That is how I landed up here in a cottage in the middle of the Swiss forest. Apparently, this is a safe house. We did not arrive here on Aiden's jet. Apparently, he had more than one.

The jet we had earlier traveled by was apparently found as a wreck, with all the dead bodies accounted for except Ethan's. He was not found by some sheer luck and Aiden strongly suspected that the Blood Mafia was able to break into the palace with Ethan's help since he was the gamma and he knew the points with weak security.

But still, they wanted to be sure so samples were collected from the wreck and sent for DNA testing. We had to take a plane with aliases, not our true identities. After the breach in the palace, Aiden is set on doing a complete search of the palace grounds.

He had called a couple of epsilons too for their input. Usually, Epsilons come into play when there is a war but that's not a requirement. They are basically strategists who specialise in strategies.

Aiden had taken a unique approach. He thought that protecting the palace by assigning many men for security wouldn't work for a palace of that size.

He now ponders what he would do if he had to break into a location. The Epsilons would analyse the castle for potential weak points from which somebody would attack.

I'm in a bedroom now, staring at the scenery from its windows. The room is decorated in earthen colours. The cottage is entirely made of wood and the green bed covers reflect the forest on the outside.

Aiden is in the study. He's brought about an army of men with us. The entire economy class of the flight was filled with weres. I sigh as my thoughts turn in another direction. Maybe I should finish my research or I could decode the riddle.

Decisions are hard to make. But my thoughts are interrupted by Aiden walking in the door. He walks into the room, briefly glancing at me before nodding and then heading towards our bags. He unpacks them, retrieving a change of clothes, and proceeds to the bathroom.

That's strange. He didn't even speak to me. Usually, he's sweet with me. He used to behave like this before we were friends. And after my kidnapping, there was not even one instance where he was so casual with me.

He has always been attentive and indulgent. Maybe he is stressed from the break-in. It does not reflect well on the Alpha King that his palace is not safe.

Does this mean that he is agreeing with me? Is he going to reject me? A sharp pang shoots across my chest as I clutch my heart. Why am I feeling so sad? Is it just because he's my mate or is it because I have grown to like him? Do I like him? Is it just liking or is it something more than that?

The moments we spent together flash across my eyes. That day in the forest where we had crashed after the hijack, he was saying something. What was he saying? I never asked him.

I hear the bathroom door creak open and turn to look at him. He's staring at me. I smile at him tentatively, unsure of what his reaction is going to be.

"I'm going to sleep on the left side of the bed. You can take the right. We will have a long day tomorrow. We'll need to get up early. And please don't start arguing about sleeping somewhere else. Your honour will be intact. Please allow me and my beast some peace of mind, so we can relax knowing you are safe and close to us."

My eyes widen at his words and my mouth drops open in shock. Aiden's eyes focused on my face for a moment, his eyeballs going a bit down before shrugging and taking his side of the bed that he had claimed and dragging the blanket over his body before closing his eyes.

I close my mouth and pout at his behaviour. Fine. If that's the way he wants to be, I don't care. Huffing at his antics, I retrieve my pajamas from the bag before doing my nighttime routine, sliding into the bed beside him and covering myself with the blanket.

We have a few inches between us yet I feel as if it's a few miles. So near yet so far. If our relationship had a tagline, it would be that. I want to be close to him. He's perfect in my eyes. My beast lets out a yip in approval.

She's giddy at the prospect of sleeping near her mate. His scent coats the blanket and I inhale it deeply, etching it into my memory. Chocolate and cinnamon. Just like the day at the coffee shop.

I wonder what would have happened if we met then. Would he have killed me? I turn to my left, my hand under my cheek and gaze at Aiden.

I haven't given it a thought until now but Aiden is handsome. He has a straight nose, a sharp jaw and big eyes that are more expressive than his words. Thick black hair covers his head that is identical to that of his wolf. He's almost like a model. I understand why he's the most eligible bachelor, even if we don't take into account his status as a king.

Suddenly, Aiden turns right in his sleep and I jerk my eyes close, not wanting him to catch me staring at him. I peeked through one of my eyes and let out a sigh. He's still asleep. I keep staring at him and soon drift into sleep.

I am jerked awake by Aiden, his hands gripping my shoulders and shaking me. "Huh, what?"

"It's almost six and we have training to attend. Come on, get freshened up and change into something fit for a workout. We have a long run followed by sparring."

Aiden's words are rushed as he says them before going out of our bedroom.

He didn't even give me a chance to respond. Groaning, I get up from the bed and do as he says. Soon, I'm out of my bedroom and following his scent out the door. He's standing at the edge of the forest that surrounds the cottage, his back to me.

His back straightens suddenly, no doubt upon sensing my presence. "Come on, we have a long run ahead," he says over his shoulder before starting into a run.

I pout at him but follow him. Ever since my suppression shots have been stopped, my wolf has been appeased.

She howls in the back of my mind and spreads out, lending some speed and strength. We are more of a team now than we ever were. Even the forceful shift on the last full moon was amicable. She was ready to negotiate that day.

No doubt due to Aiden. His presence seems to have a positive effect on her. The trail on which we set out is getting harder now. We are climbing up the mountain. I keep in pace with Aiden but still stay a few steps back, unsure of his reaction if I run next to him.

Soon we reach the downhill side of the mountain that opens into a clearing. I see some weres there who had accompanied us, sparring and making blows at each other.

