His body ached. The second he awoke from his late morning nap, he felt his thigh begging for Vicodin. Every muscle in his body was sore and exhausted. His throat was so incredibly dry, it felt like he hadn't drank in days. It was obvious that he shouldn't have kept his inner beast down for so long. His weaker human side was having a rough time coping with the effects.

Making his way through his apartment, he tried to avoid thinking about his life's blessing and curse. It was pointless; however, every time he changed into his other form his mind always examined the injustices of his existence.

He was human. Although many would disagree, he was, in fact, a person. He was born of flesh and blood, no fur and no tail. His identity as one of his father's ancestor's pups wasn't revealed until sometime during puberty. He was a late converter, the reason why his father had resented him all through his childhood. It wasn't until he grew up to be so much stronger of a wolf than his father did the old man finally learn to keep his hands, and paws, to himself.

College had been a different, less saddening story. As a naïve, young man he embraced his ability and looked forward to changing nearly every night. His athletic human body combined with his speed and strength as an animal added to his already enormous ego. Everything during those years had been considered a competition for him. Fighting with drunken frat jocks was a sport while chasing after a certain dark haired undergrad was a conquest. It had probably been the happiest time of his life.

Becoming a doctor was inevitable. He'd been so curious as to what exactly enabled him to changed that he learned as much as he could about the human body as possible. Eventually, his interest became genuine, and he found the world of science to be fascinating. He never found his answer. He had yet to figure out the logistics of how he could be a human one minute and a wolf the next. He used his practice as a lab. Nearly every case, he found a piece to his most complicated puzzle. There were few things he had ever wanted more than the understanding of what made his ability possible.

At that thought, he snarled. Stacy had been something he wanted more. He remembered the sacrifices he made for her. Moving to New Jersey had not been his idea. He had always wanted to live in the mid west. He wished to have the freedom in which he could run ,liberated, during the day. He resented the urban setting in which she'd moved them to. He had never told her, however. He never explained why he chose to exercise only at night. He never disclosed the reason why he could hear her at the door even before she pulled out her key. She had the same love for logic as he did. The last thing he wanted was to shatter her beliefs. She wouldn't have understood, and he hadn't wanted to lose her.

They're ending was predictable. Once she betrayed him, it was over. He had allowed her the title of his medical proxy because he never thought an instance would come up in which she would have to use it. The power that was his other half healed quickly, and avoided death miraculously. It was how his father had been such a tough marine, and it was how he survived life threatening event after life threatening event. When his infarction occurred, he had faith in the magic that resided within him. He knew he'd of lived through the surgery. His extraordinary body would have cured itself, eventually, but it could never fix what wasn't there. The removal of his thigh muscle was the worst thing Stacy and Cuddy could have done to him.

House lost himself within these memories. Throughout his morning routine, his mind remained far away into his past. He stumbled into the Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital an hour later than his usual tardiness. Looking like the drug addict he is, he dragged himself through the main entrance, and towards the elevators. He only stopped when his enhanced sense of smell caught the scent of the woman who drove him into the woods for the first time in months. He, immediately, turned to the welcomed distraction to see her solemnly walking into the Clinic. She was moving with the same perfect posture that she always did, but her face disclosed all emotions within her. He took into account her too heavily applied makeup and tired eyes. Her spirit was strong, but her heart was weak. He knew the feeling. Giving her retreating form a sympathetic look, House stepped onto the awaiting elevator.

The two of them went about their day without interaction. She hid within the confinement of her office, and he sent his team to receive permission for any procedure his patient needed. He worked beyond his required hour, and, with Wilson, walked out of the building. The duo bantered light-heartedly back and forth. He'd told his friend what happened between himself and their boss the night before on the promise that he not confront her. So far, the Oncologist had stayed true to his word, but antagonized House on just about every level of irritation. Wilson was one to believe in fairy tales and happy endings. Even if he did know about House's nightly activities, he'd probably still pursue the possibility of House and Cuddy being together. They were the living, breathing 'Beauty and the Beast.'

Their conversation went on until a breeze swept by them, sending a familiar scent to House's nose. He could smell Cuddy's presence about a mile towards the college campus. His brain spun with reasons as to why she'd still be at the hospital, never mind outside, at night, alone. His genetic, protective nature forced him to go investigate the situation. He quickly made up a lie of leaving his patient's file on his desk as an excuse to leave Wilson. His friend was barely able to bid him goodnight before he was limping off in the opposite direction.

