I didn't start walking back to the house until it was afternoon, the entire training grounds void of anyone but me.

I hadn't been able to have a proper training session for what felt like months. Before this, my missions had been so close together that I barely had time to breath, let alone make it to the gym.

Yet I was appreciative of being able to do it. I had missed it, the burn in my muscles and the sweat on my brow.

Alexander had tried waiting around, waiting for another two hours after the last person before me had left. He told me I was going to burn out, that too much wasn't a good thing. Too much training could never be a bad thing. Master Skotus commanded constant training, and I certainly wasn't one to disbelieve his words.

I shook my head, now wasn't the time for Master Skotus to be in my head.

As I walked, I began to stagger, not because of an injury but rather the dazing light-headiness that had just hit me. I pressed my arms out to balance myself. What the hell was happening?

It wasn't withdrawal again, it couldn't be withdrawal again. It was slow, as if a volcano inside of me was just starting to erupt. I fanned my shirt, goddess I was hot. I had been in the cool air for over fifteen minutes by now, so why the hell did it feel like I was on fire?

Maybe I just needed to sit down, or another drink of water, so I persevered.

Dragging my feet up the stairs to the house, I was only feeling worse. I propped open the door, Alexander immediately waiting there as if he knew I was moments away from arriving.

"So, you finally decided to come home?" He asked teasingly with a quizzical brow.

I sent him a glare, "I'm really not in the mood for your lame jokes,"

I tried to slip beside him, an attempt to get past without in any way making contact. As if knowing my actions already, Alexander propped out his arm, forcing me to make contact and stumble back. As if it was magic, in the split second my skin touched his, I could have sworn that the heat in my body plummeted.

I felt my back connect with the wall.

I watched as Alexander's face fell to a look of concern. He placed his hand on my forehead and then my neck, each action offering a short-lived moment of relief.

"Fuck," He swore under his breath. Alexander placed his arms under my legs and swooped me up in one quick motion, cradelling my body to his.

Once again, the relief. Only then did it hit me.

I was in heat.

I counted over the days in my head and let a groan escape my mouth. Two weeks, it had been two weeks yesterday, meaning that the mate bond was starting to get pissed with us. It would last the entire night for sure, perhaps scraps of it tomorrow.

An entire night of endless pain and heat, a desperate attempt to force Alexander and I together... in more ways than I cared to admit. Ways that I certainly wasn't interested in. I coiled my hand upwards, pressing it against Alexander's neck, expecting to feel the same heat that was on my skin.

Nothing.

With a frown I ran my hand up further, pressing it against his forehead. Again, nothing.

I gulped as I brought my hand back down. I knew exactly what that meant.

Not that it mattered, it didn't matter. How could I expect him to wait for such a long time. I had waited because of my lifestyle, because I never had the opportunity. I couldn't be mad, I wouldn't be mad-

And yet a traitorous inch of my heart bloomed in jealousy. How dare he even consider being with a woman other than me?

Alexander flicked the light to the bathroom, placing me down against the cold tiles. I immediately threw my head back, once again overcome by the ruthless torment of my own body. It was even worse now.

I heard the water from the bathtub begin to gush, Alexander frantically murmuring a silent praise for the water to flow faster as it began to fill.

Even the minute it took, the one minute that I was by myself caused a long moan of pain to slip from my mouth. My legs were bouncing uncontrollably, my head-

Alexander picked me up once again and placed me into the bathtub, my clothes quickly becoming a deadweight.

My fingers scrawled at the buttons, undoing them as quickly as possible as I could, wasting no time in throwing the clothes to the side of the bathtub with a loud smack against the tiles. I curled my fingers around the edge, trying to push down my body as much as possible.

Through my lashes, I stared up at Alexander, who's entire body was facing the complete opposite direction.

I let out a hoarse laugh, "What, never seen a naked woman before?"

Those words sent the room silent, a light joke turning everything only more awkward.

"I'm... sorry." He said, "I don't have any excuses."

I breathed through my nose as I got hit by another wave. "It's fine, stuff like that happens and I don't care- not that much at least. I mean, it would be pretty sad to be mated to a twenty six year old virgin anyway."

Alexander scoffed, "I just wasn't even sure if you existed,"

I leaned my head back, closing my eyes, the water beginning to heat up and suddenly, it wasn't that much of a help. "You don't need to make excuses, I wouldn't have expected you to... not.. I'm sorry I don't even know how to say it."

"I get it, I get it." Alexander said calmly. After taking a breath, he turned around and stuck his finger in the water. After feeling it, he emptied some of the water and started filling it up again. "I mean, obviously you haven't, but if you had, I wouldn't be annoyed. I try not to be that sort of guy, plus, it's not like you'd ever be with them again."

I was trying to focus on something other than the pain, and while the steady calmness of Alexander's voice was helpful, it wasn't enough.

My breathing was heavy as a long whine escaped my mouth, my entire body clenched to ensure that I could begin to faze out the pain.

