NATE

I walk inside the cabin, my mate in my arms. I could see the bruises all over her body from my harsh training. I didn't mean to hurt her, but the training was necessary for her to be strong when we enter vampire territory. I couldn't risk what happened the last time she encountered a vampire. My wolf will kill me if I allow her to be harmed again.

I gently place Elizabeth on her bed and walk to her bathroom, filling the bathtub with warm water. She must be exhausted, but she needs a good bath and a good sleep. Once I am done filling the bathtub with water and scented oils, I walk back to her.

"Elizabeth," I call her name softly, trying to wake her up. I can't be harsh with her after all the training she endured.

"Hmmm," Elizabeth says in her sleep. She's trying to block out my voice so she can sleep.

"You need to take a shower. Wake up."

"Okay," Elizabeth says, opening her eyes. She is about to drop her feet to the ground, but I scoop her in my arms again before she can. I walk us to the bathroom and place her at the edge of the bathtub.

"Once you're done, let me know. I'll come and get you."

"Okay, thank you," Elizabeth says as I walk to the door.

I walk back to my room to quickly shower so I can be available when my mate's done bathing. I was tired but not as exhausted as her.

Once I'm done showering, I head downstairs to order food for her. She must be hungry. I grab all the take-out menus from the kitchen cupboard and try to choose what to order for her.

Staring at them, I realize I don't know what she likes. I decide to order all of them and let her choose. I spend quite a long time on the phone making orders since I ordered everything the restaurant serves.

After I ensure I have ordered enough food, I quickly leave the house to get her human drugs to help with her pain. I feel terrible for the pain she was going through because of training, but it was needed. The dangers we might face when we go into vampire territory are severe. I wish she wouldn't go, but I know her well enough to know she'd insist. I hope my plans work and we find her Mom soon so I can finally rest.

ELIZABETH

Once Nate leaves the bathroom, I remove the blanket and sink into the tub. I'm surprised by Nate's behavior, shocked really, by the way he's treating me gently, but I like it regardless. I think he feels bad for the pain and exhaustion I'm feeling.

I'm not angry at him. Even though I have bruises all over my body, I know it's because I'm training so as not get myself killed while trying to find my Mom. I take my time and enjoy the warm water on my skin.

I don't spend a lot of time in the bath because I'm hungry. I use the shower after I'm done in the tub to clean off the soap. When I'm about ready to step out, I hear a knock on the door. Does Nate need something?

"Yes, Nate?" I ask, opening the door halfway so my face can be seen but my body's still covered.

"Put it on and tell me when you're done," Nate says, handing me clean clothes to change into.

I forgot he told me to call him when I was done showering. I'm feeling better now, and I don't need him to carry me anymore.

"Thank you," I say, taking the clothes.

I dress and walk out, but before I can take more than two steps he lifts me into his arms.

"I'm feeling better now. I can walk," I tell him.

"I didn't ask you," he says, walking us out of my room.

He takes us downstairs and sits me on the couch in the living room. He goes back upstairs and comes down with a first aid kit in his hands. He gestures for me to give him my hands where I have a few cuts. I cringe as he cleans my wounds.

"It needs to hurt for the pain to go away," he says, his face emotionless. I'm in pain, and that's all he can tell me. I don't understand him. He'll treat me like a delicate Faberge egg, and a few minutes later, he'll be cruel and harsh.

Pick one Nate! It's either you care about me, or you don't.

"Thank you," I say once he's done cleaning my wounds. He's about to say something when a knock is heard at the door.

"Apply this on areas that hurt but not open wounds," he says, handing me a balm before he walks to the door.

He comes back a minute later with a lot of food in his hands but not only that. Someone's behind him with more food in their hands. He walks to the dining area and places all the packages on the table. Then he picks me up and carries me to the dining area. I don't know why Nate thinks I can't walk. Probably because I didn't move for almost five minutes after changing back to human form. I was exhausted, but my legs aren't broken.

"Eat," he commands like always.

"Nate, did you buy all of this for me?" I ask, widening my eyes as I take in the amount of food he bought. Any kind of food, name it, I can bet it's here. We have pizza, burgers, pasta, Chinese, Mexican, and the list goes on.

"Yes, now eat."

"There's so much food. I don't know which one to eat. Why did you buy so much."

"I didn't know what you'd like, so I bought all I could think of."

"You could've asked me."

"I didn't want to interrupt your shower."

"Even then, you didn't have to buy so much food."

"Elizabeth, pick a food and eat," he says, exasperated.

