6am

Kaiden let a low groan as his eyes groggily took in the room in the pale early pre-dawn light. He let out a bark of laughter at the low muffled groan from under the mountain of pillows and blankets on the bed.

Olivia had refused to be separated from Aislinn for even the night. Who for her part had only begrudgingly agreed to sharing the bed with the woman after she realized the only way to actually get her out of the room would have been to physically touch her. It was a good tactic on Liv's part Kaiden thought and had to give it to the she-wolf she was a persistent and a resilient little thing. Of course Aislinn had taken one look at her spread eagle on the king sized bed and immediately had begun building a wall of thick pillows down the center of it. Kaiden couldn't help the roaring laugh he had let out as he watched the outraged and grumpy faces Olivia had made as she watched as his little mate had built an actual literal wall to keep her away. Richard had poked his head in the room at the sounds. After taking in the sight he had let out a single snort of amusement before a sharp glare from Aislinn had him coughing and removing his head from the room.

Kaiden let out a chuckle as Olivia's groans began to grow to muffled grumbles as her attempts to go back to sleep were heavily impeded by the fact that not only had Aislinn turned on every light and opened the thick curtains in the room but left the bathroom door wide open so that the sounds of the shower were loud and clear. Kaiden had a suspicion that none of it was accidental either. It looked like his mate was implementing a battle plan of revenge against the other woman. He chuckled again.

Leaning his head back against the pillow he let his mind wander as he listened to the sound of the running water. The full repercussions of yesterday's revelations still had yet to fully sink in. Kaiden would need to speak to his father at some point. It was not a conversation he was looking forward to. If what Richard said was true and his father was somehow involved with the murder of Aislinn's family ... his blood boiled at just the thought ... he didn't know what he would do. But he had a suspicion he might just kill the man.

He heard the shower shut off, looking to the clock. He read the red display, 6:20am exactly 15 minutes since it had first turned on.

Aislinn exited the bathroom her hair still damp, dressed in a pair of semi-clean black skinnies, a black loose V-neck tee and her black Keds. She looked at the other two in the room. Her mate was still lying on his make-shift bed on the sofa but appeared awake enough, so she let him go and decided to ignore him for the time being. Her attention focused on the other wolf. The one now buried beneath an actual mountain of blankets and pillows on the bed.

She felt a brief flash of amusement mixed with exasperation as she considered the she-wolf. She didn't know what she had done to attract the woman, and she really didn't know how to get rid of her. Apart from physically pulling her from the bed last night which she was loath to do she had been at a loss. She had never met someone who she hadn't been able to scare off or ignore out of attempting to try and be near her. It was infuriating!

Well time for a bit of pay-back, Aislinn considered as she took in the soft sounds of sleep.

She moved to the end of the bed grabbing the bottom of the sheets and duvet. Hearing a low chuckle from the sofa caused a strange feeling to erupt in her belly. Not liking what she thought those feelings meant she pushed them away refusing to acknowledge them.

Although she was happy that her obvious plan met his approval.

Pulling with everything she had she whipped the pile from the curled and sleeping frame.

The cold air instantly slapped her awake. With a girlish squeal Olivia sprang instantly awake the room's cooler air and violent attack pulling her from her warm comfort. Narrowing her eyes playfully at the culprit she let out a low growl. Aislinn was standing at the end of the bed the blankets pooled around her feet not even attempting to appear innocent as she looked at her with her cool grey eyes. Oh she was gonna get it! Olivia thought. It reminded her of her older sisters and her heart clenched. That is until she looked and saw the time, pulling out another growl from her throat as she eyed the menace. Was she insane! It was the middle of the night for crying out loud! Who woke up at this god forsaken hour?!

Letting out another playful growl Olivia didn't even have time to react before Kaiden was across the room. His large imposing and impressive frame placed between her and his mate. His face hard and threatening as he let out his own low growl.

At the sounds Richard was immediately through the door and instantly across it and flanking Kaiden cutting Aislinn off from her even more. He had moved faster than Olivia could even register. And then his own low-threatening growl was ripping through the air around her. His eyes were hard and dangerous as he watched while keeping half an eye on the rest of the room and the open doorway.

Olivia flinched back from the two towering frames her body instantly showing submission under their shows of dominance. Kaiden's blue eyes were flashing black with his wolf as he watched her on the bed.

"Do not threaten my mate." Kaiden said lowly his voice even but hard.

"I'm... I-I'm sorry" she stuttered fear instantly flooding her as her mind flashed reminders of the last time she was on a bed with angry males around her. The horrible images of the motel intermixed with reminders of how her old Alpha would deal with those who had pissed him off. Panicking her eyes flew around the room desperately searching for an escape route.

She was so engrossed in trying to flee the punishment she was sure was coming, her fear and panic so consuming she didn't even notice that both Kaiden and Richard had already backed off. Both had already forgotten their anger, the entire incident immediately dropped once she had submitted and no longer posed a threat. She didn't even notice that they were now speaking only of plans for a much needed morning food run.

"Richard!" Suddenly both men's heads snapped so they were looking at Aislinn, who was frozen with one of Kaiden's shirts in her hand that she had been packing as she stared daggers at her Guardian. Their expression turned to puzzlement as they both suddenly registered the feeling of annoyance that were coming from her.

