Constantin sat on the pack house patio rail watching Natalya talk to some pack members. A few glanced his way curiously but again no one held a look of pity in their eyes. No one looked at him like he was a different person or like the person he was feeling inside. Broken beyond repair.

He swallowed the lump that was now forming in his throat before tearing his gaze from his mate and speculated her territory. Her land looks very well taken care of. Everyone seemed to put their share of work in keeping this land alive and well nurtured.

His mate was everything he could dream of. She was confident and skilled. He listened in on her conversation with her pack members and her decisions regarding issues are fair and compassionate. One thing he had learned while snooping on the conversation was that she was an Alpha who not dictate what she wanted.

Instead, she held a teaching attitude that immediately earned the trust of her pack members. Her willingness to listen to their suggestion and add her own ideas to theirs exposed how she valued their opinions.

It only also proved to him how much he felt like a waste to her. He should be happy but she deserved someone who wasn't mute. Someone who could stand by her side and be able to speak.

Constantin felt a presence to his left and he looked up to see Beta Yulian stepping out of the pack house onto the porch. He glanced toward Natalya before looking back at Constantin. Beta Yulian moved to sit in the rail opposite of Constantin while they both look at Natalya who was laughing at a pack member.

"She's great, isn't she? Who would have thought that she was capable of being such a great Alpha." Yulian said with a lot of admiration.

Yulian exhaled slowly before turning to look back at Constantin. "I hope you understand how much you mean to her."

Constantin fisted his hands to stop the emotions building up in him. She meant a lot to him and it hasn't even been a day since he spent in her presence. Yulian continued to speak, grasping the opportunity that Constantin hasn't left him yet.

"I have known her for a very long time, Alpha Constantin. She and I grew up together and she is like a sister to me. If you ever hurt her, I'll make sure she never sees you again. If that means helping her move on and finding herself a chosen, then I will do what I need to do." Yulian threatened.

Constantin's jaw locked in anger. He didn't like the idea of her with another. After a minute Yulian spoke up again. The man was pissing Constantin off but Constantin knew he was right.

Before coming out here to speak with the pack, Natalya had brought him down to the dinner where she introduced him to the pack as her destined mate. He felt uncomfortable under their intense evaluation of him but once he looked up and saw no sign of disgust or hatred towards him he breathed a sigh of relief. Natalya's soft hand on the back of his shoulder blades only proved to calm the rest of his nerves.

Her pack was nothing like the pack he was use to. They held the same resentment as Alpha Viktor. They were greedy like him. Their constant selfishness was what led to a rogue attack that killed many, including his parents.

Constantin was a warrior in his pack. His family lineage have always been that way. His mother and father were both warriors that were trained to protect Alpha Viktor.

No one knew but Alpha Viktor was Constantin's cousin. They both had Alpha blood running in their veins. On the day the rogue attack happened—Constantin cut his line of thoughts short. He didn't want to think about it.

Natalya appeared in front of them a bright smile on her face. "Constantin, it is getting late. Are you ready for bed?"

I woke up a few hours ago after finding out I was kidnapped. He signed.

She smirked. "Oh c'mon don't be like that. Let me show where you will be sleeping."

She dauntlessly moved forward and took hold of his hands in hers. He allowed her to take him back inside the pack house and up the stairs. Secretly enjoying the touch of her small hands in his.

Before he knew it they were standing in front of door that has her scent all over it. He sniffed and then his eyes narrowed suspiciously at her. He knew right away this was her bedroom.

She turned to him and wiggled her eyebrows suggestively. "You will be sleeping with me."

Luckily, Constantin was very good at masking his emotions because internally his stomach was fluttering like a school girl crush. His heart was thumping in his chest like it wanted to break through the barriers. His mate was brash and somehow fucking adorable. He couldn't help adoring her forwardness.

Why not separate rooms? He signed.

"Do you really want to not sleep with me?" She looked a little upset and her smile slowly disappeared. In a moment of panic he automatically waved his hands in the air to stop her—anything but that look on her face. He wanted her to always smile.

No! I'm okay with sleeping in the same room as you. He signed.

Her slow deteriorating smile turned upwards and he breathed a sigh of relief. He didn't know why but he would do anything to not see her wear a sad look on her face.

Awkwardly, he entered in after her. She showed him around the room before appearing out of the closet caring some men clothes that were neatly folded.

"These are from my brothers when he last visited." She handed them to him.

Are you sure he won't mind me using his clothes? He asked.

"Of course not. I am sure he won't be visiting any time soon. After all, he had just had a new pup." Her eyes warmed at the mention of the pup.

He headed into the shower and took a cold shower. Why? Well, why wouldn't he? He might not be able to speak but every single part of his male anatomy was still working operationally. The thought of his mate sleeping in the same bed as him has his blood roaring with satisfaction and lust.

He imagined her sleeping form, her soft curvy body so close to his body. He reached for the knob and turned up the cool water to help lower his blood that was heating up by the second.

When he was done taking a shower, he walked out to find that Natalya was already in bed. Her hair wrapped up in a towel as she read a book. He walked over and slept on the other side of the bed. He decided it was safer for him and her if he slept on top of the blanket. She arched an eyebrow at him when he tried to get comfortable.

"You can sleep under the blanket, Constantin." She pointed out.

I rather not. He replied.

She rolled her eyes deciding to let him win this conversation for now. Her eyes moved back to the book. He watched her read carefully before flipping the page. He had sneakily read the title and saw she was reading a historical novel. It was a weird choice of reading. She glanced down at him after feeling his burning gaze through the side of her face.

"What?" She asked.

I am surprised you read historical novels. He answered.

The corner of her lips lifted. "I hate it. I don't like it at all but you know why I read it? It makes me fall asleep a lot faster."

He made a chuckling noise finally and her eyes lit up instantly. "You laughed."

It is hard to. My vocals are destroyed severely but I can make sounds here and there.

"It sounds very nice. I love it." She admitted with a blush on her cheek. His heart hammered in his chest again. He tore his gaze from his cute little mate before he does something crazy like pounce on her tiny form.

She shifted a little closer to him. "Would you like me to read out loud?"

He glanced her way in shock before nodding. She smiled at him then and shifted closer to him, pulling up the blanket to her chest while she flipped the page and began reading.

"In 1867, John Thompson, a hundred year old werewolf who had traveled from the east coast to the west coast of the world explored the culture and dynamics of every werewolf pack that he knew existed. Several findings and artifacts he found in the east coast in the state of which the humans called California led him to travel to Japan where he had found an ancient book that detailed the important times and events that occurred before the 1600's." She spoke slowly and softly.

He listened to her read and found his muscles quickly relaxing. His wolf sighed with contentment in his mind and Constantin closed his eyes as he listened to Natalya read about the history of werewolves. Her voice to anyone might just be a voice but to him it was like a siren, pulling him in—beckoning him to a world of peace.

It didn't take him long at all. He fell asleep shortly after to the sound of his mate's voice.