Chapter Thirty

When she stepped off that plane in London, she never dreamed her fairy prince would be waiting for her. She was a bit hesitant and nervous. She hadn't seen him since Guam and she felt she owed him an explanation even though they had been speaking over the phone and writing to each other. She completely trusted Kuu and Julie when they told her he had a very good reason for not telling her his true identity; although, she wasn't so sure about their certainty of him actually loving her like they had said. Until this very moment, neither of them had actually declared their love for each other, even if it did kind of feel like it to most people. Right now, they were just very good friends and this is something that Kuon was determined to remedy.

She honestly didn't realize exactly how much she missed him until she was safely wrapped in his arms in the tightest, most comfortable hug that anyone had ever given her.

"God Kyoko, I missed you so much." He whispered into her hair.

She sniffled and wiped the happy tears that she had started to shed and mumbled into his shirt. "I missed you too."

He gently lowered her back to her feet and kissed the top of her head, taking in the light flowery scent of her hair. It seemed as though time had stopped as they took each other in.

She looked up at him with her golden eyes and took in his silky blond hair and dazzling green eyes. "It's not dyed today." She smiled widely, running her fingers through.

He chuckled. "I just got in last night. I have to wear it this way for my passport." He explained. "Let's go get your luggage." He grabbed her hand in his and started walking. He was not letting it go this time. She was not getting away.

Ding...

Lory Takarada sat at his desk giggling maniacally when the photos he was expecting had come through on his email. "I KNEW IT! I knew there was something up when Yashiro-kun told me that boy left early! I KNEW IT!" He was bursting with glee, then in a sudden mood swing he pouted. "They kept it from me..." He needed more photos and information on his LoveMe Patient Zero and Number One and with that in mind he send a message back to his faithful servant Sebastian, instructing him to keep tailing the so-called unsuspecting couple.

Had Lory even known half of their secrets he would have realized that there was no way that anyone could sneak around tailing them. Humans left behind a scent and made entirely too much noise to go undetected by the two alphas. The pictures he had were those they allowed and didn't care about anyone seeing. They both knew Lory wouldn't expose them to the media.

Two emails and several photos later, Lory realized this too. It was a picture of Kuon laughing and Kyoko making faces in the direction of the photographer. Lory sighed in frustration. "I should have known better." He groaned then called Sebastian to call off his surveillance.

She followed the tall blond with the boyish smile on his face as they entered Epping Forest at dusk. The evening sun filtered through the trees overhead as they made their way down the dirt path. It was positively enchanting. Thoughts of Little Red Riding Hood and Hansel and Gretal floated through her mind. She giggled.

"Hmm?" He asked with a smile.

She shook her head. "Nothing just thinking of Little Red Riding Hood."

He chuckled. "You do know that we would be considered the antagonists in that tale. Right?"

She looked up at the trees. "I suppose so." She said with a mischievous glint in her eyes.

He took her hand. He really wanted to tell her what she meant to him right at this moment as the sun was settling in west with hues of gold, red and orange to match the autumn leaves. "God you are so beautiful." He allowed to slip out.

Her blush shot quickly from her delicate ears to her flawless cheeks. "Th-thank you Kuon." She stammered, but didn't turn away as he had expected.

He smiled brightly and pulled her off the path into a thick copse of brush where they could shed their humanity for the evening without being spotted. His blood started pulsing quickly through his veins when she mindlessly shed her clothing in his view. In two steps her bare body was completely wrapped in his arms and her mouth was being passionately claimed. The tether on his self-restraint was as thin as a strand from a spiders web as he nearly brushed it away like so many cobwebs. "I want you so much." He whispered as his lips trailed down the soft flesh of her neck. "But... Not yet." He sighed into the crook of her neck hoarsely as her fingers brushed gently through his hair. "I have things I need to tell you first."

She nodded quietly. "I'll listen when you're ready." She whispered and kissed his jaw gently.

"Let's get ready." He pulled away and began to disrobe as she donned her lupine form. She sighed. "Ah, it feels so good. Last time I did this is when Mother and Father took me hunting in California." She sighed and Kuon chuckled. "I looked it up. They have Black Fallow Deer here in this forest. Wanna see if we can track one?" He asked playfully.

