I diced the carrots slowly, I had never been good with knives, but I was trying to help with dinner. My lack of hand eye coordination didn't exactly help when it came to cooking, especially the cutting part of it.

Alaricus and I had spent all day together and now near dinner, he had asked me if it was alright if we cooked our dinner ourselves. All day Alaricus had been extremely affectionate taking every opportunity to touch me, to hold me, we had basically been glued together since he came to get me from my room. His honey eyes seemed to glow brighter as the day progressed, but every time I tried pulling away his eyes would darken. Alaricus never liked me rejecting his affections but today he seemed more on edge then usual, and for that reason I had stopped pulling away from him, allowing him to be as affectionate as he pleased.

I huffed in frustration, I was trying to dice the carrots into squares but wasn't too successful. I was nearly growling in anger when I felt two arms wrap around my own as a strong hard body pressed into my own, making my muscles tense immediately. No matter how close Alaricus and I had been today, I still wasn't used to his touch, truthfully never having had a boyfriend, it was very strange to have a male touch me in a romantically affectionate way. I feared I'd never get used to his touch.

He rested his hand on mine guiding me through the movements, his body completely lax against mine, but I could feel his heart pounding away in his chest. He enjoyed my touch but it made him nervous as well, it was so strange to to know you affected a man in that manner, especially one like Alaricus Knight.

"Perhaps I'll be the one doing the cooking for us love." His warm breath blew against my ear, as he whispered to me softly, making a shiver rake down my spine and I bit into my lip nervously to keep him from hearing my laboured breathing.

He finally let go of me gathering up the carrots, to put them in the pot and wrapped his arm around me, guiding me to the stools, pulling one out for me, he sat me down.

"Maybe you should just watch." He said, sending me a small smile playful smile as he went back to cooking and I returned his with a feeble one of my own.

I watched him cook silently, unable to look away. He moved around the kitchen comfortably as if cooking was something he did often, the way he moved with such ease made it seem as if he were a professional chef.

He set the dish down on a tray, taking his time to neatly arrange the food onto the tray, and washing his hands after. Alaricus gestured with his hand did me to go before him, chivalrously bowing making me crack a small smile as I walked ahead of him. The delicious smell of the food wafting from behind me, the only indication that he was following me. He walks so very deceptively quietly for a man his size, it always unnerved me, there was something predatory about it. It was why I preferred him walking before me, but he was far too chivalrous for that.

I paused mid-step as I realized we were to dine in his room, where I'd also have to sleep. I really wasn't ready yet. As if sensing my unease, Alaricus rests his hand on my shoulder, gently using it to pull me to face him. His eyes scan over my face, carefully analyzing, seeming to have found his answer, as his eyes fill with realization.

"Won't you go in love? I promise I would never hurt you." Alaricus states truthfully and I nodded curtly, bracing my shoulders as I swung open the door to his room walking in slowly.

Alaricus rested an arm on the small of my back, balancing the large tray in just one hand skillfully, and he led me to his bed. He set the tray in between us as we sat, arranging the cutlery in front of us both.

"Open it." He said, gesturing towards the lid of the dish, his eyes shining with childish excitement.

I opened it slowly to reveal rows of artfully arranged ratatouille, and in the centre was a baked chicken, slathered in spices and herbs.

I let out a laugh at the ratatouille knowing who exactly had suggested it. Adrian adored the movie. Alaricus poked a fork into the ratatouille holding it out to me, and hesitantly I leaned forward taking a bite.

"Do you like it?" He asked nervous now, and I nodded, making a smile grace his pouty red lips.

"May I serve you?" Alaricus asked and I nodded, truthfully I wouldn't even kniw where to start, and it was arranged to neatly for me to want to ruin it by digging in.

"Eat up love" he said handing me a plate ladened with enough chicken and vegetables to feed three people. But I was quite hungry. Cutting off a piece of the chicken I brought it to my mouth, the spices of the tender meat very pleasing to the taste buds. I didn't cook very much and couldn't even identify most of the spices he had used, but he'd caught onto how I liked my food a little spicy, and been quite generous with the seasoning. It was absolutely delicious.

"Can I feed you?" He asked out of a sudden as we ate, I looked at him confused what was with this man, I was basically an adult, I could feed myself.

