After hearing a little more talking and the front door being shut, I hurried across the hall to my room, where I was supposed to be.

I heard Adrain's footsteps while I sat on the bed quickly, trying to make it look like I've been sitting here the whole time. I fiddled with my fingers waiting for him to come in.

"Hey sweetheart," he acknowledged while shutting the door behind him, "Do you feel any better?" He walked over to me slowly, just being cautious.

"Yeah I'm fine," I responded. My hair was starting to fall out of my bun even more, the curly pieces falling in my face. I probably looked like I wasn't "fine".

"I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable down there. I should've waited to introduce you when you felt like it," he apologized. Adrian turned himself towards me and gently took my hand again. I need to put a limit on how many times he can do that a day, because I still need to get used to this feeling.

"It's okay, you didn't know."

I'm guessing he didn't like that I wasn't looking at him because after I told him that he gently put two fingers underneath my chin making me stare at him. Tingling.

"I should know Kayla. It's my job to know things like that."

"Who says it's your job too?"

Hearing that, he went silent. He couldn't form an answer but he acted like he had one. As if he just got his thoughts together he spoke.

"Mates are supposed to know how each other feel. That's why I should know." Speaking lowly, he took my hand and held it, staring at it.

"But we only just met a few weeks ago, Adrian. It takes time."

"Love," he sighed, running his hand through his hair making it fall in his face more, "I don't think you understand."

Of course I don't.

I heard it all the time.

Which is why I'm so tired of it.

It's not my fault that I'm this way, that I'm left out of anything social or I'm not as smart as most people. I wanted to learn and I tried to as much as I could. But every single person around me made sure to make me miserable, and made sure I was never included in anything unless I was going to be used in their favor. When I was younger, and the abuse hadn't started yet, the times when I couldn't eat with everyone else there was always "you wouldn't understand" said to me. And I thought that truly, I wouldn't understand. But I found out later, that's they only wanted me to not eat like them, be with them, be anything like them. Finding out those reasons, was such a tough time for me. Why wouldn't I understand? Why wasn't I included like the rest of the children. We were the same.

Slowly, I moved my hand out of Adrian's grasp and laid it back on my lap. My fingers interlocked with each other to make sure that he wouldn't take my hand again and I turned my head the other way, finding the fake plant in the corner more interesting.

I know I'm different. I don't need someone to keep telling me that.

I heard him sigh before he got off the bed and moved towards the tv. My gaze now fell upon him, watching him move very swiftly. He pulled out a few drawers reaching inside rummaging through the contents of them and pulled out some dvds.

"You like Disney movies right?" He asked me. Adrian was now leaned up against the drawers giving me his undivided attention.

I still didn't want to talk to him right now, and I didn't really have any other way to be mad without stepping over any boundaries. So I figured that the silent treatment was the best way to go.

He completely ignored the fact that I was ignoring him, "How does the lion king sound?"

My head picked up when he mentioned the lion king, which caused him to give a slight smile. I used to watch it all the time when I was growing up. And I would always cry whenever his dad died.

Sounds familiar now.

I still didn't answer him, but just stared at the casing of the dvd. Seeing the familiar characters brought out old memories that were buried deep in the back of my mind.

"Come on, I know you want to see it, and besides don't you want to see a big bad alpha get all emotional on the most emotional part of the movie?" It was tempting. That's something no one wants to pass up. "I know you do," he urged waving the dvd around like he was taunting me.

It was like a switch just turned on inside him I realized. One minute he was serious, getting mad at himself and realizing he said the wrong thing, he tried making me feel better. I could see it in the way he tried to turn the situation around right away. And he must've had some practice because he was good. I forgot why I was mad at him, just from the way he smiled.

"Oh, the silent treatment," he rubbed the back of his neck, still smiling, " How cute."

Okay. How was this cute? It still didn't stop the blush that spread to my cheeks. Being with him, around him, the stuff he says, has never failed to make me blush or feel that tingly feeling. And it all felt so good.

But he couldn't expect to change the subject all of a sudden. His words hurt me, even if it wasn't intentionally. That's why i was saying that it does take time to know someone. I can't just say that since we are mates he's going to understand everything that I've been through and me the same. I still don't know much about him either.

He walked over to the tv and slid the dvd in the DVD player and turned the sound up so we could hear. The familiar previews came at the beginning instantly making me think of my childhood. I pulled me knees up to my chest and wrapped my arms around them, much like how I did when I was younger.

I would've told him that I absolutely loved Disney movies. Especially the Lion King.

Adrian was sitting in the chair close to the bed. He had his head leaned into his hand after noticing my refusal to have any interaction with him. I could see him looking at me from the corner of my eye and it started to make me feel uneasy, but not uncomfortable. I felt like I needed to acknowledge him. These past 5 minutes have been so confusing.

The opening song to the movie came on and my attention was only on the movie now. I scooted further back on the bed to get more comfortable and pulled the blanket up to my waist. I'm taking advantage of how comfortable this is and this whole feeling because if for whatever reason this is ripped away from me all over again, I can remember this feeling. As small as it is.

Maybe a good ten minutes into the movie, Adrian got up suddenly and left the room, the door gently closing behind him. His face was creased with aggravation, his cell phone lighting up with call after call. He looked at me before he left, leaving me confused. I couldn't help but think that this was about me.

Little things like this makes me anxious and I hate myself for it. He probably sees me different and maybe doesn't want to have anything to do with me anymore. Things like this used to set Sir off. But I knew Adrian wouldn't harm me now. He's taken care of me.

