Sitting in my office, I've been drafting official reports for the government. Killing humans even when they were hunters needed to report to the human government and the supernatural government. On top of that, accurate documentation of deaths within the pack needed to be recorded and sent to the supernatural government. It required signatures from doctors and witnesses who could confirm deaths of wolves. Last, I needed to review the written reports from my scouts and trackers. We needed to check the damage to my territory.

It was a mess and I've been sitting in my office since six in the morning and now it was one in the afternoon. I had a two-hour nap and during those two hours, I could barely sleep. My primitive instincts and bond wanted me to be next to my mate, but I didn't want to overstep Katya's boundary. I wanted her to come to me at her will.

Currently, I was reading over my drafted official report when the words blurred a little. A headache made its way to my temple, and I dropped the report to pinch the bridge of my nose. Closing my eyes, I sighed heavily.

My phone went off again. Growling in vexation, I stood up and walked away. If not, I might just lose control and flip my entire desk.

A knock sounded at the door.

"Come in," I snarled without glancing.

Still pacing, I sighed heavily and rubbed my temples.

"Hunter." It was my mate's voice.

I stopped immediately and turned toward my office door. I can't believe it. She had ventured out of her bedroom. Today, she wasn't wearing my clothes. She was wearing—I sniffed---Rosemary's clothes? It was an old rock' n roll shirt, and some ripped jean shorts. Her long black hair tied up into a high ponytail and exposed her long pale neck. Damn, she was beautiful today.

"Katya?" I said her name in surprise before walking to her.

The mate pull eliminated the space between us. I placed my hands on a shoulder and took my time looking over her face. Her small, full lips were red and kissable. I know she wasn't wearing any makeup because I couldn't smell it.

"What are you doing here?"

"Catalina dropped off breakfast today. Liam asked why you weren't dropping off breakfast now and Catalina told us you were busy with paperwork."

Katya was right. I dropped breakfast off for them all the time. I didn't realize it until now. Pack duties got me all tied up, and I was so busy trying to keep my distance that I didn't think she would notice.

But she noticed.

Could it be that the mate bond was doing its work without us noticing?

Could it be that she felt something more than fear towards me?

Regardless of what it was, I couldn't be happier to see her. My wolf has been on edge since the battle. It didn't help when I saw her unconscious on the floor of her bedroom. Then we woke up to a pile of paperwork and phone calls. I wanted nothing more than to end it, but her presence seemed to tame the animal inside of me.

"Am I interrupting something?" she asked when my phone rang again.

I sighed and dropped my arms.

"It's been non-stop phone calls all day. I have officials demanding answers and reports. My pack mates are mourning the loss of their families and I can't even be there for them. You would think that the government would give me a break." I walked back to my desk and picked up my phone.

"Alpha Hunter speaking," I greeted.

I looked up when I saw Katya pull away. I walked back around my desk and caught her wrist. She turned around to look at me.

It was the human government. The mayor wanted the bodies of the hunters sent to the city. I agreed before hanging up.

"Should I leave?" Katya questioned.

"No. It is nice to have you here."

Still holding her wrist, I led her to a chair in front of me. She sat down. I wanted to see how she would react if I remained close to her. Instead of sitting in my chair opposite from her, I leaned against my desk next to her. Setting my phone down, I crossed my arms and looked down at her.

"Why did you come here?"

"I don't know. I guess, I just wanted to walk around." She shrugged.

Katya made no move to give us space. However, my mate sat in her seat with her back straight as a stick. She could very well snap her spine at how far stiff she was.

"I'm glad that you are stepping out of your bedroom. You are free to walk around if you need to. The rain is starting to taper off now. In the next couple of days, we should get some much needed sun. If you want, I could take you to tour my territory."

She nodded her head before standing up. She walked around my office space. My office space was small. It wasn't too big nor too small. Book shelves lined almost half of the walls of the room. These books date back to werewolf history, current laws & ethics of humans and werewolves, project management, and leadership skills. You name it; I had it on the shelf. I watched her finger touch the bindings of the shelf that were eye level to her. I made no move to follow. Only looked at her while she took in a new setting and loved how she was unknowingly leaving her scent all over my office.

"You can take a few books back to read if you would like," I offered.

Her body grew taut, but I couldn't see her expression to know what was going on in her mind.

"I can't read." Katya seemed hesitant in answering me.

Shocked, I pushed off my desk and walked over to her. She refused to look at me. I could already see her pulling away, closing herself off. To her, she had already told me too much. I don't know about her past at all, but I didn't want to see that look on her face. The look of failure and insecurity.

I grabbed the book that she was touching. It was a book on werewolf history. Before she could flee, I grabbed onto her wrist and led her to the nearest sofa. Sitting her down before sitting down next to her, I opened the book to the first page.

"I'll read to you."

She looked at me with those wide doe-eyes. Those chocolate eyes burned with so many secrets and pain. In the past, I never found a need to become anyone's protector. Now, I couldn't help the protective emotion that rises in me. I want to be her everything.

She didn't protest or move away. So I turned back to the book and began reading.

