Maksim woke up to hush voices in the living room of his mate's small cottage. A very provocative memory of last night still very clear in his mind, his heart was racing a mile a minute as he remembered just how beautiful Octavia looked underneath him. He spent all night worshipping every sensual curve that was now his.

His.

His eyes looked around the room in search of her but when he saw the broken bed frame and torn pillows he grimaced in guilt. He got a little carried away last night. He remembered he had marked her. Now everyone will know that she was his Luna, his Alpha Female. A possessive and protective surge ran through his veins.

His mind gave him another mental image of her swollen lips and lust filled eyes. It was such a turn on he had to close his eyes tightly to contain his wolf from ripping through the house looking for her.

After a minute, he had to bite the inside of his cheek from the raging desire to find her and drag her back into bed. This feeling was becoming overwhelming and he had just woken up.

He couldn't get enough of her. Deciding that he needed to see her, he got up and took a quick shower and cleaned up. He went back into Octavia's room to get dress. He pulled on his boxers and a pair of black athlete shorts before throwing a loose white tank. He had brought some fresh clothes with him last night.

When he was done dressing, he walked towards the hushed voices. There were a few he recognized right away--his mate, his sister, friends, and the pups.

When he emerged, his heart sped like the rate of time upon seeing his beautiful mate sitting around the five little pups. Around those five little pups were also Antonia, Roman, Darren, and Natalya. His friends gave him knowing looks that caused his mate to blush tremendously.

"I see a hurricane past through this cottage last night." Roman commented smugly. "Look at all the picture frames and the poor table."

Darren chortled immediately and Antonia slapped Roman to stop his teasing. Aleksander looked up completely confused.

"I don't understand. How can a hurricane enter a home and destroy it while everything outside of it is completely fine." He mumbled thoughtfully. "It is not a hurricane. It has to be animal."

"It was an animal alright. A big bad wolf most likely." Darren remarked and the adults in the room chuckled.

"One day you will understand." Roman gave Aleksander a pointed look which earned him another slap behind the head by Natalya.

"Can you stop?" Antonia growled at her shameless mate.

Darren and Roman laughed louder, their eyes crinkling at the corners as they couldn't resist taunting Maksim. Maksim rolled his eyes at his friends before walking over to sit behind his mate. She was kneeling on the floor as they were playing with some toys.

His fingers came up and he brushed aside one side of her hair that covered his mark. His eyes darkened with lust upon seeing it on her flawless skin. He loved seeing the mark on her. His wolf was shooting prideful emotions toward Maksim which Maksim was also feeling. She was finally his.

"You should wear your hair up." He murmured next to her ear and felt her shudder in response. A slow smirk crawled on his face before it got wiped off when he saw that all his friends and sister was all smiling along with him.

"Don't you all have something to do?" He asked with irritation.

"Oh we do but this is just so much more inviting." Natalya replied. "Plus, I have to tell mo-"

"I will tell them when the time is right." Maksim growled at his sister.

She laughed. "But you know our mama. She will be mad at you for waiting too long."

"Antonia has yet to tell Aunt Anna that she also found her mate."

"Hey! Don't turn this on me!" Antonia rebutted.

"You smell different, mama Octavia." Katya pointed out as she played with a doll.

"She smells wonderful." Maksim's hand naughtily grazed her curved back.

Today in particular, Maksim couldn't seem to keep his hands to himself. He liked be near his mate and as well as brazenly brushing her with his scent. Octavia turned around to give him a good 'behave' glare before she effectively moved her way to the other side of the room.

Her eyes met Maksim again and his eyes gleamed with amusement as the corner of his lips lifted. Henrietta and Katya watched the exchange between them in complete puzzlement. Maksim was sure that the girls probably thought that their mama Octavia does not like him but Maksim knew better. He knew he affected his mate and it pleased him to no end.

"Why did we have to go stay with grandma for the last couple of days?" Aleksander asked suddenly.

Octavia glanced back at Aleksander before looking back at Maksim who offered no help in answering.

