BOOM !

I hear the sound of an explosion coming from behind the pack house and suddenly an enormous cloud of dark black smoke appears through the window.

"Everything's fine !" I hear her voice and roll my eyes.

Off course.

'Be nice to your mate.' My wolf scolds me already worried and ready to act.

Steven, my new beta enters my office and my jaw hangs open as I see the state of his attire. His disheveled hair is darker than usual and I can smell it's burnt from where I sit, his shirt is torn on one side revealing reddened skin.

"It...koff koff" He starts to cough heavily, his eyes watering. "Nothing to worry about. Koff. Just a small hole in the wall. Koff."

I put my pen down and sigh before standing up.

"Lead the way." I instruct him waving my hand around in the general direction of the door.

I listen closely to the sounds around, no one is screaming in fear, no one is crying so it should be fine. And yet...

A small group has already gathered next to the training room trying to peer inside.

"Jordan ! Come here right now." Leo, his father hisses. "You too Sydney." He instructs and the two pups come running outside followed by five others.

They are fine, not a scratch. I try to reason with myself.

Everyone parts to let us pass and the murmurs start.

I ignore them and walk into the room, closing the door behind us. No need to have more onlookers. My eyes gaze around to the men gathered here, some of them sport reddened flesh and disheveled hair just like Steven. I keep looking around and freeze when they land on her. She's facing away from me, her long raven hair spread over her shoulders. I frown immediately as my eyes spot her torn and burnt cloths, revealing her stomach and the side of her right thigh. I can't control the jealousy coursing through me.

'Mine !' My wolf growls loudly in my head and I have difficulty keeping it contained as it wants to tear everyone's limbs apart that dares to even glance at her.

"Out." I order gritting my teeth.

"Yes Alpha." My men answer instantly and run out the door.

Hope slowly turns around and her eyes brighten as she sees me. My breath catches in my throat and I forget even my name. All thoughts fly through the window.

She's beautiful and the more I watch her the more I can't believe someone like her actually exists.

And she's mine.

How did that happen ? How did I get so lucky ? I never could have helped falling in love with her, but what is truly amazing is that she'd love me too. My heart starts hammering in my chest. I can feel the pull she has on me, my entire body is buzzing with need for her as she just stands there. Even her scent filling the room is enticing and I can feel my eyes glowing white. I'm still not used to the fact even after two month but she keeps saying she likes my eyes, they are different just like hers, so I guess I'm fine with it. I watch every detail of her face, the small beauty mark on her left cheek, her bright golden eyes piercing through my soul, her pink kissable lips.

I can't take my eyes off her, just like the first time I ever saw her, on the race tracks as she exited her car. She walked with so much confidence, her head held high. At first I could only see her back and I couldn't believe a girl beat me. Since then I've learned my lesson, I have lost enough times to know I don't stand a chance. Even her voice was melodious and sweet as she talked to Roger. When she finally turned around and I could see her face... I wanted her. I wanted her for myself right that second. I didn't understand why, or how and my wolf was just as unsettled as I was. When I didn't feel the bond I was so disappointed it surprised me. I had never questioned the Moon's choices before, but at that moment I wondered why I couldn't be blessed to worship a goddess like her. She wasn't afraid of me, not even once. It was so different from my men and the pack members. They respected me but they were scared of me, afraid I would lose control, I Always felt they didn't like my wolf. I didn't know how to handle her. She pushed me, leading me by the nose and I couldn't do a damn thing about it, She made me question myself instead of her.

It instantly felt like she belonged here. The pups loved her and even though the adults kept denying it they were all intrigued by her stories.

Hell ! I wanted to hear more of her stories.

The more I got to know her the more I wanted her to stay and seeing her talk to other men drove me crazy. Even if she was just greeting them in passing.

I always felt jealous of her relation with Jared, because she acted differently in front of him, she seemed more open around him. I never thought I would ever need to compete with anyone, for anything, I'm an alpha and I'm used to get what I want. But every time it was about him I was hit with doubt. At the time I thought he could offer her something I couldn't, because he had already lost her mate he could choose someone of his liking. To me being with her felt right just as much as it felt wrong. The first time I touched her I felt a jolt of electricity course through my body. And every time I touched her I wanted more. More, more, more. Always more. I don't think I'll ever stop wanting more. More of her smiles, more of her laughs, more of her joy, of her love.

