Beauty and the Beast

Chapter 32

I sighed as I sat up in bed, letting my legs hang over the edge as thoughts swam in my head and I tried my best not to drown. I read the clock as a few hours past midnight.

I needed to clear my head. My thoughts were eating away at me like a plague.

I stood up quietly and walked over to the closet, throwing on a pair of shorts, not bothering with shoes. I wanted to feel the cool earth beneath my feet, something that was solid and true, never unmoving.

I slipped out quietly off the porch steps, sighing as I felt the grass beneath my feet. It was still dark out, the sun would come soon, but for now the night reigned over the territory.

I stared at the still tree line, watching as a cool breeze swept through the territory causing the trees to sway in the breeze.

I turned as I heard the door click. I gave Kieran a small smile as he stepped off the porch.

"I couldn't sleep anymore." I said.

"And I can't sleep without you, so here we are darling." Kieran said quietly to me.

I chuckled quietly to myself. Typical possessive Kieran. I loved him for it.

"You wanna go for a swim?" He asked me.

I smiled up at him, thankful for the much needed spontaneity.

"Last one there has to jump?" I said with a grin.

Without a second thought Kieran bolted, shifting into his wolf that nearly matched the night when he was already yards from me.

I chuckled and shifted, catching up with Kieran as I nipped at his tail.

I growled in frustration when he reached our spot first and he shifted into his human form, chuckling as he waited for me to turn.

I leapt up onto the rocks a few feet above the water.

I let my body revert back to its human form and stood up as Kieran grinned up at me from below and whistled at me as I did a little dance before I took a running start and leapt off the rocks.

I smiled as I felt my body instantly heat up at the waters hot temperature as it enveloped me in its warm waters, wrapping around me like a warm hug.

I stood up, wiping the water from my face and opening my eyes to see Kieran inches from me, his smile small, but sure as he looked at me.

"You're so beautiful." He stated.

I went to speak but he put a finger to my lips and he looked around on alert.

I stood quietly when suddenly a noise ripped through the air, followed with a stench and a bubble that floated to the surface.

My jaw dropped in disbelief as Kieran's laugh.  It bounced off the rocks and echoed around me, just as the sun began to peek up from the horizon.

"You did not just fart!" I yelled and splashed him.

He smiled as he stared at me as I stared back at him.

"What's going to happen Kieran?" I whispered.

"Well, in about ten hours were going to get married." He answered.

"You know that's not what I meant." I said.

"We invited nearly everyone to the wedding and if whoever is trying to hurt us might decide to show up and grace us with their presence, because they would most likely want to create a spectacle. If that happens, I will not hesitate. Wedding or not, if there is a threat to my family, male or female, I will end it then and there. " Kieran said.

"And if they don't show?" I asked.

"Well that's awfully rude, the only reason you wouldn't want to go to a wedding is if you have something against that person. It's a dead giveaway of your intentions towards my family. I take it personally." Kieran said suggestively.

"I want Willow guarded at all times. I can protect myself if I have to, but she's innocent in all of this...I don't even want to imagine...if something happened to her...

I growled as I felt tears sting my eyes as emotions ran through me. I could never forgive myself if Willow was hurt because of me.

"Charlotte." Kieran said sternly as he tilted my chin up.

"We are going to be okay." He added.

I cleared my throat, splashing my face and taking a deep breath as I composed myself.

"You're right. I'm a female shifter. If anyone should be worried, it should be them." I said with confidence.

I watched as Kieran's smile stretched from ear to ear.

"Damn right." Kieran said with a wink.

I smiled as I laid back, allowing myself to float in the water, watching the sun as it fought the darkness on the battlefield that was the sky, watching as it slowly gained victory as the morning triumphed over the night.

Victory.

I would have it too.

Eventually.

And not a single person would get in my way of it.

I must have been getting a little too relaxed because when I blinked my eyes open that I didn't realize we're closed, we were inside and Kieran's sleeping face was in my sights.

I leaned forward, kissing his head softly, smiling down at a snoring Willow as she clung to Kieran's shirt as she slept against his chest peacefully. She was getting so big and her hair was sprouting in brown curls much to my surprise.

My life was beautiful. I couldn't believe that something that started off so unwillingly and so unwanted would be something I would be willing to die for, something I never wanted to live without. Something beautiful that I could never have imagined I would ever want.

I smoothed Willow's hair and I watched as her eyes popped open slowly at the feel of my skin on hers. She smiled at the sight of me and closed her eyes as sleep won her over and she snuggled deeper into Kieran's chest.

I closed my eyes, letting sleep take hold of me as I gave in.