My Grumpy Alpha - part 2

Rachel Van Dyken

Chapter 20

Ava

I sense him still, which is weird. I'm watching Xavier's lips move and while he smells good, is good looking, and was nice enough to help the rescue that was the elevator, something feels...off.

I nod my head as he smiles at me with that big commanding smile, offering me another slice of pizza.

"Here you go." He puts it on my plate. I stare down at it and all I can think is, I don't even like pepperoni, but I've been starving for so long that I eat it anyway because who knows when I'm getting my next meal and quite honestly, Eli could choose to fire me anytime.

Speaking of which.

I drop my napkin and look around. I smell him everywhere. "Xavier, can I ask you a question?"

He tosses hos own napkin and leans forward, he's always too close to me but not in a way that inimidates me, is's almost like he wants to---smell me, which is weird, but I've seen a shit ton of weird tonight so I shouldn't be too surprised.

"Of course you can." His eyes widen a bit, like he's intrigued by what I'm about to ask.

The burning in my mouth is back, almost like my tongue memorized the lines of Eli's fangs and misses them. "Do you believe in like the paranormal?"

He barks out a laugh. "Oh, you're dead serious, okay, well, I do think it's possible I mean the government did just toss us in the deep end with this whole alien thing, so if we can have aliens why can't we have a wolf that chases vampire down? Or..." He grabs his slice of pizza and points it at me. "A vampire hunting down a werewolf. That's my requirement."

He nods, clearly agreeing with himself. "Imagine how powerful they would be if they stopped fighting, you know, end the whole immortal fight. World peace. There's a reason we have stories, Ava. there's a reason editors and most authors love their lives being immersed in them, it's a constant escape from reality, so yeah it's possible but why don't you just focus on the moment? And what you feel right now?"

I nod and reach for my beer; he lifts his and clicks it with mine."That was a good answer, by the way." I take a long sip, loving how it's already calming me down from the weird interaction in the elevator.

"Why do you ask?" He folds his arms across his chest and leans back, the miracle is the chair doesn't collapse on itself into a bundle of firewood, what is with all these large men around here?

I shove more food in my face and smile through it. "Just morbid curiosity." When did I become so good at lying?

He licks his full lips and stares down at the table. "Well, there was this myth, but that's all it is."

"Myths can be based on reality sometimes. Most tragically were."

"Humans are the dumb ones, I'll be the first in line to admit it, but I think the hard part is that if things like that were real, how would you know? Would you ask them to show you their application for both DC and Marvel? Good with swords might be a fun thing to add to my resume."

I laugh. "But do you?" I paused. "Do well with swords?"

"Accidentally killed someone once, but it was because I was trying to protect my favorite dog, grabbed a sword and beat him over the head with it; granted, the sword was foam." His wink is gorgeous. "I'd say I'm a good family man, wouldn't you?"

He literally looks like he just walked off the cover of GQ and the way he looks at me makes me feel like I'm the only woman in existence, the stars fade away and all I see is this hypnotic trance in his eyes.

"What was my question again?" I suddenly forget.

He stands. "You wanted to know how much I loved bacon because you're cooking for me next weekend."

"Oh." Deflated, I just nodded way too many times in one minute. "Wait, did I just agree to a date?"

"Do you want probe at youn, ken my andy an ua m no mind reader, you know? Actually" - he chuckles--"you'd be surprised what you can learn from body language".

"Try me." I cross my arms defensively.

He stands and walks around the table and leans so close it's like he's almost kissing me. "Oh, don't worry, I love a challenge."

His look makes me nervous as he pays the bill. He holds out his hand. Do I take it? I finally grab it. He squeezes it while we're walking back on the sidewalk that leads to the company apartments. "I was thinking..." He starts to move toward me. "that you should go on a date with me this week.

I stumble next to him on accident, then pause and try to think of what to say. I mean, it's not like I should say no. He's been super sweet and I do want to get to know him, so why does my stomach revolt at the thought?

He's gorgeous.

Tall.

Masculine.

He seems to genuinely care because what could I possibly offer him?

I hold out my hand.

He initially takes it, before crushing his body against mine in a weirdly intimate hug. "Just think about it." He reaches for the phone in my hand and shoves it in front of my face, unlocking it, then adds his number. "Text me, all right?"

I have no time to even respond before I have my phone back in my hand and he's walking away, hands shoved in his pockets.

What just happened?

Why was this the weirdest night of my life?

I still can't explain things.

But now that I've had food I realize I was probably having a panic attack, it's the only thing that makes sense, and my brain had to make up something that would make actual sense being stuck in that elevator, cue in the grumpy boss who could easily be an alpha from folklore since he's one in the real world.

Feeling better, I get into the building and wave at the doorman.

He presses the button. "Good evening?"

I don't really know how to answer, so I just say, "Well, I survived being trapped in an elevator with—"

A hand comes out between the elevator doors, causing them to open again. It's Eli, and he looks pissed.

"Sir". The doorman nods. "Good to see you.Did you know this young lady was stuck in an elevator? Good thing you come to save the day, right? Because that's what you do?"

Eli grunts. "I had an idea, but I'm sure pizza made it so much better." He clutches his chest instantly in the most dramatic fashion and collapses to his knees.

The doorman curses. "I forgot about the moon."

"I wish I could," Eli says through clenched teeth. "Just get me to my room as soon as possible."

"Sir, right away, sir." The door man completely ignores me for the next twenty second ride and helps keep Eli at his side as they pass my apartment and make their way toward the penthouse.

The fact that the doorman can even help him get there is strange, not to mention the fact that he clearly knows him better than I assumed. And what is this business about the full moon?

I open the door to my apartment and hear a scream emit from El that sounds so painful I want to go back. Instead, I quicky shout my door.

I feel like I'm going crazy.

And not to mention, is very handsy with employees, mainly me, but still that doesn't matter.

Yet I still stand by my door and I still cringe when I hear more screams coming from his apartment. I try to bring myself to walk to the bedroom or bathroom. Instead, I find myself walking down the hall toward his door, typing in his code, looking heavenward like what the hell is wrong with me. I let myself in and see him on the couch shirtless, sweaty, writhing in pain.

When I walk toward him, he doesn't even have the strength to lift a hand, his arm falls against the couch, and his body follows tumbling onto the floor.

I realize too late that he's completely naked.

Just like I realize too late that he's still awake enough to jolt to his feet, grab me by the back of the neck and inhale.

Chapter 21

Eli

I'm hallucinating.

She's here. Her body. Her scent. Her smile.

I sniff along her neck. I've never had a fever dream like this before, but it feels so damn good.

hut in you against her pulse. You'd taste so god right here, don't you think? Should I sample you?

I laan at me our oke because i's not like shes really here. More pain vibrates through my body until is hard to

"We need to go to the hospital," Ava says quietly, trying to get me to the door as I sway against her small human body.

"Peelecae: I sumble back and fall onto the couch, All humans are so predictable. As if doctor could fix the

"Are you on drugs?" she asks.

Ilift my right hand toward the ceiling and stretch it over my head, if only I could cover the moon. "Drugs, those sound really nice, but they don't work on my kind."

"The grumpy kind?" She guesses.

No, the werewolind, remember Mous Claiming Fill mon, You did e my canines, fucking huge othe

that, felt that. I was a virgin before you, but I didn't bite, don't worry, I didn't bite."

"And what happens if you bite?"

"Claim." Suddenly nothing's funny anymore, the burn reaches out toward my fingertips like I have a campfire in my chest that's constantly pushing its flames through my body until I pass out. "Claim forever, trapped, mated, no point, but no more pain." I exhale deeply. "There would be no more pain."

Soothing cold hands touch my forehead. I grab the wrists, even they feel nice and cool - even though I know it's a dream I cling to them, my claws detract like they want to mark the pretty skin, but I would never do that.

Never harm someone so cold when I'm so warm.

I smile. "This is nice."

"Eli." Her voice is low. I like it. She sounds like a mountain spring. I wonder if anyone's ever told her that? "Eli, what do I actually need to do?"

"Naked," I whisper. "The pain goes away when I'm with...her, but she's not you. You're just a dream. You aren't Ava, if you were, you wouldn't help. I don't deserve help. Chased her away. Made her run. Made her"—I wince-"so angry on purpose, she doesn't know, she's not good for me, I'm not good for her. But I can imagine her and in those brief seconds, the pain lessens. Always like this, worse now that"—I clench my teeth—"now that I've tasted her, that I've had her."

"Then why not ask her?" she asks.

My eyes roll to the back of my head. "My burden."

She pulls away. I barely manage to open my eyes again when I see a top go flying, then breasts, beautiful breasts, I reach out but get my claws slapped away. I haven't transformed— that only happens if I mate and even then, who knows?

But my claws look huge to my own eyes.

Next, pants are removed, shoes.

"Are you wearing Shrek underwear?" I burst out laughing. "My imagination, while in pain, is wild. I'll give myself that much." I moan loudly, obviously the clouds are moving past the full moon, scraping against it the way they scrape inside my body. I can see it in my mind's eye, the clouds swirl around the moon, the moon is me, it can't help but react in a primal way.

My fangs descend again.

It's a nice dream still, one where she doesn't run, where I don't have to fake it.

"Do I have permission?" Dream Ava asks.

"To exist?" I laugh at my own joke.

"To fuck you." She answers right back.

I smile to myself. "I love my imagination."

"Yeah, okay big guy, just try not to pierce my skin with those claws, what am I even saying right now? Just be careful, no puncture wounds, no biting, or I'll bite back.

I go even more rock hard than I can ever possibly remember. "Please fucking do, please bite me, oh shit." I start to move my hips. "Do it, bite me, bite hard, bite right, right here, it's my dream, right?" I turn my head to the side. "Bite me like you mean it, draw blood and straddle me, sink down onto me like it's your only hope for survival, but fuck, give me your teeth along with your cunt."

