Chapter Notes: Caleb's POV

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- 'Looking at all or nothing, babe, it's you & I. . .' -

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     After entering the study, which also acted as our home library as well as a meeting room, I made my way to the furthest end to address my awaiting pack members. The mahogany desk stationed in front of the outswing casement window served as my seat. Immediately and without hesitation, Kane and Chase took their place on either side of me and, together, the three of us faced the awaiting deltas, who were all scattered around the room. It had been a while since a pack meeting had been called, a while since any true concerns needed to be addressed, but it was vital to the balance of the pack that the topic of my mate finally be discussed.

     "Alright, guys. I'm sure that—with Kane's assistance—you are all aware that I have indeed found my mate." I cut straight to the point, had never been one to prolong or drag things out with the pack. Even as a pup, I had very little patience, a fault my mother, even to this day, continuously reminded me of.

     My mother.

     Inside, my wolf cringed at the mere thought of Moira Brandt because I had yet to tell her and my father about finding my mate.

     "What makes you think that I told them anything?" Kane tried to defend himself and even had the audacity to look appalled, causing everybody in the room to laugh.

     I was, in part, joking. I had made Ava-Rain's presence and importance in my life aware to my pack from the moment I had laid eyes on her in that awful club. But, in that moment, all they knew was that she was my mate. Anything else that they might have learned up was most likely sourced out from my eldest beta.

     "You mean, besides the fact that you did?" Chase retorted.

     "Regardless of how you were informed, yes, it is true. Yes, I have found my mate. Yes, her name is Ava-Rain, and yes, she is human." The human part they already knew, but, still, that had not deterred my eyes from scanning over my deltas. Although they were trained at keeping their emotions masked and their thoughts shielded, I was certain that their own memories of the past—of a certain human in particular—haunted them as thoroughly as they still haunted me.

     "She is mine, and with every second that passes my connection with her only strengthens and my feelings for her only intensify. Denying her is not a possibility and, therefore, will never become a reality. I say this because, despite my firm belief that none of you—all of whom I consider my brothers—would reject or deny Ava-Rain as my mate, it is still something that has to be addressed. Your opinions matter a great deal to me; you are all blood of my blood. So I must ask, do any of you have an issue with Ava-Rain being my mate?"

     My eyes roamed over each one of my deltas, reading their expressions and assessing their body language. As wolves, being able to read body language was a necessity as much as it was a natural instinct. To be able to read another's body language was important; one quick sweep over another could easily convey whether or not somebody was a friend or foe, or if they were being honest or dishonest.

     "Brother," Harrison, my eldest delta, who had been stationed in front of the floor-to-ceiling bookshelf on the left side of the room, stepped forward. "You really think that we'd care if she was human or wolf? Hell, I care more about the hundred dollars I lost to Stryder for betting that you wouldn't find your mate for at least another couple of decades."

     Everybody in the room, including myself, laughed. "Twenty years? Really?" I glanced at both Kane and Chase, noting their lowered gazes and smirks. "Before I continue," I slid off the desk and walked until I was a foot or so in front of my betas, "are there any other bets concerning my love life that I should know about?" With smiles on their faces, they all shook their heads.

     Yeah, right. Pack of liars.

     "I was not able to tell my mate about this life in the way that I had hoped," my eyes narrowed in on the twins, who were standing on the right side of the room next to the spiral staircase that led to the upper level of the library. "But for some reason that I will probably never understand, Ava-Rain accepted me, accepted my life, and as you are all an extension of me, she has accepted you as well. She knows the very basics of our kind and our history and, for now, that is all that I wish for her to know. Meaning, she is not yet aware of any of the threats that we face. Again, I say this because your acceptance of her is an acceptance of those threats turning into much bigger ones."

     For months, the whispers of the yellow had every mixed blood pack in the north on high alert. The pure bloods—the most unruly, hateful, and unforgiving of all wolves—have been investigating the north on claims that mixed bloods have been taken humans, who have not been granted to them by Luna, as mates. Of course, you might wonder why pure bloods would ever give a damn about what mixed bloods were doing. In their eyes, we were nothing more than an abomination and whatever we did in our spare time certainly did not conjure any feelings of concern from them. But if there was one thing that pure bloods cared most about, it was power. And it had been granted to them by the very system that was suppose to protect us: The Council.

