A small smile curved up my lips as I watched Alaricus. His brows furrowed, honey eyes crinkling in concentration, his tongue poking out the side of his mouth as he focused on his roses. Cutting off the thorns carefully. His diligence was admirable, when he focused it seemed the things around him all disappeared, but occasionally he would look up at me throwing me a small smile.

"This would be much quicker if you'd just let me help." I said.

"Love you tried before, you know how that ended and trust me angel I have no problem with delivering a similar consequence once more." He said a slight smirk quirking up his plump red lips. My cheeks heated immediately and I ducked my face hoping he wouldn't see how embarrassingly red my cheeks had gotten.

Apparently attempting to help with his roses wasn't one of my best ideas.

I'd stood right behind him, bored of being stuck inside all day. Chattering into his ear about letting me attend to the rose shrubs, but I hadn't reached for them, as of yet. When I did was when he'd exploded. As soon as my hand had come with a few inches to the roses he'd stiffened dropping the garden snip in his hand and whirling around to face me leaving me stunned. I froze looking up at him, as he tightly grabbed ahold of my waist yanking me up and onto him so that I had no choice but to wrap myself around him unless I wanted to be dragged back. He held me tightly to him, my legs wrapped around his waist, arms around his neck as I clung to him, which he didn't seem to mind. He set me down on the table that sat behind us, refusing to allow me to squirm away instead planting himself right between my legs and holding my waist tightly so that I couldn't move even an inch away. I could feel his stare burning into my face but I refused to look up at him, his honey gold eyes were far too intense for me to handle. But he wasn't having my shying away. I squirmed in his hold hoping he'd let me go but his arm wrapped around my waist as he tugged me firmly into his chest using his other hand to tip my chin up to face him.

"You just can't stay away from danger can you?" He asked his voice huskier then normal. I gulped staring up into his eyes that were glinting much more gold then they'd been when I'd first found him outside, I should've just sat down.

"I was bored and it wasn't dangerous." I say opening my mouth to speak again but he interrupts before I can.

"It wasn't dangerous." He restated through clenched teeth, a humourless chuckle escaping him.

"But you were bored weren't you baby?" He asks and I nod, slightly wide eyed.

"I'm just gonna have to entertain you then aren't I?" He asked his voice having dropped a bit more his hold tightening on my waist.

He leaned in capturing my mouth with his before I had time to protest, his arm tight around me, hand wrapping in my unruly waves that ran down my back as he tried to pull me further into him. My eyes widened before falling close altogether as the sweet warmth of his mouth soaked into mine. I slowly sunk into him, my rigid body melting into the hard planes of his firm body until we were moulded together. Alaricus moved his lips feverishly against mine as if trying to eternally join us together. The little breath I had in me left as he bit into my lower lip tugging it, before nibbling on it softly, soothing it with his tongue immediately after making me sigh. The parting in my lips allowing him to thrust his tongue into my mouth, tasting every crevice of my mouth. I wrapped my arms tightly around his shoulders, one hands playing with the tendrils at his nape. I tugged them gently eliciting a low husky groan from him. I froze momentarily at the sound, my hand trailing away but the growl that ripped out of his chest, letting me know he didn't like me stopping my movements and I allowed my hand to trail back to his silky strands. He kissed me as if he would never get to kiss me again. With a fervour so apparent, a passion that burned within him and heated my own skin, a desire so desperate, as if it had only just gotten the chance to bubble to the surface. It seemed oxygen became a secondary necessity we each other's first. I licked over his plump lips gently and he pressed himself further into me, his hands clenching. I pressed against his chest but he seemed unwilling to let go. His lips ghosting upon mine for a moment longer before allowing me to catch my breath as he trailed kisses down my skin.

Firm kisses pressed into my jaw before he trailed down the length of my throat, sucking on the skin of my collar bone making it much harder for me to catch that breath. His tongue soothing over the skin immediately, his movements gentle but filled with a deep near incomprehensible hunger.

"I love you, so much it consumes me, but I'd gladly be taken over it, my love for you is the best part of me angel. The right to love you is mine, mine alone, and it's made me completely yours." He says softly pressing a sweet kiss to my forehead.

