As soon as we stepped foot into the the cabin, Alexei jerked his head to the small room. "In here Penelope." He walked off first. His bare feet were a subtle whisper of noise against the carpet as he disappeared inside.

He spat my name out like a curse, I didn't even have the nerve to reply.

I focused on not letting my gaze drop below his defined shoulder blades.

After they had shifted, I couldn't look either male in the eye since they were in their birthday suits. It didn't help that we were in the middle of the mountains, rather than the Pack which did have articles of clothes strewn around the place for convenience's sake.

Neither man appeared to be bothered by their current state of nudity.

My chest was still pulsing with pain from almost toppling off the cliff, but I gritted my teeth, ignoring the sting that flared with each step I took.

Jamison was a smart man. He avoided my gaze and pretended to look busy perusing through his bag although I knew it was empty since he tugged out all his things onto the coffee table earlier. A small cut tarnished the corner of his lip but other than that, he was perfectly fine.

Alexei on the other hand had a few cuts across his chest from fighting his prey. It couldn't have been marks from the wolf, or he'd already be trembling as the poison overwhelmed his bloodstream. His hands were a bloody mess too, but the man looked completely unaffected by the injuries.

I stepped into the room, closing the door behind me. The little click sounded loud in the heavy silence that filled the room.

In the time that I took to enter the room, Alexei had already tugged on a pair of shorts but had foregone the choice of a shirt. He approached the closet door, yanked it open and reached inside. He shut the door a couple of seconds later, yanking out a green plastic box he tossed onto the mattress. He didn't speak as he unhooked the thick black clamps and rifled through its contents.

"Sit." He ordered through his teeth.

I didn't want to add to his brewing anger and promptly obeyed his command, sitting on the edge of the bed. I literally had one butt cheek on it since I was too apprehensive to relax. I was ready to dart if he really decided to murder me.

"Take off your top." He demanded.

I blinked, "Huh?"

Alexei stopped rummaging through the First Aid case and peered down at me like I had just told him I was pregnant. Those dark lashes moved in a slow blink before he slammed the container closed, throwing it against the wall where it broke in the violent collision.

Man was crazy.

And I was the idiot who locked us up in here.

I instantly stood up, alarmed "What the hell was that?"

"You tell me." The man ignored the bottle of disinfectant that had cracked open by his feet, spilling onto the carpet. His eyes were more animal than human at this point as he drifter closer. I could smell his signature scent of rosemary and mint but with a hint of metallic, reminding me that he had blood on him.

However, he didn't look like he cared. He was glaring down at me, studying my face with so much intensity, I felt uncomfortable by the attention. It irked me off that he was two heads taller, regarding me with twin black eyes his wolf usually wore.

He only stopped moving closer when his chest bumped against mine.

The rhythm of my heart faltered as if sensing the impending peril.

I flinched when his hand cupped my chin, coercing my gaze to his.

His face was unsmiling, I felt myself shrinking back a little but his hand on my chin restrained me so I couldn't move any further.

"Why didn't you shift?" He questioned. His grip on my chin tightened a fraction but not enough to cause pain.

Outwardly, he looked as calm as an eye of the storm, but my wolf and I could sense the dormant volcano in him just simmering at the surface. One wrong word and he'd fucking erupt.

"I-"

"-and don't lie to me." He warned.

The room suddenly felt smaller. I scanned the room, calculating how fast I could get out of there. It wouldn't hurt too much if I jumped out the window. Aella had told me how to safely land. Just jump, hold my knees close to the chest and try and let the balls of my feet absorb majority of the shock from landing. I could do it-

"Penelope."

His thumb scraped across my bottom lip. The single touch absolutely seared. My breath hitched as he leaned into my space until all I could see were those deep-honey gold eyes again. The wolf in the man had retreated a little. "Penelope." He repeated.

My first reaction was to run. I was still contemplating the idea but more than that, I was terrified to tell him something so personal, I hadn't even told Aella. I knew if I had divulged to the Luna, she would do anything to help but my wolf instantly clamped up tight at the thought of spilling out something I had kept intently hidden.

In front of this fearless Enforcer, I felt the secret lingering on the tip of my tongue. I felt the faint brush of my wolf tell me it was okay, that they could trust this man who watched them with so much intensity, it made my toes curl in my boots with stark awareness.

His thumb grazed my lip again. An uncontrollable tremor shook my body from head to toe.

He held his body steady, waiting as his gaze bore down on me.

In that moment, I made a decision.

I sagged in defeat, dashing away the hard shell I kept over my secret like a titanic shield.

How did I ever think I could keep things from this lethal man?

I unlatched his hand from my chin and took a step back until the back of my knees touched the edge of the bed. My gaze fell to his hands that he kept tightly fisted at his sides. A pang of something hit me in the chest seeing the absolute control he wielded.

"Tell me." He demanded.

I lifted my chin, holding his searching gaze. "I can't control my wolf."

A soft breath escaped his lungs.

I studied that firm chest, avoiding his gaze as the next words slipped from my lips, "I don't know how to control my wolf."

Those fisted hands loosened.

"I don't know what's wrong with her but the last time I shifted; I barely could shift back Alexei. It spooked me a little, so I haven't let her surface in a while." I admitted, feeling ashamed and painstakingly vulnerable under the heat of his gaze.

