Night had already fallen when I left the cave with Mila's guidance. She had been quiet the whole time, sparing me from her snarky remarks and snippy retorts. She seemed lost in thought, weighed down by her own musings as we walked in silence.

"Thank you." I told her as she broke free from the crevice that was one of the exits from the cave. Moonlight cast a silver shadow on our feet. She still was barefoot and completely unfazed by it. I tried to offer her my boots, but she simply shook away my aid, claiming she felt the earth better without the vanity of footwear- whatever that meant.

I was sure she just tolerated my presence so she could get rid of me. I wasn't bothered all that much.

Mila pointed over my shoulder. "Just go south through the trees. You'll eventually end up at your cabin."

I recognised my surroundings, knowing the cabin was a few miles down the track. "Thanks again."

She cast me one long glance over her bony shoulder, "We'll see if you're still grateful in the next few days."

When she pressed herself back into the opening of the gap, I held out a palm to stop her. She blinked at the offending hand and pursed her lips. "What are you doing?" She slowly turned to face me.

"Come with me." I flipped my palm over, so it was open, waiting. "Come with me to my Pack."

She stared at my palm for a long moment. Something rippled over her features. Her chin trembled as she took a deep breath and finally shook her head, keeping her face turned away from me.

"Mila."

She took another breath and grew stiff, squaring her shoulders. "No." Despite her rejection, her voice had cracked with emotion she couldn't hide.

"You'll be safe with us. My Alpha is a good man. He'll take care of you."

"I said no." She moved towards the aperture.

"Mila, don't go back there. Come with me. Please. I'll make sure no one will harm you. You can be safe if you just trust me enough and come with me. I know exactly where your head is. So please, come with me."

She took another shaky breath as she eased her body back through the gap they exited moments earlier. "You have no idea what I did Shadow Hunter. If anything, your Alpha would want to kill me."

With those words lingering, she left.

I fisted my hand, dropping it to my side. I couldn't help but take her rejection personally. She knew from Jace's words that I had been a Rogue. I had walked in her shoes. I most certainly knew how she felt.

I glanced around, noting the lack of nocturnal animals around.

The wind whistled, ringing in my ear.

I warded off the cool wind, hugging my torso as I began my trek back. I was oddly comfortable having the moonbeams light up my path.

I thought of Kian, knowing he would be relieved that Papa Kian was doing fine.

The Bennetts were also something that needed to be reported immediately.

My thoughts lingered on Mila. I didn't want to leave her behind, but I couldn't force her. She had her right to choose. As a Rogue, that was one thing lone wolves thrived on. I couldn't take away her ability to choose because I wanted her safe. It was the only factor she had control of, even if she thought her choices were limited. The only thing that kept me sane about the girl was that Magnus would be there when she returned. He was the only one who seemed to treat her kindly enough.

And there were her words...

She was convinced that Alpha Slater would kill her and she meant it.

I didn't know what she could possibly mean.

Yet there was conviction in her statement that I couldn't ignore. She believed her words so much, I wondered what she had done to feel so much self-incrimination.

The cool breeze made my eyes blur as I kept walking, lost in my countless thoughts. It was stupid, since I had forgotten to keep myself alert. Hence, it was a surprise when I failed to detect the swift sound of paws hitting mulch until a wolf slid in front of my path, forcing me to stop mid step.

I froze, startled.

It took me seconds to recognise the wolf.

Wolf morphed to man.

Alexei stormed towards me, his arms taking me around the waist and pushing me up against a thick tree. My palms landed on his bare chest; I could feel the thunderous tune of his heart beating against my right hand.

His grip on my hips was tight, his fingers spread as if to touch as much of me as he could hold.

His breaths came out in rapid, short inhales and exhales, I was worried. I willed myself to relax in his embrace.

The moment my back hit the tree, he had stuffed his face into my neck, breathing deep.

I held still, letting him breathe me in.

We didn't speak for a few minutes. I didn't mind. I was content having him close, feeling his lips against my neck and feeling the comforting beat of his head pressed against me.

