Love to Love

The Beginning

Nadia walked cautiously with the warriors inside of the fence to an unmarked block building. They stopped by a heavy door with a metal box attached to it. Nearly silently the two wolves shifted. Standing beside her were two large men. Their muscles could be considered a work of art. Neatly trimmed hair, dark eyes, fresh shaven faces. It was hard to focus on their faces when Nadia noticed they were nude and in no hurry to cover themselves. One of them pressed a button on the box.

"Patrol, Warrior 12 and Warrior 37 reporting a trespassing rogue wolf. Female. Unarmed. Did not resist."

"Warriors may enter with suspect." a voice came through the static. Once inside the building and hearing the heavy door slam behind her, she yelped.

"Cadette 17 said to bring her to room A. Good work Warriors." a guard, fully clothed in a uniform, spoke low.

This building was cold, no windows, light blue almost grey walls. All the doors were locked and heavy. The further they went in the colder it was and the more scared Nadia became. Room A had a familiar appearance. Nadia was reminded of a DVD she watched as a teenager. Cops and Criminals, Real Life Crime. This looked like an interrogation room. Only there was no table and a metal bowl with water was on the floor. Interrogation room s***h kennel.

"Thank you gentlemen. I'll take over." a soft voice said from behind Nadia. "Hello Miss, I'm Cadette 17. We know you are a werewolf. Could you please shift to human form so we can have a conversation?" Paula seemed kind and her eyes were gentle.

For a moment Nadia felt relief. She remembered how she needs to feel in order to shift again. She closed her eyes and focused on feeling calm. Deep breaths in and out but her body would not change. When her eyes opened she saw Paula had laid clothing on the floor. Nadia instinctively sniffed it; freshly laundered. She felt a sensation in her fur. It was new and moved through her slowly. Suddenly she became hot, felt her fur stand on end and her tail curl. Her eyes narrowed and her heart began to race. She didn't feel particularly angry or scared. This felt more like protection and suddenly the door swung open.

"Heard we got a rogue chick?!" A heavy set man in a suit entered the room. His confidence was striking but his scent was repulsive. "Let me see her."

"Sir, I haven't had a chance to question her yet. I'm hoping I can get her to shift so we can have a conversation."

"You can't hear her? Then she's not a rogue, she belongs to a pack. Why was she snooping around our territory?" His tone turned from cheeky to suspicious.

"Again Sir, I've only just started my interview." Paula explained.

"Yeah, I'll be taking over. This is above your rank."

"No disrespect Sir, the suspect is a female wolf. She may be reluctant to shift in front of a man."

"Then she can stay in wolf form while she and I have a one sided conversation. Now Cadette, you're excused."

His voice was stern and his eyes seemed to change color. Nadia had backed into the corner of the room. Trying to move away from him, his scent and his eyes. There was something about him she could sense that wasn't right. He has to be a wolf. He is in the pack territory. He's in what is probably the patrol building, wearing a suit and above Paula in rank. Yet he doesn't smell like a wolf. He doesn't look like a wolf. His eyes don't appear to be a wolf.

"As you wish sir.". Paula gave me a quick smile and left the room.

Being alone with this man made Nadia's natural instincts take over. She had little control over her body resisting his presence. It was obvious he bothered her. He took one step closer and she felt her stomach tightening, her throat burned as a low, intense growl seeped through her teeth.

"Whoa there girl. You better relax. You even think about attacking me, I'll crack your neck like that!" His fingers snapped loudly. He took another step and knelt down. "Come here mut."

His finger motioned for her to come away from the corner. Away from the small shadow she could hide in. She didn't move, both scared of who this man is and why he wants her closer.

"MOVE!" His voice was piercing to her ears. Like a gunshot in a small space she couldn't see or hear for a moment and felt dizzy. Her body began to pull across the cement floor. She was resisting and it didn't matter. Again his eyes changed color. Was he doing this? Was he pulling her to him? What is he?!

...POV Helena…

"She's with Blair? How… no, Nadia."

I stared at Ryan while my eyes welled with tears. My baby, my sweet little girl. She didn't know her true identity and got caught up with Blair. How could this happen! Why couldn't I have been strong enough!?

"Helena, do you know who Blair is? What do you mean she's in pain?" Ryan grabbed my shoulders and shook me.

"Ryan, please. We don't have time. We must gather and seek her out!"

"I'll call for the patrol, your Majesty! They will send the finest warriors!" Kie hustled to get in contact with his warriors.

"Ryan, please believe me. I had no idea she was doing magic, let alone with Blair. This is all my fault." I pleaded with him to understand.