"It's why I want you safe, I don't want you hurting yourself angel, you don't know how I'd feel if you even got a scratch on that soft skin, it would torment me eternally that I allowed the angel mistakenly sent to me get hurt. I don't want to ever see you hurt, I can't, just stay safe love, for me?" He asks gazing at me with honey eyes framed within the dark lashes and I nod unable to say anything but it's enough for him as he presses a kiss to the hand he holds within his grasp before turning back to his roses. I would probably never go near thorns again.

A smirk apparent on his face as if he knew what I was thinking of as he glances at me over his shoulder occasionally. My brows furrowed, a glare settling on my face, he was making fun of me. I would show him not to laugh at me. He would soon remember that. I got up to make my way towards him my glare settled on the wide expanse of his back as I crept towards him. Although I needed a bit more height to truly intimidate, but I could use his against him, actually climbing him sounded about perfect. I reached my hand out intending to twirl him around away from the thorny bushes before climbing him.

He whirls around making me still and before I could even blink he's lifted me up, cradled me against him as he gazes down at me softly.

"If you wanted me to kiss you again you could've just asked love, believe me when I say I'd never refuse." He says and I nod at him sarcastically.

"Put me down or so help me Alaricus I will." I start but am interrupted by an adorable little voice that has Alaricus whirling around me still unfortunately cradled bridal style in his arms.

"Mari, Sire, momma's about to pop." Adrian says his blue eyes wide, chestnut curls absolutely disheveled, more so then normal.

"Adrain what are you talking about?" I ask, mildly concerned, Victoria was about to pop, my eyes widen as I realize what he's talking about, the baby's coming.

"The baby's coming." I say to Alaricus and his eyes widen, as he immediately puts me back down into the floor.

"Is your mother in the infirmary yet?" Alaricus asks to Adrian softly, and he nods his curls bouncing along with him, and I have a strong urge to squeeze his chubby little reddened cheeks.

"Let's go." Adrian says grabbing onto my hand and pulling me behind him.

"I could carry both of you, and it might be faster." Alaricus whispers to me.

"Touch either of us and I'll pop you." I whisper back sweetly and he nods swallowing thickly.

Adrian's curls bounce as he walks in front of me, somehow I hadn't ended myself up in the infirmary my whole time at the palace, and had close to no idea where it was located.

"You idiot." I hear a familiar feminine voice call, Victoria, we were here. Our hurried pace slows as her screaming reaches us, this probably wasn't going to be a very peaceful experience, Victoria was blessed with a very loud resonating voice.

We walk into the room Adrian in front of us, almost as a shield, a mother wouldn't ever throw something at her own child, at least I hoped not. Nurses run around the room preparing for the final ordeal, attempting to stay out of Victoria's way as she walks slowly around the room led by her frightened husband. She's dressed in a large pale blue hospital gown, loose around her except for on her bulging stomach, her dark curls form a large halo around her. While Frank's hair is an absolute mess from either him or Victoria tugging on it in frustration. Frank looks at us his eyes holding absolute relief to see more people in the room. I let go of Adrian's little hand making my way to Victoria seeing Alaricus wrapping his arm around Adrian's little shoulders comfortingly.

"How's it going?" I ask softly.

"It's pretty hard, but the." Victoria starts but suddenly the breath is knocked out of her and she crouches slightly, trying to take deep breaths but before I can even attempt to help she's alright again, well her contractions were going smooth and she was handling them exceptionally well. Her face is absolutely flushed, eyes shining with exertion and Frank looks absolutely enamoured by his wife as she continues speaking.

"But the contractions are hitting pretty hard, this little one's excited to come out." She says patting her stomach softly. It was admirable despite how much pain the baby would cause her she loved it unconditionally, already she loved her little one more then herself. A mother's love was incomparable to another's.

"Is the baby ready yet momma?" Little Adrian asked looking up at his mother with innocent big blue eyes, the excitement of finally seeing his little sibling brightening them up until it seemed the very stars resided in his eyes.

"Nearly ready baby, just a few more hours." His mom said a small smile on her flushed face, as she raked her hands through his curls gently, his little head snuggling further into the touch of his mother.

