I woke up in the morning with a mission. I am going to tell Lance today. Everything. Yesterday was a total disaster because I just didn't have time, but a tiny voice in my head is telling me I'm just stalling because I'm scared.

I am scared.

I'm scared of Lance's reaction. I'm scared of rejection.

But I need to stop running away. The only way I may be able to see my parents again is if I have Lance on my side.

As soon as I walk towards downstairs, I hear voices.

I sneak over above, and my entire body freezes in complete and utter terror as I realize who is in the living room right now.

My former Beta, Tim and Alpha Steven's Beta, John, are standing in front of Lance who is sitting down with Bo and Cole flanking beside him.

I've always hated them.

"The rumors are true then. Marik has joined Noctis Luna?" John's ugly voice is heard.

I hear a growl. "Be lucky Johnny Boy that you're safe in these lands by pack law," Bo sing-songs.

"Noctis Luna is the only pack I'll ever say I'm from," Cole says lowly.

"We're here on different matters," my former Beta, Tim, decides to speak up now. He takes a step forward and pulls out something, a photograph. "This is Ava Langston." My heart squeezes. That photograph is of me. Lance's face betrays nothing, but Bo gives a side way glance to his Alpha. "We must know if you have seen her or not. Protocol would be to return her to her pack since she has committed treason."

"And if I do not?" Lance asks slowly. My eyes widen. What is Lance doing?

Tim stiffens. "Then our Alphas would have to talk to you."

"We just hope you would contact our Alphas if you see her," John adds. He looks like he's about to bolt. "We don't want any trouble. I'm sure you would like to get justice for a pack member that committed treason to the highest order."

Seriously? Treason to the highest order? What was that? And this talk about respect made me want to puke my guts out. There was no respect on Steven's part when he killed Alpha Paxon's mate Vanessa.

"Our Alphas will come if they think you've seen her," Tim says.

"I'll be right here if they need me," Lance states, not looking in the least bit bothered. "You can see yourselves out of here." Lance gets up, and I'm starting to creep away. I need to get out of here. I was going to stay and tell Lance everything, but it was too late. Their safety was in jeopardy because of me. The Alphas would come here. Beta Tim and John even said as much.

I run to my room, and see any necessary items that I need to bring with me. Money being the most important thing. I needed to get out of here. Now. The how part would come later. I know I said that I wasn't going to run away, but this is too much. Too soon.

"You're running away again, aren't you?" a deep voice asks. Lance is at the doorway, leaning on the frame with his arms crossed, his blue eyes trained on me. Then he adds, "Ava." My name rolls off his tongue perfectly, and it made me wish he knew it sooner. But what is done is done. I can't change it.

I come to a complete halt. I take a step forward then backward, stuffing my hands in my jean shorts pockets. "It isn't you," I say, looking at his burning blue eyes that never left mine. "Staying here will only cause you trouble."

Lance tenses up then. "You're leaving so you won't cause trouble? How-"

"If I stay here, you'll get hurt-"

"Let me protect you!" his voice raises a hair, but I see the intensity of emotion in his eyes. He looks away then, clenching his perfect jaw and his jaw muscle ticks. "I will protect you- from anything."

The Betas told him that I was wanted for treason, but he didn't care.

"The two Alphas want to kill me," it just comes out of my mouth. It just feels nice to not be independent anymore. Hearing those words from Lance...maybe I just needed to hear those words all along.

Lance doesn't even flinch. "So?" he asks.

"So they'll come here and they'll ask for me and then something will happen to you-"

"Don't worry about me," Lance says lowly, his eyes snapping to mine. I see a hover of emotion in his eyes I can't discern. It looks to be almost tender.

"They won't stop to get me," I say shakily. He needs to know they want to kill me.

"I don't care. They won't get you. Not if I have to say anything about it." He wasn't even asking me why they wanted to kill me. For some reason, that made me want to just tear up and cry. Lance shakes his head, "That's all?" His face is slightly filled with relief. "You wanted to....protect me. Protect the pack." I look away from him as he takes another step forward, right in front of me, and cups my cheek with his hand, forcing me to look at him. "You say you would not be a good Luna, but this is what a Luna does. Puts her pack before anyone else. Puts me before anyone else as her mate."

"Someone has to," I whisper, and tears start to form in my eyes because I'm just so tired. Of everything. Lance's gaze softens, and he brings one hand to my waist, where I feel tingles, and he crushes me to his chest, enveloping me with his scent that reminds me of the beach mixed with a heavy mahogany teak-wood scent. He wraps both hands around me, and I feel the safest I have ever been and for once, I think that everything is going to be okay.