"You're right. It is your fault. Same with King William and my father! You will lead us to Nadia, Queen Helena! For some reason I can't feel her or hear her but you can! We leave immediately!" Ryan burst out from his clothing and his wolf stood before me.

I haven't felt the pull from an Alpha in a long time. I fear I won't be able to keep up, yet I'm expected to lead them! The moment we find Nadia I am going to end this..this life was never meant to be!

…

The patrol sent 5 warriors. All trained in search and rescue. Kie is giving them the description of Nadia both in human and wolf form. There was confusion and hushed whispers from the warriors. Ryan knew they needed an explanation.

"Warriors, please hear my words and my plea. This is my wife. My mate. The new queen AND Luna to be. She is the princess of Suburbia. She is a wolf. She never knew this growing up, just shifted for the first time yesterday. She is also a witch." Ryan's words didn't show his defeat but his face did.

"Your majesty, you married a witch?" a warrior spoke out.

"She IS my mate. By the laws of the Moon Goddess, she is meant for me. She is a natural born wolf and a chosen witch. Her wolf status is far more important than any supernatural being she can choose to be! I'm asking for your help because something is wrong. Please help me find her."

After a few moments of pause a warrior stepped forward. "Absolutely your majesty, we stand with you!"

All together they looked to Helena to choose the direction they would go. With confidence and fear Helena followed her nose to the lavender field.

...POV Nadia…

Why can't I resist his clutch? How is he able to drag me across this floor so easily?!

"Stop! Let me go!" I scream but he doesn't even flinch. "I am Princess Nadia!"

"Lemme see those teeth! Go on, snarl at me b***h!" His laugh gives his scent an unwelcome flow to my nose. "Yeah. Nice. I bet your t**s are just as nice as those teeth!" He holds my jaw tight and clamps it shut.

"Ryan! Please hear me! Mom! Dad! Grandma! Anyone, hear me!" I plead within my head and feel nothing in return. No sensation that anyone I love is near. No jolt of safety, just pain and fear. I try to shake from his grip to no avail. He's got unbelievable strength.

"You ready to behave for me? You ready to shift for me? Stand before me and tell me who you are? Or do I have to make you? Because I can. Real simple. Wanna know how?" He smirks at me, sending a chill down my spine.

"You showed me your teeth… take a look at mine." As he smiles two large, bright white and sharp fangs appear. "You smell delicious, I'm dying for a taste of your sweet blood!"

Vampire. He's a vampire.

"RYAN!"

...POV Ryan…

"Nadia?" My ears burned.

"Did you hear that? Did you?" I turned to everyone in the pack and no one replied. "I heard her. She's calling me."

Helena was leading us towards a large lavender field. She said it was where she first met Blair. I ran up beside her.

"I heard Nadia! She's calling for me."

"She's calling for me too. She's called for her father and Violet, my mother." Helena's voice trembles.

"I have guards on them, my father too. We can't risk anyone else being involved. We're heading in the right direction, let's speed up!" I call the group and we hike into the lavender. The flowers burst as we run through and lavender fills the air. It's thick, too thick.

"Your majesty, something isn't right. The lavender, it's changing." Kie shouts as we run.

"We must keep going!" I ignore his concern and race faster. "Call again Nadia, call again!!"

…

"You must be scared. Alone, lost, so young." the vampire strokes Nadia's fur. Her tail has snuck beneath her and she's trembling. "Who are you? Are you gonna tell me, or do I need to make you…"

As the words left his mouth Nadia felt her shift coming. Her bones cracking, her skin freezing and everything felt out of her control. There she stood, naked, damp from sweat and shivering. He stood straight and looked her up and down. His eyes changed again, this time with lust.

"I was right. Perfect teeth, perfect tits." His smile made her skin crawl. He swooped up the clothing on the floor and threw them at her. "Get dressed. I'll be back." The heavy door slammed behind him and Nadia felt tears falling from her face.

"Ryan…" her voice, quiet, barely a whisper.

...POV Ryan…

The lavender was strange, just like Kie said. It shouldn't make the air… purple. Yet I'm having trouble with seeing what's in front of me. This seems unlikely, unnecessary and unnatural.

"Kie, you're right. What's happening with the lavender field?"

"I'm not sure, your majesty. It seems strange the flowers would cause so much dust with us running through them. You don't suppose, someone is trying to stop us?"

"Stop us?! s**t!" I stopped so suddenly the warriors behind me crashed onto their bellies.

"Blair! This has to be Blair". Helena breathlessly said.

"What can we do? We're bound to run in circles?" Kie said.