Even though I have not been a part of a pack, according to Nana's stories, I have always known that packs have thorough exercise routines in the mornings and evenings.

Aiden leads me to Henry, who is standing near an empty circle. The grass has been cleaned in a rough circular area, giving it a look like that of a boxing ring. Loose dirt covers the entire area. Aiden nods at Henry in acknowledgement before turning to me.

A were runs to him, giving him two bottles of water before bowing and stepping back. Aiden grabs the bottles from the were before extending one of the bottles to me.

I grab the bottle from his hand and our fingers brush in the process. Tiny sparks erupt over our fingers and he stiffens for a moment before turning back around towards Henry.

I purse my lips at his behaviour. He does not need to be such a grump. Narrowing my eyes at him, I uncap the bottle and sip water in tiny gulps. I should not consume all the water in one go though, as it might cause a drop in sodium levels.

I see Henry nodding at Aiden but there is no verbal exchange between them. They must be mind-linking each other. Henry nods again before coming towards me. My beast perks her head up in my mid, assessing Henry.

"Good morning, Aurelia. Let me introduce myself, officially. I am Henry Johnson. Head Epsilon of the Royal Pack. Today you are going to train with me."

My eyes widen at his words. He is the Head Epsilon. I thought he was just Aiden's head of security. I now look at Henry with renewed interest. It seems like I have misjudged him.

I gulp and reply, "Hello, Henry."

He gives a small smile at my reaction. Epsilon werewolves are one of the most ruthless. They have strong instincts for war and strategy. Their strength often rivals that of an alpha.

"Since you have already run for a bit, I think you must be pumped up for the session. Now step up in the circle and let's see how your fighting skills are."

I nod at him, unable to respond to him. I am still in shock and intimidated too. Sparring with an Epsilon is going to be tough. Henry enters the ring and stands in the left half of the ring.

My beast caresses my mind, making me get rid of my anxiety before assuring me. I take a deep breath and enter the ring.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Aiden watching me with interest. He wants to know how I fare in a fight with an Epsilon. Well, if that's what he wants, that's what he will get.

My beast stands on her feet in my mind, shaking her fur out and giving me an encouraging bark. I step in, my shoulders squared. Us weres, do not bow to each other, unlike humans but we flash our wolves in our eyes as a sign of respect and acknowledgement before sparring.

My eyes flash and so do Henry's. I sense his wolf close now, just beneath his skin.

The were who gave the bottles to Aiden steps up and says, " No shifting until I say."

Both of us nod at his words, while Aiden just keeps looking at us. Henry starts stalking me in circles, assessing me.

I remain motionless, revealing nothing. Even though I have not sparred in a long time, there was a time when I was young and Nana and Uncle sparred with me to give my beast an outlet.

I keep my eyes focused ahead but my senses are attuned to Henry's footsteps. They are now regular and light but they will not be that way forever. And just as I thought, his footsteps faltered, and I sensed him running towards me. I still stand, waiting for him to be near.

Just as he's a foot away, I whip around to see his fist coming my way. I duck and rise only to see one of his other fists. I duck again and this continues for a few more times before he twitches his leg.

He is going to kick me. I let him raise his leg, waiting for the right moment, before ducking and spinning my left foot. It hits his only standing leg and he starts to fall to the ground. But he is agile, as he balances himself with his left arm and aims his other leg at him.

This time I don't react fast enough and his foot grazes my cheek. Blood comes out of my mouth as a spray, staining the ground.

But I don't give it much thought, as I think fast, grab his foot, and rise up fast. Burrowing strength from my beast, I spin him around by his foot. He starts to spin but stops by extending his claws and gripping the loose soil.

He then makes a backflip and stands straight, his eyes scrutinizing me. He let out a loud growl and ran towards me. It means gloves are off now. No more testing.

This time he is direct, and so am I. He starts to aim a punch at my face; his hands are not claws anymore. I move aside and aim a roundhouse kick at him. This time, he is the one who is spitting blood.

"Not bad," he says, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. He smirks, yet his eyes blaze with determination. He's poised to mount a powerful comeback.

He is now more speed than strength, as he keeps aiming punches and kicks at me. I try to keep up and duck at the right moment but I will not be able to do that for long. So I do a cartwheel and land a few feet away from him, dodging his kick. He stands still for a moment, not expecting me to be out of his way.

I take advantage of it and run towards him, gaining momentum and pushing him along with me, my head under his arms at his torso like a bull and my arms around his waist holding him.

He tries to stop us with his feet and we almost come to rest before I release and move behind him as fast as I can, ducking under his left arm and spinning around. I jump on his back, my feet on his spine. The weight of me causes him to fall to the ground.

He is now face down on the ground but he rises up, pushing up on his arms. I jump aside and snarl at him. He snarls back at me. We then hear the words "shift."

I don't want to shift but Henry shifts. I remain in my human form as he starts running towards me. Just as he's within my arms reach, I partially shift my head into that of my lycan and my hands into claws. He snaps at me.

He is huge, almost to the level of my collarbone as he snaps but I take advantage of my claws and bring them to his neck as he pushes me to the ground. His jaw is around my neck but so are my claws.

Just as he realizes this, his eyes widen at me. He lets go of my neck and steps back while I stand up. It is only then that I notice the silence around us.

Word Count: 2481