"Thank you," I say and take a slice of pizza.

After Nate makes sure I eat till I'm full, he gives me human drugs to help with the pain.

"Thank you," I say after drinking the glass of water he shoves in my hand. I wonder if he feels terrible for the pain I was going through because of training. He nods his head and walks to the living room.

I follow him, sit on the couch beside his, and switch on the TV. After eating, I am not so sleepy anymore.

"Do you have something you would like to watch?" I ask, holding the remote in my hand.

"No,"

"Alright, I hope you like cooking shows," I say, switching the channel to the food network.

Nate stares at me the whole time I'm watching TV. I wonder if he stays in case I need something since he doesn't watch. Nate might not be so bad after all.

An hour or two later, I begin to feel sleepy on the couch, but I try my best to keep my eyes open, so I can finish the episode of Hell's kitchen I'm watching.

"Elizabeth, go upstairs and sleep," Nate says

"I am not sleepy," I say, yawning

"I am not carrying your ass upstairs if you doze off. Go to bed."

"Soon, let me finish this episode, then I will go," I say, shaking my head to drive away the sleep.

"Not happening," he says, standing up and walking in front of me, blocking my view of the TV.

"Move, Nate, I can't see" I try to look past his huge body in front of me, but I can't see anything.

"You're going to bed. Let's go," Nate says, stretching his hand for me to take. I swat it away and continue to try to get a glimpse of the TV as he stands in front of me.

"I don't even know why I asked." He moves closer to me and bends. Wrapping his arms around my waist, he scopes me up on his shoulder and walks out of the living room.

"Do you have to carry me like this?" I ask, hanging from his shoulder as we climb the stairs.

"Yes, so if you try to come off, I'll spank your ass" he threatens. My eyes widen.

"Excuse me?"

"Don't worry. Your ass is safe. We are here," he says, dropping me on the ground. He turns to walk to his room, but I grab his hand, stopping him.

"What?" he asks, facing me.

"Are you into BDSM?" I had to ask after he just threatened to spank me and what happened the night of his party.

"No."

"Then..."

"The night you were drunk, I saw it as the best way to discipline you, same as now."

"Oh,"

"Yes, now go to sleep" he pulls his hand from my hold and walks to his door before I can say anything.

"Goodnight, Nate," I say before he slams his door after him. I walk into mine and dive into my bed. It doesn't take long before my eyes close, and I sleep.

***

It's been two weeks since Nate and I started living in the cabin near vampire territory. Training is less difficult these days, and I'm getting used to Nate's method of training.

I made breakfast for Nate and me and waited in the kitchen. He hasn't come down yet. I hear the doorbell ring so I drop my food back and go to see who's here.

I open the door, and it's a woman. I don't know who she is, and I wonder what she's doing here.

"Hello," I say to the redhead standing in front of me.

"Hi, you must be Elizabeth. It's nice to finally meet you. May I come in?" the beautiful redhead asks.

"Who are you?"

"Forgive me, where are my manners. I'm Ekaterina. I'm the witch who's going to help you safely enter vampire territory," she says, smiling, showing off her lovely pearl-white teeth.

"What did you say?" I ask, staring at the woman with wide eyes.

She stares at me with her lovely brown eyes, showing no fear of having admitted to being a witch to a werewolf. She doesn't seem surprised by my reaction, and I'm wondering if she's crazy.

Witches and werewolves aren't friends. We don't kill them on the spot like we kill vampires, but we don't welcome them into our homes either. We used to have a good relationship until Nate's mother went on a killing spree and destroyed more than half of the witch clan for unknown reasons. This was during the time she was pregnant with Liam. How she did it is a mystery to everyone, but it's testament of how strong a woman she was. I wish I could be like her.

"Liz why are you standing by the door?" Nate asks, bringing me back to the present moment.

"There's a woman here, saying things that don't make sense," I say to Nate, who's on the stairs.

"What do you mean?" he asks, walking toward me by the door. "Ekaterina, you're here. I'm happy you were able to make it safely," Nate says when he sees her.

"You know her?" I ask, surprised.

"Yes, I do. She's the witch helping us safely enter vampire territory."

"How?" I ask, blown away at the possibility. "Witches hate us for what your mother did. Why would she help us?"

"That's true. But I own my life to Nate," Ekaterina speaks before Nate does.

"What?" I ask, confused. I want the full story.

"Why don't we move to the living room? I'll explain everything," Nate says.

"Lead the way," I say, moving aside so Ekaterina can walk in.