Chapter 2

We Drove in silence both lost in our own thoughts as we neared her house. There was a police cruiser in the driveway next to an old rusted ford truck, I pulled up behind them putting my Camaro in park. She broke the silence quietly and shyly, "thanks for letting me stay with you, and the ride home."

"Of course. Perhaps we could, hang out some time?" I ask trying to mask my hope. It was worth it to watch her beautiful eyes light up with her smile. "I'd love to, here this is my number."

"Great I'll give you a call soon then." Before I lost my nerve I leaned in quickly and kissed her cheek, she is my mate after all. Letting her hair fall in her face and cover her blush she hopped out of my car and ran through the rain to her door, with one last wave to me she disappeared inside.

It's been two weeks since I met Bella, and we have been talking and texting almost nonstop since then. We've finally made plans to hang out today after she gets out of school since its Friday, which is why I was currently tearing apart my closet looking for something to wear. Since when do you care what people think about us?

Well this is our mate, sue me for wanting to impress the girl Saphira.

Said girl has already seen you half naked…

Shut up. Thankfully the voice inside me granted my last request and disappeared with a light chuckle. No, I'm not crazy, well…I'm pretty sure I'm not crazy. With a glance at the clock I see schools almost out and it's a 30 minute drive, so throwing on some tight light blue jeans and a black sweater under my leather jacket, I finish with my leather boots that have a 3 inch metal heel and grab my helmet. Ever since she found out I had a bike she has been dying to ride it so I thought I would surprise her with a ride today.

As soon as I was pulling into the parking lot I heard the bell ring and kids flooded through the doors. Most stopping to gawk at the newcomer. It only got worse when I pulled the helmet off my head and shook out my hair, trying to ignore the whispers my gaze zeroes in on the gym door Bella had just walked out of with a group of friends, and one boy standing way to close her I just had to narrow my eyes. "So Bella, you busy tonight?" The growl tore its way past my lips at the little bitch. "Yah I have plans." Damn straight you do. "Oh, well can you reschedule them? There's a new movie coming out tonight I thought we could go see, and then maybe dinner." He gave her a hopeful yet cocky grin. She never got to answer before she saw my form leaning against my bike. Her friends followed her gaze and I swear even that little boy who was hitting on mi Bella was drooling. She's not mine damnit.

Yet.

Shut it Saphira.

Ignoring the laughter in my head I send the girl a sexy smirk as her eyes roam my body and then the bike filled with what I can only describe as lust. "Who is that?"

"Sorry guys I got to go." The closer she got the bigger her smile got before she was throwing her arms around me, surprised I squeezed back loving the way she felt in my arms. "You brought the bike?"

"Of course, you did say you wanted a ride yes?"

"yes!" She squealed as she pulled away. "Well then here hop on." I handed her the spare helmet that would now be hers before swinging onto the bike and pulling on my own.

I took off as soon as her arms wound around me tightly, ignoring the stares we were getting I wound through the streets until I hit the turn off, I had spent some time looking for something we can do together and I think I found a perfect spot. Driving down the dirt road as far as I could I pull to a stop. Once we climbed off and she was officially confused, "we must walk the rest of the way."

"Uh, ok but I trip on flat ground so were going to have to go slow." Her face turned red at the admission, "No worries hun, I won't let you fall."

Bella POV

True to her word I not once hit the ground, I tripped a lot, but she caught me every time. I even stopped blushing round the third time she pulled me flush against her with that damn sexy smirk of hers. God it already feels like I have known her forever. "Is this where you take me out into the woods and kill me?" I joked into the silence and let out a laugh at the look of horror on her face. She narrowed her eyes at me when she got that I was joking, "I may now." I burst out laughing until I was bent over clutching my sides at the look on her face. It came to an abrupt stop as my breath was taken, I looked up at her face and saw the most beautiful smile aimed at me. "What?" She asked as she began to fidget at my staring. "Your beautiful" was out of my mouth before I could stop it. I was rewarded by the slight blush rising to her face for a change. "Thank you, though it holds no candle to your beauty my dear." Her words were accompanied by what I now know is her trademark smirk, I swear she loves making me blush. "Then again I can go on about your beauty for an eternity, but we have reached our destination." Looking away from the emerald eyes that have plagued my mind for this past week I turn to look at our surroundings. We were in a clearing, not huge but big enough to house a beautiful waterfall off to the side falling into a little pond with a stream that led into the surrounding forest.

