It was late at night, and only the symphony of crickets could be heard in the lush forest surrounding Christina's humble cottage but the vampire fairy hybrid couldn't drift to sleep. Finally admitting her defeat she rose from the bed with a wing-popping stretch, lighting a candle she slowly moved from her bedroom to the kitchen at the front of the cottage. Perhaps a hot cup of tea would help her relax? Stoking the fire she put the kettle on to boil before settling at the nearby table. From the kitchen window, she could see the small rose garden and the woods beyond.

"Somethings' out there," Jade her black and silver wolf sat up on high alert.

"Don't be silly," Christina replied, "You know-"

"No," Tan and silver, blue-eyed Fluffy interrupted, "She's right, I can smell it"

Christina's hands began to shake, "Well, what is it?"

"A wolf," Thunder squeezed through the doggy door, "He's hurt, no threat"

Christina stood, stepping past her wolves she unlocked the door, stepping out into the warm night air. The breeze brushed against her, playing gently with her long tangled hair. It took but a moment for her eyes to adjust to the darkness. Allowing her to see the mysterious glowing lilies that hugged the walls of the cottage, they seemed brighter tonight. Just as Thunder had said, there was an injured wolf less than two feet away.

How did-

The thought remained unfinished. There was an injured, barely alive animal on her doorstep. Christina sprung into action gently lifting the creature with her magic, bringing him into the cottage where she could better inspect his injuries.

"Are you sure that's wise?" Jade cried.

"Jade"

The alpha wolf sighed defeated, slumping against the closed door.

Christina closed every wound she could find. It was clear this poor creature despite his massive size had been on the losing end of a fight. Once he was mended Christina scrubbed him clean, only then, did he wake.

"Hello," she whispered, "Don't be scared, you're safe now, I promise"

Jade, Fluffy, and Thunder stood on guard in case this really was a trick but much to their surprise the strange wolf sat up, leaning happily into Christina's touch before licking her across the cheek making her laugh, "You're very welcome"

This wolf was the largest Christina had ever seen, rising easily to her chest where the other three stopped at her waist. She returned to the kitchen to get some food for their unexpected guest while Jade interrogated but what she learned and what she told Christina later were two different things. After all of the excitement, Christina was finally tired out. smothering the fire she returned to her bedroom the new wolf following closely behind the entire way.

"Jade, does he have a name? He'll need one if he's going to stay"

"He says his name is Shaggy"

...

For many many months, he had wandered, in this cursed form, from kingdom to kingdom. Nothing more than a wild animal. Nothing more than prey for the human hunters who combed the woods desperately stocking for the coming winter. With nothing but the lunar lilies to guide him.

For your insult, you shall walk on four legs, a dumb animal with no home and no hope. No magic to help you and no sympathy to be had.

That was the curse the witch invoked after he rejected her. That was why he was stuck but what the vain witch hadn't known was that someone had been watching. After he'd painfully fled into the woods the moon herself descended from the sky to amend what had occurred. At first, he didn't understand. At first, his mind was clouded by his curse Until:

"Be still, child"

he immidently calmed, the fog clearing as the horror of his current state set in. He howled pitifully.

"I'm here to help you," she rested a hand on his head, "All curses are breakable, even yours"

But, but, but-

"I can't break it now but I can lead you to the girl who will, you'll find her home marked by my lilies hidden in woods far from here, she'll be your life mate after the curse is broken"

How can she break my curse if she can't know about it?

"The same way many are, you'll see, now, follow the lilies,"

The path sprung up before him, glowing and swaying in the breeze. On and on and on he walked, stopping to sleep in hidden nooks during the day before rising with the moonlight to follow the path. Now, now he was finally here, but he had been jumped by an entire pack only a few miles away it was only by sheer determination that he'd even made it to her doorstep before blacking out.

Finally here.

