Turning from the kitchen he suppressed the thrill that both, the words and the sound of her feet falling in behind him, sent through his body. Leading the way through the opulent and richly decorated house, Kaiden lead his mate up the wide curving staircase to the third floor were the family quarters was held. On the opposite side from his parent's quarters, was the wing of the house dedicated to him and his siblings. The second floor held rooms for important guests, key high ranking pack members when needed and the various guards of the Salvatori Alpha's family.

As the first born, and heir, Kaiden had the largest set of rooms out of his siblings, and they included a bedroom that was easily the size of two ordinary master bedrooms adorned with a fire place, couches, and a large flat screen. Attached was an office, dressing room, full walk-in closet and en-suite bathroom. Everything was decorated in his mother's favored heavy and opulent style. Rich woods, creams, burgundies, leather and heavy patterns. It wasn't his personal style but it was a room and met its function.

Closing his door, he turned to find his mate standing unmoving in his bedroom. The thought that he was finally alone with her made him suddenly nervous. He looked her over again taking in her graceful form. Her willowy limbs and striking features. It didn't help that he couldn't read anything for her body language or her facial expression. He was normally so good at reading people, but when it came to his mate so far he was lost. Nodding to the bed he decided to take Richard's tactic and just talk to her.

"You can have the bed, I'll crash on the sofa. You can have a shower if you want or a bath. Feel free. I don't know if you have anything to sleep in if you don't you can wear one of shirts and a pair of my boxers they are just in the drawers. My sister is always stealing Austin's, she says it's the comfiest thing to sleep in. Richard is just downstairs on the next floor if you need him. And I'll be just here so if you need anything you can just wake me up. But you're safe here, I will keep you safe I swear, and I won't let anyone else hurt you ever again."

Running out of words Kaiden fell silent. Silence settled around them, after what felt like hours but was less than a minute she turned walking to his dresser. Kaiden let out a small chuckle anxiety and worry easing as he watched her confidently pull out one of his black t-shirts and a pair of his boxers before taking them and her backpack into the bathroom. It was so small, something that only a few hours ago he'd have mocked another for being so affected by, but in that moment he felt like he'd won the greatest prize and medal imaginable.

Aislinn quickly stripped off her dirty and sweaty clothes, turning on the water for the large walk in shower. Letting the hot water steam up the air she finally gave in and stepped under the soothing spray. After washing her body and massaging a small amount of Kaiden's shampoo into her long locks she stepped out, wrapping one of towels around herself. Once she was dry she pulled on her borrowed clothing, gently unwrapping the towel she had wound around her damp locks. She used to love her hair. Loved having it brushed, loved the feeling as people played with the long silky strands. Now though, all that she felt was relief that no one seemed to know what her hair meant. She didn't care that others found her hair different, strange - only that they didn't know what it signified. Honestly Aislinn didn't think there was anyone left that would know now what her hair meant or would allow themselves to remember it. She knew she didn't.

Everything about her - her hair, her eyes, her pale complexion - and what they meant, what they reminded her of, she buried deep and tight inside her. She bound the truth and memories in the furthest reaches of her mind, never even letting herself pull them out to consider. Twice while she was at the academy her hair had been cut off. The first time she had been there for only a few months when some of the other girls had ambushed her, pinning her down while shaving it off. When it grew back just as smooth, straight and as pure silver as before they had been baffled. Even more so when it grew at nearly three times the speed of theirs. It was one of many reasons she had no friends at the academy. Well, that and she had absolutely no desire to even be within their presence.

Using her fingers to brush out her damp locks she didn't even glance at herself in the mirror before picking up her bag of belongings and re-entering her mate's bedroom.

Aislinn found herself remembering fondly how Richard had stumbled to try and explain to her about mates. It was one of his many lessons about the werewolf world they lived in. Of course, she never had given him any indication that she already knew everything he spoke of, and in many instances, knew more. Instead she had been happy to let him prattle on, the sound of his voice calming the raging storm in her soul, the bleeding ragged hole in her heart.