"Wow this is amazing how did you find this place?"

"Ehh I went for a run trying to think of something and BAM ended up here and thought of you." She blushed slightly at the admission. "Great, let's have a seat and we can get to know each other better." She practically dragged me over to the edge of the lake before plopping down "here you can sit on my jacket."

"I don't want to ruin it."

"you won't, sit sit." I quickly obeyed not wanting to dampen the huge smile on her face, she seemed so much like a kid right now, which prompted my first question, "how old are you?"

"Physically? 23. How long have I walked this earth? Uhhh-well let's see-hmm" I watched her as she quietly counted off on her hand, "2300! Well give or take a few years." I barely noticed how proud she looked while I tried to wrap my hand around that number. "wow."

"Yup, how old are you?"

"18. You are, definitely a cradle robber." Her face changed to utter horror before she cracked up.

"Indeed I am Isabella." Was purred out at me. "Ri-right so your half witch you said. What does that mean, like what can you do."

"Hmm, perhaps twas not the best word, I am more along the lines of, elemental. The magic that is fire is mine to command." She finished by holding out her hand and I stared in awe as a flame erupted from her palm licking around her and climbing up her arm. "Wow, that is amazing. That's why you're so hot!" my eyes widened as the words left my lips at how they sounded, "You think I'm hot Isabella?" her voice turned low and husky as she looked at me with fire in her eyes and a smirk planted on her lips, "That's-uh not what I meant-temperature wise, I-"

"So you don't think I'm hot?" she pouted out at me before getting up on her hands and knees crawling until our faces were inches apart. "That's not-your very-I uh-" even closer, I could feel her breath on my lips and couldn't help but glance down before shooting up into her now yellowish eyes "are you not attracted me Isabella?" she breathed out. "Uh-" she fell back onto her butt laughing her ass off, "Its ok Bella I know I'm hot, in both manners of speaking. And you are so attracted to me." When I could finally find my voice, "You know what I meant, and you are too cocky."

"Ahh but my dear there is nothing cocky about me, unless you're into that, I can totally buy-"

"Stop! Don't want to hear it." With one last chuckle, "As you wish mon ange. Another question?" Ignoring the pet name for now, "Right uh ok, so you're also a Werepanther?"

"Aye."

"You mentioned the wolves only having one form, do you have more?"

"Uhh yah, I have like 3. You know, uh like the wolves is one same size and what not maybe little bigger I would have to see. Then on the full moon, I'm not the one in charge and it's just like a natural panther but a little bigger."

"And the third?" She had started fidgeting at the start of her form explanations, "Well uhh not really a change per say, just uh-" she let out a sigh closing her eyes, I saw the ears first, they changed to where they were more catlike then human and fuzzy. Her hands changed a little to where her nails were more claw like and OH MY GOD IS THAT A TAIL. Yup definitely a tail I watched it swish nervously as her yellow feline eyes were now open and definitely not human anymore. I'm pretty sure I saw twin fangs peeking out as she bit her lip as well. I sat there speechless for a while just staring, and she must have taken that as a bad sign, "To freaky?"

"huh? What oh no! Its-your-wow. Still incredibly beautiful. That's amazing."

"Really? You think so?"

"Definitely." She gave me a relieved smile, "great, awesome." And just like that she was back to bouncing around. "Any other questions before I take you home?"

"Uhh no I think I'm going to process for a while first."

"Ok then may I ask you one?"

"Ok?"

"Will you go on a date with me?" And just like that she was back to her cocky self and leaving me speechless. "Uh-"

"wait! No don't answer yet, answer when I drop you off." I had to smile at how weird and childlike she could be. "Alright."

