"Absolutely not!"

His answer was final. It was not up for debate. Even when those brown eyes rounded with sadness and begged him, the answer was no!.

"Please!" She pleaded. Her eyes pleadingly filled with tears, held his stern gaze.

His jaw clenched. He wasn't ready for the waterworks but he would have to deal with it.
What she asked was dangerous and could very well get her exposed. He could not risk that. He should have known better that, that was what had her down and a bit gloomy.

She wanted to fly.

They had taken the day to walk through the forest. Enjoy the mid-day sun. It was the first time he brought anyone to join him by the lake. He swam and introduced her to the water. Waist deep in, he pulled her close and taught her how to relax and float. She was a natural.

When they finally stepped out and sat on the embankment to enjoy the warmth of the sun, he could sense her anxiousness and need. He held her soft gaze for a lengthy moment as she fidgeted and continued to look up at the sky with longing. And that's when he asked her and with an eagerness she told him.

I want to fly
The idea although wonderful and exhilarating did not hit him until she leaned up and removed her tank top and was ready to spread her wings. Mesmerized by the fascinating view of his mate flexing her shoulders ready to take flight, sent a shiver of lust through his entire body. Then he snapped to attention and stopped her. 

"You can't Hannah," He slowly helped her ease the tank top over her head and down over her shoulders and her torso.
The crestfallen look on her face melted him.

"Why?"

"It's too dangerous, someone can see you," He tells her still smoothing her tank top over her stomach.

"But I can...use my cloakin..." She lowers her gaze and suddenly goes silent. The innate confidence in her abilities wane. A slow growl threatens to erupt from his chest sensing his mates' vulnerable unease. He just as quick stops himself. The need to please, comfort and protect her blooms in his chest.

The sudden pulse of agitation within her had both he and the beast in him rising to attention.

"I am forbidden to reveal my true self, im cast out for my disobedience and I can not fly. What am I to do then?" She frowns lost in her thoughts.

"Hannah?" He reaches for her.

She pulls away and scrambles to her feet and begins to walk away. He reaches their things and follows her up. "Hannah."

She ignores him and paces away. Her shoulders hunched, her head bent like she’s thinking hard.
Abruptly she stops then and turns to face him. The scent of her tears and frustration hits him before he sees them.

"I am Seraphim. I am of the highest order yet I am not able to do anything," Her tears fell and her temper was slowly flaring with a hint of petulance and that surprisingly had Koda's hackles rising.

A wave of pride and fierce need to dominate his mate flooded through him. His body tightened. On a deep terrifying level, it excited him to see this side of her.

"Understand Hannah, you simply can't. It's not safe," his voice came out sounding more like a growl than anything and it made Hannah flinch with fear.

He cursed not wanting to frighten her.

A silent pause swept between them.

Her eyes rounded with sadness and it tore him up in the worst way. He needed to explain to her the dangers of what their abilities will come with if they were exposed.

He expelled a slow breath and stepped closer; cupping her cheeks. He tilted her head back and held her gaze.

"No one will see me. I promise," the soft tone of her convincing voice warmed him like nothing else could.

But his lupine vision would and any other shifter and supernatural would as well. Her sweet scent alone would be a dead give away and he would kill anything or anyone that would harm her because of what she is.

"I tell you what," he paused looking up at the sky above them. The sun was slowly setting and the darkening blue hue on the horizon was getting darker. He looked down at her.
"Wait until nightfall," he murmured.

The smile that lit up her face had his heart dancing in his chest.
"But for only a brief moment," he pointed out.

Nibbling on her lip she nodded and with that, he lowered his lips to hers. Koda preened on the fact that his mate melted into him.

Lost in the moment of the kiss, they caress each other as the kiss deepens. He reluctantly pulls his lips away from hers and nips his way along her jaw towards her ear. Suddenly Brody's voice broke through the silence in his mind.

'Maddox there's been a breach on the West end. The alarms have been tripped.'

Tingles of warning raced across his skin. He pulled her close and went into hyper-awareness.

'I'm with Hannah at the lake. Come for her NOW!"

'We're on our way'

To his left suddenly a twig snapped. His nose flared and a growl erupted from his throat. He sniffed the air and the recognizable scent had his muscles rippling. His wolf was anxious to get free.
Rogues...

One stepped through from the trees into the clearing then another followed until they all stood facing him. All 8 of them.

He turned to face them and pulled Hannah behind him. His eyes immediately changed Amber red exuding dominance and a feral authority.

He felt her peering at them over his shoulder and her fingers gripped his sides with fright.

"What the hell are all of you doing on my land?" He growled.

All of them stood mute in human form with bare chests holding a menacing silent gaze. Slowly the largest one in front stepped forward.

"Word has it that you found a mate that isn't a wolf. Is that true Alpha?"

"That's none of your business. Now leave."

He felt Hannah press into him in a nervous search for comfort. He picked up on her rapid heartbeat and it angered him that they caused this.

'Brody where the hell are you?'

He growled louder as they began to step closer and the taller one's eyes landed on her. His chest constricted as he thought of the wolves ripping her to pieces if they got passed him. He would go down in this fight but he will kill every last one of them or die trying before letting anyone of them touch her.

The threat was imminent as they began stalking forward. He could take them. But he needed her safe. He needed her far from here.
He needed her to...

Before the words cleared in his mind he turned to her and caressed her jaw.

"Hannah fly,"... His voice grumbled the order. It was unrecognizable and deep.
Frozen to the spot she peered up into deep red-amber eyes.