I can learn things here. The things I still don't know. And then when I do, I can leave, be on my own. For once I could be independent and rely on myself instead of someone always being in charge of me. Being by myself isn't unusual but obviously lonely, but if I know how to do what everyone else can, then it must be ten times better.

Shaking my head, I ran my hand over my hair that was now let down from its bun, the curls gently touching my shoulders. I don't want my thoughts ruining my moment.

Its been at least 30 minutes and Adrian still wasn't back. I was slowly starting to grow tired and it was still the afternoon. My body was tired, my mind was tired, everything is tired.

Before I knew it, I drifted into darkness, the lion king distantly sounding through my ears.

~~~~~~~

I was beyond pissed at this point.

Livid.

My instincts to protect her is in full swing and isn't going away anytime soon.

I had to leave the room abruptly, getting a text from my beta saying:

She was already not talking to me, which made me already feel upset, but she was holding onto it with whatever she got. I know I said something she didn't like, and I respect that.

It's going to take a lot to get used to her, and vice versa.

I went to my office which was more to the other side of the house, already knowing that one of us was going to be there first. Usually if something like this were to happen, it's something about the pack, a threat, a crisis, just something.

He was already there when I walked in, his elbow rested on the arm of the chair in front of my desk, waiting for my company. His head flicked up, hearing the door shut firmly behind me.

"Alpha," he spoke lowly, seriously.

A formal greeting always meant trouble.

"Jacob," I nodded at him with acknowledgement, "What is going on?" I asked him with curiosity, walking over to my chair to sit across from him.

He furrowed his eyebrows, "We have a note.." he trailed off. My eyebrow raised at this. So it is a threat.

"It's anonymous, but I have a good idea who sent it."

He had the envelope in his hand, sliding it over to me. I already knew who it came from. Who else would I get a note from at such a convenient time like this?

Who would've thought that my little girl would find her love so quickly.

How pathetic.

Don't get to comfy lover boy. I'm coming for her.

Brad Hemingway. A cruel man. Always has been. Always will be.

I've heard all of the stories about him when I was growing up, when I was training to become an alpha.

He isn't much of anything, except for a civilized rogue leader, that somehow has a twist on how he runs his "pack" that makes it not really the traditional pack.

Many rogues have followed him. Or really just have joined his little rogue grouping, and packs all around have been aware of this.

Everyone knows who my pack is.

Blood Moon.

The strongest pack of wolves as everyone has said. Our warriors trained to be ready to combat anything that comes our way. Our morals, many people respect.

Another reason, they have the strongest alpha. Me.

And now people have questioned that, do to my recent disappearance.

I have already explained to my pack what has happened. How someone has come for me, inside the pack, working with Johns to bring me down. How they somehow poisoned me that night I went missing with silvertone.

And the worst thing is, is that we have not caught this person, and they could be conspiring against me again.

Luckily, the news has spread. Other alphas becoming aware, informing their packs of the news also and it has become more calming now that alliances have been made. It's easier that these other alphas are very understanding.

That used to be climax of my worries, but Brad threatening Kayla, is on a whole other level. And I am definitely not going to let her touch her ever again.

She's mine.

"Tell the warriors to be prepared for anything, that this is something we have to take very seriously," I told him, "Tell them to be prepared for anything to happen soon."

"Yes alpha."

He stood up, hesitated, then walked out of the room. I was looking at the door, now sitting alone in my empty office, with a far away look in my eye.

Running my hand through my hair, I looked at the paper work that has piled up since I've been gone. They've come up on my desk again now that I'm officially here to take care of them now. I couldn't really complain about doing them now, it beats sitting in a cell eating the worst food I've ever eaten in my life.

Brad wanted my power, my authority, my everything.

But little did he know that I received that once I got there.

Kayla was all of that.

The thought of her distracted me from my work. The way she smelled, like roses and vanilla being the first thing that popped up in my mind. Then, her hair, her skin, her smile, her eyes, her cute little nose, her lips, god her lips. It was so tempting to kiss her, to feel her, just to touch her. But I know she's not ready. Like i said I'm willing to wait. Anything for her.

But it's easy to say I'm head over heels for her. Or how Jacob said, I'm whipped for her.

I set the papers aside, getting up from my chair. The sun was setting now, which means I've been in here for almost 2 hours.

I headed up to Kayla's room. The Lion King has most definitely been over by now, and I blame myself for not being with her to occupy her time, already knowing she's been alone enough.

Stupid.

She probably thought that I was mad at her, with me just leaving like that.

I guess a part of me already knew that this meeting was about her, or somehow related to her.

I gently opened the door, expecting to see her up trying to find something to do, but instead I found her curled up into a ball, snoring quietly.

I closed the door, waking into the room further, seeing the options to play the movie again. Walking up next to her I saw that she slept with one hand under her head, her mouth a little bit open.

She was just so beautiful.

I pulled up my chair and sat it next to the bed.

I want to cuddle up next to her, wrap her up, feel her against me, the best way to protect her while she slept. I know that I can't though, but whenever the time comes, I'll try to hide how happy I'd be.

When she wakes up, I'll make her dinner, probably put another movie in while she snuggles up into the blankets getting comfortable, like she deserves, and for the rest of my life I'd make sure to make her feel as comfortable as possible.

With this thought, I joined her, falling into a deep content sleep with Kayla on my mind.

•••••••