When his grasp loosened and turned to soft, gentle petting, I cupped his cheeks, coercing his face in front of mine. His dark eyes zipped along my face, taking in my expression and studying everything from the loose locks of hair that had fallen from my hair tie to the soft curve of my chin.

"You're scaring me a little Alexei. I can feel your heart banging against your ribcage."

He squeezed his eyes shut, releasing another breath. "You scared me."

"What?"

"You weren't in the cabin when we returned Penelope. The door was left open and there was food all over the ground. We saw blood and scented a Rogue in the cabin."

"Oh."

Alexei could only glance down at me in disbelief. "Oh?"

I scrunched my nose, "I didn't think about that."

"Goodness woman!" He pinched the bridge of his nose, "We were looking for you. The last place we trekked your scent was at the edge of the cliff. We thought you fell down there. Jamison and Aella are down there looking for you now."

"Oh." I honestly didn't know what to say. I hadn't thought about the wreck left behind when I chased Mila.

"I stayed behind to see if you were somehow around here. I was at the cabin when I caught your scent."

"I'm sorry, I didn't think."

Alexei closed his eyes, shaking his head. "Tell me what happened. Don't leave anything out."

I opened my mouth to speak but lost my words when I realised the man was butt-naked. "Before I tell you the juicy news, do you want a jacket or something?"

Alexei opened his eyes, glancing down at his naked state. I kept my gaze stubbornly above his neck. His knowing gaze flew to mine. "Does my current lack of clothes bother you Penelope?"

"Alexei." I groaned, covering my face. "How about we just go to the cabin now, get you some clothes and catch you up with what I have discovered. We'll also let Jamison and Aella know I'm safe."

"You are bothered." He smirked, ignoring the other things I said. His nose twitched before he suddenly tugged my hand up, staring at it. "You cut yourself."

I had forgotten what I had done with Mila's blade. It was unnecessary and avoidable, but I wanted her to see that her blade didn't frighten me. I barely felt the sting of it now. If he hadn't pointed it out, I would've completely forgotten it was there in the first place. "A little accident. No biggy." I pasted on a wide smile for good measure.

It didn't work. He was too busy scowling.

"I'll clean it up at the cabin. You'll also explain how you got this." He frowned at the dried blood, wiping his thumb over it.

I tugged my hand away, poking his chest. "It's a small cut Alexei."

"I'd rather not have any part of you sliced open." He muttered, following me back to the cabin.

Once inside the cabin, Alexei immediately called Jamison while he pulled on a pair of dark shorts from his duffle bag slumped at the foot of the table. Although I really wanted to stare blatantly at his naked, sun-kissed butt, I occupied myself cleaning the food mess Mila had made before she dashed for the door. From my peripheral, Alexei leaned against the kitchen counter, letting the phone connect. The man didn't bother with a shirt as he spoke with Jamison, informing him of the news that I was alive and safe and back in the cabin with him. I smiled, hearing Aella holler praises to the Moon Goddess.

I swept up the crumbs scattered on the floor, throwing the bits into the trash, and wiped off the blood that stained the floor.

No wonder Alexei looked wild finding me.

I wouldn't have wanted to walk into a room that looked like this, knowing Alexei was supposed to be there and catching an unfamiliar scent mingled with his.

I finished up wiping away the last bit of blood and washed my hands before Alexei suddenly lifted me, carrying me like a log beneath his arm. I yelped, finding myself staring at the floor as he moved to the lounge seat in long strides. He plopped onto it, sitting me on him where I straddled his hips.

There was a small First Aid kit at his side. He unlatched the clamps, finding the sachets of antiseptic wipes. "Hold out your right hand, palm up." He instructed as he pulled out a roll of dressing.

"Do I need to be sitting on your lap for this?"

"Yes. Absolutely." He replied, finding a tube of cream and laying it aside.

I didn't know how to reply, so I just held out my hand like he ordered. He made quick work of cleaning the cut. The blood had stopped flowing a while back, leaving patches of dried blood along the broken skin. He even blew on it to reduce the sting. He then added the cream and carefully rolled a thin dressing over it. I assessed his handiwork, approving it. "Looks good. Thank you. You're always stitching me back up."

