Once I woke up I felt tired and groggy. But worst of all, I felt sick. Memories of the night before came flooding into memory. I sat up and looked around, hoping to see Luca but he wasn't there. The door was still open the same way from when he left me too. I got off the bed slowly, carefully because of my still healing stitches. I walked to the bathroom and went to the mirror. I whimpered softly at the sight. My eyes were red, I still had the bandage on my cheek and tear marks were left on my face. My messy hair didn't help my image either. I tried to fix my hair and I cleared my throat softly. I walked back out of the bathroom and went to the window, looking outside to see the time. I whimpered softly. It was close to noon. It was close to the time where I would have to face Alpha Zeek and let him kick me out again. To go back to my normal life on the streets.

I walked from the window, around the bed and to the 2 giant glass doors that opened to the balcony. I opened the doors, closing my eyes as the wind hit me. I walked onto the balcony and walked straight to the railing, looking down at how far the ground was away. I looked around, contemplating it but I stopped and shook my head. No. Alpha Zeek would be furious if I was to jump and it would be worse if I survived because he would punish me badly. I turned from the balcony and prepared to walk into the room.

I gasped and my eyes widened when I saw Luca walk in. I wanted to run to him and hug him. I wanted to apologize to him. I should never have told him about my past. But I didn't run to him. I didn't move. I took a deep breath and cleared my throat to get his attention. His eyes snapped to mine as he stopped fixing his shoes and he stared at me as he straightened out to stand properly. I and he didn't move. We stood staring at each other for what could have been an eternity before he started moving. He walked around the bed to where I was standing at the entrance to the balcony. He stared down at me, not moving until I made the first move.

I moved my hand to touch his arm softly. Without a word from him or myself, he suddenly hugged me to him with both arms. He pulled me close and kissed me softly. My eyes widened but they instantly closed as I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him back. As we both pulled back my eyes slowly fluttered open to stare up at him. He pressed his forehead against mine and hugged me closer to his body since he was bent over. He held my waist with one hand while the other held my head in place with his. My hands slowly moved to his shoulders and I whimpered.

"Luca I thought you hated me-"

"I will never hate you, Lynn. You had no control over your past. I just had to have some time to think. It was, after all, a lot to take in. I woke up this morning and I just knew I needed to be with you. I needed to have you in my arms as soon as possible. Lynn, I never want to leave you. Never again Lynn. Lynn...I love you," What he said made me into another crying mess. I sobbed happily and smiled at him. Luca smiled down at me and moved his hand on my hip, up my side and to my face to wipe away my tears. "Lynn that's why I need to know now. Do you love me too? Do you want to be with me? If you don't, it's okay. I can talk with Zeek to get you into a nicer place to stay and-"

I just him off by pressing my lips to his. I felt as he relaxed and kissed me back, putting his hand back on my waist again. He pulled away too soon and it made me whimper slightly but as I opened my eyes and looked at him I couldn't help the smile coming on my face at his. He had his lips pulled into a smirk and an eyebrow raised.

"Alright good enough answer," he joked. I let out a laugh as he straightened myself and him out. I smiled up at him and hugged him tightly. He hugged me back just as tightly as I heard large wings flap behind me. Luca instantly ripped away from me and backed up, a look of fear in his eyes. I turned to look behind me and laughed when I saw Queen Toothfull perched on the railing of the balcony. She looked down at me then flicked her ear. I stepped closer to talk with her but yelped when I was suddenly pulled back by Luca who shifted to his fox and snarled up at the dragon. Queen Toothfull didn't look angry or offended. She looked more amused as she watched Luca's angry fox. She let out a snort and suddenly Valley's head popped up from behind Queen Toothfull's.

"Boy you better move the fuck outta my way before I blast you into Hell," she snapped at him as Queen Toothfull bent her head down with a hiss. Luca's eyes widened and he shifted back to his human form. I giggled at him and grabbed his arm gently as I walked in front of him again. I bowed to both Queen Toothfull and Valley.

"Hello, my queens," I said and could hear as Valley got off of Queen Toothfull's back, landing on the balcony. She raised me up off the ground and patted my head.

"Don't bow to us kid. Well, Toothfull maybe but I ain't queen yet so save your back pain. I and Toothfull were sent to tell you that your meeting with Zeek is soon and he doesn't like to wait," she said with a small smile. She slowly frowned down at me as she looked to my neck, "and since it seems like you're not marked, you'll be heading back to the apartment," she said unhappily with a sigh. "Sorry Lynn. You know I've been trying for years to get you a better place than that. But I can't do anymore. Zeek's already pissed off with me about fighting with him about it all the time," she said as she jumped back onto Queen Toothfull. Queen Toothfull let out a soft growl then slowly started to tip backwards off the railing until she was falling. I ran to the railing with a yelp of fear for the dragon and Valley but let out a sigh of relief as Queen Toothfull's wings caught the air and she flew up into the sky. I turned to looked at Luca and put on a fake smile. Luca walked towards me and hugged me tightly.