I was a fucking Elite Syndicate Enforcer for the Shadow Hunters!

Yet, I couldn't even control my wolf.

Pups had better control of their wolf than I did. If people knew just how much power I had given my wolf, they'd crucify me.

Alarm darted across his expression, slackening the sharp angles of his face. "When was the last time you shifted?"

I swallowed hard, already sensing his reaction. "Six months ago."

Alexei cursed loudly, running his hands into his hair. "You haven't morphed in six months? Are you fucking crazy?!" He paced the room, "How the fuck are you okay?"

I truly didn't know.

I let him know this.

"Show me. Now. Let your wolf out." He ordered.

Panic gripped me with her damn ugly hands, "What? Are you insane? I just told you the last time I shifted, I barely made it."

He stopped, facing me with wide, disconcerting eyes. "You have repressed your wolf for six months Penelope. Six months is a long fucking time. You could've done more damage than you intended. Have you told anyone?"

I shook my head.

Genuine shock coated his features. "I swear to the Moon Goddess Penelope, if you're lying-"

"Why would I lie about something as serious at this?!"

"Show me Penelope. Show me your wolf. Just shift. I won't let anything happen to you." He urged, watching me with concern. It was such a contrast to his usual ice-cold expression I was used to, it was probably why my defences weakened a smidgen.

"Okay. I'll do it." I ignored the slight tremble in my voice. I could do this. Alexei was in the room. If worse came to pass, he'd do something. I trusted him enough to do that at least. Plus, Jamison was in the next room over. If things went to shit, he would probably just grab one of the fireplace pokers in the lounge and skewer me with it. For some reason, that gave me an odd sense of comfort.

"My wolf is a little different." I warned.

Alexei stood at the opposite end of the room, "Shift Penelope. I'll be fine if that's what you're worried about." He leaned against the wall, crossing his arms. The muscles along his arms rippled and I diverted my gaze before I could start drooling.

This man was a mind reader. How could he know that, that was what I feared the most if I let my wolf surface?

"Promise me if something happens, you'll protect yourself. I-I'm not capable of controlling her if something were to occur-"

"Penelope. Shift."

"Okay. Okay." I held up my hands in a sign of surrender.

I felt for my wolf, but I could barely get a firm hold on her. I tried to gently tug her to the surface, but she had retreated so far back, I couldn't reach her. "I can't get her to come out."

Alexei recoiled from the wall, stalking towards me. "Try again."

"What are you doing?"

"Helping the process." He moved swiftly, crowding my space.

Before I could utter a word, Alexei tossed me onto the bed. I gasped, bouncing from the impact, just as he crawled on top of me, caging my arms against the mattress. I hissed out a startled breath, "W-what are you planning?" Something a lot like panic made my heart pound erratically in my chest.

His blunt teeth slid along the sensitive slope of my neck, teasing the spot there. I froze, calming my breathing. It didn't help that he was literally on top of me with nothing but his athletic shorts. My eyes seemed to hone in on that particular fact.

"Focus."

My wolf stirred.

"Alexei." I warned, feeling panic climb up my throat. He hadn't even asked for skinship, which was making my wolf simmer with something.

His silken lips nipped my ear.

Then I felt the familiar sensation of the shift roll through my body. Alexei hastily moved away as my wolf surfaced, baring sharp teeth as she sprang up.

From my wolf's eyes, I could see Alexei standing near the door, chest moving visibly as he kept a close eye on my wolf.

"There you are." He smirked, looking completely satisfied with himself. "Oh what a beautiful thing you are." He whispered softly under his breath, moving towards us in slow steps. I tried to urge him away, but my wolf took complete control of our body like some unexpected puppeteer. I was left grappling nothing, watching helplessly as my body moved without my will. It was exactly what I feared would happen. My wolf didn't take long to overwhelm the control I had, taking the lead without so much of resistance against my own strength.

I had gotten weaker.

My wolf scented his dried blood. She seemed almost fascinated as she took in his chest and hands, where most of the damage was wrought. His wounds were in the midst of mending themselves, but the blood had long gone stale on his skin, leaving shiny maroon smears across his golden skin.

He took a step closer, dauntless.

My wolf snarled low, the vibration raking in our throat, poisoned with threat.

If he came any closer, my wolf was going to sink her teeth into him, and she would make it hurt.

"Easy beautiful. Easy." He approached us warily, holding out his palms without threat.

My wolf snapped her pointed teeth, eliciting another snarl as she leaped off the bed, landing swiftly on her four paws with the refined grace of a practised dancer.

Alexei drew to a complete dead stop.

Don't hurt him. I tried to tell my wolf.

She let my words drift over her head. She was moving on her own accord, with or without my approval.

Don't come any closer you fearless idiot!

My warning was a complete waste of time as Alexei dropped to his knees, holding out his hands that were still painted with crimson blood.

I just about had a heart attack.

What in the living hell was he doing?

Could he not see that I was struggling to gain control over my wolf?

Yet, in spite of it all, the idiot was smiling.

It was that annoying smile he used to melt the butter of every single woman who approached him with hearts in their eyes.

And I had front row seats to the display.

Ijust fervently prayed that my wolf wouldn't rip out his throat.