"Well, you see, I wasn't feeling so well and I didn't want you to catch what I caught." Octavia clearly was shifting uncomfortably and Maksim was fighting off laughter. His shoulders shaking, as a matter of fact, all the Alphas in the room were fighting off laughter.

"Was it bad?" Katya asked clearly concerned.

Maksim could see that Octavia cheeks were heating up so beautifully. He pitied his mate a little and finally put a stop to it.

"She's fine. I took very good care of her." Maksim winked at Octavia who looked like she was about to faint.

All the adults in the room got the implication behind his response. Natalya and Antonia felt bad for Octavia and grabbed a hold of her arms.

"I think that is enough teasing, boys." They defended.

"Yes, you tease now but tonight let's see where you will be sleeping." Antonia glared at Maksim and Roman who immediately snapped their mouths shut.

"C'mon, we were just playing around." Roman started. "Don't be like this."

Antonia clicked her tongue against the roof of her mouth. "Too late. It has already been done. Have fun sleeping together, boys, because you know we will be spending a girls night."

"Girls night!" Katya, Henrietta, and another girl pup by the name of Savannah jumped up feeling giddy about a girl's night.

"Wait, you two are being serious?" Maksim growled, he pushed off from the floor and stood up in attempt to grab a hold of his mate who Natalya yanked away from his grasp. He scowled at her.

It was the women's turn to snicker as they all said in unison. "Yes."

Roman and Maksim looked at their mates as they walked out of the cottage leaving them with their mouths' gaping open. Darren stood between his good friends and slapped them on the back in supportively.

"Good job guys. You two got yourself with no mates to sleep with tonight." He chortled.

Maksim couldn't believe it. The thought of sleeping alone tonight when he could have Octavia's warm, soft body pressed up against his was devastating. He swore internally and wished he hadn't teased her. Sighing in defeat he gave one last longing look at his mate who was being taken from him by his sister and Beta.

He turned to look at Aleksander and the boy pup that looked about Aleksander's age. They both looked up at him.

"I guess tonight it is just us boys." He murmured as he stared longingly at his mate who was walking away with all the girls.

"Yes!" Aleksander shouted.

"Maksim knelt down next to the other pup. "What is your name, pup?"

"Jacob." He answered.

He stood up and faced his day without his mate which didn't look so bright after all. "Well boys, I guess we will have to keep ourselves busy."

**

It was mid-day and the boys managed to keep themselves busy with pack stuff. Aleksander seem to be hyped about all the manly things he has learned. Jacob tagged along just as happily.

"When I grow up I want to be a pack warrior." Aleksander stated.

"Me too." Jacob added into the conversation.

"Is that so?" Maksim commented. "Well then, you should start off your training with me."

Darren and Roman smiled as they too wanted to join in. Soon, the boys pulled off their boredom with a few training, tactics, and fight. It eventually ended with Darren and Maksim fighting each other. A few hours later, the boys stripped free of their shirts under the heat of the sun. Darren was sparing with Roman as Maksim explained what they were doing. Aleksander and Jacob looked at them with clear interest. It made Maksim smile to see such potential in the boys.

"So can anybody challenge an Alpha?" Jacob asked in curiosity.

Maksim nodded. "Anybody can challenge for an Alpha position. There are no exclusions."

"This is amazing!" Jacob jumped on his two feet.

"I don't think we will ever win." Aleksander looked unhappy.

"Well, don't cut yourself short. You are still young but I can see that you will do great." Maksim encouraged him as he moved to ruffle Aleksander's hair. "Besides, not being an Alpha has its perks."

"Like you can do whatever you want." Darren pointed out.

"But Alphas can do whatever they want." Aleksander rebutted in confusion.

Roman chuckled and knocked Darren to the ground before answering. "What we are saying is that you don't have to worry about a large group of people. You can do whatever you want."

"Alpha Roman is right. The duties an Alpha holds is a very heavy one. We have to protect a large number of people. It's scary sometimes." Maksim explained.

Jacob and Aleksander seemed to be absorbing the information. Soon, the boys grew tired of fighting and decided to head to the lake to swim. However, Maksim was missing Octavia terribly. He wondered what she was doing.