I was restless. I paced back and forth in my room, I was sure I was going to wear a hole in the carpet. My brain was arguing with my wolf, the two had never been at odds before, but I refused to believe the words that my wolf continued to rumble in my head.

Mine. Mate.

I growled in frustration and tossed my desk across the room with one swift strike.

"No!" I growled and gripped my head.

Never will I take a Huntress, a Del Val for that matter, as a mate. I would deny her, break the bond and then break her pretty little neck.

My anger instantly cooled as my mind brought back memories of her neck. The soft, smooth skin that smelled of vanilla and something else that was uniquely hers. My body flushed and I was instantly enraged again by my body's response to her.

Luckily, a glass shattered down the hall, giving me a much needed break from the war that plagued my mind and body.

I swiftly stalked down the hall, my senses and keen ears leading me towards the kitchen. It was likely just a wolf raiding the fridge for a midnight snack, but I was going to check it out anyway.

I caught the scent of Mia before I reached the kitchen and smiled to myself. I stalked closer until I was leaning against the door frame, arms crossed in front of my chest, watching the little minx as she scampered around the kitchen.

She had completely destroyed the kitchen as she was making what looked like peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, one of her favorites.

"One of those are for me, right?"

She nearly tumbled off the stool she was standing on as I revealed my presence there.

"No, it's for my friend."

She said cooly and continued about her task like she didn't have a care in the world and like she wasn't supposed to be in bed at this hour. I wondered what friend she was talking about. Mia didn't have many friends, the other pups treated her like an outsider.

I stood there is silence and watched her as she shoved the sandwiches that she has made into a bag, along with some water. There was something else stuffed in the bag, but I couldn't see what it was. Maybe some bandages or pieces of cloth.

She jumped down from her stool and the bag landed on the floor with a plop. It was too heavy for her to pick up, so she drug it across the floor as she passed me.

"Need a hand with that?" I asked when she was directly beneath me, trying to push her way through.

"No, I've got it."

She never made eye contact and the fact that she was not spilling her guts to me, her best friend, had me on edge.

"You taking that to your friend?"

I asked as she continued to venture down the hall.

"Yes." She answered quietly.

"Are you going to tell me where you are going and who this friend is?" I asked never moving from the kitchen door.

"No, It's a secret."

I smiled and shook my head as she turned a corner and was completely out of my sight. I could scold her and make her get back to bed, but where was the fun in that? I let her get pretty far ahead of me. I knew I could track her scent easily.

I stalked into the night, taking my time to make sure she didn't smell me. She was within ear shot, so I could be next to her in seconds if she got into trouble. Her scent dulled slightly and I knew she had gone inside somewhere.

I picked up speed when I realized that she had gone into the dungeon. What would she be doing in there? Surely she did not view the huntress as a friend. I did not trust that woman, she had stabbed me in the heart the first chance she had got. It hadn't phased me much, but Mia was just a small pup.

I snatched open the door and descended the stairs two at a time.

"Papa Rook is here."

I heard Mia say before I reached the bottom. A growl vibrated my chest as I reached Mia and quickly swiped her up into my arms. I pulled her close to my chest and snarled a warning at the Huntress. She quickly scooted to the back of the wall, her eyes careful and calculating.

"Mia, she is a huntress, not a friend. Don't you know she could have hurt you?" I say with growl.

Mia blinked at me a few times and then looked back at the huntress. She then looked down at the sandwich she had dropped when I scooped her up so quickly. The sandwich laid in a hopeless clump on the cell floor. Mia's lip started to tremble and tiny tears ran down her cheek.

The Huntress rushed towards the bar, but a warning growl from me, stopped her in her tracks. She eyed me with disdain, but did not retreat.

"It's ok Mia, it's the thought that counts, not the sandwich. Thank you for making it for me, no one has made me a peanut butter and jelly sandwich in a very long time."

Mia sniffled, but after seeing the Huntress's sweet smile, she stopped crying. I myself was a little awe-struck by her smile. That fact pissed me off as well. I was not some foolish pup to be persuaded by a pretty smile.

"She's hungry, Papa Rook, and she is bleeding."

A fact that had not escaped my attention, but there wasn't anything I was going to do about either.

"She'll be fine, Mia. You are not to come down here anymore. I don't trust her ."

I turn towards the stairs with every intention of marching the little highness back to the house and putting her back to bed.

"Your just going to leave her like this, Papa Rook? I am very upset with you!"

Mia's lips jutted out into a pout and she crossed her little arms over her chest in a determined way.

A rumble of frustration vibrated my chest. With Mia, I knew when I had been beaten. That, and the fact that it gave me a good excuse to actually help the huntress without anyone questioning my motives.

I walked back over to the cell and unlocked the door.

"Come with me. But let me warn you, one wrong move on your part and I'll chew you in two." I snarled.

She seemed to be debating on whether or not to follow me, but eventually she carefully made her way out. Keeping as much distance from me as possible.

I marched up the stairs, still a little irritated that a pup was telling an alpha what to do.

I glanced back and saw that the huntress was having a hard time keeping up with my long strides with her injured ankle, so I slowed down.

Mia sat perched in my arms with a big smile on her face, I refused to look at her. I knew she was gloating over her victory.

"You did good, Papa Rook. She'll like you much more if you are nicer."

"Pipe down pipsqueak." I warned with a stern face.

Mia giggled and look back at the huntress. Her face instantly fell and I glanced back to see what the issue was.

"She's hurt really bad, Papa Rook, maybe you should carry her instead of me. You're very strong and she's not very big."

Both the huntress and myself scoffed at her suggestion. Our eyes met for a split second as we both told Mia no.

"We are almost there anyway." I tried to reason with Mia, but it was to no avail.

"Will you not carry her because she's not your mate. She could be you know." Mia said matter-of-factly.

"Mia, if you don't hush, I'm going to ground you until you are able to change." I growled low and Mia angrily crossed her arms over her chest and looked away from me.

"She can't change yet? Is that the case with all little ones?"

The Huntress finally directed a question to me. Mia opened her mouth to speak, but a stern look from me, had her staying her tongue. I knew this was a bad idea. We were already feeding the huntress information that she did not need to have.

I ignored her as we made our way into the main house. I pushed open my bedroom door and motioned for her to walk in first. She did so, but her every move was very cautious. She was smart to not trust us, because I sure as hell didn't trust her.

"The bathroom is through that door. Wash yourself up and take care of those cuts. You will find some clothes in that closet. You have until I return from putting this little one back to bed, Huntress." I said with a warning snarl.

"Evelyn. My name is Evelyn." She corrected me and walked towards the bathroom.

"A name you will not forget when I am through."

She said that last part so low, I'm sure she didn't know I heard it, but of course I did.