I lingered in the dining room longer than I should've done. Asra had been gone for the rest of the meal, including when the servers came to take the dishes. By the time only a couple dozen people lingered in the dining room, I eventually turned to find Piper. She was busy talking to another man rather animatedly, and I felt bad for wanting to interrupt her.

I did not know where Asra went, but luckily for me, one of his henchmen still lingered. I wrung my fingers together before approaching Everett. His dark brown hair had recently been trimmed to rest in unruly waves to his ears. I assumed it was because of the summer that he cut the extra two inches off. He stood talking to a wolf, his arms crossed as he sternly nodded at the opposition.

When I got close to hearing range, his brown eyes flickered to me before he raised a hand and dismissed the wolf beside him. Stopping a few feet in front of him, I spared a glance at his heated gaze. His eyes ran along my body, narrowing in on the bruising along my jaw. I watched as his jaw clenched, his ears twitching with the movement.

He said nothing, merely watched me with those intense eyes, so I brushed off the intimidation and levelled my gaze with his. His eyebrow quirked with interest, but I kept my face passive.

"Could you please help me find Asra?" I asked.

The eyebrow didn't drop as his eyes darted between my own. A slight nod in reply, and he dropped one of his arms to gesture for me to walk out of the room. I followed the gesture, casting a glance to see Piper watching me curiously from over the shoulder of her friend. I gave her a small smile, shrugging her questions off lazily.

Once in the hallway, I slowed my pace to look up at the Delta with questioning eyes. "Uh..."

"He is in the study. I was going past there; I will show you the way." Everett explained.

His voice was deep, rich, with a slight accent. It complimented his looks rather wonderfully. I nodded, giving him a small thanks as he once again gestured for me to walk forward. Instead of leading the way, he stayed a step behind me, directing me with slight gestures or words down the expanse of hallways. I thought it was curious, the way he controlled the situation, but his colossal form never wavered and took over.

Once outside the study, he stopped in his tracks, looking down at me expectantly.

"Thank you." I murmured.

He nodded once, glancing down at my throat once more before continuing down the hallway. I watched him go, my curiosity greater than ever at this silent, observant male. Turning back to the door, I held my breath as I debated what I was going to do next. My heart raced with nerves, wondering why he even wanted me to follow him.

I raised and dropped my fist about three times before giving in and clutching my hands at my sides. Why can't I just knock? It's not like I was about to die. He just wanted to talk to me, right?

Before I could debate any more, his door swung open.

My eyes widened with surprise, looking up to find his eyes filled with humour. They were deep blue, crinkled at the sides as he smirked down at me. One of his hands wrapped around the top corner of the door, the other holding onto the door frame as he loomed over me.

"Are you going to come in or keep standing here like a lost lamb?" Asra wondered.

I swallowed; eyes too locked in on his muscle to think any clearer. "Okay."

One eyebrow raised with amusement and he pushed away from the door frame to allow me to enter. I scurried inside his study, keeping my eyes locked ahead of me as the brush of his fingers graced my hair.

The door shut softly behind me, his heavy footsteps coming to a stop behind me, causing the hairs on the nape of my neck to stand. His hand came to the middle of my back, pushing me towards a chair. I sat down in it, eager to escape the tantalising touch of his hand. Asra moved around the front of me, leaning against his desk.

I kept my hands clasped together in front of me, looking up at him expectantly. He smirked, crossing his arms and ankles together.

"Yes?"

I narrowed my eyes. "You wanted to talk to me?"

"Yes."

I blinked, dumfounded by his lack of response. "Well? What?"

He snickered. "You sure do not have a filter in that mouth of yours, do you?"

I scoffed. "You say I am infuriating..."

His grin widened, and he uncrossed his legs. "I wanted to confirm with you what I said over dinner."

"About Blake?"

His grin dropped, eyes narrowing. "Don't say his name, Tulip."

Sucking in my lips, I nodded firmly, staying silent.

He sighed, shaking his head. "I did not mention you. I spoke with him about pack misconduct, said that some members were uncomfortable with his presence."

I felt my shoulders relax, my stomach settling slightly. "That's great."

He cocked his head, his nostrils flaring. "You thought I would mention you?"

I shrugged. "You were pretty upset."

"Well, of course I was," He scoffed. "He hurt what is mine."

My heart picked up in pace, my breath hitching with surprise. "What? What is yours?"

His eyebrows narrowed, a rumbling growl sounding through gritted teeth. "Yes."

"Me?"

A pause. A hitched breath. A sigh.

"Yes."

"I am yours?"

"Yes."

Silence.

I was speechless.

But I also felt the annoyance rise in my chest.

With mixed emotion, I levelled my gaze with his, straightening my spine.

"How can I be yours when I do not understand what is even happening?" I challenged.

His upper lip twitched, and he pushed away from the table to lean over me. His hands encased the arms of my chair, his shirt brushing against my forehead. I leaned backwards, my back hitting the curve of the chair, but he only leaned closer. I felt his breath fan my forehead, my lips parting in surprise.

"If you don't understand what is happening, why do you react in such a way?" He breathed, causing me to shiver.

