I bit back a tired sigh and kissed my mate's lips before I pulled away from her, growing serious. "Come on, Katie," I said and nodded toward the direction of the main pack house. "Let's go ahead and get you home. Ok? I'll tell you everything that has happened when we are home so that you understand why my wolf was in control."

My mate bit back a small frown while she slowly nodded, furrowing her brows, and worry flashed through her eyes. "Ok," she said hesitantly and grabbed my hand before she started to walk me back to the pack house, and I couldn't help but laugh out loud while I followed her back that way. "Do you need shoes?" she asked and looked at my feet before she looked at me, and her frown grew larger. "Or are you ok?"

"I am ok, and I do not need shoes," I said and shook my head, and my heart grew warm at the thought of her being worried about me and my feet. "I am fine, Katie. I do not need shoes. Thank you for asking, though."

She slowly nodded and furrowed her brows further, pressing her lips into a thin line. Worry flashed through her eyes, and I could tell that she didn't believe me.

"I have done this many times before," I said and shifted, pressing my lips into a thin line while I squeezed her hand reassuringly. "Most of us have because sometimes our shoes break when we shift into our wolf form."

"Sounds expensive," she mumbled under her breath, and I shrugged and bit back a small chuckle because it was halfway true and halfway false.

"It is sometimes expensive when we shift angrily into our wolf forms," I said. "Half of the times when our feet grow smaller and pawlike, they will slip out of the shoes."

"But clothes get torn up?" she asked and furrowed her brows further, and I nodded in conformation.

"Clothes are the most expensive thing in a wolf's budget," I said and squeezed her hand reassuringly. "That is why we have bags around the pack grounds with our clothes on them so that we can have something if our clothes rip, and we don't have a backup pair."

"Have you had to walk around naked before?" she asked and cocked her head to the side, and I nodded in confirmation and pressed my lips into a thin line. "Why? And if so, where to?"

"It's sometimes just business that needs to be done like Rogues being a nuisance or not. Other than that, I would go in wolf form until I was able to get to a bag or make it to the back door of the pack house and get someone to get me clothes so that I can shift into my human form."

My mate slowly nodded and looked around before she looked at me. Worry filled her eyes, and I had this small feeling that she wanted to know if there was anyone near us while she sank into herself.

My heart broke at her lack of confidence in herself and the pack, but I didn't press the issue as to why she did this while I squeezed her hand reassuringly. "You aren't going to get hurt back the pack for saying anything, Katie," I said instead and shook my head. "I don't think you have to hide your beautiful voice any longer."

My mate's cheeks turned red, and she looked down, not looking where we were going.

I couldn't help but chuckle, amused, and I squeezed her reassuringly. "I am serious, Katie," I said and shook my head before I pulled her closer to me and kissed the top of my mate's head.

She didn't say a word and closed her eyes while she leaned closer to me. Her whole body slowly started to relax, and I had a feeling that she wasn't going to say anything else while we walked closer to the pack house.

I bit back a tired sigh and moved a hand through my hair and across my face while I grew serious. "Can you stay with me, Katie?" I asked randomly, and my mate instantly looked at me with a confused look on her face.

She shifted my hand until it was holding her waist and left her hands free, biting the inside of her lip. 'What do you mean?' shs asked, confused while she furrowed her brows further while she tucked her head closer to her chest. 'I already live with you.'

I bit back a small laugh and pressed a small kiss to the side of her head, and she closed her eyes and moved closer to me. "I mean, for the rest of the day, please. I need to make a few calls, and my wolf is still on edge because of what has happened."

Bruce bit back a small growl of annoyance but didn't say a word, and his whole body was tense while he narrowed his eyes.

'Then yes,' she said and nodded in confirmation. 'I can stay with you while you make phone calls.' She furrowed her brows and cocked her head to the side while she studied me. 'Don't you still have to meet with Roger, or were you finished before you left?'

I shook my head and pressed my lips into a thin line, biting back a tired sigh while I rubbed her side. "I wasn't done," I said, "but I had been too pissed to finish the conversation between him, myself, and then one of his contacts."

Katie bit the inside of her lip and slowly nodded, furrowing her brows further. 'Do you think that he will mind that I am staying with you?' she asked and raised an eyebrow in question while she studied me.

I shrugged and set my jaw, pressing my lips into a thinner line. "If he will be mad at it, then so be it," I said coldly. "I need you to be with me."

My mate bit back a tired sigh and slowly nodded, and a look of doubt flashed through her eyes. She didn't say a word bit the inside of her lip while she looked at me before she looked forward, and her doubt grew strong.

"Neither of us are going to be in trouble with him," I said and shook my head, silently praying that I would be able to calm some of her nerves. "You do not have to worry about it, ok?"

She slowly nodded and bit the inside of her lip. Her whole body relaxed ever so slightly, and I could tell that she was happy that we weren't going to be in trouble.

"Are you still comfortable with staying with me while we talk to him?" I asked and raised an eyebrow in question while I glanced at her from the corner of my eye, praying that she would say yes. "Please?"

Katie smiled and slowly nodded in confirmation, and I had to bite back a small sigh of relief while she stared at me with a soft look on her face. 'Then I will stay with you,' she said. 'I will stay with you for as long as you need me to.'

I promise...