Leslie grips my hand tightly as we approach the packhouse, our SUV already waiting for us to load them up and get the hell out of dodge. The rest of our coven and the other packs had left before I'd even awoken, leaving us as the only guests left on their lands. Along with the stubborn Lycan, of course. By now I was supremely sure we'd overstayed our welcome, and the thought of getting in the car with Leslie to begin our trip home was more exciting than I'd like to admit.

Peace. Quiet. No psychotic Lycans to ruin my day from here on out. Hopefully, he'd find another female to mark soon, the thought hurt but it would be better for both of us.

"Sweet babies, I'm ready to be home. My bed and those cute college boys are calling my name." I lightly shove her, a laugh escaping me at her stupidity. "We can even stop by the café and grab a whole cake once we get back."

I groan at the thought, already tasting the sweet chocolate that I craved. Her sing-song laughter fills the air around us, our spirits rising even higher as we walk into the house and begin to ascend the stairs. Leslie seemed more like herself this morning, after having slept for a day she no longer held that fearful worry in her eyes.

We part ways as I make my way into the room, I'd been staying in. The smell of a certain male taking my mood and making it plummet as I do my best to hurry with my packing. After my dreams from this morning, he'd left his normal spot in the snow, and by the time I'd looked outside again the place had been covered in snow. I push away the irritation that he would leave me so easily, but I'm well aware I've made his life a living hell since our meeting.

I couldn't blame him entirely, and as my thoughts slowly became more rational, I understood his pain but didn't have any thought in helping him through it. The quicker we separated, the easier it would be for him to move on. Although, I did hold a little worry about what the distance would do this time around as I didn't want the fire to return while I was a whole day into our journey.

"The bond won't let you stay apart forever." I curse, swinging around to face the wolf who'd just scared the life from me. The Luna smiles at me, but the pity in her eyes only piss me off as I continue with my original task. The quicker I left, the faster I got away from all of the beasts who believed in love much deeper than I could ever understand.

"Why do you think that have you experienced it yourself?" I question, trying to throw her off. She needs to see that this is not everything there is to our lives, that being alone can be just as meaningful as being with a mate. Your life is meant for you. Not another.

"Oh no, I'd never let my male leave me here without a very good reason and so far, there's never been anything that required him without me. But your bond and mine are very different, Eira. You already know that." The female gives me a few moments to think over her words, and when it's clear I won't be replying she decides to continue. "Yours will be stronger, needier than any other as you aren't mated to a wolf or even another vampire. He's a Lycan, one that's waited centuries to be with you and that is the kind of thing that our Moon takes seriously. She'd never let you leave him, not this easily anyways."

I finally decide to face her, to give her my full attention as I lean against the wall and motion for her to carry on.

"What exactly do you believe is going to happen if I don't follow the course your supposed Moon has set for me?" She shrugs, moving to take a seat on the already made bed with a smile.

"My guess? It's going to tear you apart, mentally and physically. My mate and I did a little investigating, and we've determined that if you fully mate with Alarik there will be changes on your end. We of course don't know what kind, but they'll begin appearing before you make it official as well. If you get stuck with those while he's not within a decent radius then I don't think you'll survive, and if you do it'll only be with an endless amount of pain.

You're bound to the most powerful male on this Earth, there must be a reason for that, and you don't seem to understand that when the Moon sets something into motion it won't stop easily. Leaving, just abandoning him won't fix anything for you. You need to go with him, try to get out of the bond but do it at his pack. Play along for a bit, do what you must until you find a better way to obtain your freedom.

Otherwise, you're going to lose. The Moon doesn't give up just because a stubborn vampire doesn't like the man who bit her."

"

I know she's right. Every word is a truth that I've been trying to turn a blind eye to but now that it's out in the open I see the full extent of my problems. She was right, the denying of our bond to such a serious degree could send me into madness, and then all my fighting would be worth nothing. I'd be entirely useless. I've seen a wolf reject the bond, and how hard it is on them, but I'd assumed it would be different.

When a vampire has rejected the bond it only ever hurts the wolf, as our species can so easily turn off humanity. Yet this is different. I'm not bound to a simple wolf, oh no. Of course, I had to find the most hardheaded man on Earth to be my mate and make it to where I could never leave him.

I'd already experienced slight pains from being without the savage that I'd secretly been missing. Had I never come here, never attacked those rogues and made him make an impossible choice this wouldn't have happened.

I'd be running my coven, enjoying my life of freedom. Of course, I can't turn back time, no matter how much I wish I could.

"You're right, Mable. I don't want this bond, but I can't pretend it won't force its way into my life one way or another. I'll have to stick with him until I can find a way to safely end it." I feel defeated as I admit my realization to her, and as I begin making my way downstairs with my bags in hand my stomach is rolling.

I'm well aware that in the next few minutes I'll be faced with a very pissed off vampire and a smug Lycan. Neither of which excited me.

-----------------------------

After I have Bowers call the Lycan to meet us outside we all stand in awkward silence. Leslie is brooding behind me, now and then she'll release a murmured threat against the male taking me from her. Each one receives an eye roll from me. I was less than okay with handing myself over to Alarik on a silver platter, but it had to be done. That fact didn't make it any easier, however.

I'm trying to hide the nerves working inside of me, reminding myself that I've faced more difficult challenges in my centuries of life, but the steady tap of my foot gives way to my worrisome thoughts. Just another mountain to climb, I try to remind myself. But it isn't just some large hill, it's one made of teeth and manliness that have my panties wet just thinking about him.

