---Benji's POV---

Vaughan was nowhere to be found. Anders had searched the entire island for the man's life force but found nothing, which stumped us all. There was no way that sly snake had managed to escape the island so something else had to be the cause of his mystery disappearance.

I had already voiced my worries at the possible involvement of the wolves. The timing of their arrival was too precise, as if someone  from outside the island was trying to get his hands on my mate.

The thought made my margay hiss sharply as a strong sense of possessiveness rushed through my body. Anders was mine. I didn't care if he was a hybrid but surely some shifters would take a notion of his natural power and abilities.

I mean, I could already list several main figures of the Redwood Pack who would be very interested in having a powerful hybrid under their control. Not only would it stroke their egos to have a supernatural under their command, they would more likely than not use Anders' powers to wipe out other communities, adding territory and treasures to their own possession.

A sigh slipped from my lips as I stood before the window, watching the sun make its lazy path in the sky before it would disappear behind the ocean. All this presuming and plotting was making my stomach spin and I didn't feel like going outside to face the numerous inmates that wanted nothing more than use me to weasel their way to the top of the islands' hierarchy.

A sudden slam of the door and an overwhelming presence looming in the doorway made me react on instinct. I spun around and grabbed the nearest object, which so happened to be a metallic picture frame, and hurled it at the man standing in the doorway.

Vane seemed hardly impressed as the picture frame bounced of his massive chest, causing hardly any damage. His icy blues pinned me down, a hint of amusement flickering through them before he nodded.

"Nice reflexes and good aim. Though next time, I'd pick up something with a bit more weight to throw at a possible assailant. Nothing is more terrifying than a scared margay throwing picture frames at your face." Vane sneered, though I could tell by the twitch in his lip it was more a teasing jab than anything.

I rolled my eyes and settled the marble ornament down. "At least I'd given you a small headache if I smashed this against your skull." Vane snorted, eying the statue before he scoffed. "As if. You do need to remember shifters have remaining qualities of their shifts. Tossing such a bauble to a wild polar bear would just piss it off."

That thought made me gulp because I didn't want to imagine a bear of Vane's size going on a rampage in an attempt to rip my throat out. Or worse.

"Heads up squirt."

I blinked, looking up before groaning as the picture frame collided with my forehead. "What was that for?" I grumbled while rubbing over the sore spot. Vane chuckled while leaning against the door. He didn't respond, just smirked and glanced to the side when an angry growl rumbled through the room.

"Go bother your own mate, bear."

Said bear snorted, rolling his eyes as he pushed off the doorframe, bumping his shoulder quite harshly against Anders' on the way out. "Maybe you should keep a better eye on your own mate, Hybrid. Inmates can just waltz in this place like they own it and soon enough, one of em is going to try something."

I gulped at the thought but Vane was right. Even if most of the inmates held a deep respect for Anders, the fear they had for Vaughan could be more lethal than anything. Judging from the stories, Vaughan didn't fight fair and if he got his hands on an inmates' mate, he'd use them as leverage.

Squinting my eyes against the sunlight, I scanned the surface of the ocean until I spotted a small boat, bobbing on the waves without direction.

"Is that the raft the wolves used to get on the island?"

Anders stepped up behind me, resting his chin on my head before humming deeply. "It is, though the wolves have no use for it anymore. I sent them back to their pack lands with a message not to bother us anymore."

I nodded though I felt rather conflicted. Those wolves wouldn't keep to their word unless their very lives depended on it. Still, I had an odd feeling as I watched the boat float along the tides. Anders glanced down before shaking his head slightly.

"If you think Vaughan might've used the boat to try and escape the island, don't worry. About ten nautical miles in sea, there's a perimeter guarded by several boats from different nations with an order to shoot on sight. All wanting to keep us inmates on this island. Otherwise a lot of shifters would've escaped a long time ago." Anders explained.

A smile slipped on my lips as I understood things better now. I had seen some avian shifters on this island as well and had wondered why they hadn't simply taken off as soon as they were dumped on this island. Remembering my incarceration, I rushed my fingers over the slight bump in my skin.

Even if someone managed to get out undetected, the tracker they implanted us with would surely come up on their radars and the inmates would be hunted down. Knowing that the border guards had a "Shoot to kill" order, none of the inmates would try their chances until they were truly desperate.

But that also meant that if inmates knew of my mate's portals, they would surely try and gain the upper-hand on him to get off this island.

No wonder why Anders kept near me almost every second of the day. I chuckled as I felt his fingers descend over my stomach to tease the waist line of my pants and glanced up at him.

Well, there is no place safer than being under my mate. Though I do love being on top as well.

Judging by the way Anders chuckled as he mouthed at my bared neck, I had unconsciously linked the thought  to him. "Hmmm, the idea of you riding me to your hearts' content truly is intriguing." He bit at my skin, making me shiver and mewl as I relaxed in his hold.

"Though I do love the way you submit to my every whim, darling." He huskily murmured while continuing to undress me. I couldn't respond, only shiver in his hold as Anders used his fangs to delicately scrape them over my bared throat, chuckling as his breath brushed the sensitive skin.

"You're incorrigible." I moaned as Anders hold on my hips guided me to the nearby couch, his clothes miraculously disappearing as he snickered.

"More like insatiable, my love. Feel what you do to me." He husked, rubbing his erection against my ass before bending me over the couch. I barely had time to grab onto the fabric before I choked as Anders thrusted up and filled me completely.

He instantly started thrusting, keeping one hand firmly planted in the dip of my back, the other holding on my shoulder as I panted and pushed back. I forgot all about Vaughan's miraculous disappearance and the threat of revolting inmates.

And I had the sneaky suspicion that was Anders' goal.

All I could focus on was my mate's hands gripping tightly, his nails digging into my flesh as he flooded my body with overwhelming pleasure. I cried out and bit into the couch as he sped up even more, the room filled with our combined scents and the sounds of our pleasure and skin colliding.

I mewled and clawed the fabric as Anders tilted his hips slightly, thrusting in a circular motion that was driving me crazy.Every thrust he made, I could feel every inch slipping inside, feel him throb against my walls before he slowly pulled out, only to stretch me again.

"Hmmmm...."

"Yes my love, feel me claim you over and over  again. Come with me Benji, now." I gasped and arched my neck as I felt slender fangs sink into my throat as Anders thrusted hard and deep, holding himself as deeply as possible. My toes curled into the soft fabric of the carpet as I cried out, jolting from the pleasure of my orgasm that was being prolonged by my mate feeding from my very life-source.

By the time he slowly pulled out, both fangs and his semi erection, I was feeling sleepy.

And completely sated.

"Shhh, sleep my love. Know that I'm close and watching over you. Nothing will ever harm you again, I swear. You're the reason of my existence, my love, my life source." His lips brushed tenderly against my cheek as my eyelids twitched weakly.

All I could do was produce a lazy smile as I nuzzled against my mate's chest and let out a deep sigh before I fell asleep.

Love you too, you big lug.