Wisps of sunlight peered beneath the curtains, stirring me from my sleep.

I felt like I was laying on clouds, the blankets draped over me, and smiling sleepily, I noted that Phelan was nestled in behind, flush against me.

I wanted to wake up like this, every day for the rest of my life.

I hummed in contentment as his fingers lazily traced my back, gently moving my hair to grant him the opportunity to do so.

"Good morning little temptress..." he cooed as he continued his gentle ministrations across my skin.

His words immediately pulled my mind from the warm cocoon I was in, and bringing the evening before into razor sharp focus.

Feeling me tense with the recognition, Phelan leant in closer behind me, wrapping his arm around me and holding my own between my breasts.

He kissed my neck, the action tender, soothing and apologetic.

"Edie... please don't doubt how I feel about you."

"Well that's a little difficult given your rejection last night." My sour expression invisible to him, but duly noted in my tone.

"Last night wasn't a rejection. I care about you too much to risk it, Edie."

He sounded so sullen before he continued, "I've waited forever for you... I can't just throw it away in a moment of lust," he paused, his voice cracking with emotion. "I will not lose you."

I turned around to face him, my eyes were hunting for any mistruths, but like always he was telling the truth.

Gently he planted a kiss tenderly on my forehead before his fingers traced my lips and down the valley of my chest before holding his palm there.

"This. Your heart is what I want to conquer first."

I slowly digested his words in quiet contemplation before deciding to reveal my own truths given his openness in sharing his own.

"I am not used to having someone who cares about me. It's sad but true, it's how I feel..." I trailed.

"It's so fucked up Phelan. I was being impulsive, I wanted it, damn the consequences."

I buried my head into his chest, too embarrassed to face his scrutiny.

"Edie, what you felt last night was but a sliver of what I feel every second I am near you. It's the bond. You're beginning to feel it."

My voice was muffled as I remained nestled against him, his hand stroking the back of my head. "How do you control it?"

His chuckle was hearty as he tucked a wisp of hair behind my ear. "With a great deal of difficulty..."

"Come here."

He edged my chin up with his finger tip before bringing his lips down to mine.

My eyes closed as I felt his teeth pinch my bottom lip. I moaned to the kiss, letting him take control as his lips lingered on mine.

"Hmm... I hope this makes up for last night Edie."

He felt my small smile as our lips continued in their dance, "yes, it does... although we best stop now before you get an encore of that performance..."

~

I'd spent the day at the Pack House. Phelan was busy with various training sessions and meetings, and I decided to keep myself pre-occupied, organising a training session with Sophia.

It was nice to spend some quality time with her too. I wanted to build our friendship considering we were going to be family, sisters-in-law... if you'd even call that a construct within a werewolf pack.

Going back after the fight with Wyatt wasn't as awkward as I'd expected. I had felt embarrassed about how the fight ended, but it seemed that it only helped build a respect for me, as if verifying that I was one of them. Soft smiles, a wave, simple nods of acknowledgment.

It felt nice.

It wasn't that I wanted to be treated differently, or in any way superior given Phelan's role as an Alpha... I wanted to show that I could earn respect through my own merit. That I could contribute to pack life through my own skills. Be it protecting the pack, nurturing a sense of community within Haven or just simply being their for those who needed. Sure, I wasn't the best fighter, and I hadn't formed many friendships yet, but I'd proven to be capable enough to be useful so that was a start.

After hanging out with Sophia, the majority of which was spent talking rather than training, I set off back to Phelan's place.

I still couldn't call it our place. It was his. There were still so many seeds of doubt within my own head that I needed to work through. I had always hated the prospect of relying off of somebody else. I'd always been independent, going off to college, and supporting myself through various jobs whilst I studied.

When my Aunt passed, she'd left me a sizeable inheritance, one that was bequeathed to her on behalf of my parents. The financial security provided me with an enormous sense of relief, but I was in no rush just to blow it. I was content to live within my means, a simple life with simple pleasures.

And Haven was perfect for that. Being here made me realise how little I really needed in order to be happy. It was a stripped back way of living, and I found comfort in learning that the things with the most value, cost nothing at all.

I smiled to myself as I pictured Phelan. I couldn't believe that a man, who I was sure could only exist in a woman's imagination, could be real... could be mine.

