I completely ignored his footsteps as he followed me outside. Once I heard the door close and the locks turn, I glanced back at him. He started moving toward a sleek black car. My panic level rose—I couldn't handle being in the confines of a car with him, alone. Not after what just happened.

I stuttered, which seemed ridiculous after how I spoke to him in the living room not five minutes before, "I-I think I'm going to walk. I'll just, uh, I'll meet you back at the house."

His eyebrow rose. "Do you know how to get there?"

"Sure." I pulled all my bravery together and met his eyes with my own. The dark orbs seemed to have drawn me in, but I blinked, breaking the spell that was almost beginning to work on me. "Um, see you later."

I turned and walked down the sidewalk in the opposite direction. I heard a sound come from behind me—a cross between a groan and a chuckle, I think. Suddenly, a presence brushed against my right arm and I jumped to the left. Alpha Alexander stopped walking the same second I did.

I just stared at him—for a minute, for an hour, I don't know. My eyes were wide as saucers and my mental hamster was running the wheel like crazy trying to figure out why my heart rate skyrocketed and my body vibrated with hyper awareness.

After another awkward, silent minute, he spoke, "Why did you run?"

"Because you're an asshole." It slipped out—I had no control as the words fell from my mouth. But his reaction was worth it—his eyes widened a fraction and he just stared at me, as though no one had ever spoken to him like that before. Probably because no one ever had.

"I admit the process of bringing you to the pack house was difficult."

"I could think of a dozen words to describe the process, and 'difficult' isn't one of them," I snapped.

He glared at me. "You have to understand—"

I started walking, ignoring whatever he had to say after that. "I don't have to understand anything, Alpha Alexander. I've taken courses on your history, I know all the graphic details of matings. What I don't seem to understand is your complete lack of chivalry. When a guy likes a girl, he asks her on a date, or buys her a teddy bear, or something along those lines. He does not kidnap her."

"I am not some pubescent boy, Phoebe. I am Alpha of the largest pack this side of the Mississippi. I apologize if I violated your sensitivities when I sent Vance to gather you from the pathetic institution they call a school, but I was not given permission to enter your home and speak to you."

"God! You're like a walking Jane Austen novel." I picked up my walking speed. "My 'sensitivities,' as you call them, weren't just violated. I'm a human being, Alpha Alexander. I'm entitled to some civility when it comes to meeting someone new. If you were so determined to meet me and get this mating mojo shit started, why the hell didn't you come pick me up yourself instead of sending your lap dog to do the dirty work for you?"

"You are the most difficult female I have ever had the chance to meet," he spat.

"Don't meet many females then, do you?" I ask dryly. "You have got to be the rudest asshole I've ever met. Guess that makes us even, huh?"

He eyes darkened. "I was unable to take you home myself because I'm in the middle of a war, Phoebe. A war I intend to win. In order for me to do that, I must meet with other Alphas, discuss strategies and find shelter and food for civilians. I was growing anxious, my wolf was tearing at my mental binds. Vance saw that and knew who you were and what you are to me. He volunteered to pick you up and I didn't decline his offer."

I had stopped walking. "A war?" I squeaked. "With who?"

"That is not important. We're almost home now. You will meet the pack—they have been waiting to see you since Vance left to fetch you."

"I am NOT an object. You do realize that, right? I don't need to be fetched."

He didn't bother replying.

He kept pace with me. If I sped up, so would he. When I slowed down, he fell right into step with me. I just wanted to be alone and he was a constant shadow, following me around.

"What about your car?" I asked after a few minutes of walking silently.

"Vance will pick it up in the morning."

"Vance fetches a lot of things for you, it seems like," I said darkly.

He narrowed his eyes. "Don't be nasty, Phoebe."

"Sorry if I violated your sensitivities, Alpha," I sneered.

"You're an infuriating little girl."

"I am not a little girl," I grunted. "Besides, you chose me."

"No. Fate did."

"Fine. Blame her." I pulled my arms across my chest. "I sure as hell am."

"Are you cold?"

"Ha!" I quipped. "What, are you a gentleman now?" I shivered as the wind picked up.

Without answering my snarky question, an arm wrapped around my shoulders and pulled me into the side of a large chest. The warmth radiating through the dark t-shirt was the only reason I didn't shove him off. I huffed and hesitantly wrapped my arms around his large torso. "Just because I'm cold," I muttered.

