Author's Note: Hey guys; Happy 4th of July! I appreciate you guys a lot, and your reviews motivate me to write faster and update sooner, so please keep them coming! Thank you so much!

Everything moved surreally fast. The forest went by so quickly that everything seemed just a streaky blur; I couldn't even make out a single, individual tree.

I felt like panic should have been welling up inside me - but instead, the opposite seemed to be true. Perhaps it was Matthew's presence beneath me that held up the illusion of absolute safety, but I found myself enjoying the ride. I hung tightly to the fur, pulled myself instinctively closer to his warm body. My heart and breathing sped up, but from exhilaration rather than fear. I felt my face flush with excitement.

It didn't feel like I was riding on a freakishly giant and tame wolf while it ran; it didn't even feel like he was running at all. The ground passed beneath us so smoothly, so effortlessly; if I'd closed my eyes, I probably wouldn't have been able to tell that we were moving at all.

"This is unreal," I whispered out loud, feeling the breeze suck the words away, sure that even Matthew's ears hadn't heard me.

I started at the colors of the forest around me and just let myself go, as if I was watching some psychedelic television show. I loved it. I felt light, alive, and vibrant, like I could conquer the world or do anything I pleased. I also felt an overwhelming sense of trust, which was knew to me. I was trusting that Matthew wouldn't hurt me; he could literally take me anywhere he wanted and I wouldn't have been able to protest. He could kill me before I knew something was wrong; he'd warned me of his desire to do just that, and that it was still possible at any moment. He could do anything, and I just had to trust him not to. It was new, it was strange, and – surprisingly – I liked it. It had been such a long time since I'd let myself trust anyone completely, since I'd let someone else take the reins in my life.

I would have been content to continue riding on his back and trusting away for the rest of my life, except that too soon I felt his body slow underneath me, actually felt the tensing and relaxing of his muscles.

With every notch his speed decreased, my heart became just a little heavier until it was back to its normal weight. When he stopped, it felt a little sore.

He crouched down for me to get off. I did so, and he immediately straightened back out.

He tapped his paw on the ground twice as if to tell me to stay. He waited.

"You want me to stay here?" I asked. He nodded in response.

I waited, and again, felt his absence heavily. Removed from the soft, furry, warm blanket I'd been sitting on moments ago, the forest seemed even colder than it had while I'd waited for him to turn into a wolf in the first place.

I looked around to see the once-again uninterrupted magnificence of the forest. It was beautiful, but oddly still after all the movement I'd just experienced.

But was the ground moving?

Actually, it seemed as if the trees were starting to sway, like they were under water. How weird.

Suddenly my gut lurched as if someone had punched me in the stomach, hard, but the punch had come from the upper interior of my stomach. I doubled over from the blow and the trees swam even more sickeningly.

My stomach heaved, and I threw up.

I jumped back in surprise, and tried to avoid getting it on any part of me.

The trees were still swimming. My stomach was rolling now, almost in anger.

I threw up again.

"Are you alright?" Matthew's voice asked urgently from behind me. I felt his hot and heavy hand touch my back in support.

I nodded weakly, trying to muster my strength. How embarrassing.

I really was getting okay, though; the trees were starting to become as immobile as they were supposed to be and my stomach felt much better after the last time I'd puked.

"Sorry," I whispered, closing my eyes and sitting down on the forest floor, hoping it would help get rid of the last of the swimming.

"You're sorry?" Matthew asked incredulously. I turned and opened my eyes to see his worried face peering anxiously at me.

"I'm the one that you gave you motion sickness!" he declared, "I guess it was a stupid idea. No more running. I'm sorry."

No more running? But I'd enjoyed it so very, very much.

"No, I don't get motion sickness," I countered, "I don't know why I got sick." I stood up straight and looked Matthew over, only to instantly wish I hadn't. He wasn't wearing a shirt, only jeans, and he looked more perfect than a memory could conjure.

"From the motion of me running," he answered, sure of himself.

"No," I said, "I loved it."

"Really?" he asked skeptically.

"Yes… I've never felt as – alive. It was so exhilarating. You know, that's probably it," I declared, an idea occurring to me, "I'm not used to such exhilaration; it made my head spin and me throw up."

"So you admit then, that it was caused by the running," he continued, louder, when I started to protest, "Even if only indirectly. If I hadn't been running, you wouldn't have felt quite so exhilarated and you wouldn't have been sick. I should have given you warning or taken it slower."

"No, you shouldn't have," I argued, "It was great. Besides, how far did we get in that short of a time?"

