Octavia opened her front door to see her dangerously handsome mate and his deep muted gray eyes staring at her. A look of irritation fresh on his face as he stood in front of her in his old t-shirt and jeans. Her mouth parted slightly in surprise.

Why was he here? In the middle of the night...

"What are you doing here?" She asked. He pushed his way inside rudely and glanced around the cottage. Huffing, she closed the door behind him with an eye roll. Turning to face her mate, she crossed her arms under her chest as she watched him examine her home.

He sniffed the air. She did the same, just to see what exactly he was sniffing out. Finally, he turned around to face her. She arched her eyebrow and cocked her hips.

His eyes roamed her body. She glanced down and realized she had on a yellow tank top and was wearing cupid pajama shorts. Her breasts were clearly pushed up by her arms. Awkwardly, she dropped her hands back to her sides and she adjusted her position.

His eyes left tingling trails down her body as he looked over what she was wearing. She tugged on the hem of her tank top unconsciously over her bare abdomen. Frankly, she was feeling naked in front of him and he was kissing every part of her body with his eyes.

She cleared her throat. "Are you going to answer me?"

Her voice was a little deeper than usual. She lifted her chin slightly and squared her shoulders to give off a little more confidence. Those intense eyes found her face again.

"You left." He pointed out the obvious.

"Yes, well, I wasn't needed." She replied back with a wave of her hand. He watched her and the corner of his lips twitched.

"Oh, you are very much needed." His eyes darkened.

Oh dear, she thought.

He might as well melt her right then and there with those eyes and lips of his because that was how she was feeling. He was making her feel all mushy.

Clearing her throat again, she straightened her back even more. She was convinced she looked like a wooden board at the moment. She was so stiff.

"Alpha-"

Growl.

Ok, she thought. Maksim was showing his displeasure.

"Maksim, I am glad you wanted to seek me out and that you are in need of my assistance, but as you can see it is night time. I was in the middle of going to bed when-" She wanted to point out how rudely he entered her home but decided against it. She wanted him out as quickly as he came.

"I am tired. I hope whatever you need me for can wait." She waved her hand in the air dramatically. She was feigning ignorance to his response. She knew exactly what he meant. At age twenty-nine, it was quite clear her mate needed her in a different way.

Her conscience reminded her of the five little pups sleeping in the cottage. She glanced down the hall and back at him. Now feeling a little cornered. She wasn't ready to tell him. She also didn't want him to disapprove of her decision and drag her away. She would die protecting these pups.

"Please." She pleaded. "Can this wait?"

She saw how her mate's eyebrows furrowed and a look of suspicion flared in his eyes. He glanced behind again towards the bedroom. His lips thinned a little as he started for the bedroom.

In a moment of panic, she moved to grab his arm. She was clutching onto his left forearm.

"You can't go any further. This is my home." She growled.

"And I am your Alpha and mate. I have as much authority as you in this home. We are equals. Your home is my home. Besides, I only want to look around." He said sternly.

He began moving again.

She freaked.

She jumped him. Literally. She wrapped her limbs around his upper body. He had to move his hands to her thighs to prevent her from falling. Turning his head to the side, she could see he was even more confused.

"What are you hiding, солнышко (sunshine)?" He questioned.

"Nothing. Absolutely nothing." She replied. He scoffed and carried them both towards the hallway, not missing a beat. Her grip on him tightened and she scrambled to grab onto his neck and face to turn him to face her.

"Maksim." She cried out in panic. He responded immediately to her panic. His eyes now focusing on her again.

Ok, now to complete distraction.

She smacked her lips onto his. He froze immediately underneath her. She waited. No movement. Just the feel of her lips on his. She prayed for a little confidence before grazing her lips on his, like how he did this morning.

Her eyelids dropped as she gave into the kiss. She heard him make a throaty sound that sounded like a growl and a groan. Her body shifted and she found herself wrapped around his front.

The kiss deepened. She felt his tongue brush lightly against her lips before she parted them and allowed him entrance.

She heard him moan and a second later she felt the cold wall seep through her tank top, onto her back. He had her pressed up against the wall and his hard shaft pressed right at her core. She thought she was putty earlier. Now, she was a mess. She felt an inferno burn inside that was almost uncontrollable. Distantly, she heard a vase shatter as he moved her from one wall to another. Her arms tightened around his neck as she urged him to deepen the kiss.

He was more than compliant as he slanted his head to give them more access.

"Mama?" A small voice tore through her wanton haze. It was like someone doused her in cold water. Pushing Maksim away, she scrambled for him to release her. It took him a moment before he released her. She took a shaky step away from him, but her knees wobbled. She inhaled slowly and fought to steady her feet. She used the wall to bear her weight. Her eyes moving to the voice of Katya, who stood in the hallway with a teddy.

"Mama?" Maksim's eyebrows furrowed even more. He glanced at Katya and then back at her.

She wanted to explain, but Katya started crying. She clutched her teddy to her chest as sobs rocked through her small tiny body. Katya was the youngest of the five. She was only four years old.

"What happened? Did you have a bad dream again?" Octavia asked softly as she dropped to her knees in front of the small girl pup.

"I peed in my jammies, mama." She said shamefully.

Octavia's hand came up to push back strands of Katya's golden blond hair.

"It's okay. How about you head to the bathroom and I will meet you there." Octavia said. Katya nodded and headed for the bathroom. She turned around to face her mate's accusing look.

"You have a pup?" He growled as he moved to grip her arms tightly. She whimpered and struggled out of his embrace. His eyes were dark with rage. His wolf was clearly not happy.

"Maksim, you have to let me explain. I waited for you, but you-"

"And so you went to go sleep with another male?" Maksim accused.

She felt her heart shattering into a million pieces. She shook her head and opened her mouth to speak again, but Maksim was too angry. He shoved her away.

"I can't." He mumbled. "I need to get away."

"W-what do you mean?" She asked and couldn't help the panic rising in her chest.

"I need to get away before I do something I regret. I need time, Octavia." He mumbled his voice strangely lower and hoarse as he fought for control.

She knew he needed to get away. His wolf was going out of control and his human side was going to lose the fight. She watched him dash out the door and into the night. She turned to the bathroom but stopped when she heard a painful howl. The howl of her mate. The cry for their bond. The pain he was feeling.

This was what she was afraid of.