After sniffling, I know for sure my tears wet his shirt. "I'm sorry," I say, leaning back, looking at his shirt.

"There is nothing to be sorry for," he tells me gently. "Which pack did you come from-Trent's or Steven's?"

"Red Moon-Trent's," I nod. I sigh, and Lance instantly let's go as I take a step back, the warmth gone and I miss it already. I know I look like a hot mess, but it doesn't matter. I need to tell him everything. "There's more though why they want me." This was the biggest baggage of it all. "I overheard Steven and Trent talking about how Steven killed Alpha Paxon's mate Vanessa." I look up to see Lance in contemplation, absorbing this information.

He nods, "We'll talk to Alpha Paxon as soon as possible then."

"What if he doesn't believe me?" I ask. "It's my word against two Alphas."

Lance's hypnotic eyes study me. "This is why you didn't want to tell me sooner. You thought..." he shakes his head slightly, "you thought I wouldn't believe you." I purse my lips and nod smally. Lance lets out a hot breath. "I believe you. It would be something they would do."

"What do you mean?"

Lance responds, "Cole is an Alpha."

My mouth may have dropped to the ground. "What?!"

"He was the Alpha of Blood Tribe before Steven challenged him."

My mouth is still open, and I know it makes sense. Cole has a higher power around him than Bo. It makes sense. "H-how? I mean two Alphas in one pack? That's unheard of." Then again, Lance does things differently. It looks like it works. I would think if two Alphas are in one pack they'd try to kill each other, but with Cole and Lance - they trust each other. Lance cares about what Cole thinks and Cole thinks he's not the Alpha. They both compliment another really well.

"Steven challenged Cole for the Alpha position and won," Lance explains. "Of course, it was not fair play because Cole's mate poisoned him with silver beforehand. She was conspiring with Steven and wanted Steven to be the Alpha." My eyes widen. The scandal that involved Cole's pack was with his mate. His mate betraying him.

"How could you do that to your own mate?" I whisper. "If I ever see her I'd cut her." Poor Cole. I want to give him a huge hug right now.

Lance sighs, "More power? Cole doesn't know. He doesn't care about it now."

I wonder how much heart break it was for Cole to have his own mate betray him like that. To get kicked out of your own pack.

"Why doesn't Cole challenge Steven?" I ask, but as I'm saying this I realize it's dumb. What would Cole go back to?

"He thinks he has nothing there. Also, he is a part of Noctis Luna," Lance answers, "but he knows if he ever wants to roam free or go back, I will back him up His role in the pack is whatever he wishes. Same with Bo. Even though Bo likes the title of Beta, I don't like giving out ranks to anyone. Everyone in this pack is important."

My heart hurts for Cole. This guy keeps his emotions so in check you would think he's a robot. But maybe he's feeling too much. Felt too much.

I chew on my lip, "I need to explain to Bo and Cole and the rest about me."

"They'll understand," Lance says, looking at me like he figured something out but wasn't so sure about it. "I always knew you were hiding something...I just never wanted to push you into it. I thought you would tell me on your own time."

He did give me time. Typical mates, especially Alphas forced their mates to mark them on the spot. Lance gave me space. I'm so glad he did because my reaction to someone trying to yell "MINE" would be to slap him.

I swallow, "Thanks. I was going to tell you, you know." Lance looks up at me, curiously. "That day I fainted? I was going to your office to tell you who I was."

There was a tentative knock on the door.

"Hello, Alpha Lance, can I speak with...Ava?" Bo pokes his head in the room, looking serious which was a first for him. I know he trusted me, and I lied to him. I hurt him.

Lance nods, having a lingering look at me before he leaves, shutting the door so Bo and I are left.

"Bo-" I begin.

"I thought we were friends, ya know?" Bo frowns, crossing his arms.

"We are," I say. "I'm sorry."

"Sorry isn't going to cut it."

"I had two Alphas after me, they want to kill me." I pace around. "Look, Bo, you were probably the one I trust the most, it's just hard."

Bo frowns, "Ava, you have to know that Lance is your mate. I know you don't know him well, but know coming from me, I would bet my entire life that Lance would never let anything happen to you." My shoulder sagged. I felt another crying episode coming.

"I'm sorry," I say again. "Really, I am."

"Yeah yeah, there's only one way you'll earn my forgiveness."

My eyebrows furrow and my head shoots up to meet his eyes, "How?"

Bo gives me a huge grin, "In the next week convince Lance to get us a pool."