I feel a cool tongue, my eyes close again, and she's on me, ready to impale herself on my body, I'm sweating with both pain and anticipation when hair tickles my neck.

"What the hell am I doing?" she says to herself.

"Bite me!" I roar. "Ride me!"

Dull teeth dig into my flesh as her body sinks onto my cock and I'm suddenly thrust into heaven with the moon, with the stars. I'm hot but cold. I'm free. She continues to bite deep and I continue to move my hips with each suck she takes of my blood with each small bite.

"Harder!" I scream. "Please!" I move her body, putting my hands on her hips as I slip out of my delirium and face the reality of my assistant making tiny bites along my neck while riding me.

Beautiful sight.

Beautiful freedom.

"So close," I rasp. "I'm so close, one last, one last-"I can't finish the sentence when her mouth leaves my skin briefly only to come back full force clamping down on the space between my neck and my shoulder.

Her entire jaw is rigid, locked in place, just like I am inside her, knotted, huge, stuck, and still moving my hips despide the fact that I've already spent inside her. Hot blood trickles down my chest. "Drink it" I urge. Still pulsing inside her. "Drink it all".

Her tongue laps everything up, slowly, painfully, erotically, as I stay inside her and swell again.

Finally sane, I flip her over onto her back and start to move inside her a second time. "Thank you."

Her mouth is covered in my blood, her eyes dazed. "Now." She writhes against me. "You owe me more vacation days."

"Lovers now, enemies tomorrow?" I smile a real smile for the first time since I can remember. "And I'll give you all the vacation you want."

"Because I had sex with you and drank your blood?" She wraps her arms around my neck.

"No. Because you took away my pain."

Chapter 22

Ava

I can't believe I bit him.

I can't believe I also ate like half the food in his fridge and had to crawl there on all fours in order to make it. I needed fuel, and he was fast asleep, like a little puppy with its new blanket on the couch. It would be helpful if he snored or if he had some weird habit, instead he looked so sated that I almost smiled when I looked back at him.

I've never had marathon sex before, but part of me thinks it might be my new favorite thing. Maybe it's because he's not totally human, something I'm still compartmentalizing in the very furthest part of my brain where darkness and cobwebs exist, because I think I'd have a nervous breakdown if I actually dissected what just happened.

I know I need to get to work and he probably isn't coming in since he's dead asleep, so I make myself at home, clean up some of the blood from the floor then eat enough to power walk to his bathroom to rinse off all the sweaty sex that's still somehow dripping from my body.

His bathroom is immaculate, black and white marble stones on the floor lead in a chic path toward a rain shower that ties into a rock pool that looks like it could be both bathtub and hot tub, might need to break in more often just to use that. It would be worth his wrath and then I could just throw it in his face that I helped solve his pain, even though there was nothing even remotely painful about that experience.

Have tute near meanserious, is stel ase my min when, e seuches me and all inhibitions go

My body aches in all the right places.

I self-consciously touch my teeth, they're too dull to pierce skin so I must have been out of my mind when I did that, but he tasted warm, his blood coated my tongue, my throat, and gave off this drug-like feeling of euphoria. I saw visions, walking through the woods, laughing.

Then screaming.

People whispering, but about who? That part eluded me.

Maybe they were just dreams or hallucinations brought on by his blood, but they'd felt so real, as if I was there but still watching a movie.

Well, good job Ava, you literally just had sex with a werewolf, did not have that planned when I applied to be an assistant. I rest my head against the shower wall and reach for the faucet when a large hand covers mine.

He leans forward, his breath fans my ear. "Feeling dirty, Ava?"

My body starts to shiver despite the fact that I know I'm not even cold, it's in anticipation.

"Feeling better, Eli?" I counter without turning around, I'm afraid if I do I won't be able to resist more. It's not even just his eyes, it's everything about him that pulls me when he's naked. Weird.

He slowly turns the faucet and pulls me back against his body. He's aroused the same as before. "Needed you."

"Is the pain back?" I ask.

"No," he says quickly. "I'm not willing to lie about that, I just really, really, want to go slow and remember more of it, since after all, we're enemies after this shower."

"And why's that?" I swallow and slightly turn. "Why are we enemies?"

"Because..." His blue eyes are fierce. "If the board ever found out, they'd terminate you and I don't want you to starve and you're actually competent at your job, soothing when the pain is constant."

Ava rolls her eyes. "Perfect. I'm like a balm to your grumpy soul?"

His smile is simple, his teeth white and straight, his incisors extend. "I've always wanted a nice balm to my soul and if you must know-you're fully human. Relationships between my race, no matter how much I like your taste, are looked down upon. I wouldn't want you to feel any worse than you already do because I have a soul. But I will use your body.

Every full moon, if you'll let me."

"And what do I get in exchange for my generosity?" I turn around and cross my arms, trying to look angry instead of giddy. "What great thing will you give me?"

He looks down at his engorged cock. "You mean other than this?"

"Is that an invitation to slap it?" I say sweetly. "And you're out of your mind if you think I can take you again."

"Then be insane for a bit." He smiles. Damn him! He's supposed to be grumpy, not protective and not horny as hell and better than anything I've ever had in my entire life.

I inspect my nails. "So you're saying if I have sex with you every full moon to keep the pain away, I'll get a bonus, and paid vacation days, plus spending money for wherever I want to go?"

He will never go for this.

He nods his head and then leans down to my level, his face inches from mine. "If you receive money, you become a prostitute."

I lift my chin. "I'm comfortable enough in my own body, needs, and wants to admit while that may be true, we both know it isn't. I refuse to feel cheap for wanting to travel outside the city for the first time in my known life."

Something flashes across his face, his eyebrows furrow. "You've never been outside the city?"

"Not that I remember, no."

"What do you remember?" He gently pulls me into his arms then lifts me up until he's at the perfect angle to slide into me, and he does it so slowly, so effortlessly while talking to me that I can't help but let out a sigh and wrap my arms around his neck while he holds us under the water. He doesn't even move right away, but I can tell he wants to. He simply stares down at me, water dripping down his face, waiting for an answer.

One I'm embarrassed to give, one I'm not ready to give to a stranger, so I do the next best thing than answering. I start moving myself up and down; I distract him.

And I see the pain in his eyes immediately, the pain that says, I'll give you my body but you'll never have anything else, this is a means to an end.

Plus, while I can't remember all of my past, I know with the way that my heart cracks in my chest every time I think of him, and it's always around this moment that I do, which is truly crazy. I used to love this...him, and yet I have zero memory. I used to have importance, and I'm still waiting for that person.

So sure, he can use my body, but I keep everything else.

He doesn't kiss me this time, it's like he's disappointed when I know he doesn't care about anything other than getting rid of the pain.

I do not ask invasive questions as he pushes me up against the shower wall and drives hard into me. My nails scar his shoulders and arms as he pins me there under the water.

And when we're both satisfied. I realize I've made a huge mistake; he was asking for a small fragment of me; he was reaching out.

The only problem is, a woman without a past has no identity, a woman without a past can't be reached, because how could she ever plan for her future when she doesn't even know who she is?

At least that's how I see it.

He may like what he sees, he may be attracted to me, but inside I am completely lost and hollow, strong and resolute, yes because I have no choice.

But I'm still on a path that doesn't include him but a stranger I can't remember and for that, I think I'll always be broken.

Chapter 23

Eli

I've never been vulnerable with a woman before, I wanted to try, I wanted to try with her, so I've also never been rejected so harshly. She has secrets, and I'm not a trustworthy person to share them with.

I make a note for my stupid therapist.

Is it the anger?

Is it the rage at not finding my mate but wanting her instead?

Or is it the beginnings of a heartbreak that hasn't even started so really, how could it fucking possibly end?

I'm embarrassed I asked if I'm being honest.

I slide her down the tile wall, her eyes are distant, I almost kiss her, but I know she doesn't want it. "

"I.." My voice is hoarse, my fangs dripping to cut into her skin. "I agree to your terms."

She smirks. "Kind of makes you my pimp, right?"

I slam my hands on either side of her head, making her jump and growl low in my throat. "A pimp shares his girls, I will not share you or no deal. It's only me. Me!"

I pound my right fist next to the wall and realize too late that I've actually put a hole through the expensive tile.

Her lower lip wobbles.

"And what if I find my forever?"

"What if your forever is already here?"

Her smile's sad. "I think you and I both know that's not possible. You already set the rules, remember?"

I'm an idiot. "How could I ever forget calling you a prostitute for wanting money for sex?"

Tears fill her eyes, but she still meets my gaze. "May I be excused now, sir? Or are you not satisfied enough with my performance?"

It cuts deep and still it's my fault for taking it this way, for making it this way. I jerk away from her and growl again.

"Be at the office in an hour. And make my latte decaf."

She snorts and shoves by me. "Right, because the last thing we need is a werewolf on a caffeine trip, throwing desks everywhere, people, pencils.."

"I can hear you!"

"Sorry to interrupt." Ava's shaking when she walks in. Shit, I messed up again, will the screw-ups never stop happening? "I just need you to sign these." Her heels click against the floor as she brings the documents to me. I try as hard as I can to will myself to pull them from her grip gently, but she holds on tightly, like she's pissed at me.

Our eyes lock.

Oh shit, she is pissed. I jerk the papers away. "It's not what you think."

"Oh, it's exactly what I think, your whore will be ready tonight, I hope you are, because I'm about to get violent."

Gabe curses under his breath. "Asshole still gets everything."

"What was that?" Ava turns her evil glare toward him, I don't think I've ever seen Gabe pale so fast in my entire life and he's a fucking shapeshifter.

Gabe actually bows, no idea where that came from. *My apologies, I was just teasing him about losing his V-card, has nothing to do with you, I mean it does have something to do with you, but in a roundabout oh-it-was-you way and clearly this isn't work appropriate. I apologize, I tend to talk too much when I-

"—Gabe."

