---Marcus' POV---

The room was quiet except for our steady panting as we drew in gasps of air, sweat trickling over our faces and dull pain webbing through our backs. I turned my head on my pillow with a great bit of effort and smirked, seeing Killian panting as he stared at the ceiling with a dreamy expression.

A satisfied smirk curled over my lips as my eyes dipped lower, eying the deep purple hickeys before I managed a tired chuckle, limbs still trembling on an orgasmic high after our last round.

Killian chuckled along with me, groaning as he attempted to roll on his side and failed. He admitted defeat and stayed where he was sprawled beside me.

"Never again. I'm not letting you out of my sight for one single minute." Killian panted, turning his head to look me in the eye. I could see the promise in his eyes, the way golden flecks danced in their dark depths to show his Lycan agreed.

A huff of laughter escaped me, "So what, you're going to follow me to the bathroom if I need to take a leak?" Killian barked with laughter, grunting in pain when his muscles protested against the movement but he couldn't stop himself.

"I'll be able to restrain myself and give you that privacy, my heart." He replied dryly, chuckling softly as we both managed to catch our breathing.

"We didn't break the bed. Alec will be disappointed."

Killian smirked at that, reaching out a hand to trace from my jaw down to my nipple, teasing it between his fingers.

"Ah, but the night is still young darling." He chuckled at my low growl when he rolled over with great effort, placing a kiss on my lips before sighing, resting his forehead against mine.

Our trembling limbs tangled effortlessly, inner animals sighing in total contentment as we laid wrapped in one other's embrace.

I could still remember the steady aches I felt ever since having to leave Killian, the nightmares that troubled my sleep and the overall lethargy that threatened me on a daily basis.

But that was in the past; Killian was here and he wasn't going anywhere unless he took me with him. Though that thought caused other problems as well and I glanced at my mate to find him smiling warmly towards me.

"My heart, you shouldn't worry so much." He murmured softly, nuzzling against me and sighing with joy as my tiger quickly started to purr.

His fingers carded through my hair, nails softly scratching my scalp as he sighed warmly and nuzzled closer. "You honestly expect me to pull you away from your siblings?"

I huffed against his throat and shook my head before arching it against his hand when he stopped the petting. Killian chuckled warmly and continued under my tiger's insisting before I spoke softly.

"Not at all, love. It's just..."

"I'm the leader of my family and you were thinking about my duties." Killian added when I struggled for a way to formulate my thoughts. I nodded happily and chuffed when Killian's nose nudged my own.

A low, content grumble vibrated through Killian's chest, twisting and turning until I was laying on his chest with a sigh of joy.

"My heart, do remember that I vowed to you, that you would forever be my everything. The pack and my family, I lived with them for centuries on my own, yet I can't fantom to spend a single moment without you." His lips pressed tenderly against my forehead, a soft sigh rushing through my hair.

"I'm not going to put you in a position where I'm forcing you to choose, Killian." I muttered, keeping my gaze on the dimple in his cheek when his lips drew in a soft smile.

A low chuckle rumbled through his chest as Killian drew me closer. "Ah, my heart. But you didn't. It isn't a choice to make after all, it's more common sense. We've been apart for months, years and it was awful. As a leader, I was useless to my pack, only able for the most mundane of tasks and then went right back to sulking."

He drew my chin up, catching my gaze with his before breathing against my lips, "I would rather live a lifetime without my family, friends and pack, than to spend a single heartbeat separated from you."

A deep purr rumbled through my chest as we locked lips at that moment, losing track of time and awareness of our surroundings.

The only thing that mattered to both of us, was our soulmate.

---Alec's POV---

My throat rumbled with purr after purr, simply from being in Nathan's embrace as he went through paperwork and documents to assist the pack.

I had offered to help him once but Nathan had brushed it aside and simply drew me in his lap, pressing a kiss against my cheek. And that was where I was still seated, leaning in his arm as his hand softly played with my hair.

