What would Mom or Lily think of this? Would they think I'm crazy for staying this long and indulging in this matehood at all? It feels indulgent like too much of Theo will eventually hurt me, but could I leave if I wanted to?

I don't think I want to, even after our unsuccessful dinner talk, because giving up and going home isn't putting me in any better of a situation. There's no point in returning to my parents mateless let alone with a lost opportunity to be a Luna. My mother will fall to her knees and beg the Goddess to return me to the stars.

So I'll stay for now and hope Theo's heart thaws enough to feel our bond—really feel it in the way mates are meant to.

I don't emerge from the spare room until late in the morning, but when I do, Theo's scent is in the air. I go down the staircase and catch him heading through the hall towards the door. He looks back and sees me on the stairs. Coerced somewhat by our bond, I ask, "Where are you going?"

He says plainly, "The fields."

"What are the fields?"

"Where men and guards learn how to defend the territory."

So the fields are Draven's training grounds. Seeing how Theo's willing to answer, I continue questioning him. "Is that where you usually are?"

"I'm at the fields, at the edge of the territory, the cells, here in the house—many places."

We won't make any progress if I spend all day hiding from him, so I ask, "Well, can I come with you to the fields?

"Women don't go to the fields at this time."

"Oh," I tilt my chin down, "of course."

Last night—though provoked—he said I was his, but he doesn't seem keen to try and figure out our matehood as I do. Maybe I ruined it from the start by turning up in such an unruly state. Maybe he wants a luna of Alpha blood like him.

Theo crosses his arms. I assume he's someone who doesn't tend to change his mind, but, oddly enough, he says slowly, "You can come."

"You don't have to—"

"Just, pay attention. Most people there are shifted."

I hesitate before coming the rest of the way downstairs.

I stay one step behind him and wiggle into my shoes in the entryway. He holds the door for me, and then we're off along the path, but, unlike our first walk, I place myself beside him and not behind him. He guides me down the same large path I took previously but switches to the conjoining path on the left that was popular yesterday morning.

Since our talk last night didn't last very long, I try to keep this conversation going. I need to know more about Theo if I'm going to decide which place—here or home—is the lesser evil.

"I think this pack is bigger than Rowan," I comment.

I can feel Theo's eyes on me as I take in the scenery. He says, "It is."

I give him my attention. "When did you replace your father as Alpha?"

"Nine years ago."

"You must have been young."

"Seventeen."

"How come you took over so young?" I ask.

"Because I had to."

Sensing a sensitive subject, I try to think of something else to ask, but suddenly Theo says, "I don't think you like how I lead."

"Oh. Who am I to tell an Alpha how to lead his pack?"

"You're mated to an Alpha."

I glance at him. Just the mere mention of our matehood provokes my blush, so I just as quickly look away. "Well, I was held in a cell for hours with no food or water, and all I did was accidentally cross your border."

"The men who brought you in haven't dealt with a female trespasser—we don't get many—so they treated you as they would a man or a rogue," he explains.

"Woman, guard, rogue, whoever; they're all people, and exiling the guards seems a bit extreme," I argue.

"It's not that simple. The rogue you were held with—he killed someone, didn't he? I owe nothing to rogues who trespass and cause problems on my territory, and the exiled guards could have had it worse. They likely went to the nearest pack which happens to be Rowan's."

"What would have happened to me if I wasn't your mate?" I ask.

"I would have released you with a warning."

I say nothing.

"Do you not believe me?" he questions.

"And if I was a man?"

"Are my answers not horrible enough for you?"

I wait, again walking in silence, and soon Theo says, "Men have to earn their freedom."

I roll my lips together and look outward. "I don't know what makes a good Alpha, and I don't mean to interrogate you. I just want to know who my mate is regardless of the things I've heard, regardless of my assumptions and fear—"

"Fear?" He shakes his head. "You aren't afraid of me, Celeste. If you were, you wouldn't have gone into my bedroom or asked to come with me here. As long as we're bonded, you'll never be afraid of me. In your head, shifted or not, you know I'm who protects you now."

I dig my nails into my palms as the bond riles. "Maybe you're right. I'm not afraid that you'll make me pay for trespassing, or that you'll exile me, or put me in danger, but there are other things to be afraid of."

"What?" he asks, but I don't dare to disclose such personal anxieties. "You don't want to tell me?"

"No."

He steps in front of me and I halt for a second, realizing he's turning onto the fields. He glances over his shoulder and says, "This way."

I follow after. The fields are a large open space surrounded by trees and featuring a building on the far side. Wolves occupy the majority of the space while few unshifted people observe from the perimeters. I watch as the shifted men tackle and snap at each other, and I move closer to Theo, never having seen so many sparring wolves; it's like a battlefield.

My dad occasionally trains guards for Alpha Rowan, but he never allowed me or Lily anywhere near his work.

"They aren't hurting each other, are they?" I ask.

"They only get hurt if they aren't following protocol."

One pair nearby tumbles and growls so fiercely that I gasp under my breath. "They look so angry."

"They're supposed to take training seriously."

