"Fantastic Creatures"

*Meadow*

I take a deep breath and then close my eyes, Aeneas is too eager to try this experiment on me, and even tho Agape offered to be the first, I stood firm on my decision. If there was any way I could ease the immense pain she already went through, I would. I had been blessed to find Caleb and become a wolf, to find a family in my pack; I wanted her to have one less worry on her shoulders. And yes, I also wanted to get rid of the crazy cravings I had been having for the man I never met.

I feel the slight pinch on my arm and work my best not to tense and let the yellow liquid slide slowly into my system. I feel a small involuntary shiver take over my body briefly and then my vision gets filled with red. I already had my eyes closed, but I could still see red all around.

"What... what is happening?" I asked with hesitation. I felt Caleb's arms around me a second after.

"Let the blood rush and take over, it will do a cleanse of anything in you while we are administering the same serum to the young Alpha." Aeneas spoke with security and determination; I felt that I could trust him, more than that, I needed to trust him, he was my last resource.

"How much will it take?" Caleb asked as he held me, I kept shivering and feeling cold as my vision blurred red. It was as if part of my blood was ice cold, and as it moved inside my body, it chilled me and left me unbalanced, the pain of the cold was biting me inside out. If Caleb wasn't holding me, I was probably going to be on the floor by now.

'Take deep breaths my love, it will soon be over. Be strong...' I heard Caleb whisper but it felt faint and far, the cold was taking over and numbing me.

"Now, Rowen... her mark... claim her again...!" I heard Aeneas scream and my body felt as if it was floating in a sea of liquid ice. I was no longer shivering or shaking, I was almost gone. Then there was fire. It started at my neck, scorching, blazing fire that expanded over my body in a way I couldn't understand. I felt the fire consume the cold, I could move, I could feel my body react to my thoughts, I was in control again. I opened my eyes and saw Caleb's head on my shoulder, I felt him right then, his fangs were deep in my skin, he was doing what I heard Aeneas say, he was claiming me again. I felt his tight grip around me and I moaned as my body arched in flames.

When I looked around the room I realized we were left alone and Caleb was licking the sweet spot of my mark. I was breathing heavy and fast, my body hypersensitive and my mouth dry. "Ca... Caleb..." I whispered and he held me still, his gaze meeting mine with hunger and lust, his eyes flickering between voids of darkness and silver sparks. I could feel his cravings yet he was holding himself back, and it moved me how much this man's love and devotion focused on me.

After I had a minute or two to recover, he was letting me rest on a chair and knelt next to me. "How do you feel?" he whispered as he held my hand and kissed my knuckles.

"When I am with you, I am always well... the biggest challenge will be when you walk away... and I am scared to try it." I admitted, my fear was for that body and soul pain to return. He squeezed my hand then sat on the floor, I sobbed and he pulled me to him. I easily landed on his lap and he cradled me softly.

He held me there rocking back and forth, I closed my eyes and allowed his scent and warmth be the one to embrace me. "Take all the time you want, my Princess... I won't let you go..."

I sighed and moved my hand up to his face, cupping his chin as I opened my eyes to look at him. "Caleb, I hope you understand how much you mean to me, you are more than my world, you are my life line, my balance. I love you so much, that what hurt me most of this fake claim was the pain I was causing you..." my words were cut when his lips crushed on mine, a deep passionate kiss that burned every part of me. His hands moved from my arms to my waist and pulled me to him tightly.

I moaned with his kiss, my fingers digging on his back and my own lust took over as I pulled his shirt up and started kissing and licking his neck and shoulder. I felt his low growl as his fingers tore my clothes apart, leaving me almost naked in the blink of an eye.

One second we were devouring each other's mouths, the next he pushed me on the floor and taking off his pants, as I moaned feeling him push my legs open wider with his knee. I was feeling the need of him inside me and it was an urge I wanted to satisfy soon. His body weighed on me yet it felt like nothing could stop either of us to feel each other. I felt his hands on mine, he entwined his fingers with mine as we kissed passionately and I felt him grind against me, my body aching for him.

His lips brushed over my neck and his tongue flicked over my sensitive marked neck, the place where he marked me twice. I groaned and arched my body again, I could feel a million tingles and I wrapped my legs around his waist, wanting him more than ever. Then I felt his hand lower to pinch my nipple, I yelped and he kissed me hard, just at the same time as I felt him slip inside me; I moaned in his lips and kissed him with heated passion, he grunted as he tried to sink inside me slowly, but I nibbled his lower lip and digged my nails on his back drawing him in. He growled possessively, thrusting deep into my core, and I gasped without breath. I rocked my hips with him as our intimate dance began, and he locked his lips on mine as we both recovered the lost connection. I was immersed in a sea of passion and need for that bond, so unique and particular, that destiny had made for us.

I felt his lips brush my earlobe while we were catching breath and he whispered softly. 'Mark me...'

At first I felt a little shaken by his words, but as he thrusted harder inside me and we were both edging our limits, I realized what he wanted. He tilted his head offering me his neck and I moaned as I felt my fangs grow. I was afraid of what would happen if I marked him, what would be involved in that single act, but his passion and my need made the questions fade just as fast as they approached my mind. I sank my fangs in his neck and I tasted the small drops of his blood, making my body combust in pure ecstasy.

Oh the intensity of this simple act was something I would have never expected.

I was thrown back and upside down twice mentally; I was completely shaken and openly sensitive to anything that touched. But most importantly, I was aware of every single act Caleb's body was doing, I could feel his breathing accelerate and even the ghost of a male member aroused and excited between my thighs. I was completely surprised by the level of intimacy we had reached now, making our previous connection a mere child's play. I felt everything. And that everything came at the right time; he came with a loud howl and his seed was an energy source on its own, giving me a strange mix of sensations that together with our new, stronger bond, made me cum in an earth shattering orgasm.