     The Council was, essentially, a panel made up of eighteen of our kind; ten mixed bloods and eight pure bloods. In short, their purpose is to maintain the balance between our world and the human world, and they are able to achieve this balance by making laws and ensuring that those laws are upheld. To ensure the balance, they had contracted the pure bloods and labelled them as 'cleansers of our world', which was just a sugar-coated load of crap that meant that we were theirs to do with as they pleased. Force us into submission. Force us into forfeiting our territories. Exterminate. As long as the ultimate goal of maintaining the balance was achieved, The Council could care less about how it was achieved.

     With the investigations ceasing the north, many packs had gone underground to avoid run-ins with the pure bloods. But there was only so far that you could run and so little places in which to hide. They say that if you have nothing to hide, then why even bother to run? If you weren't guilty, then why not stay and prove your innocence? It seemed like simple logic, but, unfortunately, our world was not so black and white but flooded with areas of grey. Council laws stated that every human mate had to be delivered to The Council and assessed in order to prove the authenticity of the relationship. In theory, it was not an unfair request-I understood the importance of maintaining the balance better than most-but in reality, it was unjust and completely ridiculous, nothing more than The Council trying their hand at becoming Big Brother.

     Being a pack of mixed bloods, the threat of being visited or detected by the pure bloods was a very real possibility. Although being a small pack could potentially work in our favour by allowing us to fly under their radar, the fact that Ava-Rain—a human—was mated to me—an heir of the four—further complicated an already complicated situation. I could not bring her to The Council because to do so would mean revealing myself to them as well.

     "You are my betas and deltas, but, more importantly, you are my brothers. I would sacrifice my life for you without a second thought and I know that you would all do the same for me. But Ava-Rain is just as important to me. I will not deny her and I hope that you won't either. I hope that you are all willing to fight for her as readily as you would for me. Threat or no threat, she stays. So, what's it going to be, boys?"

     Simultaneously, they all made their way to the front of the room and assembled themselves in a horizontal line with their heads lowered. At one end of the line, stood Harrison. Without delay, I walked over and stopped directly in front of him. "Harrison?"

     He looked up and offered a single nod, nothing more or less required. Next to Harrison stood Stryder, my second eldest delta. Next to him, Tommy, the third eldest. Beside Tommy, stood Rickon, and then Declan, my youngest deltas. As I did with Harrison, I did the same with the rest of them. In response, each member nodded, a confirmation of their acceptance.

     Satisfied, I retreated to my previous spot in front of my betas. "I haven't decided when to introduce Ava-Rain to you guys, but when I do, it will be when I know she's ready. For now, it's essential that I spend as much time with her as possible and continue to lead her into our world. As a result, I may not be at the den as much as I typically am. So in my absence, Kane and Chase will be handling most pack issues. I'm sure I don't need to remind you that they are your superiors. Nothing other than respect should be given and shown to them.

     "Now, before you're dismissed, I just want to let you know how much I appreciate your acceptance of Ava-Rain. I didn't expect anything less, but it still means a lot." The words were never truer. My pack had given up a lot for me, protecting secrets that would damn us all if they were to be revealed. "For those of you connected to the yellow" my eyes quickly flashed over Harrison and Stryder, "keep your ears open. For all of you, remember that we back down from no foe, but right now we need to be on our guard."

     On that note, my deltas were dismissed, with the exception of the twins. And upon my request, Kane and Chase stayed behind as well. I walked over to my two youngest deltas, arms crossed over my chest. Both of their gazes lowered the ground and their hands, in perfect unison, tied behind their backs.

     "Which one of you would like to explain to me what the hell was going on yesterday?" The only reason I had brought Ava-Rain to the den was because of the call I had received from Chase, informing me that there was some drama going on with the twins and that it was getting out of control.

     They both remained silent, probably expecting the other to speak first.

     "Are either of you able to comprehend that it only takes a split second for us to lose control? A split second is long enough for us to do something that we can't ever take back. Yesterday, all of that nonsense, it's unacceptable. Do you understand? Whatever issues that you two have going on, you better find a way to work them out. I mean it. You are brothers. You bleed the same blood. You are both heirs of the red and green. You are not pups anymore.

