"I think you got it all." I whispered tiredly as Alexei took my ankle, putting it at eye level for his thorough examination. He rubbed more healing balm on the small cut, making sure the mixture was all absorbed before he grabbed my thigh, holding it up to his view. "Alexei!" I wiggled my thigh from his grip. He held on tight, refusing to relinquish his hold. My elbow felt like it had been slathered in glue already, I planned to get a towel to wipe the excess balm off.

"This will be the last one." He assured me as he swiped a generous blob of the translucent balm over the fingernail sized cut. I was certain the cut wasn't from the duel. Most of the injuries I sustained from the duel were along my sides and back where Alexei had already slathered half the balm. It was still stinging against the robe he pulled out for me to wear.

"Hold still or I'll tie you up." He warned.

He sounded too serious; I knew he would do it, so I allowed him to finish off.

When his fingers began to slide up my waist, searching for more scrapes, I shook my head, stealing the tub from his hand. "Nope. I'm good. You've literally slathered this stuff all over me and now I feel like a shiny dildo."

Alexei gave me a look of displeasure, taking the tub back into his possession and tucking it on his shelf. "And you know how that feels?"

I didn't have a response, so I turned my head into the pillow, groaning. "Leave me alone."

I felt his fingers tap my hip. I rolled over, so I was face up and staring up at him from his bed. He had taken a shower too but decided to play with my hormones since he opted to wear only his maroon sweatpants and leave all his glorious muscles exposed for my viewing pleasure.

Alexei had switched off most of the lights around the house, but Sascha and Tatiana had fallen asleep on the couch, watching a movie after they had fussed over me. I'd been surprised that they had been like that until Alexei shooed them away. I almost smacked him for being so rude.

Alexei left the lampshade in the corner of the bedroom on, so he could find all the cuts and bruises along my body to smear the healing balm on.

"Wait here, I'm going to wash my hands since they're still sticky from the balm." He said as he disappeared into the adjoined bathroom. I heard the tap run.

I closed my eyes, inwardly castigating myself for not appreciating Alexei's efforts. I was just about to roll out of bed to get him, but the bed depressed on my right side. The light switched off as I felt his arm curl around my hip. His palm spanned my belly as he cradled my hips closer to his front. "Sleep."

I found his hands, cupping them. "Thank you for taking care of me." I whispered into my pillow.

A sigh left his lips. I felt him shift, placing one thigh, between mine. "I'll do anything for you. Now sleep. You must heal before we see the healer tomorrow."

I wiggled from his grip and rolled onto my other side, so I was facing him. He captured my hips again, pulling me closer. "What are you doing Solnishko?"

I stuffed my head beneath his chin and pressed my palms against his hot chest, feeling smooth skin. "Holding you."

A pleased chuckle left his lips as I snuggled deeper into his embrace.

---

The cuts were better in the morning, but Alexei still applied the balm on after my morning shower at the kitchen table. I would have been mortified if his sisters had been in the house, but they weren't. Alexei mentioned that they had gone to explore the forest area behind Alexei's home which left plenty of time for Alexei to take me on the kitchen island.

After covering my lower rib in the balm, his fingers began to linger, making longer strokes along my body. Since I had been sitting on the edge of the island with Alexei standing between my thighs. His touch from last night until now had been strictly clinical when he had applied the balm but now, I sensed the difference.

I squeezed my thighs together, pulling him closer. His chest was already plastered against mine, but he leaned further into my space, pressing his fists on the island on either side of me. I couldn't help but giggle as he brushed his nose against my jaw, until his lips found the sensitive spot on my neck. I arched my neck. He immediately nuzzled my skin. I felt his fingers slide beneath my robe, holding my ribs as his thumbs rubbed the skin just beneath the underside of my breasts.

"Your sisters might come in." I gasped as he nipped my earlobe.

"Then we'll have to be quick but careful because of your back."

"You won't hurt me Alexei." I whispered against his throat just as he parted my robe, gently coercing me to lay flat on my back on the island. I had no choice as he gripped my thighs, pulling me closer to his hips where his bulge nudged against me.

