Rooted to the spot, unable to tear my eyes away as glorious feelings of bliss and excitement rush through my blood. I should be terrified, screaming, and running from this creature, instead, the most horrifying feeling of all is this desperate need to launch myself willingly at this giant wolf-like animal.

I think we're meant to go to it and be happy Stella. It's not attacking us so try it.  Amber instructs, but I Ignore the crazy bitch in my head.

Are you insane? Do you want to die?
Of course not, I can't explain this right now but I can feel this is all going to be ok.

I should have gone to see someone professional, I'm more messed up than I thought.

Instead of lunging happily at the beast, as every one of my fibers and Amber wants, I stand ready to bolt. Right before I attempt to follow through with that intention, I notice the enormous wolf step away from me, backing its massive form towards a large nearby tree.

Its jet-black fur makes the beast almost invisible against the darkness of the woods. Bright green eyes illuminate the space and stare into my frightened brown orbs with a burning intensity.

Why hasn't it attacked us yet, tearing us limb from limb and devouring our insides for dinner?
Seriously Stella, no more horror movies. He won't hurt us, I don't know how I know but you're just going to have to trust me.
Is it just me, or is it getting smaller, shrinking?

A nagging sensation in my gut forms, this isn't right, why do I feel so damn happy? I need to just move, but my legs are just frozen, feet and ass glued to the spot.

To make things worse, three more creatures loom in the distance; they're just watching us. Again non of this makes logical sense! It has to be a hallucination, Ambers right I've watched too many horror movies, and any minute I'm going to wake up in my bed.

I turn my gaze away from them and back to the now significantly smaller creature that was a colossal beast just moments ago. I stumble back, falling on my arse again—what a great time for all my exceptional navigation skills to leave me.

We don't need to run Stella he won't hurt us!
He!? Don't you mean it. Amber has completely lost it!

I watch, horrified as black paws turn into hands and a muzzle transforms into a nose.

"Holy fuck!" I blurt, unable to comprehend what I am seeing.

I'm a rabbit trapped in the headlights, frozen with fear but unable to move or run from the certain death coming my way. The half-beast disappears behind the tree, but only for a moment.
Then with no logical or scientific sense, a man steps out smiling at me like I'm exactly what he was hoping to find out here tonight.

"What the fuck" the profanity just keeps coming. Sorry, Mum!

He stops a frown forming on his face as he assesses my confused state. His dark brown eyebrows furrow and his eyes crinkle with concern. He makes no further moves to approach me, placing his arms up in surrender, it's a submissive-like gesture.

In shock, I'm unable to process any of what I just saw. Strong emotions of happiness and joy to see this man roll through me once again. My eyes helplessly roam over his strong muscular frame. He's naked, but I can't stop myself from observing every exposed inch. I notice the delicate swirls of ink up his left arm; they seem to dance perfectly, molding themselves over his broad arm.

It takes everything I have not to just fling myself into the embrace of this gorgeous hunk of flesh! Every nerve ending is screaming at me. I actually take an involuntary movement towards him before catching myself. He's tall, much taller than my average 5ft 4 inches.

He runs a hand through his shaggy brown hair, a strong jawline that looks like it hasn't been shaved for a few days is littered with shadowing stubble. He looks rough, disheveled, which shouldn't be surprising after he just transformed from a wolf into a man!

His green eyes still glow in the dark woods around us, drawing me into their depths. The handsome man approaches me slowly with calculated steps like he's trying not to spook me.

The giant wolves behind him make no moves towards us, but continue to watch. I slap myself, surprising the man and stopping his steps, another more curious frown consumes his features.

Is he smirking?
Probably you just slapped us?
I'm trying to wake up!
Did it work?
No obviously not, because we're still here.

A twig snaps and brown eyes lock with emerald ones.

"Mate," the unknown wolf-man smiles at me, and his voice sends a ripple of pleasure through me. I feel like I'm vibrating intoxicated by his presence, as he is with mine.

Mate what the actual fuck?
Stella seriously stops freaking out and listen to me and him.

