I woke up facing the door away from Adam but had one of his arms trapped as my pillow and was holding his hand. I let his hand go and turned across his arm to face him. He looked relaxed and pleased. I smiled as I took him in, laying spread on his back. One arm full out to me, the other out almost off the bed. The blanket kicked down to our feet. My fingers came up to roam the muscles tight within his arm.

I was so comfortable. The night had felt peaceful even after all the strange days I'd had. It was one of the most restful sleeps I could imagine. I even thought about going back to sleep so that it wouldn't end, but the sunshine in the room told me I slept longer than I usually do already.

He then grinned to the ceiling, eyes still closed. "Morning Elise."

"Hi," I said softly and scooted into his side, leaning over to use his chest as my pillow.

His arm then followed and wrapped around my back. "Okay, maybe I won't make up the storage room. I don't mind waking up like this."

I smiled into his shirt. "Oh, you bad boy. Not being appropriate now." I teased, "I'm sure the offer to keep the Luna room is still on the table for Nate."

His other arm came around me and he locked me against him. He laughed sleepily. "You're never going back there."

"I should go back sometime. I mean we are still wearing yesterday's clothes."

"Alright," he conceded. "Maybe sometime. But not yet." His lock further tightened.

I just closed my eyes and relaxed. I had to agree, it was a wonderful way to wake up.

But then he grabbed my right hand on his chest and held it up over my head. I couldn't think of what he was doing, until his thumb rubbed over the sting there.

"These are getting better. The veining is gone now."

I looked up and twisted my hand to see. The purple had now disappeared into the bruise. I leaned back off Adam's chest and put my left arm in the air for us to study. There was still veining against it, but it was shrinking.

Adam's reached over to smooth down my arm, still waving above us. "I don't like how these look though. We should get you some more honey for them."

I put my arm down and turned to him. "I don't want more. The hospital needs it for the other people hurt, there's no more after that's gone." I softened. "This is okay it just got triple whammied. It'll probably take a little longer to heal than normal."

He then pressed on my head, and I almost complained until I realized he was trying to see my neck and allowed the force. I felt a tug at my shirt collar. "No veining on this one either. Still bruised though." His finger softly roamed over the sting making me shiver. He then let my collar go and let his hand flop down to the bed. He growled. "Cassandra is being punished for clawing you up."

"She is? Why?"

"Another major rule for wolves is that hurting humans is prohibited. She broke it, middle of war or not, you knowing about werewolves or not. The council punished her to haul logs at the lodge for the rest of the season. That's why she wasn't at the meeting when you came."

"Haul logs? What's that?" I turned back to my side to see him.

He stared to the ceiling. "Oh. Just during winter a bunch of old trees can get knocked down with the heavy snowfall at the pack's ski lodge. During summer the pack has to go up and clear those logs for next year's ski season. You have to carry them clear off the mountain and take them to the lodge and chop them for winter firewood too. No one likes that job. Usually goes to the rule breakers, but mostly our rule breakers only get a couple days. A couple months shows you how bad of an offense hurting a human is."

"The pack owns a ski lodge?" I asked with interest.

"Yeah," he smiled down to me. "It's how we support ourselves." He smirked. "How else would Nate be able to hand you hundreds of dollars for a phone number?"

"The pack makes that much off a ski lodge? What do they do during summer?"

"Same. It's open during summer for hikers and campers. All for a heavy fee of course."

"That's interesting. I was wondering how you all survived." The only wolf I'd ever known having a job was the waitress from dayshift.

He nodded into his pillow. "It makes good money for all of us. We all take turns keeping it running. And it's a good situation for us seeing as how wolves are all about the outdoors."

"What's your job?" I grinned. "How many times have you had to haul logs?"

"Not many," he laughed. "A few years after mudslides we've all had to pitch in with the logs. I usually run a particular hike and make sure it's cleared."

"Wolf style hike? Or human hike? I could help."

He sat up to the side of the bed. "I usually wolf it. But humans can hike it, just takes longer. We could go sometime if you want."