I had an urge to cover myself, but I was addicted to the look of worship and affection in his gaze as he took me in. I saw his throat bob as he brushed his knuckles against one stiff nipple.

"Quick Alexei." I reached for his sweatpants, but he already shoved them down. His cock popped out, sliding against my clit. My eyes fluttered closed, but Alexei called my name, sliding his hands around my hips where the tips of his fingers held my ass. I gasped when he took my legs and lifted them, so they were now pressed against his chest.

"Alexei-"

His fingers caressed my clit and I moaned, fighting the urge to close my eyes. I needed them open so I could see.

He knew exactly how to touch me to get me wet in seconds.

"This will be quick Solnishko." Alexei warned as he slid inside me in one swift, slick move.

I gasped, hearing Alexei curse and praise my pussy. I almost laughed but he withdrew slowly, slamming back into me with finesse.

"That feels so good." I cupped my tits, stimulating my nipples in time to his deep thrusts.

"Hold on tight." Alexei got a better hold of my ass, pulling me closer so he had a better angle. I wasn't prepared when he began to hammer into me at a faster pace, I had to cover my mouth to prevent me from moaning like a pornstar.

There was a slight smirk on Alexei's lips as he leaned over me, running his gaze over my body. His attention lingered on my bouncing tits and the way his cock took me, coated in my arousal.

A look of determination crossed his face as he offered me a knowing look. He knew exactly what I was feeling.

He picked up speed, tunnelling inside of me until the familiar sensation of an orgasm rose.

"Only you Solnishko. Only you." He rasped as he thrusted his hips forward.

"I'm so close, Alexei-"

My man took his thumb and rubbed it along my clit in little, intentional circles.

I came.

Alexei roared through the orgasm as his fingers dug into the cheeks of my ass. He muscles rippled as his jaw clenched.

I slowly removed my legs from his shoulder. Alexei guided them around his waist, keeping his pulsing dick inside me until the last echoes of his orgasm faded.

When he caught my gaze, I couldn't help but prop myself up using my elbows. Alexei leaned forward, capturing my lips in a slow but intimate kiss, I couldn't help but squeeze his cock with my pussy.

Alexei hissed, holding my thighs. "Insatiable creature."

I ran my fingers along his chest, admiring how firm it felt.

Alexei began to withdraw his cock slowly but surprised me when he thrust back in, deeper. I gasped, not even surprised that the man was still hard.

He circled his thigh, watching my reaction to his tortuous ministrations. I bit my lip, loving the way he took my mouth again until we heard the creak of footsteps on his front steps.

Alexei immediately scooped me into his arms just as we heard Sascha's voice near the front door. No longer dazed, I shot my mate a look of terror. He laughed loudly into my neck as he raced us into his bedroom, slamming the door shut behind us just as Sascha yelled out, "We're home!"

---

"They found something." Alexei came into my house, uninvited. I closed the door behind him, dragging my feet to the lounge room. I hadn't seen him since we saw the healer. As expected, the healer found nothing wrong with me. I was already fully healed from the duel.

"Hey." I greeted him, my voice husky.

I was still half asleep from last night's patrolling. The shift had ended until the early hours of the morning. Hence, why I couldn't fully appreciate Alexei's presence.

Alexei had caught me off guard, showing up at my doorstep.

He paused, examining my space with keen eyes.

I yawned, finding the corner of the sofa. I perched across it, closing my eyes, "You said something about finding something?" I muttered, half asleep.

"We found something on the lion. The Pack healer has completed a full assessment of the animal. It isn't rare that mountain lions eat wolves. However, this is a special case considering the lion didn't die when it consumed the poisoned wolf. The healer dug deeper and found that the wolf had remnants of nightshade in its belly."

I had heard him speak but I was tired, so his words took a few seconds longer to process. Once I deciphered his words, I jolted from my half slumbering state, now alert. "Nightshade? Like the poison?"

Alexei nodded but his dark gaze still roamed the inside of my home with interest. "Yes, the poison."

I ruminated on his answer, trying to make sense of it. "Why was there nightshade in its system?"