"Should I go get the tongs?" He asks and I break out my adoring reverie staring at him in bewilderment.

"For what exactly darling?" Victoria asks.

"To pull the baby out." Adrian says excitedly and Frank sputters seemingly having choked on air. A slight chuckle escapes Alaricus, I though pride myself in having a bit more control and keeping in my giggle though it escapes when I catch sight of the look of absolute bewilderment on Victoria's face. She looks slightly frightened.

"Adrian the baby doesn't need to be pulled out by tongs, there are special procedures for such things honey,b-but thanks for the offer." Victoria sputters out and Adrian hums happily snuggling into his mother.

"Adrian why would you ask something like that?" I ask and Frank's eyes widen and he shakes his head at me frantically.

"Daddy told me the baby is going to be yanked out of momma and then I could see it, so I thought the tongs would help." Adrian replies gazing up at me with big innocent eyes.

"You told him that the baby would be yanked out of me?" Victoria hisses at Frank and he shakes his head, before helplessly nodding.

"As if I'm some animal that the baby needs to be yanked out of." Victoria says through clenched teeth and Frank's eyes widen as his head shaking gets more frantic.

"Well this will definitely be the last baby that needs to be yanked out of me now won't it." Victoria says wobbling towards the little fridge to get herself a water bottle as Frank stares after her looking devastated.

"I'm sorry." He calls after her, and Adrian rests his little hand comfortingly on his father's, not entirely understanding exactly why his father was upset, but sensing his distress.

"When did your water break?" I ask Victoria.

"A couple of hours, probably 4." She says sipping on her water, crouching slightly as another contraction hits her.

"They're getting quicker." She tells me, and I nod offering my hand for her to hold, nearly regretting it as she almost crushed the bone in my hand with her manically strong grip.

"Honey perhaps you should hold my hand I wouldn't particularly want for you to break the hand of the Sire's mate right before the birth of our child." Frank says and Victoria scrunched her nose at him in distaste, tilting her chin away. Age would never be a factor in maturity.

"She'll be fine, hopefully they'll have yanked the baby out of me before I could manage to break her hand." She says sarcastically and Frank looks down at his hands.

"Are we not going to let that go?" He asks quietly.

"Nope." Victoria says, her grip tightening immediately after on my hand as she inhales deeply.

The whole afternoon passed by that way, it seemed as Victoria's contractions grew quicker in succession so did her jibes at her poor husband.

"If it's a girl we might name her." Victoria starts stopping in the middle of her sentence a low groan escaping her as she near well doubles over. Her hand is grabbed out of my hold by her frantic husband who's seemed to have cleared the distance between them of the whole room in mere seconds at seeing his wife's distress.

"It's coming." Victoria says to her husband and he scoops her up into his arms, careful not to jostle her as he lays her down onto the cot. He tries to make her as comfortable as possible as she clutches her stomach her soft facial features contorting in agony. A gasp escapes me as a firm body pressed into me, a warm strong arm wrapping around my waist as I'm yanked further into the person.

"Alaricus." I say softly.

"Are you alright?" He asks, massaging the hand that Victoria had held very softly in both of his, his arms lacing through my waist. I peek up at him over my shoulder, seeing his eyes glow in their ethereal good, as the more primal side of him ensures his mate's safety in the midst of the mayhem.

"I'm fine, I promise, absolutely fine." I console him softly reaching back to stroke the curve of his jaw tenderly and he moves further into my touch.

"Adrian baby come here." I say, as I see his teary eyes upon seeing his mom in distress. He rushes over to me colliding into me, and snuggling his head into my stomach. I pull away my hand from Alaricus and wrap my arms around Adrian.

"Mommy is going to be fine baby, lets go wait outside alright?" I ask lightly and he shakes his little head.

"Baby the doctors will be able to make sure your momma and the baby stay safe through this if we wait outside and give them space, don't you want them to be safe?" I ask softly and he nods.

"Bye momma, I'll be right outside." He calls out to his mom before allowing me to lead him outside.

"I'm fine baby." His mom calls out, cursing immediately after and I quickly put my hands on Adrian's little ears blocking out the noise of his mothers colourful vocabulary.

