I wrapped my arms around my legs, pulling them up close to my chest as I rest my head down onto my knees. Letting out a quiet sniffle as I glared down at the cold dark granite counter that I was seated on as if it were the smooth surface that had done something to anger me.

There was something about sitting on a counter, they were just so much more fun than regular chairs, or perhaps they were for me since I'd always been told not to as a child. I buried my face into the fluffy material of my pyjamas. After what had happened I knew Alaricus would have a hard time leaving me alone. The urge to comfort an upset mate was overwhelming, and Alaricus even without the instinct was overbearingly protective. I'd snuck up to my room changing out of the still damp leggings and dress, into my favourite pair of pyjamas. A soft comforting creme colour with pictures of hot cocoa in a red cup and red candy canes printed all over it.

Although I had no doubt it wouldn't be long before Alaricus found me, I hadn't expected it to be so very soon.

"Amara." He called out softly in his deep velvety voice, letting out a quiet breathy sigh in relief. I suppose he'd thought I'd run off.

I stay in my spot, not even giving him a slight sign of acknowledgement but I can feel the hair at the back of my neck rise as I hear him creep closer.

"I'm so sorry angel, I didn't mean to upset you." He says gently, his longing to reach out and touch me almost tangible in the air. My brows furrow at his words, that's what he was upset about, upsetting me, nearly killing a man invoked absolutely no feelings of remorse or regret.

"Is that all you're upset about?" I ask, turning to face him, and his honey eyes gaze all over my face, widening in remorse.

"Amara, I, it's difficult for me to see somebody else touching you, especially unmated males. I know it's wrong, but it awakens something within that I can't control. Despite how in control I may be, for you I'm like a newborn pup again. Everything I know goes out the window and I'm back on my primal instincts. I love you, and I am so sorry about the way that I acted tonight, you deserve so much more than a man who'd act this way. I promise angel I'll be better for you." Alaricus says softly.

"You need to apologize to the tutor." I say, and he nods, a small smile coming onto his face as I nod once, attempting to act stern. He sneaks forward as I concentrate on the edges of my pyjama shirt, twiddling it softly in my fingers.

A strong muscled arm snuck gently around my waist, one making it's way under my knees as Alaricus yanks me off the counter and onto his chest.

"Alaricus." I squeal out, clinging onto the collar of his shirt.

"Yes baby." He coos softly pulling me up closer to his chest, leaning down to nuzzle his face against the soft skin of my throat, inhaling deeply.

"I kinda really like the counter." I say awkwardly, and Alaricus pulls away from my throat. Mumbling something under his breath that sounds suspiciously like "I'm being cheated on with a counter."

He looks at me with his bottom lip jutted out, hazel eyes widened in a way that remind me of a newborn puppy.

"More than me?" He asks sadly.

"No-no I don't like a counter more than you, I just kinda like sitting there." I say and he mutters something under his breath again, but this time it sounds quite like "that can be arranged," and he puts me down onto my feet. He hops up onto the counter, leaning his back against the wall, before he reaches out for me wrapping his hands tightly around my waist and yanking me up so that I sit in front of him between his legs.

That was how one of the poor younger chefs find us, the most powerful alpha werewolf sitting with his legs spread out, and his mate sitting pressed against his chest. She lets out a shrill scream and I feel Alaricus wince as the high pitched noise hits his sensitive ears. He buries his face into my hair trying to hide away from the noise.

"S-sorry Sire Knight, Ms.Winters I had no idea you two were in here." She says panting slightly, as she hurriedly bows before running back out, and I stare after her wide eyed. That was significantly awkward.

"Do you think she's gonna tell anyone?" I ask.

"Tell what?" Alaricus asks, nuzzling his face into my hair.

"That the almighty Alaricus has gone insane and is cuddling with his mate on a random kitchen counter." I retort, eliciting a quiet chuckle from him, that shakes me as it rakes through his chest.

"I could always hunt her down, scare her into never uttering a word about the almighty wolf who's gone absolutely insane for his sweet little mate." Alaricus whispers into my ear, nipping gently at the skin.

