This is the story of Seth Clearwater and Shay Detree.

It was a few short weeks later. The snow had almost melted and the trees seemed like they would be bursting with leaves in no time. Birds called in the early mornings and lightning bugs were almost ready seen at night. Each day was getting warmer and spring was on its way. It was on one of these evenings when Seth made his way out to the porch, a steaming cup of hot chocolate in his big hand. He had made Shay taste all different kinds of foods since she had the soup. Now he was teaching her how to make some as well. With a sip from the steaming cup he looked up at the fading stars and half full moon. It had been a while since he's been in his wolf form. Not since before he met Shay. He missed it, but he'd rather be with his mate. Making her happy was his life now.

There was a clatter of metal against the floor and a "ssssss" sound of hot water. A shriek of terror and pain would reverberate off the walls of the cottage and out the door. She cried out, screaming in pain. "Seeeeeth! Seth! Seth!"

Without a thought Seth dropped his mug and turned, running back inside. His arms trembled as he burst into the kitchen. "Shay?! Are you alright?!"

Water was all over the floor, steam up in the air. She was holding her finger, which had been burned on the pot of water she had been trying to get to boil. On the counter were potatoes, all sliced up nice and pretty, ready to be put into the pot. Shay's cheeks were wet with hot tears. She was trying to turn on the cold water for her poor finger  with her foot, looking rather comical, just like Seth told her to. "Ow ow owwww!"

With two long strides he was behind her, his arms slipping around to hold her protectively to his chest. He calmed down a little when he realized she wasn't in  huge danger. He dropped his head to kiss the top of hers and took her hand gently with his own. "Oh honey..." He murmured, turning on the cold water and turning her finger over in the stream. "I told you to be careful in here."

"I just wanted to make you some mashed potatoes.." She cried gently, wincing and "Ahhing" at her finger. Gosh, it hurt.. She bit her lip, holding back a cry. After several minutes, it finally stopped hurting. "I think.. it's okay now.."

His lips tilted up in a small smile. She was so precious, preparing something for him and ending up hurt. He shut off the water and examined her finger. It was only a small red mark now. "Don't worry, it will go away." He lifted it and kissed her finger ever so gently.

She gasped gently, wincing at his kiss, but she ended up kissing his finger in return, smiling gently back. It stung a bit, but nothing hurt in comparison to her crescent scar. Shay reached up on her toes and kissed him full on the mouth. Against his lips she murmured. "Whatcha wanna do today?"

He kissed her back, his eyes half closing. His arm wound around her waist, his other hand cradling her cheek. He pulled back a centimeter and looked into her bright blue eyes. "Well first, we have to get this mess cleaned up." He chuckled and glanced down at the water all over the floor.

She couldn't help but laugh at that. Shay grabbed a towel and threw it on the floor at the water. Swiftly, she rubbed it around with her foot while carefully picking up the dangerous pot. She put the pot in the sink and stamped her foot down on the towel. Grinning up at him, she said. "All done!"

Kissing her temple, Seth slipped his hands into hers and pulled her out of the kitchen and to the front door. "I want to show you something.." He said, opening the door and stepping out. He scooped up the fallen mug and placed it on the wooden railing. It was a warm evening. The smell of rain and pine made his whole body buzz. 'Shift, shift, shift' It seemed to whisper him. He looked back at Shay and took a deep breath, wondering how she'd react.

Shay canted her head, a toss of sunshine curls. She was just wearing one of his tee shirts. They'd been planting so much recently she really found no reason other than when she went to the tavern to wear proper clothing. "Show me what?"

He turned and took her other hand, leaning forward to kiss her perfect lips. When he pulled away his eyes were different. The pupils had grown so large, only a small band of brown was remained. Tremors had begun in his hands, spreading steadily to his arms. "My wolf." He told her, his voice husky. He wanted her to see his other form, his true form. It had been so long since he phased. His whole being shuddered with anticipation inside and Seth closed his eyes, straining his neck to the side briefly as the muscles underneath his skin trembled. Just a little longer...

Shay just kind of stood there, dumbstruck. Her eyes grew wide, her mouth slightly agape. "..Seth?"