Nate's voice then cut in from the open doorway. He was leaning up against the frame. "I'd love to. We'll all go. Make it a party." His brows wiggled. "Maybe a bit of camping too. It gets cold at night, but I can make sure Elise is warm enough for you."

Adam threw a pillow at him. "That wasn't an invite for you."

Nate caught it easily. "Wake up you two. Breakfast is on downstairs."

I giggled and sat up with a stretch, then grabbed for my shoes.

Adam walked to his dresser and started rummaging. "We're eating in room today."

Nate smirked. "I thought something like that." He then stood straight from the doorframe. "Alpha Milo has agreed to the terms of the treaty. Obviously, he's eager to set Elise's first visit in motion and has invited me and her there for lunch."

"You mean me and her," Adam countered.

Nate came in the room and draped his arm around my shoulders. "Nope. You're not invited. Just the alpha and his baby." He taunted. "He doesn't know about the mating yet. That'll be interesting to see his reaction."

"Get off her," Adam rolled his eyes. "We are all going." He smiled to me. "She needs a bodyguard."

Nate laughed and tossed his hand down, walking to the door. "No Bro. You're going to need the bodyguard."

Adam chuckled. "We'll be fine." He turned to me. "Want to meet back here when you're finished getting ready? I'll send for breakfast."

"Okay," I nodded and followed Nate through the open door. "Be back soon."

Nate smiled at me as we stepped into the hall. "Sleep well?"

"Of course," I grinned.

"Glad." He stated and then started down the stairs without me. "Don't be worried about meeting your dad. He's promised you'll be safe there." He laughed. "Adam might be in trouble though. Don't ever come between an alpha and his pup."

"Pup?!" I exclaimed. What, was I a dog now?

He smirked. "Yep. His 'wittle baby Elisey pup."

"Go to breakfast you!" I cringed, pointing down the stairs.

"See you later Elise," he chuckled and ran the stairs.

I then kept walking on to the Luna room. I chose a light blue modest sundress from my dresser. It was to be a bit fancier for meeting my father. But I guess I was down to a weeks' worth of outfits to my name. That was my fancy.

Goodness that's sad.

My life now fit in that purple suitcase. I looked to my purse. At least I had most of my identification and bank cards, those weren't in the fire. Hmm... maybe I'd need to go through a name change on all my identification anyway? Elise Thatcher. The name felt okay, simply different. But maybe I didn't need to worry about that. Maybe I could be a Hunter soon.

My face colored at the thought.

While I continued off to the shower, then hair and makeup I tried to think through all the things to get my life back in order after the fire. Insurance and whatnot I'd have to do. It was going to suck, and I'd already put it off a day. Guess it was time to put my big girl unders on and make the calls.

... after my father's.

I put my sneakers on and hopefully looked presentable enough to meet Alpha Milo. I started the walk to Adam's room and his door was open. When I walked in, I saw his lips come down in a silent gasp. He tried to dress for the occasion too in a well-pressed black button-down shirt and nice jeans. He had shaved too, which I was mildly annoyed at.

"You look lovely."

"You look pretty nice too." I then stepped to him and trailed my fingers down the press point in his long sleeve. "Took what Nate had to say to heart huh? Nervous about meeting the father figure?"

He laughed and grabbed my hand guiding me to a folding table and chairs he'd placed at the back of his room. "Nah, just got to look the part. You dressed up too." He motioned to my clothing.

I smoothed the dress down. "Well, actually I am nervous."

"You said you've been at the packhouse for a couple weeks before right? You had him as a father then. Shouldn't be any different now."

"Maybe." I spoke concerned as looked over the table. English muffins, apple slices, scrambled eggs, and milk. "Since then he's killed people really close to me." I watched as he sat in the chair next to me, thinking of Nate's family. "I guess he's killed lots since then."

Adam nodded. "That's true. But he did it in the name of finding you. Maybe he'll go back to that father figure you knew when you were sixteen."

I started to smile thinking of Milo's kindness in the days leading up to that fateful full moon and grabbed for an English muffin. "I hope so."

He scooped a spoonful of eggs onto his plate. "You said you saw Timothy every week growing up. Did Milo and Evonne both come?"

