UNEDITED-
Annabelles POV-
"I knew there was something else.. why did you keep this from me?" I asked perplexed..
"I..I don't even know anymore." she almost whispered I can tell she is still battling with something inside.
"How long did you watch me?" what was she even doing out there?.
"Long enough." she sighed still hiding things..
"Do you even want me to trust you?"
"Yes" she replied without hesitation..
"Then be honest with me... what else did you see?" I asked, sincerely wondering how much of that mess she witnessed.
"I saw alot.. I... I wanted to get you away from them the moment I saw you but.. I had to wait or we would both be dead, or worse"
"Worse?.." wait.. "You were the girl in the mask. weren't you?." I asked but knew the answer.. how did I not recognise her voice.. she inhaled sharply.. I was about to carry on when she spoke...
"I'm sorry, I left you" She said looking back into my eyes.. How am I attracted to a wolf right now?.
This is weird..
"Thank you for trying." I said with sincerity.. "I hoped one day I would find her, and here you are. My Masked hero and my Snowflake.."
"But I failed you? you had to do it yourself." she sounds hurt.. "And don't call me that!" she added.
"It was us against.. I don't remember how many men, and a Lycan at that.. what were you to do?. I promise you, you did not fail me. I'm alive, and it was you who stitched me up.. twice might I add, so don't say that." I stated firmly.. I care about her and yes she hurt me.. but finding out she really did risk her life for me.. we were not even 20 feet away from the men when she tried to unchain me.
I will not forget that.. "Also.. I get to call you whatever I want since you hid from me numerous times for no apparent reason." I added.
"Can I ask you something?" she asked ignoring my previous statement still looking away from me..
"Sure.." I sighed still thinking about what I just said..
"Why did you go to sleep in your Lycan form before turning back?" her tone was curious now..
"uh.. that wasn't me" I replied before I could think about what I was saying..
"What do you mean?" she asked glancing at me..
"It doesn't matter"..
"It wasn't you?" she asked again.. I don't think I should tell her, she's so up and down she could hate me tomorrow.
"Yes it wasn't me, now can we please drop it?" I calmly replied.. I still get nightmares of being chained to that stupid fucking tree, ripping the jaw off a wolf is gnarly business, believe me it isn't pretty. I have the shattered memories to prove it.
Leopold is much more comfortably acquainted with violence than I hope I will ever be.
I will say one thing though.. if I ever cross paths with the Capturers, I will take pleasure in watching them die.
"You will tell me one day." she stated firmly..
"Maybe.. if you stick around for long enough."
"What's that supposed to mean?" she asked..
"Nothing.. come on we better go before they send out a search party or something."
"Shit.." she cussed..
"What is it?"
"I forgot about getting a change of clothes.. I didn't think about it because I was too busy chasing you." she said getting up from the ground.. I followed suit.. "Annabelle they can't see me like this." she sounds afraid..
"They won't.. don't worry.. I got you into this mess, I guess it's my responsibility to get you out of it." I tried my best at reassuring her.
"I came after you because I wanted to.. it isn't your fault." This is the Florence I could fall in love with.
"Thank you for saying that"
"I mean it".. I really hope she does.
We began our slow descent down the mountain walking side by side on all fours.. I can walk properly on two but somehow it's more comfortable this way..
Neither of us decided to talk, instead a comfortable silence filled the air.. the sounds and smells of the forrest are enough to keep you entertained along the way. Although I would love to get to know her better, we have been in our wolf forms for a while and honestly I'm getting very hungry and tired.
We were about five minutes away before I stopped and spoke.. "Wait here." she just nodded.
The five minute walked turned into a 30 second run..
I'm not walking through a camp naked again. They have already seen me in Lycan form so it's no big deal..
I hoped over the gates.. it takes too long for them to open. The guards just watched me with the same amazed faces as the rest of the pack had.. I casually strolled through to my hut.. now being glad we are at the edge because I can't fit through the door like this.
I went around the back trying to hide between the hut and the perimeter wall as I did. Luckily the people that followed me around were also told to respect boundaries.. meaning they can't actually follow me all the way to my hut.
I changed back and ran inside as quickly as I could.. maybe a few villagers saw my ass but so have over 100 handmaids. Mother was always firing them and hiring them.. it made my head spin how many countless women came through my fitting room door.
I balled up some blue tight fitted trousers I haven't worn and I have no clean tops. The only thing I have is a black jumper I wore for ten minutes this morning.. This will do.. I picked up my spare pair of boots, shoved everything into a bag and left.
It took another five minutes before I was walking back up to the tree that I left her at.. a twig snapped under my foot.. she poked her head out from behind the tree startled, her ears pricked up when she saw me.. she walked over to me slowly.
And I just couldn't help myself, when she reached me I lifted my hand to her cheek admiring her wolf form.. I might be one now but I've never actually had my hands on one without killing it.
Morbid but true.