He didn't bother to respond. We walked for nearly half an hour in silence. The pack house was not as close to my house as I thought. I ran home almost blindly, so that would explain why walking back was taking so long. When I saw lights in the near distance, I started to tense. I purposefully tried to slow down, but Alpha Alexander held on to me tightly and forced me to keep pace with him. I tugged against his hold, but it remained firm and only pulled me into his side even more.

I scowled at him, but he didn't see. I took a deep breath as we approached the front porch. Light spilled from every window, laughter and other joyful noises echoed from inside the house. He yanked me onto the front step and reached to open the door.

"Wait!" I grasped for a last effort to ditch the whole meet-and-greet. "Shouldn't I look a little more, I don't know, put together before meeting everyone?"

I attempted to run my fingers through my hair, but they got stuck halfway through. I made a show of trying to straighten my hoodie and dusting off my leggings. "Can't it wait until tomorrow? I'll look presentable then."

"Stop stalling, Phoebe. You will meet the pack tonight."

I grunted in frustration, lifting my arms up before dropping them in defeat. "I look like a hobo."

His hand reached up and ran a finger through my hair, miraculously missing a tangle, and cupped my chin. "You look beautiful."

I didn't have a chance to respond to the compliment before he opened the door and pulled me inside. I stared, dumbfounded, at the large group of people that filled every square foot of the first floor of the house. Several lingered by the front door, a few sat on the stairs, but the majority of people stood in the front room and the hall, everyone packed into the tight space.

And they were all looking at me, faces bright with expectancy. I didn't see a single unfriendly face. My hands wrung together, a nervous habit. I swallowed before opening my mouth. "Uh, hi. Sorry I'm late. I just needed to . . . I, uh, needed some air. Big day and all . . ." I forced a short chuckle that probably sounded more nervous than I had intended.

No one spoke.

I felt a wall of heat press against my back, large hands came down on my shoulders. A booming voice came from above my head, "Luna Nova, I present to you Phoebe Carmichael, your Alpha Female."

Hoots and hollers rattled the house. Several people howled. I smiled tentatively—their enthusiasm was almost contagious. They surrounded me, shouting congratulations, welcoming me to the pack. I tensed whenever one of them came close enough to touch me, but they never laid a finger on me. Alpha Alexander kept his hands on my shoulders, thumbs rubbing circles into my neck, as every member of the pack introduced themselves and offered me congratulations or welcomed me to visit their home whenever I wanted. They all offered me friendship and expressed their desire to cook dinner for me or go shopping with me or just hang out with me.

I tried to keep count of how many people spoke to me, but I lost track after thirty-seven. Last to speak to me was Julie and an intimidating male whose hand was latched on to her hip, holding her against him.

"Phoebe," Alpha Alexander's voice came from above me. "May I introduce Seth, my Beta, and his mate, Julie."

Seth nodded at me. With a deep voice that could rival Alpha Alexander's, he said, "Welcome to the pack, Alpha Phoebe."

I balked at the unfamiliar title. "Uh, just Phoebe is fine."

His eyebrow twitched up. He glanced at Alpha Alexander before looking back at me. "All right, just Phoebe. I believe you know my mate, Julie."

Julie smiled at me and I tried to smile back. She moved out of the protective embrace of her mate and wrapped me in a tight hug, brushing off Alpha Alexander's hold on my shoulders. "I'm here, Phoebe," she whispered so only I could hear. "I'm here whenever you need me."

My arms found their way around the girl I once referred to my parents as a mere acquaintance. She was my confidant now, the only one who I could talk to about how I was feeling and who would understand. I squeezed her to let her know how much I appreciated what she said. My throat was tight with unshed tears, and I couldn't find the strength to say anything back.

"Julie, I think it's time to let the Alphas grab some dinner before Max eats it all."

"Hey!" someone shouted from across the room. "I resent that comment, Seth!"

Julie released me. She held my gaze for a moment longer before returning to her mate. He kissed her temple and she smiled at him. She was happy—even after telling me that she struggled to accept Seth as her mate, Julie was happy.

Maybe I could be happy, too.

But, right now, it wasn't looking too bright and I was still aching from leaving my family to step into shoes too big to fill.

Seth and Julie walked away, leaving me to fend for myself. I stared after their retreating backs, wishing Julie could be my buffer against the enigma that is Alpha Alexander. I didn't glance in his direction before starting up the stairs. His hand wrapped around my wrist gently before I made it up two steps.

"You need to eat."

I shook my head, not looking back at him. "I'm not hungry."

"Phoebe," he started.

"I'm tired, Alpha Alexander." I removed my wrist from his hand with a soft tug. "I'm going to bed. If you could point me to a guest bedroom, please."