"Now!" The echo of his voice roared and rumbled throughout the forest surrounding them. All animals in close proximity scurried away.

On instinct, her wings opened but she stood before him unable to move. Their jaws dropped in awe as they saw her wings extend to their full length. A growl formed in his throat as he smelled their interest in his mate.

Maddox turned his back to her, went into a crouching position and in shock she watched them all turn into wolves.

One of the wolves snarled and leaped forward, jaws snapping an inch from where they stood. She stumbled back and she flew up.

Terrified, she saw Maddox shift and shimmer into a large black wolf.

The same one she saw before.

Confusion and fear held her to the spot floating above them as the black wolf took on all 8 of the others. Soon more wolves jumped into the clearing and a battle began. Tears flooded her vision due to her lack of understanding about what this all meant.

She shivered as she watched this fearless creature ferociously take the tan one to the ground and rolled with its throat between his jaws before the wolf went limp in his hold.

Horrible, pitiful yelps, howls, and whines echoed off the rocks and trees as one or another rogue wolf rolled to his back, showing their belly in surrender.

He growled, snarled and barked then one by one the smaller wolves crouched in fear and followed the others with their tails tucked between their legs. Her gaze landed on one that stayed behind as he shimmered back to human form and bent down to pick up the body of the lifeless wolf that attacked Maddox.

Shortly after he left.

Exhausted and emotionally depleted of any strength to continue floating, she lowered to the ground and stood on shaky legs until she fell to her knees. Koda inched close and whined at the sight of her.

Her emotions were a frazzled mess and everywhere. His vision domed at the sight of her struggling internally with what she saw. As if her wings were her heaviest burden, they lay limp from her back as she knelt there not moving.

Baby.

Her head shot up. Her brown eyes widened as he spoke to her. Her breath hitched in throat as the large black wolf looked at her.

Let me explain.

They widened more at the sight of him stepping closer.

His mind jumped around with what to say without scaring her. He was kicking himself mentally for never telling her what he is, to begin with. She senses it, can tell but he had never told her. She has never seen him in wolf form until now.

He stepped closer and stopped as she rose her hand and it began to glow. He remembered clearly what that meant.  She trembled terribly.

I won't hurt you. Koda whined.

The glow began to dim as he insisted. She was safe.

Boldly he stepped an inch closer until his nose was inches from hers.
Deep down he was a bit terrified that she would blast him with that painful light, but he would risk it. To be close to her, he would.

The wet tip of his nose pressed to hers. He could smell the acrid scent of panic, the uneasy confusion and her heart rate that was sending him into a frenzy of worry.

He licked her throat and nuzzled her more; whining and begging for her acceptance. She pulled back with a breathless sob and held his amber red gaze. That sudden pull reached for her. That same pull that held her captive that she fell into the fountain. Iridescent eyes sparkled and held his.
To his surprise she buried her face into his neck, she began to glow and buried her gentle tender fingers in his fur.

I will never hurt you... The tone of his voice in her mind was passionate and tight that she clung to him.

A deep rumble formed in his throat and he shut his eyes as he nuzzled her more. It wasn't until he opened his eyes and saw her dim and her face went ashen, he felt her fingers fall away. He shifted immediately and caught her before she slunked back to the floor.

The emotional toll was too much on her. He gathered her close, carefully tucking her wings in and stood. By the time he got to the house and pushed open the door, he found some of the pack members lounging around and talking. The living room went silent as they stood in awe of their Alpha holding her.

The muscle in his jaw flexed daring any of them to come close. Barrel-chested with his nose flaring and ready to take them all on if that was the case, he tightened his hold on her.

"Alpha, is she okay?" One of the members stood and approached him carefully.
They all stood to attention. Gazes filled with concern landed on the Angel, limp and unresponsive in his arms.
He swallowed at the large lump in his throat.
"This was all too much for her. Too much to take in," His voice cracked under the weight of his emotions.

"Believe us when we say we are in the same boat." Brody gave him an assuring nod.
"Who would have thought..." One of the pack members, Mark, began with a wavering voice. "An Angel for a Luna?" He shook his head in awe.

Maddox stood his ground ready for hell to break loose. He was ready to tear limbs off and throats out with his teeth, that he was shaking.

"This is amazing... and...we're honored of course," Mark lowered his eyes.
There was complete silence. Everyone stayed still, probably letting what Mark said, sink in.

The rest stood suddenly and gathered in agreement. The sincerity and acceptance from them for his mate left Maddox speechless. One by one their eyes lit up in unique colors. Their wolves howled in solidarity accepting her as their Luna.

His chest swelled with pride as they parted the way to let him through.
He stepped slowly into his room still shaking and restless with the chatter and howls in his head from the pack members.

He placed her gently on the bed and stepped back to look at her. For the second time since meeting her, he felt the surge of something beyond desire seeing his angel in her true form in his bed. He lowered to his haunches beside her and watched her sleep.

A shiver went through him as he realized then how this could have all taken a turn for the worst. He could have lost her.
The secret was out now. His mate wasn't a wolf. It won't be long before more trouble shows up at his doorstep and threatens to shatter what he built for himself so far. He had always been worried about his future as an unmated Alpha. His position as one was threatened daily. Now... Although he isn't sure how his future now with Hannah in it will play out, it's not written yet but she is cemented in his destiny no matter what and the fates will not play a cruel joke on him to jeopardize that.

They can't.

Helloooo there....
Whewww here you go my peeps.
Let me know what you think.