"I'm scared Stephan." I couldn't stop the words from falling from my mouth, shamelessly betraying me.

"I know." he sighed, holding me closer to him before breathing in my scent and kissing my head.

"How?" I questioned.

He couldn't have. I've hidden it so well. The blood from biting on my tongue. The small balding patches on my head from pulling at it. Everything.

"What's going to happen?" I questioned, peeking at him.

"Home?"

Home...

Home was where my mother was.

The scent of food hanging in the air when I'd come from school, the way she'd sing me to sleep as a child, the way she'd dance with me in the kitchen while we stuff our faces with peanut butter.

"I miss her." I breathed, tears threatening to escape their prison as I ripped my head from his grasp to look away in shame.

"Who?"

"My mum. I want to see her... Please?" I mumbled.

My mother was the only reason I held on for so long before Stephan came. My father was a ruthless man. A heartless man. That would beat us both out of consciousness whenever he didn't like something we did or said.

"Would you tell me what's going on in that head of yours?" Stephan breathed.

"A war."

"Go to sleep baby, I'm right here and I'm not leaving. I'll fight those battles with you." his finger lifting my chin once more before he softly kissed my lips and held me closer.
_______

"Guys! Wake the fuck up or we're going to be late!" Brody's voice loud yet muffled by the wood between us.

"It's just Brody." I giggled.

"O-okay." I finally stuttered, looking down at the bag in my hands.

"I love you." Stephan breathed.

"I- love yo-"

Soon we were on the road, on the way to our doom... And I was sitting between Stephan and Brody, biting on my nails like the anxious freak I was.

"Stop that." Stephan whispered, nudging at the arm that held my hand in my mouth.

A few minutes passed, music softly playing through the car as I stared straight ahead.

Suddenly we took a turn onto an unpaved driveway, driving up about half a mile before we came to a halt in front of a big wooden home... With a dozen people coming from the porch to surround us.

What the fuck happened to some place in public?!

Stephan switched the ignition off, leaving the keys in its slot before his hands reached over towards me, his palms resting on my cheeks.

"Remember what I told you." he paused, looking me in the eye "Stay here." he whispered before closing his eyes and pulling my face forward only to kiss me on my forehead.

"Stephan!" I blurted, grabbing a hold of his hand as he attempted to leave me to myself in the truck.

His eyes met mine, the look in them urging me to say the words I never thought I'd say so soon...

By then Brody was already outside, his hands up in mock surrender as he smirked at a girl who stared back at him in disgust.

Stephan's Point Of View

I heard tales as I grew up... Of the young Alpha, who plays with your mind and doesn't age.

And that's the thought I had of tales. That they were tales and nothing more.

Until the infamous Alpha called me himself... Requesting my presence in public before requesting for it to be right in the lion's den instead.

He was intimidating, confusing and demanding, but in a way of elegance and mystery.

They led Brody and I up the steps of the porch, shifters breathing heavily behind us while I spared my friend worried glances.

"I thought I told you to stay in the car." I breathed as Sam entwined her fingers with mine.

"I'm your mate. We're in this together." She replied calmly, but her heart rate gave her away as it beat faster than a galloping horse.

"Well... Well..." the Alpha breathed, smiling at the three of us as if he were a kid on Christmas morning.

"Alpha Oliver." I bowed my head slightly out of respect. No sign of submission.

"Master Yates." he smiled.

"Oh. And who might this be?" Oliver smirked, his Beta suddenly stepping forward and ripping Sam from my side.

"My mate. Samantha." I said, trying to mask the snarl in my voice, but ultimately failing.

"She is human." Oliver whispered, stating it more than questioning it as he stared at her in wonder.

"So is she." I breathed, tilting my head slightly to glance past Sam at Yadira.

"Mysterious isn't it?" Oliver questioned.

"What?" I snapped.