He stepped around me on the staircase and started to ascend. I followed behind him silently. Once we reached a familiar door, I quickly realized he intended for me to sleep in his bedroom. He opened the door and motioned for me to enter.

"No," I said firmly. "I want my own room, please."

"This is your room, Phoebe. It's our room."

I shook my head. "Remember my conditions, Alpha Alexander. You agreed to proceed with the mating as I see fit. I want my own room."

"All the other rooms are taken."

"I doubt that."

His eyes narrowed at the challenge. "I will not touch you inappropriately, if that's what you're afraid of, Phoebe."

"I'm not afraid of anything, Alpha," I sneered.

Okay, maybe that is what I'm afraid of, but he doesn't need to know that.

"Then you'll sleep here." He let the words 'end of discussion' hang off the end of that sentence. He brushed pass me and went downstairs. I stuck my tongue out at his retreating figure. Begrudgingly, I entered the bedroom. I closed the door and twisted the lock in a weak attempt at keeping him out. I knew he could easily break down the door, but my hope was that he'd get the hint and go sleep in his office or somewhere else.

I grabbed my brush and dragged it through my hair, wincing at every tangle. I quickly braided my hair and switched my hoodie for a oversized t-shirt courtesy of an ex-boyfriend. I was debating on changing out of my leggings in favor of cotton shorts when the doorknob jiggled. I jumped and spun around just in time to see it open and Alpha Alexander enter, eyebrows raised.

"Did you—" he began, but cut off when his eyes landed on my t-shirt. I crossed my arms over my chest self-consciously.

"What are you look—"

He cut me off, reaching a hand out and grabbing a fistful of my shirt, pulling me toward him roughly. "Whose is this?" he growled. I curled my hands around his arm, attempting to push him away from me, but he didn't budge. He pulled me closer to his body. "It smells like a male."

"It was my boyfriend's," I mumbled.

His eyes narrowed. "You do not have a boyfriend," he said dangerously.

My eyes widened in fear. "Ex," I whispered. "Ex-boyfriend."

He slowly released my shirt. "Take it off."

I choked on my own saliva. "Excuse me?"

"I said, take—it—off."

"N-No."

"I will not tell you again, Phoebe."

"Why?"

"Because it smells like male. Take it off or I'll rip it off of you."

His eyes glowed with the threat.

"But," I lied, "i-it's the only nightshirt I have."

He broke eye contact with me to turn to the dresser. He pulled out a dark t-shirt twice the size of the one I was already wearing. He handed it to me. "You can wear this."

I took the shirt. He stared at me expectantly. I rolled my eyes and went to the bathroom. I felt him follow me and I turned around, pushing my hand to his chest. I ignored the shivers bolting through my body at the simplest touch. "I can do this by myself, thanks."

He glowered at me as I closed the bathroom door. I stripped out of the t-shirt I had stolen from my eight-grade boyfriend's house a few summers ago. We only lasted a couple months, but I wanted the t-shirt because my best friend said it was what girlfriends do: sleep in their boyfriend's clothes. I had to admit, it did still smell like him, no matter how many times I washed it with my girly detergent.

I switched t-shirts and reemerged from the bathroom. Alpha Alexander was leaning against the door frame and watched me as I dramatically spun in a circle, as though modeling a dress. "Happy now? The big, bad t-shirt is off."

He pushed off the wall and leaned forward, pressing his nose against my neck. I jolted in surprise, stepping back. His hand at the small of my back stopped me, pulling me closer. He breathed against my throat, puffs of air tickling my skin.

I forced my hands to push him away. He reluctantly stepped away from me, dropping his arms to his side and stepping over to the nightstand, where a steaming plate of food sat.

"You need to eat," he said for the second time that night.

"I told you—"

"Stop being difficult, Phoebe. Eat. I'll be back in a little while. I need to take care of some pack business. There are more blankets and pillows in the closet if you need them." With that, he left.

I approached the night stand. On the dinner plate was steak cut up into bite-size pieces, a small salad, mash potatoes, and a bread roll. A fork sat beside the plate and I grabbed it. Inhaling the food's aroma stirred a growl from my stomach. I quietly ate all the pieces of steak and most of the mash potatoes and salad. As I nibbled on the bread roll, I stepped into the closet and grabbed two blankets and a pillow. I laid one blanket on the floor in the corner against the glass wall, as far away from the bed as possible.

I finished the bread roll and curled up under the second blanket, tucking it under my chin. I stared out the large window, thinking about my family and what tomorrow will bring, hoping to God that this was all a nightmare and that I was going to wake up in my own bed in the morning.