"It's getting kinda late, do you want me to carry you back?"

"If you don't mind?"

"Never, hop on?" she squatted down so I could climb onto her back before taking off, she started slowly so I could get the hang of it before speeding up, and I appreciated it cause holy hell she was twice as fast as Edward. We got to the bike quickly and rode back to my house on that amazing bike of hers. When we pulled up to my house she hopped off first before helping me, then removed her helmet. She then walked me to the door, "now before you answer my question, just know that is what you would be getting. I would have opened your door but you know, bike and all. And definitely would walk you to your door. Yah." She had a huge smile and seemed so damn proud of herself, like this would convince to say yes for sure. "Yes."

"yes?"

"Yes I'll go on a date with you."

"Hey Bella!" I was startled out of my thoughts of Catt at my dad's voice. "Yah dad?" I replied as I entered the living room. "Were having dinner down at the Rez today."

"Oh at Billy's?" I asked, I haven't really had a chance to see Jake while not depressed and it would be good to see him, maybe work on our bikes. "Uh well no, at Sue's actually. But Billy and Jake will be there to."

"Oh" not so good, Leah can't stand me. I regarded my dad as a blush lit up his face. "Yah she invited us down, and I told her and Jake that you would make it."

"Ok, let me just grab my jacket and phone." Once I grabbed my things I checked my phone as there was a couple messages, the first being from Jake, hey bells you coming down with your dad? Typing a quick response yah jake just about to leave. See you soon.

The next message was from the person who has taken up most of my thoughts lately,

Catt: Good evening Isabella, I was wondering if you were busy? "Hey dad I'm ready I'll be in the car!" me: hey Catt I am heading down to the rez with my dad for dinner, why?

Catt: Simply curious. What about tomorrow? Will you allow me to take you on our date then? I smiled as my dad got into the cruiser, she was asking me, something he never did, he just made the decision and expected me to go with it. Me: Tomorrow would be perfect.

Catt: Great Say 5? That way I can have you home early, don't want you in trouble for being late on a school night.

Me: Thank you, 5 is perfect. Want to keep me company through this dinner?

Catt: Nothing would make me happier. "You seem to be doing better?"

"Huh? Oh yah I guess I am." And it was true ever since I met Catt I was doing much better. I still missed them, I mean they were like the family I didn't have but, I didn't really miss him anymore. "That's good bells, I'm glad." He admitted awkwardly. I spent the drive texting Catt back and forth well aware Charlie was sending me curious looks at the smile on my face. "You texting Jake?"

"Huh? Oh no, my friend Catt actually." He watched as my blush lit up my face.

"Catt? That's uhh, that's some name. She go to your school?"

"No I actually met her in Port Angeles. We were going to hang out tomorrow to, is that ok?"

"Hmmm yah of course bells, it's good to see you making new friends, but I gotta meet her."

"Yah of course dad." Technically not a lie, we are going to hangout, just as a date. When we pulled up to Sue's house Jacob was already standing out in the front waiting for us. I was swept up into his arms before my feet hit the ground. "Hey bells! I missed you."

"Hey Jake I missed you to, but uh can you set me down." He set me down but pulled me back into his warm embrace, he was hot, but Catt was hotter, her temperature more welcoming to me. "I'll meet you inside bells?"

"Alright dad."

"So Bella how you been?"

"Pretty good how about you? How's the pack?" I answered and for the first time in months it wasn't a lie. "That's good, you look better? And things are good, Sam's still an ass but what can we do? The others are good to though, were actually going to go cliff jumping tomorrow if you want to join us, and then a bonfire. I know it's a school night but would still like you to come for a little."

"Uh I would love to Jake, but I uh-kinda-haveadate." I rushed out. I watched his grin get bigger and bigger until it looked like it was going to split his face, "What was that Bella?"

"You heard me Jake," my face warmed up with a blush. "That's Great Bella! Who's the lucky guy? Oh god don't tell me it's that Mike twerp?"

"Uhh no actually, it's uhh, their name is Catt."

"Catt? That's not a dudes name is it?"

