Eve felt the familiar uncomfortable - but not painful - feeling of her bones and organs rearranging inside of her as strands of thick fur began to sprout out from her skin. She fell forward onto her hands that were halfway to becoming paws.

As she completed, Eve was able to open her eyes and look forward at Curtis who stood in front of her. In his wolf form, Curtis was taller than Eve. He was covered in a mottled grey and brown fur that hung low around his belly. His eyes were the same grey-green as in his human form.

At the same time, Curtis was admiring Eve in her wolf form. She possessed the same chocolate brown coloured fur as her hair was coloured when human. Across her cheek there was three distinct lines of pink where her scars showed through her thick fur.

With a nod, Curtis turned and trotted over to the tree line. Eve followed behind him as he took a path that she was unfamiliar with. Steadily, they increased their pace until the ground churned away beneath them. Trees started to whip past becoming a blur of green and brown streaks.

Eve speed her legs up trying to overtake Curtis as a wolfy grin spread across her face. Curtis did a double take before realising what she was attempting to do. He too had a grin spread across his face as he sped up to match her increasing pace.

Soon the pair diverted off of their path as they bumped into each other attempting to throw the other off balance. Eve fell behind slightly as she stumbled when Curtis' larger form shoulder bumped her.

Soon the playful pair broke through the trees and slowed to a stop next to a wide lake. Eve suspected it was the same lake that she saw each morning on her run from the very top of the mountain. Up close, it was as beautiful as she has suspected that it would be. Tall clumps of grass swayed softly in the breeze surrounding the lake. The surface had a few ripples moving across it.

Eve lowered herself to the ground, shifting slightly so that she got off of a rock that was pocking into her soft belly. Curtis followed her lead and laid down next to Eve's smaller body. She leaned into him ever so slightly, drawn to his warmth. Together they watched out over the lake taking in the scenery.

Eve decided that when she had the time, she would bring one the books Curtis had given her and read it at the lake. She imagined that it would soothe her soul. Just a quiet relaxing day by herself.

As Eve became consumed by the view in front of her, Curtis nudged her shoulder to get her attention. She turned to look up at him whilst still keeping her head resting on the ground. Curtis jumped up and crouched down with his bum sticking up towards the sky. His tail flicked side to side, signalling to her that he wanted to play.

In response, she rolled away and jumped up to her feet. Eve flicked her tail back, teasing Curtis back. He jumped up onto his pack paws. Eve darted forward and ran around Curtis in circles. Curtis jumped back to get Eve in his line of site.

The two wolves continued to run around each other until Curtis leapt forward, surprising Eve, managing to pin her underneath him. Eve curled her legs up into her body as Curtis crouched down allowing his body to press down onto Eve. She thought he felt like a giant weighted blanket.

Gently, Curtis pushed his head forward and sneakily licked Eve's nose. Eve blinked up at him shocked by his actions. Such a blatant display of affection would have caused he cheeks to turn red had she not been in her wolf form. Hesitating, she stretched up and quickly licked Curtis' furry cheek in response.

After a few seconds, Curtis stood up allowing Eve to get to her feet. Together, they turned and starting trotting back in the direction of the cabin at a slow and leisurely pace. They ran side by side, so close that their fur brushed up against each other. Eve could not help but notice the warmness she felt in her chest - it was the opposite to the feeling that engulfed her when the mate bond pulled at her.

Before long, the pair arrived back at the cabin just moments before the sun slipped below the horizon and it got hazy. Curtis gave Eve a little nudge before he walked over to the tree where he had left his clothes. Following his lead, Eve moved to where she had left her clothes. Quickly, she willed her body to transform and then slipped on her clothes as the cold instantly seeped into her bones now that she was not protected by her thick coat of fur.

Once inside, Curtis began to heat up dinner - soup that had been left over from the previous night. Eve did not really taste it as she ate - she was tired, and her thoughts wondered to the events of the day. Before long, she washed the dishes as Curtis dried them and put them away - the process had been well rehearsed over the last few weeks and Eve was beginning to feel very domesticated at moments like this.

Finishing up, Eve made her way to her room. She was keen to have a warm shower to loosen her aching muscles before going to bed. Just as she stepped through the threshold Curtis interrupted her.

'Goodnight Eve.' He said softly with a small wave before padding softly down towards his own room.

'Goodnight Curtis.' Eve whispered back before clicking her door shut.

She stood with her back leaning against the closed door for a moment before going about her nightly routine. As she laid down and pulled the thick blanket up over herself Eve's mind began to wonder and fall down a rambling tunnel of thoughts.

Had she been imagining the warm feelings her chest when Curtis had shown her affection? Was that even affection - and if it was how was she meant to interpret it? Was she misinterpreting signals? Was she simply feeling this way because of the amount of time that she had spent with Curtis clouding her emotions? Or perhaps, she had simply been treated so poorly by her mate, that any kindness shown to her by Curtis made her feel special when she was not?

Not that any of those questions mattered no matter the answers that she undoubtedly would never receive. This was because of one simple fact that overpowered every emotion, feeling or thought that Eve would ever have about Curtis.

Out there - in the world somewhere - Curtis had a mate. And there was absolutely no way that Eve would ever think to come between Curtis and whoever his mate was.

Saddened but solid on her conviction, Eve slipped into a quiet and peaceful sleep.