Everything changed that day. It had been the second night of the full moon after his 21st birthday. The transformation had felt so much worse than the first time; because he had been expecting it. Running wild into the forest that first evening, it had taken the pack mere moments to catch him up. Even now, years later he could remember the taste of fear in his mouth as the black furred beast tackled him to the ground. Golden eyes glowed up at the human-like monster with an all-consuming terror at the prospect of his life coming to an end. However, it hadn’t happened. Instead, in an absolutely shocking twist; the animal began to speak. Growling guttural words attempted to calm him. To tell him it was ok and gruffly explained what nightmare had just occurred to him.<br/><br/>That had been the first and the last night he had been a part of the pack. Never before had he felt the overwhelming sense of belonging. The feeling of inclusion. However, it all ended as fast as it had started.<br/><br/>Sat on his haunches under the bridge, he had heard and smelled the car coming, long before he had seen it. The Alpha had told him to hide when these potential encounters happened. People on their own in the wilderness were one thing. But cars were different. They could get away and raise alarms that would bring unwelcome attention to the pack. So deciding to take refuge under the river crossing, he simply sat and waited. But suddenly there were strange loud noises coming from overhead. The car inexplicably crashed through the barrier and began disappearing under the thin layer of ice. All thoughts of the pack vanished from his head. Watching the lights slowly fade as they sank beneath the water, he suddenly saw the little face appear against the window just before vanishing into the murky depths.<br/><br/>Instinct took over. The sub-zero water didn’t even make him flinch in his Lupine form. Strong fingers distorted the metal at the edges of the car door; planting massive feet on the metallic body he pulled it clean off with no apparent effort. What had been a panicked little girl was now a limp form floating amongst the blankets that had moments before saved her life. Pulling the child towards him, he used the simple expedient of hooking the collar of her top into his muzzle so he could easily swim back to the surface. However, it was putting her in such close proximity to his teeth that would change her life forever.  Because as he broke the surface of the water and dragged the lifeless form of the girl to the road, he nicked her. It was the tiniest of cuts. But that was all it took. The same venom that had brought the change in him had now been passed to her. And it was only as he lay her gently down on the floor that he realised it had happened.<br/><br/>Ever since that moment, he had been a part of her life. Up until tonight however; he had always hidden on the fringes of her world. But even through watching from a distance, he very much felt a part of her life. Living through all the same moments she did, he experienced her laughs, her loves, her pain, her tears and so much more. Yet not for one single moment did she ever know he was there. Until now.<br/><br/>Basking in the silvery glow of the full moon, his enormous torso gently rose and fell as he calmly watched the little cottage. It was only the serene mind of his wolf consciousness that prevented him from being overly excited. As a wolf he was always tranquil and focused. No matter the situation. So it was with an almost detached composure that his glowing eyes witnessed the young woman writhing on the grass.<br/><br/>Lying under the trees at the edge of her garden, his tawny coat looked black in the evening light.  Despite his calmness, every muscle in his huge figure bunched and undulated beneath his skin. Like a coiled spring he was ready. Ready to chase her down, just as he had been all those years ago by the pack leader who had banished him the moment he had discovered he had saved the girls life. The loss of which had been devastating to him. Even after only being within the pack for 24 hours it was a huge wrench. The shame of letting them down as a wolf was overwhelming, just as the shame at being spurned as a human was as well.  But despite the tangible pain and embarrassment that had plagued him since the moment he was spurned by the other wolves. He never regretted his decision. And the more he had watched over her, the more he had seen her grow into the wonderful woman she quite obviously was. The more he began to believe that he had been meant to save her that day. He was meant to turn her. Just as he was meant to be right there, right then as she changed for the very first time.<br/><br/>She wasn’t Leiah now though. Not this very second. Instead she was a wolf. A very scared. Very strong and very fast wolf. But he was stronger. He was faster. And he would need to be. In the blink of an eye she sped off into the foliage after her. She would be scared and completely lost in her new body. So with a deceptively powerful thrust of his legs… the chase was on.<br/><br/>Feeling the air flow through his fur had always exhilarated him. Even after all these years. The trees flew by in a blur as he used his whole body to propel himself through the dense forest. Every loping stride took him closer to his quarry. Her silvery hair glittered like diamonds under the narrow beams of moonlight that fought their way through the leaves. Offering his sharp vision a perfect target, making his job that much easier. The thrill of the chase filled his mind. It took every ounce of control to not howl into the evening air. No. That wouldn’t be good. He couldn’t risk anyone coming to investigate. She needed to be safe and he was going to make sure she was. So with a final push of his unbelievably powerful hind legs, he leapt through the air. Landing directly on top of the female wolf, he pinned her to the floor with his vast bulk.<br/><br/>Despite the frantic chase there wasn’t even a hint of breathlessness as he lowered his muzzle towards her. Only the excited beating of his heart at eventually coming face to face with the girl he had been watching all these years.<strong>”Leiah. Stop!”</strong>The command in his growling voice was palpable. It wasn’t just the natural dominance of who he was. There was more to it than that, because now; he was the leader of his own pack.<strong>”Calm down. My name is Garret. I’m here to help you. Everything is going to be ok. Trust me.”</strong><br/>