---- I'm sorry for taking a while to update! Hope you're staying safe and healthy. 

Had it been any other day Jade would've pushed him away but tiredness was the only thing on her mind, so all she did was stand there while his long arms enclosed her inside his warm embrace.

It was warm and she thought for a moment that it felt good to be in his arm.

Slate buried his head in the crook of her neck, nuzzling it slightly — her eyes widened at the motion, worried that this was going to be a repeat of what happened last time "Slate-"

"Jade" He drawled — if it was even possible his grip on her tightened.

Jade's eyes darted across the room, not sure of what to do "Soren?"

"Yes," He said in a low gruff voice, loving the way his name rolled of her tongue. It just felt right.

Jade's hands placed themselves on his chest in an attempt to put some distance between their bodies "Soren!"

"Jade." he replied again almost mockingly

A sigh escaped her lips "Will you let me go?"

"Why"

She smacked his shoulder "I'm still angry at you!"

"Angry?" Soren voiced — he hesitantly pulling his head out of the crook of her neck. His speech came out slurred and cave-man like since he only ever talked through thought.

Jade nodded her head "Yes."

"Why?"

He reluctantly let her body go, giving her a chance to step away from him. Pain flashed through his eyes at the action "Not you, Soren. I'm angry at Slate"

"We are the same"

She nodded her head again "Fine. Then can you give me a reason why the hell you didn't tell me the dangers outside our home"

"... I will give control to Slate, now" Soren replied bashfully.

When Slate reopened his eyes their normal blue colour came back. Jade hit him on the side of his shoulder "What were you thinking?"

"I was thinking about you!" he caught her fist in his hand when she went for another strike against him.

She gave a stoic laugh "Well that worked out, didn't it!"

"You weren't supposed to fight!" he yelled back

Her eyes narrowed "If I didn't fight then this Pack would've been in even more danger!"

"You could have died!"

She shoved him in the chest "You think I'm that weak! That I can't even defend my own Pack!"

"You don't- What did you say?"

Jade paused slightly "I asked if you really thought I was that weak"

"No. After that"

She sighed roughly "Just get to the point, Slate"

"You claimed this Pack as your own" Slate breathed

Jade quirked an eyebrow — her mate was way too easy to satisfy "You still didn't tell me there were Rogues"

"You're right. I'm sorry" he whispered grabbing the sides of her face in his hands, he knew she was more than capable to defend herself and probably a thousand other people too but the thought of getting her back and losing her in one day made him want to keep her locked away "I was being selfish..."

Slate took a step closer, moving one of his hands just above her hip while the other stayed on her cheek "If we're going to do this, we can't keep things from each other from now on"

"I won't. I'll tell you everything, no matter what it is"

Jade smiled "Good."

"Now that, that's out of the way...can I get a goodnight kiss?"

She raised an eyebrow at his smirk and the light tint upon his cheeks. Jade couldn't explain it but reasoned against her stubbornness that maybe he could receive at least one kiss. he slowly leaned forward and placed her lips above his in a soft way but Slate had other plans.

He held the back of her head deepening the kiss.

She didn't complain in the slightest.

It was slow and sensual at first but then turned heated as his tongue licked her bottom lip, asking for entrance. After a minute of contemplation and Slate growling against her, she opened her mouth slowly.

As time went by her mind started to go blank while he continuously groaned in pleasure while holding her waist against his toned physique. His other hand held her back just to make sure there was no space in between them.

In his mind she felt like heaven against his perfectly sculpted chest. Her body was soft against his calloused hands and her hair fell in waves that brushed the side of his face, causing him to groan in pleasure, once again. His eyes remained shut while desire pumped through him like some sort of drug he couldn't get enough of.

She was completely devouring his entire world without knowing it and right now he was her willing victim. He didn't want to be anywhere else. 

Jade felt something hard against her abdomen, as soon as she realised what it was a small gasp escaped her mouth while her eyes snapped open. Against her own desires, she decided that they needed to stop before Slate wouldn't be able to control his wolf and by the looks of it, he was tiptoeing on the edge.

She pulled back suddenly, causing him to hiss in frustration — a small smile graced her lips at his reaction "Control yourself." she mused. 

"You're wearing nothing but my shirt. Do you really think that's helping?"

She rolled her eyes "Take a cold shower for all I care! I'm going to sleep"

"You are the death of me. Evil." he smirked against her antics. Slate laid one final kiss on her shoulder — letting it linger there for a moment.

She pushed him gently "Yeah? Well, this evil Queen needs to sleep" He only chuckled before making his way into the bathroom.

After ten minutes Jade finally felt tiredness take over her body but sadly it was ruined when Slate came out of the bathroom and slipped in next to her. He snaked one arm across her body — pulling her closer to him, making sure to hold her waist so that her head had no choice but to lie underneath his chin.

"Can you let me breath!" She whispered — his arms captured her in a vice like grip.

He smirked "You can breath just fine"

"You're the worst!"

He chuckled heartily "And you're my mate"

"And I don't think you'll ever let me forget that"

Slate smirked "Never"

Jade couldn't help the way her eyes slowly started to close, drowsiness seemed to take over her body all over again and for some reason she felt absolutely safe in his strong arms "Slate, next time, wear a shirt"

"I think they look much better on you" He smiled and just like that she fell into a soft slumber. But Slate didn't fall asleep yet because he wanted to remember this moment.

His senses wanted to remember the way she felt against his skin, the way her heart beat seemed to be in sync with his own and how her soft but sure breaths made him feel as if the world was at peace.

For the first time in months he felt nothing but pure enervation take over his senses — knowing that his mate was finally where she was meant to be; In his arms.

Slate whispered against her ear, even though she wouldn't hear him, he needed to at least say it once "Jade Leichhardt - I love you" and he meant it, just like the time he answered Bash's question, he meant every single word.

There was no mistake, he couldn't see a life without her, he couldn't be happy without her by his side and now as his arms held the most beautiful creature in the world, Slate knew.

He loved her more than anyone would ever think. Letting her slip in between his fingers or even the thought of never seeing her again, was not an option anymore.

Hell would freeze over before he'd let her go. Validus or human, she was perfect. So with that thought in mind Slate let sleep take over as a small smile planted itself onto his face.