"It just so happens that my mate always seems to get herself injured. I'm convinced I should lock her up somewhere just in case."

"Never going to happen." I grinned.

He laid the back of his head against the top of the seat as he watched me through half mast eyes. I felt his big hands slip from my waist and rest precariously at my lower back where both his pinkies dug into my butt. He wasn't shy about the move and I didn't know why I thought he would be.

This was Alexei.

"I don't think I can talk like this. It's distracting." I told him. I didn't know where to put my hands, so I ended up latching onto the top of the lounge seat, beside both his ears.

Alexei simply responded with a blink and head tilt, which brought his temple to rest against my wrist.

Now I was distracted by his silky hair.

Goddamn, but this man knew how to disarm me with nothing but a slow blink that looked way more seductive than it should be.

"We have a few minutes before the others come." He said, his voice was low and suggestive.

I narrowed my gaze in suspicion. "You're not thinking what I think you're thinking."

"I'm thinking exactly what you're thinking." His eyes sparked with interest.

"Really?" I whispered, dipping my chin so his lips were close to mine, I felt his breath brush across my lips in a sweet, tender caress.

"Really." His attention was distracted when I sucked in my bottom lip. His eyelids fluttered as I experimentally ground my hips against his in a small circle. It was a move I'd seen a girl do in a movie when she offered a client a lap dance.

A strangled moan escaped his mouth.

"Feel good?" I taunted, letting my lips skim the sensitive skin of his ear lobe. For good measure, I blew lightly, pleased to see the light little hairs behind his neck prickle at attention.

The man shuddered beneath me, biting his plump, lower lip hard.

I worked my hips again, moving in the right angle, I felt pleasure ripple through my core. He was already hard beneath me. His hands lowered, squeezing my ass. A surprised moan left me as he dragged my hips over his, guiding me in a way that would guarantee the most optimal pleasure for me.

He cursed when I sucked on his neck. Another shudder rolled through his body as I nibbled across his sensitive skin, tasting the salt on his skin.

"Feels more than good." He thrust up, pushing me hard against him, I stroked over his impressive bulge again and again as his grip on my ass moved me up and down in long strokes. I would've been embarrassed by the way we moved, imitating the act as if we were both naked, while I rode him.

I gripped the back of his hair, bending against him as I softly begged him to keep moving his hips because it felt so good.

I wanted to strip my clothes off and tug his shorts off, but I knew this wasn't the time or place. I wouldn't be satisfied if I hadn't been able to taste him in all the places I wanted to.

I felt him press his face against my collarbone, holding me tightly as he thrust up against me, pushing my core across his bulge with firm hands.

It was like he knew we couldn't do anything here either as his nipped my chin and jaw.

My grip on the lounge seat tightened as I rotated my hips in long strokes against him, feeling the seam of my suit rub against me in the most enticing of ways.

Then I felt his lips on mine and his tongue in my mouth.

I kissed him hard, tasting him as he squeezed my ass, taking control of the rhythm we set.

It felt so good.

I wanted more.

I wanted to-

"Hot damn guys, sorry to interrupt." Aella's voice sent a cold splash of water on us.

I unlatched my lips from Alexei, finding Jamison and Aella loitering in the frame of the door. Their gazes were on Alexei's hands that cupped my ass.

Alexei buried his face in the crook of my neck, chuckling against my skin but it sounded much too strangled in my own ears. I felt his hands shift higher, resting at a more appropriate place on the middle of my back. I slowly eased off him. He resisted a little but reluctantly let me go as I fixed my hair and tugged my sleeves.

"Fucking hell." Alexei squeezed his eyes closed, throwing an arm over his face.

I stood up, offering a small, unsure smile to both Jamison and Aella. "Hey guys, come in."

Jamison perked a brow but stepped inside.

Aella's cheeks were pink as she also entered the cabin, closing the door behind her.

I wiped my palms against my thighs, "Well, I have some news to tell you."