"Do you really have to go, Alec?" I ask. I really wish he could, but apparently not.

"I'm sorry, little wolf. I have to go."

He kisses me on my lips, then turns me so he can hold me, my back against his muscular torso.

"I'll be back as soon as possible. I've been staying with you for four days, and there were some moves last night. I have to go back to work."

He kisses me slowly.

"I have to meet your brother with Jackson and Amber...".

Before he can finish his sentence, a large growl comes out of my chest, and my nails turn to claws, piercing the thin skin of his wrists.

"Easy, little wolf."

He laughs before he kisses me on my neck again.

"I'm yours. You're the only one I'm dreaming of. I really have to be careful. I forgot how possessive we can be when our beast reveals."

He turns me again so my face can touch his large torso.

"I really don't want you to go to work. Certainly not with your ex."

I wish I could say that Selene is the only one angry at the idea that our mate will work with bitchy Amber, but I'm clearly the one who wants to kill her right now. Alec told me something like: "Yeah, if you kill her, that would be problematic because her dad is someone important." I was angry at the time and didn't listen.

I really hate her, and I wonder why Alec hasn't kicked her ass out of here already.

"I'll be quick. Just try to have fun and don't get mad, okay?" Alec says as he puts his jacket on and leaves the room.

I go to our bed and lie under the sheets that smell just like him, my head on his pillow.

I'll try my best, but don't promise anything.

He laughs as soon as he hears me.

That is one cool thing that came out of these four days together. We figured out that we could totally speak to one another. We definitely don't need Eli to be used as a link between us.

We don't know why, but I suspect that the fact that Selene and Ares have known each other for years may be one totally plausible reason.

I've tried to ask Selene several times, but she ignores my question about Alec, Ares, or her relationship with Ares.

I wait some more minutes as I don't want to see Alec go with Amber for a new day of lycans' stuff. Mostly war things.

I know Alec wants me to be out of stressful situations because he thinks that, I quote, "You need to rest. You must avoid stress and exhaustion in your condition. You need all your energy to be okay."

I promised to be careful, and he allowed me to meet people and go back to my life. Nevertheless, we mostly stayed in our room. Jackson, Eli, and Julie often joined us to play some games or watch movies. The boys looked exhausted sometimes and worried, even if they did not want to admit it.

He's been gone for 10 minutes, so I guess I can get out of bed.

I look in Alec's closet and realize that I don't have any clothes in there. He is the one who goes to my room every day to bring me stuff to dress.

Well, not today.

I take one of his shirts and put it on before going to my room. When I push on the door, I see a silhouette on my bed.

"Kate? What are you doing here?" I say, surprised, as I didn't expect her to be here.

I realize I haven't heard about her for the last four days.

"Well, I guess we have a lot of girls' talk to do right now." She jumps out of my bed and hugs me so tightly that it is almost painful.

"You scared me to death when you came back. What the hell happened in the woods? And why were you hiding in his room for days?". She is speaking so fast that I can't answer.

Plus, her hugs turned into strong grabbing.

"You should let me breathe if you want me to talk, Kate," I say with a laugh.

"I just shifted, Kate. No big deal."

She frees me and looks at me with a serious look.

"That was not just shifting. Julie told us you were almost as big as Alec, Liv."

She almost looks too severe. She doesn't look like the cheerful person I know.

"I'm just a big wolf, Kate. That's it." I smile at her, but she does not.

"Big wolves happen. That's pretty common for Alpha's puppies. And technically, I am the firstborn, so it is logical for me to be big."

I try to sound as confident as possible, but in fact, I've never thought about that, and Alec did not mention anything.

"Liv, have you mated already?"

"Mated, like... hum..." Damn, why am I so shy about talking about sex with my best friend?

"Not just sex, Liv. We all know you've gone through this stage for some time..." She almost laughs as she answers me.

My cheeks must be red as I feel so ashamed. Are we that loud? For the Moon's sake, my parents and Eli...

"I mean marking. The real mating for us," Kate says, her face turning serious again.

I move my head as a negative answer.

"It means you're the only one reason for your shift. Sometimes wolves change when they mate, as the bond makes you stronger. But if you haven't mated yet, it means this gigantic wolf, this Lycan is all yours, sweetie."