He kissed her cheek. "It's okay, honey." His voice was low, breathless and husky. He stepped back, off the porch in one step. The tremors shook his body and he had to grit his teeth slightly. His shaking hands slid from hers and to the hem of his shirt, slipping it off in one smooth motion as he stepped away more. The muscles under his tanned skin seemed to shimmer and move. Tossing the material aside, he began to undo his jeans, cursing quietly when his hands shook too much to cooperate. Finally, he shoved them down along with his underwear and kicked them onto his shirt. A large tremor rocked its way down his spine and Seth leaned forward, his muscles taut, veins sticking out angrily against his skin. A snarl ripped its way from between his clenched teeth, his eyes pupils had expanded until only a thin ring of brown surrounded them.

Shay was motionless, her heart racing inside her chest. Her hands went up to her chest, clasped tightly together, her eyes filled with fear and wonder.

Seth's eyes snapped shut and he exploded. His body expanded in a heartbeat, morphing into the body a giant wolf the size of the horse but much thicker and muscular. The wolf dropped heavily to its front paws. He was tan, darker around his face and back.

She remained motionless, her eyes still wide. The expression was unreadable. Was she afraid? Was she in awe? Would she hate his true self or love him more? Truth was, she would love him ever so much more. She wasn't the least bit afraid. Her steps were slow, gentle and quiet. Her face would remain expressionless as she approached him.

Seth's tail swished low around his back legs and his ears lowered back in the slightest. The dark eyes he had trained on her were completely animal, but the man inside was present too. Instincts all but ruled in this form, human emotions and thoughts were a barren whisper int he back of the mind. The wolf canted its head to the side and inhaled in a huff. Her scent, his mixed with hers mixed with spring, exploded in his mind and he all but melted in delight. His body lowered, head dipping and a wolfish grin split his muzzle. He huffed affectionately and stepped forward to meet her.

Shay reached out slowly so she wouldn't scare him, even though she knew she wouldn't, to touch his fur. She ran her dainty, slender hand through the hairs, smiling wide. Her other arm hugged around his head, reaching up to scratch behind his ears. She pressed her face into his neck and breathed in. He smelled like the forest. She grinned wider.

A low satisfied rumble started in the wolf's chest. He closed his eyes and leaned into Shay's embrace gently, taking care not to knock her down with his size. He breathed in and out deeply, shivering with pleasure. His hind quarters lowered to the ground, tail thumping against the dirt as it wagged steadily.

"I didn't think you were this big.." She giggled her bell-like laugh, her words a soft murmur. She studying him, running her hands all through his fur, circling him and climbing onto him. Once she was satisfied, she giggled again, reaching up on her tip toes to scratch behind his ears again. Dogs liked that, right? Or were giant werewolves different?

The rough thrumming noise picked up and Seth tilted his head to allow her more access. His eyes slid closed and the corners of his lips tilted up, a long pink tongue lolling out of the side of his mouth. Carefully, he folded to his feet again, barely jostling her. He would never let her fall.

She climbed onto him, lying on his back, her face against the back of his wolfy neck. She giggled and curled her fingers around his fur, running her hands through the hairs. "Why didn't you show me sooner?.. Were you afraid I would hate it or be afraid?.." She lifted her head, wondering if he could understand her.

The wolf turned its head to look at her with one chocolate eye. It studied her face with an undecipherable look. Then, in a motion that was purely human, he lifted its brow in amusement and gave her a yipping huff. His large furry shoulder lifted in a careful shrug.

She grinned and climbed off him, slowly taking his shirt off of her body, naked underneath. It wasn't the first time he'd seen her naked, but his wolf side hadn't. She idly wondered if it was different for his eyes. She walked to stand in front of him, raising her arms. With a light "swoosh" sound, her soft flesh hardened and peeled and paled. Her arms grew small branches that grew her beautiful leaves. In a few moments, the air would reek of her smell, not that that was a bad thing. A bell-like giggle could be heard in the air. Here they were, both of them, in their other forms. It was beautiful.

Seth's eyes never left her as she began to change. He began sniffing like mad at her delightful scent. The wolf circled the tree, much like the first time he laid eyes on her. He drank her in and with a soft grumble, leaned forward to rub the side of his face gingerly against her bark, his tongue darted out to lap the half-moon scar. His large body curled around the small tree, always the protector.

