Serge's POV

I woke up in a world I scarcely recognized.

Everything looked the same as it usually did as the sunlight streamed in through my window revealing my tidy room of neutral colours. There was no discernible change to be seen. I had grown up in this room, but I had made few changes since the last time my mother had repainted it.

The world was completely the same.

The only earth shattering difference between yesterday and today was that I now inhabited a world in which she had chosen me.

I had trouble believing that even now. I would not be surprised to find out it had just been another dream, except the faintest trace of her scent lingered on my skin from where we had touched the previous day.

I still feared that she was being unduly influenced by the curse, although she claimed otherwise. I worried about how difficult this was going to be upon her, in spite of her assertion that she understood what was coming. I worried that it would not work, even though she said she could manage if it did not.

And although I hated myself for it, my baser emotions were roaring their delight that I was getting what I wanted. Unworthy blazing satisfaction flared that I had been her choice.

I pushed out of bed and made my way out to the large bathroom in the hall outside my room. I brushed my teeth and used the facilities, washed and made my way out to the kitchen.

My mind continued to whirl through the previous day as I turned on the coffee maker. I had not really expected her to agree when I first made the suggestion. Once Matthias had proposed I had been certain there was no hope. Why would she ever pick the one who had harmed her over the one who had always been there for her? I had been prepared to step aside without a fight, for what else could I do?

And then she said what she said and she did what she did and in spite of the fact that I am the master of her curse, I was completely powerless in her hands. What else could I do now, but whatever she asks of me? Whatever she needs?

She wants to marry soon? Then I'll set the date. I only hope that the curse will be removed so easily.

She wants me to forgive myself? I will try, because that is what she wants, although it was not going to be easy.

I wondered what she would want for breakfast. Karen often made eggs and bacon, so I placed some bacon in a pan and grabbed another to fry eggs.

I still could barely believe yesterday had happened as I poured my coffee and set it in my spot.

A small scuffling noise alerted me that Elise walking down the hall, wrapped as usual in her fluffy robe. She always looked good, even first thing in the morning. Her hair was a bit mussed, but it just caused a twinge of affection for her. She looked so unassuming that I wanted to protect her from everything, including myself.

"Good morning," she commented, without looking at me. I noticed she paused, as if not sure what she was supposed to do. Her lack of surety confirmed that my memories were not just the wild imaginings of a man pushed beyond all bearing.

"Good morning," I agreed and I really meant it. "How did you sleep?"

She smiled a bit as she made her way to the seat next to mine. "I slept fine," she said.

I considered her statement as I put toast in the toaster. I had become accustomed to her making distressed sounds in her sleep in her time here, but I could not remember any the previous night.

I did not get too happy. It was as likely that she had an easier night as it was that I had simply slept more soundly, like some spoiled, satisfied beast.

Placing her food and meds in front of her, I served myself breakfast.

Finally I sat with my coffee, beside the woman who had, against all odds, agreed to marry me.

I fought the urge to ask her once more if she was certain. If only the curse were not between us, so that I could be sure.

"So, are we still going to Karen's for supper tonight?" she asked.

"Yes, unless you don't want to," I agreed.

"We should. Gotta keep fightin'," she said and she shot a glance my way.

I hated that she still had so much difficulty around me, but at the same time she had come so far. Though the glances were quick, she looked at me now; though her voice still shook, she could speak with me almost with the same ease she used with others; though she still shivered, she would touch me.

The effect of her touching me was almost embarrassing. No one had ever effected me the way she had. A few women had tried, but I had always been too busy to pay it anything more than the most cursory attention.

There was something enchanting about her straightforward innocence. She did not seem to try to hide it, she seemed unconcerned. She was enthusiastic, kissing her was almost more than I could take, because it only whetted my appetite for more.

I had not needed Nicholas' threats yesterday to understand that I had to tread very carefully with Elise. I had far more power over her than I wanted and the last thing I wanted to do was force her into something she did not want or was not ready for. We could go no faster in this tentative new relationship than she could manage.

Truly, I had been surprised at the date she had chosen. She wanted to try to remove the curse as fast as possible, but at the same time I had thought it could take longer. Planning a wedding so quickly would be a rush.

But, she had picked, so I would make it happen, once I found out what she wanted.

* * *  *  *  *  * * *

After breakfast we went out for our usual run. I tried again to let her lead, but she continued to slink back until I had no choice but to go first.

If the curse broke, I would follow her around for the rest of my life.

Although I doubted she would want that. Perhaps we would walk side by side instead, because was that not what I really wanted, that we would be equals?

Maybe we really would manage. I had been watching her progress against the curse. Only a few weeks ago she sat as far from me as she could manage and even then she had looked desperate to flee, but now she would sit directly beside me and almost looked relaxed.

I turned my attention to her in the moment. She ran behind me, clothed in her soft brown fur. Her ears were up and her eyes looked happy as she ran after me. She met my gaze with her gold eyes briefly, but she did not falter. She had come so far.

We ran through the forest of my lands and for the first time since I had cursed her it seemed there might somehow be hope. It felt as tender and new as the spring growth beneath my paws, but it was there and I trusted it would grow into something substantial in time.

After we returned from our run, we both dressed and entered the house to get ready for our day. I went into the bathroom and stripped off my clothing and stepped into the shower.

I let the hot water stream over me for a long moment, before I scrubbed myself down and rinse off the soap suds. I got out and tied a towel around my waist as I left the bathroom.