"Sounds like fun, but I just want to run and howl first. I haven't had a good run in a while." She told him.

He nipped at her hindquarters and bounced past her. "Hey!" She yipped.

"Race ya!" He called back behind him as they took off. For the very first time in a very, very long time, two white wolves would be spotted in Epping Forest and their feral howls echoed through the trees and brush while they played. Unfortunately for conservationists, they weren't the type of wolves that would be taking up residence there.

Just after midnight they made their way back to the little copse of brush where they had hid their clothing and dressed. The playful lovers then snuck out of the forest to make their way back to the hotel where the male would reveal his tragic past to his female. He was terrified that she would leave him once he told her and she made her choice. Yet, he needed for her to know. He needed her full acceptance. He was determined as they made their way to her room, it would be tonight.

"Stay with me tonight?" She asked as they lingered in the hall, outside of her room.

He rested his head on hers and nodded. "I'll be right back. I need to grab my stuff." He smiled as she gave him her spare room key. He gently released her hand and headed slowly down the hall while she entered her room.

A smile that would rival the sun crossed her lips as she gathered her long, blue silk nightgown and headed to the bathroom to wash the dirt and moisture from their evening in the forest.

Kuon stopped at her door with his overnight bag in one hand and the key to her door in the other. For a brief moment, the thought had crossed his mind to just turn and walk away and hide from the need to tell her what he needed to tonight. He took several deep breaths and steeled his nerves. He opened the door and entered into unknown territory.

As he entered the room he was caressed by the scent of the woman that he loved, it was musky and feminine, erotic and tantalizing. He lay his bag on the floor at the foot of the King-sized bed that had been draped in Egyptian cotton and Red satin. He surveyed the room to find the mini-fridge and pulled out a couple of one shot bottles of scotch and a small tumbler. He needed the little shot of liquid courage for tonight to calm himself as he listened intently to the water beating down on the woman that he loved as she washed. His ears trained on the cessation of the water and the rustling of the towel as she dried. He closed his eyes and images of her naked body danced through his mind as she dressed.

"Oh! Kuon. Did you want to shower?" She asked as she put her things away and straightened the room.

He nodded then grabbed his bag and headed for the bathroom.

"I'm ordering room service. Did you want anything?" He voice chimed sweetly, soothing his heart.

"Whatever you're having is good." He smiled.

A mischievous grin crossed her lips. "Ah, so if I order frogs legs you'll be fine with that?" She giggled.

He chuckled. "Touché. A salad is fine." He told her as the bathroom door shut.

Finished with his shower he stared at the man in the mirror and told him that he could do this. She would still accept him. She wouldn't run again. His heart told him she would stay but, his mind was having second thoughts on the subject.

"Kuon." She knocked on the bathroom door. She was not about to rush in again and catch him by surprise like she had so many months ago as Setsuka Heel. "Dinner's here." She announced.

He slipped into a more calm frame of mind and steeled his nerves. "Be out in a minute." He told her as he finished combing his hair and slipping on his black, silk pajama pants. He gathered his things, took one more look in the mirror and opened the door.

They sat in a companionable silence as they dined. Every now and then, he would steal a look and softly smile at her. At the end of the meal, she poured two cups of tea then set the dinner cart outside of the room for the night staff to take care of. They both sat comfortably at her the table and Kuon began his story.

"Kyoko, before I begin telling you... I want to apologize for lying to you for so long." He told her as he stared into his tea-cup. "I didn't mean for it to go on that long after I met you. I... I just didn't want to destroy the happy memory that you had." He felt her small hand on his large and looked up into her eyes.

"Kuon..." She started.

"No... It was inexcusable and it made you run from me. I'm sorry." He interrupted.

"It wasn't all you, Kuon. It... it was Sho, my mother and some things I needed to work out on my own." She explained.

He put his fingers on her lips to shush her. "I still have more to tell you. Please don't hate me after this?" His eyes were pleading.

She nodded and he began the story of the night that changed his life completely.

A/N: Just wanted to clear up a bit of consistency confusion. Kyoko & Kuon's fur colors are being coordinated with the color of the hair on their heads. Sorry if it created a bit of confusion. Hope you are enjoying the story & thank you for reading.