"The Watson Territory was near a Lavender field. I haven't been in years but I remember that. Alpha Jared Watson may be able to help us?" A guard spoke.

"Alpha Watson is dead." I blurted. "He made a deal with a Vampire and didn't come through."

"Then who is Alpha now?" Kie asked.

"Last my father heard the pack broke apart. His son, what was his name… he didn't want to be Alpha so he left. Went rogue, left his pack and his mate. Damnit, what was his name?" I searched my brain but couldn't find his name.

"So the territory was abandoned? It's no longer patrolled? It should be empty? Maybe Nadia got lost and found it? She could be hiding in a house or building?" A guard spoke.

"Yes, let's keep heading in this direction. The lavender should clear!" Another guard suggested.

"Unless Kie and Helena are right. If this dust isn't an accident, we could get very lost ourselves." I worried aloud, nothing seemed like a good plan and I fear were running out of time.

"Ryan? I think we should go this way." Helena pointed in an unknown direction but I hesitated. We could be heading towards the deserted Watson Territory but it could be dangerous. Or the city, the river or into a completely foreign place. Unless… "Do you hear her again? Feel her?"

"I feel something. It's telling me to go this way. Are you coming or not?" Helena began to slowly disappear in the purple dust. Without another thought I charged behind her and the rest of the group followed.

…

The heavy door opened again but Nadia didn't look up from the floor. "Hi again. Glad to see you were able to shift and get dressed. Are you injured at all?" Cadette 17 Paula's voice gently filled the silence.

Nadia shook her head, still afraid to speak. Can she really trust any of these people? These wolves? They have a vampire in a power position!

"I know you're scared and I'm sorry for the Commander's energy… his presence, I mean." Paula spoke in her direction but Nadia continued to look at the floor. But her use of the word "energy" in this specific situation was suspicious. She decided to look up, slowly. This would be the first time Paula saw her face.

"Nadia?" Paula whispered. "Is that you?"

...POV Nadia…

My heart just sank to my belly. Cadette 17 Paula stares at me with familiarity but I don't recognize her. How does she know who I am?

"How… how do you know me?" I whispered.

"You're Helena's daughter? Nadia. I can't believe it." Paula puts her hand over her mouth and doesn't blink. "I'm sorry to stare, I just… you're so grown up. You look just like your mom."

"How do you know me?" I ask a bit louder, firmer but still cautious.

"Not here. We can't talk here. I've been ordered to bring you to the Manor. You've been cleared by security and the Commander…"

"You mean the Vampire?" My voice twists in anger.

"Yes. He is a Vampire and he is our Commander. He's granted you asylum and to be a guest in his home, the Manor."

"The hell he has. I refuse to be any guest of his! If you know me, if you know I'm Helena's daughter, you also know I'm the princess?"

"s**t. Nadia, be quiet!" Paula rushes to me but stops before touching my face. "Please, I'm sure you have many secrets to tell me, not here." Her voice is so quiet I can barely hear her. Against my gut feeling I decide to listen. To stay silent.

"Come with me please. I will take you to the Manor. Slowly." She motions for me to stand.

"You gonna use those?" I ask, pointing to her handcuffs.

"No, like I said, you're a guest."

I slowly step towards her and follow her out in the hall again. I keep looking everywhere, trying to remember every detail about this building. Again I try calling for Ryan. Mom. Dad. I feel nothing though. Not a thing. We reach a heavy door and Paula uses a plastic card to unlock it. I've never seen that before in real life. I remember watching an old movie about a prostitute and a businessman. The man fusses with the card and exclaims that he "misses keys". Keys are all we have in Suburbia. This card-key just needed to be near a black box and the door unlocked fast. A rush of cool air met my face and I'm overwhelmed by the smells.

"Just this way." Paula points in a direction in front of us. In the short distance I see a dark house. It looks Victorian, I believe? Intricate details, railings, shutters and scalloped edges. It would be sweet yet it's almost black from neglect. Vines have taken over the front windows and dead bushes nearly hide the steps and porch. I shake to think what's inside.

"Let's walk slowly. Pretend you have a leg injury in case anyone approaches us. We can talk more freely out here. Still, be careful."

"You know I'm the princess. I'm also now future Queen and Luna of the Johnson Pack. I've married Ryan Johnson, son of Alpha Kenneth."

"Fuck." Paula stops suddenly and scans around us. "Holy s**t. Why can't he sense this?? He's put us all in danger!" Paula's face drops and she looks sick.

"The vampire? He's able to sense me?" I stop with her and watch behind her.

"He should, at least I thought he should." Her eyes speak of fear.

"How do you know my mother? Can you call her? She's not responding to me. Neither is Ryan."