     "I chose both of you to be my deltas for a reason, but that doesn't mean that I will continue to allow you two to be a part of this pack if this ridiculous sibling rivalry continues. You are aware of the whispers of the yellow. You are aware of the possibility of the pure bloods bringing trouble on our territory, and I am sure that you are aware that my finding my mate just might seal the deal. So I need you both to be focused. I need you both at your best. I need the both of you to suck it up or, so help you Luna, both of your titles will go from delta to omega. Understood?"

     In unison, they both said 'yes'. It was the first time in a while they both actually agreed, though it wasn't like they had much of a choice to do otherwise. Despite their age, Rickon and Declan were two of the smartest and toughest wolves I had ever had the pleasure of knowing. For wolves of mixed blood, it was rare to conceive and carry more than one pup at time, yet both Rickon and Declan had managed to make it out of their mother's womb unscathed.

     The twins harboured a connection unlike any other connection between siblings. But instead of basking in that connection, instead of using it to solidify their natural bond, they both rejected it and, ultimately, each other. But during those times they did use it-those very rare times-the beauty of both of them moving and breathing as one was truly a sight to behold. A sight that any foe should hope to never witness.

    As they headed for the door, I called out to Declan, which caused both twins to stop and turn. "Declan, when you positioned yourself in front of Ava-Rain yesterday, you maintained a protective stance. Why?" It was not lost on me what Declan had done. When Rickon—always the curious cat—had approached Ava-Rain, it was to assess, not to attack. Yet Declan has secured a position in between Ava-Rain and his brother, warning him to back off. My delta's act of protection was unexpected, but was, nonetheless, appreciated.

     Declan's gaze immediately lowered to the floor, and I could only assume that he expected to be reprimanded. "I—you carried her scent, so I knew that she must have been yours. I mean, with you—that she was your mate. I just felt the need to. . .protect her."

     "I wasn't going to attack her, idiot." Rickon added.

     "But you were scaring her." Declan angrily replied to his brother.

     Declan had always been the more perceptive of the two. It hardly surprised me that he had made the connection between Ava-Rain and myself, that he picked up on the fact that I carried her scent just as she carried my own. From the night of their birthday, my deltas had only been told that I had found my mate. They had not actually seen her, nor did I point her out to them since they had been otherwise occupied with their partying. But, within seconds, Declan had not only figured it out, but took it upon himself to protect Ava-Rain.

     "Enough! Did you two actually listen to what our alpha just said?" Kane spoke, the irritation evident in his tone. Both twins stopped immediately and their gaze lowered to the floor once more.

     "Thank you, Declan. And you should know, Ava-Rain is quite fond of you. If I remember correctly, she referred to you as 'the beautiful, light grey wolf'." My own wolf scoffed at the memory. At some point last night, Ava-Rain had recalled the scene, wondering if Declan had actually been protecting her or if she had imagined the whole thing.

     Declan lifted his head and released a shy smile before nodding once. I returned the smile, knowing just how much Ava-Rain's words of praise meant to my youngest delta. For once, even if only for a moment, Declan would not be overshadowed by his brother. I would give him his moment, not only because he earned and deserved it, but because he needed it.

     "Alright, you two can go."

     After they exited the room, I turned to face my betas. Before I even had a chance to say anything, Kane stepped forward. "Those two need to be put in line, Caleb. You've always had a soft spot for them, but they need to be conditioned."

     "I've never once doubted their ability to hold their place in this pack, Kane. If I did, they would certainly not be my deltas. Believe that, brother. They earned their position, just as you, Chase and the others did. Nothing was handed to any member of this pack, and, quite frankly, I'm more irritated than offended at your implication otherwise. Is there something to be said, Kane?"

     I always respected Kane and Chase for their honesty, their capability of speaking their mind when a problem surfaced and their refusal to only say what they thought I wished to hear. I may have been their alpha, but my betas always had the pack's best interest at heart. So whenever one of them spoke up, it was never their intention to denounce or challenge my authority, but, in fact, to ensure that my authority remained in tact.

     Like I said, no title had ever been handed out and that goes for my own title as alpha. I had earned it, fought for it, but I never would have achieved it were it not for the challenges that I faced along the way. Kane and Chase, even as pups, had always challenged me, not to spite me but to better me. There were certain lessons that adults could not teach you, lessons that could only be taught by your friends. Loyalty was one of them. The title as alpha meant nothing if, at the end of the day, the pack that you surrounded yourself with and built yourself upon did not have your back, front, and blindsides.