She never knew about it but right before we left the pack I told Jared that he couldn't have her, that she was mine. Even if it was against the laws, even after he warned me that we would both get hurt the moment I found my mate, or she did. That thought alone drove me to the edge, imagining someone taking her away from me made me lose control. Jared never said anything else about it, he only assured me that he loved her like a sister and that his heart belonged to Jessica, his mate, even in death.

That's why it saddened me to see her so broken after he died, I felt like I hit a wall of brick when I lost him but seeing her so devastated almost made me lose control entirely. I felt powerless, useless, incapable of healing her in some way even though I wished to so damn much. How can I help when I'm just as broken.

The moment I saw her ready to leave, filling her bags, I felt so cold, so alone. I needed her. More than anything or anyone else I needed her. By then I was too far gone to ever be able to live without her. My mind went blank for a second as I panicked. I even let the thought of leaving with her run through my mind. I could have left everything behind for her, and I still could.

The night she asked me if I had any idea why my eyes were shining white, what changed, I lied. I told her I didn't know why. But I knew, because I could feel it somehow. Everything changed the moment I fell too deeply in love with her to ever turn back. It was the moment I chose her over any mate that would ever come. I chose her when my wolf kept arguing that he didn't feel the bond, I chose her because she was my hope. Because I couldn't think of anyone else and I knew I never could. I never would want to. Because the world didn't make any sense without her in it. Because I loved her and that was that.

I come back to reality, brought out of my memories, as I see her fidget on her spot, glancing discretely to her right. I start to frown. She's hiding something from me and I don't like it.

'Mates don't have secrets.' My wolf agrees.

"Nate," she acknowledges my presence and I shudder with those four simple letters.

My name. But it's her voice, her lips, that pronounce it. And it makes all the difference in the world.

"What are you doing here ?" She questions innocently, dusting her cloths as if nothing happened.

"Just wanted to check up on you." I answer simply, which isn't a lie because I always yearn to see her.

"I'm fine." She assures me walking sideways, taking one step at the time towards a sort of bench on her right.

She tries to throw a sweatshirt on it but by now I am more than suspicious and walk directly next to her, pulling the book she tried to hide under it. I pale as I see what it is.

"Are you kidding me ?" My voice wavers as I flip through the pages of a Dragon Ball Z volume.

I look around the room once again, inspecting the round burns on the wall, remembering the state of my men, the state of her cloths.

"Did you actually try to do a Kamehameha in my training room ?" I ask incredulous.

"No." She answers seriously but can't help the smile stretching her lips, before starting to laugh uncontrollably, the sound filling the empty room. "I have to say I'm impressed you actually know what it is." She smirks and I roll my eyes.

"So, did you succeed ?" I question crossing my arms over my chest.

"Almost." She tells me proudly.

'This mate is crazy.'

Right ?!

'I kind of want to see it too though.'

Not you too !

'I know you're curious too so don't pretend otherwise.' My wolf mocks me.

Am I the only sane one ?

'You need to lighten up dude.'

Dude ?

"Did you finish your bags ?" Hope tries to change the subject and it works.

"Ready to go when you are." I tell her nodding.

"Alright. I'll just go change."

"I can help you with that." I tell her and this time it's my turn to smirk.

Her eyes shine a bright red as she raised her brow.

"You can ?"

I make a step towards her and she jumps back.

"Alright, alright, I believe you." She giggles. "I'll be outside in five minutes." She declares before hurrying outside.

I'm tempted to follow her upstairs but we have already delayed our flight for three weeks and if we don't leave today I don't think we'll be able to before at least half a year has passed. I wait for her outside next to her car, my bags already in the trunk. Off course she refused to take anything but her car. I don't know why I was even surprised.

I can't wait for us to leave.

Alone.

For. Five. Days.

I shouldn't be so happy about leaving the pack house but I am. It's the first time ever we will be completely alone for a few days.

Just me and my Queen.

'Mate' My wolf coughs to correct me.

Same thing.

'Next you'll say she's a goddess.'

Isn't she ?

'...'

Thought so.

'This relationship isn't healthy, I'm telling you. She never said you were her king or anything of the likes.'

I see movement through my room's window and the next thing I know Hope is jumping out of it, her bags in hands.