"Yes?"

"Go."

"Right away."

The man left without question.

"So." I sigh. "I have my therapy session in a bit."

"Good for you." Ava smiles politely. "Once you're done with the documents, I'll send them in, oh and can I leave early tonight? Just by a few minutes."

I frown, something doesn't sit well with this question. "I don't mind, but be at my place by eight."

She checks her watch. "Don't worry, it's just a quick drink."

I drum my fingertips on the desktop, then run both hands through my thick hair. "A drink, with who? Girlfriends?

Landlord? Homeless person?"

She shakes her head. "You really are a jackass, you know I have no friends, and you're my landlord, you prick!" She takes what looks like a soothing breath. "Xavier asked me to text him, he's taking me out for drinks tonight to celebrate becoming a whore."

I start choking on my spit. "W-what?"

She grins. "Kidding, I just wanted to see your reaction. He's taking me out for drinks to celebrate my job, working for you, and because I think he actually likes me."

I bolt from my desk, unaware that I'm using my power, my speed, to get right in her face, only aware when her jaw drops. "You remember the rules. Only me. If his dick gets anywhere near you, his death will be on your conscience, do you understand?"

She leans up on her tiptoes and flicks me on the forehead. I stumble back. Stunned. Maybe more horrified than angry that she even dared to flick me. "No you listen, I'm with you on the full moons and yes only yours then, but eventually I'll need someone to spend my life with so until then, sure I won't sleep around, but I will date and I will make friends since you've made it abundantly clear, we're nothing."

She jerks the papers from my hands, turns and walks away, and I swear it takes every ounce of strength within me not to throw my fucking desk through the window.

Again.

I'm still pissed when I arrive at my therapist's office, I don't even sit. No, I pace, back and forth, back and forth, I think I'm making her nervous because I saw her swallow a pill then say, "Do go on..."

Oh, I'll fucking go on, for days I'll go on.

Just like me and Ava, it was on and on and on and do NOT get a boner in front of your therapist. She'll get the wrong idea!

"I will go on, thank you! Some respect." I toss my jacket and put my hands on my hips. "I just don't understand, I mean, I'm technically doing her a bigger favor, I can handle the pain. I have handled..." I point at my therapist. "..this for years, centuries! I can handle a few days a month, thank you very much!"

My therapist searches for her water and digs into her desk for another pill. "So, when did you start having these hallucinations, do you think maybe this can be from the fact that this was your first time having sex and it maybe fell flat for her? Maybe even for you?"

"I WAS!" I scream, and then take a deep breath and pinch my nose. "Amazing. Like a crescendo from Mozart."

My therapist actually coughs into her hand, but I know she's mocking me. Where's a desk to throw? Maybe just throw her? Humans do just tend to sink once in the air.

I smile at the idea.

Nothing about my situation is normal, and now she's on a date, a date with the guy I hate the most.

"And why do you hate him?" she asks.

Did I say that out loud?

I stop pacing. "Xavier is a self-righteous prick who thinks he can beat me and wants everything I have, so it's my job to hate him for existing. Everything I do he copies."

"Maybe he admires you?"

"Maybe he just wants to take what I have because he thinks he can."

She sighs and checks her watch. "Well, our time is nearing its end, did you want to repeat the phrase for me?"

I loathe her.

I shake my head.

She stands and smooths out her gross brown skirt and adjusts her low white tailored shirt that's tucked in to said skirt, she approaches. Is she wearing nylons? I mean nothing wrong with nylons, but it's distracting because they blend into the skirt and what the hell is happening?

She reaches for my hands, then just grips them. "We can say it together."

I would literally, literally, rather choke on a Tic Tac and go out that way, a Dorito, maybe even a piece of gum, then recite this.

But she's strong for a human and she doesn't let go and her eye contact makes me uncomfortable.

I sigh. " I will control the bad thoughts and angry feekings. I am human. I am normal. Normal people get angry, shout it out, say it loud, rage is normal, getting help means you know the problem and want to be the solution. I am the solution. I will be okay. I have control." I want to say, better?

She pats me on the hand. "Was that so hard?"

One hundred percent the most difficult thing, I might even compare it to wrestling a bear even though I've never had the opportunity. "No." I'm very good at lying to my therapists. What time is it? Is her date over?

"Good." She starts rubbing the back of my hand. "Now I have some sad news, I'm relocating to a different location, and won't be able to do your treatment, so we're bringing in Maximillian, but he goes by M."

"M?" I frown. "So he's new?"

As she says this and releases my hand, a guy with thick dark blonde hair and black Ray Bans walks in, his jeans are ripped, he has a very tiny and 1 do mean tiny white t-shirt attached to his torso. He shoves her nameplate from the desk and adds his, then folds his hands and stares at me. "Me. I'm M."

"A guy?" I point at him. "My next therapist is a guy?"

She pats my shoulder. "We just think, trying everything to help you get over your..sensitivity, might be great, and he's trained in anger management from Duke!"

"That's an actual program?" I'm flabbergasted.

"Sure is, little buddy." He smirks at me.

I'll end him.

Tlunge.

"See." My old therapist holds me back. "That was a test."

"Little dude failed." M chuckles. "But we'll try next week, for our first hour long session." The guy pulls out a box of licorice from his Mary Poppins bag from hell and tugs on the end. "Can't wait, bruh?"

I almost yell I'm not your bruh, instead I stomp over and stare at the tub of licorice. "Gonna take five. Candy tax, you understand."

"Take ten." He grins. "Sugar's good for the soul, and you probably haven't eaten due to the anxiety of having to come in here and talk..." He crooks his finger. "About your feelings."

I jerk back, ten licorice pieces in my hand. "You're different."

"I'm the best."

"Because I need it."

He pauses briefly, then shrugs. "You are different though, aren't you, Eli?"

He knows.

Holy shit, he knows.

His eyes flash blue.

Thank God.

I take more licorice.

He laughs. "Have a good night, and take care of Ava, she's special."

I stop misstep and look over my shoulder. "How do you know her?"

He shrugs. "I know a lot, see you next week, better hurry, it's another full moon." He looks at my old therapist with a sad, pathetic look on his face. "Makes some people crazy, am I right?"

"So crazy!" She agrees.

I bolt with five pieces of licorice in my mouth and barely make it to my apartment in time to toss the rest on the counter and pretend to look unoccupied, grab a book, hold it upside down twice before figuring out that I just kept turning it, only to have the lock sound.

I'm calm. I'm serene. I'm not angry.

But the mine sel hit or neg touch moyshit, throw the book against the wal and stalk toward her. "Did he touch

She stumbles back, her eyes clear. "Once, my hand, when I spilled my beer, and—*

I kiss her.

I can't help myself.

The moon is there, but quite honestly, the pain is bearable.

It's switched to something else.

The pain of not having her by my side.

Chapter 24

Ava

"So..." I ask. "What do you do for fun?"

Xavier shrugs. "Nothing much. I work a lot."

Wow. Fun.

"And..." I clear my throat. "What about the beef between you and Eli? What's that all about?"

Xavier goes silent. "It's about our past, something he doesn't know, refuses to remember, it's better that way though, we all have our things. I'm his. He's mine. End of story."

Okay, weird.

I nod my head like I understand. "So, why did you ask me out?"

"Because.." He leans in, his smile wide. "It will drive him insane and that's really, if you're asking, my favorite hobby."

I think I was more hurt then than when I was by Eli. "Oh."

"Not that I'm not attracted or don't like you, I think we could work things out, I just really like getting into his head. All things considered, he's just a pain in the ass and self-righteous, he doesn't even know-"

"know?"

"Nevermind. Hey, you want nachos? Let's get nachos, margaritas, just hang out."

I clear my throat. "I prefer beer."

"Oh." He shrugs. "Okay, sounds good, let's do some craft beer!"

I could not get away from the "date" fast enough, but I also didn't expect Eli to be so upset when I opened the door, he was ready to pounce.

Am I wrong in loving it?

Am I wrong in jumping into his arms the minute he yelled?

Am I wrong in tasting his tongue right now and knowing that I've found my home?

He shoves me against the couch.

"Is the pain bad?" I ask.

"Horrible." He peels my shirt from my body. "So bad, I could die."

"Bullshit." I laugh.

"No, really. It's so bad. Just like me, so bad." He groans into my mouth, his lips are so wide, so soft. "I missed you."

My heart nearly stops in my chest, I pull away from him. "What? Was that a vulnerable comment from my pimp?"

"Aw." He swipes my cheek and kisses his thumb. "Was that a tear from my whore?"

I sucker punch him in the stomach.

Oh shit, I think he likes it.

His eyes flash blue. "Do it again."

"Why?"

"So I have a reason to chase you around my apartment without feeling guilty for tackling you to the ground from behind and fucking you."

Stunned, my mouth drops open, he takes full advantage, his lips molding against mine, his hands digging into my hair and then I'm getting carried somewhere. I can't take my clothes off fast enough.

We litter the ground with a trail of them until I'm on the balcony and getting set on a chair.

I'm completely naked by this point.

He gets on his knees and spreads mine wide. "I just wanted a reward for going to therapy and not killing anyone. I want a reward for not killing Xavier for thinking he could possibly..." His fingers inch up my thighs until his thumbs dip low by my ass. "..even deserve to speak to you."

My Sea als bano ainst the chair is ot, is he piful out the men is full and I know that this heaven. Ise

How I managed to get that out, I have no clue.

"Fuck the agreement, I have a tongue and dick if you haven't noticed, same thing and tonight...this werewolf wants to feast." Eli's head lowers until he's a breath away from tasting me. "Remember, enemies in the morning."

"Lovers now?" I try.

"Lovers now." He agrees, eyes sad.