I brushed her fur softly in one motion leaving my hand there for a second.. so soft.. so..
"Beautiful.." I whispered.. before taking my hand back.
"You don't think I look strange?" strange? strange.. I can't even with this..
"How could I think that?.. You are the most beautiful creature I've ever had the pleasure of laying my eyes on, you are different that's all.. Wait did someone tell you that you look strange?" I asked, ready to beat up whoever damaged her self esteem.
"No.. well yes.. it doesn't matter I thought it to. Different does not always mean good." she stated..
I laughed.. "and what would you say it means for me then?".. "Anyway here" I said holding out the bag..
"Can you just put it down and.. walk away or something?" she asked awkwardly..
I raised an eyebrow.."Now you want me to walk away?" I asked..
"Not like that.. just go over there.. and don't look!" like I would..
"Okay.." I said in mid turn..
"Wait.. promise me"
"I promise I won't look." I said sincerely.. does she think I'm a perv or something?.. if I really wanted to see a woman naked, I'd go ask one.
"No look in my eyes and promise me." demanding much? ugh I forget that not everyone was seen naked daily since the day they were born..
I guess I have to have some understanding..
I turned back to face her, gently placed both my hands on the sides of her face and pulled her head down a few inches from mine.. I heard her heart rate increase.. wonderful to know I do that to her.. why does it make me wanna smile?..
I couldn't help but form a smirk as I said..
"I promise I will not look at you when you are naked.. without your permission at least." I added.. now her heart rate is going triple speed. I better leave her alone before she has a heart attack. I wish I could see her face.. I bet she would be so red right now.
I dropped my hands from her face and walked away about 10 feet behind another large tree.
I think she was content with my promise.. I am.
I waited about ten minutes.. I was seated leaning up against the tree when I finally heard her walking over to me.. I waited till she was Infront of me and then I spoke.. "What took you so long?" I asked jokingly.
She ignored my question "This smells like you." she said pointing to the jumper she's now wearing..
"Well yeah.. it is mine? Is that a bad thing?" I asked questioningly.
"No." she said simply offering her hand to help me up.. I took her hand pulling myself up but I didn't let go once I was up.. neither did she.. in another second her other hand made its way to my neck, her fingers gently rested in my hair.
I wrapped my other arm around her waist instinctively pulling her closer until our bodies were pressed together.. she released my hand, placing her free hand on my cheek she closed her eyes and so did I.
Instead of kissing me like I thought she was going to, she rested her forehead against mine, somehow it felt almost just as intimate.
After a good few moments of standing like this she pulled me down to her level and kissed my forehead intently.. I wasn't expecting that.
She lowered her hands to my shoulders still not letting go..
I lifted my head slowly to meet her eyes again..
She is so overwhelmingly beautiful..
"I'm not going anywhere Annabelle." she stated in a soft tone..
"What made you say that?" I asked curiously.
"Earlier you said 'if' you stick around for long enough.. I'm telling you that I'm going to." she said firmly.. my bad if I don't fully believe her.
"You have no idea what the future holds for either of us.. you don't want anybody to know about you. How exactly is this going to work for us when they all know about me?" It's one thing to be hopeful but another to be delusional.
"I don't know yet, we'll think of something." she said still with a hopeful tone..
"And Marcus.. Gigi.. will you tell them?"
"If that's what you want"
"It's not what you want?" I asked..
"What do you want me to say?"
"I just want your honesty as always, I want to know why you want to hide me from the ones that actually get to know you. Have you told anyone that you found your mate?"
"No.. have you?" she asked..
"Would it bother you if I had?.." I've only told Leopold and he doesn't really count.. who is he going to tell? "And you didn't answer my question".
"As much as I have no right.. yes it would bother me. As for your other question.." she looked away taking a breath, as she did she began tracing her fingers in a small circle on the back of my neck before looking back up at me.. "I just want to be able to get to know you on my own first.. Gigi and Marcus are good people, but they have had a say in every decision I have ever made. I want this to be mine.. and yours of course.." she smiled blushing like a teenager..
"Well you know what my choice is." I couldn't help but smile too. I don't like everything I'm hearing but that's the thing with honesty, your not always supposed to like it, your supposed to respect it.
"What is your choice?" She asked nonchalantly. Did she really just ask that?. Woman are you blind?, do you need to hear it so badly?.. ugh if she wants it, so it will be..
"I choose you" it's as simple as that, I think it always has been. And knowing what I know now about her only solidifies my decision.
NOTES-
I'm so freakin tired guys.. it's literally 5am and I'm just going to sleep.. which granted is my fault but still, I wanted to get to a point where I could finish another chapter.
I did intend to make it longer but it is 2k words so not too bad for me.
Thank you for reading everyone, I sincerely appreciate the time you've spent on this.
My tired ass probably made a bunch of mistakes but since no one likes correcting me I guess we are going to have to live with it until I read back through
Love Love <3