"Because walking normally through the door would have been too difficult." I grumble rolling my eyes.

"Reminds me of old times." She shrugs, a smile appearing on her face.

"Only you would jump out windows, in the middle of the night in someone else's pack house when they clearly told you to stay put." I laugh.

"Someone is clearly a stalker."

I dont comment on it.

'You were.'

I was.

'Aren't you still ?'

For the Moon's sake, aren't I her mate ? Aren't I allowed to look at her or know where she goes ?

'Stalker.'

"Are you ready ?" I ask, fed up with the both of them.

I shouldn't have to justify myself.

"Yep ! I'm finally going home."

"This is your home." I tell her softly, not sure this trip is such a good idea anymore.

She finally agreed to officially move in with me and we are only going to New York to bring her stuff back here.

"You are my home." She replies easily and my heart misses a bit. "You have people to take care of and I love them too. But I've spent more than three decades there New York."

"You can't leave me." I tell her on edge.

Maybe it's not too late to lock her in our room.

She comes close to me and lifts her hand to graze against my cheek, smiling gently. I close my eyes instinctively and push my face against her fingers.

"I won't leave you. But I want you to see my world. I want to share that with you."

"Okay."

"And I want to be just the two of us for a little while." She adds mischievously.

"Alright ! Let's go !" I exclaim already sitting in the passenger seat.

The ride to the airport is quick and this time around she actually chooses to sit next to me on the flight even if it means flying in second class.

"I still think first class is better." She grumbles wrinkling her nose in distaste as a baby keeps crying two rows in front of us and a man is sniffling right next to me. At first she was sitting next to him but he kept looking at her and eyeing her chest so I had no choice really. Either we exchanged seats or I killed someone.

'I still think the second option was better.'

I let my hand rest on her leg to calm her down. It works immediately, like magic.

For three seconds.

And then I don't want to be on this plane anymore. My fingers burn me as I feel the heat of her skin through her jeans. I feel restless and my wolf isn't helping.

'Puppies ! Puppies ! Puppies !'

I ain't having no puppies and especially not right now.

'Puppies ! Puppies ! PUPPIES !'

No, no, no. It's already hard enough to find time to spend with her as it is, I'm not adding a kid to the equation. Not for the next ten years at least. Just her.

'... I have no words... your are simply insane.'

Nothing new here.

'You won't be able to say the same thing as soon as she shows you her boo-'

Don't even think of finishing that sentence. I warn my wolf.

'Buzz kill. She's my mate too.'

"So." I ignore my beast once again. "What do you have in mind for the next couple of days ?"

"We'll just walk around." She shrugs absentmindedly.

My hand slides up her thigh of its own accord and I curse myself inwardly.

This is pure torture.

"Maybe we should start with a tour of my apartment." She suggests breathless.

"Great idea." I agree with way too much enthusiasm.

The tour consists of a straight line to her bedroom and I'm not complaining about it. I am more than happy to kiss every inch of her skin and worship every square of her body.

She's right, home is where she is. I feel at home when she is peacefully sleeping in my arms, her head pressed against my chest, her hair spread across my skin, her hand resting over my heart. My hand draws soothing circles on her back and I can almost feel her purr in satisfaction.

It makes me smile. Only I can make her happy. She's mine like I am hers and it won't ever change.

"I love you." I tell her, my lips brushing the top of her head.

"I know." She says and I can hear the smile in her voice.

"And ?" I push.

"It's a given because I'm awesome."

I pinch her thigh softly.

"And ?"

"You can't live without me ?"

I roll my eyes at that one even though it's true.

"And ?"

'Give up man.'

She lifts herself up on her elbows, the sheets falling down and revealing her mark. I can't help my fingers from grazing it lovingly. Half of it is the mark of the Moon and the other half is that of the Sun. Just like mine. And it's perfect. Just like her.

Her eyes pierce through mine.

"And I'm in love with you Nate." She tells me sincerely. "I love you because of who you are. And I'm going to love you for the rest of my life. You are the man I want to spend the rest of my days with, I want to grow old with you and be happy. Just happy. I want to be your strength like you are mine. I want to wake up every morning and fall asleep every night in your arms. I want to laugh over the simplest things and build a family together." She finishes excitedly.

"I like that idea." I smile seeing the little girl with eyes of gold and raven hair just like her mom.