     "They need discipline, Caleb. They're great wolves, but they're horrible at being brothers. This pack, it's a brotherhood, is it not? They trigger each other and not in a good way. Rickon's full of the red; Declan seems to bring it out of him. Rickon knows how to use it, but he needs to learn how to control it and stop allowing himself to be controlled. And Declan, that kid gets stuck in the green whenever Rickon's around. He closes off and shuts down. He's stuck in a constant state of self-doubt and inadequacy. It's so damn depressing but it's also worrisome."

     "I'm sure we all thought that they'd grow out of it," Chase added, "but it only seems to be getting worse. They're destructive around each other. If we don't intervene, we'll lose two great, but potentially amazing, wolves. Brothers."

     I hated to admit but they were both right. The innocent sibling rivalry had evolved into something possibly destructive if left unaddressed. "We need to split them up. I doubt their connection is completely lost. Hopefully time apart will revive it. Kane, you will take Rickon." He nodded in acceptance. Kane was an heir of fire and air, so he would have been perfect for Rickon. "Teach him how to control the red. Chase," I looked to my beta, who happened to be an heir of water and earth, "you will take Declan and work on the green." He,too, nodded. "And every now and then I will take them individually and together."

     "You already have your hands full with Ava-Rain. Kane and I can take care of them if you want to spend more time with her for a while."

     I shook my head at Chase's statement. "My pack is just as important. Besides, I see no way of putting off introducing Ava-Rain to the pack for much longer anyway, despite what I said earlier. Taking the twins under my wing every now and then couldn't hurt."

     "When should we start?" Kane spoke.

     "As soon as possible. Trouble will come knocking, and when it does, we will answer. But before that time comes, we need to ensure that this pack is decent before opening the door. We need to be focused. We need to be solid. We need to be one. We need to be ready."

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     Was it too egotistical and narcissistic of me to expect that upon my return to the condo, I would be greeted at the door by my mate? Too outrageous and far fetched to actually expect to be ravished by Ava-Rain's mouth, overpowered by her body, and kissed into oblivion? Obviously, it was, because when I entered the condo, I was met not by my mate but by silence.

     Ava-Rain was gone.

     My wolf awakened immediately and he was not only angered but worried. I pulled out my phone and informed my betas of Ava-Rain's disappearance as I rushed out of the condo and straight to the elevator. They did not need to ask in order to know that I was calling a hunt.

     "Find a trail," I ordered. "Call me immediately when you do."

     Once I reached the lobby, my heart was pounding and my frazzled mind was racing as I tried to remember exactly what she was wearing, the names of her friends, our earlier conversation and if she had alluded to leaving. I was fighting a losing battle to not shift right then and there, not giving a damn about any witnesses. Half way to the lobby door, the darkness that had been slowly taking over my body-a sure sign that my wolf was taking the reins-began to recede upon the sight of Ava-Rain as she stepped inside the building. Both my wolf and I released a sigh of relief, but our anger was far from retreating.

     As I charged my way over to her, I called my betas and informed them that I had found Ava-Rain and rejected their offer to come over. The moment I hung up, Ava-Rain's eyes found mine. She released that Luna-damned smile of hers, but it soon faltered when she realized that I had no intention of returning the gesture. When I reached her, I grabbed her hand and, without saying a single word, pulled her towards the elevator. Perhaps I should have slowed down enough for her to find a comfortable pace, but I was entirely too focused on getting her back inside the comfort of our condo as quickly as possible.

     The elevator seemed to have taken hours to open, but once it did I made her enter first and followed closely—very closely—behind her. When the doors closed and the elevator began to ascend, half way to our floor I pushed the emergency stop button and waited until it came to a complete halt before turning to face her. Slowly, I backed her into the back wall of the elevator. I placed my hands on it, on either side of her head, trapping her between my outstretched arms.

     Our closeness did have some effect on my anger, but it wasn't enough to deter it completely. I knew finding Ava-Rain would be a challenge. I knew that she would be my ultimate test. But I was in no way ready or prepared to become enslaved so fast. Already, I lived and breathed for her. If she was not within my direct line of sight or within arms length, I could never find myself content or at peace. And if the internal torment I had just endured moments prior was any indication, I think that it was pretty safe to say—or confirm—that there was not one shred of doubt that Ava-Rain was the missing half to my whole. My sanity. My peace. My logic. Without her, I would crumble. Without her, I would only be a fragment. Without her, I would go insane.