"No I-I'll manage." I said my voice cracking when his eyes darkened at my refusal. It was unnerving to be able to affect someone's mood so easily. I didn't understand how werewolves worked, I had never been so close to one, I was unsure of what to do or not to do. He frowned deeply, and bit into his lip thoughtfully, we finished our meal in silence.

"Are you ready to go to bed?" He asked softly, once a maid had come in to collect our plates and the remaining food, making eyes widen as they darted to find the clock, the day had gone by so quick it was time.

"Sure." I said quietly and he smiled.

"I-I'll just go change then." I said my cheeks reddening in embarrassment at my stuttering and he nodded at me.

I walked out of the room rushing to my own as I panicked, what should I wear? What could one wear when sleeping in the same bed as their mate, who was about to get very affectionate. I went through my pyjamas groaning in frustration as I saw all the pyjama shorts, sleep shirts and lace nighties, the nighties had been added to my wardrobe when I had gotten here. Apparently the palace designer had thought we would be acting like real mates. Alaricus had found it very amusing when I told him, I had initially thought he had gotten them, and wasn't happy with the fact that he had. He had apologized sincerely on behalf of his designer, making me feel quite guilty for being brisk with him.

I finally settled on white pyjamas with vertical black stripes and a fitted white tank top, that seemed to be one of my most covering pair of pyjamas. I cursed at myself as I walked out for not having completely covering pyjamas. I was unable to sleep when too warm, but loved sleeping in blankets, the only option I had was wearing pyjamas that would allow me to stay cool. Which of course meant revealing pyjamas, but I had never thought that would be an issue, I had never shared a bed with anyone.

I knocked on Alaricus's door, nearly gasping when I saw him. I had only ever seen him dressed in suits or dress shirts, his pyjama clad form was something I found astonishing.

He wore full black pyjamas, that hugged his impressive torso hinting at strong powerful thighs, with a grey t-shirt that fit him well showing off his sculpted body, the type of body one only read about in romance novels.

He stared at me in adoration his eyes taking in my pyjama clad form, and even without my makeup and in boring pyjamas he looked at me as if I was the most exquisite thing he had ever seen. He allowed me in, and I walked in standing awkwardly in the middle of his large room. He walked closer to me running his hands through my chocolate brown hair affectionately. Grabbing my hand in his, Alaricus led me to the bed.

Settling me down gently into it, lying down beside me, he wrapped an arm around me and pulled me so I was curled into his chest. I willed my body to relax against him, but it seemed as if I were unable to control myself as I stayed as tense as ever. Alaricus rest his chin on my head gently, the pressure slightly comforting, perhaps it would have been more so, if it weren't his chin. He wrapped both arms around me, using his hold on my waist to pull me closer to his warm chest

He was so warm, we wouldn't need a blanket, his warmth completely enveloped me, and I tried to relax into it. Alaricus his fingernails over the side of my waist gently from overtop my tank, trying to relax me.

"So beautiful." He whispered into my hair nuzzling my head affectionately.

"Relax Amara please, I would never hurt you, never my love." He says using his chin to push my face up so that I could look into his eyes. I nearly gasped as I saw them, the soft looked as if it were coming alive as golden flecks began to appear in them. They were beautiful.

"Okay." I whispered biting my lip gently, and his eyes darkened as they zeroed in on my bitten lip, he brought his hand up gently releasing my bottom lip from my teeth.

"Don't do that love." He almost growled making my eyes widen, it didn't sound human it was gruff, and from within his chest.

I glanced at the clock to see it was seconds away from midnight and my heart pounded in my chest recalling all the research I'd done in preparation of this night. From what I had read, werewolves were most primal on the night of the full moon. From when the clock would strike midnight a change would occur in them. Of course to my luck, the authors had decided to keep from going into details about the change, perhaps it was different from wolf to wolf, but a brief overview would have been much appreciated.

Something shifted in me as his eyes went from the darkened honey to a glowing inhumane golden, and I lost control fighting to get away from him, as his whole body seemed to emit a dangerous animalistic aura, his teeth seeming to grow into canines. I struggled in his arms and in his transitioning state he let me go. I stumbled off of the bed rushing for the door, I had almost escaped, almost gotten to safety to freedom, when two warm arms wrapped around me pulling me back into a warm chest.

"Where do you think you're going mate?"