"Valencia," a strong hand pushed at her. The touches were brisk and fleeting.

Once again the hesitant hand quickly tapped her side.

Her dark eyes fluttered open to meet deep yellow ones. Her lids narrowed in contempt.

Suddenly her hand swung out, catching his strong cheek bone.

He cursed and stood up abruptly. "Fucking hell!"

"You can treat me like shit, whatever, but if you ever touch one of my employees again it will not go down well!"

Valencia was now standing toe to toe with the much taller Malakai. The two stared at one another, Val with a crooked jaw.

Malakai couldn't help but notice how perfect her skin looked so early in the morning. Her inky hair was frizzy and whispy, falling out of the low pony tail she had in.

Her shorts were riding up her body, so they barely peeked out of her shirt.

Suddenly maroon painted fingernails were snapping in his face.

"Are you going to just ignore me?" Valencia practically pleaded.

"It won't happen again."

Malakai held up his phone to Valencia. It was off as he waved it a few times. "I got a text from my... boss I guess. His names Elio and I have to meet with him. I'll be out for a little bit."

Valencia didn't even bother with a response as she silently walked back to her room.

Malakai sighed heavily and rubbed his face harshly, getting ready to leave promptly.
~
That's was how he ended up sitting across from Elio, clutching the bridge of his nose.

"You smell like a girl, dude."

"How do you know I didn't just pick up some chick off the streets of Endorphin huh?"

Elio scoffed, raising a brow at him. "There's a better chance of me running cold than you picking up a girl in Endorphin."

Kai crossed his arms tightly, "Mind your own fucking business."

"I saw you with that girl on security cams, something tells me if I saw her now she'd smell a hell of a lot like you."

Malakai grunted as his friend continued, "Take it from me Kai, mates aren't something to fuck around with. Judging by your reaction that poor girl is stuck with you and not getting anything from it."

Malakai deflated slightly. His hands flew to his hair and began tugging, Val probably felt trapped with him.

"Can we please get on with this?" Malakai seethed.

"Whatever buddy, just be careful. Hound matecycles can be a bitch."

"Here's the file on the Witch Doctor. He's tracking a new member of Victors group. I'll be following up on that, it's going to end soon. It has to." Kai spoke with conviction and slackened a little.

He laid his head on the table and Elio patted his shoulder.

"It'll be fine, kid. Just... follow your heart Malakai. You're not stupid you just don't have your priorities straight right now."

Malakai relished the cool metal of the table they sat at.

"You and Nadia get together yet?"

Elio spluttered. "Pfft... What?"

Malakai grumbled, "If you play stupid I play stupid."

"How is everyone at home?" Kai asked quietly as he trailed his finger over the ceramic.

"Demi is growing fast, Kekoa has been stepping up with the little ones a lot. Elora and Demetri are good, worrying about you. Lucas and Teddy are actually talking about adoption."

"You think they're ready?"

"Lucas is about to be twenty, mates have had them earlier. So how mad do you think they'll be when I tell them you found your mate?"

"Don't!" The younger Hound barked.

"Can't promise if you keep fucking it up," he sang.

"I'm... I'm not fucking it up too much," he whined.

"I want an update, same place same time next week. The girl better be accompanying you or I'm telling your sister."

Malakai shuddered at the thought.

He abruptly stood and began trudging down the crowded streets.

His fists were shoved in his pockets as his thoughts mulled around his head. Valencia's shop was just down the street.

Just as he turned the corner the sound of gunshots, Kai snarled suddenly.

Before he could sprint towards the alarming sounds, a motorcycle flew out of the garage.

The motorcycle spun abruptly, black hair whipped around as well. His heart stopped when he realized it was Valencia and his red eyes widened as she fired her weapon at a car that sped towards him.

Without thinking Kai gripped a stop sign. He grunted as his hand turned molten, searing through the pole. Once it was in falling over in half, he gripped the newly made weapon.

The dark skinned man braced himself. "Agh!" The spear soar through the air, crashing into the windshield.

The car swerved and crashed into a desolate alley way.

Valencia's bike came to an abrupt stop as she drew her weapon with precise form. Malakai watched her as she approached the crash, yanking the door open.

Her small hands snatched the drivers unresponsive body.

He sagged onto the asphalt before the glock was aimed at his head. Her foot planted itself on his chest.

"Steal from me again asshat, see what happens." Valencia stomped on his stomach. She swiftly turned and bent into the car, grabbing what seemed to be duffle bags of cash.

Malakai couldn't seem to find his words as his mouth opened and closed.

He just watched his mate skid to a stop on a motorcycle he didn't know she owned, handle a gun like an extension of her body, and is now waving her very tight ass out the car.

Malakai stalked forward and fisted the back of her tank top. He yanked her up and flush into his chest.

"Where the hell did you learn to do that?" He seethed in her ear, nose nuzzling into her frizzy hair.

"I told you, you grow up in Endorphin you learn a few things."

She had relaxed into his body, tugging the money closer.

"And all this?"

"Mine. We just have to find out why the fuck some dickhead was trying to take it," Val growled to herself.

Without another word Kai hauled the thief over his shoulder and followed his mate back into the shop.