"No, it's not." I chance a look up at the boy who had become my best friend again, my rock, and prepared myself for his reaction. "That's hot."

"Oh my god Jake." His reply was interrupted as Leah Clearwater came bounding out the door, "what's taking you two so long?" she asked slightly suspicious as she wrapped her arms around Jake's waist, they had imprinted on each other when she shifted and I knew she was still wary considering his past feeling for me and her past with Sam. "Bella here was just telling about her date tomorrow." Before she could ask questions "is dinner done maybe we should head inside, where neither of you will mention that word, Charlie doesn't know yet."

"wouldn't he be happy your moving on?"

"yes, but-"

"you not sure how he will react to it being with a girl?" I watched Leah's eyes widen at Jacobs words. "Uh well yah."

"your lesbian?"

"well I don't know if I would say that. But I'm attracted to her, and only her, so I mean, maybe. I don't know guys it's our first date."

"why don't you bring her by?" I look up from studying the ground as Leah spoke. "what?"

"well I'm guessing Jake invited you over tomorrow? When your done doing what you two were planning if you have time, why don't you come down?"

"Yah I want to meet the girl who has grabbed your attention, make sure you guys are good for each other." Well considering we were made for each other, literally, I think it's safe to say were

good for each other. "well, it's our first date, but I can ask if she would mind I guess." Crap will they be able to tell she isn't human? "great, now let's head inside I'm starving."

"Your always starving Jake."

"hey as if your any different" I fished out my phone as I listened to them bicker back and forth as we walked inside where my dad, Billy, Sue, Seth and Paul all were.

Me: Hey sorry I was talking with Jake.

Catt: Jake?

Me: my friend from the reservation.

Catt: Ahhh I see. Huh, did I just upset her?

Me: yah. I told him about our date, I hope you don't mind. He said he wants to meet you, and they are having a get together tomorrow, if you want us to stop by maybe after. I mean we don't have to if you don't want to, or if it would cause trouble for you, I mean can they tell you aren't human?

Me: forget I said anything actually we don't have to go anywhere.

Catt: LOL slow down there hun. If you want to stop by after our plans we can. It won't be any trouble, if they are your friends I doubt they will start anything. And I can mask myself to where they shouldn't tell anything about me, they seem young for what you have said and ignorant of other things in the world, it will be fine.

I said my hellos to the others before plopping down on the sofa after Sue said dinner would still be a few minutes, and then denied any help. "Hey Bella" I looked up at Paul's voice, him and Seth joining me. "Hey guys."

"I wanted to apologize to you Bella. For the way I spoke to you, about you, and how I treated you in general. I'm sorry it was uncalled for and just plain rude." My eyes widened as I took in his face, he actually seemed to mean it, "It's ok Paul, I understood, I was a human who dated someone you considered an enemy and knew your tribes deepest secret. You had a right to be upset."

"Maybe, but I didn't have a right to treat you like that or take my anger out on you. I have gotten better with my temper since imprinting on Seth, and I would really like a chance to start over as friends, if you will allow, you are after all practically family." I had to blink away the sudden tears at Paul's genuine admission, Seth taking his hand in his, "I would like that Paul."

"Awww you guys bonding?"

"Shut up Jake!" echoed around the living room full of teens. "What! I'm just glad you guys are getting along, and can't wait for everyone to meet your girlfriend tomorrow." He whispered so the adults wouldn't hear, but they all heard the "WHAT!" that was shouted by everyone. "Shhhh! She's not my girlfriend!" I hissed back only for Leah to utter "yet" back at me. "Whoa whoa whoa guys. I want an explanation here, Bella you got a girlfriend?"

"No Seth." So I gave them the cliff notes only giving them enough to satisfy them without telling them much about Catt before we were called in for dinner.

I woke up the next morning around 9am to 5 text messages.

Jake: I want pictures of you two making out!

Seth: Good luck on your date!

Leah: Don't forget to swing by sometime today so we can approve

Paul: Good luck on getting lucky! Ignore, even though his words brought a blush to my face.

