I smiled as I stared down at my family from the top of the stairs.

I felt Valor's familiar arms glide over my hips as he held me against him, planting a kiss on his mark.

I turned, smirking at his display of affection.

"You are so persistent." I whispered to him.

"I will forever remind you of how loved and appreciated you are." He answered.

I smiled at his words as we walked downstairs.

"Holy shit!" I heard in my mother's voice.

I turned in confusion as she pointed at me.

"What happened to your hair?!" She asked.

"I'm not quite sure. I shifted and my wolf was black and I guess my hair is too." I said.

"Damn, I've never realized how much you look like Dad." James whispered.

I chuckled as Valor pulled me under his arm.

"I think she looks even more stunning." Valor voiced.

I smiled as I sat with him in the couch, my mother handing Ava back to me and I held her, her big eyes opening as I smoothed the pad of my thumb over her cheek.

"She looks so much like you. So beautiful." I told Valor as I stared down at our daughter.

"I hope she has your spirit. She'll be unstoppable in the pursuit of what she loves." He said.

I kissed his lips softly and he stood up.

"Where has Pierre and Kieran gone?" Valor asked.

I noticed all the men were gone and I was confused.

"Ugh, they swore they saw a man outside the window. They went to go check it out." My mother said rolling her eyes.

I stared at Valor and he made to move, when suddenly the glass door to the patio shattered and I heard Valor's hiss.

I clutched Ava, covering her from any of the glass that rained as the windows of the house continued to break and just as soon as it began it was over.

I looked up, frozen as I saw Valor clutching his arm, but it wasn't a bullet that had hit him, it was a dart and he plucked it from his arm, bringing the tiny glass vile to his nose, his eyes darkening as he tossed it to the side and gripped his arm.

"You all need to get away from me. Tie me down, anything." He whispered, backing himself against the wall.

I was confused but, a gust of wind drafted through the door, and the scent hit me.

Human blood.

"Upstairs. Now. Go! Lock yourselves inside our bathroom!" I ordered as I kissed Ava's head and handed her to Raven.

She nodded and immediately went upstairs, my mother, Aunt Alina, Giselle, and Lily hesitated.

"Go! Now." I hissed as I watched Valor slide down against the wall, hissing as he clenched his fist, his guttural instincts beginning to take over.

"He'll kill you Willow!" My mother growled.

"Giselle. Take her upstairs, please. I'll be okay." I said.

Giselle nodded and she gripped my mothers hand, despite my mother's best efforts to get out of her grip.

It was quiet and when I turned to look at Valor, he was no longer there.

I heard a deep chuckle, turning to see Valor watching me, his eyes black as night.

I knew in whatever he was going to do, he was going to be relentless.

It was Valor. Whatever he did, he did to the best of his ability, what I didn't expect was the scent that floated around him, it was unmistakable.

Pure lust, and I found myself immediately nervous.

"What's your name?" He asked in a deep throaty voice.

"Valor?" I asked trying to gauge his understanding of who I was and as far as I could tell he had no idea who I was.

"Oh, darling, I asked for yours, not mine, but if you'd prefer to keep it to yourself, I'm perfectly okay with that as long as you share other parts of yourself." He said, his eyes dropping down to my chest as his tongue darted over his lip.

Valor walked toward me and I didn't move as he gripped my jaw with his hand, his lips planting an opened mouth kiss at the base of my neck.

He inhaled as he pulled away.

"You're marked. I hope he won't mind if I have a little fun with you. " he said, his fangs on full display.

He gripped me by the arms roughly, tugging me against him as his face neared mine, centimeters away as he rubbed his nose against my neck, kissing it as he worked his away up my jaw, his hands working their way down as they landed on my backside and he made a growl like hiss as he gripped it in his hands, and it was only when he ground himself against me that I noticed his arousal.

I had expected Valor to be aggressive and uncontrollable, but definitely not like this.

I gasped as he sucked my lower lip into is mouth and he kissed me firmly as his hands moved around my thighs and up my front, his touch causing me to go weak in the knees, it was rough, but my wolf was intrigued at her mates unruly behavior that was so out of character.

He moved me, guiding me to the kitchen with my back turned as we kissed, his hand now at the base of my throat.

We were near the counter when he broke our kiss, spinning me around as he bent me over the counter in one fluid motion.

I felt him grip the fabric of my shirt, ripping it with ease and tossing it to the side.

I felt his hand smooth down the curvature of my back, leaving a trail of hot fire that had me waiting in anticipation.

I nearly jumped when his hand slapped my butt.

"Val-

"Shh..." He said as he cut me off.

I felt his hand fist in my hair lightly as he raised me up from the counter, his other hand smoothing up my stomach and gripping my breast.

I could feel him behind me, his hands began moving to my pants, tugging them down in one quick motion.

I knew this wasn't Valor, but my body responded as if it were, and I found myself craving him.

"I can smell how much you want me. It's so...inviting." He whispered in my ear.

A flash of movement in the patio door caught my eye, my ears able to pick up the crunch of glass as someone hustled by.

I knew it had to be either Cassius or Pierre by how fast it was.

I had to get Valor to stop, no matter how much my body wanted him, I knew deep down this wasn't right and if he saw either one of them he wouldn't hesitate to hurt them.

I felt Valor's hand making its way up to the clasp of my bra, not even bothering to undo it, but instead he gripped it roughly and yanked it from my chest, I winced at the pain of the fabric rubbing against my skin and I covered my chest on instinct.

Valor hissed in dismay and he gripped my neck harshly, pressing my cheek against the marble counter.

"Is that all you've got?" I hissed out, encouraging him.

I could hear him chuckle as he began unbuckling his pants.

I heard a hiss and Valor's grip left me and I stood up quickly, covering my chest with my arms as Pierre wrestled with Valor, Cassius running in to aid Pierre who struggled to hold Valor down.

I watched as they stood him up and he grinned wickedly.

"Tell your mate I said he's one lucky bastard, will you doll?" Valor said with a wink.