He shrugged, "A ways. About a hundred miles, give or take a few. We're in the Olympic National Park. Port Angeles is the biggest city around here; it's about twenty miles northeast of us."

Port Angeles. Holy crap. I'd been there once, years ago – there really wasn't a point to going there with Seattle so close – but it was so far away, and we'd gotten there so quickly. Something told me that Matthew hadn't even been running as fast as he could have.

"Wow," I said.

"Yeah."

It was silent between us for a moment, each of us lost in our own train of thought.

"So, you as a wolf…" I started casually.

He cringed, "I told you it would freak you out." He looked away, shamefaced.

"It didn't freak me out," I assured him quickly, "I – liked it. I think I like you better that way," I teased, smiling.

He grinned in response, elated.

"Aw, that's harsh. Besides, I know you find me irresistible," he teased.

"Oh?" I asked, raising my eyebrows skeptically. Of course I did. Was it really that obvious?

His grin grew lazy and amused and he leaned back casually.

"Yeah. Admit it, you can't take your eyes off of me." He threw me an exaggerated eyebrow wiggle that resembled a smoldering look before his amused expression transformed into a smirk.

With any other guy, the maneuver would have been funny, charming, and cute. With Matthew, it was charming and sexy as hell. I tried to avoid staring at his bare chest and muscles.

I sighed sarcastically, "You know you really shouldn't be so full of yourself. False bravado only sets you up for future let downs."

His grin became more appreciative.

"Well, one can't help their genetics."

I laughed, "Okay, yes, fine, I admit it; you are incredibly attractive. Happy?"

"Yes," he said, laughing, "That was all I wanted to hear."

I rolled my eyes, smiling.

"But," he added, rapidly turning serious, "You should know, too, that you are – well – the most beautiful woman I've ever seen hardly covers it."

I shrugged, embarrassed. I knew I wasn't that pretty. Not Lorraine Black pretty. I was average.

"Anyway," he said smoothly, sensing my embarrassment, "It really didn't freak you out?"

"Nope. No freaking from this girl."

"How? I mean… I turn into a giant wolf for crying out loud!"

I laughed, "Yes, duly noted."

He sighed, unsatisfied.

"Well," he said, "We're here."

"Where's here?"

"The place of our picnic. Come on," He motioned for me to walk with him through the woods a little ways more.

We set off, and I scanned the area to which we were heading. Sunlight was streaming through the trees about fifty yards away. That must have been where we were going. My heart thudded in anticipation. A picnic with Matthew, in a sunlit meadow? Nothing could have been better.

We closed the distance in silence, not touching.

I yearned to reach over and take his hand; I hated that I hadn't kissed him the night we'd had a chance.

But he knew how I felt about him; I'd agreed to date him and even admitted how attractive I'd found him. That should have meant that it was okay to treat me like a girlfriend, right? Yet I was sure that most couples would have been holding hands.

I knew I could do it; I could make the first move. But I didn't know what I was doing; I was chicken; I was nervous as hell.

I snuck a sideways glance at his nearest hand. There it was; big, strong, tan, and – undoubtedly – burning hot. Why couldn't I gather the courage to reach out and take it?

"Okay," he said brightly, "I think you'll like this."

We'd reached the edge of the clearing; a few close-knit branches blocked the view of the meadow but all it would take was a duck under the brush and we'd be in it, alone. At least I was hoping it would be alone.

I smiled at him as he moved the braches out of my way and motioned for me to step through. I obliged, and gasped.

The meadow was gorgeous. It was small and round; its circumference was roughly thirty feet. It was private, it was withdrawn, and it was a scene out of a fairy tale.

Wildflowers grew in abundance and the bright sun made them shimmer in the light.

The trees formed an exquisite border, an enchanted wall that separated us from civilization and the rest of the world.

I'd always been a people person and never been as glad for privacy than at that moment.

"Wow," I breathed, drinking it all in.

"Pretty, huh?"

"It's beautiful!" I exclaimed. I walked into it then, straight into the wildflowers, feeling them tickling my legs, becoming intoxicated by their ethereal aroma. I felt a natural, unbidden grin spread across my own face. I stared up at the sky, at the wide expanse of gorgeous blue and the beautiful clouds decorating it. I wanted to run and dance through the flowers.

I turned to Matthew, laughing with joy.

"Come on," I called out to him, still laughing, beckoning him towards me.

He smiled and stepped into the sunshine. I paused and observed.

