The sun is already back as we get out of the gym. When we go out, I see lots of our wolves are back outside, back to their activities. Kids get out of the school as we pass it.

"Olivia, can you come to play with us today." Sonia, a little blonde girl, jumps on my leg.

"I got you. You have to play with me." I knee to face her. I put a strand of hair behind her ear.

"I can't right now, Sonia. I have to go with Prince Alec. He has to talk with Alpha Elijah because some people come to help us with the bad guys." I take her in my arms. Sonia turns to Alec.

"Thank you, Mr. Prince, for helping us." She says slowly.

"The pleasure is mine, Miss Sonia." Alec smiles nicely at her. Then, as Sonia signs him to get closer, she whispers in his ear.

"You have to be nice to Olivia because she is the best Alphuna ever." Alec smiles at her and questions me with his eyes.

"Of course, I will." He answers back, kissing her little hand.

We take her back to the school and go to the packhouse. Alec grabs my hand.

"Alphuna? Am I missing a new position in the wolves' hierarchy?". I can't prevent laughing.

"Kids gave me this title as they thought it was unfair I could not be an Alpha or a Luna. So they said no one would take me this title. So you're mated to the one and only one Alphuna ever." Alec stops and kisses me.

"Lucky me to have the first Alphuna ever as my mate and Princess." After a few more seconds, we go into the packhouse and climb up the stairs right to our room.

Alec has to go to meet Eli. I wish he could stay longer, but the lycans are about to arrive, and they really need to organize things.

"Gonna take a quick shower, little wolf. I would not like your brother to sniff your smell on me. He seems a little overprotective when it comes to you." He grins and kisses me on my neck.

He goes to the bathroom, and I hear the water running in the shower. I go to the close-in wardrobe and take clothes for Alec: he finally put his clothes inside as we don't know precisely how long he will have to stay with his warriors; how long I still have before I leave the Blue Lakes Pack.

I go to the bathroom and watch him as he already goes out. I bite my lips when I see his naked body, hot water running down his perfect shape. All the memories of our time in the gym just come back to my mind, and I feel lusty again. I go closer and give him his clothes: black pants and a white shirt: sober but classy, just like he is. And I can admire his body just enough to fantasize freely, I have to admit.

"I picked some things for you." I bite my lips again as he comes closer. Why does he have to go to my brother...

"Thanks, little wolf. I wish we had more time to ... train again." He grins with his eyes filled with desire. He puts his clothes on quickly. I pass my hand in his hair and kiss him. He grabs my waist and kisses me again, his tongue meeting mine. My breath is already starting to run riot when he just stops and takes a step back, using his fingers to quickly comb his hair.

"I'll be as quick as possible, Liv. Don't play too much without me". He kisses me on my cheek then leaves the room with an amused smile on his face.

I'm not gonna play ...

I mean, it would have been nice, but now he said that I am not going to do that. I feel my cheeks are getting hot. My whole body is scorching.

I really need a cold shower to clear my mind. I take off my wet clothes and turn on the water. It is already the coldest possible: I guess Alec had the same cure as I have. At least I know his body needs mine as much as I crave for him.

The water drops feel entirely different on my skin as if all my senses had gotten sharper. Every drop caresses me and makes my body feel complete for the first time in my life. Even if the cold water helps, I still am crazily excited while wrapping myself in a towel. I really need Alec: no cold water or fluffy towel could help me feel better. I really need us to be together, intimate, just like in the gym.

I get out of his room and go to mine to take some clean clothes in my closet. Jeans and a red tank top, with a strapless bra. That would do the job: I want to feel comfortable. On the one hand, I have to meet his people, I don't want to look like some brainless Princess thinking about her appearance more than the fact we were attacked the day before. On the other hand, if I don't meet them, I have even less reason to dress classy: I'm surrounded by people who know me forever and would not recognize me.

I slip in a pair of sneakers and decide to get to the kitchen to eat: I'm starving. I did not realize how hungry I was. These last hours created a wild hunger in me. Training and sex must be the reason for that: I need calories to get back some energy.

I get out of the room to go downstairs. As I reach the stairs, I can hear a lot of noises. Who the hell is so fucking loud? I can listen to what sounds like a million voices. The hall is full of werewolves and lycans: they must be the reinforcement the king sent. Around twenty wolves and thirty lycans are waiting in the packhouse hall. I see that Jackson is speaking to two of them, a severe look on his face that I've never noticed before. He reminds me of Alec's serious face after the attack: they could be brothers when thinking about that.

Some scent gets to my nose, and a great disgust takes over me: I feel like I'm gonna throw up. I had never noticed that Lycans could be so stinky. They really have to do something about that smell. I will talk to Alec about it. If I can smell it, I imagine how unbearable it must be for the wolves. I know the journey may have lasted hours, and the temperature is high these days, but Moon Goddess deodorant should exist in the Capitale.

I rush to the kitchen and drink a big glass of water. The feeling seems to fade away as I smell the sweet odor filling the room. Sam is here making some waffles.

"I guessed you would like to eat after your ... training session, Miss Evans," he says with a discreet but amused smile. I feel my cheeks blushing: how does he know? He probably knows nothing but that I trained for hours with a lycan, specifically the first Prince- my mate.

"Thanks, Sam. How do you know we trained? We were up after everybody. You were not there anymore". I try to feel confident when I say that.

"I did not see you when we left. Were you outside, relaxing?"

Poker face and try your chance, Olivia. I have to stop being paranoid. We were in a gym, not even close to the packhouse, even for wolves' extended hearing. Right?

"We just... heard about it, Miss Evans." Oh no, were we that loud? I'm pretty sure my face must be mistaken for a beetroot.