Life had a funny way of working out when you least expected it, I thought.

Which was why, after entering Phelan's cabin, the universe swiftly pulled that thought out from under me.

Heading upstairs, I went to my bedroom, where all of my clothes and belongings remained despite sharing Phelan's bed more often than not.

It felt disturbed.

Nothing was out of place that warranted my sudden unease, but my skin prickled with tension as I surveyed the room.

The bed was as it had been left, unused and fresh. The sliding doors to the porch still locked, the dresser drawers neatly closed.

The dresser.

Walking over, I swung the bathroom door beside it open, ever ready to karate chop the masked intruder who'd likely be ready to ambush me from behind it.

Nothing.

But still. Something was off.

I stood there momentarily, just coming to terms with knot in my stomach that told me someone had been here.

The shift in scent. The shift in mood.

And it was then my eyes diverted back to the dresser. And more specifically the envelope that was leaning against the flower vase, that wasn't there the day before, a cursive 'E' signifying that I was the intended recipient.

Who had been in my room?

Who the hell broke into Phelan's house?

And did they have a death wish?

Scanning the room again as if I was about to dismantle a ticking time bomb, I reached forward and grabbed it.

I held it in my hands for a few moments unsure of what to expect.

What was in it?

Who was it from?

Flipping it over, I carefully pulled out the note that was folded neatly inside.

Staring at the handwriting, I immediately knew who was responsible.

But what threw me into an immediate state of shock were the words that stared back from the page and into my vision.

I was filled with an instant regret that I had found it in the first place. I wanted to rewind the clock but ten minutes earlier and have a do over.

But I couldn't unsee what I saw.

And I couldn't unread what I read.

It was as if he was right beside me, his voice crystal clear in my mind.

Edie,

I'm sorry for the shock you must feel having found this letter but it was the only way to reach out to you safely.

I cannot stress this enough... Your life is in imminent danger. Phelan is not who he says he is.

I have spent months trying to find you. You need to know that I never left you Edie... It was Phelan. He tried to kill me and left me for dead.

He is a dangerous man who will stop at nothing to get what he wants. You cannot trust him.

Meet me at the territory border at 1900, I can't get any closer or he will know.

I promise I will explain everything then.

Forgive me, H

My head was spinning, the note shaking as my hands trembled with shock.

How the hell did he find me?

How did he know Phelan?

'Territory border?'  That implied he knew Phelan was a werewolf, but how?

I felt heavy perspiration saturate my forehead as I struggled to unpack the details in the letter.

I pieced together what I knew, trying to make sense of it all. Phelan knew I lived in Cedar Grove before coming here. He had admitted keeping watch... ensuring my safety from The Guild. It wasn't out of the realm of possibility then, that he knew I'd partnered with Hale... but to try and kill him?

Phelan wasn't like that.

I knew it in my heart.

But what reason would Hale have to lie, and risk his life coming to Haven, the territory and pack run by his alleged attacker?

It didn't make sense.

If Phelan did try to kill him, there would have been reason for it. I shook my head, pulling at my hair in frustration at the fact I was even justifying murder, something so commonly disregarded in my new life here.

Phelan's words from when he first described pack life replayed in my head, it's kill or be killed Edie..

Jesus fucking Christ... Surely not?

But what angered me the most was not the fact that Phelan knew Hale, and to be honest, probably would have tried to kill him... it was the fact he hid it from me.

There was obviously an element of truth to Hale's letter otherwise he would not have known where I was or risked writing it.

But to what extent?

Why, when after promises of honesty and truth, would Phelan withhold telling me about this?

I paced the room in frustration.

If only there was phone reception in this fucking place. I couldn't very well just call Phelan and ask. And because I was broken and fucking well useless, I couldn't mind-link him and find out that way either.

Time was closing in and I had to make a choice.

At least after the fight with Wyatt I knew I could defend myself well if it were necessary. And I knew Hale was human... he was not a threat to me.

At the very least, I needed closure and to tell him I stood with Phelan. Because I did.

If Hale valued his life, he'd run and never come back. Just because I thought he was a piece of shit, it didn't mean I wanted him dead...

If Phelan knew he was here, he would finish what he started, but not if I got to him first.

So I ran downstairs, grabbed the keys and took off before I had time to regret my decision.