The manor is typical, large dinning rooms, offices lining the walls. A couple kitchens, one bigger than the other. One of the few things I enjoyed was the main entrance, a large window from ceiling to floor opening up to the surrounding forest.

"Mrs. Gray," A young ladies voice comes from behind me, I turn my head.

"Smite. It's Smite." My correction is done with a smile, but she frowns in return.

"Are you not the mate and wife of Alpha Gray?" Her grey hair is coiled tightly around her round face. I find the sight of her soft eyes comforting. She straightens her apron studying me from head to toe, "I mean you look like the memo."

"Memo?"

"Yes, Alpha Gray announced your permanent arrival to pack and staff to ensure your safety."

I squint trying to comprehend what she's saying, "Safety? Am I in danger?"

She pauses before answering, "As he's the Alpha of the strongest pack, many rouges and other wolves want to harm him. You are the key to his sanity, and if anyone was to lay a hand on you he would set the world ablaze."

"That seems... kind of overkill." I mumble turning my head back to the large window staring out over the sunset.

"Alpha's are naturally more protective, as you being the Luna secures the future of his pack, and line. I was paged by the Alpha, he wanted me to make sure you ordered a meal." The lady pulls out a notepad holding a solid black pen against the paper, "What are you in the mood for Mrs. Gray?"

"Please, just call me Vee. I... we aren't like that."

She rolls her eyes, huffing lightly, "I can't do that, Mrs. Gray. I am under order. Now, we have an amazing burrito place just off the estate, would you enjoy that?"

"Burritos?" I tap my chin, "Sure, whatever they have that's vegetarian, extra tomatoes."

"Vegetarian?" The confusion is prominent on her face, and I have to keep myself from laughing.

"Sometimes I don't feel like meat. Chicken and beef just sound too animal to me right now." I gripe, she nods slowly.

"I'll get this ordered Mrs. Gray. Is there anything else I can do for you?"

The trees sway beautifully in the window taking my attention for a moment, "Is there a TV anywhere?"

~

The servant set me up in a game room I hadn't found earlier, then ran off to make sure I got the food in a timely manner no matter how much I tried to convince that I could wait. I click on the remote bringing the TV to life then surf the channels to find the news.

A beautiful lady comes on the screen, a forced smile taking over her. I almost gag at the amount of lipstick that covers her thin lips, especially when I can see the cracking under the new station lights, "James Volga has been seen in New York buying stock in many local companies. No one understands this change in business style, but many are cheering him on as he rises to the top putting his money to work."

"Oh please." I groan keeping a tight grip on the remote so I don't toss it.

"Love?" His voice is like dropping me in ice water then expecting me to breath. My head snaps around, a brown paper sack hanging from his hand, "I have your dinner."

"I thought-"

He laughs coming to settle next to me on the couch, "Jennie informed me you ordered and I let her know I would just grab it on the way in."

"Oh. Thank you." I take the bag from his hands pulling out a burrito the size of my head, "Do you have dinner for yourself?" Why do you care Veronica? You shouldn't care.

"I ate at the office, thank you for asking." He dips into my thoughts reading my internal conversation with myself. I recoil from him on the couch thinking of teddy bears and chocolate.

"That isn't fair."

Ares raises a brow, "You're my mate, Veronica. It's my duty to know exactly what you need, how you're feeling, and provide how I can."

"I just... I don't like that. You just manhandle all my personal thoughts and use it against me."

He shifts closer to me on the couch while I unravel the burrito. My stomach grumbles in hunger from the lack of food I've eaten today and while I don't like this situation, this burrito smells amazing.

"Would you like to go through my head? See what I see?"

I take a bite, the sauce of the burrito trailing down my chin. Ares eyes watch it trail, but I use a napkin instead of whatever his mind was planning, "I can do that?"

"Of course. I have a wall up to protect you. A human adapting to a mind link can be overwhelming, almost impossible to tune the wolf out. As pups we are trained on how to handle them, the feeling of building walls and how to scratch against other's." He unbuttons his top then slips off the tie throwing both to one side. I try to keep myself together looking at his tempting figure only covered by his slacks.

"Then yes."

"Are you sure, darling. This is going to be difficult." He lays his hand on my cheek, I don't fight it nor do I lean away when his thumb moves back and forth over my cheek bone.

"It would help me to better understand what's happening." I bite my lip sucking on it before allowing it to pop back into place, "I just... it's hard."

"I know baby. Here, let's put this over here." He takes the burrito setting it off to the side, "You'll need it later."

Ares turns my hips to face him, one leg hanging off the couch while the the other is bent into his. He mimic my position, keeping me directly in front, "Now, are you ready?"

"Ready."