Valencia trudged into her apartment. Her feet dragged sluggishly as she walked to her room.

Malakai watched her carefully as she hadn't said a word while she dodged patrol cars on the way here. Her face was emotionless and he followed her to see her fall onto her large bed.

"Go shower," the comforter muffled her voice.

"You shower first."

"You have blood on you, go shower."

Malakai sighed heavily with a roll of his eyes before complying.

Unbeknownst to Valencia who buried her face in her pillows, Kai stared at her tired figure longingly.

Her brown eyes were shut tightly until she heard the shower running.

Malakai sighed as the cold water hit him, even with the water as cold as possible it still steamed off his skin.

With the adrenaline still pumping through him and his mate only separated from him by thin drywall, his demon was raging within him.

Kai swiftly shut the water off and snatched his towel. He growled lowly as he dragged the cloth over his face before wrapping it around his waist.

He tugged his hair in frustration as he entered Valencia's bedroom. He looked up to see Valencia still laying on her stomach. Kai walked to squat in front on her face.

Gingerly, hesitantly, he brought his hand up to hover over her cheek. He noticed that compared to his body temperature she was cool. He'd be concerned if he didn't know he was abnormally hot.

It was comforting, when the heat of his demon got unbearable, Valencia might be able to cool him down.

Suddenly her brown eye cracked open, it narrowed at Malakai.

She turned to lay on her side completely, staring at her mate. He saw her cheeks slowly begin to go pink at the sight of his towel clad form.

"Why aren't you dressed," she mumbled.

"You wanted to talk. So let's talk."

Valencia nodded slowly, sitting up and accommodating the large man squatting between her legs now. She widened her legs to accommodate his size with a bashful look on her face.

Malakai's mouth went dry as Valencia's thighs parted in front of him as if inviting him in.

"Talk. Tell me what your plan is, if I'm willing to sit here and stay with you while you want nothing to do with me- you're going to tell me what's at stake."

Her mate stood up and put some distance between the two. She couldn't stop herself from trailing her eyes down his chiseled body. His dark skin was marred with scars and she couldn't help but feel her attraction sky rocket.

White hair lead down beneath his towel and Valencia bit back a small whimper, quickly looking away.

Malakai cleared his throat before crossing his large arms tightly.

"I told you Victor attacked my family and has a vendetta or whatever you want to call it against us. I decided since I had the least ties to our home, no mate, I'd go out and find him myself. That was two years ago. We've got teams coordinating together but I've gotten the closest."

Malakai paused as he watched Valencia stare up at him.

"I was close enough to catch that motherfuckers scent three months ago, but someone tipped him off with that stupid bounty."

"You left because you didn't have a mate, so if you had found me before hand we would be different?"

Malakai looked away from her pretty face, looking up at him with her big doe eyes.

"Maybe- listen if you don't want me here, I won't stay. I'll figure something else out, I don't need you for a place to stay."

Valencia scoffed, running her hands through her thick black hair. Her high cheek bones stood out on her flushed skin, he noticed that the more upset she got the pinker her face got.

Would her face get pink when he fucked her?

He quickly shook the thought away.

"Stay here. I'm fine, it's okay."

Malakai grew up with his sister, who spoke her feelings very blatantly. Although, he'd heard the rumors about women saying 'I'm fine' and then the world seemingly imploding.

He narrowed his eyes in suspicion, looking around for any indication of what he should do.

"Okay... if you're fine with it. I'll get dressed in the living room and sleep on the couch."

Valencia nodded with her head in her hands, a slight tremor in her fingers.

The nymph watched the hound leave before her eyes welled up as she took deep breaths.

Val looked up at her ceiling, seemingly staring into space. "What do I do, mama?"

She only managed to strip herself of her jumpsuit, kicking off her boots. She laid in her bra and panties.

~

That morning Valencia woke up abruptly. She heard loud growls coming from her living room and she sprung up.

"Malakai!" she groaned as she stumbled up.

"Kai," she croaked as she tripped out into her living room.

She blinked a little to adjust to the morning light and was graced with the sight of Henry, the mechanic working in her shop- the one who Kai called her a whore over- and her mate fuming in each other's faces.

"Henry what...? Why are you here you never stop by this early?" Val rubbed her eyes tiredly.

"It's noon sweetheart," Henry grunted towards her. He dragged his green gaze away from the perceived threat and looked at Valencia. His eyes widened drastically as Valencia stood in a sports bra and panties.

The older man flushed and looked away immediately, he didn't want to see her like that- the girl was like his daughter.

Malakai turned to see his mate scantily clad in front of another man. With rage he turned and plowed his fist into the intruders face.

Malakai had woken up to Henry beating on the door. Not wanting Valencia to wake up, and unaware of who was the other side he didn't know if it was a threat.

To his dismay it was just some motherfucker probably pining after his mate.

So, as Malakai's fist broke Henry's nose, he felt zero remorse while he fell unconscious.

Val screamed in shock and reached for the crumpled man. Malakai used her momentum against her and slammed her against the wall.

"Next time you decide to walk around half naked, don't." Kai hissed as her body was flushed against his own shirtless one.