I want to ask him why, but I can't really remember my own social security number at this point because I never experienced a werewolf tongue, the way it snakes around, finds hidden places, pushes against every place I never knew I needed or wanted. I'm bucking against it before I can repeat the question he asked, wait did he ask a question?

He grips my thighs with his hands and sucks so hard, I feel all my own breath leave my body.

His tongue laps at me like he can't get enough, and my body continues to give him more and more until I'm shaking. "I can't do another, Eli, I can't."

"You can." He smacks my ass. "You will."

"But—"

He flips me over onto my knees on the concrete, softly pressing me against the chair and from behind starts licking up my backside while his fingers work the front.

I lean back against him and shiver. "Maybe, maybe, don't need...vacation dayzzzz, money.…don't stop!"

He licks back down, his tongue warm, then reaches around and cups me. "Ride my hand, imagine it's me and then when you least expect it..."

I start to ride him and he's right, when I least expect it, he takes me from behind. I grip the chair like it's my only anchor, only to have it get shoved away as Eli pulls me by the hair and holds me in place. "T've never wanted to bite more."

"Then do it!" I scream. "Now!"

He keeps moving inside me. "No, I won't do that, not to you."

"Because I'm human?"

He pulls me back against him, I can feel him finish inside me as he kisses the sides of my neck. "No. Because you're precious."

Chapter 25

Eli

I made her a bonfire. I've never made one before in my entire existence, but she said she wanted marshmallows. I had no heart to say no. And it was just sitting there waiting to be used, and I suddenly wanted her to be the first.

I grab a blanket and wrap it around her shoulders outside on the balcony, and sit across from her.

It feels like things just got personal, but I don't know why. I don't know what to say to her or what to do, and my reactions are always wrong.

How does a person go about asking another after they've already slept together, to be more? To try more? Because that's what I want, despite knowing what the ramifications could be.

Will be.

I refuse to call Gabe because his advice is the worst, and all he does is give me shit.

Maybe M? My new therapist? Marvin? I don't know. So I sit there and watch her roast her marshmallow and grin like she's never done it before.

Maybe she hasn't? I'm almost afraid to ask because she seems to get angry when things get personal.

"So.." I try anyway. "Have you ever done this?"

Her face falls. What is this cracking in my chest feeling? What is this need to make it better? "Not that I know of. Though I do remember one time being in the woods when I was young, I was playing tag, I ran, got chased, fell and scraped my knee, but that's about it."

1 row d,tharry yety descriptive for not knowing one's own past. I remember the waods loved them. I loved the rain.

She shrugs like her memories don't matter. "No idea."

I nod and tuck it away. What woods? Where? So many questions I should not even be asking an employee I have a full moon sex contract with.

Wow, when I say it that way in my head, it's so much worse.

I grab my own marshmallow to distract myself and put it on the roaster, them show her how to do it right. " You have to turn it just above the flames, let it heat and son of a bitch!" My marshmallow catches on a raging fire immediately. I panic. She rolls her eyes, grabs the stick, and then shives it back into the fire. "Oh."

"You can't just fling raging mallows!"

I smirk. "Should we make a t-shirt for Gabe that says that?"

She bursts out laughing. "The sad part is I think he would actually wear it and probably on casual Friday."

"We have casual Friday?" I ask.

She gives me a teasing shove. "Maybe if you weren't so grumpy, you'd know that about your own company."

I pout. "I'm not grumpy, I'm focused."

"Mmm, well at least during sex you're focused."

I do a double take. "You really think so?"

She leans in and licks her fingers. "Does your ego really need that much of a boost with a dick that big?"

"Yes. Absolutely." I grin.

She shoves me again and grabs another marshmallow. "So tomorrow, you'll go back to being an overbearing asshole I'm one hundred percent not attracted to?"

"Yes." I nod, even though I want to say no. She has to know I'm protecting her as much as I can. "And you'll go back to being my assistant, nothing more, a mere speck in the cog of the company."

"I hate the word cog."

"I do too. I instantly regretted it."

She bursts out laughing. "Well, at least we're in agreement on that, I'll make sure to leave it out of all the press releases I type up for you."

She's smiling at the fire, laughing. I could stay here forever, but I need her, I want her.

I tug off her blanket and pull her onto my lap.

She leans back against me, her head on my shoulder, her body relaxed against mine.

Sure, yes, moon sex, that's all this is.

Nothing more.

Nothing more.

She grabs my hand and holds it.

Sure, nothing more.

Chapter 26

Ava

I don't stay the night. I hate that I go back to my apartment; I hate that as I walk to work, things will be exactly the same. I'll be ignored, treated like every employee when I actually fell asleep in my grumpy alpha's arms.

A text comes through from Xavier.

Xavier: Want to grab lunch?

I don't answer right away because what's the point? Telling him I'm falling for my boss and that I'm screwed in more ways than one and also spoiler alert, he's not totally human.

Yeah, sounds like a totally good text to send.

Me: Probably not today, super busy, maybe tomorrow?

Xavier: I'll put it in the books.

How cliche can he be at this point?

I shove my phone back into my purse and make my way into the tall office building. It's super busy and I still have to get past everyone, somehow grab coffee for the grumpy one and make it to an elevator.

I'm shoved slightly to the side as all elevators fill up.

I wait for the next.

It's empty. I walk in and get ready to hit close when I see another dark figure walking in.

Followed by Gabe.

It's Eli.

I don't know how to act.

I don't know how he's going to act.

So I'm simply mute.

I stare straight ahead as Gabe talks on and on about meetings Eli has. I expect the cold shoulder, instead, Eli stands right next to me, and presses a palm to my lower back.

I swear I almost orgasm on the spot.

It's embarrassingly sweet, and it makes me want to both cry and climb him like a tree.

I look straight ahead while Gabe drones on and on. "Thought we were enemies."

"Me too." Eli gets closer. "And then I saw your face and realized I'd rather touch my enemy than fight with her."

I smile. "I like touching."

"I thought I had self-control." He curses under his breath. "And it's not even a fucking full moon."

"To be fair, you didn't throw a desk out your window, so I think you're doing great, champ."

He pinches my ass. Gabe still hasn't noticed. "Call me champ again."

"Oh, you like that?" I look up at him the minute he looks down.

Eli looks hungry.

Like seriously hungry.

I lick my lips; he stares at my mouth.

"Eli?" Gabe snaps. "Pay attention. I just asked you two questions and all you're doing is staring at the wall, or at your poor assistant."

"Maybe I'm hungry," he says under his breath. "And sorry, Gabe, what did you ask?" He leaves my side. I feel the emptiness in my soul, and I hate it, I hate that this was all it took.

And that I'm so far gone that I want to strip in his office and just lay there and let him feast.

"Meat!" I shout.

Both men turn and look at me like I've lost my mind.

"Pardon?" Gabe asks.

"I mean, meat, we should get meat for lunch to fill up, good ol'.." Oh God, stop talking. "Eli! Because it's been a rough few days of... absolute solitude and that tends to make you hungry when you..meditate." I cough.

Eli bites down on his lower lip and smirks at the same time while Gabe waves a hand in front of my face like I'm hallucinating or maybe had a stroke.

Gabe frowns. "Do you need a sick day?"

"Nope. Totally. Normal." I nod way too many times. "I was just thinking about nutrition, and the company, and it came to mind."

Eli squeezes his eyes shut, then turns away.

Gabe is still frowning. "Okay, guess we're ordering meat then, sounds, tasty. Thank you for your input? And Eli, I still need an answer on that last takeover, are you really sure you want to go against Xavier on this?"

My ears perk up. Xavier?

Eli sighs and rubs the back of his neck with one hand. "I think that we can do more with the company than he can, but I won't fight him on it, I'm kind of done fighting with him, he'll do what he wants no matter what anyway-besides, I already won." He turns and winks at me.

I nearly die on the spot and want to cancel my lunch date tomorrow. I reach for my phone when the elevator doors open.

"You coming?" Gabe asks.

"Sure, sorry, yes." I follow them in and so starts the hellish day of acquisitions, meetings and finally... yes, meat.

I eat at my desk but not enough, I know Eli's working like a dog and even Gabe seems stressed out so I don't make a big deal over having a lunch break. If they're working like that, then so am I.

I hear yelling from Eli's office.

I know Jim from the board walked in, and now I'm seeing him run out like he's about to shit his pants, followed by Bradly, another board member, both are pale.

Great, perfect timing to bring in Eli's next schedule.

I don't want to.

I'll wait.

And then my phone rings.

I quickly answer it. "Yes?"

"In here. Now." Eli barks and hangs up.

Shit.

I slowly stand and grab the iPad as well as the printed-out schedule for him and lower my head. I just have to prepare for battle.

I knock and then open the door.

Gabe's tie is off, he's leaning back against the couch but when he sees me he bounces right up like he's not exhausted.

"I'll just leave you to your meeting."

He smiles, walks right by me, and closes the door behind me.

I'm not running but I'm not exactly sprinting toward Eli at this point, he's bent over his desk, both palms on it, papers everywhere, laptop open, hair a ruffled mess.

No tie.

Just an open black button-up shirt and black pants.

I clear my throat. "Sir, I have your schedule."

He jerks his head up. "Say it again."

"I have your schedule."

"Not that part."

"Sir?"

His face is impossible to read as he comes around the desk and walks toward me. I slowly back away until I'm trapped between him and his bookcase.

"I lied," he whispers.

"About what?"

"Being your enemy today." He closes his eyes and presses a kiss to my forehead as if asking for permission, then takes the iPad and papers away from me and slowly sets them on the chair next to the bookcase.

He comes back and braces his hands over my head, trapping me, but not doing anything.

I swallow slowly. "I lied too."

He tilts his head. "About what?"

I shake my head.

He leans in.

And it's all over before it even begins as a knock sounds and another board member walks in. "Oh sorry, were you two in a meeting?"

Talk about blue lady balls.