Honestly, I felt like a content fat lap cat, just about ready to roll over to accept a good belly scratching. Heavy lidded eyes scanned over the paperwork that Nathan was inspecting before I yawned.

"Another building project?" I inquired, recognizing the maps and requirements well enough to know Nathan had quite a job ahead of him.

He chuckled and nodded, leaning down for a quick kiss before he sighed. "Liam, Simon and Dante need a home of their own. So far they're fine using one of the dorms for their ... sleeping purposes but they deserve a place to call home as well."

I snorted, chuckling slightly as I inhaled my mate's scent deeply into my lungs and purred with satisfaction.

"Trrrue. I'm quite surprised that we all managed to find our mates in such a small period of time. Excluding Marcus, of course." I hissed softly, still sulking over the fact that Marcus hadn't informed any of us of his mated status.

And with good reason for that too, but still. It irked me that he couldn't have confined that in us, that he was the one that always had to bear the hardest of burdens. I wondered sometimes how hard it had been for him. Especially after I bumped into Nathan and Liam found his happily ever after as well.

I could only guess the wonder and despair Marcus must've felt, knowing he had a mate out there, a mate that wanted him as badly as Marcus wanted him, yet to be separated from one another for an unknown amount of time.

The thought alone was enough to burry my face in Nathan's throat with an annoyed grumble, nipping slightly at his skin and purring when his hands pressed me closer to his body.

"He had a good reason to keep you all in the dark, love." Nathan spoke softly, smiling with a knowing glint in his eyes when I puffed my cheeks slightly.

"But he could've told us and-" I started, pausing as Nathan finished my sentence by adding, "And you would've returned and made a huge fuss about the situation, drawing unwanted and quite dangerous eyes on yourself."

Nathan shifted his weight slightly, a low and threatening growl cutting off in his throat as he pulled me firmly in his lap, one hand cupping my cheek gently. "What do you think would've happened if Killian's enemies knew of your existence as well? If they couldn't get to Marcus..."

"They would've gone to us. Marcus would've done everything in his power to make sure Liam and I were safe." I gulped slightly, guessing that the Romanovs would've been courteous enough to release Liam and I after using us in their game.

No, they would've made sure that no witness was left behind. Liam and I would've been killed within the blink of an eye, Marcus tortured and tormented before killed in front of his mate.

A shiver ran over my spine before Nathan's hand chased the chill away, holding me closer against him. "So...Now that the Romanovs have been removed from Prague's history... we're safe?"

Nathan grinned, a happy light in his eye was the only answer I needed. The unconscious wariness I had felt ever since learning of the true nature of our nomadic life, instantly drained away as I relaxed in my mate's hold.

"Yes, my love. You, your brothers and your mates all are safe." He grinned wickedly, fingers slowly dipping towards the edge of my pants, making me smirk darkly, chuckling softly when both of us purred.

"Are we ever going to leave this honeymoon phase?" I teased, leaning forwards to nip at Nathan's jaw, smirking when he growled in delight before thrusting his hips up.

"I fucking hope not." He snarled, fingernails shifting to rip apart my clothes for his convenience as I laughed and scrambled out of his lap, putting the counters between us.

Nathan shook his head slightly, grin growing as he kept his eyes on me. "Darling, you should know better than to run away from a predator. It'll devour you in an instant."

A teasing smile slipped on my lips as I arched my back slightly, trailing a hand down my abs before teasing both Nathan and myself by grabbing a hold of my length.

"Hmmmm, darling. Don't threaten me with a good time."

Nathan growled lustfully before charging around the counter as I chirped out a laugh, narrowly avoiding his hands and instead ducked towards the stairs.

A yelp escaped me as I was hauled over a shoulder, Nathan taking two steps at a time as he charged upstairs and towards the bedroom.

Ahyes. I do hope we never leave this phase. A cat could get used to beingpampered like this...