House found himself walking through one of his usual thinking places. His favorite bench was beneath a lamp right next to the jogging route that, apparently, Cuddy had been sprinting through just minutes before. He could smell the sweat and endorphins; the scent almost giving him a high with its richness. She ran whenever she was stressed or upset. Her body would always relax and release the most intoxicating sweetness into the air. He felt guilty at the way he appreciated it. Here she was running to keep her mind off the traumatic experience she endured just yesterday, and he was thinking about her feminine smell. He wasn't quite sure if it was his man or werewolf that made him so coldhearted, but he was sure Cuddy shouldn't be anywhere around him. She deserved so much better.

His thoughts were halted instantly. A dreadful feeling filled House's stomach as he inhaled a deep breath. He wanted to make sure he hadn't just imagined the sickening scent his nose had just detected. Unfortunately, the scent did exist. In fact, it intensified. He frantically looked around for a decision as fear engulfed his every sense. Something was happening. She was scared and by herself. Logic was the first thing to enter his brain. He'd have to change in order to get anywhere near her fast enough. It was taboo. People could see him. She would see him. His heart and mind fought over his body's response.

In the end, it was his inner wolf that made the final decision. The animalistic feelings he had towards Lisa Cuddy always won over his logical way of thinking. He considered her, his. She was the woman in his life, and the queen of his wolf. Had he ever been better adjusted, House would've created his own pack and named Cuddy his mate. She was as much a part of him as the heart in his chest and blue of his eyes.

In seconds, he moved towards the park's darkened area and stripped himself of all clothing. The bone deep shivering of his body started then, and had his body sailing onto four huge paws. Her terror increased in scent as he dashed easily through the open park. He knew the dangers of being seen. He was the only one of his kind within the city. It was suicide to do what he was doing, but it was worth it. At the view of where the scent was taking him, he knew he made the right choice. He followed the path though the trees and towards her.

He could hear, now. The sound of obscenely high college kids traveled into his standing cyanine ears. Their words were barely understandable over the rustling beneath his feet, and the panting of his mouth. His gums were foaming, and his teeth were aching; they were scaring her. Anger pushed his form to fun faster. He ran a mile in just under a minute before stalking at the edge of a small clearing within the woods. He was there before anything could harm her.

Three guys, he couldn't even bring himself to refer to them as men, stood before Cuddy. Each of them had some sort of an alcoholic beverage in their hand, while his boss held nothing but her car keys. He could see her standing straight and rigid as they questioned and harassed her. None of them made an approach. Her demeanor was hostile but not fearful. It was only him that could tell she was nervous beyond belief.

"Why don't you come and hang out with us?"

"A pretty lady like you shouldn't be out here all alone."

"Yeah, let us show you a good time."

Each of them had something to add to their slurring interrogation. House watched the interaction intently as he took another step towards the clearing. A branch cracked under the weight of one of his paws. The loud noise caught Cuddy's attention and made her jump with fright. He watched her eyes scan the darkness in which he stood, and how the three thugs before her took advantage of her diverted attention. The first, more talkative of the group, stepped forward and reached a hand out towards Cuddy; it was House's undoing.

The massive wolf sprung from his hiding place in the shadows and between the opposing parties. His back to his boss, the most frightening snarl escaped his growling mouth, and sent the three men to the ground. His enemies, literally, tripped over themselves with fear. Each of them scampered away, wide eyed from the creature before him. The air reeked of their fear, and had House savoring the power rushing through his veins. His broad chest stuck out like the true alpha male he was. The world revolved around him at that moment. He lunged towards the retreating cowards, and snapped his teeth just inches away from their legs. A sadistic sound was created by his snout at the sight of them running for their lives.

House turned his face up towards the sky, and howled with all the power his lungs had. It was a message. He was commanding that nothing ever threaten what was his again. She was untouchable. Not a soul could harm her as long as he lived. It was in his animal form that his possessiveness over Cuddy became most vibrant. He wished for the whole world to hear his declaration of devotion.

When he heard a frightened, feminine gasp come from behind him, House turned around. His panting body began to calm itself at the visual of her standing, awestruck by the beast that was himself. She was frozen. Her face gave away nothing, but astonishment. Her hands, however, were shaking. The keys within her grip, jingled as her fingers twitched with anxiety. It seemed to him as though she was having an inner conflict. He assumed half of her wanted to run while the other half wished to collapse.

Neither option suited him very well. He didn't want her to be scared. She had absolutely nothing to fear. With him, she was the safest woman on Earth. House chose to approach her in the least intimidating way he knew, and carefully bowed his head. The land beneath him trembled as he took just two powerful, yet graceful, steps towards Cuddy.