He watched the other wolves settle around the room, Jade by the bedroom door, Fluffy under the window, and Thunder at the foot of the bed. Christina settled into the bed, pulling the covers to her chin before blowing out the candle.

"Aren't you going to sleep?" Jade asked in a series of barks.

"Where do I?"

"You can climb into bed with her," Fluffy kindly offered, not yet filled in on all the details, "Christina won't mind, we do it all the time"

Well if he was allowed...

...

Christina woke the following day to a wall of glossy brown fur, "Good morning, Shaggy," she yawned, eyes closing again. The wolf licked her across the face in greeting, tail thumping the bed. Even though there wasn't anything that needed to be done Christina found herself rising from the bed out of habit after getting ready for the day she slipped outside into the cool early morning air. The lilies had closed up again as they did every morning much to her confusion but she put it out of her mind. It did no use to wonder. The mysterious flowers had simply sprung up and remained. Slowly with a shuddering breath, she moved past the vegetable and herb garden, one shaking hand outstretched soon coming to rest on the warm, glass-like surface of the magical barrier that encased the cottage shielding it from the surrounding woods and masking her from monsters and magic users alike.

"It won't be forever," Fluffy reminded her.

"I know," Christina turned away sharply, "Will one of you gather some berries from the woods? They're so much better when they're fresh"

"I'll go," Fluffy wagged her tail, retrieving the basket from just inside the door, "I love the berries"

"Make sure you actually bring some home," Christina reminded her, watching a tad jealous at how easily the wolf bounded into the woods, disappearing behind the trees.

It won't be forever.

Are they sure?

Lump rising in her throat, Christina hurried back inside, shutting the door with a hard slam. It was useless to cry. She had cried so much already when the few weeks became a few months. She cried when she had woken up to realize she'd lost track of days.

Stupid war.

Falling onto the couch she tried to keep the tears at bay but they still blurred her vision. Jade and Thunder knew to stay away, knew she didn't want comfort but Shaggy didn't seem to understand. Every time she pushed him away he came right back. Again and again.

"You're awfully persistent"

...

"She doesn't want to be bothered right now," Jade declared, "Stop it, you're just going to make her more upset"

But, Shaggy didn't listen. Christina laid longways on the couch preventing him from climbing up with her so he planted himself in front of her, licking the tears that dripped down her cheeks even when she pushed him away. Until she finally gave up,

I don't know why you're crying or why you can't leave but I'm here for you. I'll always be here for you.

Tired out, Christina didn't object when he laid his head down beside her much to the shock of Jade and Thunder who sat a few feet away.

Maybe, Shaggy was the real deal after all and not some conning trick.

...

"You're just going to upset yourself dear," Maleficent knocked on the door of her daughters' chambers.

"Are you sure we can't bring her home?" Alissa's voice wavered, never tearing her eyes from the magic mirror.

"We agreed that-"

"-She would stay out of sight until we can peacefully end the war," Alissa finished, "Stupid waring pretend princelings, are you sure we can't at least give her the key-"

"No, Alissa, the library is magic but it is-"

"-Connected to the castle because it's made of the same magic and while she would be safe she would also be exposed, it's best that she hides completely, no visitors, no friends, no family or someone could be followed and Christina would be found"

They had the same discussion every single day. It was taxing and sad., draining them both as if the endless war strategies didn't.

"What is she doing now?" Maleficent joined her daughter in the mirror.

"She cried herself to sleep but look"

"She has a new wolf"

"I don't think that's actually a wolf, Mother"

"You're right, but I don't think it's a threat either"

"What couls it be?"

"Cursed," Maleficent waved her glowing hand over the glass, "We'll just have to watch closely"

...

The weeks stretched into months, the weather turning bitterly cold, and snow beginning to fall. Shaggy never left Christina's side, always a step behind her, sitting with her on the couch and curling up on her bed. Always there to comfort her at every turn. Still, he was cursed. This wasn't Christina's fault, she didn't know and couldn't be told. He tried to tell her, tried every day. Bringing her her fairy tale book open to certain pages, when the frog turned back into a prince when the spell over the beast was broken. His latest attempt was to walk on his hind legs only to fall.