     "I told you to stay put, did I not?" She opened her mouth to say something, but she must have changed her mind because she only nodded instead. "I don't say these things for the sake of wanting to sound like a chauvinist, Ava-Rain. I say them to protect you. To keep you safe."

     "Safe from what exactly?" Her eyebrows raised. "I went for a walk and I came back, Caleb. So, tell me, if this condo is so dangerous and I can't even step out into civilization without being reprimanded like a child, then why am I here? Because it seems to me that I've only ever been in danger or needed protection after meeting you."

     I could see the anger bubbling in her eyes. Hell, I could feel it radiating off of her body. I'm sure in her eyes, going out 'for a walk' was hardly a big deal, but to me, it was.  But there was no possible way for her to understand that. How could she?

     "You're right," I said matter-of-factly. Dropping my arms to my side, I pulled away from her and pushed the emergency stop button again for the elevator to resume.

     She was right. I may not have asked for this, but neither did Ava-Rain. If I had not sought her out in that stupid club then I would not have had any reason to talk to her. If I had not talked to her, then I wouldn't have touched her. And if I had not touched her, the rogue wolf in the forest would not have tracked her to the forest because of my scent that still lingered on her.

     But I had sought her out. I had talked to her. Touched her. And if it had not been the rogue wolf, then it surely would have been another. I may have only just gotten her, but my enemies I have had since I exited my mother's womb. Enemies that could never be turned into allies simply because of the blood that flowed through my veins. If those enemies even caught a whiff of Ava-Rain drenched in my scent, if they even found out that she existed, they would seek her out to get to me. But I'd be damned before I let them touch one hair on my mate's head.

    When the elevator reached our floor and the doors opened, I allowed her to step out first, but maintained an unreasonably close distance behind her. When we reached our door, she pulled out her key to let us in. Once inside, she walked off towards the bedroom and I headed to the kitchen with all intention of simply giving her space. I shrugged my jacket off-while repeating over and over in my head that I was not going to apologize under any circumstance-but just as I was going to toss it on the breakfast bar, a white paper laying on top of it caught my attention. I picked it up and scanned over the neat writing I could rightfully assume belonged to Ava-Rain. It read:

Out for a walk. Promise I won't leave the building!

— Ava-Rain

     I am not going to apologize.

     I shook my head, tossed the note back on the counter and waited for the mental beat down I was, without a doubt, going to receive by my own mind. I swear the note had not been there before, right? I swear that I had scanned over every inch of the condo. Had I not? Any logical person would have looked for a note. Any logical person would not have jumped to the worst possible conclusion when evidence had been so clearly displayed in front of them like a damned beacon of light.

     I am not going to apologize.

     As I shackled myself in preparation for my internal ass kicking, Ava-Rain entered the kitchen with her arms crossed over her chest. "Oh, look. A note!"

     I smirked at her sarcasm. There would be no harsher punishment than having to live life without that sassy mouth of hers.

     I am not. . .going to. . .apologize. . .

     "You drive me insane, you know that?" I turned and slowly backed her against the counter, trapping her as soon as her body made contact with the granite. "Heir of the four elements, alpha of my pack, and my sanity is in the hands of a girl destined to torment me for eternity."

     Yet, I would not have traded her for the world.

     "Stupid little girl, isn't she?" Ava-Rain replied.

     I shook my head. "On the contrary. She knows how to get to me. She's very tactful, destined to test and torment me to no end." I lowered my head and brushed my lips against her cheek before burying my head in her neck. When I felt her arms wrap around my neck, I placed my lips against her warm skin, immediately allured by the rhythm of her pulse.

     "She sounds like trouble. Maybe more trouble than she's worth." Her voice had become softer, almost like a whisper, definitely not as confident.

     "I like a challenge. I welcome challenges. Especially the ones that come from troublesome, little girls who seek to destroy me. Do you know the kind?" I pulled my head away slightly to look into her eyes. "If so, I would greatly appreciate it if you would point me in the direction of one."

     Her fingers began their playful yet gentle game of tug of war with my hair. "I could, but, sadly, it will cost you. The people around her tend to have to give things up for her. How much are you willing to lose for this girl?"

     My hands found their place on her waist but the red burned for more. "I'd bet it all on this girl because I know that the return will be greater than the investment. I know what she needs and I'm willing to give it all to her, but only if she's willing to accept it. And, of course, I would need something from her. Would should be willing to negotiate?"