Another laugh rang out into the air. The tree slowly began to move, like in slow motion, moving the "hips" of the tree about as if it was dancing with happiness, which it was. A few scarlet and peach leaves fell from her branches to tickle Seth's muzzle. She loved being like this with him. She half shifted out, her body still harder than normal and colored as her tree, but not peeling. Her arms still had tiny boughs growing from them with her beautiful leaves, but her face could be seen now, almost lost in her branches. She cooed down at him, her eyes filled with love. It was a strange sight to behold.

The wolf's tail began to wag, his eyes eyes found the face that appeared in the wood and he gave a yipped again, leaning up to lick that face. He pressed his forehead against her shoulder and hummed in delight. Her scent drove him crazy. His whole body radiated with pure love and devotion. All towards her. He never wanted to move from this spot.

She would make soft giggles and coos  and mms at him, not really speaking, just making sweet, cute noises. Shay wiggled her "butt" and shook her branches, a small raining of crimson and fuchsia. She cooed again in delight at his nuzzle and bent her head to nuzzle back against his. She wouldn't move even if the earth quaked beneath her.

Seth stood and stretched his huge body. He kept his eyes on her and gave her another wolfish grin. He pressed his hind paws into the dirt and stretched out his front legs. His head lifted and studied the sky. It was getting dark and he lowered his eyes to scan the trees. He didn't know what ran wild in these woods at night. He growled low as he scanned the trees. He wanted his mate, his everything, out of danger. Once he was satisfied, he lied back down around her.

Shay cooed at him, bending down to nuzzle him again. After a few moments, she shifted into her human form and lied down next to him, kissing his muzzle. Her words were a soft, sleepy murmur. "Why don't you shift back so I can really kiss you.." It wasn't a question. It was a demand.

Seth looked at her, his head canted to the side. It was brief and almost immediately, his form began to tremble. His eyes never looked away from her as he transformed back. Fur, ears, muzzle, and tail receded as his body shook and shimmered back into a very naked, human Seth. It all took only a couple of seconds, the same amount of time it took for him to phase to a wolf. He was grinning wildly at her. With a laugh, his arms encircled her and he pressed his lips to hers, kissing her deeply.

Shay couldn't help but giggle against his lips. She kissed him back with everything she was to make up for everything she wasn't. She snuggled closer to him, lying on the grass there with him. She turned to rest on her back, curling her dainty fingers around his to hold his hand. Her ever so blues stared up at the dimming sky, which was now a violet tone that faded into bright pink and orange, and finally disappeared into red. Her voice was still whispered. "Seth, I don't want today to last forever.. You wanna know why?.."

"Why?" He murmured. His eyes never leaving her. He lay on his back also, his hand gripping hers, his head turned to her. His whole body was attuned to hers. It was like they were of the same soul. Even as the sky changed from one brilliant color to another, she will always be the one to capture his attention and keep it.

"Because.. there are many more sunsets I can watch with you, each prettier than the last.. I can make many more memories with you.. Because I have so many more days with you.. Because you're always going to be here and I will be too.. Because this will never end for me.." She smiled, her cheeks rising up and flushing pink as the sky. She watched the flickering stars, thinking this was the most perfect moment that could ever be. "Because I belong with you and you belong with me.."

Seth rolled onto her, wrapping an arm around her. His lips smiling in that lopsided way he knew she loved. "And you're my sweetheart..." He whispered as he leaned his face into her hair, inhaling gently. He would never get enough of her scent. "I'll spend forever with you." He murmured. His eyes shut as he pressed his lips to hers in a sweet kiss.

She smiled gently at his kiss, and inhaled his smell as he smelled hers. Pine and rain and forest and moss. A very warm, woodsy aroma. She grinned as her murmured to her. "And I will love you until I fall.." She whispered kissed him back, tasting him thoroughly before cuddling up against him and looking back up at the stars with her ever so blue orbs.

Seth held her in his warm embrace and kissed her temple and forehead, then he lifted his gaze to the stars as they began to appear. As long as he was there, nothing could ever touch her or harm her. He would be forever at her side, through the good and the bad.

She would whisper sweet things to him as they watched the stars. They'd stay out there all night together. He'd keep her warm and just lie there with her. No planting. No fondling. Just there. Together. Just Shay and Seth. Just them, doing nothing but being together as they would be always.