His hand left the arm of the chair, cupping my jaw softly, so I had no choice but to look at his face. I swallowed at the closeness of his face; his swirling eyes, his beautiful lips...

"Tell me you don't feel something for me." He murmured.

My lips quivered, my hands itching to touch him. I could feel my body engulf in flames, wanting nothing more than to feel him, as though his body was the only thing that could calm the fire within. My mouth fell dry, my heart racing as his scent turned my brain to mush.

"I..." I whispered.

"You?"

"I am confused." I admitted, shaking my head.

"Why, flower?" His thumb stroked my cheek.

"I don't understand what is happening anymore." I replied.

"You don't have to understand." He shook his head. "I don't understand sometimes. I never thought I would feel this way towards..."

"Towards?" I cocked my head.

"A human. A species I was raised to hate, and yet, this one little human seems to weave themself into my cracks. I find myself looking for her in every room, wondering what she is doing and I don't know why," He admitted, wincing slightly. "But yet, here I am, staring into the most beautiful blue eyes I have ever seen."

My heart rate quickened, my stomach churning with emotions. My chest felt heavy, unable to uphold the weight of emotion surging in my soul. My lips moved, unable to speak, unable to move from where his night sky eyes had me pinned.

"So, tell me, Tulip, what is it you desire from me?"

What did I desire? What did I desire?

A part of me knew. A part of me didn't.

I wanted him. I wanted his touch, his mouth, his hands, and his mind and soul. A wolf, no less, a creature so feared and fierce, I wondered what was inside. I wanted to crack him open and see beneath the hard shell of his disguise.

But the other part was unsure. His increasing interest was causing my instincts to rise to the occasion. He was a beast, a monster who could kill me with one swipe of his hand. The strange sensations in my body had my adrenaline on high alert. Every time he was near, my body had a mind of its own. The electrifying buzz in my bloodstream made me lightheaded. Even his smell had my head swimming.

Call it magic, drugs, or a weird mate bond, my body was at war with itself. My past relationships were nothing short of a disaster, with both my fiancé and mother.

"Well, Tulip?" He asked.

I licked my lips, my throat aching with the need to answer him. "I don't know."

He sucked in a sharp breath. "I am giving you a vine here, Tulip."

I dropped my eyes, shaking my head. "I don't know what to do... or say."

He grimaced. "I don't understand you either."

"You don't?" It was my turn to frown.

"I don't because I thought we were getting somewhere..." He admitted, leaning away from me. "I thought you understood the mate bond..."

Oh god, he's going to need an answer, anything. Okay, I can do this, I can say... something.

"I do, I do." I nodded. "I just don't understand... myself."

He faltered in moving away, stopping upright, but still right before me.

"I have not had the best... relationships in my life." I admitted. "My motherly relationship is strained. Wolves killed my father and my sister hardly spoke to anyone..."

It was now or never, I thought, staring down at my lap.

"My... fiancé was not the best of people." I continued, causing him to snarl. "Commitment is... hard for me."

"Why is it?" He spat through gritted teeth.

I shrugged. "Well, whenever I thought I had something, someone took it away."

"Like what?"

"My work, my freedom, my childhood..." I breathed deeply. "My free will."

"I am... sorry that you have not had it easy." He admitted. "But you are not there anymore."

My nose wrinkled as I fought off tears. "Maybe not physically."

He sighed, losing some of the tension in his stance as he crouched before me. His hands grabbed mine, and I jerked at the electrifying warmth. It seemed to be stronger, burning up my arms and through my chest, knocking my breath away. My eyes darted up to Asra's with surprise to find his expression softened.

"You feel it, right?"

I nodded a yes.

"It grows stronger the closer we get." He smiled softly.

"I see." I whispered.

This mate bond truly was wonderful. There was something new every time.

"You are mine, Ailia." He growled softly, squeezing my hand. "There is no doubting the bond. It is real and you know it."

I did.

I did know it. I have known it for a while now.

"Well?"

"Huh?" I wondered.

He smirked. "What is it you desire from me?"

That question again. Something so innocent, yet with so many meanings. What did I desire from him? It was simple really, there was a lot, but only one stood out the most to me.

"Time."

"Time?" He cocked his head. "Tulip?"

"I need time."

His eyebrows furrowed, a confused frown erupting on his face. "Okay?"

"I just need to think for a few days."

"I see." He grimaced.

I squeezed his hand this time. "There is a lot to take in."

He sighed. "Something really has messed up our view of me. If it is Blake, then so help-

"No, it's not Blake." I interrupted him. "It's just..."

"Your mother? Your fiancé? Who? Who has hurt you so badly, Tulip? Let me into that head of yours." He pleaded.

I swallowed, shaking my head. "My mind is my own enemy, Asra. Just give me a few days. It's a lot to take in."

I had to think and come to a settlement with myself. I couldn't jump into something with this man, despite how much my body wanted him. My past was restricting me, and I needed to just... think. Or perhaps not think. Perhaps mind-numbness was my best path.

"I'm going to go swim for a bit." I told him. "Okay?"

He nodded, letting go of my hands. "Okay. Don't be out long. I will feel if anything is wrong."

Already so different...

The emotional whiplash was extreme. I just hoped he strapped me in for the ride.