Lycan? What does she mean? She must have been smoking "I don't know which healing plant," as I don't understand what she means.

"What Lycan are you talking about, Kate? I just shifted into a brown wolf. Nothing more." I try to say it the most seriously I can.

Concerns seem to grow bigger and stronger inside me. Is there anything wrong with me? How could I be a lycan? I did not have a wolf a few days earlier.

This is nonsense.

"Sweetie, no average wolf can be this big. Believe me or not, but you have a Lycan in you, not a normal wolf." She says it with the sweetest voice possible, but it does not prevent me from feeling bad.

I can't move, and she must feel my fears as she comes closer and hugs me.

"Hey, that's okay. You're just a powerful wolf, and you'll probably have to live a really long and boring life. Lucky you."

She cups my chin and kisses my forehead.

"Alec knows about Lycan as he is one. I'm sure he already knows about what will happen to you, or he probably asked his people to search for some answers." She lets go of me.

She dries my tears and adds.

"Plus, if I heard well these last few days, you know a real big lot about one lycan's anatomy, too." She gets a big lusty smile.

I feel my cheeks getting hotter, if that is even possible.

"Kate..." I feel my cheeks still red as she takes me into my closet and chooses some clothes for me.

As she does it, I link to Alec.

Alec?

I should have told him earlier. I hope he will not take it wrong.

Is that okay, little pup?

Shit, he sounds nervous. He must feel anxious because of me.

Yes, nothing to worry about. It is just about the puppy thing.

I feel that my heart tightens in my chest. But it is not mine; it is Alec's.

Can you not spread the news now, please? I want to tell Elijah and Kate. I don't want to do it during a war.

I'm waiting for his answer. Is he mad at me?

No problem, puppy. The next announcement will be yours. Try to enjoy your day with Kate. My card is on the desk if you need it. I love you, puppy.

He feels happy.

I feel happy.

Everything we feel seems more intense. I feel like he is with me even when we are apart.

I love you, Alec. Be careful.

I put on the clothes that Kate chose for me. Jeans, a shirt with flowers on and sneakers.

I won't talk about the underwear she chose, and that I didn't know I had. I'm pretty sure, in fact, they are brand new and that she bought them. Anyway... At least Alec will be pleased tonight.

I quickly comb my hair in a ponytail.

"What about some shopping? It could be great, just like old times." I'm sure this is what she's planned from the start.

That would explain why Alec left his card on his desk.

"Okay. Let's go shopping". I take my bag, go to Alec's room to take his card. Then, we go to the parking lot.

We jump into one of the packhouse cars.

I drive.

I've always liked to drive as I can't shift. Or at least, I couldn't.

Even if fifteen miles separate the packhouse from the mall, the ride seems to last only a few minutes.

Kate is speaking, over and over again, about her first weeks with Caleb as her mate. One thing is for sure, what they have is really powerful.

I park the car in the overcrowded parking lot, then we enter the big mall. We are pretty lucky to find a free space to park so close to the entrance.

"It feels great to be here after the events. Don't you think so?" Kate asks me, thrilled to shop like no trouble could explode.

"Yes, that is so great. But it seems we are not alone..." I look at Kate and then at two guys some feet away from us to illustrate my words.

"The attack was violent, and the attackers threatened Julie's life. So all the she-wolves of the packhouse are watched, just in case," Kate answers.

"Eli's orders. Caleb is responsible for it," she adds with a comforting smile to answer my puzzled face.

"Nice to hear that neither my twin nor my boyfriend thought about telling me we would be followed."

As I speak the word boyfriend, my heart tightens. It is very discomforting.

Seems like Alec doesn't like you to call him your "boyfriend."

Selene is up then. I mentally sigh.

"Well, mate then."

I almost scream.

What is wrong with me? Kate starts to laugh.

"He can do that even if you have not mated yet. You are strongly linked."

Kate laughs even more as she sees my desperate face, as I don't understand a single thing she's saying.

"That was Alec and his wolf. With the help of yours. They corrected the boyfriend term. That happens. He must really love you."