I don't know how long was I out, when I moved I realized I was no longer on the floor but on a very comfortable bed. I kept my eyes closed but I moved slowly, trying to make my body react and wake up like my mind did. Then I felt his body move as well, he shifted and stood close to me, he was smiling. How did I know this when I had my eyes closed? When he wasn't next to me? My eyes shot open and I saw him standing a few steps away from the bed.

"Morning my Princess..." He said with a very confident smile. I sat on the bed still a little confused and he walked the small distance between us and sat right next to me, cupping my chin up and kissing me softly. I felt everything ten times more than before. "You will get used to this too, and learn to tone it down as well..."

"How... how do you know what is happening to me? when not even I can't understand it?" I realized my tone was serious and hard. I didn't want him to believe I was upset, but I was confused and a little irritated, and I didn't even understood why. He caressed my hand and I sighed, I felt his skin and it calmed me down. I looked around and understood where we were, back home.

"I have to apologize... I am guilty of something I tried my best never do to you, and that is, holding secrets... After I gave you all the werewolf world information, I made it look like that was all. But truth is it wasn't, I still held some deeper and more personal secrets, that I was afraid to share. But now, I need to explain to you in order for you to understand what is going on..." He said holding my hand and again I felt rage surging from me, he held secrets from me? we are going to marry and he dared to still keep secrets from me? He squeezed my hand and I felt my love for him grow in conflict with my rage, I couldn't understand what was going on inside me.

"Explain..." I managed to say between gritted teeth. Woah, when was I this upset? and with Caleb? This was very new to me and I didn't like it.

He sighed and closed his eyes, the sadness in him made me change again and try to soften up, I swallowed hard and tried again, this time a bit calmer. "Please, tell me what is going on inside me?" He opened his eyes and a small smile made me relax and lay against the pillows.

"There is a lot involved, so I will try to explain the best I can... Aeneas did something that broke Cornelius' fake bond between you and Young Smithson, he introduced a serum he created over the years but perfected only recently... he tried to make a new blood bond, between you and him, but when the time came, he made me do it. Alphas usually do this, not always, but they do it with their Lunas... I didn't, because I was holding a secret I needed time to explain before I could reveal it to you..." He sighed and slid his fingers between his hair, looking through the window briefly before looking back at me.

"All these emotions you feel inside you are a real connection between us, a connection made when a blood exchange is made... the negative feelings, the anger, they are all from me... that is how I felt always, all the time, until I met you... and after our blood exchange, it passed on to you..."

He took a deep breath and then seemed to think on what best way to continue, I nodded at him to show him I was listening, so he started talking again. "My father was not a real werewolf... he was a shapeshifter... I haven't told you much about them but they basically can shift into some animals of their choice, never more than five in total... a shape shifter is versatile but has limitations, their nature and elements rule over their animals, and they can't be shifted for long, however, there was a legendary race, the original full blood shifters, who could remain in their animals indefinitely... my father was one of them, and his animals were fantastic ones..." I was mind blown by what he was sharing with me, and although I felt some anger inside me, I still was more shocked and amazed than anything by what he was telling me, again more of this new world that opened to me.

"The pure shifters were feared and hated, and for a time hunted down. Only five of them remained alive and hidden. My father was one of them, his three animals were a manticore, a snake and a wolf. He chose to keep his wolf primary in order to be recognized as alpha and take the pack under his rule... Meadow, I am a shifter too... my anger, my volatile temperament, they come from one of my animals and it has been hidden for so long, it only wants to break lose and tear everything apart... I fear so much for your safety, for my sanity... I didn't want to hide this from you but I can't hide it anymore, the mutual blood bond, our mutual mark, made the strongest of bonds, the connection so strong, our own feelings entwine. Please forgive me Princess... please believe me I didn't want to make you any harm..."

I was beyond shock, taken by his words and the truth of his emotions at the same time... I knew he was telling the truth, I felt it so well on my skin. I looked at him for several minutes, his gaze never breaking mine. We made it this far, through so much together. Was I going to let this break us?

After a while, I closed my eyes and took several deep breaths. I felt him agitated and anxious. I understood why he did it, I was upset and didn't like it, but I understood the simple reason why he didn't let me know about the mutual mark, about the new deeper level of bonding. Perhaps it was for the better, as everything else proved to be with each careful slow step we made into our relationship. Or maybe he was treating me like a delicate flower who could lose all her petals under any small wind, and I was not that weak. I felt my conflicts rise again and shook my head pushing them away. I opened my eyes and I stared at him. "What are your animals... I've met your wolf, what else are you?" I asked, needing to hear him talk to focus on the calm that his voice brought to me.

He took a deep breath and nodded. "My father had three, I have two. My wolf is the protective, fierce warrior, the partner and companion... my other animal is a fantastic one... one that lives mostly in legends and tales... a dragon..."

Everything felt right, the knowledge of this simply made sense. The wild outbursts of anger, the feeling of intense heat from his mate mark, the uncontrollable power, it was all him. Now, under his pleading eyes, this magnificent creature I came to know and love, probably the most dangerous and deadly creature now walking on this earth, surrendered to me and wanted nothing more than my forgiveness. How was I going to deny that all that he have told me did nothing to change the immense love I had for him?

"One promise... the last one I will ever ask of you..." I said.

He nodded, both of his hands now taking mine into his. "Anything..."

"This is the last secret you ever hold on me, the last one, of no matter what nature... if I ever find out you held something else from me, I mean it Caleb... any secret at all... I will..." I didn't have time to finish, he smiled and crushed his lips on mine and we kissed deeply and passionately, our love stronger and deeper than ever.