Part 2 - The Attack

Hayden made good on his promise of showing Kenzie how much he loved both her and her new haircut upon arriving at the hotel. They engaged in a night of passion that didn’t end until past midnight. Of course, wearing more risqué attire didn’t hurt, either.

As she began to doze off to sleep, Kenzie thought of Su and their reunion. Yet another friend was beginning the next chapter of their life – Su and her family had moved to Sunset Valley to run their restaurant. It was amazing how quickly time progressed and things changed. But she’d learned to accept that not all change was bad; a lot of it was good. Like the change she’d made in herself that had allowed her to find her soul mate. That was something she’d never let go of.

When morning finally broke, Kenzie felt the sun graze her eyelids. She stretched and turned over to feel Hayden grip her wrist.

“Good morning, Beauty,” he cooed.

Kenzie tittered and replied, “Good morning, Beast.”

“How did you sleep?”

“Very good since you got me so tired out. You?”

“The same. I’d say I slept like a bear, but that’s the wrong species.”

Kenzie just shook her head teasingly. She sat up and saw that the blanket had fallen off the bed sometime during the night. No wonder she felt a little chilly.

“Here,” Hayden said as he wrapped the blanket around her. “As gorgeous as you look in that getup, it’s not worth freezing over.”

“Thanks. I think I’ll just go ahead and get dressed, though.”

Kenzie grabbed some clothes out of her suitcase and quickly put them on. She’d gotten over her shyness of changing in front of others, or at least Hayden and Jillian. But only the former had seen her completely in the buff, and she hoped to keep it that way.

“So, are we heading to Moonlight Falls today?” she asked. Hayden threw yesterday’s clothes back on considering he hadn’t packed any, not anticipating staying overnight in Sunset Valley.

“That’s the plan,” he replied. “Unless there’s something else you had in mind.”

“Not me.”

“Well, in that case, how about some breakfast before we head out?”

“Sounds good to me.”

After a hearty breakfast, the couple climbed into Hayden’s car and went on their way to Moonlight Falls. Kenzie’s heart hammered in her chest, both in excitement and nervous anticipation. Truthfully, despite being twenty-seven, she’d never lived with anyone before except her parents and Jillian in college. She’d been engaged once, until the guy had cheated on her, but she realized that even back then, she hadn’t thought ahead to the point of them actually living together. Her head had been wrapped up in the elation of being engaged. Until it ended, anyway.

Moonlight Falls wasn’t very far from Sunset Valley, but it was mid-afternoon when they arrived. And because it was still winter, it got dark earlier. The sun was already beginning its descent when they pulled up to Hayden’s house. However, unlike Riverview, there was no snow on the ground despite the season, even though Riverview only had a small amount.

“Welcome home,” Hayden said as he grabbed some boxes and hustled them inside after unlocking the front door. Kenzie couldn’t help but smile as she took in her new home. It was very masculine; she’d definitely have to add some feminine touches to it. Unless, of course, they managed to find another house, which they’d discussed. Hayden seemed to think that they needed a house with an office for both their lines of work. Kenzie was in no rush to invest in another house, though. She was still paying for the one she had in Riverview, though she would soon have to get it on the market.

The thought saddened her, despite how happy she was with the idea of being closer to Hayden rather than living a long-distance relationship.

“So,” Hayden declared as he set down the last of the few boxes that Kenzie had brought with her, “what shall we do first?”

Kenzie put her hand on her hip as she surveyed the room. It was already beginning to feel like home.

“Well,” she said at last, “I suppose we could always do the practical thing and unpack. Or we could do something a little more fun.”

“Like what?”

“We could always christen this place, unless you’ve already done that.”

“Actually, no. And if I had, it wouldn’t matter because it wasn’t with you.”

“Uh…was I your first?”

“Would you be mad if I said no?”

“No, but I would be surprised.”

Hayden chuckled slightly. “Well, if it makes you feel any better, you’re only my second.”

“Oh, come on.”

“It’s true. Wolves are monogamous, but werewolves still have human genes in them, remember? So I thought I’d found a mate once, but I was wrong.”

“What happened?”

“She wound up pregnant by someone else.”

“Oh. That sucks.”

“I thought so at the time. But now I’m glad it happened. Otherwise I wouldn’t have met you.”

“Oh, stop.”

Hayden chortled once more as he approached Kenzie and wrapped his arm around her. Kenzie wrapped her arm around her mate’s neck as they gazed into each other’s eyes.

“I love you, Kenzie Howell,” Hayden said, his voice encompassed with sincerity. “I never knew love until I met you. It’s like we were created for each other.”

“I think we were.”

The two smiled at each other before sealing their love with a kiss.

********************************************************************************

Later that evening, after christening their new home, Kenzie and Hayden went for a romantic stroll under a blanket of stars away from the beaten path. Though it was still winter, the temperature was unseasonably warm that evening, and they were taking full advantage while still bundling up.

“Besides,” Hayden stated as they walked along, “the last time we were able to be together at night like this, I had to turn into a werewolf.”

“I don’t remember you complaining that much.”

“You have one hell of a hold on me, convincing me to woohoo in my wolf state during a full moon. And outside in public, no less!”

“We weren’t really in public; we were in the deserted woods.”

Hayden just shook his head mischievously, prompting Kenzie to stick her tongue out at him teasingly. They walked for a while longer and were just heading back to the house when Hayden stopped short.

“What’s wrong?” Kenzie asked. Hayden held his finger to his lips, signaling her to be silent. He cocked his head to the side, his ears perked up. He obviously heard something that her human ears were unable to detect.

But that changed in a matter of moments, for not only did her ears home in on what Hayden already sensed, but her eyes did as well when she saw a dark shadow flying toward her, fangs and claws extended.

Her flesh also became aware of this creature when she felt the sharp pierce of canines sink through her jacket and into the flesh on her arm.

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