you miserable, drive you into a self destructing madness that you'll never come out of. I know Serenity, because I've been there, and it was only the thought of you that kept me sane. It was-'

Endymion cut off abruptly when she bit down on his neck hard enough to draw blood. He struggled against her weight and she bit down harder to keep him still, squeezing off most of his air supply. Only when he was close to loosing consciousness did she release her grip and take of running.

She ran blindly at a dizzying speed, trying to escape his words, and didn't dare glance behind her. She raced up residential streets not caring if someone spotted her, and slowed down only when she reached the alley behind her apartment. It was still fairly dark out, probably close to four thirty in the morning, and Usagi figured it would be just fine to change here.

She ran up the empty stairs of her apartment building feeling completely exhausted, and was only vaguely aware, or concerned, that she was naked and that anyone who happened to chance the stairs would get an eyeful. No one did though, and the hallway was just as empty.

She closed the door to her apartment softly after she had stepped inside, and leaned against it with a shuddering breath. When she felt calm enough and slightly more in control of her emotions she headed back toward the bedroom.

She crept into the bedroom feeling tremendously guilty, and thinking he'd be wide awake and staring at her withaccusing, knowing eyes. He wasn't though, of course, and she quickly moved to throw on another shirt and some underwear before crawling back into bed with him.

He turned over to wrap an arm around her waist and bring her to him. She came willingly, gratefully, and took comfort in the offered warmth he provided. She burrowed herself against his side, trying to ignore the deep ache inside her chest that cried out for something more. She prayed for sleep, wishing all her thoughts of Endymion away, wanting so badly to forget him, but all the while knowing this was not the last she would see of him.


I think you guys know the drill by now, so let me know what you think. Should I continue for gosh sakes? Tootles for now!