"No, I can't call her. I haven't been able to for years. Not since she was cast upon."

"Cast upon? What do you mean?" My stomach begins to knot.

"She's a witch Nadia. Your mother and I were sisters in a Dark Coven."

"Blair?!" I said aloud and Paula turned to the side and spewed.

…

...POV Ryan…

All I can see is the color purple. It's dark and thick. I can feel my pack near me but I can't see them. Not enough anyway. I'm running out of steam and Helena is too. She's slowed down to the point I've had to nudge her along. Suddenly she collapses and I trip over her.

"Your Majesty!" Kie rushes to her and the guards surround us. "Are you hurt?"

"No, I … I just can't keep going anymore. Ryan, I'm..." I move closer to her, examine her legs and the ground around her. I catch a light flicker in the dust and turn towards it. Another, another and another. A quiet ring can be heard, floating through the air. As I try to focus my eyes a small Pixie flies right to my snout.

"Ryan?" A tiny voice pierces my ears. A fairy voice, when in Fae form is high pitched, only canines can hear it.

"Holly?" I ask aloud and the guards immediately back towards Helena, protecting her from slim shadows forming in the dust. The purple clears around us in a perfect circle. Lining the circle was an entire frolick of Fairy, Pixie and Sprites. They have shifted into human form. All the same as a Fairy except their wings are hidden under cloaks, their pointed ears tucked behind hair or a hat. You can identify most by their light eyes, small nose, pale skin and meek attitude.

"Ryan, what are you doing out here?" Holly kneels down and scruffs my ears. Her grey eyes sink deep into mine. " Here, we have extra linen." Holly looks up and the other Fae pull out cloaks, pants, blouses and sandals. None of it is modern clothing. All hand made, simple and clean. I turn to my pack and huff. We all shift and begin to dress. I cover Helena in a cloak and snap my fingers for everyone to turn around. As I pull slacks up to my waist, I recognize a man standing near Holly. Alfie, her brother. They both have the same grey eyes and nearly iridescent hair.

"Alfie, you've grown up!" I gently pull him in for a hug. Fairies are tough but gentle creatures. I have to restrain my typical wolf strength so I don't hurt him.

"I have, I have. I can't remember the last time we saw you!" Alfie attempts to throw a jokester punch into my chest and has to snap his wrist back, shake it and grimace in pain.

"It has been too long. I don't enjoy a run through the fields much anymore. I'm busy now training to be Alpha. Now that I am a husband and future King of the Kingdom." I don't try to sound arrogant but they immediately kneel to me. "Oh stop with that s**t!" I pull Alfie to his feet and give my hand to Holly. Her touch is soft and cool. "I haven't changed who I am."

"Who's the lucky girl?" Holly asks with tightness in her throat. For a moment my heart aches for the past. For when Holly was mine and who I would have picked myself.

...Year 2100, 5 years ago...

"You're so gentle with me, I'm not gonna break. f**k me!" Even when Holly is serious her voice is soft. I can't admit to her I am scared to hurt her. I'm scared my strength will take over, in the heat of the moment. I never want to see her in pain.

"How bout, you f**k me, feisty girl…" I roll us over and grab her hips. I'm still holding back but at least this way she can set the tone. To my complete surprise, she went for it. Riding me harder and harder with each thrust. Her petite frame seems to be weightless but I feel everything I want. Her silky skin, her long nails digging into my chest, her hair brushing across my face as she leans forward and nears a finish. I can tell she's close because she will get a faint pink glow. She's told me I can see her aura and I'm the first lover to see it. At first it upset her, to not have the same boundaries she's used to in a relationship. Because I see her aura I can also see other emotions. Even if I can't see her face, hear her words, I can see the glow. "Holly." I whisper into her ear.

We've been dating for a few months since we met in the woods. I went for a solo run in the forest. I used to do it often when I was a teenager and after turning 20, I didn't go much. Pack obligations kept me busy in the Kingdom. The day I went, meeting her was by chance, fate, destiny. I took a break near a small creek. A northern spring fed this water and it was delicious to drink. As I lay near the water I heard a tiny splashing sound. I figured it was fish coming to the surface but then an angelic giggle led me to a yellow tulip. Nestled inside, swimming in mere drops of water was Holly.

I've seen and met Faires before, always in public and usually in human form. The first time I saw a Fairy, I actually rescued it. A jerk in the pack that has since gone rogue would lure Fairies in a trap. He was just a little s**t, 12 and had shifted before anyone else. He'd run to the woods as a wolf, shift to human and cover himself in mud and flowers. He caught a young fairy and tossed her in a small cage he made. I came upon him coming back from the woods, carrying the cage with his jaw. The faint cries perked everyone's ears.