Theo takes me along one side of the field until we reach a specific person monitoring and shouting corrections at a group of wolves. The man—long-haired, tan-skinned, and well-conditioned—notices Theo and strays from his group.

Theo says, "Corbin, this is Celeste, my mate."

Corbin's face lights. "Oh?"

"Corbin is my Beta," Theo tells me.

"I was there when you first came to the pack house, but he wouldn't let us meet you," his Beta says, seemingly to Theo's disapproval. "I'm glad he's come around to it."

Corbin offers his hand, and I shake it. "It's nice to meet you. My sister is actually mated to the new Beta of my home pack Rowan."

Corbin makes a face. "Your parents must be proud. One daughter mated to a beta and the other, an Alpha. I hope my daughters are as lucky."

"You have daughters?"

"Two—five and three—with another baby on the way."

I smile. "I'm sure they'll do well. Is your mate far along?"

"Painfully so. She's dying to meet you. Ever since I told her Theo found his mate, she's been way too curious about it."

"I would love to meet her."

"I'm sure you would after he's kept you locked away," Corbin kids and grabs Theo's shoulder. "Have you forgiven yourself for that yet?"

Theo mutters, "Alright," signaling he's had enough.

"Are you shifting?" Corbin asks him.

Before he can answer, I say, "I want to see your wolf. I've never seen an Alpha wolf up close."

Corbin squeezes his shoulder and then drops his hand. "Your decision has been made for you."

Theo exhales with his hands on his hips. He scans the field and then says, "I better get to it."

Corbin and I watch him walk off toward the building. "Careful where you look," Corbin warns. "Some of these guys aren't used to women on the field, and they shift wherever they please."

"Thanks."

"I'm glad he's found you; it's good to hear someone tell him what to do for once."

"I didn't mean to tell him what to do."

He waves me off. "Don't worry about it. He'll do it either way. He can't help it."

"Really?"

"Happens with matehood. Right about now, he's realizing he'll do anything to please you."

I stifle a laugh. "I find that hard to believe."

"You'll see."

I think about Corbin's claims as a pair of sparing wolves moves toward us. I watch with morbid curiosity until Corbin says, "There he is."

Near the building where Theo went emerges the largest wolf I've seen. Its coat is dark brown and lustrous in the sunlight, and it walks untouched among the surrounding mayhem. The mate bond tugs in my chest, triggering the reoccurring, fluttery feeling in my belly.

Corbin suddenly moves me backward. Amidst my distraction, the sparring wolves veer too close. Surprised, I stumble and almost fall to my backside, but Corbin keeps hold of me and brings me to my feet. "Woah gotta keep an eye out," he says. "You alright?"

"Yeah. Sorry."

"A little distracted?"

I catch my breath. "Just a little."

"Uh oh." Corbin steps forward, and I see Theo approaching. He calls, "We're fine. Don't worry."

I tilt my head back as Theo comes right up to us. He stops and looks down at me, seeming even larger.

"Come on, show her your teeth," Corbin directs.

Theo's wolf huffs at him.

As a lethal Alpha wolf, I oddly find him less intimidating. I reach out and touch his coat, letting my fingers sink into the dense, soft hairs. The bond magnifies, so I let go. He looks at me closely and watches my hand draw away. His wolf backs up and then turns to push the fighting wolves farther from me.

Theo's right. Technically, even as a beast, not the smallest tremble or inkling of fear rises within me. Lily spoke of Alphas like him as reasons to stay inside borders, and the imprisoned rogue gave me many examples of why everyone should fear Theo's wrath, but my mate tells me he won't hurt me, and I believe him. He claims he's my protector, and I feel safe.

The Goddess is on my shoulder, whispering into my ear, 'You're his,' and my heart cramps with yearning.

I blink and breathe and see everything again—all of the wolves snarling, wrestling, and training to kill at his command.

I fan myself lightly on my neck. Though it's summer, the day didn't feel particularly hot until now. I shift my weight from one foot to the other and continue fanning until his Beta asks, "Are you alright?"

"Oh, yeah," I brush it off and half smile. "Just a bit warm."

"It can be hot in the sun."

I nod, still smiling, but my mouth flattens when the mate bond reacts without being evoked. Theo is across the field now, not paying us any mind until my gaze seems to alert him. He looks through the pairs of wolves right at me, and I mutter, "Actually, I don't feel very well. I think I'm going to walk to the pack house."

"I can take you there if you don't know the way," Corbin offers.

I decline, saying, "No worries. I know it, but I hope to see you again soon, and your mate also."

"I'll tell Theo you've gone to the house. I'm sure he'll come check on you, make sure you're alright."

"Tell him I'm fine; it's really nothing. Just a headache...from the sun," I add.

I start off before Corbin can object, and I make sure to wave goodbye and smile again before turning my back finally. With the notion of heat in my head from Theo's comment yesterday, I helplessly cling to the possibility while simultaneously praying it isn't true. I'm not ready to endure such a mysterious thing, not after the chaos of the past few days.

I join the path and peer at the field one last time, making sure Theo is still shifted amongst the sparring wolves, but my heart only races harder when I see he is not.