He had noticed her from the beginning. The reiki in her, while untrained, was clearly matched with his own youki in terms of strength. The enormity of it fully unleashed could be... catastrophic.
But not to him. Never to him. He recognized her for what she was. Everything about her called to the primal part of him that prowled beneath the surface of the skin that hid his true form.
For the first time in his life he had known elation, happiness, hope, and - fear. True fear.
She was his. And he was hers. His soul had reached for hers and he had slammed it down with every ounce of will power he had.