"No problem!" I smile, then turn to Eli. "Be nice, don't throw any desks."

"Might throw him," he says under his breath. "Come back after?"

I shrug. "Maybe. This prostitute does have lots of clients."

He lunges for me.

"Hey now." Malcom, the head of the board, holds out his hands. "No need to chase your assistant, she's been doing such good work." He gulps. "Shit, are you going to throw something again?"

"Of course he isn't!" I smile sweetly. "He's in therapy, remember?"

"I always say therapy is the best way to go." He winks at me.

"Since. When?" Eli asks.

I shoot him a glare.

"I mean..." Eli sighs and relaxes. *Yes, you do, and you're right, plus I have a new therapist that sees promise in me, yay for not going to Hell."

Malcom raises his hand like he isn't sure whether to high five or do a little fist bump in the air.

I pat him on the back, leave the office, and close the door.

Miserable.

Because I'm pretty sure Eli was going to kiss me.

And I want that kiss.

The rest of the day goes by so slowly that I'm wondering if time has actually stopped.

When the last meeting ends at seven, I grab my stuff, knock on the office door and let myself in.

Eli's staring out at the cityscape.

"Pretty." I join his side. "I'm just going to go get some dinner and-"

His mou devys my net word. e throw y pure to tie go an cale my ace, then hopes me backward onto his desk, my ass hits it and then I'm on top of it, he shoves the laptop away and crawls up on top pf me hiking up my skirt.

Okay.

So this is happening.

Can't way I haven't thought about it, dreamt of it.

He keeps deepening the kiss; he tastes like whiskey and rain.

My hands unbuckle his bet and panes My shaky hands can't move fast enough as I free him. He wipes my panties with one hand and tosses them to the ground, then enters me like we do this every day.

I arch so hard that I send a lamp on his desk to the floor. Papers go flying, pens, a stick it note attaches itself to my ass as we move in sync.

I don't care.

"Missed you," he whispers gruffly against my mouth. "Missed you so damn "much."

"My body or me?" I pull away.

He slaps my ass with one hand, the stick it note loses its mind and falls to the ground. "Both."

"Good answer." I grab him by the neck, pulling him back down.

God, he feels good.

So good.

A knock sounds at the door, but before either of us can say anything, it opens.

Jim walks through."Sorry to bother you, but I have that ---". He looks at us, then looks away, his cheeks red. "I mean ot is after hours so I'll just, yup, I'll leave this, just here...". he turns around three times, then nearly runs into the door before realizing he never dropped anything off. He gently sets it on the floor by the door. "Enjoy your um...activities." His face hits the door twice before it closes.

Eli doesn't miss a beat, his mouth is back on mine, he's moving again, so am I. I rake my fingers through his hair and bite down on his lip, then move to his neck and bite how he likes it.

He lets out a roar and slams me down, pinning me against the desk, eyes blazing blue, he sinks deeper into me and stays there. "You dare bite me again?"

"You dare like it?" I counter.

"Fucking love it." His body covers mine and within minutes, both of us are spent, but neither of us are ready to leave.

He pulls my skirt back down. I pull his pants back up, but we're still on the desk.

Another knock sounds.

"Son of a bitch who's still here!" he roars.

Gabe pokes his head in. "Didn't know we conducted meetings that way, but okay..." he smirks. "Sorry, just letting you know I'm out for the night, looks like you are too. Damn man, took my whole you're horny stop being grumpy thing to heart."

"OUT!" Eli shouts.

"Leaving!" Gabe yells right back.

I stare up at Eli and hate myself, I hate myself that I'm falling for him, and to him, I'm nothing but a booty call and I am powerless to say no when he says yes.

Chapter 27

Eli

Marvin drives us down the street to the apartments, which should take all but two seconds. He keeps looking at us through the rearview mirror and smirking like he knows all our secrets.

Every time I inch my hand over to grab hers, he looks at us, like a parent driving their kid to prom.

Ridiculous.

And yet I jerk my hand back every time.

I glare at him.

He just shrugs and keeps driving.

I know she's tired, at least she seems really tired, maybe it's my fault, I'm asking too much of her body, but I feel like I'm wild, like I've been set free.

Don't bite. Do not bite. I remind myself.

Marvin pulls up to the curb. "You two have a great night!"

"You aren't opening our door?" I ask.

He opens his own and gets out then opens mine, "Sorry sir, thought you were in a hurry."

"Cheeky bastard." I grumble under my breath.

He just keeps grinning. "And miss Ava, I hope you have a great rest tonight, you really should turn in early."

She yawns. I smack him on the arm.

He's just asking to get fired.

"Clearly that therapy is doing wonders for your mood." He nods at me. "Wouldn't you say Ava?"

She yawns again. "Yes, his... er... um.. temper has very much improved."

"I'm sure it's all due to therapy." Marvin winks at me.

I'm murdering him later.

He shuts the door gently. "Bye now!"

She walks past us, and I give him one more silent threat with my eyes while he blinks innocently at me as if to say what? What did I do?

I raise my fist.

"You coming?" Ava calls back.

"HAHA." I pull Marvin in for a side hug. "Yup, just thanking Marvin for all that he does, just thanking him so hard..." Marvin grunts as I hug him. I lean down and whisper, "Do that again and I'm driving you off a cliff, mm kay?"

I expect him to cower, instead, he turns to me. "Keep her safe, mm kay?" And slaps me on the chest and walks away.

What the hell sort of parallel universe have I created?

At my own company?

He drives off.

And I chase after Ava.

Funny, I always told her to run.

Who's running now?

"Wait up," I call after Ava. I say hi to the dorman, then instinctively put my hand on the small of her back. One would think we are dating.

Dating

The most terrifying word.

I think I prefer just saying we have an arrangement even though everything in me screams to claim her and make her know how important she is.

We get in the elevator.

It's quiet.

She yawns again.

And while I want to get her naked, I realize that my haunting reality is that I'd rather see her in sweats, with a glass of wine, watching TV and that I'd still be satisfied.

What the hell?

I've gone soft.

I've grown feelings.

This can't happen.

And then I wonder why not? Why can't it happen? Because she might reject me? Because it's not fair to trap her with me for the rest of her life? Because her career is at stake.

Then again, I own the company, people will talk, but I'm still the CEO. Would Xavier use it as leverage?

Would she feel used?

"Hey," Ava taps me on the shoulder. "Are we getting off?"

We already got off.

Bad joke.

Good thing I said it in my head.

We walk down the hall : she stops at her door and I keep walking, then stop the minute she starts typing in her code.I walk backward and grab her by the wrist and tug her toward me. "I'm not in pain. I don't need you..." I hesitate. "I just want to be by you. Is that okay?"

She follows me willingly and then holds my hand. "And here I thought I was only your whore."

"Well, this pimp"—I smile-"only needed a few doses before he realized what an ass he was in treating this whore a certain way. Why don't I..." I type in my code at my door. "Cook for you?"

She gasps. "You know how to use your kitchen?"

"I'm both offended and curious why you would think I don't know how to cook or use a stove."

She giggles into her hand. "Let me just go back to my apartment and grab some clothes."

"No." I bark. "I meant to say that in a gentler tone, just imagine you're dealing with the Beast from Beauty and the Beast, though I have no talking clock, no candlesticks, and as depressing as it is the wardrobe does not in fact dress you, but I can. I want to see you in my clothes. Comfy enough for you?"

She leans into me. "Comfy? Did you use the word comfy? And make a Disney reference as a werewolf? Be honest, is it the apocalypse?"

Kinda feels like it. I kiss the top of her head. "Maybe I just grew a heart."

"Okay, Grinch." She pats me on the chest. "But you better impress me with your skills or I won't put you in the lineup for future suitors."

"What?" I trip walking into the penthouse. "I'm not even in the lineup?"

She does a twirl toward me. "Yet."

"I should at least be last place. I demand a recount!"

"Oops, those are illegal, after all, you did just say I was a booty call during a full moon then go all full wolf on me without warning." She drops her purse onto the counter, takes off her coat, then stumbles toward the couch. "Just gonna lay here and breathe for a bit."

I like her in my space. "Breathe you say?"

"Yeah, you always smell so good, just like your apartment."

"Pheromones." I point out. "You're just drugged by them, it's how we find our—"

She sits up. "Your?"

I swallow and look away. "Our mate."

"And once you find your mate, you and I will be..." She looks away. "Right..it won't matter."

I open my mouth say something, to break the tense mood, instead I go into the bedroom and call over my shoulder. "I'll grab you some clothes."

I snatch a pair of grey sweatpants and a white t-shirt, but by the time I'm back in the living room she's sound asleep on the couch.

I do my best to change her clothes without her waking up and then I stare at her like the freak I am.

I touch her cheeks.

I caress her skin.

I wish for more.

And realize how petrified I am to ask for it.

This isn't a marriage proposal, this isn't dating, this is an eternity and I don't think someone like her, someone so great-should be trapped with someone like me.

Chapter 28

Ava

I wake up to the smell of bacon.

I sniff the air and then look down at my clothes. He must have made me comfy while I slept.

See, this is the problem.

He's not just my boss, or a werewolf of lore, but he's also cruel at times then, so sweet I want to cry.

My emotions are all over the place, and my dreams, well those are just a different scenario all together.

I'm running through the forest still.

Friends follow me. At least I think they're my friends, and a boy stands next to me, we're both maybe eleven.

In the dream, he's crying. "They don't want me."

"I'll always want you," I whisper.

"No. You're leaving too."

"We're all leaving."

He frowns at me, tears staining his cheeks. "Where will we go?"

"Some families." I squeeze his hand. "Some will take us in, we don't have an Alpha anymore, we can't stay here."

"Why doesn't someone step up?" he asks. "Why not?"

The girl, I guess me, answers, "You're born an Alpha, not made, and there are rumors, really weird rumors about the next Alpha being different. They're scared, so we should be scared too, right? We should just listen and go."