There's no fear in his eyes, only joy. Of course, there is, he can transform into a massive wolf and eat me at any moment. Is this some sort of red riding hood horror movie my mind created to torment myself with. Instead of dressing like a granny, I've created the adult version where the big bad wolf appears as a sexy male adonis.

Stella, seriously for once, listen to me. This is a good thing he won't hurt us! I finally understand! Amber whines, an actual whine like a wolf in my head. That's it I'm done with this.

"Well, I bloody don't understand!" I yell back at her out loud. Startling the man and stopping his steps towards me.  He's got a lot closer to me than expected! While I was busy trying to figure this all out, he advanced several meters! The wolf-man stops again, sensing my skittishness. I get to my feet, readying myself to run. Amber whines painfully, realizing what I'm going to do.

"It's ok little mate, take it easy, no one will harm you" He coo's at me attempting to take another step towards me. His voice Is deep and powerful sounding. I love the way it reverberates through me.

"This wolf-man is worthy of us.." Amber hums, urging me forward into this strange, whatever you call him.

I take a tentative step forward to him. He reaches his hand to my face. I need to know; I have to know if this is real or in my head. A tentative hand touches my face, gentle fingers caress my cheek, and I gasp as sparks erupt everywhere his fingers touch, Igniting the desire for him further.

"Finally I've found you little one," his dark voice hums, and looking into his eyes. He seems happy, really happy to see me. What is going on? I'm happy! I have a stupid grin on my face, and I'm leaning into his touch. Jesus, help me!

This thing Is real, Very fucking real! And turning me on in the middle of a dark forest! Whilst I'm also surrounded; by more hungry-looking beasts! I need to get out of here like 5 minutes ago.

Finally, I bolt, throwing myself up the hill as fast as I can go. Adrenaline has finally kicked in, and I welcome it into my limbs. My wolf-man doesn't lunge for me as expected.

"Shit, don't chase! You'll only frighten her more. I'll get her myself!" I hear the wolf-man command. So he must be their leader?

"Good luck!" I say, not realizing I've said it out loud until the man chuckles behind me. Then, I hear, not see him, transform back into that massive beast. It's like bones cracking, and then heavy padded footsteps pound after me.

I use everything I have to duck, weave, and navigate away from the beasts that I know are behind me. The wolf-man told the others to stay back, but I hear them further behind the main creature that comes for me.

I don't think about what's just happened. Instead, I run. Focusing only on my next move or steps, assessing my surroundings and potential escape routes.

Stop! Running from mate! Amber whines, annoyed at me.

I slam up a wall between us, needing to focus everything on getting away. My speed and skill will come as a surprise to the creature, I'm sure! After all, I've trained myself in self-defense and getting away from attackers. I let out a crazy laugh mid-stride over a fallen branch.

Turning lots, keeping them sharp, stops him from getting to what I know will be an impressive full speed and make me easy to catch. Hearing water up ahead, I turn myself towards it, heavy paws thumping into the ground grows closer and I give my legs everything i've got.

I need to be out of his line of vision when I hit the water. My legs are burning with fatigue, along with my lungs, this pace is unsustainble, even for someone as fit as me. Water Is my only chance of escape, I am a strong swimmer or I can use it to cover my tracks and smell.

Two sharp turns, a leap over a fallen tree, and I'm sure I'm out of it's sight. Annoyance flares, the large creek is still 10 meters from me, I misjudged, dammit, my only option is to hide.

Holding my breath and hugging my rain jacket around me, I attempt to conceal my scent. If I smelt even half as good as what that beast does to me. Then I know I need to pray I'm not giving off pheromones.

I listen quietly, as the wolf slows his steps, sniffing, and padding around. Sneaking a peek over the fallen tree, shows me the large wolf is about 30 yards away, a yearning to reveal myself and find out what this wolf-man wants with me and why he called me his mate flares.

Why did I call him mine? How is this all possible? I shake my head as panic starts to increase my heart rate again. Thinking about all this now isn't helping, I need to get away and then analyze. The wolf turns in a different direction from me.