"I won't let him take you away from me. You belong with me," he said softly although me and him both knew there was only one thing that could keep me with Luca. He would have to mark me. Even the thought scared me. Luca would never be able to do anything with anyone else and he would be stuck with me for the rest of his life. I didn't want to force that on him. I slowly pulled away from Luca's hug and stared up into his eyes. I searched for any sign of disgust or hate but I couldn't find one, only seeing love in his eyes, so I made my decision. I pushed past him slowly and walked into our room, going to the bathroom.

"Lynn? What's going on?" I could hear him following me into the room but didn't go into the bathroom with me. I opened one of the small drawers and grabbed a tin key. I walked back into the room and looked straight at Luca. His eyes widened as he watched me lift the key to the collar around my neck. I reached back, put the key in place and the collar clicked as it fell to the ground. I looked back to Luca and my eyes widened. His eyes had grown darker, his pupils blown out. Within seconds, he was in front of me and staring down at me. He cleared his throat before he spoke.

"Lynn are you sure?" he asked me in a husky voice that sent a shiver down my spine. As soon as I nodded, he bent his head down, grabbing my arm as he pulled me close. I screamed when I felt the teeth sink into the scent glands on the right side of my neck. Tears flowed down my cheeks as I took in deep breaths to breathe out the pain although it didn't last long. Luca pulled his teeth away and I shivered as I felt his tongue go over the bite mark. The pain changed into pleasure as he kept licking way the blood and the bite became a mark. I smiled softly and clutched at Luca's shoulders tightly. Luca slowly pulled away from me and kissed my face all over. I let out a laugh and hugged Luca tightly. Luca pulled away from the hug and pressed his forehead to mine.

"Mine. You're all mine. My mate," he mumbled softly and I giggled, nodding.

"All yours Luca," I said softly and hugged him tighter, confirming what he wanted to hear. I leaned close to his neck where his scent glands were, then bit into him. I let my teeth sink in until I felt him groan against my shoulder from the pain. I pulled away and licked away the blood before it fell anywhere. I smiled as my small bite slowly turned into a mark on his neck, the same as he gave me, "and now you're mine," I said softly with a small smirk of my own.

He clutched me tightly and kissed my head softly then pulled away again. He grabbed my hand softly in his then we left the room. We walked out and headed downstairs. As we stood at the door to the throne room my heart started to race. Luca glanced down at me and it caused me to look up at him. I jumped when I suddenly heard his voice in my head.

'Lynn calm down. Everythings going to be fine,' he told me then smirked when he saw my shocked face, 'Lynn it's called a mate bond. Only we can do this. Well, your whole pack can do this but I just think they didn't ever let you join. Don't worry though. I'm right here,' he said softly as he squeezed my hand. I took a deep breath again and walked into the throne room with Luca at my side. As soon as I walked in Alpha Zeek took notice and snarled loudly. I bowed my head down and whimpered loudly in submission. Luca stood in front of me in a protective way again and he growled back at Alpha Zeek.

"So you actually chose to mark him? Did he tell you about his past?" Alpha Zeek asked with a large smirk on his face. I whimpered softly in fear. Was there something I didn't know? Luca snarled softly.

"Yes he told me everything and it's taking everything in me not to kill you, your son and everyone in this stupid fucking pack," Luca snapped with a loud growl as he kept me behind him protectively. I grabbed onto his side and arm in fear while poking my head out to the side to watch Alpha Zeek carefully. Alpha Zeek glared at Luca then turned to look at me. I instantly bowed my head and didn't move under his gaze. Alpha Zeek let out a snort then turned to Luca.

"Alright, you can keep him. But-wait what? Oh...Oh! Ohhhh, I understand," Alpha Zeek raised an eyebrow than a smirk suddenly grew on his face again, "Lurch is not just my son you know? He did have a mother." Alpha Zeek said as he stared down at me. I was confused by what he meant but Luca must have understood because I could feel him freeze. I stepped up beside Luca and looked at him with a whimper.

"Luca? Luca, what is it? I don't understand," I said softly for only him to hear. Luca looked at me and frowned.

"Did you know? Did you know but not tell me? Were you hiding this from me?" Luca asked and I could sense the anger in his voice. I whimpered loudly again.

"Luca, I don't understand what you mean!" I exclaimed and grabbed Luca's arm in a desperate plea for him not to be mad. I turned as the door behind me opened, Beta Zack and Lurch walking into the room. Beta Zack sat beside Alpha Zeek in the chair beside him as Lurch took the other chair. Lurch looked different since half of his face was ripped up, 3 claw marks on the left side of his face and he only had one green eye left. He must have been in a gruesome fight since the last time I saw him. I turned my attention back to the matter at hand again. Alpha Zeek looked to Lurch and smirked, gesturing towards me so Lurch would turn his attention to me at Luca's side.

"Lurch, your birth name is Rector. And I would like to introduce you to your birth mother, Lynn."