Her own lessons had started much early than when she had followed the source of calming energy that had beckoned her from the academy and into the woods beyond. They had been extensive and had included much on the concept of mates, but like every time before she merely stayed quiet and succumbed to the sound of his voice, the calmness that radiated from him, letting just for those few minutes herself to feel safe and whole and cherished once more. Those visits were one of the few things that had broken up the momentous boredom of the last five years, had been able to crack the loneliness and blackness she had encased herself so deeply within. It was only with him that she could remember the girl she had once been. And so, she let him re-teach her things she had learned before she could walk. So yes, she knew what they meant when they said he was her mate, and although she had not wanted nor meant to find hers when she had set off on her journey, she could not deny that she had found him. She felt the mate pull even if she refused to show it. To succumb to it at that moment. Her instincts were screaming at her to run, to escape, to break whatever chain this boy – man – had already slipped around her. But, she was so exhausted. So, frustrated and drained from the twists that had been forced upon her in the last few hours, that when she saw him stretched on the sofa a throw blanket dragging on the floor and a pillow stuck under his head, she decided to simply do as he suggested and crawl into the soft comfort of his bed.

Aislinn may not have meant to find him, but she more than anyone knew that you could not deny fate. And if fate had decided she would find her mate then she would be stuck with him. She drifted off with that thought on her mind, a curse to the goddess herself on her tongue, as her mate's scent wrapped around her.

.

.

Light was just barely filtering through the heavy curtains on his windows as Kaiden struggled awake. Not remembering what had woken him up, he bolted upright when he inhaled his mates scent filling his nostrils and clearing the last of his haze. Everything from the night before flooding back as he looked around the room for her. Finding the bed was empty, panic begin to rise in his chest, throwing off his blanket he stumbled from the room.

Following her scent, he nearly flew down the stairs, tracking her to the kitchen where relief washed over him at the sight as he entered. He took a moment to soak it up, and settle his pounding heart. His mate was safe and unhurt, sitting in the same chair as before her sketch pad in front of her pencil in her hand, still wearing his baggy t-shirt and boxers as Richard placed another plate of fruit beside her. She didn't even look up before absently picking up a slice of apple. It was startling how much she had already come to mean to him, how much her presence and safety consumed him. He knew it was just the mate bond but it was also – well her.

Kaiden turned to Richard, eyebrow arching in question, the ex-warrior merely shrugged, turning to look at the clock. The glowing numbers read ... 6:12. It seemed they had been asleep for barely two hours

"I figured she would wake up but thought maybe she would stay with you. But when I opened my door just to make sure, she was simply sitting there drawing. So, I brought her here. I figured she might've been hungry again." Seeming to understand the younger man's struggle Richard answered the unspoken question racing through Kaiden's mind.

"I think she sat in your room for a few minutes first, I only came out of my room at five after, and she hadn't gotten all her pencils out. I remember what it felt like when I first found Maria, I know how it feels when you find your mate. The normal reaction, the need to always be beside her, the possessiveness, the need to be the only one around her. But I don't think anything where your mate is concerned will ever be normal. You were her first choice though. Your wolf will get better at sensing when she's awake and needs you - and then she won't ever need to come to me."

They both looked towards the object of their discussion, Kaiden letting the older wolf's words ease his anxiety, the tension that had still been humming in him. The fear that she was rejecting him. That she wasn't choosing him, didn't want to be near him. It was primal and instinctual and it was only Richard's words that let him relax. A wave of gratitude passed through him towards the other man as a large gruff hand landed on his shoulder with a tight reassuring squeeze seemingly to understand without any need for words.

"She must be exhausted." He finally muttered taking in the faint dark circles under his mate's eyes.

"Without a doubt, and probably more so than either of us will ever know. Hopefully when she does whatever it is she needs to do – she'll go back to sleep." The older man said as he let out a loud yawn moving to take the chair beside her still bent form.