"T-that probably won't be necessary, and is probably morally wrong." I say and he shakes his head side to side in a comme ci comma ca motion.

"I should have asked her to make us hot cocoa." Alaricus groans out suddenly and I wrinkle my nose.

"She seemed terrified, its best you didn't, plus we can make some." I say scrambling to get off the counter but he winds his arm tightly around my waist.

"I'd rather just hold you than have hot cocoa." Alaricus mumbles, trailing kisses down the soft skin of my throat. His tongue darts out to gently lick over the conjuncture between my collarbone and throat. I flinch slightly as I feel something smooth and hard press against the skin, and he pulls away from my throat.

Turning around to look at him, I see his hazel eyes glinting gold, canines peeking out from his usual perfect teeth. He squeezes his eyes shut, trying to shake away the urge, but the longing in his eyes was impossible to miss. The primal longing of a wolf to mark their mate. I was slightly curious as to why he'd never brought it up, Eros had but Alaricus had never.

"You want to mark me." I breathe out, my brain not even registering my words before they leave my lips. I'd become so very comfortable with Alaricus I no longer felt the need to keep my thoughts to myself, it was as if my brain sensed he was a safe place, I could tell him absolutely anything.

"Amara do you know about the mark of a mate?" He asks me softly, after taking a moment to reign in his control again. I shake my head at him, turning in his arms so that I'm looking at him.

"The mating mark can be a wonderful thing, it binds the two together, but not as most believe. For wolves it allows each to sense the others pain, the bite of your mate awakens when's something within your wolves, binds them together in a sense that allows one to feel if the other is in danger. Allows them to feel their extreme emotions, share it amongst each other. And of course to many wolves the physical bit means no other will approach your mate. But for us, it'll only be physical, since you do not have a wolf, it'll only be my claim on you for others to see, since you would not be able to bite me in a way that would not heal. For us it wouldn't have that additional emotional layer, that emotional connection. And physically is not the way I wish to claim you. I want to own your heart, so that another man could never even hope to be its owner. I want to be in your every thought so that another's words to impress you do not even hinder you in the slightest. I want to leave my traces on your skin, but in the sweetest of ways, that'll torment you only in my absence, I never want to hurt you. Marking you would only hurt you, taint your beautiful soft skin, and for what, for others to see you bare my mark, for me to leave my physical print on you? I never wish to do that, I couldn't live with myself if I were to hurt you. I love you so much angel, I could never hurt you." He says softly, and I twist completely in his arms wrapping my arms tightly around his neck and hugging him to me.

"Thank you." I mumble into his neck, and he wraps his arms tightly around me pulling him into me.

"For what?" He asks softly.

"For being a honey wolf." I say and he laughs, somehow understanding I meant sweet.

"I'd do absolutely anything for you angel, you never need to thank me. You repay me for everything by simply being." He says softly.

A buzzing sounds from his right pocket making me jump, and he looks at me apologetically as he pulls away, pulling out his phone from his pocket. The soft look on his face hardens as he listens to what the person says, his eyes darting to me, and I look up at him wide eyed but he looks down avoiding eye contact.

"I will be right out." He says, ending the call, he quickly typed up a quick message to someone, shoving his phone back in his pocket before I could even get a peak.

Jumping off the counters he turns towards me wrapping his hands around my hips firmly and hoisting me off the counter, placing me securely on my feet.

"Amara I need to tend to something, I-I'll be back soon." He says, and I stare at him baffled.

"You need to tend to what?" I ask.

"It's just regular pack stuff, I'll be right back I promise angel." He says.

"Alaricus you look worried, you can tell me." I reach for his hand, rubbing my thumb over the large expanse of the back of his hand.

"It's not about me Amara, but you're right you should know." He says sighing slightly.

"We don't have much time, so just humour me, just this once my love." He says and I nod, despite my confusion I don't mutter a word as he hoists me up into his arms, simply closing my eyes as I feel my hair fly back, to avoid motion sickness. In his hurry it wasn't efficient to use the usual human speed, one that I had doubts he only used due to my presence.

I hear a door open and he places me down on my feet, the soft skin of the soles of my feet sinking into the familiar carpet of my room.