Now's my chance I have to move, stay put, and he will no doubt sniff me out. Rain jacket or not, I still breathe, and give off a smell. his forest and vanilla scent is swirling all around me and thanks to the wind mine will be doing the same making me hard to pin-point.

Using my stealth to glide my way to the water's edge undetected. I slip into the water soundlessly. It's freezing, I have to stifle a shocked gasp, but can't help the little whimper that escapes as the icy liquid reaches mid-thigh. Stiffly I move through the water padding soundlessly away.

Turning back reveals the beast is moving to my now vacated poition, letting me know he can indeed smell me. By the time his nose leads him to the water's edge, I'm too far gone. Increasing my pace now that I am out of range, I flinch feeling pain in my chest, a loud growl followed by a whine, the wolf-man is in pain.

Is that because he lost me or his dinner? I shake my head fighting down all the unexplained emotions reverberating through me,  the second whine causes me to stop and start going back, feeling an incredible pull to comfort him. Freezing once I realize what I am doing, I push away faster and harder through the icy water...

I make it back to my house and slam the front door behind me! Leaning my back against is as my beating heart and heavy pants fill the darkness of my kitchen. My legs are numb, and instead of 45 minutes, it took me nearly 2 hours to navigate my way back. I used the creek for as long as possible, knowing it would hide my scent.When I finally hopped out, I could no longer feel my legs or run.

 Once my breathing calms, I force myself to move, not daring enough to even turn on a light incase the wolf-man is searching the forest nearby. Dripping my way up to the shower and turning it on to lukewarm, hurriedly stepping in teeth chattering loudly. I may be unable to feel heat but I know I can't just jump into hot water. It could put my body into shock.

I shiver under the spray. Then, slowly moving the temperature up until, finally, the feeling of cold disappears, and I'm back to my version of normal. Dressing in darkness I climb under the safety of my covers feeling a false sense of comfort and security from the soft bouncy fabrics.

Green eyes haunt my thoughts and the ache in my chest grows, It feels like someone's sucker-punched my rib cage.
Why do I feel like I've been torn in two?
"What the hell just happened?" I announce, letting the mental wall drop between Amber and me.

"You're an idiot who just ran away from our perfect Mate," She huffs.
"Who the hell are you, Amber?" I practically growl, finally admitting this is more than just a split personality.
I'm your wolf Stella! She states so matter of factly like I'm an idiot for not figuring it out after all these years.
"I'm one of them! how the hell do you know all of a sudden?" I practically scream at her.
I spoke to Leo, our mates wolf. We can mind-link it's soo cool!'  she replies chirpily. I can't respond my mouth just flapping open and shut like a fish.

I didn't know until I saw them Stella, for whatever reason we've been raised with the humans so of course we didn't know what we were, but now I know what we are. Do you remember when you turned sixteen and had that awful fever?
"Yes I remember" wincing at the memory, it was awful, my head felt like it was going to split into two, I rolled around screaming for hours. I didn't even notice the fever, but the pain that kept radiating through my body was pure hell.

Remember how Elanor took you to the hospital and they sedated us!, that was meant to be our first shift, they stopped us from becoming one. Unkowingly of course, but that's why I'm here Stella, your not insane, I am your wolf!

The memory of my adopted mother fussing and yelling at the doctors plays through my head. No one could explain what was happening with me, I was in so much pain and I kept burning the morphine off with an unexplainable fever. I'd never looked forward to unconsciousness so much in my life.

"So you the voice inside my head, is telling me I am somesort of shapeshifting wolf , like the beast we just ran from and that said wolf-man is our long lost mate whom I am just supposed to run away happily into the damn sunset with!" I can't help yelling at her or myself, this is fucking insane and I'm don't listening to it. I slam the wall back up on Ambers whined pleas to listen.

"How would I not know after all this time, surely If I can change into a wolf, I would know about it?" I mumble to myself furious. Sighing and burying my head under the covers both emotionally and physically exhausted. I still feel like a piece of me is missing, and I know it's not because Derek isn't here anymore.

Coud it possibly be true, that the wolf-man is meant for me? A part of me is terrified he will sniff me out and find me in my home, but another considerably large part of me hopes he does...