"I don't want to." He shakes his head. "I want to stay with my best friend."

"You called me your best friend."

Tears stream down his cheeks. "I won't forget you. I promise. Blood oath?"

I laugh. "Blood oath? Isn't that forbidden?"

He turns to me. "So when I see you again, I'll be all yours. And you'll know you're mine. So when I hold your hand, I'll remember the forest, and the rain, and remember my family even though they're gone. Blood oath?"

I can't say no.

I hold out my palm.

He grabs his dagger and digs into the very center, like the eye of the storm, then does the same to his own.

We press our palms together.

He smiles. "For when I see you again."

"For when I see you again." I repeat.

Our blood mixes as we hold hands.

And that's it.

The boy I left behind.

The boy that went to a different life.

Is he the one I'm waiting for?

And if so, why do I feel so possessive of Eli? Of his future mate? I kind of want to strangle her and smile while doing it, which is dark, so very dark.

I slowly get up and toss the blanket aside. "You really are cooking?"

Eli doesn't look up. "And you really were snoring."

I gasp, horrified. "I was?"

"No, I just wanted to see your face." He smiles down at the bacon he's cooking. I have never seen a man or, uh, person more attractive in my entire life. Ever. It's not even fair.

The bacon sizzles while my heart thumps against my chest.

It's just us.

"You slept an hour, feel better?" He leaves the bacon and moves to another pan, dumping in butter and garlic, stirring it around, then searing two huge steaks.

"Wow." I don't mean to say it out loud. "I like your meat."

He hesitates over the pan, and looks up with the most seductive eyes ever, they blaze this blue that looks like the sky and ocean combined. "Did you just say I like your meat?"

"I meant the steak."

"Sure you did."

"I'm still waking up."

"Sure you are."

"Can you stop?"

He leans over; I see fangs in his mouth. "Sweetheart, I haven't even started."

I gasp and pull away. "Funny."

"I wasn't joking." He snaps. "Open. I can hear your stomach from here."

"What?"

He says it slower. "Open."

"What?"

"Your pretty little mouth." He grins. "Open."

I part my lips, he grabs a piece of bacon and slowly presses it past my lips. It's maple. So good I could cry.

I chew and open my mouth again.

"Greedy, are you?" he asks. His hair is tousled, his shirt unbuttoned, he looks so handsome I could die.

"Always," I finally say after a few seconds.

"Mm." He feeds me again and again, then fixes the steaks as well as the salad, and we sit.

It seems so normal.

I don't want to ask him, but I know I keep staring at him while we eat at the bar. He pours me a glass of wine. "You look like you have questions."

"Do you have answers?" I ask.

He puts the bottle down. "I don't know, maybe? I just need to know what you need to ask so I can think of how to answer."

"Do you have parents?"

"I did, at a time, right now, I have Gabe, my adoptive family who are incredible, that's what I have." He smiles at me widely. "And I have you."

I hold back tears. "Do you, um, remember running through a forest when you were around eleven?"

He drops his fork onto the plate. "What?"

"A forest, when you were eleven."

He squeezes his eyes shut and exhales. "And you wonder why I need anger therapy management. Yes. I was in a forest during that time, yes."

"Do you..." I keep pushing. "…remember a girl?"

He frowns. "Of course I do, she was my best friend... at one point I thought she was my mate and..." He frowns and drops his fork. "How would you even know that? Because it's not funny."

"No." I hold up my hands. "I'm not trying to be funny, just trying to figure out my dreams."

He cocks his head. "Your dreams?"

"Yeah." I let out a large exhale. "I keep seeing these two kids, the girl's me I think, and the boy, well I don't know who he is, but if you remember it, maybe you will remember him?"

"I chose not to," he says after a few seconds. "I chose not to remember the losses we had, or why they happened, I dug into finance and marketing and never looked back. Plus, I was a hybrid, I wasn't welcome, even with my own brother."

I touch his arm. "I'm sorry."

"No. It's fine. You don't have to be sorry for my rejection. I wasn't normal. I was an anomaly. Remember when I told you about how it's looked down upon to be with a human and werewolf? Nobody says anything, but it's not celebrated."

"It should be." I snap.

He tilts his head toward me. "Why are you so fierce and cute at the same time?"

"Don't call me cute." I laugh, ready to throw bacon at him. He ignores my pout and continues putting the food on the plates.

It tastes amazing.

He truly is good at everything.

I moan and take another bite of the steak.

He doesn't look up. "Enjoying my meat, are you?"

"Low blow."

"So low." He cackles and then sets his fork down and drinks a glass of wine.

I watch him swallow. I watch everything about him. And then I ask, "Are humans bad to your kind?"

He frowns. "No? Why?"

"Bite me."

He starts choking. "I'm sorry, what?"

"Bite me." I repeat. "I want you to mate me."

His wine glass falls from his fingertips and crashes against the floor. His eyes light up like fireworks. "No."

"Bite me."

"Stop saying bite!" He jumps to his feet and starts cleaning up. "I'm not mating you."

"Because I'm not good enough?"

"Because!" he roars, slamming his fists against the counter. "You're too good! I would never damn you that way, to be with me for an eternity, just the other day you were making plans with Xavier, I'm not going to curse you to only see my face for eternity and why are you laughing right now?"

"An eternity, right?"

"Stop walking toward me." He warns, holding up both hands like he's terrified. "I'm serious Ava, do not do this, you don't want this, it's the wine, it's the mood, the sex, fuck, I don't know, but I do know I'm trying to protect you."

I can't stop myself.

This is right.

I feel it everywhere.

I finally.

Relax.

i breathe.

I don't need my past.

But I do need him in my future.

He's still as a statue as I wrap my arms around his neck and wrap my legs around his waist. "Bite. Me."

His lips tremble. "You don't know what you're asking."

I cup his cheeks as his incisors descend. "Weird, because I thought I was asking for forever with a grumpy werewolf."

He looks down. "You won't have a choice if I bite you."

"Good, then let me choose now."

His hands tremble as he gently puts me on the breakfast bar. "You don't need to choose, you have time, and this isn't even"

"—do you want me?" I ask. "Simple answer yes or no. Do you want me?"

His eyes well with tears. "I've searched for years for my mate, of course I want you, but if it's not you, the pain will be excruciating. And what we have will be gone. Separated."

"I'm willing"—I take a deep breath-"I'm willing to bet on you, are you willing to bet on me? The girl who took your virginity."

"Just had to bring that up."

"I mean, it's funny?"

"That I was a near thirty-year-old virgin, thanks, maybe I was just waiting for you?"

I laugh and stare him down. "I'm serious."

"T'm serious too. Please, get off of me, don't make this harder than it already is, to reject you, to leave you, to walk away and not look back."

"Maybe I want all those things, maybe that's how it's supposed to be, all I know is I need your bite and I need it now and I need you to make that move."

He hesitates. His jaw clenches. He shakes his head. "You don't know what you're asking, this is forever."

"Good." I nod, tears in my eyes. "Good."

"Forever is.." He turns off the stove and walks over to me, bracing me against the counter. He grips me by the hips and pulls me onto the counter and rests his head against my chest, like he's hearing my heart, and then he rests his forehead against mine. "You barely know me."

"Not true." A tear slides down my cheek. "I think I knew you before. I think I was waiting. I think..." I don't know why I'm so emotional, but I say it anyway, "For when.I see you again."

His eyes light up.

He freezes completely.

His body is rigid.

And in an instant, he lifts me up into his arms. "Who told you that phrase?"

"You know it?" I ask.

"It's..." His eyes search mine. "Are you, are you her?"

"Are you him?" I challenge. "Only one way to find out."

"But." He hesitates, so I take the lead, I grab him by the neck and pull him down to my mouth. "Bite. Me."

"I can't, I can't, I—"

I grab him by the back of the neck and pull him down. "You can. Just feel me, feel it."

He closes his eyes, takes a deep breath. "Why aren't you afraid?"

"Because," I answer simply. "I think you're mine."

"And if I'm not?"

"Then it's on me." I exhale. "It's all on me."

Chapter 29

Eli

I remember nothing other than the forest, touching her fingers and walking away, being put into a different family, but now I'm wondering about the connection I had with her back then and why it's so strong now.

I'll die for her.

This moment will never leave my soul.

She's passed out next to me.

I strip her and wrap her in a fur blanket, then pull her onto the couch and lay there with my mate in my arms.

She's mine.

Mine.

The fierceness in my own brain is terrifying. I realize now why mates go crazy if the other half dies. I can't even fathom it. I can't think about it without wanting to throw more than a desk out of the window.

Maybe I'd just throw myself.

I rub my hands down her face and tuck her hair behind her ears, and then I just watch her breathe.

She was right.

I was wrong.

We were meant to be.

I have no idea what that means for work or the pack... then again, I'm not even a part of them anymore. I'm off on my own.

Maybe that's a good thing.

I tuck her against me and kiss her forehead

This was how it was supposed to be. Right?

Her eyes move, then blink open.

They're blue.

I smile down at her. "Hi."

"Hi back."

"You actually listened to instructions and bit me."

"I claimed you, big difference."

She yawns and moves across my body until she's up on my chest while I lay on my back. "I liked it."

"Same."

"Do you feel okay?"

I can't hide my smile. "I feel complete."

"So, we were right. We met in the forest, found each other in the city, drifted toward one another, and here we are. You know"-she smiles-"I don't even care if I can't remember my past as long as I remember you."

I lean up and kiss her. "You'll have me for an eternity."

"Do I have powers now?"

"No."

"Can I fly?"

"Werewolves don't fly."

"Can I read thoughts?"

"That's invasive."

"Can I do anything?" She makes tiny fists, her eyes lighting blue. "I want cool stuff too... I mean, other than your meat."