For fifteen minutes, they all stayed like that. The only movements were Aislinn's hands as she continued to work on the page opened in her sketch book and from the pieces of fruit to her mouth. With each passing minute she seemed to sink more and more, the exhaustion so clear even on her expressionless face that Kaiden had to grip the counter to keep from going to her and carrying upstairs and shoving her back in the damned bed.

There was no warning that Kaiden could tell, but one minute she was drawing and then she had dropped her pencil, her sketch book snapping shut. He watched as she gently put it back into the bag at her side, gathering up her things as she did, movements sure but sluggish. Finished, she slid off her chair swaying slightly on her feet as she stood.

Richard and Kaiden both took a step towards her, concern on their faces, as they reached for, both afraid she might just collapse under the sheer weight of the exhaustion that was pulling at her. But somehow, she pulled herself up straight before walking out of the kitchen not looking at either man before making her way back up to her mate's bedroom.

Silently crawling under the heavy covers before collapsing, Aislinn couldn't help but gaze at the clock that sat on the nightstand, the numbers searing her vision. It read 6:32. She would have sighed if she hadn't already been pulled under the now unrelenting tide of sleep.

She slept until ten, before she once again awoke. She snarled at the clock. At the numbers that mocked her. And then she slid from the sheets, a movement so graceful and feline she barley disturbed the air.

Kaiden was sitting in his office with the others when he heard the shower, turning his head he looked at the clock meeting Richards's eyes. The warrior had guessed that she would wake again four hours. Smiling at the idea of her being comfortable enough in his quarters to move and use them at her own will he turned back to the others. They had been brainstorming with Richard for two hours now about the Rogues. For some reason 15 of them had come together to track down his mate, and though they had been debating for hours, they were no closer to an actual idea as to what they wanted or why. And to say he wasn't pleased was a drastic understatement. It took every fiber of his control to keep his wolf from taking over and destroying everything around him. As an alpha, and a seriously pissed-off Alpha, with a threatened mate to boot, his control was increasingly precarious.

Attempting to distract himself from his rage, and frustration he directed his thoughts instead to his mate.

Exactly 15 minutes after the shower turned on it shut off. Leaving her to her own, Kaiden let his mind continue to wonder, drifting until he was once again only focused on her soft movements. Suddenly he snapped up straight, listening as his bedroom door was opened and then shut.

Straining his hearing further into the hall, Kaiden could just pick up the sounds of her soft footfalls on the dark hardwood of the stairs. Knowing most of his family was now up and awake in the house, Kaiden pushed himself from his chair moving to follow his mate downstairs. His trepidation at what awaited at the bottom had nothing to do with her and everything to do with his father. He would not be pleased with the news of the recent events.

If Kaiden was temperamental and controlling his father went beyond the descriptive powers of words. He was a trying man even for his favorite son and heir, and Kaiden knew this would not be an exception.

Richard, Austin, Blair and Clay all got up and followed their alpha as soon as he suddenly got up and left. They had heard the girl awaken and the shower turn on but had tuned her out after that, re-focusing on the ongoing argument of the rogue's presence. They must have missed the sounds of her leaving. It would be the only thing that would drag Kaid from trying to solve the problem. Blair and Austin shared a glance behind their alpha's back, they had never seen their friend act like this before. True he had never had his mate before but they were unsure how to respond to this new Kaiden. He seemed almost hesitant, gentler, and softer somehow. Not that either would ever voice those thoughts aloud, hell they didn't even like thinking them in fear that he might somehow know. But after dealing with the harsh and rash, temperamental and arrogant heir for 24 years they were thrown with this sudden switch.