Stupid Lycan.

My fists clench as I watch the dangerous beast break the tree line, and I can tell he's working hard not to come barreling towards me to steal me away. Little does he know he's about to be handed everything he wants. Alarik has dressed in his gear again, my watering mouth almost embarrassing as I access the sexiness that supposedly belongs to me. Thick thighs moving into a powerful torso and the most handsome of faces have my teeth begging to sink into him.

The look in his eyes shows he's confused by this meeting, as he had expected me to leave without saying goodbye. His scent dances around me, pulling me into a trance as I ache to taste him once more. Every inch of his body beneath my tongue would be Heaven, even if knowing I'd be with him for the foreseeable future would practically be hell. Soon enough he's within five feet of me, and if I was one of those furry creatures I'd be howling in excitement. I can feel the steam coming from Leslie, and the smugness coming from the two wolves beside me.

Finally, after a few minutes of staring, I speak.

"I feed off male humans, not females, so we need enough of them to feed me at least twice a week and bags in the fridge. You can't restrict me to house, or my contact with others and I can leave anytime I want. You are to keep your hands and your teeth to yourself." I watch as the different expressions move over him, first confusion and then understanding as the realization hits him. "Plus, I want my room."

Alarik stares at me, his mouth opens a bit as my words settle into him and his breathing becomes heavier with each inhale of my scent. His eyes flash from one color to another, telling me he's communicating with the beast inside as he barely composes himself.

"Don't look so happy, furry man. She won't be there forever so just enjoy this while it lasts." Leslie spits at him, and I'm almost embarrassed for her lack of good name-calling. She seems to amuse the Lycan however, bringing a small smile to his lips.

"I'll give you everything." I nod, pleased that my terms are being met. "Except for the room, my pack is a lot different than this one, and to not be in the same quarters as my mate would not only put us both at risk but also put me in a position to be questioned." My jaw clenches at his explanation but I give him another show of agreement. I didn't like it, but I understood.

"Let's go, I'd prefer we get on the road as soon as possible." My grouchy reply only puts a boyish grin on his face, his stance changing into an almost giddy demeanor. He doesn't realize that his happiness is costing me my own, or he does and doesn't care. My lack of returning a smile causes him to falter, but he's spinning around and sprinting towards the woods before another word is said.

I note that the distance growing between us is causing an uncomfortable weight in my chest.

"Let's decapitate him, keep the head close to you. We can even get you a cute little bag to keep him in so that you can remain with me." I throw a look over my shoulder, almost amused by the lengths she was willing to go.

"Doing that would probably kill me, and then you'd have even less of me." She glares at me, my reply did nothing to comfort the woman I'd spent so many years besides. I try to remind myself that this wasn't going to be forever and that eventually I'd walk into our home with cake and wine and we'd go back to normal.

Something inside of me tells me my hope is a wasted emotion, but I ignore it. Ignorance is usually the better way to be.

"Be careful once you've entered their territory, Eira. Lycans will be different than we are, more aggressive, and certainly a lot harder to win over. You'll have a target on your back the moment you step foot on their land, any custom you decide not to follow will hold consequences. Ones that not even their Alpha, your mate, can avoid." The Alpha's warning is clear, not a threat but a genuine explanation of what I'm about to walk into. I reply with a simple nod.

Leslie eventually moves closer to me while we wait, grabbing my hand and leaning her head on my shoulder as small sniffles escape her. It's very clear which one of us shows our emotion better. When Alarik pulls up to the packhouse in an oversized truck I'm confused, as I'd been sure these creatures had arrived on foot. Not in trucks tall enough for me to need a step stool.

Yee yee, I suppose.

Alarik jumps out quickly, hitting the ground with a loud thud before making his way over to me and grabbing my bag. I don't have time to move as he leans down and places a gentle kiss on my forehead, giving me a cheeky grin as he proceeds to haul my stuff into the back of his truck. My face is stuck in a shocked expression, my core burning with need after the small bit of contact.

That was the cutest thing any man has ever done, and I'm pissed about it.

Instead of standing there looking like a fool any longer, I turn and pull my friend into a forceful hug. We stand there for a moment before I pull away and move to say goodbye to the wolves, I'd grown to hate a little less while being here. I kiss each on the cheek before giving a small nod of my head, a sign of respect that I didn't give often.

"Thank you for having me and my coven here, I'm sorry to have overstayed my welcome but feel free to call me if you need anything in return. I owe you both. Tell Noah I can't wait to visit his pack again." Bowers gives me a strong laugh but nods and returns my affection as he wishes me well.

"Stay safe, Vampire. Give him a chance." Mable murmurs in my ear, I pull away surprised before making my way to the truck I'd do anything to not get into. When I look back, I smile at my friend, I can hear Alarik getting in and buckling up for the road ahead. I straighten my back and have my two fingers move to meet my forehead, then give her a dramatic solute that sends her into a rage of tears.

"Get out of here before I kill him!" She sobs, throwing her hands up before being led into the packhouse by a concerned Luna.

Oh, how I love the woman, no matter how emotional she may be. It felt nice knowing someone cared about me so deeply.

"Let's go before I do change my mind." My words kick him into gear, and once I'm buckled in, we're speeding away from the packhouse. I keep my arms crossed and press my body against the door as I do my best to ignore the electric current moving between us.

This was sure to be a lengthy visit.