The shower was running in Elise's room, but I did not let my thoughts stray in that direction. Instead, I shut the door of my room firmly and pulled on some clothing.

Once finished, I straightened my hair with my fingers and left my room. I found my phone on the counter where I had left it, searched my contacts and hit talk, hoping I would catch the pastor before he left the church after service.

The phone rang several times and just as I went to hang up, I heard the line at the church office connect.

"Hello, Bethel Lutheran."

"Hello," I repeated. "This is Serge Eckstein."

"Oh, good to hear from you. What can I do for you?" he asked. There was no detectable censure in his voice.

I paused, unsure how to break the news. It was difficult to admit to others what I intended to do to Elise, but I had to get used to it. "You'll recall the theory that Elise came up with when we last visited you?"

"Of course, yes."

"Well, we've decided to make an attempt at breaking it and we were hoping you would be willing to..." I took a deep breath. "Marry me and Elise?"

"Oh. Congratulations, then," he said quickly and again I searched for accusation, but could find none. "I am willing, but I typically require couples to undergo marriage counselling with me beforehand. I'll shrink it down to make it as easy as I can on Elise. I don't think we should skip it entirely, because I do imagine that the two of you will have an interesting road ahead. Do you have a date picked out?"

I swallowed again. "June twenty-second. If you're available."

"Well, that is soon. Let me check my calendar."

"Elise wants to try as soon as possible," I explained, a bit defensively.

"I do understand her haste. And it can be done, that Saturday is free. You'll have to get a marriage certificate, first."

"I will."

"Very well then. I'll come to you for the counselling if that would be less strain on her," he suggested.

"That would be great."

"Then... How does evening on June fifth sound?"

I scrolled though my calendar. "Seems fine."

"Very good then, Serge. I'll see you then."

"Thank you, Pastor."

"You're welcome."

I hung up the phone. The shower had stopped, but she was not out yet so presumably she was still getting ready.

Or perhaps she would stay in her room as she often did. Just because we had agreed did not mean she needed to be near me any more than she wanted to. Perhaps she needed a break, I reminded myself although the thought did not please me.

What pleased me did not matter, I just had to please her.

I pulled out my phone and went to the official provincial webpage and ordered a marriage license and then I retreated to my office to try to get ahead on my work for the week.

* * *  *  *  *  * * *

About an hour later there came a feather light knock on the door. "Come in," I invited, pushing away from my computer.

The door cracked open and she peeked into the room with a tentative smile on her face. "Sorry to bother y-you," she said.

"You're not bothering me," I was quick to reassure her. I liked that she was brave enough to come to me. She did sometimes bother me, but never in a way I would complain of. "Do you need anything?"

She was doing that thing she did where she looked around at everything but me. "Not really," she responded.

"Then is there something you want?" I asked. I continued quickly because of how my words sounded to my own ears. "Are you hungry?"

That was little better, but the possible alternate meanings that immediately came into my mind flew right over her head.

She shook her head. "Well, it is about lunch time."

She started to leave, so I stood up and followed her. She seemed unsure of herself and had no guesses as to what she wanted, but I did not want her to think she had interrupted anything that mattered. Truly I had been trying to fill time so I would not push her myself.

She glanced back at me. "I did not mean to disturb you."

If only she understood exactly how much she disturbed me. "I was just keeping myself busy," I explained.

"Doing work?"

"Yes, but I'm caught up now and things are in order." Both the initial curse and the challenge from Landon had slowed me down, but once I applied myself it had been easy to get myself back on track. The fact that she was generous enough to come and wait around the pack offices on weekdays had made everything run more smoothly, as well.

She was sweet and generous enough that it would be easy to take advantage of her nature. I was not going to do that and if anyone else tried they would dearly regret it.

"That's good, my dad gets frazzled when things get behind," she commented, bringing me back to our conversation.

"I know the feeling." I had spent most of my time as leader feeling overwhelmed and underprepared so I was well familiar with the sentiment.

I followed her into the living room and sat down with her on the couch. She smiled at me. "You don't have to baby me, y-you know, right?"

Despite her words, she moved closer to me. "I know, but I could use a break."

Her smile faltered for a moment and I wondered if the curse was afflicting her more, or if a stray thought had made her sad. I considered asking, but decided not to push her.

Instead, I said, "I called Pastor Jensen and he said June twenty-second would work, Elise. That's your four weeks."

She nodded. "Thanks." She smiled at me again, her sweet lips curved up invitingly, as if she really were pleased with the news. I wanted to kiss her again, but I held myself back. There would be time enough to torture myself later.

We sat there for a while and I enjoyed the feel of her in my arms and kept my mind resolutely away from things I was not allowed to think about.

At the absolute last minute we got off the couch and she hurried to get ready to go to Karen's for dinner. I smiled as I watched her go. I went and threw on a nicer shirt and I waited in the kitchen for Elise to return.

She came out from her room dressed in black sweater that went down almost to mid thigh, concealing her tights from view. I kept my eyes studiously away from her while she bent down to grab her shoes. It was harder than it had been before she had agreed to my proposal, back when I had known that she was forbidden to me.

I threw on my own shoes and held open the door for her. She preceded me out, although she shook slightly as she walked. The curse afflicted her sorely for any number of reasons.

We made it to the car and she pulled open her own door and crawled inside. I watched as she reached for the handle with a trembling hand and pulled it shut behind her. She was making great strides.

I went to the other side and jumped in. I threw my truck in gear and backed out onto the road. I switched to drive and we headed down the road to Karen and Dan's house.