"Get dressed angel." He says and I nod scurrying into my closet, swapping out the pyjamas I'd adorned for a sweater and jeans, before hurrying back out to him. He holds the coat I'd left on my chair a few days ago in his hands and I turn my back to him allowing him to help me into it, before I'm back in his arms. My face digging into the soft material of his shirt as he takes us outside.

Alaricus sets me down on my feet, and I open my eyes to see we are right outside the castle, near the large black gate and his guards are staring at him incredulously.

"Sire, would you like us to watch over the Ms as you handle the matter?" One dares to ask.

"No, she will stay with me, she is going to be going with us." Alaricus says firmly and the man nods, mumbling an apology to the both of us quietly as he backs away from us, his head bowed.

"Amara, I need you to listen to me, and I know you're brave, but love I need you to really keep it together for this, I want us to be there as soon as possible." He says as he leads me towards the cars that are lined up before the gate. Opening the back door of one he helps me in, and I scoot over to make room for him as he gets in.

"Roll up the partition." He says quickly to the driver who nods frantically fumbling to do as Alaricus says, and though normally I would scold Alaricus for his impolite manners, I stay quiet as the partition rolls up.

"There was a bit of a rebellion at your old pack, and the offender was a coworker of your fathers. The alpha of the pack had all houses searched, of all the people acquainted with the man. Now with good reason I'm sure, your mother was a bit reluctant to let in the pack warriors. She began to get upset when they forced their way in, and when your father came home from work to see a warrior pushing past your mother into the home, and leaving her on the floor he became very upset. The warriors became physically violent with your father, but there's nothing to worry about I've sent my best human doctor there, and your father merely has a nose fracture. The alpha is at your parent's home and we are going there now, to resolve this all." He finishes his eyes darting around my face to assess my reaction, and as my eyes begin to water he goes to wrap his arms around me, but I lean towards the partition. Knocking on it and the driver rolls it down quickly.

"Drive faster please." I say quietly and the man mumbles a quiet 'yes ma'am' before the car lurches forward.

"Amara, my love I'm so sorry." Alaricus says.

"It wasn't you who hurt them." I mumble quietly, refusing to look into the honey gaze that stares at me ever so intently and he wraps his arms around me. Undoing my seatbelt he pulls me into his lap, setting me down so that I'm facing him.

"We are going to handle this, I'm going to speak to the alpha see to it that those warriors are punished while you comfort your parents. Any punishment you and your parents deem fit will be given I assure you. Right after this is all over I am going to hold a meeting, and I am going to put an end to the mistreatment of humans. I swear to you angel. But right now what's most important is your parents." His husky velvety voice sincere, honey eyes sympathetic but completely honest. The car comes to a slow stop and I look away from his gaze out the window to see my old home.

Stumbling off of his lap, I yank open the door startling the driver who was coming around to open it and he stares at me bewildered but I pay him no heed as I run towards the door, Alaricus hot on my heels. His arm wraps around my waist and he tugs me back into his firm warm chest just as we reach the door. My feet barely touching the ground as he holds me close to him. The rhythmic movements of his chest moving me along with them as I pant blowing my hair out of my face.

"Breathe angel, you need to be calm and in control to comfort your parents." He whispers into my ear his hot breath caressing my cold skin.

"Ok." I answer breathily, raising my arm to knock on the door, as Alaricus sets me down. A a wave of déjà by hitting me, the amount of times I'd done this as a child. Along with age the worry of a tragedy awaiting me on the other side increasing.

The door is swung open, and there stands my mother, her beautiful curly hair in complete disarray and larger than usual.

"My baby's home." She exclaims loudly as she throws herself into my arms, hugging me tightly to her chest, the familiar motherly warmth calming my racing heart.

"How's papa?" I ask as she pulls away.

"Fine it's-." She starts coming to an abrupt stop as her eyes land on the man who stands behind me, absolute horror filling them at our casual proximity. When I'd last come here, my parents had of course asked me if I was comfortable but never about my relationship with Alaricus. Although of course my answer would have differed from what it would currently be.