"No idea. However, the healer did say that perhaps the nightshade had helped negate the effects of the poisoned wolves from killing the lion. The healer mentioned that the wolf may have been exposing itself to nightshade, non-lethal amounts of course, which has eventually helped it survive from eating the wolf when it should've died from its contaminated blood."

"That's strange, where could the lion find the nightshade? They're not grown around these parts of the Territories."

"Allison said there was one place that she knew of that had it."

"The Blue Cave Pack." I whispered.

Alexei nodded, genuinely surprised by my reply. "How-"

"Wasn't she poisoned with nightshade?"

"Yes, how did you know?"

"Aella."

Alexei stroked his chin, "She mentioned they had quite a bit of it growing there."

"We smelt lemons when Kian and I went there. We didn't make much of it because we had to get back to the Pack. It would've been the nightshade that was growing there."

"I remember that." Alexei muttered, taking a seat on loveseat opposite the space I was splayed on.

He eyed my home a little longer before he finally met my gaze, "It has given us an idea that if we grab a hold of the nightshade and make it into an elixir with just the right amount of it, we could have a concoction that will perhaps stave the effects of the poison in our blood, like an immunity. We're planning to head down to the Blue Cave Pack to retrieve the nightshade. Jude has already organised Kian to head the group of Enforcers. I'll be going too."

"That's an amazing idea." I beamed.

Alexei did not return my exuberance.

Now that I was paying closer attention to him, he seemed stiff and incredibly unapproachable sitting in my lounge.

"Is everything okay?" I asked.

Alexei did not give me an immediate answer. In fact, he stewed on it, watching me from across the room in unbearable silence.

"Alexei?"

"This is the second time I've come to your house."

"Huh, really?" I hadn't even noticed.

He did one prompt nod. "You've never invited me in here before."

"Really?" I frowned, thinking back to our past interactions. "I haven't noticed."

"Both occasions, neither was I given an invite."

"You don't need an invite. I guess you could say my space is also your space."

"Is it really?" Alexei asked, unmoving from his spot on the loveseat.

I felt my brows crease. There was definitely something I was missing. This version of Alexei seemed unsettled and somewhat passively infuriated. His jaw kept tensing with each word and even his tone was difficult to make sense of.

"Are you angry at me for something?"

"Not angry...just frustrated." He sighed, leaning against the back of the seat. He spread his arms across the top of the seat, tilting his chin up as he squeezed his eyes shut.

"Tell me. I'm listening."

His big palm swept over his face as he gave another sigh, "I don't want to make mountains out of molehills."

"I'd rather you say straight to my face than hold whatever it is inside of you."

He seemed to think about my words before he relented a nod, "Just give me a second."

Even from across the room, I could hear the screws in his head turning. I waited patiently, studying the array of emotions settling across his face. When his eyelids lifted and those dark, golden-brown eyes captured my gaze, sending a few flutters along my spine, I exhaled softly.

"You're the most complicated but strangest person I know Solnishko."

"That doesn't sound like a compliment."

"You're strong, brave and somewhat funny too."

"Somewhat funny?"

Alexei snorted when I gave him nothing but squinted eyes and a grim frown. "Alright, funnier than most people." He relented.

"Mmm, thought so. Continue with this assessment you have of me." I waved my hand.

"You're quite inappropriate in the sternest of situations."

I cringed. He certainly wasn't wrong about that.

"You're diligent, resilient and so fucking brave, it steals my breath sometimes."

I felt my throat get tight at his quiet admission.

"And when you're in my arms, I'm the happiest. Whether we're hugging, fighting, admiring each other, even though you won't say it aloud, I know you look at me when I'm not watching, it does things to me Solnishko. It makes me feel things I didn't think I had the capacity to even feel."

My heart squeezed.

"But you're also this convoluted person I can't quite figure out. It's like once I think I have a clear picture of you, it vanishes, then I start over again, trying to pinpoint exactly who you are."

"I know I'm not the easiest person to figure out. It's just hard for me to open up."

"I know that." A knowing smile spread across his lips. "And I haven't pushed you because I know that."

"I don't deserve you." I whispered.