I nodded. "Most every time. I don't remember for sure. You aren't worried at parents coming or not as kids. Tim was usually always there, only some weeks went on without him." I picked at the bread. "My grandparents even checked me out of school at lunch so I could go there year round."

"I'm guessing that was the arrangement so Milo and Evonne could watch you grow up?" He ate a forkful.

I shrugged. "I never knew at the time of course, and still going to the playground when I was fifteen felt funny some weeks. Not always. I really liked Tim."

"I couldn't figure out why Milo would bring a wolf child to a human playground when you first told me, but it makes sense now. It was the excuse to see you." He reached for his own English muffin. "You should have just told me what was up the first time. Could have saved us a lot of confusion."

"I was afraid for life," I exhaled, looking down to my plate.

He leaned forward to squeeze my hand. "I know. It's alright."

I then looked up to him and smiled.

After a beat, I twisted toward him flirtily and reached for an apple slice biting noisily. "How about you could have just told me I was your mate when you saw me at the diner."

He laughed and bit his muffin. "Touché. We both could have saved some time with better truths."

"We'll be better now." I finished my slice.

"Absolutely," he agreed.

When we both ate enough, I looked to the connecting beta female door. "Can I see what it's like in there?"

He followed my glance. "Sure. But it's a mess right now. Don't you want to wait until it's made up? I can get Danielle's crew in here to set it today."

I shrugged. "Just curious. But we don't have to if it's personal."

He stood and reached for my hand. "I went through your grandfather's closet and wore his shirt. Not much more personal than that. You can see my things. There's just mostly dusty boxes though."

Squeezing his hand, I followed to the door. "But if you didn't take his shirt, I would have nothing from them. It's like you saved a part of them for me."

He smiled and unlocked his side of the closet door. There were a few steps as we accounted for the bathrooms on either side, and then the next door. He opened it and motioned me in.

Looking around, it was just like any storage attic you'd imagine. Boxes laden with dust. An old toddler climbing playhouse in the corner. A computer chair and old computer components sat next to a stack of coolers. An old lamp and rug coiled to the side. It was just basic household things. But the room itself was lovely. Half height wainscoting with a matching color to Adam's room. The room was smaller than the Luna room, but still plenty giant for anyone's bedroom.

"What happens to the connected room when the mate moves into the first room?" They couldn't be separate from their spouses forever, right? Was that some weird wolf tradition? Adam said it wasn't appropriate to be in the same room. Maybe he meant longer?

Yikes.

Adam shrugged and grabbed a home magazine off a pile, absentmindedly flipping through it. "Sometimes it just becomes a hobby room, like an art studio or sewing room depending on what the mate's hobby is. Sometimes a guest room for visiting relatives if they came from a different pack, or maybe a computer room or office. But usually it just becomes the nursery after the couple has children."

"Oh," I smiled. "That makes sense." I looked at the room more admiringly. "This could work well for kids. It even already has the playhouse!"

I started to imagine children playing, a tiny tot at the playhouse, and then shook my thoughts away. I'd only known Adam a week. Wasn't it too soon for that?

My heart thundered a no.

Whoa there mate bond! Cool down.

He grinned and put the magazine down, squeezing my hand. "That was Breanne's. Another couple used it for a while but gave it back when theirs got too old for it. Nate didn't know what to do with it."

"I love it." I continued looking around and then smiled wide. "Hey do you play?" I pointed to a guitar peeking out from behind a tall stack of books.

"No....?" But the statement rose at the end. Far from an actual no.

I glanced up to him. "Was that a lie? Because if it was, I'm calling you out on your fibs too."

He smirked. "Well, I haven't played for a long time."

"Play!" I practically shouted and twisted from his grasp dodging piles to reach for it.

"I don't think so," he said softly and pulled me back, both large hands at my hips.

"Yes!" I kept trying to walk forward. But I was just a mime, my feet kept stepping but I never gained an inch. "Please play for me!"

He conceded. "Maybe I'll start practicing again and play for your birthday."