Sam serves me some waffles. I start to eat them, avoiding his look. I feel so ashamed. If Sam heard us, then so did my parents, my brother... The whole packhouse. He must be messing with me. Please, Moon Goddess, it can't be real.

The whole pack must know that Alec and I went really, really deep into our relationship...

That would not be that bad.

This perverted part of me may find the idea of being heard by dozens of people - people who, for most of them, saw me running in diapers - but my rational human part doesn't think it is okay. At. All.

As I'm almost done eating my waffles, the sweetest smell rouses my body. I stop thinking as Alec's hand grabs my last waffle, and he bites it. He looks so sexy. He really has to cease to be that sexy... Sam gets out of the kitchen as soon as Alec enters, blinking at me. Goddamn, more privacy is dangerous.

"Look gorgeous, Liv."

He kisses me between two bites.

"That was mine, Prince Grayson. You'll have to compensate for this." I kiss him on the neck; his skin is so hot. And his never-ending arousing smell does not help.

"I'll do as much as needed, little wolf." He grins as he steps back. I smile and put my plate in the dishwasher: I'm pretty sure his eyes don't leave me as I sense his gaze on my back, from head to butt. I turn, and he suddenly stops to grin: I understand he mind-links with someone, probably Jackson, as I saw him in the hall earlier.

He looks nervous and worried. He grabs my waist and pulls me against him.

"We've got to get upstairs." He takes my hand, and before we leave the kitchen, he looks at me.

"Liv, you have to stay calm, okay?". His voice is soft but tense. Almost too serious. I nod, staying silent. His nervousness makes me tighten my grip on him: I can't help but take his hand as if my survival depended on it.

Why does he think I'm gonna get mad? I'm not such an insane girl. Or maybe he thinks I'm gonna panic in the middle of all his men. They must not be that terrible, even for a human; plus, I'm still the sister of the Alpha.

As we enter the hall, I catch Jackson's look. He really looks nervous too. What is going on with them?

I don't know why but all of this makes me feel weird. My mind seems to blur with anger as I smell this disgusting fragrance again. All my feelings are pacing inside me like a lion would in a far too tiny cage. Yet, Alec still holds my hand tightly.

I notice Elijah and Julie are waiting for us: we join them. Julie is smiling tenderly at me. Elijah seems upset. Or nervous. I don't really know how to read it.

"Nice to see you both." Julie is so welcoming: she hugs me. Elijah looks at Alec: I'm almost sure they are mind-linking together. What is so secret? Alec sends a look at Jackson, who comes closer to us, and I feel Alec lets go of my hand.

"I'm back in a moment. You stay here, Liv, with Jackson and your brother, okay?" I don't like this cold tone that Alec has. I am about to answer him when I feel a hand on my shoulder. Eli stops me from moving: Jonas is on the edge, I can see it in his eyes.

I hadn't noticed that Kate and Caleb were here. I really must be disturbed to quit reality that much. Kate is posing her hand on me.

"You need to focus on me. On us, sweetie". I feel that Kate uses her Reader's ability to make me relax. Why are they so careful? Can't they explain to me: that's no more anxiety that I feel. That's annoyance and anger.

I watch Alec; my nerves become painful as my whole body turns into alert mode. Like a spell and it falls over me: Jealousy. For the first time in my life, a wave of jealousy explodes inside me. And I hear words I hate. Comments that are going to make me mad.

"Darling, I missed you so much ."I hate this voice; it is so irritating. High-pitched. I feel sick again. I see a silhouette coming closer to Alec. A tall and thin feminine silhouette. She opens her arms to hug him. What the fuck?

Let go, Sis'. Just breathe. Let him handle that.

Eli is in my head. I wish I could listen and process his words, but I can't. All I can feel is my breath running riot. Then, I realize Kate let me go, and I grow angry.

I look at this bitch: a terrible lycan beauty. She has beautiful tan skin - she probably has Latin origins. She has long, straight black hair that ends just above her butt. And she is crazily athletic: not a single imperfection on her model body.

She has this charming dress, leaving her neck vulnerable.

I could rip it. It's like my eyes become more piercing: I can see her carotid artery pulsing through her skin. It beats faster. Some protective instincts wait for the opportune moment to get rid of this unfortunate stranger.

This bitch feels aroused. By Alec. I grumble. I see her smelling Alec's neck. If I could bark, I would warn her to get her ass back. It's like I feel growls inside my throat. I can see some eyes on us.

Olivia, you need to calm down.

Eli's voice seems to be begging me. She's suicidal; no other option. It's like my whole body is grouching: people look at me. I smell nervousness in the air. I could murder someone to protect what's mine. Alec is mine.

As clarity is leaving me, I feel no more pressure on my shoulder. Elijah lets go of me. Someone's trying to enter my mind. No fuckin' way. I'm sorry, Elijah. I can't hear you.

Alec, move the fuck away from her.

A voice is screaming inside me, and I can see he tightens a bit but still does not move away. Why the hell is he static?

She approaches her lips from his, he turns his head, so her lips only get his cheek.

I'm gonna kill her... I won't let her go alive...

He sends a quick look at Jackson.

I'm about to pounce on her when I feel two large and muscular arms catching my waist. My nails enter the skin, but it makes only them tighten more around me.

"You have to trust Alec, Liv. Let go. Please."

Jackson's voice shivers a bit as my nails enter his arms more profoundly. I can feel hot liquid on my nails. Blood.

I would like to tell him I'm sorry, but nothing but growls come out of me. I turn to look at him, and he unexpectedly lets me down. I see fear in his lycan's eyes, and the pressure disappears.

"Alec, I can't hold her back."

Jackson is yelling through the hall.

No matter who she is, she forgot whose territory she entered. My place, my rules.