"Our ancestors are descendants of Lycans. We found first sightings of Lycans in the Highlands of Scotland. Hidden in castles and ruled over lands along with the Lycan King, they controlled the terrain for decades..."

Soon, there was no other noise or interruptions. Only the sound of my voice as I read the book. I flipped page by page.

It was surprisingly comfortable. I could feel my mate's body heat radiating all over my body. Our wolves relished each other's presence. Although this was our first time, it felt like we had done this for years.

Before I knew it, Katya began nodding off. Her head fell onto my shoulder a second later. I closed the book and looked down at her. Her long eyelashes fanned her cheeks and her full lips parted gently. I moved to smooth some of her loose strands back from her forehead. She sighed and scooted closer to me.

Dropping my hand back into my lap, I looked out the window. I waited patiently for her to wake up. I didn't mind at all that she had fallen asleep on me. In fact, I truly needed this.

It didn't take long before my eyes grew heavy, too. Sneakily, I stretched my hand to intertwine with her before bringing it onto my lap. Next, I rested my head on top of hers and fell asleep next to her.

The lack of sleep last night caught up so quickly. I realized what I truly needed was my mate to fall asleep soundly. It did the trick.

When I woke up, it was to the sound of Katya whimpering. It took me a minute to figure out what was wrong. There was no threat in the office. I sensed no danger. When I looked down at her, she was still fast asleep.

"No, please! Let me go! Don't touch me!" she shouted.

Concerned, I moved to cradle her cheek. "Katy-"

She jumped at me. Pushing me back onto the sofa. She clawed at me with her wolf claws. I grabbed onto her wrists to stop her from clawing at me, but she was much stronger than I expected. A sudden surge of energy evaded the room, and I realized it was coming from her. This was what we felt that night we first met. The uncontrolled dominant power that no rogue or normal werewolf should have. It was primitive and dangerous.

In an instant, she ripped one hand free from my grasp and moved to wrap it around my throat.

Damn it. She was fast.

I hooked one arm through her arm and broke her grasp. Flipping us over, I pinned her beneath me. I pinned her wrists above me.

She snarled and sneered. Just like the night I met her.

"Katya!" I shouted. "It's me."

She growled and thrashed. "Get off me! I will kill you!"

Whatever it was that was plaguing my mate's dreams, it was someone I knew I would kill if he or she was alive. She looked terrified. Sweat drenched her body. She was shaking uncontrollably.

"Katya. Mate, it's me. Hunter. Open your eyes, little wolf."

Suddenly, her struggles stopped. Her eyes were moving underneath her eyelids before they flew open.

"Hunter?" Her voice was hoarse and painful.

Her eyes were glassy. I released her and stood up. She must have recalled what she was dreaming about because she immediately recoiled back into her shell. Her eyes were lifeless and hollow. The shadow of the setting sun casting into this room made her look like a ghost—a body that had no soul.

"I-I have to go." She started for the office door.

I grabbed onto her wrist once more.

"Katya..." I urged her to look at me.

She was visibly shaking still. I don't know if it was from fear or from anger, but I knew she couldn't keep all of this inside of her. It was like a ticking time bomb. It will kill who she was.

"We all have our demons, Katya, but it is up to us to decide if we want it to follow us around like dead weight or if we want to beat it. Don't let it overtake you. If you need help, I could take you to someone."

Katya turned to look at me.

"I don't know what to do anymore."

Those words sounded helpless and painful.

"I won't push you to do something you aren't comfortable with. I just—I just want you to not run."

Her other hand came out and removed my hand from her wrist. With her, I feel like I'm grasping at straws.

"I'm broken, Hunter. There is no point in trying to save me. There is no point in all of this."

I took a step toward and she took one step.

"Stop," she demanded, and I stopped.

"Katya, let me in."

"That's easier said than done. I've spent years on my own and I've stayed alive. If I leave now, I'll be fine again."

"You can't be thinking about-"

Panic shuddered through me like an icy breeze. I felt every inch of my body protest. Just the thought of her leaving or disappearing sent a ripple of agony through me. I could feel every inch of my body hurting. It was almost crippling.

In a haste, I grabbed onto Katya's shoulders to stop her from running. She placed her hands on my chest to stop me from pulling her in.

"Staying alive is not living, Katya. You might as well be dead than living every day fighting to survive. You told me that your mom told you about mates. If you trust her, then you should trust me because I'm your mate. You don't have to fight this fight alone."

The mention of her mom made her look up at me. She was listening and although it was small; I grasped at that thin rope she threw at me.

"I may not fix all that is broken, but I will do my best in fixing all that I can."

I waited with bated breath. Katya was so beautiful standing before me. So precious and strong, yet so broken and fearful.

"Ok, I'll see someone." She relented in a whisper.

Author's Note:

Although I didn't say it outright, we can all assume that she has agreed to meet someone who would be able to help her with a traumatic past. This is another step for her to open herself up to Hunter. Although it feels that Katya is hurting Hunter, we have to understand that is also going through so much while living here with Hunter. She had a long traumatic past and along the way; she lost so much already. To give herself up, it's like asking her to remove her armor and leaving her vulnerable. Something she can't go back to.

Don't worry though, she'll come around! Just bear with me as we unravel her demons and past.