I stopped moving and turned around with a pout. Damsel in distress time. I placed my hand to my forehead. "Oh Adam! You reject me for ten years! Then you won't even play one teensy tiny song to make me feel better after a decade of heartache? Oh, woe is me!" I dramatically fell against his chest.

He lightly chuckled at the persistence and then reached over the piles for the instrument. "You can't throw the ten years thing at me forever though."

I smiled at my actress abilities. "Not forever. Just another ten years."

He rolled his eyes and stepped back to his room with the guitar. "This makes up for like a year of that."

Following, I slid next to him on the couch. "Deal."

He shook his head with a smile and then started trying to tune the guitar by ear. I watched him fascinated as he plucked and turned pegs.

Then he started strumming, a soft and beautiful tune filling the air. I leaned my head back on the couch but continued to study his movements, each finger as it moved to another cord, each strum as his arm muscles tensed. The beautiful breath of the instrument slowing time around us like ocean waves.

A smile lit my face as I watched him. Maybe this was how he felt watching me frost cakes. The way he played was like heaven. But I knew nothing because when he started humming along with the piece my heart raced in longing. The feeling like a pull as his low tones blended through the guitar's notes. It was absolutely my heaven.

I closed my eyes and let the force drive me to some other paradise while my ears begged for more. The song surrounding us in a truly dazzling form.

His song came to a close, and I watched as the ending cord vibrated to a stop. I smiled up to him and he grinned back.

"Thank you," I whispered, afraid to ruin the music of my memory.

He put the guitar down and leaned in to kiss me, hand cupping my cheek.

It was one of those kisses.

Like the alpha command kiss. Our first one. The one that opened me up to the world of love after years of never caring.

Soft and simple but mind blowing at the same time. Remarkable flashed across my closed eyes like real words as his hands skimmed my face and hair.

I loved the soft feel of his lips at mine, and I moved my grip to his shoulders, teasing over the full collar of his shirt.

He pulled away and roamed his hand over my cheek, watching me with fascination. "I love you, Elise."

I smiled to him still dizzy from the kiss. "You love me? You've only known me for a week."

His smile was soft but true. "No, you've only known me for a week. But I've known you for years. I've thought about you every day. Known your feelings and pains. I've known your inner strength."

My face beamed and I pulled on his neck, back for another kiss. It was slow and sweet, filling me with serenity.

As he moved away my thoughts then fell in sadness. "But shouldn't I feel you too? Why don't I ever feel any of your pains? Why does everyone keep calling me strong if I've never felt anything?"

"You've had to fight against the rejection all this time too, whether you think you've consciously known it or not." He sat back against the couch and pulled me over to his chest. "Hasn't anything changed for you since you've accepted the rejection dismissal?"

Well, yes, everything did feel lighter. I felt almost like there was more air in life. Brighter colors, feelings, everything. A reason to dance through life, not just endure. I looked over my arm. Even normal pains seemed to fade. Was I always in pain and just didn't realize it? I wiggled my toes within my shoes. Maybe. "That was the rejection?"

"Perhaps you did feel me at the start, you just didn't understand what was happening."

I tried to think back, but ten years was so long ago. I was what, fourteen? Oh, that would have been the Jeremy timeframe. "I had a boyfriend. We broke up because he said I changed too much." I tried to think of that span, but the memories were too murky. "Maybe I did feel something. I can't really remember. I wasn't sad when we broke up though. Was that because I was feeling you instead?"

"I don't know. Maybe so. Maybe once your inner wolf did completely die you stopped any feeling. It wouldn't have been as strong for you since you hadn't had the chance to shift fully yet. Had I done it after you shifted it surely would have been terribly painful. I guess I'm glad that I did it early then. I don't ever want you in pain."

"But I don't want you to hurt either." I curled into his side, a sad tone filling me.

A grin was in his voice. "Then stay out of apple trees."

I looked up and gave a half-hearted smile. "But free reign in cherry trees?"

"That's not what I meant." He kissed my forehead with a laugh. "Things have been better for me the last week. I've felt more in control of that side when I found out where you were and knew you were somewhere I could keep an eye on."

"Like when you were watching my house? Did Nate ask you to keep an eye on me? Or how did that work out?"