I look behind us as I walk through the door upon realizing Alaricus wasn't behind us, I nudge Adrian forward turning back to look at Alaricus who speaks to the frantic couple.

"Victoria you have done this before, you are going to get through it again, if you need anything let me know, I'm outside. I have my best doctors here for you, we are going to get that little one delivered safely." Alaricus says patting Frank on the shoulder before making his way towards me, after smiling at Victoria upon hearing her gratitude for his kind words.

"Thank you Sire." Frank calls after him before turning back to his wife.

I can't help the little smile on my face as I stare at Alaricus, the man that everyone called a monster was here for his help, addressing them by name, comforting them.

"That was really nice." I say to him as we sit down on one of the couches outside the rooms, little Adrian nestled safely between us, Alaricus playing with his curls softly melting my heart just a little bit until it was mush. Apparently Adrian likes it quite a bit too as in just a few minutes his adorable little snores ring out from little parted lips.

Alaricus opens his mouth to speak, but before he can a male nurse makes his way towards us. He bows down to Alaricus before asking permission to lay little Adrian on one of the cots in the empty room across from us.

"Thank you." I call after him as he carries Adrian into the room tucking him in.

"It was nothing, they've both done a lot for me, they provide you with good companionship, it's the least I can do for them." Alaricus says finally getting the chance to reply and I smile at him curling my feet up and onto the couch. Alaricus wraps his arm around my waist pulling me to his side gently and I snuggle into him.

"Although I'm hoping with the baby here they'll take less of your time and I'll get you more to myself." Alaricus says a mischievous glint in his eyes and I let out a disgruntled humph, my head resting on his large shoulder. Not exactly knowing how to reply, not entirely sure I'd hate that all that much.

"Maybe with the more time it'll be us in that room soon." Alaricus adds nonchalantly and my jaw drops as I attempt to understand if he'd actually said that or I was going insane. The second being preferable, but the mischief that glints in those honey eyes tells me I wasn't insane quite yet.

"If Adrian wasnt in the room across from us, and people all around us, you don't even want to know what I would do to you." I hiss at him.

"Oh but baby I do, you could always whisper it to me, or at least promise me you will tell me later, maybe even just do it to me." He says and my eyes nearly pop out of my head as my neck stiffens.

"I will hurt you." I say.

"What's pleasure without a little pain baby?" He asks coyly, and I smile at him sweetly seconds away from lunging at him and knocking that smug smirk off his perfectly chiseled dimpled face.

"Even a strike would require a touch, and every touch leaves me in paradise, that wouldn't be so bad of a punishment my love." He says and I frown at him in disdain there was a woman giving birth just a few feet away from us and this crazy wolf was flirting.

"Believe me not this one, this one will leave you bruised." I say smugly not bothering to lift my head from his comfy shoulder. A gasp escapes me as I'm lifted and plopped into his lap, my legs laying across his lap, his arm supporting my back as he stares into my widened eyes.

"A bruise would only be a reminder of your touch, and I doubt that my little angel could bruise me." He says making my brows furrow. I was a gigantic terrifying menace, I could really cause some damage.

"Is that a challenge?" I growl out all the practise as a child of imitating Mufasa saying that coming in handy now.

"Yes kitten it is." He says blatantly insulting my menacing growl as he strokes the sides of my cheek gently with his knuckles, pushing the hair back from my face.

"Well you are going to regret that, when you sit in one of these rooms injured thinking about how wrong it was of you to mess with me. You could still get out it, all you have to do is say Amara is a terrifying lion, not a kitten, a lion. One who could very seriously and easily hurt me, Alaricus Knight." I say to him raising my chin so that I appear taller then him, sadly even though I sat in his lap he seemed pretty large compared to me.

A loud giggle sounds from before us and I whirl around glaring at the nurses who stand there.

"What's funny?" I ask, I saw them regularly around the castle sweet women, but was giggling at my intimidation attempts truly valid.

"Nothing Ms.Winters its just if it really came down to it you couldn't even cause a slight scratch in harm to Sire Knight." They say

I bite into my lip in disdain.