The Hidden Queen - A New Adult Shifter Why Choose

*UNEDITED*

Arlowe

The dirt turned mud in the recent rains cakes itself between my toes as my bare feet pad across the forest floor. The moon is full and high in the sky, and the forest is eerily quiet, not even any crickets chirping or nocturnal animals scurrying about. The moon gives me just enough light to make out the fallen logs and branches on the ground. Before too long, I come to a group of hot springs, the moon reflecting on the pool's surfaces.

I take a seat on one of the rocks circling one of the smaller pools, dipping my bare feet in the warm water and rinsing the mud off my feet. The rock I chose allows me to see the clearing that seems to have the moons full focus. The area is surrounded by trees, and is glowing with moonlight, as bright as if it was the middle of the day.

I sigh and slowly swing my legs in the water as I take in the beautiful scene. Movement from the right flashes in the corner of my eye, causing me to snap my head in that direction, my longer than normal hair flying into my face. It must have been the wind moving a tree branch so I frown and look down at my body, wondering what the fudge is going on with it. It looks like Mommy’s.

My large boobies and flat stomach are covered by a flimsy nightgown, my jet black hair falling over my shoulders to tickle the tops of my thighs.

A purring sound from the middle of the clearing snaps me out of my silly worries about my body. I look up and gasp, freezing as I see a really big wolf standing there, staring at me. The two of us stare at each other for a moment, neither of us moving as we take each other in.

The wolf has long deep red fur that looks as soft as a cloud, like he has an owner who bathes him, and honey brown eyes. The red wolf is ten times the size of a normal wolf and his eyes glow, like he’s got a lightbulb behind each eye. I don’t know how, but I’m one hundred percent sure the wolf is a male, even before I look between his front paws and see his private area.

The wolf huffs and brings my eyes back to his, seeing his tongue hanging out of his mouth. It seems like he gives me a smile before he snaps to attention, a small growl trickling out of his throat as his eyes dart to the trees behind me.

I slowly turn around, only to see another really big wolf. I carefully get off the wet rocks and move back to the clearing, choosing the gorgeous red wolf instead of the snarling grey, glowing red eyed one.

For some reason, he makes me feel safe, and I really need that right now. I was stupid and wandered off in the middle of the night, and now I’m going to get eaten by that grey wolf. I know without a doubt, somehow, that the red wolf won’t hurt me.

As I slowly back up, I turn to look over my shoulder, wanting to see the red wolf, only for four sets of glowing eyes to snap in my direction, when I stumble and trip over my feet, falling to the dirty, wet floor, gasping at the sight in front of me as I stain my nightgown, my palms and my knees.

The red wolf isn’t alone anymore. Standing on the right side of him is the biggest white leopard I have ever seen and as he looks at me with his shining green eyes, his face relaxes from his snarling expression, his head lowering a little.

But that’s not even the weirdest thing. To the right of the leopard is a really, really, really, big dragon. He repositions himself from a cat-like sitting position - with his tail wrapped around his body on the ground, his wings pulled into his body - to lying down, his tail and wings still close to his body as if he’s trying to make himself smaller, his glowing blue/grey eyes softening a little as he takes me in.

My shock soon wears off at seeing the three of them standing together before the dragon slowly stretches towards me and softly nudges me to his shoulder, his head and neck wrapped around my body, his skin surprisingly soft and warm for the hard scale looking texture.

The grey wolf doesn’t seem to like this as I hear a twig snap as it lets out a bark and ferocious growl before more twigs snap behind me. The dragon doesn’t let me turn around, still nudging me to get closer to him. The leopard springs into action, bounding over my head in one jump. My mouth falls open as my head falls back, tracking his movement above me in wonder and amazement.

The red wolf quickly follows the leopard - although he runs around me instead of jumping over me -, joining the fight. For the next few minutes, all I can hear is the fight raging on, whines, growls and barks sounding from behind me. The dragon huffs as the forest falls silent again for a moment, before a long piercing howl erupts into the night.

I shoot up into a sitting position in bed, my blankets falling down my normal seven year old sized body that’s shaking and covered in sweat. It takes a few tries for my small shaky hands to grab ahold of the blanket, but once I’ve got it, I fling the blanket off my body and get out of bed.

I open my bedroom door and walk down the hallway, the moonlight illuminating my way through the sky light. As I get closer to Mom and Daddy’s bedroom, I hear the tone of their voices, Mom’s higher than Daddy’s, and they don't sound happy.

“Jane, why do we have to move again? I’ve got a good job here, Lo’s got a bunch of friends at school, you’ve got your book club. Everything’s good. Why are you making us pack up and leave again?” Daddy asks in his raised voice. I press my ear to the door to hear their fighting better.

“We’re moving because of Arlowe’s friends!” Mom yells back in frustration, as if she’s explained this a thousand times before. But why doesn’t Mom want me to have friends?

Tears well up in my eyes but I keep listening. I have to. “What is wrong with you?! What kind of mother moves to a different state just because her daughter is making friends?!” Daddy screams, beyond angry now. Love fills my heart, knowing that at least my Daddy loves me.

“You wouldn’t understand.” Was all Mom would say to Daddy. Not long after I hear their bathroom door open and slam closed. A tear falls down my cheek as I knock on the door.

It opens a moment later and Daddy crouches down so he’s eye level with me, his hands on my shoulders. “What’s wrong, sweetheart?” He asks, frowning in concern at me.

“I had a bad dream.” I whisper, lying through my teeth. Well, it’s not a complete lie, but it is so far from the truth. The only bad thing about my dream was that grey wolf.

“Well, there’s no need to cry. How about Daddy comes with you and sleeps in your bed with you tonight to keep the bad dreams away?” I instantly nod my head, a smile spread across my face. I love it when Daddy sleeps in the bed with me. He’s so warm and he gives the best cuddles.

Daddy picks me up as he stands to his full height before he carries me to my bedroom. He pulls the blanket right back before laying me down with my head on the pillow. I watch him with wide eyes as he sits on the bed and lets out an almost audible sigh before he lays on his back.

He puts his arm out and I instantly use it as a pillow, cuddling up to his side. Sleep claims me in minutes and no more dreams about any animal finds me.

Daddy stayed with me all night, and by the next morning, the house was sold and we were moving across the country.