“I have left Oren here to keep you safe.”

“Where are you going?” Liana tries to rise but I stay her with a hand.

I want to be gentle with my new wife. I long to reach for her. But instead, the full moon is upon us and she cannot join our pack weakened as she is. Or perhaps…ever.

“I feel much better, Noble,” she says pushing up, letting the sheets fall, and again I am reminded that my wife, while modest by lion standards, is unfitting here in our cold palace where women button up to their chin.

To them, and me, she is a harlot among prudes. And never had I been more thankful for that then when we’d first agreed to marry. But now, things have changed. Distance, modesty, it’s what’s best.

Liana seems to notice my discomfort and she lifts her chin, daring me to comment. She’s showing me everything these last days of despair has bought and paid for. A wife by my side that is not only willing to throw herself to the wolves, quite literally for me, but one who’s brash boldness is making my skin heat even this moment.

Then I feel guilt slap me across my face for the very thought.

Liana is not even healed fully, and here I am ogling her, after being the one who’d left her to such abuse. By his own people.

“I have something,” I say.

Reaching only as far as I need to, I hand her the ring. Liana’s eyes barely glance at the jewel before she places it on her finger, and she searches my features.

So much hope rests in her golden gaze, that I rise, forcefully and mean to leave.

“Noble, wait!”

I turn, and Liana motions to the fire. “Could you please throw in some more logs? I’ll never get used to this frigid weather.”

I do as she asks, then I use the poker to stoke the flames, remembering that Oren is right outside her door. He’s promised to keep her safe while I run. I can trust him.

“Do you have to go?” she asks.

We two are done with politics for now. We have stuck with silence, and quiet comments, me offering her protection, her graciously accepting such things as if I am her jailer.

My teeth grow in my mouth by the second, and I wipe a hand across my lips.

“Yes,” I say. “I’m already changing. It’s just for the night.”

“The whole night?” she asks, her eyes round, the gold in them catching the light of the fire.

Is there an offer inside of that enchanting gaze? Is she beckoning me still even after all that I’ve done?

Instead of being pleased, I find myself growing angry with her all over again. I’m saddled with a wife who is too beautiful to even protect myself from should I need it. And everyone in my kingdom must see the weakness. They must say to themselves, “Oh there goes Noble to his death. Too stupid to see what’s right in front of him because of a good pair of…”

Emilie is ever reminding me that Liana could have been a part of the plot to kill my father. That this entire goal for marriage could have been so our defenses were down to the lions. They could swoop in, and I’m buried in Liana’s soft flesh, forgetting my duty.

They’ve already struck. Could be: First the great black wolf, then me. After we bear children, she’d rule through our son.

Liana has a sense of my thoughts it seems. Her gaze steels. “Will she be with you, Noble? Tonight. The one who seems to always be by your side?”

Liana bites off the end of her words. She pulls the blankets to the side and means to stand.

“Stay seated,” I snap.

Not for her wellbeing, but for mine. She’s naked and I’m here thinking about children already, even if it means she’ll cut my throat afterward, I’m teetering on the edge of insanity.

Go ahead, Liana, I think. As long as I die in your arms while I change and howl at the moon, you can end me once and for all.

She stays seated, but lets the sheets pool in her lap, uncovering more, knowing exactly my reaction.

Liana half naked is enough to change a man’s mind about death. She’s been sent here by the gods of the realms to tempt me. Indeed, she must have. Beckoning men like me to our doom without even trying. Women will rule the realm if they all look and act like her.

“I have to go,” I say, hoarsely, but strong enough, that while I’m losing myself every step towards the door, I am still managing to take them somehow.

I’m changing too swiftly. It’s too soon. I barely make it out before lifting the bar and crossing it in front of her door, half me, and half animal.

“Don’t let anyone in there tonight.”

Oren nods his head, “Yes, sire.” His eyes are wide.

My face is slowly transforming. Most can’t do that. They either change or don’t, but my lineage is so old, it is said that the wolves once lived as half and half.

“Not a soul gets into her room,” I growl.

I check the bar and lock. Twice. Then I run through the castle until I am on the steps. I’m almost free, free to run away from all that troubles me, but Winnie is there waiting on the landing.

Despite how terrifying I must look, her face is thunder, and all of her sweet bunny features are tight with anger. “What is the meaning of this, Noble?”

I grab her by the shoulders, meaning to move her---hide her. I frantically search the courtyard with a sweeping glance and hiss, “What are you still doing here! It’s the full moon, Winifred. The wolves are out! They are running.”

She shrugs me off roughly. “Don’t you Winifred me, Noble.”

“I am king. King Noble now.”

She points a finger in my face and the wolf growls at the appendage until it disappears. “For all of a few days! I’ve known you your entire life. This isn’t you. Liana is being abused, accosted in your own palace.”

“You think I don’t know that? I’ve taken care of it.”

She crosses her arms, sighs, and Winnie looks close to tears.

My own eyes burn in answer, and her gaze softens to notice my desperation. “Noble,” she says softly. “I know you’ve lost your father, but you have to remember how many times we discussed this very thing. A change for the realm. Remember? You promised.”

“I don’t have time for this, Winnie. And you’d better get out of sight before the pack sees you.”

She nods. “Fine. But we will talk. Later.”

My body shudders and the change begins without warning. I’m me, but suddenly, not me at the same time.

Winnie backs away. “Noble? Noble!” She trips on her feet and I stalk forward, half me, half rogue. “What should I do!?” she screeches.

“Hide,” I say with a strange mixture of animal and man vocal chords. Snapping my jaws, Winnie spins and springs up the steps for the castle before I completely lose myself.

Forcing the final amount of control I do have, I flee, running toward the woods, tearing off my clothes. I fly past the gardens, through branches that cut neatly into my skin, eyes blurring with the wind when I’m finished.

Now, my paws take up the ground. At first, I head toward the others, I can hear them. The pack is strong together. They are formidable and perfectly working as one.

But not one wolf is as fast as I am.

At the last second before I am out of sight of the castle, I spin and glance up at the tower to Liana’s rooms. Like I knew, she is there, hair flying in the wind, eyes finding me with ease. A cat can see in the night as well as any of us. We are all nocturnal beasts. At least she and I have that sole common thing to build on.

And build we must, lest they tear us to pieces.

It is only now that I realize I am me inside of this wolf skin. I can control it somehow when never could I before. I’m unable to think about the surprise of that because Liana stands at the window, bare chested, and as if she notices my sudden hesitation, she finally pulls her robes closed.

Even covered, she sends me a look of such challenge that I shake my fur in reaction to the piercing gaze. Bruised, battered, but never conquered, my wife may be in a strange realm, but already she is not only Queen of Winter, Liana has become queen of my heart.