Anton looked down at the lab and sighed. It was surrounded by news vans. People swarmed around the lab. His head snapped over to Flaviu, glaring at him.

"Will you calm down?" Flaviu asked him impatiently. "Your mate won't be going through all those people." He started the descent down to the lab. Flaviu turned and gave Anton a quick smirk. "All of those people are for you."

"What?"

Flaviu carefully landed the hovercraft and turned to unhook Anton from the chair. He pulled him out of the hovercraft just to be met with blinding lights. "Give the cameras a smile, Anton. They're here to welcome you." His grip on Anton's arm tightened as Anton lowered his head.

"You've got me cuffed, Flaviu," Anton growled as they moved toward the entrance of the lab. Anton's heart squeezed knowing that his parents were going to see this image of him. His mother was going to cry. His father was going to be angry. Anton didn't want that. He didn't know how to get them a message that this was all a misunderstanding and not what it seems.

Flaviu chuckled as he waved at the cameras. "Don't worry, Anton. I can paint this picture anyway that I want." He stopped Anton in front of the large glass doors of the lab and turned him around, facing the cameras once again. "This is a day of victory, my friends," Flaviu announced, his smile wide and eyes shinning. "One of our own, Anton Dalca, was able to find not just one, but a whole village of morphers! With his help, we were able to bring back those morphers in hope to study and learn more about them." Flaviu clapped a hand on Anton's shoulder, making Anton flinch. "Unfortunately, our young hero scientist here has fallen sick. For the time being he will be in isolation until he is in the right state of mind again." He turned his attention back toward the cameras. "There will be no questions." Flaviu pushed Anton through the glass doors and down toward the basement lab.

"My parents will worry, Flaviu," Anton mentioned slowly.

Flaviu rolled his eyes. "They will, but I'll keep them at bay. They will believe that you are getting better, but can't talk at the moment." He pushed Anton out of the elevator and toward the cages. "Let us see how your mate is doing, shall we?"

Anton's body tensed at the mention of his mate. He wanted to see her. He wanted to protect her, but knew he couldn't. The amount of guilt he has for not being able to protect his mate was causing him pain. His stomach turned as he heard her cries of pain before they reached the cage that held her. "Your men had better not hurt her, Flaviu."

Flaviu laughed. "What are you going to do about it if they did?" He stopped in front of Oana's cage and slammed Anton against the glass wall.

Anton's heart hurt as he looked down at her. Oana was curled in a ball, new bruises covered her skin. Her head picked up. Her eyes were wide with tears as she looked at him. "Anton," she croaked. She stumbled up and ran to the glass. Her fists banged on the glass trying to get to him. "Anton," her muffle voice cracked.

Flaviu pulled Anton away from the glass. "All of this is your fault, Anton." He pointed at Oana. "The pain that she is feeling is because of you. I still don't understand how it's possible that you have a mate, but I will figure out the answer." He held out a gun toward Oana's head. "Move back, bitch."

Oana's eyes snapped over to Anton's for a split second before moving to Flaviu. Her lips formed a snarl as she moved away from the glass. Two guards came behind them and grabbed Anton, opening a door to the cage and pushing him into the cage.

Oana stood as if she was about to pounce on the men holding onto him. Anton heard the click of Flaviu's gun and shook his head. "Oana," he warned. Oana kept her eyes locked with his as the men chained him to the wall and walking out of the cage.

"Get comfortable, Anton," Flaviu chuckled as he put his gun away. "Until we get what we need, you'll stay like this. Let's go." Flaviu turned quickly on his heel and walked away, the other two men following close behind him.

Oana flung herself at him, wrapping her arms around his neck. Anton wrapped his arms around her waist, bringing her closer to him. His head dipped to the crook of her neck, breathing her in. "What that man said is not true," her breath tickled his ear.

Anton shook his head. "But it is true, Oana. I did lead them to you. I put you and your village in danger."

Oana stepped back from him and placed her hands on either side of his face. "No, Anton. You did not know what that man had done."

"He planted a tracker into my clothes."

"You did not know about that tracker," Oana replied, her thumbs brushing along his cheeks. "You cannot blame yourself, Anton. No one blames you."

Anton huffed. "I know that's a lie."

Oana stepped away from him. "I would not lie. You are my mate. I cannot lie to you."

"How?"

"How what?"

Anton's eyes traveled down her body, still not believing that any of this is real and that she was his. "How are we mated?"

Oana's head tilted as she gave him a small smile. "You and I did-"

"Oana," Anton chuckled. "I know that, but how am I your mate? I'm not a morpher. I can't shift into anything."

Oana shrugged her shoulders as she stepped closer to him, running her hands up his chest. "I do not know, Anton. I do not question my fate. I do not question your fate. The gods made you for me," her hands moved down his chest. "As I was made for you."