     The duel between her fingers and my hair ceased, and I felt her body tense ever so slightly. "She's a tough one. It might solely depend on your request."

     Sensing that she was going to pull away at any moment, I lifted her onto the counter, nudged her legs apart and stepped in between them. She was not going to run from me. Not now and, I certainly hoped, not ever. "I want her heart. I don't expect it freely. I don't want it to be given without a care or second thought. I don't want pieces or fragments. I want her whole heart. I want it truly. I want it forever. I want it only if it's willing to be given."

     A soft smile escaped her mouth as her gaze lowered. "That's a big request."

     "Yes, it is. So if you could kindly relay the message to her as soon as possible, I would forever be indebted to you. She will need time and, lucky for her, I have learned to become a reasonably patient guy over the past couple of days. However," I lifted her chin with my finger, locking our eyes once again, "do make sure to tell her that I will come to collect. That's a promise," I paused  for only a fraction of a second before adding, "an alpha's promise." I kissed her then, my mouth moving against hers with a sense of urgency and giving her the best apology that words would have only failed to convey.

     Fear was an emotion I had not felt in a very long time, but its caress was something I would never forget. When I walked in to the condo to find Ava-Rain missing, my old acquaintance did not waste anytime hitting me where I had once hurt the most, reviving dead and buried scars. Fear was right on my tail and its visit, I can only assume, would not be brief nor friendly. But if fear was going to make me its bitch, I was not going to give into it without putting up one hell of a good fight.

     I painfully dragged my mouth away from hers, only to reconnect them through a series of soft pecks. "Chick flicks and ice cream?" I mumbled against her mouth, referencing one of the many punishments I had to endure to earn Ava-Rain's forgiveness.

     She laughed and, as always, in response I smiled. My arms tightened around her body and her legs wrapped around my waist. "I've trained you well," she said admirably, an exaggerated look of pride plastered on her face. "I think I just might keep you after all."

     "Yeah?" I lifted her off of the counter and headed in the direction of the bedroom.

     "Yup," she whispered and buried her head in my neck. The moment she pressed her lips against my neck, the very little bit of self-control I had left began to dwindle. Every screw and bolt shook lose, my wolf was determined to break free from its confinements.

     Would it have been so bad to let him out? To give him what we both wanted-to bathe in Ava-Rain's scent and drown her in our own? Even if just for a little bit?

     I laid her on the bed and wasted no time in reconnecting our mouths. If I was crushing her, Ava-Rain certainly made no protests of discomfort. My hand wormed its way underneath the hem of her shirt and over her stomach. My mouth parted from hers to begin working on its previously started masterpiece on her neck. Every nip of her skin enticed a moan out of her, and with every moan she released, I nipped and sucked on her neck a bit harder.

     Once finished with the love bite, my mouth travelled from her neck, down her chest to her midriff, and stopped just above the waistband of her jeans. I snuck a glance up at Ava-Rain, and the sight of her with her eyes closed, head thrown back and lips parted in pleasure, was one that I would commit to memory. It was something I needed to see, a confirmation that I needed to have. Ava-Rain was not going anywhere, not because I wouldn't allow it but because she would never choose to leave. Fear could work its hardest by plotting my destruction, corrupting my mind and unleashing the demons I had shackled in the abyss, but it could never conquer the concrete fact that Ava-Rain was not going anywhere.

     I slid back up her body and kissed her. I wanted to capture every moan, for they were mine and mine alone. Mine to cause. Mine to hear. Mine to claim. "You're mine, Ava-Rain," I whispered, touching my forehead to hers.

     "Always," she whispered back.

     "Always."

     Always.

     I had never been so happy and annoyed to hear that one word. Because as much as I would have loved to continue showing my mate just how mine she was, the logical side of me latched onto that one word and began to slowly force the red into submission. Always meant that we had time. Always meant that there was no need to rush. Always meant to take things slow.

     Damn the yellow.

     "Then can you do us both a favour and stay put for the next five minutes?"

Five minutes for me to calm down. Five minutes to remember that I am no longer a pup. Five minutes to forget how warm your body is, how sweet your lips taste, how inviting your eyes are and how enticing your scent is.

"Please?"

     She released an overly dramatic sigh. "Sure."