"Ha, ha." I look away so I don't attack her with my mouth, so I don't try to pin her against any surface and take her again. "You know, there is one special thing that mates are really good at."

Her eyes narrow. "If you say dishes, I'll kill you right here, right now."

I pull back my hands in innocence. "I would never."

"So?" She leans down farther on my chest. "What are we good at?"

I smile because it's true. "Love. Unconditional love. What more could you possibly ask for in this world than someone who sees you, who knows you, and knows themselves and will fight until the end —to keep you safe."

Tears well in her eyes. "I feel like I've known you my entire life now. Promise me it's not just your bite, promise me it's not just because of a grumpy werewolf with magic blood."

I smile and pull her into my arms. "If your body didn't accept my bite, then you wouldn't feel a thing, you'd simply be pissed off."

"So the usual?"

"Yeah, the usual."

"I'm hungry." She yawns and turns into my arms, then starts rubbing her body against mine. "For food and for you, I think we need to..." Her eyes widen. "I need, oh shit, oh shit."

Panicking, I pull the blanket from her. "What? What's wrong?" I touch her forehead to see if she has a fever or something else wrong with her when she shoves me with strength I've never felt against the couch and straddles me.

"What's going on?"

Her eyes look like mine, so electric blue that it's nearly impossible to look away, and before I can say anything, I see the fangs in her mouth.

That's not how this is supposed to go.

What the hell?

She straddles me, her eyes are wild, like I've given her an injection of something. "My turn."

"What?"

She pins my arms above my head. "My turn."

"Yeah, heard you the first time." I try to move but can't. I'm literally paralyzed beneath her hands as her face descends, fangs elongate, she's bitten me before but never like this. Obviously.

Her incisors dig into my soft skin, she attaches her mouth to my neck, and all is lost, I see it.

I see it all.

Being abandoned as a child.

Leaving her.

Watching her run away in the opposite direction.

My past.

My present.

My future.

Has always been with her.

I let out a scream as she sinks down onto me, impaling herself onto me as she pulls back, blood dripping down her chin. "I was looking for you."

"I don't understand." I can barely make out the sentence as she starts to move above me. "What?"

"You." Her hands move and press against my chest. "I was looking...I see it now. I see it all."

"See what?" I'm not one to get nervous or afraid, but she's sending me over the edge.

She throws her head back, then her gaze snaps back to mine. "I'm yours. That's all that matters. But now, I need you. I need." She moves her hips. "I need this."

"I'll give you everything."

"I'll take it all." She stretches herself over me and I know I'm already lost for her as we move in sync, as we finish together, as she presses her bloody mouth against mine.

I'm gone.

I never want to be found.

Chapter 30

Ava

I remember nothing but bliss.

I wake up in his arms on the couch with blood stained on my cheeks, along with his mouth.

I'm his. That's all I know. That when I look at him, I know who I belong to, and who belongs to me.

I smile down at him and try not to wake him up as I crawl off of him. He's probably exhausted, just like me.

I stumble to the bathroom and wash my face, then look up.

My eyes are glowing blue still. It's freaky. He said that werewolves aren't really made anymore and yet something feels different with him, with me.

Frowning, I look closer. The blue isn't going away, it's still there. I try not to overthink things, since that leads down the path of nervous breakdowns and move back into the living room and grab my phone.

Xavier's texted.

Oh shit.

I look at the time.

It's noon.

I was supposed to meet him.

Xavier: You coming?

Xavier: Are you safe? Are you okay?

Xavier: Now I'm really worried, just text or call.

Xavier: This isn't like you.

I have ten missed calls from Gabe.

A sudden knock happens at the door, I rush over and open it, knowing I look like crap in a white t-shirt and no pants.

The minute I pull it open, I realize I made a mistake.

A huge mistake.

Gabe and Xavier are both standing in front of me, arms crossed, wearing black suits and grim expressions.

"Sorry." I gulp. "We were busy, and we slept and..."

"Take her." Xavier sighs and looks away from me, like he can't meet my eyes or maybe doesn't want to. "What's done is done."

"You knew it would happen."

"What?" I start to back away. "What's going on?"

Xavier sighs. "It's not like I had a choice and you clearly.." He inspects my neck, tossing my hair to the side. "Have already made yours, so now, we have a meeting, and now, you realize what you've done, and now...he faces his past and you, you will face a very uncertain future."

It's the last thing I remember before something hits me.

It's darkness.

It's cold.

I'm no longer warm.

And all I can get past my lips is. "Eli..."

Chapter 31

Eli

"What the fuck?" I'm still blissed out but, that ends really fast when I look around the room and see nothing but darkness and then Ava on her side next to me.

I grab her and flip her onto her back. "Ava. Ava, wake up."

She moans. "I'm so tired."

God, does she have a concussion and why are we in this dark dungeon like cell?

What the hell?

I want to think I'm having a nightmare, but everything feels real, down to the cold, hard cement beneath my body.

"Ava." I try again. "Open your eyes."

When she does, they're blue again. "Hi."

"Hi? That's all you have? Hi?"

I'm ready to shake her.

My mate does not look well and already I'm looking for ways to escape and ways to keep us safe, to keep future cubs safe.

Cubs?

Where did that word even come from?

"Ava." I tap her chin again. "I need your eyes."

She finally focuses on me, limp in my arms. "He hit a bit too hard. You should totally fire Gabe."

I freeze. "What?"

"Gabe and stupid Xavier." She sits up. "They came to the apartment, I got hit, they said it was already done, whatever that means, but what the hell?"

My blood runs cold.

Gabe's my best friend, my only friend, my brother. He would never harm her, what's going on?

I look around the room.

Food and drinks are placed on a table in the corner.

Okay.

So it's either a kindness or poisoned. Great odds.

I grab her and pull her into my lap. "Just rest while I figure out what's going on."

And I have no fucking clue how to do that.

The door suddenly opens making a creaking sound. Someone steps forward in a mask that looks like it was built in hell, with horns curling above the temples and a black mouth with red painted across it that doesn't move.

Fuck Squid Games, we're in our own.

"What," I say in a clear voice. "Do you want?"

"Alpha," the deep voice says. "We need the Alpha to step forward, but until now we've been confused on who it truly is."

"And that's my problem? I'm half-human!"

He shrugs. "We've been stalking everyone who has a chance for the past ten years and you always were high on our list, maybe a half-breed is the way to go, either way, you have to go to the games."

"Games?" I repeat.

Ava sits up. "Like the Hunger Games?"

I pull her closer to me.

"He's not even that strong!"

I'm ready to defend her when I look down. "I'm sorry, what?"

She smiles. "You're corporate, do you really want to get your nails dirty, Alpha?"

I internally rage.

I pull apart the room piece by piece in my mind. "Are you kidding me right now? Aren't mates supposed to be more loyal?"

She presses a hand to my chest. "That's why I'm saying this, I'm loyal. I just need you to stay alive so I can love you."

Well, when she puts it that way. "Okay, but.." I look around us. "This is weird, even weirder than being a half-werewolf, and that's saying something. What do you guys want? Money? I can give you money."

The guy slowly pulls his mask from his face. "No, we just need leadership. You both left a long time ago, and it's time to come back. We've been working for you, watching, waiting to see what would happen, and now it's time to test."

I can't see his face yet.

He slowly steps into the light.

I nearly roll on the floor laughing. "Jim?"

Another figure appears. "Marvin?"

And then to make it even worse. "M?" My new therapist gives me a wave and winks at my mate. I move in front of her.

"You don't get to wink at her."

"He's possessive." Gabe steps in. "I think it worked."

"The hell is wrong with you!" I roar at Gabe. "You're my brother! My best friend, you're kidnapping us?"

He shrugs. "Everything I've ever done is for the good of the pack, and they need a leader. All of the kids that were sent off and scattered are adults now, and we need a leader, so now, before you go back to the boring board meetings and real life, you'll go to the forest and fight on our behalf."

"For what?" I'm truly trying to grasp what's happening. "For what!" I roar.

Xavier steps forward. "Me. You'll fight me for the right to run the new pack and trust me when I say it will be an honor to kill you and take your mate."

I lunge toward him, but Ava grabs a hold of me and pulls me back into her arms. "What the hell!"

Gabe shrugs. "They need an alpha, and I provided one, my job here is done, the rest is up to you. You can go back to your penthouse and pretend this isn't a thing, or you can battle, go to war. A different sort of war. You see, a pack always needs an Alpha, and we have none and while we're scattered, we're powerful, and it's time to stop hiding, to rise up, so yes, you will need to fight."

Xavier grins. "It won't be much of a fight."

"You?" I point at him. "You're a werewolf."

Gabe laughs. "He's your long-lost brother and no, I'm not doing this to torture you, it's just the hierarchy of the pack, kind of like how I introduced you to your assistant knowing that you'd have zero control. It worked so well. So give us something, fix what's been broken, this pack has been broken for years and you might be the answer, or maybe it's Xavier. In the end, we need leadership from blood, and we need to reestablish ourselves. So...what will you do, Eli?

Will you walk away, will you run? Or will you do something real for the first time in your life, will you fight for your mate?"

I open my mouth only to have Ava shove me aside. "No. He won't. But I'll fight for mine."

"You?" Xavier laughs. "Wow, seriously? You think you can beat me? Me? You know, I really liked you at one point, wanted to help you, pull you away from that guy and now you want to fight me? Me?"

She lifts her chin. "I'll destroy you."

"How do you know?" Xavier laughs. "You're a woman."

She grins. "Exactly."

Chapter 32

Ava

It was a bad idea, challenging him, maybe I was still dealing with a concussion, but I didn't want to back down.

I wanted to protect Eli.

Protect the boy from the forest.

The one that protected me.

That promised me.

I stare down Xavier. "So, it's come to you and me fighting all because what? You want power? You want what?"

