I grew up having everything. I have a good life, friends, and family. My pack was thriving. During Alpha training, I knew all the answers to their questions. I've been taught to analyze the risks and consequences. I knew what others thought before they did.

I've grown used to the air of arrogance and self-confidence I extrude, but tonight, I felt anything but that.

I felt hurt, pain, and confusion.

Hurt that she didn't want me.

Pain from the physical infliction she gave me earlier.

Confusion because I still want to be her everything.

Sitting outside her room, I poured myself another tonic drink. I yearned to hold her, but she was repulsed by me. I wanted her to talk to me, but she would only stare at me blankly.

It hurts like a motherfucker and here I was drinking away the pain. Feeling like a hopeless fucker. I wanted to throw things. I wanted to run away, but I couldn't tear myself away from her door. I'm half afraid she might run away.

I shoved my hand through my hair and then rubbed it down my face. Frustration settles inside of me and I downed the tonic drink in one gulp before pouring myself another.

I continued like this until I couldn't drink anymore. Dropping the glass cup on the cool marble floor, I fell asleep outside her door.

When I awoke the next morning, I found Judah and Ace crouching down and staring at me. Ace raised a questioning eyebrow. One corner of Judah's lip lifted into a smirk. He picked up my empty glass and pointed at me.

"You look like hell," Judah commented.

I grabbed the empty glass from him and kicked him onto his ass with my feet. He chuckled and got back up before giving me his hand. I took it and they hoisted me up into a standing position.

"I see that our Luna has returned." Ace looked at the closed door. I could hear her slow breathing.

"I almost lost her last night. She was fast," I muttered before pinching the bridge of my nose. My head was throbbing.

"What would you have done if she refused to return?" Ace questioned.

I thought about it. I don't know what I would have done. Last night, I experienced desperation. I think if it came down to that, I may just be crazy enough to bring her back against her will. I'm glad it didn't get to that point.

I recalled my promise to her. Although it would kill me, I would do as I promised. I gave her my word. I just hope it doesn't come down to that because I don't think I'll survive the separation.

"I don't know, man," I admitted honestly.

"If Rosemary disappeared, I would go crazy. If she rejected me, I don't know how I would survive," Judah replied in understanding. He tapped me on the back in a brotherly manner. "C'mon bro, take a shower. You stink. If you want, I'll have someone stand guard."

I shook my head. "No. She won't run."

"Are you sure?" Ace asked.

I nodded my head. I promised her she could leave if she wanted. I didn't tell them this, though. With that, we separated. It's been days since the news of Judah and Rosemary, even Ace and Scott. While we all have our own personal problems, we also have duties in our pack. They left me to take care of what they needed to get done.

After I took a shower and changed into an old sleeveless t-shirt and sweatpants, I walked out of my closet and stopped to stare at the connecting door. She was sleeping next door. I could hear that they were awake now. I could almost hear her whispers to her brother. They were talking quietly on the other side.

So, she's not a mute. She just refuses to talk to me. That hurt more than I expected. I felt a harsh squeeze in my chest that made it almost impossible to breathe. Unconsciously, I moved to rub at the ache.

Tearing my eyes away from the door, I walked downstairs and stopped by the kitchen. Catalina was in the kitchen, cooking up breakfast already. She looked up when she saw me walk in.

"Good morning, Alpha," she greeted with a smile.

Good morning, Catalina. I'm wondering if you could prepare something light for my mate."

"Already done. I heard she didn't take in her food well yesterday. I think this might do the trick. The poor thing is skinny as a stick. We need to plump her up," Catalina replied, carrying a breakfast tray.

There was enough for her brother and her. I nodded my thanks. My mate was indeed skinny, but she was truly beautiful in the most breathtaking way. I don't know if it was the big doe-eyes that made me vulnerable to her in every way or maybe it was her plump lips that attracted me, but she was more than I could ever wish for in a mate.

I made my way up the steps and stopped at the door. Her hushed whispers stopped and even though the door was closed, I could feel her eyes on the door. She heard me before I even knocked. Her hearing was exceptional for a werewolf. What else about her I didn't know about?

I knocked on the door before opening. Her brother and her were sitting on the bed. They both were already looking at me when I walked in.

"I brought you two breakfast," I said.

I sat it between them. My mate picked up her oatmeal bowl and scooped some more into her brother's bowl. Then she moved some of her bacon onto his plate. Picking up her spoon, she ate slowly without looking at me. Liam ate ravenously.