     I lowered my mouth onto hers and gave her a quick kiss because once you fell into the trap of lingering you were as good as gone. "Thank you." I slid off of her then the bed and headed out of the bedroom to make my way back to the kitchen. I called on the green and its power of stability to keep the red at bay, much to my wolf's dislike. He wanted his mate and had absolutely no interest in my reasoning for keeping them apart. I did not doubt that while he sulked over being forced into submission, he plotted my demise.

      When five minutes passed, Ava-Rain walked into the kitchen just as I picked up the note that still laid on the bar. I re-read it and smirked before looking up to meet her gaze. "By the way, you did in fact leave the building. I'll be sure to collect for that broken promise." I folded the paper and stuffed it into my pant pocket before turning to the fridge. "Anything in particular you want for dinner?"

     "I only left because I saw Jennifer down in the lobby and practically had to chase her down. Well, I left the apartment after a not so great conversation with my grandmother took place first, then left the lobby after spotting Jennifer. And no, nothing in particular. Not that you have much to choose from anyway. Really, Caleb, I was tempted to go grocery shopping."

     I turned to face her, puzzled by the bit of information she had just revealed. Even my wolf, deep down in his confinement, had stirred. "You what?"

     "I was tempted to go shopping—"

     "You saw your friend? Here?"

What could Ava-Rain's best friend, who also happened to be one of my deltas' girlfriend, possibly be doing in this particular building? None of my pack members lived here. Kane and Chase were the only people that ever really came to the condo, so it was absolutely impossible that Rickon would have been the reason for Jennifer's appearance.

"Does she live here?"

     I already knew that she did not. I had known exactly where she lived because I had made a trip to her residence after being driven insane with the need to find Ava-Rain. But I knew for a fact that Ava-Rain had not talked to Jennifer since the night at the club, so she had not been made aware of any ties between her friend and I.

     "No, she's still living at home with her parents." She took a seat on top of the bar. "When I did manage to catch up to her, she said that she was visiting a friend. We didn't really get a chance to talk because she seemed pretty determined to leave. Because, you know, heaven forbid somebody waste her precious life. But I guess I sort of deserved it. I haven't talked to her in almost a week. Either way, it's still pretty fishy if you ask me, you know? She didn't even seem at all curious as to why I was here. We can order in if you want."

     "Why do you say that?"

     "Because you have no food, Caleb."

     "I meant when you said about running into Jennifer being 'fishy'? Why is that?"

     "Jennifer isn't the type to go out of her way to visit somebody, not even a friend, especially if that friend lives across town. In her world, everybody caters to her, you know? I don't know, I guess I just found it a bid. . .odd? But people change, right?" She asked, but her gaze had lowered and her voice had softened.

     I sensed the shift within my mate and knew that any and all discussion of this friend would have to cease. However, I made a mental note to ask Rickon about his girlfriend later. For some reason, I just could not fight the feeling in my gut that something had been off. Like I said, Ava-Rain had not been in contact with Jennifer, which ruled out the possibility that maybe Ava-Rain had mentioned where she was currently living. Not even their friend Kasey knew the truth of Ava-Rain's location, so that, too, was a ruled out possibility. It could very well end up being nothing more than a mere coincidence, but there would be no harm in confirming it at some point.

*   *   *

     "So, how many members do you have in your pack?" Ava-Rain asked after finishing her slice of pizza.

We had decided to order in because, as she consistently liked to remind me, my place was lacking in the food department. As we waited for the delivery—and after she made me promise to take her grocery shopping the next day—the night was opened up to questions about myself and my pack. I had tried to get her to open up about the conversation she mentioned earlier with her grandmother, but respected her request not to talk about it.

     The sun had set a while ago and we both found comfort in the moon light that filled the dark apartment. I took the paper plate from her hands and placed it on top of my own before placing both beside me on the couch. "I'm not too sure how familiar you are with the basics of wolf packs, but there is a sort of hierarchy system. At the top-in reference to my own pack-you have your alpha male, the leader. Under him falls his second in command, or in my case, seconds; the alpha's betas. Kane and Chase, you've met them both. Betas are typically the most loyal to the alpha. Not to take anything away from the other members, but they are the most trusted and closest to the alpha, and in his absence, they handle all pack matters.