"Mom you remember Alaricus, as I'm sure you remember my mother." I say turning so I can see him too, and he nods sending a small polite smile to my mother who looks about near fainting as she sees his smile.

"S-Sire Knight." She stutters out, but he shakes his head.

"Please, call me Alaricus Mrs.Winters." He says and she clamps her mouth shut nodding.

"So mom how's papa, how are you?" I ask again and she turns over to me, looking torn between pulling me away from Alaricus or dealing with the matter at hand. Our farewells hadn't been pretty during my last visit, it'd been nearly impossible to convince her to let me go back, she'd been dead set on helping me escape to the free lands. Despite what I told her, she'd always despise werewolves and even more so the most powerful one of them all, my Alaricus.

"I-I'm fine, your father he-uh he's going to be fine, they just fractured his nose, his jaw is broken and they bruised him up a little." She says tears brimming her beautiful large eyes and she slaps her hand over her mouth to avoid sobbing before the werewolves outside and inside of her home.

"Amara." A deep voice says from behind my mother and I look away from my mother, my eyes widening as I see the large build of my previous alpha. A gigantic stern man, he'd always kept his interactions with the humans of his pack to a minimum, instead sending the warrior ranked wolves to deal with us, I was surprised he knew my name. Although I suppose being the most powerful wolf's mate may have been a contributing factor. Normally the Alpha of the pack wouldn't come to deal with what he'd call such a trivial matter, but I suppose since it was the parents' of Alaricus Knight's mate, the cause was deemed worthy of his interference.

"Sire Knight." He acknowledges, bowing his head down ever so slightly before he turns to me, looking in my direction but not quite making eye contact.

How have you been?" He asks, and I blink up at him rapidly, had he ever known how I was that he was asking now.

"Fine." I answer bluntly and he nods, rolling his lips in at my response.

"Mom lets go inside." I say and she nods hurriedly ushering us into the home and out of the cold, her eyes settling on Alaricus and she looks a bit uneasy as he enters our home but she stays quiet.

We sit down in the small living room, Alaricus wrapping his arm around my waist and pulling me close to him as we sit ourselves down on the couch, making my mom's eyes widen. I turn to Alaricus giving him a stern look but he tilts his head looking absolutely confused. Right the wolf pup had no idea what was wrong with showing affection to his mate.

I squeeze the hand that rests on my hip, pulling it off my waist gently, but keeping his hand in mine and giving it a discreet reassuring squeeze before I get off the couch and make my way to where my mom sits, settling beside her. I wrap my arm around her shoulder, rubbing my hand up and down her arm.

"Mom, tell me what happened, where's papa?" I ask.

"Your father is upstairs the doctor gave him some pain medication and the lord knows the both of you stand no chance against any meds, he knocked out like a newborn the second they went down his throat." She says, rolling her eyes despite the situation making me let out a soft giggle that has a small smile coming on her flushed face. But the smile drops quickly.

"You might remember George, he worked with your father, he decided he'd had enough of-of all this and he attacked the alpha's home. He hurt the youngest daughter of the alpha, before the warriors caught up, but George escaped and now the warriors were checking all the houses. But you know I really don't like those bast-" she starts but a loud growl from the alpha stops her, but a snarl from Alaricus has the alpha shutting up quite quickly. I give Alaricus an appreciative nod, and he winks at me from the corner of his eye still holding his glare at the alpha.

"I didn't want to let them in, after what they'd done to us that night, and I-I tried to stop them from coming in." Her voice begins to crack and I rub her back gently getting up to grab her a glass of water. Walking to the kitchen I grab a glass from the cabinet I'd so often reached for, one that when I was younger seemed impossibly high. Sometimes when I'd stand glaring up at it pouting, my father would come from behind me hoisting me onto his shoulders and lifting me so that I was eye level with the cabinet and we'd laugh, trying to be quiet so my mother wouldn't hear. She was always afraid he'd drop me, she thought it was crazy to pick the child up to the cabinet, instead of simply grabbing a glass. But it was my fathers way of teaching me, if you couldn't get what you wanted in one way, try another, try until you get what you want. I remember once he'd stood behind me rooting for me as I tried to climb my way up to the cabinet. My mother had been out that day.