His throat bobbed as he watched me intently. "Don't say that. If there was anyone I would give myself to, it would be you regardless of the mate bond. Even before the bond snapped into place, I couldn't help but feel myself linger on thoughts of you."

"Hallmark should hire you." I quietly joked.

"They wouldn't be able to afford me."

We both broke into abrupt laughter from his blunt delivery.

When I managed to catch my breath, I felt at ease. "Push me."

One thick brow raised, "Push you?"

"Ask me anything."

A look of seriousness rippled across his face as he leaned forward in the loveseat, clasping his hands together as his elbows hung from his thighs. "Anything?"

"Anything."

This was no small step between us. He knew how much I was trusting him at this moment.

"Is there another reason why you haven't invited me into your space? I get this is your home. I do. You are welcome to my place too. I'm sure I've made that more than clear to you."

I didn't feel so sleepy anymore. I also didn't want to be far from. Sitting across from him seemed like that. So, I slid off the sofa and joined him on the loveseat. He watched me as I sat down on the furthest end and motioned to my lap. "Here. Put your head on my lap so we can talk."

"What?" He appeared taken aback.

I gestured to me lap again, "Put your head on my lap Alexei."

Alexei's brows crinkled, as if I just told him an unsolvable riddle. "I..."

"I'm not going to bite you."

"I can't fit on this thing if I sprawled across it."

"Let your legs dangle from the armrest. "

Alexei thought about it for a while before he nodded and shifted his legs over the armrest. He slowly lowered his head onto my lap until he was blinking up at me. Immediately, my left hand found purchase in his dark locks while my right settled on the middle of his chest.

Once I began to comb my fingers through his hair, his eyelids fluttered from the sensation.

"You have really soft hair." I told him.

Alexei made an indecipherable noise as I massaged his scalp. He inhaled deeply, closing his eyes. "That feels good." It almost sounded like a moan.

"I didn't realise that it bothered you that I hadn't welcomed you into my home. If anything, I wasn't even thinking. I'm just not used to sharing my space. I thought you knew that you could come here. You're my mate. This place is yours as much as it is mine."

"Why didn't you come home last night?" He asked solemnly.

I blinked, staring down at him. His eyes snapped open. I swallowed the tight lump in my throat.

"I waited for you." He added, making something inside of me grow warm.

"I'm sorry. I didn't realise. I had a late patrol last night. I didn't want to come to yours cause I thought you would be asleep. It felt rude to barge in, so I came here."

"My home is yours too Solnishko. I don't care if you're coming in at two in the morning. I'll still be waiting in bed for you with the lamplight on. I find that it's more difficult to find sleep when you're not close by."

I could do nothing my smile. "Be warned, I'll probably be at your place a lot more than I should. I might even pack some clothes and leave it at your place."

Alexei caught my wrist, smoothing his thumb along the skin. "Live with me Solnishko."

I stared down at him in bewilderment.

Alexei sat up, still holding my gaze. "Move in with me. I have more than enough space to accommodate you. I want you close and in my space."

I abruptly stood and began pacing my small living area, aware of his gaze trekking me. "I don't know if I should move in so soon?"

Alexei huffed out a laugh as he relaxed into the loveseat. He swung an arm over the back of it. "Soon? I think I'm asking you a little later than I would prefer."

I paused. "Do you really want me to live with you?"

"I'm asking."

"You told me I snore." I held my hips.

Alexei smirked. "It's cute."

I opened my mouth, then closed it. I honestly didn't know what to say.

When several minutes ticked by, Alexei suddenly shot up from the loveseat, gathering me into his arms. I startled, glancing up.

"Stop pacing. You're making me dizzy here."

"Sorry, I just don't know how to respond to you right now."

"Just say 'yes'."

I blinked. It couldn't be that easy. "I've never lived with anyone after the orphanage."

"I've only lived with my family." Alexei countered.

"We'll probably argue a lot."

One amused brow raised. "Make up sex will be an exquisite result."

I laughed, although I didn't want to. "Be serious Alexei."

His expression grew solemn as he held my hands, lacing our fingers together. "I am being serious. Live with me."