Ben's unexpected seizure caused the party to come to an abrupt end which Lia was grateful for. She hardly knew most of the people who attended the party moreover, the sight of Raphael being close to her mom was increasingly getting on her nerves - not only her but her wolf too.

For her wolf to support her, Lia guessed at the end of everything, family still mattered.

Her blood was boiling each time her mom smiled at Raphael or she touched his body. Lia couldn't help but sigh, why hadn't her mom wondered about his cold temperature?

Well, it wasn't really easy for ordinary people to believe in the existence of supernatural creatures. Even with evidence, it would take time for the information to sink in.

"If you keep on staring at him that way, you would bore a hole in his head." Lia was almost startled when her brother Trevor sneaked up on her from behind.

"I don't like him, " She told him bluntly while watching her mom and Raphael schmoozing with a guest, probably wishing her a safe journey home.

"Well congratulations, I hate him more than your boyfriend " Trevor confessed straightforwardly.

Lia whipped around to face," Why do you hate Daniel, he's a nice guy "

"He is not good for you "

"Nobody is perfect in this world Trevor besides, I get to be the one who decides who is good for me or not " She argued with him.

Trevor scanned the area carefully before lowering his voice, saying "Daniel is a very dangerous person, you have to stay far away from him as possible "

Her eyes narrowed suspiciously, why was her brother speaking this way? Had he discovered anything about them? It couldn't be, else he would have confronted her already.

Perhaps he knows about others but not her specifically, which explains why he dislikes Daniel. Since her mate was a were-creature known for their hot temper, he must be thinking he might hurt her one day - no wonder, Trevor wants to separate them so badly.

But how did he get to know about them? How did he find out? Lia was so curious she decided to play along with him and find out the truth.

She squeezed her brow together in confusion purposely, "Daniel is a dangerous person? What are you talking about? "

"Just trust me alright? "

"Trust you? You can't just tell me that my boyfriend is a dangerous person and expect me to believe you without evidence " she spat.

" I have a feeling, alright ?" he retorted. Lia folded her arms around her chest, " You're hiding something from me, aren't you? "

The Adam's apple on her brother's throat bobbed restlessly, " It's nothing to worry yourself with, when the time comes you will know "

But Lia grabbed the seam of his shirt and tugged him closer but not aggressively, "What have you been up to recently, Trevor? "

Trevor wet his lips, he knew he couldn't escape his sister especially with that fierce gaze in her eyes.

"There are these people" he started " That I hang around with recently, but they know everything most people in this town have no knowledge about "

"You joined a freaking cult, Trevor! " Lia whisper-shouted at him, forming a fist with his shirt.

"No, it's not a cult. We just protect humanity against evil "

"Seriously Trevor? " she gave him a dirty look, "Where did you keep your brain? Fight against evil? You were the one always sensible about stuff like this - "

"Dad was in it too! " He said in an outburst attracting the attention of the few guests still around.

Lia figured everything out at once, her brother had joined Hunter's league! How did he even join? Does he even understand the severity of the organization he entered?

Though she hadn't finished translating her father's ledger but the few translated version she had read, it was obvious their father at a point wanted out of the organization. She just hoped he doesn't regret this decision in the future.

"Is anything the matter? " Daniel approached them with a worried look on his face.

His mate smiled up at him quickly,

"No, it's nothing. We're fine, just normal squabble between siblings " She covered up immediately.

"Whatever " Trevor sneered, a look of pure disgust on his face as he left.

"Don't worry about him " Lia cupped his cheeks and dropped a smooch on his lips.

"I'm turning a blind eye to him but it's beginning to irk my wolf. I am an Alpha, I don't plead for respect but command it " he pointed out while suppressing his wolf trying to rise to the surface.

Trevor had disrespected him blatantly, not once neither twice. It was a huge insult to his status; if not the fact the stupid boy was his mate's brother, he would have ripped out his throat already.

"I'll apologize to your wolf on his behalf, " Lia told him, then lowered her head and bribed him with one deep long kiss.

"Is he still angry? " She teased him as soon as she drew away from him.

Daniel opened his eyes which flashed yellow before returning to its normal blue color.

" I think he's satiated at the moment " he made sure to emphasize on "at the moment "

Lia was smiling at his silly attempt to make her smile when she peered through his shoulder and her eyes fixed with Asher's, who looked away at once.

"What's wrong?" Daniel asked out of concern when he saw the smile on her face freeze for a moment.

She blinked, "Nothing" then put a distance between them eliciting a frown from Daniel which she didn't notice because she was glancing elsewhere.

Daniel turned around and saw nothing that could have caused her mood to turn soar in an instant, how strange.

Lia felt slightly uncomfortable when her gaze connected with Asher earlier, why was she feeling guilty? Why did her heart hurt when she saw that longing look in his eyes? He had been the one who decided to stay away from her, so why was her heart making her look like the bad one here?

"I'll be leaving with Ben" Her mate who was currently unsettling her heart, appeared right in front of them.

Ever since Asher appeared out of nowhere to rescue Ben, they hadn't gotten the opportunity to speak alone, just the two of them.

But right now he was standing in front of her, staring her straight in the eyes, she could feel the electricity coursing through her veins.

He really was heartless, Lia thought. Though she was still angry at him for abandoning her - weren't mates supposed to stay with each other through the thin and thick -but the urge to pull him into her arms was stronger. How could he even resist this pull for that long?

Fine, since he wanted to play this game, she would happily oblige him.

"Alright," Daniel concurred.

"Wait! " Lia called after Asher when he turned to leave," I'm coming with you "

" You are? " Daniel was surprised.

" Yes, I'm coming along. Ben needs me "

"You don't have to, I'll take care of him "

Her eyes flashed, " You're not my father, so you don't get to decide what I'll do and what I won't do! " She spat at him with a ferocity that stunned both of them.

Then she went to her mom and informed her of her decision, but as expected Jenny declined her permission.

Her mom claimed she wasn't fit enough to walk about which irritated Lia further, having known her injury healed up ages ago.

So after an intense argument and Raphael's helpful sugar-coated words, her mom permitted her to leave much to Asher's dismay.

" Let's go " She had ordered him after he lay Ben down on the passenger side of the car.

She climbed into the front seat as Asher started the car and they began their silent journey.

With her lips pressed together, Lia looked straight ahead with an unsmiling face until it got to a point where her scalp began to hurt, so she loosened her hair out of the ponytail she tied it earlier.

She fluffed her hair with her hands, letting it fall on her shoulder naturally but that was until she heard a guttural curse, and the next she knew, the car came to a sudden halt by the side of the road. She looked up to question Asher's sudden pull-up when she was pressed against her seat and kissed senselessly.

Asher could feel the tension between them the moment she stepped into his car. He had to fight the urge to touch her with every fiber of his being, he didn't want to trigger her wolf-side again.

But the girl wasn't making it easy for him.

Asher was instantly hooked by her scent the moment she released her hair from its bind, her intoxicating smell wafting into his nose without care and he totally lost it.

He jerked the car to a stop at the side of the road and pressed her further into the seat, capturing her lips and kissing her to his heart content - but he still wasn't satisfied, he wanted more.

He had stayed away from her too much and now, it was taking its toll on him.

The more mates strengthen their bond, the harder and torturous it will be for them to stay away from each other.

He pulled away from Lia in order for her to get more air into her lungs. But he was stunned when she hissed at him threateningly with her elongated canines and glowing eyes.

"Drive!"