"This feels like we are walking through a winter wonderland," I mused to myself as my heavy boots crunched the snow under them.

And it did entirely, aside from the fact that if this were a real wonderland than I would have to be wearing a beautiful, white gown with shimmering sequins and crystals. That was absolutely not the case. It was cold enough to see my breath in great plumes and the snow had an icy feeling to it, but I was perfectly warm. The new, thick jacket was fending off any chill my body could have faced, a warm hat was pulled low to my eyebrows. I probably looked ridiculous but I couldn't stop smiling with my hands wrapped around my travel mug with peppermint hot chocolate.

"I'm glad you're starting to appreciate this place," Ajax agreed with bright eyes.

I could see the light heart joy that was sitting just below the surface. He looked so boyish with his massive mittens and puffy jacket. His cheeks and ears were red. And I didn't miss the small stitched emblem on the breast of his jacket, reminding me that he was more than just a prince.

"So you play rugby?" I asked, but was peering up at the forest passing around me. I felt like I would never tire from this view. Or from this hot chocolate.

"Yeah. There's a couple of guys from nearby packs that play with me. We are part of a human team so we can't always use our full strength, but it's good exercise and social time. I don't have a lot of time to just spend with people who don't necessarily have anything to do with royal business. Plus, it helps us all keep in touch with our humanity. When you rule over werewolves you spend most of your time with them. Seeing normal, average people is always good."

Well that partly explained why he was so muscular and how he maintained it with all of his other duties. I appraised him out of the corner of my eye as I took a sip of my hot chocolate. He was so handsome, but when I thought of those hard muscles under that jacket it was almost too much for me to handle. Just thinking about his bare chested with those hungry green eyes was enough to make me wet.

"So what do you actually do all day then? What is being a prince really like?" I asked, trying to distract myself from the warmth that had struck my core.

"For the most part I'm just learning right now. I feel like I've been learning the ropes my whole life but will never know enough to actually rule." He let out a soft chuckle that rang with true nervousness. "There's already thousands of packs and then someone will fight with their beta, the packs split up, some merge together. It's constantly changing and you always have to know who is prone to attacking and who needs financial support or even little things like which alphas hate each over petty disagreements."

"Do you have hearings? You know, where people come and discuss their issues with you as you sit up on a grand throne and look down at them?"

He snorted at that, though it seemed good natured enough. "We don't have a town crier anymore, Keiko. We are fairly caught up with modern times in most senses. If people have issues they just email or call us. For the really important packs we can holding hearings but it's rare because the travel and accommodations are so expensive for everyone. So, I spend a lot of my day behind a desk, trying to sort out everyone's affairs for them. It's not always as exciting as everyone likes to make it seem. Just a lot of accounting and trying to get arrogant alphas to swallow their pride."

I gave him a smirk at that. "Like you know anything about swallowing your pride. You were so pissed off when you realized that I had no idea who you were." As we walked I pretended to puff up my chest, mocking him. When he let out a loud, hearty laugh I felt my heart warm me from the inside out.

"I just couldn't believe that my mate smelt like a rogue, hung out with a well-known she-wolf, and didn't know who I was," he defended. "It made my wolf so angry. I didn't know if you were disrespecting me intentionally or not. I thought you could just be playing hard to get. I didn't fully understand the situation until you fled in your car and I got a chance to talk to Holly. She filled in what she could, but it wasn't enough to appease my wolf."

I stayed silent for a moment as we continued on our way. For a second I wasn't aware of the snow covered trees around me or the glittering icicles that dripped down. I just thought about his words and our placement in the world. We had people relying on us. Werewolves all over the world needed us to grow together. And to do that I had to be unafraid of my new reality. That meant getting to know Ajax. All sides of him.

"Keiko, did I upset you?" Ajax asked hesitantly.

"No," I whispered, taking another sip of my hot chocolate as I decided if I was ready. But it seemed like I was now in too deep to start backing out now. "Show me," I ordered.

He didn't even have to ask what I meant. Those eyes widened with shock before he glanced around the empty forest. "Here?"

"Sure. Or we can wait until we get back to the house," I suggested. I shrugged my shoulders, trying to appear casual but my heart was hammering. With fear or excitement I didn't know.

Ajax didn't waste a second as soon as I confirmed. He was unzipping his jacket as soon as he was able to take off his mittens. I just outstretched my arms, allowing him to load them up with all the excess belongings.

"Wait here," he said when he was down to just a shirt and jeans.

I did as I was told, watching his back disappear into the woods. I was able to watch three breaths create clouds around me before I saw him again. My heart beat pounded away madly.

Now that auburn hair was replaced with fur and those green eyes were shaped differently but were no less intelligent. The confident man that I was growing so used to had transformed into a large, but anxious wolf that was taking slow, small steps towards me with his head bobbed down. Now that I knew what I was seeing it was so amazing. I could clearly determine that human personality traits and behavior but the body was all wolf and wildness.

He was completely Ajax but all animal.

"Come here," I encouraged. It was strange to see him like this. He used his humanity to cover up any of his insecurities. He always came forward with such arrogance about everything. Maybe he assumed that if he behaved like a strong, sound leader I would follow him. His wolf wasn't so sure and seemed more worried about scaring me off. "I just want to look at you."

Eventually Ajax approached me and I was within reaching distance of him. I thought I was confident and certain of my decision, but when I raised my hand to touch his face it shook. Regardless, I pressed my palm against his cheek. Those green eyes shut softly and he leaned his head against the touch.

"It's time to get to know you, all of you, isn't it?" I mused.

Ajax just opened his eyes, meeting my gaze evenly. I'm sure if wolves could smile he would've been.

***Woohoo! The Princess and The Alpha has been out for a couple days and I am blown away by the support so thank you to everyone who bought the book already! Keiko is growing and I'm excited to see how you all react as this story unfolds. Next chapter at 47 votes!***