Catt: Good morning beautiful Choosing to ignore allother messages I focus only on hers,

Me: goodmorning Catt her response came almost immediately,

Catt: I apologize for the early message, especially after keeping u up late.

Me: Its fine don't worry I didn't mind.

Catt: do u happen to be busy this afternoon I was hoping to push our date up since I will be sharing you later and I would like some time with you to myself

Me: That sounds good, what did you have in mind? I could be ready in 30.

Catt: Great! I need to close the garage clean up and change and I can be there 11:30?

Me: Perfect il see you then .

I set my phone down before throwing the covers off and heading for the shower. I dried off quickly before tearing my closet apart looking for something to wear. My room looked as if a tornado blew through it when my dad came up, "Everything alright bells?"

"Huh? Oh yah fine dad just looking for something to wear. Catts on her way." I answered absentmindedly. I could see him leaning against the doorway regarding me for a moment, "Right, well I'll let you get back to it then." I heard him stomp his way down the stairs and the TV come on. I finally settled on some tight light blue jeans and a black v neck sweater and my brown boots. God I really have to go shopping. The thought brought a slight pain to my chest as the face of a pixie flashed behind my eyes, only lasting a moment. I heard the sound of her Camaro not 5 minutes later and checked the time to see she was right on time 11:30. I tried to get to the door before Charlie practically flying down the stairs only tripping twice as she knocked. I threw the door open and locked my eyes with her emerald ones filled with mirth, her hair framed her face in curls blowing in the wind like flames. Damnit did she hear that? I let my eyes roam her body, she was wearing tight light blue jeans as well that ended at black high heeled boots, a plain black v neck shirt under her leather jacket showing me a perfect view of her chest that I admit my eyes paused on until she cleared her throat. I looked up as my faced warmed to see her red lips lifted in an amused smirk. "while I have no objections, I doubt you want your father to see you ogling another woman's chest in your doorway." She purred out lowly just as I heard him walk up behind me. "You must be Catt." I watched as her smirk went from amused to a genuine smile toward him. "Yes sir, you must be Chief Swan. Bella has spoken highly of you." His face lit up with his own blush as he scratched the back of his neck, "Yah that's me, you can call me Charlie though, considering what you have done for my daughter getting her back to her old self and what not." He sent me a sideways glance but I was to focused on the dark emotions that passed behind her eyes her smile slightly more strained. "Well it's the least I could do sir, she too has done quite a bit for me."

"Good that's good. What you girls have planned for the day."

"Well for starters if Bella does not object, I was thinking lunch?" she sent me a questioning look as if I would say no, "sounds good."

"Great, I'm starving" she whined out it was adorable even Charlie let out a chuckle, and it wasn't even an awkward chuckle, "well Bella said you were new around Forks so I'd give the diner a try if you haven't already, it's pretty good food."

"Yes sir, just moved down a few months ago to Port Angeles so I haven't had the chance but it sounds perfect thank you."

"Sure, I'll let you girls get to it then Bella be safe and don't stay out to late, it's a school night."

"Sure dad, I won't." I shut the door behind me and followed her to the car where she held the door open for me, her small smile slightly shyer than earlier as I thanked her. "I think he likes me" she stated proudly, "of course, what's not to like?" she sent me a beaming smile. "You look lovely by the way." I looked down trying to let my wavy hair hide my blush "Thank you, so do you."

"Thank you. So this diner, where is it cause I truly am starving." I chose not to tease her on the slight reddening of her face and gave her the direction, she pulled into the parking lot next to one of the only 4 cars there. She once again grabbed the car door for me as well. as the diner door before we were seated in a booth across from each other. It was hard not to laugh as the waitress did a double take listening to her order, I was used to it since the wolves ate a ton of food, they said it was a metabolism thing. When the waitress questioned if she really wanted 5 waffles she put on a most offended face, "I'm eating for two thank you very much!" the waitress stumbled her way through an apology and walked off to put in our order. "Is that the excuse you usually use when you eat out?" Lifting a shoulder, "I actually don't eat out much, but her face was totally worth it."