How does she know so much? How can I be so dumb when it comes to wolves' relationships? I mean, I've been living surrounded by wolves. I should know more...

I must have skipped some information in my younger years.

She takes my hand, and we go to watch the new collection in our favorite fashion shop.

Kate looks astonishing in a beautiful light blue summer dress, making her red hair more shiny than usual.

"What do you think, Liv? Do you think Caleb is gonna like it?" She asks me.

"You look brilliant, Kate. If Caleb does not like it, he does not deserve to mate you." I laugh.

I truly think that Kate could wear some potato bags, she would still look gorgeous. Life is clearly unfair.

While she goes back to her fitting room, I try to find some clothes that I could buy.

Alec told me to enjoy my day, but all I'm thinking about is food. I need to get out of here and eat. Having a wolf is an absolute nightmare for my stomach.

I choose jeans and a white lace top: it appears to be a little transparent, so my bra can be seen through it. Sexy, but not too much. I like it, and I think it will please Alec too.

As I get out of the fitting room, I see Kate's eyes, and she looks pleased by my choice.

"You're astonishing, Miss Evans." I recognize this voice. I don't really wonder why he is here, but still, I ask him.

"Thank you, Jackson. So, you are our incognito bodyguard's reinforcement?" I ask slowly.

"Not that incognito if you noticed me, Liv. I'm sorry, but I need to stop your shopping break. We need to go back home."

Jackson takes our stuff, and we go to pay for all of our clothes. Well, Alec pays for all of our clothes.

As we get out of the store and my belly growls for food.

"These all wolves' things are exhausting. I'm starving. I need to buy something to eat." I say, and I take Kate's hand.

"Okay, but quickly, Liv. Take away, you'll eat in the car". Jackson says as he looks all around us. What does he expect? Someone to attack us here?

We go to the baker and buy some patisseries.

"Do you want something, Jackson? Alec is paying." I ask, already eating a strawberry tart.

"No, Liv, I'm fine." Jackson looks at me, then starts to check around again.

"Do you think that brownie girl and gingerbread boy want something? They must be tired of hiding." As I say that, Kate and Jackson look at me.

"What?"

What now? What did I say this time?

"Who are you calling brownie girl and gingerbread boy, Liv?" Kate looks around.

I point at a girl on a bench and a boy who stands near the bookstore entrance, a few feet away from the bakery.

"They've been near our room since I shifted, and they've been following us since we entered the mall. Right, Jackson?" Jackson looks at me in disbelief.

"You knew from the start? How? They're good at hiding. You should not be able to smell them."

I'm almost sure Jackson mind-links them because they both come closer.

"Eva, Joey. This is Olivia. She smelled you from day one after her shift. I don't think you need to hide anymore." The three of them mind-link for sure.

"Nice to meet you. Don't worry, you did great. Kate had no idea about you. It just seems my nose works well. I suppose that's normal, as I had a good sense of smell even before having my wolf. You two smell good: not like some others. Sometimes I have to stop smelling as the odors are awful, trust me." I smile so the atmosphere can get lighter because these three lycans and Kate look like crazy people right now.

"Nice to meet you, Miss Olivia," they answer together, bowing their heads.

That's really weird. I'm just Olivia Evans for now.

They don't need to act so ... royal.

"Okay, well, just let's go home. Eli and Caleb really insisted that you come back quickly. And don't look at me like that, Kate. Your mate and your Alpha gave the orders." Jackson says, raising his hands with our bags in it.

"And why did they decide that?" Kate sounds furious.

I smile, but inside, I feel a bit nervous. I'd like to ask Alec or Eli, but my wolf tells me to wait.

I pay for our food, and we quickly return to our car.

Eva and Joey go back to theirs, and they follow as we leave the place.

We drive back to the packhouse and park the car. Jackson stayed the whole time with us. I'm sure this order was not Eli, but Alec.

As we enter the hall, Elijah is here with Caleb. No sign of Alec.

"Here you are," Caleb says before he kisses Kate tenderly. Eli comes to me and hugs me.

"You come with me, Liv," Eli whispers before he takes my hand.

Jackson is about to stop him, but Eli sends him his darkest look.

Jackson stops, and he lets Eli take me to the library.

What the fuck is going on?