"Everything," he says clearly, his blue eyes focused on mine. "Eli was born into the pack but had a human mom, he's not worthy, and he knows it, and yet he still was able to rise to where he's at now, and honestly he doesn't deserve to be Alpha."

I laugh. "Wow, have you ever thought that he really doesn't care?"

Gabe chimes in. "It's in his blood, it doesn't matter, eventually he'll get called back and eventually he'll have to challenge the new leader. It's how this works, so whether we kidnapped you or brought you here on your own-this has to happen, there has to be a winner and a loser and I say this as an adoptive brother who loves him. It was time."

"Wonder why he had so much anger management therapy?"

M steps up and raises his hand. "An Alpha who hasn't met his mate goes slowly crazy, an Alpha that could eventually lead his pack will lose everything if he doesn't fight for it. So, at the end of the day, as they said, it's inevitable. Fight, get it over with, go back to your lives."

I look around the forest.

Tons of people are watching us, like at least two hundred.

Was I part of this?

I think I was.

No, I know I was.

Am I something other than human?

I look down at my hands. I see no claws. I just see. Human.

Somehow, I'm able to shove Eli away. "Me. I'll fight him."

Xavier laughs again. "You realize this isn't a normal fight and even if it were, you would lose?"

I take a deep breath. "I've run my entire life. Lost memories. People. So many precious things, what's one more fight after a lifetime of darkness? What I do know is that I'm a mate, and what we do is protect what we love."

Eli groans. "Ava don't—"

"Shut up!" I yell at him. "Let me have this."

"Let me have you!" he roars. "It's not worth it!"

Something burns in my chest as I walk toward Xavier. "Oh, but it is worth this, I've been waiting for this." What are these words coming out of my mouth? I glare at him. "You want to be Alpha, then fight me. Take over, if you can."

"I've been head-to-head with Eli for years in business, you think I can't beat him in battle?"

I laugh. "One thing you never thought of with my mate, what if you fight me instead, what if you lose?"

Gabe steps in. "While this is how things are done, you have to know. Ava, if something happens, both you and If Xavier wins without killing you—he gets you. You will be his new mate."

I'm stunned.

I back away. "But I'm Eli's."

Gabe sighs. "What belongs to the Alpha? Everything, you included."

"Well, that's dumb!" I yell. "That's so archaic! I get a choice!"

"You do." Gabe nods. "So choose. Will you fight?"

I turn to Eli and my entire world switches into slow motion. I look around. He doesn't want me to fight. Xavier thinks he'll win. There are tons of half-human werewolves surrounding us in the forest and I'm brought back to the time when I was one of them, they've fathered to witness and I need them to see. I'm brought back to my birth, watching people get forgotten, abandoned, left, and I refuse to let that happen again.

Back to when I ran in the opposite direction from Eli.

But now, I want to run toward him, even if it means I'm captured.

Even if it means 1 die.

I'll keep him safe.

I'll do this.

He fed me.

He fucking fed me.

He hired me.

He took care of me.

He took himself away from me to keep me safe because he had no control.

And here he is on his knees for me.

I turn around again and again, and finally lock eyes with Eli. "I love you."

He shakes his head. "Let me."

"No." I smile. "I think some battles should be won where the hero sits it out and the underdog tries their best to save the person who always sacrifices. I want to be that person. I don't want to run anymore. I may not remember much of my past, but I know this-I'm yours. And I protect what is mine!" I start shrieking. "I protect my pack! I am you, you are me, and I am here to defend, to rule, but most of all." I turn to Xavier. "I'm here to prove to you that just because you have a fucking dick does not, for one second mean, you will own me."

Xavier smiles. "Guess we'll see."

Gabe grabs his phone and looks down at the screen. "Okay, time to hunt."

"NO!" Eli screams. "Don't do this! I'll go, I'll do it!"

"No," I say with an authority I didn't think I possessed. "T'll hunt. What's the game?"

Gabe sighs. "Find one, find just one, find a lost one, a lost one from the pack in the forest and you'll be okay. Bring them back here. Save one. Save just one, and you win. Save nothing and you lose."

"And you?" Eli jumps up, then stumbles. "My brother, what's your part in this?"

Gabe smiles, then hesitates. "Bringing it all back together again. It's been the same since my family took you in. It's always been this goal. Being whole."

"At the cost of us!" Eli roars.

Gabe shakes his head. "No, brother, this is to bring us together again, but in order to do that, you need to face what you fear."

Eli pauses. "What the hell do you think I fear?"

Gabe takes a deep breath. "Yourself, your own power, your own rage, you do not fear others, my friend, you fear yourself."

He nods. "You're right. I use it to protect others. I use it for us. My mate." I don't stand down. I get up and I face him.

"So fight me. Fight me now. And we'll see how this ends."

He nods. "Okay, we'll see how it ends, but know, in the beginning, the only thing we thought was, keep him safe, love him, and teach him, maybe this is your final lesson, brother."

"You dare call me brother?" I yell.

He smiles and watches Ava. "You finally found her, and now it's her time to find someone else, someone else missing in this forest. We've been searching for years for the lost children of your pack. If she finds one, is it all worth it? All these years? All the rage? I say yes, I say yes to this fight. And I think if you really thought about it, you would too.

Besides, it's time to let someone else be the hero, why can't it be her?"

She's my hero.

It settles in my soul.

I stare at her.

And I watch her walk.

I grab her hand and pull her back. "Go."

"Will you be by my side still?" Her eyes fill with tears.

I smile. "It's not my job to save you. It's my job to be by your side. Go, go be a hero, fight him, and I'll wait. And if in the end, it is my end, I won't die sad, I'll die knowing that you are half of me and that you fought, and that even if we lost, I still had you. It's life. And I haven't been living it. I've been stuck, you are what was missing, so worst-case scenario, I'm a sad werewolf who dies, best-case scenario... We live. But I trust you, and this isn't my journey. It's yours."

I nod and walk into the forest next to Xavier. "You want to be Alpha?"

He sighs. "I'm born to be Alpha."

"So, was it all a lie with me?"

"Absolutely." He turns toward me. "I just wanted to get close and look how close I got without even trying."

"Cool. Good to know."

"You won't win against me."

"I have heart."

"I have strength." He laughs. "This won't even be a competition."

"Weird, since it shouldn't be, we're saving kids, this should be a mission, not a competition."

He pauses. "I was one of those children. It will always be a competition on who can save who."

I reach out and I grab his hand. "But why?"

He doesn't grip my hand right away, then looks down at our interlocked fingers. "You're warm."

That's all he had?

You're warm.

A tear slides down my cheek. "Why should that stand out? Do you think they're warm? Those kids lost in the first, away from the clan I've never known? Everything comes at a cost. What's yours?"

Xavier squeezes my hand. "Power."

"For what?" I ask back. "Should I be the bigger person and ask you?"

He looks away and squeezes my hand. "I wanted control. The clan could be powerful, but in the end..." He goes to his haunches and starts crying. "It's my family and they're gone! They're fucking gone! It's my job to help my clan reestablish, and Eli, being who he is"— he sighs— "he's my brother or half-brother, and it's a threat."

"Then," I say gently. "You don't know Eli."

He looks up at me. "He'll take everything from me."

"Have you ever thought" —I sigh—"that he might give instead?"

Xavier frowns. "What?"

"How many are lost in the woods, how many lost children?"

"Seven," he whispers.

"Good. We can get that done right now. They're terrified. Let's go build back your clan, not just yours, but Eli's."

Chapter 33

Eli

I watch her leave with him. I have so much fear it's ridiculous, but he holds her hand as they walk into the forest.

I did not have this at all in my plans for today.

I was going to grab my coffee, be grumpy about it and then go to work, not walk into a forest, not bring up my past or hers.

And here we are.

They disappear, and I let her.

For the first time in my life, I let go.

I let go of the anger.

I let go of everything.

And I watch, with Gabe by my side.

"Gonna kill you later," I whisper.

M walks up with Marvin. "Are we angry again?"

"Bad timing," Gabe says under his breath.

I look at all three of them. "Were you all in on this?"

M raises his hand. "I was the last recruit, so you can't be mad at me."

All eyes turn to Marvin.

Then Gabe.

"Wow." I sigh. "Wow."

Gabe smiles. "I think you're ready."

"For what? Death?"

Two bodies come back and then two more, and then three, four...

What the hell is going on?

Xavier escorts five lost children.

Ava escorts ten.

And then, in a weird exchange, they hug, and everyone turns toward her, she kneels and raises her hands to the sky.

And I realize.

I'm not the Alpha.

She is.

Chapter 34

Ava

It was dark around the forest. There were tons of wolves that needed help, but the more I looked the more I wondered, were they like him? They weren't the same and even if they were, why would I not save them? Honestly, I wasn't even sure what they were, just that I had a pull to them, a draw, and that it was my job to save.

And in the end.

It was Xavier who helped me help them.

I don't remember much, neither does he, but I do remember holding their hands, walking out and proving my worth.

The kids go to the right as Xavier and I kneel.

I feel powerful.

I feel empowered.

I look up, and it's to see Eli kneel, then Gabe, then every single person from the clan.

"Alpha," Eli whispers. "Good to meet you."

They all bow.

I look to Xavier.

He just smiles, like he knew all along.

Gabe nods. "Stand, Alpha of the clan."

What?

I stand.

And look around.

I have so many people around me; I don't even know my own past beyond knowing my mate.

"Doesn't matter." Eli comes up to me and pulls me into his arms. "You were born for this, made for this. If the past is dark, let the future be bright. Let the future be you."

I smile, "My future was you the minute we met."

"Even though I was grumpy?"

"Even then." I laugh. "Now, should we go back to work? Kind of like saved the world."

"Did you though?"

"Are you arguing again?"

"Yup." He laughs. "But I love you, so I'll do it again and again, keeps you on your toes."

"I'll always reach for you."

He smiles at me. "And I'll always reach for you."

-------------------The End---------------