"Yah that was pretty funny, so the metabolism, is that an animal thing?"

"…..did you just call me an animal?" My face turned to horror as I repeated the words back in my head, "Oh my god no that's not what I meant! I-" her laughter stopped my explanation in its tracks as well as gained a few awestruck looks from others, "relax Bella I was kidding, I know what you meant." She reached over to squeeze my hand with her warm one, "and to answer your question, yes it's an animal thing. I assume your referring to the wolves having high appetites, mine is not truly different, at least not in those aspects. We burn more calories so we need to eat more to keep up the strain of the shift." I squeezed her hand back when I noticed her hesitance choosing to keep it in mine though I'm sure if she wanted it back she wouldn't have any trouble. "What do you mean?" she looked down at our hands momentarily, "are you sure this is something you wish to know on our first date?"

"I want to know you, so yes." I answered without any hesitance, if it was something I wasn't going to be able to handle I wanted to know now before we continued this, it wouldn't be fair to her. "As you wish, as I stated before, the wolves have no true beast inside of them, they are not true Weres but simple shifters, I'm not knocking what they are as they are your friends, but tis simple truth. I am Were, part of me is animal, beast, and said beast is a blood thirsty one." The end of her sentence was whispered out right before the food was brought to our table. I swear her eyes lit up for a second. "Shall I wait until after we have eaten to continue?"

"Probably a good idea."

As we ate we spoke of normal non-bloody things and she demolished all 5 of her waffles minus the few bites I took, to which she gave me a playful growl at, and I'll be damned if her growling wasn't extremely hot. We had finished our food and she paid, against my arguments with a "my date my rules" and sticking her tongue out at me like the few thousand years old adult she was. We walked out the door and I slammed right into a body, I felt Catt's hands steadying me as I reached to steady the person in front of me. "Bella?"

"Lauren? I thought you were in California?"

"I was, just got back last night, whose this?"

"Uh this is Catt, Catt this is Lauren, I go to school with her, well I did."

"And you will again, I'll be there tomorrow, it's nice to meet you Catt."

"You as well." Her eyes shot down to where Catt's hands were still on me back up to my face with a small smile. "I'll see you tomorrow Bella, we have a lot to catch up on so I'll meet you before class." And with that she slid past us and into the diner. Once we were in the parking lot her hands slid from my waist but she took one of mine into hers lacing our fingers, "is this ok?"

"yah, yah its good." I murmured looking down at them. She opened the door for me to slide in, "so I had initially planned on us going cliché move and dinner and whatnot, but since we are going to the reservation would you rather go somewhere and talk?"

"That sounds perfect actually."

"Great, how about the same spot? With the waterfall?"

"Yah I like that place."

"Then it is now ours." We drove I silence down the dirt road her hand rubbing circles on mine, the closer we got the more nervous she seemed though. She parked and flashed to my side to grab my door for me, I love how she doesn't feel the need to hide that from me. "would you like me to carry you?"

"Yah that way I won't slow you down."

"you could never slow me down Bella, that I promise." She practically whispered out. Once on her back she ran us toward the waterfall at a slightly slower pace than before as if she was buying her time. She sat me down at the waters edge before plopping down next me staring at her reflection. I could tell she wasn't going to be the one to bring it back up, "So, blood thirsty?" had I not been staring at the side of her face I would have missed the tiny flinch. She took a deep breath and let it out before turning so her body was facing me. "Yes."

"Care to elaborate?"

"hmmm, I am no vampire, I do not need to feed regularly, but once a month, near the full moon, I do need blood, I would lose control without it."

"So you hunt? Like the Cullen's would?"

"No" her voice became hoarse and I had to strain to hear her next words, "I cannot live off of animal blood."

"….you hunt people?" Her eyes widened, mouth opened in horror "Dear goddess no! I-I use blood bags."

"Ohh. Ok."

"ok? That's it? no horror? No disgust?" Is this why she was nervous? She thought I would have a problem with her? "No, you're not killing anyone Catt. Your not even hurting anyone, right?"

