I held her, my Little One, close to my body. Inhaling deep breaths of her scent, imprinting it into my mind, sparking a nostalgic feeling. I remember curling up against hurt and licking her tears away as she cried. I remember staying awake at night when she was in trouble and came to me for help, keeping aware so that no harm would come to her.

She was the one who took care of me and in return, I offered her protection. At the time, she was to young to shift but then men took her in anyway. She had accidental wandered out of her pack's territory and she was found by one of them. Since she couldn't shift, she was assigned to give the 'fighters', as they called us, food and water. They other wolves were very rude to her, would snap and growl at her when all she was doing was tending to them. I was the only one who was the least bit kind to her. So many times she had gotten in trouble by giving me food and water when she wasn't supposed to, or give me more.

Over the years, we obtained an unbreakable, close bond. We both grew but thankfully she never shifted. My Little One was small, weak compared to the others, hence the nickname. Deep down, I knew that if she shifted, she would have been a goner in her first fight. She was to kind, to innocent to bring harm to anyone, let alone kill them for the pleasure and entertainment to sadistic, sick men.

She was my rock. I was only living for her. She needed me as much as I needed her. That night, when they tried to burn us alive, I saw her escape. I searched and searched for years but it was hopeless. I thought that they had found her and gotten to her before I did. Months spent of me moping, mourning over my only friend, thinking that she had been murdered in cold blood.

But here she is, in my arms. Hot tears ran down my neck as she sobbed hysterically against my neck. I couldn't care less. I finally got her back. Her sweet scent of lavender and flowers overwhelmed my senses. My wolf relaxed, purring in the back of my mind, knowing that she was safe.

The man that I now know as Cole, stepped forward. His arm was outstretched towards us, preparing to rip her out of my arms. My wolf became very territorial, letting a loud growl as a warning. He will not be taking her away from me when I just got her back.

"You made her cry." He snapped at me. "She doesn't like to be called that." He made another move toward us but I stepped back and growled even louder, showing a bit of teeth.

"Lia, it fine." Kai assured me, pulling her head away from my neck and unwrapping her arms from around me. I did the same and wiped the year from off her face, now red and puffy. "Cole would never hurt me. Mates don't hurt each other."

I still glanced at him warily as she crossed the room and advanced Cole. His eyes were full of concern and anger, making me scared that he would lash out and hurt her. When she got close, he wrapped his arms around her tiny waist and his body relaxed, his face expression turn from anger to one I could identify as pleasure. He let out what seemed like a purr mixed with a growl and held her closer, indefinitely confusing me. How could one be so angry but not lash out but rather relax under someone's touch. It utterly baffle me.

"She didn't hurt me, Cole. It's Lia, my Lia. The one who protected me, remember? The one that called me Little One." She gently rubbed up and down his arm.

Cole instantly opened his eyes, his light blue eyes staring directly into mine. His face no longer looked at me in anger, but instead, it was one I could not identify. I felt uncomfortable under his gaze because I felt like it went on to long.

"Thank you." He finally said, breaking the silence. "Thank you for being there and protecting her when I couldn't."