By the time they had gotten to the bottom of the stairs. Kaiden was already in full blown alpha mode against his very unamused father. Meanwhile his mother stood near the foyer doorway, with a bemused expression on her face. The Luna of the Salvatori was as groomed and polished as ever, her thick dark hair tastefully pulled into a knot at the nape of her neck, while light makeup accented the natural beauty that she still carried. Completely ignoring the increasingly loud shouting match between her mate and eldest she simply stared at the form of her sons mate sitting on her foyer carpet tying up her shoes.

As usual Kaiden's eldest younger sibling and second son Anthony was butting his nose into the argument between alpha and heir. And as expected it was only serving to increase the tension as he prodded Kaiden's temper and disrespected his father somehow simultaneously. The oblivious sounds of the youngest of the Salvatori clan, Kaiden's eleven year old twin brothers Noah and Issac, fighting in the family room could be heard echoing down the hall, and only added to the bedlam that was slowly filling the house. A few of the family's personal guards had taken notice of the raised voices and had made their way to the scene, but spotting the familiar sight of father and son standing toe-to-toe they had wisely stepped back until they were in the shadows.

Austin shook his head at the men dressed in the garb of all the guards, black tees, black cargo pants, thick black boots, the only thing separating them was the tattoos covering their exposed skin; the heavy ink twisting around their necks, torso and arms signaled their higher ranks, personal guards to the alpha and his family. Sometimes he wished he could melt into their ranks not to mention the shadows and out of the lime-light, instead however he would always find himself flanking Kaiden. Even when they were pups it was easy to see the call; Beta. He shook his head now, as if he could shake the useless thoughts from his head and instead squared his shoulders knowing his wolf and blood would always command him to stand with his friend, the first to follow and the last to leave him. Their bond was deeper than many would assume, a beta like a Luna was not a light task or title to bear. Both owed a responsibility and bond not only to the pack but to the alpha himself. Titles and ranks were not given out and couldn't be simply carried by any wolf, it had been a lesson for them all.

Luckily, Austin, Blair and the other men had all frozen at the bottom of the staircase as they took a few moments to take in the scene before them. This meant that Kaiden's only sister, 15 year old Ciera's, dramatic and excited attempt to fly at her brother's mate was momentarily interrupted. It did not however stop the shriek she let out at the sight of the other girl. Nor did they stop her from stubbornly pushing past the warriors and her brother's men as she attempted once again to throw herself at Aislinn. Arms spread wide while a huge grin broke over her face. Her determined rush was accompanied by another squeal of delight.

Thankfully Kaiden turned in time, and a quick lunge meant that between his arm snaking around her waist and Austin's hand wrapping around her wrist they managed to keep her from reaching her target.

"What's the matter with you two?" Ciera demanded as she turned to glare at her eldest brother and his beta, "I finally get a sister and you won't let me hug her! I get you get all possessive of you mate being an alpha and all bro, but come on I'm a girl. Not to mention your sister!" She let out with a pout.

Kaiden simply rolled his eyes at his sister before shooting a pointed look at his second, before turning back to his father to rebuke some point about restructuring borderline agreements.

"Ciera, Kaid said no one can touch her kay? It's not you, she just can't handle it. She's got a bad history so just work with her. When she's ready Kaiden will let you hug her all you want." Austin said trying to sooth the angry and disgruntled she-wolf Kaiden had left in his hands.

She turned her pout on him but when that didn't work she revolted to her tried and true pissed off glare, if it wasn't for the fact that he was under direct orders Austin had to admit he might have crumbled under her pressure, when he didn't though she finally gave in with an exaggerated eye roll and an overly dramatic dejected sigh, "Fine. I hear you! No touching. But he better! She's my first sister. An actual real live girl in this house! And I want her! I'm tired of all you boys! I blame you mother! Sons, sons, SONS! Couldn't have made one of them a girl! No had to be all boys! God I'm so outnumbered in this house!" ending her rant by turning her anger and glare on her mother who didn't even acknowledge her fuming teenage daughter who then proceeded to flounce out of the entryway in a huff leveling a final glare at her mother and brother.