"What you got in that cage Danny?" I asked, even though I knew.

"Nachos!" He yelled running to his house. "Na-cho business Princey!"

"Stop right there Danny!" I ran as fast as I could and swiped his hind legs. He fell flat and the cage broke open. A bright light flashed and fairy dust clouded the air. I stood in awe for a moment, it was a beautiful sight. I saw the fear in her eyes before she flew away.

"Damn you Ryan! You're such an asshole!" Danny tried to snap and catch the fairy again but she was long gone. Leaving a trail of sparkles behind her.

"Language Mr. Turner! What's going on here?" Mrs. Andi, a local pack mother, was outside her home picking apples.

"Danny Turner trapped a fairy! That's wrong!" I squealed. Tattling on Danny was something pups did often.

"Oh Danny. We treat all creatures with kindness. We don't need to cause any trouble for the pack. Maybe Alpha Kenneth should know?"

"Damn you, little prick prince!"

Seeing Holly in that flower, as a grown man I still felt the need to protect her. I shifted and covered myself with some nearby leaves. I slowly crawled to the flower because it was clear she hadn't noticed me yet. I sat close by and used a low whistle to introduce myself. "Pardon my intrusion."

"WOLF!" Suddenly the air burst into colorful bright dust. I had to jump to my feet to escape it. As the dust settled and I could clear my eyes I saw a shadow move towards me. Without warning I fell back on the ground, feeling something sharp to my neck. "Don't move your tail mutt or I'll slice your neck wide open!"

"Holy s**t! What is wrong with you? I'm not going to hurt you. I'm the prince from the nearby Wolf Kingdom." I heard the dagger drop to the ground and the weight was now off of me. The dust immediately fell and before me was a beautiful, blonde girl.

"Are you really the Wolf Prince?"

"I am." Suddenly she springs at me in a hug, a tight hug and begins to sob.

"You saved my sister. So many years ago, you saved her from a wolf!"

Immediately I know what she's talking about. The tiny fairy Danny caught. I sat down and she threw me a towel. I shook my head in disbelief and also amazement, she was naked. An awesome biological trait for faires is their clothing will expand and shrink when they shift. As a pup I always wished that was the same for us. With our strength and rapid shift, our clothes normally rip, tear and shred. You get used to be naked and finding ways to cover yourself if needed. Perhaps she was bathing because she is naked, covered with a towel. I avert my eyes quickly "That was your sister?" I ask.

"Yeah. She knew the moment she settled on that daisy something was wrong. It didn't smell right and before she could move, a human-like hand grabbed her. When she made it back home she told everyone the wolf Prince saved her. We've been wanting to thank your pack but… we stayed away."

"Why?"

"She died not long after. Her wings were nearly torn from her back. My father wanted to speak with the Alpha, to inform him both of the wolf who did it and the wolf that saved her. The elders in the Flock wouldn't allow it. They were fearful."

"I'm so sorry. For all of it. The wolf, Danny was banished from the pack years ago. He never changed his ways. My father was furious. I'm sorry we didn't reach out to your Flock. We should have."

"You saved her… you saved us! She made it home and told everyone what that wolf was doing and how he did it. She got to save her whole flock from the same tragedy, because of you!" She placed her cool hands on my face. Her tears began to dry and I now saw relief, hope, gratitude. "Thank you, your Majesty." She leaned forward and pressed her pink lips to mine.

She told me Danny was still hunting them. He was now seducing young faires and keeping them hostage. 4 girls and 3 boys have gone missing over the years. She can't be positive but they have a feeling he's turning them into wolves, to create his own pack. We formed many search parties and looked everywhere, for years. We never found them.

We made the Fairies our allies after that. Soon trolls and wizards were with us too. Life was on track since the Great Divide. We had treaties, agreements, laws, rules. We we're doing whatever was needed to make humans tolerate us. Witches and Warlocks held some boundaries, especially dark Covens. Many Light Covens were peaceful and civil but chose to remain solidary. Vampires were harder to convince as a whole. Typical human trait that never went away. It's hard to argue with a human, harder yet to argue with something that was human but now feeds on humans.

...

"Her name is Nadia, Princess Nadia from Suburbia." My eyes avoid Holly as I say these words.

"Oh, yes. The arrangement." Holly's words are sharp. She's right though. Our marriage was an arrangement except no one knew she was my destined mate.

"Yeah… she's actually my mate." I quip back.

"You're mate? How? She's human?" Alfie interjects.

"Long story but I'll be quick…" I begin to tell them everything I know.