The boy truly looked like his sister, but there was definitely something different about him. He didn't look tiny for someone his age. He looked bigger and stronger. When he looked at me, there was a wildness in his eyes. I don't know if it was because he has been living in the outside world for too long or if it was because of something else.

"I've mentioned before, but I wanted to remind you two. That you two aren't prisoners. If you two wanted to step out for breakfast, we have a cafeteria downstairs that a lot of the pack members sit to eat."

My mate didn't respond, but I knew she heard me. She had stopped eating for a second to contemplate my suggestion. I watched a flash of emotion cross her face before she hid it under a cool demeanor.

"When will you talk to me?" I asked calmly. "I heard you talking to your brother a few minutes ago."

She shrugged her shoulders. The boy looked at her and then at me. A confused expression on his face. He looked overprotective of his sister because his eyes narrowed suspiciously right after.

"What do you want with us?" The boy demanded in a firm voice that surprised me.

"I want to protect you," I replied.

"We don't need your protection. We have been living by ourselves for years now."

"What is your name?"

"Why do you want to know?" he tossed back at me.

"I would like to call you by a name if I am speaking to you. You wouldn't like me calling you 'boy', would you?" I countered.

He looked angry. Suddenly, the boy growled loudly. My mate dropped her spoon and moved to cradle her brother's face. She looked him straight in the eyes and communicated silently. The boy took deep breaths and then turned to glare at me.

"Never call me that! My name is Liam," he snapped., but admitted his name.

It seemed labeling him, terrified him. I made a note to never call him that, but by his name.

"Liam. Thank you for telling me. I know you two have been doing well taking care of each other, but you two must be exhausted. I would like to help you both, if you would let me." I chose my words carefully.

"We don't need you," he huffed.

"But don't you want your sister to have another protector in case you aren't there to help her?" I argued.

Liam mulled it over. The area between his eyebrows crinkled and nostrils flared. He was a strong one. Definitely not scared of me and a protector. Judah would enjoy training him.

"So, do we agree I can help if needed?" I pushed one step further.

Liam slowly gave in. His nod of approval gave me hope. I turned to look at my mate. She looked at her brother accusingly and for some reason; it gave me a surge of satisfaction. Although it wasn't a smile or something warm, it was an emotion.

I wonder how long before she talked to me?

~ ~ ~

Later that afternoon, it started raining. More pack members loitered inside the packhouse. A few of them were standing by the foyer windows to glance outside.

Every year, there is a period of rainfall that we receive. It could go on for weeks. Non-stop rain. During this time, there were a series of floods and danger in our territory.

Walking down the steps, I met up with Ace. Judah had left to go back home. He preferred to live away from everyone. He liked his privacy. Ace, on the other hand, lived in the packhouse with me.

"Did we check on the food provision?" I asked.

"I talked to Catalina. She ensured she ordered enough food to last us a while. We filled our fridge from bottom to top shelf," Ace replied.

We turned to look at the members who stood in the foyer. Many of them wore worried expressions. Some of our pack members do not live in the packhouse and that means that those who lived in the packhouse have family members who lived in the valleys in our territory. We have checked the dam to make sure there won't be any issues. I just hope that it was secured.

Although we offered our spare rooms to the pack members who lived in the valley, they would rather prefer to live in their own homes.

"What about first aid? Our medical wing? Is everything stocked?" I asked.

Ace nodded. "Judah checked in on the medical wing. It looks like they should be good on supplies in case anything happens."

I nodded, feeling reassured. I slapped Ace on the back appreciatively.

"Thanks for the help, man."

"No problem. We all know, you have enough on your hands." He was talking about my mate.

I'm sure by now, everyone knows I found my mate. I haven't formally introduced her to the pack yet. It wasn't the time yet. I'm glad no one was pushing or creating trouble.

"What about you and Scott?" I asked.

Scott was from another pack, who had requested visitation rights from his Alpha to me. I have granted him permission because I knew he was Ace's mate. They had just recently met, and I knew they were also struggling to accept their mate bond.

Ace's face darkened, and he sighed heavily and I knew that look all too well. I patted him on the back.

"We've fought bigger battles, man." I tried reassuring him.

"It feels like this is our biggest battle," he countered.

I chuckled and nodded.

"Ah, but we never admit defeat. If we fail one way, find another way. There is always a way. Nothing is impossible," I told him.

I'm not sure who I was trying to convince more. Him or me. I turned to look up at the second floor landing. It was going to be a long battle with my mate.