I heard Alexander gulp, "If you want, I'd be happy to... make the pain go away. We don't have to have sex, but-"

I shook my head, "Absolutely not. How long is this gonna last, a day? I've been in pain longer than that and if I focus on it, it doesn't even hurt that bad. I'll be fine."

"And what will you do in another two weeks when it's two days? What about in a month when it's three days? What will you do then?" He pressured.

I lifted my head up, "I will deal with it? What else am I supposed to do. I got taught about heat, I know that it's a slow descent to the pain when the heat gets longer. I will survive. It's not a big deal."

Alexander sighed, "Tell me what you want me to do."

"Change the water again," I breathed as I lifted my hand out and placed it on the edge, "And maybe, could you just hold my hand?"

Alexander grasped onto my hand without a second thought.

-------------------------------------

Alexander's entire body was slumped against the wall. Slowly, I let out a long, slow breath.

It was over.

The feeling of heat had completely faded, leaving only my body floating in the lukewarm water. I blinked my eyes, clearing the fogginess and gently dragging my body upwards, feeling the water drip down my body as the waves sloshed around me. I cracked my neck, then my back. My muscles were aching, goddess I was always aching.

I ran my eyes over my skin, no injuries which meant I certainly hadn't started to claw at myself. The slight undertone of red under my skin, specifically in lighter spots of my skin like my knuckles and my elbows. Other than that, I looked practically normal. I ran my hands over my face, my skin still fairly smooth .

Like the whole night had never happened.

Maybe that was a good thing.

I was exhausted, I hadn't slept all night. Slowly, I tried to pry my hand from Alexander's grip. It was to no success, his grip only getting tighter as I tried to pull it out.

I must've done one tug too quick, and suddenly, Alexander shot open, his eyes darting around the room quickly as if scanning for a threat.

He raised an eyebrow towards me, "It's over?"

I nodded, "It's over."

I watched him blow out a breath, "Thank the goddess,"

It took him a minute of sitting in silence before standing up, reaching over to the stand and grabbing a towel, flicking his eyes shut as he passed it towards me.

I slowly pulled myself up, stumbling over as I grabbed the towel from his hand and quickly tied it around my body. "You know, you're very respectful."

Alexander stayed facing the other way, "I never used to be."

I shoved my fingers in my hair, quickly pulling it into a tight, loose bun at the nape of my neck. "You know, I've lived my entire life showing off my body, whether I'm wearing bummers and a bra or nothing at all. I don't mind, and I certainly haven't turned my eyes away from you."

"Oh I know," Alexander snorted, "Just- I'm trying to do this the right way. I don't want you to feel like you're in a similar situation to what you were in. You're a part of Bloodlust now, and I'll be damned if I push you away just because I crossed a line I didn't even know was there."

I felt a pressure in my chest, as if my heart was twisting in on itself. "No one's ever said that before,"

Alexander turned back around, "I know. Everyone makes their own of the bond, and I'm well aware that I'll never be your protector, like Vance is for Harmony. And I'll never be your healer, like Myra is for Farren. So I'll be your partner, and being respectful around sensitive topics, even if they aren't sensitive for you right now, is the very first step towards that."

I tugged the towel closer to my body. I had no idea what to say, no response to his words as I let them mull over in my head.

I blinked, three months, three months, three months.

What the hell was I even supposed to say in response to that? "Right, um, ok."

Alexander's lip quipped upwards, "Don't think into it too much, we'll get there eventually."

There was silence for a moment, complete and utter silence. I gulped, and then left the bathroom, leading me back into the bedroom. I couldn't stay there for another second. I picked up Alexander's grey shirts from the bed and in one quick moment, dropped the towel as I threw the shirt over my head.

As if with perfect timing, Alexander walked out of the bathroom, major water stains covering his shirt and pants.

I bit my lip, "I have something to give to you."

I ignored his expression as I walked towards the closet and dropped to my knees, fishing underneath the bottom shelf as I brought out the duffel bag. I upped it open and brought out the Tiara that I had stolen in my very first mission here. I held it gingerly in my hands as I pulled myself up and turned back around, standing only a metre or so in front of him.

"When I stole from your jewellery shop, I stole a pendant, ring and some earrings for my leaders and an aquamarine bracelet and a quartz band for my friends. But, I took this for myself. I don't know why, but I couldn't take my eyes off it. So I took it too. And now, I'm giving it back to you." I explained, shoving my hands forward and thrusting the tiara in his direction.

With a smile, Alexander picked it up and held it delicately between his fingers. "When a list of what had been stolen had been released, the only thing that people actually cared about, the only thing I cared about, was this. The Luna's Tiara. When the Luna of the Bloodlust pack is sworn into this position, she is crowned with this tiara. In fact, it's the only tiara that has been used since this pack was formed. I'm not surprised that this is what called you."

I furrowed my brow, "Well, it certainly is beautiful."

"I'll take this, I won't return it to the store but I'll hold onto it. And when you're ready to take up your position, this crown will belong to you, for as long as you would like." He promised,

I gulped. That's right, my position, as the Luna of the Bloodlust Pack.

Suddenly, I wished I was back in that bathtub.

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