Matthew was slightly different in the sun. His skin seemed to glow ever-so-slightly paler, emphasizing his already-celestial-quality looks.

Reddish-brown streaks appeared in his hair among the bronze, glimmering in the sunlight.

I wouldn't ever have dreamed it possible, but Matthew was physically even more attractive than ever before.

I felt more insignificant and unattractive than ever before next to the beauty of the meadow, to the natural perfection of Matthew's appearance.

"Paige," he said, suddenly in front of me, grabbing my hands, "Really?" He looked into my eyes, probing them for answers to all his unspoken questions.

"'Really' what?" I asked, taken aback.

"How can you be so calm in my presence? You've seen me turn into a monster and you know that it's difficult for me not to kill you – that it is, in fact, currently excruciatingly difficult. You know I'm something else too, something worse than a creature with the ability to turn into a giant monster, and even the fact that you don't know what I am doesn't freak you out. How? Why? Are – you are human, aren't you?"

I laughed, trying to lighten the mood again, "Yes, I'm most definitely human. I'm one hundred percent human and one hundred percent positive."

He groaned and lowered our hands, "Paige. Please. Be honest. You can't say that I don't scare you at all."

"The scariest thing about you," I admitted slowly, seriously, "Is my feelings for you."

I can't believe I'd told him that.

His expression turned pained and he released my hands completely.

"I'm sorry," I said quickly, the pain of rejection threatening my well-being again.

"Don't be," he whispered, his hurt eyes still peering into mine, "The selfish part of me is rejoicing right now. The – er – more noble part of me is telling me that I'm another kind of monster entirely."

"What do you mean?" I asked softly, drawn in to our conversation. I reached my hand out towards his again, trying to grab one. He moved them out of my reach, gently.

"Paige, I'm not good for you. I will ruin you; you'll have to give up so much if you end up with me. You have no idea… and I really don't want you to find out. I want to be strong enough to – leave -"

"No!" I said quickly urgently, an uncalled for panic welling inside me, my heart rate tripling.

"You can't leave me," I whispered urgently, tears welling in my eyes.

I hated to show weakness, but the thought of losing Matthew had me gasping in pain. That he would leave me…

"Paige," he whispered back, "You'd be so much better off…"

"Matthew!" I argued, my voice breaking, "If you leave me, I..."

I squinted, holding back the flood of emotion. I should let him go. We were hardly dating; we weren't far in a relationship. Why should I hold him back? He didn't have to be with me; I didn't exactly deserve him.

I swallowed hard, "If you want to leave me…"

"I don't want to leave you," he said earnestly, taking my hands again, "If I was strong enough to, I would have already."

A single tear left my eyes and trailed down my face, "I don't want to hold you back; I know you deserve better -"

"Paige!" he cut in, "I'm not leaving you. I want to solely out of love for you and a desire for you to have a normal future. You're perfect; I could never want better."

"Perfect!" I scoffed, "I'm far from perfect, Matthew. I'm broken. And it didn't take much to break me. I'm weak. I -"

"Paige," he repeated urgently, transferring both my hands into one of his, wiping my tear away with his thumb, "I would never leave you. Never. I would never do that to you. The only way I'll ever leave is if you want it that way. I -" he hesitated, his voice dropping back into a soft whisper, "I… love you."

My heart, and all rational thought, stopped. I felt myself – my instincts, my emotions – plunge into an entirely new abyss of feelings. Instinct kicked in and took over.

"In that case…" I whispered back after a moment of silence, my pulse restarting. I'd fallen over the edge into this new world. Something changed in me the moment I'd heard his proclamation. This was the point of no return; I knew that I would never bounce back from a romantic catastrophe now.

I got up on my tiptoes then, pushing my head towards Matthew's. I pulled my hands out of Matthew's grasp and threw them around his neck.

Surprise flickered across his face once he realized what I wished before it was replaced by enthusiasm and delight.

He lowered his face to meet mine.

Our lips met.

Fireworks went off somewhere inside me, tingles coursed through my body, and my blood boiled. I gasped.

Matthew's mouth didn't leave my face during my gasp, it moved down my jaw. I turned my head and our lips met again.

The kiss continued until I ran out of breath. I was getting dizzy, intoxicated by him, by the meadow, and – most of all – the kisses, sweeter than I'd ever thought kisses could be, stirring new and unknown feelings deep inside.

I pulled away for an instant, drawing a deep breath, "I love you too," I whispered, and went in for another kiss.

The kisses continued, growing ever more passionate.

"You are," I started, between kisses, "Really good, for a first time,"

We kissed again.

