I don't have wings, so I have never flown before. But the feeling that's coursing through my veins as I dip and weave around trees towards the lake has to what flying feels like.

If not, then flying holds no appeal.

It only takes a few minutes to reach the lake and in that time span, I thought of nothing. Every negative human emotion that has plagued me over the last few days, releases from me like a balloon slipping out of my hand, floating away to be forever lost in space.

The water reflects the sunlight like a million diamonds embedded in the still water. A work of art that no artist can recreate.

I curse myself for being in such a rush and not bothering to strip first before I shifted. Now I can't even take a swim unless I want to chance being discovered skinny dipping.

I settle for lying on my belly at the edge of the lake, my paw dipping into the cool water idly, just to create some shimmering ripples.

The sun warms my fur as I let my eyes wander the peacefulness that the lake has to offer. Birds fly overhead and small rabbits scurry from the undergrowth, minding their own business and ignoring the lazy wolf by the water.

Ash grey eyes stop me in my tracks. The eyes, so beautiful I'm almost certain that I'm imagining them as they watch me from just beyond the trees.

It's almost like I can see an entire lifetime dancing behind the iris' and it's calling me, begging me to be a part of it.

Mate.

Power is the next thing that I notice, radiating off of him and shocking me like an electric wire. The current pulsing through my veins, making my heart thump wildly in my chest as the wolf - my mate - steps cautiously out of the trees.

His dark grey wolf head tilts slightly and I can almost guess that if he were in his skin, he would be smirking.

My own head tilts in response and I can't help but notice the contrast between us already. His dark grey wolf to my light grey wolf.

Almost as if we are two halves of the yin-yang. Perhaps we are. I mean we were created just for the other.

One soul, two bodies.

In a moment of self-consciousness, I can't help but wonder what he thinks of my wolf. Does he see me as what he has always been looking for?

A small part of me wants to shift, knowing that I can't talk to him as wolves, but another wave of self-consciousness hits me.

If I shifted, I would be completely naked, in front of my mate.

My mate takes a slow, deliberate step forward, keeping his ears low to show me he isn't a threat. On instinct I stand taller, prouder, letting him inspect me like I'm on display for him.

I know that I shouldn't seek his approval. Like what he sees or not, I am his mate and this is what he gets. But I so badly want him to like what he sees so far.

Because I very much like what I see.

I feel his breath on my fur as he sniffs me. A pleasant shiver fighting to roll down my spine as he presses his side against me, practically claiming me as his own by pressing his scent onto me.

I nearly jump out of my skin when he nips my tail. I turn quickly to face him and something in my expression causes a wolfish laugh leaves his muzzle.

I do my best to glare at him but I want so badly to smile at him. He drops his head and taps his muzzle to my shoulder, before straightening out and standing proud.

Words aren't needed. We seem to be communicating just fine without them. He's telling me it's my turn to examine him and he's putting his wolf on display for me.

If I were in my skin, an evil smirk would be on my lips as an idea flames in my head.

I move slowly, letting him know that I'm going to evaluate his wolf. But as I get a little to close to his muzzle, I see his eyes narrow slightly, not doubt wondering what I'm doing.

He's expecting me to walk around him like he had to me, but the truth is I've already evaluated him. I have been watching him since he made his presence in the trees known.

Before he can figure it out, I flick my tail in the air and pounce playfully at him. My plan works because I'm able to catch him off guard and tackle him to the ground. I begin to lick his muzzle and face. He nipped my tail, I licked his face. I'd say we're even.

There was never a question in my mind on whether or not I would claim him. He is mine and it sucks for him because he is stuck with me for good.

He is stunned but it only takes him a minute before he begins to start trying to stand up. His head shakes and I can see his grey eyes light up with amusement.

My mate motions to the trees that will lead me back to my grandparents' house, and I look at him questionably. Is he telling me to go back to where I came from? I'm not ready to leave?

I shake my head and lay down but he only huffs before trotting to the trees himself.

I whine, begging him not to leave yet.

He jumps behind a tree and my heart nearly bursts out of my chest when I hear the unmistakable sound of shifting to the skin.

Nothing goes through my head other than, Oh my Goddess, I'm about to see my mate in the skin!

My body warms and I work on controlling the muscle in my chest that has now taken to beating at the speed of hummingbird wings.

All my hard work to calm down my racing heart - and my ability to breathe - fly out the window when my mate steps out from behind the tree.

I've never in my life seen a man so beautiful. He probably wouldn't like to be described as beautiful though. Most men prefer a more rugged term, like hot or sexy. But really, he is beautiful.

His short brown hair is wild, sticking up in different directions as if he were frazzled. His chest his bare of clothing and his belly button is framed by deliciously cut ab muscles.

My eyes linger on a light dusting of hair that leads from his belly button and disappears below the jeans he's thrown on.

Realizing I have been staring at him for far longer than what is probably acceptable, my eyes snap to his grey ones. A satisfied smirk touches his lips and if I were in the skin, I would be blushing.

"Will you shift for me?" His deep voice rolls over me like a thunderstorm as he holds out what looks like a red and black button-down flannel.

His grey eyes stare at me with a puppy dog look that is somehow, already my weakness.

He sets the shirt on the ground by my paws before running his hand along my fur for a moment. A sexy smile takes over his lips before he winks and takes a step back, turning around like a gentleman.

My eyes rake over his toned back and I completely forgot what it was that he asked me to do.

"Whenever you're ready to shift, I'm ready to meet my mate," his words snap me back and once again, I would be blushing if I were in my human form.

I take a deep breath, closing my eyes as I will my skin to come forward. The cool air washes over my naked skin as I grab the shirt from the ground.

I wrap it around myself, making quick work of the buttons. It's barely long enough to cover the necessities, but in this situation, it will do.

"Thank you, "my voice is just above a whisper, but I watch as a shiver passes over my mate, "You can turn around now,"

His grey eyes connect with my brown ones and we're frozen. His mouth opens in what can only be a slight shock as his eyes roam my face.

Something passes over his features before his eyes snap back to mine. I try to figure out what it was I saw, but before I can think too hard, my mate takes three large strides towards me.

One of his hands cups the back of my head before his lips crash against my own. His other hand lands around my waist, pulling my soft body against his much more (deliciously more) firm one.

I don't hesitate to respond, lifting my arms to wrap around his waist and them down his back.

"What's your name, beautiful?" he whispers as he pulls his lips away and rests his forehead against mine.

I'm in a daze between feeling the corded muscle in his back under my fingertips, the sparks that are flowing between us and that kiss that sent my whole world tilting on its axis.

"Kristi," I'm not sure if I actually said it or if I just thought it, but from the smile lighting up his ridiculously handsome face, I'm assuming I said it.

His hands push my hair behind my ears before his grey eyes meet mine, the same future I saw earlier dancing behind his iris.

"I'm Adam and you, Kristi, are mine," he says before pulling me in for another toe curling kiss.