"Shaggy, are you okay?" Christina leaped from her chair to kneel beside him, "What are you doing?"

He whined with frustration, thankful the wolves were out hunting for their dinner.

"Aww, it's okay," Christina soothed, "I fall down too"

I wish you knew.

She scratched him just behind his ears. He licked her cheek in response. I love you.

...

"I think I've figured it out!" Alissa burst into her mother's chambers excitedly.

"Figured what out?" Maleficent asked, "Is Radu still eating dinner?"

"Yes, but I've figured out what this mysterious wolf is,"

"Well?"

"I was watching the other kingdoms and I discovered a trial in progress, a witch was burned for the curse she put on the missing Prince"

"And?"

"The Prince's name is Shaggy and the last time anyone saw him he'd been turned into a wolf"

"And a wolf with that name showed up on Christina's doorstep this is no mere conindence"

"Exactly but how, how did he find her? Why is he there?"

"He wants his curse broken"

"But there are so many magic users, why her?"

"Is it not obious?"

"Oh, Oh!"

"Exactly"

...

A few nights later Christina couldn't sleep once again, thoughts spinning through her mind like a tornado. Sliding from the bed, she jumped into her slippers, pulling on a thick robe before plodding to the kitchen, Shaggy following.

"You can sleep, I'll just be in the kitchen"

But Shaggy stayed where he was just like always. He sat right beside her as she sipped tea and watched the snowfall.

"I miss my flowers but I know they'll come back when it warms up again." Christina thought aloud, "You like the warm weather too, don't you, Shaggy?"

He wagged his tail.

"Was it warm where you came from?"

He wagged his tail harder choosing to try and stand again, using the table to lean on.

"What are you doing?" Christina giggled, "Don't hurt yourself"

I have to show her. Have to help her understand.

Licking her across the face made Christina giggle more, "I love you too," she kissed his nose.

Christina jumped back, falling out of her chair at the bright beam of moonlight that shot through the window, enveloping the wolf beside her until it was so bright she had to look away. When the light faded her sweet wolf was gone with a complete stranger in his place. Heart pounding against her chest Christina scrambled away until her back hit the wall.

"Christina, like, please don't be scared," he held up his hands placatingly, "It's just me, just Shaggy"

"I don't-I don't-"

Slowly, he neared her, "Like, I was cursed to be a plain animal months ago by an angry witch, I was sent away into the woods but I was told you and you alone could break it"

"I-I-"

"The lilies led me that's how I found you," 'Shaggy' stood right before her now, hand extended to help her up, "I tried to tell you, I tried so many times"

"That's why you kept bringing me my book"

"And it's like, why I was trying to stand, please like, please believe me, I would never hurt you"

Shakily, Christina took his hand allowing him to pull her to her feet.

"I like, understand this is a lot to take in and you're frightened but please, please allow me the chance to explain"

He righted her chair, poured her another cup of tea, and sat across from her when she nodded that it was okay.

"Many months ago there was like, a terrible storm. In the middle of the night there was a pounding at the front doors. It was this girl, dripping wet with rain, shivering and sickly. My parents and I feared she had been in an acident so we brought her inside," Shaggy shook his head sadly, "It was all a ruse to infiltrate the castle, to, to like, get close to me, when I let her down she cursed me to be a dumb animal for all time"

"Then how-"

"I don't know how long I wandered, my mind clouded by the curse but the Moon she came, said she knew who could help me and led me to you"

"I still don't understand"

"Like, I'm not sure I understand either but you've like, broken my curse, please, come home with me-"

"I can't"

"I-I know it's a big request but please-"

"I can't"

"Christina-"

"Why?"

"Because because of the war, the war I CAUSED!"