"no-no, it's all donated or from the blood banks. I-I am confused, you have no issues with this?" I reached between us and took her hands in mine, "No, because you don't have a choice, you need it to live, and you would be putting people in danger if you didn't. Plus you're not hurting anyone, so you're not doing anything wrong." She squeezed my hands back and tension seemed to leave her little by little. "Thank you Bella, that means a lot coming from you."

"Because I'm your mate?"

"Partially yes, the beast in me practically needs your approval. It would not do anything that could jeopardize that, however feeding is not something I can truly negotiate on, tis necessary for me to live. That and, you are my first actual friend in quite a while, so it means something for you to be so accepting, it brings back my faith in you humans." She joked out her last sentence, though I could tell it was not completely a joke. I decided to change the subject "Can you shift at will? Like is it something I could see? Or is that too dangerous?"

"You are in no danger from me Isabella. I can show you." She got up and took a few steps away from me and began to take her shirt off, it took me a second of staring at her in just a bra to snap out of it as her hand reached for her pants "What are you doing?" her eyes no longer human locked onto mine, these eyes clearly belonged on a feline, "I have not found a way to keep my clothes from ripping in the change yet, is this different for the wolves you know?"

"Uh-well no-I just didn't think- I mean-"

"You didn't think I would need to strip down right in front of you? Would you feel more comfortable if did so behind the trees?" all I could do was nod dumbly, cause I would definitely sound like a pervert if I said no now. "Ok." She tossed the shirt at me, it hitting me right in the face, by the time I pulled it off she was gone. Next thing I noticed was her pants flying out from between the trees followed by her bra. "Can you grab those please that's one of my favorite bras!"

"uhuh" was all I was able to manage as I tried not to think of her feet away naked. It wasn't long before I heard the rustling of the trees, the creature that stepped out was definitely larger than the wolves, and beyond gorgeous. Her emerald eyes took on a yellow tint to them, her huge paws padded silently toward me as her tail, much larger than when I saw on her person swished back and forth. She looked like any other panther in the world but bigger, more majestic, more dangerous. She stopped in front of me, my head only reaching up to her chest, and looked down at me, and then she just flopped ungraciously down onto her side. I let out as little laugh before sitting next to her, I raised my hand slowly before laying it on her side, her fur was incredibly soft, it felt almost like a velvet. Running my hand up and down her side I nearly jumped out of my skin when a deep rumbling purr came from her, her eyes were shut as she just laid there. That's how we sat for another hour, just enjoying each other's company in near silence, "we should probably head for the reservation soon." I whispered out not wanting to disrupt the calm, one eye creaked open to look at me before she let out a little huff. She got up and stretched, I saw her claws extend as she kneaded the dirt, they were like knives. She picked up her clothes in her mouth and headed back for the trees.

She came back out on two legs still stretching as her shirt rode up revealing her toned stomach. "I suppose you are right, don't wana keep the pups waiting now do we."

"Pups really?"

"What? They are puppies compared to me." I shook my head at her before motioning for her to turn around so I could climb on to her back.

She seemed to be much less tense and in an even better mood after our talk and shifting. We got into her car and I told her which way to get to the reservation, her hand in mine the entire way as we chatted idly. "does it hurt when you shift? The wolves said it doesn't but since you guys are different, I was wondering if it does?"

"Yes and no. when I change, as I did today it doesn't really hurt, more like, for a split second its uncomfortable, but no real pain. When I do what I did the last time we were together there is no pain, no nothing it just is natural for me. The full moon however, when I take the form of a panther, there is no words to describe the, agony, the burning, blinding horrific pain. On the full moon, for 15 minutes every month, I beg for my death, as bones break and realign, as claws erupt from my fingertips so different than the ones I showed you, as the fangs I already have lengthen with my jaw. Someone could end my life then and there, and I would thank them." She finished in such a hoarse whisper that I squeezed her hand and brought her attention to me, though there was nothing I could say on the matter, nothing I could do to save her from the pain she has lived with for millenniums. I guess all those years doesn't help to get use to something like that. "Were here."