     "Under the betas are the deltas, also trusted and loyal members of the pack. They're sort of like betas-in-training. Their orders typically come from the alpha but it's not out of order for the betas to command them. You've met two of my deltas, although they were in wolf form at the time. The darker grey wolf was Rickon." I watched her, wondering if I would have seen a flicker of recognition at the mention of Rickon's name, seeing as her friend, Jennifer, was his current girlfriend. But his name did not seem to ring any bells, which could have only meant that she didn't know him. "And the lighter grey wolf-the one that you were so fond of-that was Declan. They're the twins."

     "You make me sound like some lovestruck school girl," she laughed.

     "I hope not. Not for him, anyway." My wolf stirred in agreement. Of course, I knew that Declan posed no threat, but the natural instinct to protect what was mine would never decrease.

     "Boys," she shook her head and rolled her eyes. "Continue," she said as I lifted her legs so that they rested on my lap.

     "Under the deltas, you have sentinels, who are sort of like patrollers or guards. And, lastly, you have your omegas. They are, I guess you can say, at the bottom of the totem pole. Many view them as the least trusted and least loyal pack members; the babysitters of the pups in some cases. It sounds a little harsh, but in every pack—wolf or human—you, at least, have that one member that you wouldn't trust your secrets with. That's what omegas are. But within my pack, the rankings stops after the deltas. You would typically find some of those other ranks in larger packs."

     "Is that something you hope to have one day? A larger pack, I mean."

     My hand, which had been slowly rubbing her legs, stilled. To be honest, I had thought about what it would be like to expand my pack and territory. My father had once been the alpha of his pack and it had been a much bigger than mine. All of my betas and deltas were born from members of that pack, making us family in the only way that mattered, even if we did not share the same blood. But hoping and wishing for something that could never be, I had learned long ago, was pointless.

     "It would be nice, but I'm content with my pack. They know me better than anybody else could ever know me. They're all I need. But, anyway, you also have your pups—the babies, younger wolves, and teens—and your elders, who are not given a specific position in the pack, but are indeed a part of it. And, just in case you were wondering, no, we're not sexist; my pack just happens to be made of all males simply because none of my betas or deltas have been granted their mates.

     "Despite your ranking, despite your age, a pack is a family and every member plays a key role in that family. The ranks are essential to keep order, but I try to remind my pack that we are all equals. I may be an alpha, but I am nothing without my pack. I am not better than them. I was simply given a role that I was chosen by Luna to fulfill. My title means nothing if I don't have a pack to lead. I respect each and every member of my pack and, in return, I give them a leader that they never have to second guess giving their respect to."

     "There's no doubt that you love your pack."

     I looked Ava-Rain directly in the eyes in that moment. "I would die for any one of them, just as I would kill for any one of them." She may or may not have been comfortable with my admission, but she needed to know that the life that I lived inevitably came with choices and decisions that were not always the easiest to make. "I can't change who I am or what I was born into, nor would I ever. I cannot force you to accept me or my life, but I do hope that you can understand it, as much as your mind and your heart will allow."

     "I would never want to change who you are, Caleb. Everything you are is all that I know, and everything I know is what I've grown to care for. You've already killed for me."

     I turned my head. It was not something that I had ever verbally confirmed with Ava-Rain, but she wasn't stupid. She knew the lengths that I had gone to protect her. Even if it had not been spoken about, she knew I had killed the wolf that attacked her. "Yes."

     "There's nothing wrong with protecting the people you care about. I would never try to change that or anything about you, Caleb." She sat up and took my face in her hands. "Even if you did kidnap me—and get me kicked out—and coerce me into throwing caution to the wind by running off and shacking up with you—and made me disobey my best friend's warning to stay away from you—you are who you are, and who you are is exactly who I'm falling for."

     I smiled, leaned in until our heads touched and closed my eyes. "I don't think you realize just how good it feels to hear you say that, Ava-Rain." I had fallen the moment I had laid my eyes on her, even if I was too stubborn, stupid and scared to accept the truth at the time. "Now, would you mind repeating that declaration, word for word, this Friday night?" I pulled my head away slightly to look at her.

     "What?" Confusion washed over her face. "Why?"

     "Because on Friday you will officially be meeting the pack," I grabbed her hands from my face and tied her arms around my neck, "and my parents."

* * * *

Authour's Note: OMG! Over 3K reads & over 200 votes? You all are so ridiculously awesome! Thank you so, SO much for all of the love & support! :)