I followed my mate into the sitting room and sat down beside her. Silently, I placed my arm around her shoulders and rubbed her arm, leaving a path of goosebumps. My mate relaxed against my touch, but I could tell that she was still stiff and tense. "They're safe," I whispered, leaning my head closer to hers. "Don't worry."

Bethany Ann scoffed and rolled her eyes. She moved closer to me and leaned her head on my shoulder while we waited for him. "I am going to worry," she replied tersely, and I bit back a snort. "I am going to worry until he is not in the house anymore."

"He isn't even in the house now," I pointed out, running my thumb up and down her arm before I started to trace patterns on it. "I hadn't heard anything from Reece, Liam, or Mike, so I know that they are still on their way."

She sighed and closed her eyes, and I could tell that she was trying to calm her nerves. "I know," she said finally, "but I still don't like this." She licked her lips and grabbed my other hand before she started to play with my fingers. "It doesn't help that I had been stuck in this hellhole for days."

I snorted, amused. "Gee, thanks," I said sarcastically. "I didn't know that you didn't like this house that much. I thought that this was your home."

"It is," she replied, "but I am tired of these four walls and everything that is in it."

I gasped in shock and took my hand out of hers to place it on my chest. I turned towards her, removing myself from her, and she opened her eyes and scowled, not liking the fact that I moved. I widened my eyes in shock, and she arched an eyebrow. "Does that mean you are tired of me?" I asked.

"Yes," she replied, with no emotion. "I am tired of you."

I bit back a snort and kissed the side of her head. "Uh huh," I teased, and she smiled that beautiful smile of hers. "Of course you are."

"I am," she replied, closing her eyes when I kissed her forehead. "Why is it that you do not believe me?"

"Because I know you," I replied. "I know that you aren't tired of me or this." I took her hand in mine and held it against mine with our palms lined up. Sparks went up both of our arms while I did this, and her heart pounded harder and harder in her chest. "You aren't tired of how I make you feel."

"And how do you make me feel?" Bethany Ann asked, her voice barely above a whisper. She looked at me, the silver in her eyes becoming more prominent with each passing second that we had our palms touching. "How do you make me feel?"

I shifted my body until we faced each other, making sure to keep my palm pressed up against hers. Slowly, I kissed her lips, being gentle before I pulled away before anything else could happen. "Alive," I whispered before I pressed my lips against hers again before I pulled away. "Safe." And again, I pressed my lips against hers while I gently cupped the side of her head with my other hand.

Bethany Ann pulled away and scowled, her cheeks flushed a lighter shade of pink. Lust and acceptance filled her eyes while she studied me, the silver more prominent. "I hate you," she whispered, and I couldn't help but let out a soft laugh.

"No, you don't," I said. I smiled and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear that became loose from her ponytail. "Tomorrow, I am going to take you out on a date. It'll just be you and me together with no worries of the pack."

Bethany Ann frowned and pulled her hand from mine. She looked towards the stairs before she looked at me. "I c-"

"Oh, you are going to," I said, interrupting her. "They'll be safe. I'll make sure of it." I studied her. "Do you trust me?"

She hesitated but nodded her head. "Yes," she replied. "I trust you with all of my heart. However..." She trailed off and looked towards the door, her eyes turning a darker green. "It's him that I don't trust."

I nodded and looked towards the door, not knowing when Vincent would enter. "I know," I said solemnly. "I don't trust him either. However, I'm going to make sure that he is taken care of while we go out on the date." I turned to look at her again.

My mate raised an eyebrow, and amusement flickered through her eyes. "What are you going to do?" she asked while she cocked her head. "Kill him?"

I nodded. "Yes," I replied seriously. I gave her a deadpanned look, and an amused smile appeared on her face. "That would stop the pain that we are going through."

Bethany Ann gave me a deadpanned look and blinked. "It would also have the Council on our ass because we killed an Alpha without a proper trial."

"And lead to a full on war," I added, chuckling. "Ya, that would not be a good idea. Though I am confident that we will win."

"Yes, but at what cost?" She sighed and cleared her throat. "I don't want a war. Though he is asking for it."

I nodded. "I know. He is asking for, especially since he is not here yet." I grabbed my phone from my pocket and looked at it to check the time.

Bethany Ann shrugged. "I've already contacted Mike. They were having issues on the way here. Vincent wanted to drive, and they were going to walk. Mike eventually got Vincent to walk by threatening to lock him in a car."

I gave Bethany Ann a weird look, and she shrugged. "What?" I asked. "How?"

"Either the trunk or something else. I don't know. I didn't question him. I learned my lesson on that." A disgusted look appeared on her face, and I couldn't help but chuckle. "I sometimes wonder why he is the Beta of the pack."

"So do I," I replied. "However, he does have moments of brilliance, and he can get a reaction out of someone."

"And, you two are friends."

I nodded. "That too. As well as the fact that he is an only child and is born from the previous Beta."

She nodded. "At least he has Chloe with him. She makes an outstanding Beta Female."

I nodded again. "Yes," I replied. "Yes, she does."