"I never said this was my first kiss," he said, laughing softly the next time we pulled apart.

He moved in for another kiss.

"Wait," I said, pulling away.

"What?" he asked, his face radiant from our kissing.

"What do you mean?"

"About what?"

"That this isn't your first kiss; I mean, you've only been around seven years, I thought?"

"Yes, but that doesn't mean…" He sighed, "Look, is this important right now?"

"Yes," I said. I realized that the acidic burning I felt could also be known as jealousy.

"Who?" I croaked.

"She wasn't even human," he started dismissively, "She -"

"Not even human?" Great. So far my experience with inhuman beings is that they were a thousand times more beautiful than ordinary humans. Undoubtedly that was true here as well.

"One of my mother's type, actually. But we never – I mean – trust me, Paige, she was nothing."

"Nothing? But you kissed her."

"Paige, she doesn't matter."

"Why not?" I thought of how beautiful Renesme was. It didn't do anything to get rid of the acid.

"Paige, trust me, she has nothing on you. Nothing."

"You can't tell me that." I crossed my arms, "You can't tell me she wasn't a thousand times more beautiful than me."

"Paige," he said again, "She wasn't. And her beauty means nothing, because she has nothing on you. Nothing."

Nothing. Yeah, right. At least my heart rate and breathing were finally returning to normal.

"You can't tell me you've never kissed another guy," he said accusatorily.

"Well – strictly speaking – I have, but that's different."

"How on earth is that different?"

"I've had eighteen years in which to kiss a guy! You've had seven! That's less than half the time I've had, and – well – "

"It's the same thing," he said in an odd voice.

"What?" I asked, distracted by his sudden change in tone.

"May I ask who you kissed?"

"You don't know him," I smirked, "He's just a human."

"Does he go to our school?"

"Yes."

"Then I know him. Tell me, please."

I sighed.

"Well," I said, "My experience really didn't matter. But Sebastian O'Dahllen."

"That dork from our English class?" he snorted.

"Hey, he's not a dork," I retorted, "And I had a huge crush on him for years."

"What did you see in him?"

I laughed at his incredulous look. Was it really jealousy that I was detecting? Matthew was jealous of Sebastian?

"He was cute, funny, charming, and very smart," I said, milking it just a little. Sebastian was a dork, and he wasn't that cute. He definitely wasn't charming. He was funny and smart, but that was about all he'd had going for him.

Matthew wrinkled his nose in disbelief.

Yes, it was definitely jealousy I was detecting. And Matthew obviously wasn't used to being jealous.

"That wimp couldn't charm anything. You're way too good for him. How did you end up together, anyway?"

"Well, we were lab partners. He was really smart, and I thought I really liked him."

"You thought?"

"Yeah… then we went on an awkward 'date' accompanied with an even more awkward kiss…"

I wrinkled my nose at the memory.

"That was it," I clarified.

"Oh," he said, amused.

"So I guess we're on even footing then…?"

"Uh, yeah."

I smiled and moved in to kiss him again.

His face twitched a little. He grimaced and put a restraining hand on my shoulder.

"What?" I asked.

"We'd better not," he said reluctantly.

"Why not?"

"I'm not as strong as I thought I was; I don't know how much self-control I have. Even as far as we were…"

"What do you mean?"

"It's dangerous."

"How is it dangerous?"

"Paige, your scent – it's – hard to be so close to. It's so much more potent. I want to kill you just that much more. And even if I didn't kill you in that gruesome way, if I lost control of myself for a second, I could kill you entirely on accident. I'm – very strong."

"I see…" I hadn't known that close proximity increased the chance that he would kill me.

Had I just come seriously close to death without even realizing it?

Then why wasn't my heart speeding in fear; why didn't my breath spike in terror?

Why was I so calm, able to handle the information he'd just given me so well?

"Okay," I said, "Then let's just… hang out."

"That sounds good," he said, smiling back.

I reached out and took his hand. I pulled him further into the flowers of the meadow.

I sank to the ground and pulled him with me.

The sun shone brightly, illuminating Matthew and the floral Eden we sat in. The flowers rose around us magnificently, sucking us completely into the magical scene around us.

We sat cross-legged on the soft landscape beneath us.

Matthew pulled me closer to him, so our shoulders were touching. I let my head fall against his broad, muscular shoulder. His rough, hot thumb began to absentmindedly stroke the back of my hand, sending tingles up my arm.

I sighed contentedly, letting my body relax into his.

Life was absolutely divine.