With strong arms he embraced her. It felt like forever since they had seen each other. He clung to her and buried his face in her soft, brown hair. He felt her body heat against him like the fiery love he felt for her. He tried so hard to shut everyone out and keep them away, but somehow, she was the one person that had broken the walls he put up around his heart. She brought with her warmth so deep and consuming that he felt his inner demons cower in the darkest part of his heart. She was real. In this very moment, she was the only person in the world, the only person that mattered to him. He loved the way she looked at him with such curiosity and liveliness. No one had ever looked at him like that.

I'm in love.

Thinking those words, the hole that had been left after being betrayed by his family disappeared.

Complete. For the first time in my life, I am complete....but why do I feel sad?

It suddenly dawned on him that this-falling in love with a human-was forbidden. It was wrong.

This will put her in danger.

With every bit of strength and longing he had for her, he pulled away. That was a mistake. Her face looked up at him and shone by the moonlight. Light, glimmering tears ran down her face. She was beaming with relief. His breath caught in his throat. Their eyes met and he quickly looked down, ashamed and terrified. She knew what he was but the thought of saying it, of recognizing the fact that their love was forbidden-the love between a human and a monster-was worse than death. With no words and a heavy heart, he kissed her one last time. The world melted away just like it did the first time they kissed. He felt power and strength surge through him, heightening his senses. Now he could smell everything about her like the soft, crisp smell of the woods she had ran through to meet him and the sharp but pleasant aroma of her favorite shampoo. He heard her heart beating-no, pounding-inside her chest. It sounded like echoing thunder. He felt the goose bumps on her bare skin. She was a nervous and cautious girl, but that's one of the reasons he fell in love with her. She took his breath away. As he expected, she was the first to pull away from their kiss, almost flustered, despite the fact that they had done it many times before. He thought it was cute. He took a deep breath and quietly slipped away, leaving her to stand there in confusion and shock. He couldn't tell her that she might be in danger. He didn't want her to worry. It wasn't that she would worry about her own safety, but she would be concerned for him and his heart shuddered at the thought of making her suffer.

I will watch after her. I swear on my life and on the God above that I will protect her, no matter what.

With that resolution set in his mind, he silently watched over her. Her guardian angel. Her Protector.