"You old fool! The two of you terrified the girl! Seriously!? Was that really necessary? She wasn't going to hurt me you buffoon! Calm her down or knock her out! I don't care just do something before she passes out or snaps! I knew I'd regret this! You too broke her, you fix her!" she snapped, before returning to her packing and ignoring them all again.

Kaiden was positive though that he heard her continue to mutter to herself about 'overprotective, sensitive, wool headed, guardian nuisances'. He let out a chuckle at her childish pouting before turning towards the bed. He was genuinley surprised to find that Olivia was indeed in the middle of a full-blown panic attack.

"Sh*t!" he swore. Grimacing slightly at each other before both Richard and Kaiden turned and eyed the now shaking women on the bed.

Aislinn had smartly fled the room well before the waterfall of violent tears had started. Kaiden cursed her half-heartedly when he noticed her absence. And more than half-heartedly when Liv finally noticed it herself and started panicking all over again.

Two hours later they were all finally dressed and fed and all piling into the elevator. The doors barely closed before it started.

"So do we need to bow and stuff now?" Austin asked looking at Aislinn.

"Yeah and like do you like have a crown?" Blair added his face one of curiosity.

"Why don't you talk?"

"Do you have a palace?"

"How was your pack killed?"

"Why don't you eat meat? That's just weird!"

"How did you learn to fight like that?"

"Why do you have silver hair?"

"Can you make us knights?"

"Do you have a wolf?"

"What's it like being Queen?"

"Can we get tattoos like Richard?"

Blair, Austin and even Olivia fired questions at Aislinn so fast Kaiden could barely follow them all. She was standing near the front of the car, her back to the others. Her silvery hair hanging straight down her back in silky waves of metal. She didn't turn or acknowledge any of them, but with every question Kaiden felt her anger, annoyance and worst of all pain rise across the bond. Apparently so too did Richard because suddenly in the small confined space a deafening roar filled the air and he sprang forward so his body was blocking the sight of her from the others. The power and fury coming from him enough that the others took a step back crowding against the opposite walls of the elevator.

"What's your problem!?" Clayton asked finally speaking up his voice dripping with open animosity.

"Yeah, what the f*ck?" Austin was quick to add.

Which only caused another menacing growl to come from Richard.

"ENOUGH!" Kaiden own voice roared successfully cutting everyone off, "Austin, Blair! BACK. THE. FUCK. OFF. MY. MATE!" his voice was deadly as he stared his second and third down before they each looked down baring their necks in instant submission their faces flashing guilt.

"Clay stop antagonizing Richard. NOW!"

"They need to learn their place." Richard growled lowly still staring at the men his eyes pitch black and flashing with deadly intent.

"And they will. Now is not the time. They will leave Aislinn alone." He replied pointedly staring all three down as he spoke garnering nods from his friends.

"They speak of things they should not." Richard replied not backing down.

Kaiden let out a sigh it had only been a few seconds but they were now nearing the ground floor, he couldn't have this erupting in front of humans.

"They know now. They won't ask her anything else. They're just curious." He said calmly hoping Aislinn would step in and calm the man down like she had last night. When she didn't turn or speak as the doors dinged open he figured he was on his own with this one.

"They ask her nothing else unless she says its ok." Richard said more calmly now pulling his gaze off Austin and Blair to finally look at him waiting for a nod before exiting the elevator after Aislinn.

The rest followed out walking to the front where they waited for the valets to bring the two large black and tinted GMC Yukon Denali SUV's around. Everyone except Aislinn stood in awkward silence.

A groan had them all looking at Richard who was staring at the ground his arms crossed over his extremely wide and muscled chest. His biceps and triceps bursting out along his arms the strange and complicated tattoos that now covered his skin rippling from the motion. The black tee that had fit fine yesterday was now stretched to the max as the seam stretched to the limit by his now ridiculously chiseled and bulky frame. The power of the marks and the bond had finalized in the night and he now easily towered over all of the others, his arms as big as a normal man's thighs while his legs resembled tree trunks. His hair was still peppered with gray but his face and skin had lost the tinge of age, youth and strength now radiating from him.

"Fine. You can ask questions but there are rules." He finally spoke up on a sigh.

"Rules?" Austin asked.

"Yeah rules pup. And you'll stick to them unless you want me to rip your tongue outta your ass." Richard said seriously.

"Austin!" Kaid snapped at his second cutting off the reply he knew was about to fly from his mouth, not wanting another fight to erupt with so many humans around. He was already exhausted and it was only 8 in the morning, "Go on Richard and they will ALL follow your rules."

The Guardian held his stare before nodding. He then went back to watching their surroundings, his gaze never pausing as he stood protectively near Aislinn who had sunk to the ground before pulling out her sketch book leaning against the brick of the hotel.

"Rule 1, don't ask her questions. 2 Don't direct things to her. 3 Don't talk about her parents or pack. Don't ask about what happened 13 years ago. Don't ask where she has been or what happened to her. Don't tell anyone her identity. 7 do not mock her. 8 do not mock the crown or throne. Get angry or threaten her and I will destroy you. You upset her with anything you say and I will make you pay. Are we clear?"

Satisfied with their responses he nodded once before moving to open the passenger car door of the lead SUV that had just pulled up. Holding it open his eyes swept the interior of the vehicle, his senses reaching through it. Satisfied it was clear he leveled a menacing glare at the slow moving human valet still inside before holding it open for Aislinn to climb in.