My fingers shook as I traced my lips whilst staring at my reflection in the mirror that evening. The alien feelings I'd experienced which I had been attempting to ignore I soon identified as I once again recalled Hannes kissing me.

Desire. Lust.

My fingers curled around the edge of the bathroom sink, and my head dropped to stare at my fingernails. I rubbed viciously at my ears when they began to sting, a hot flush creeping up my body as I once again brought up the image of Hannes towering over me before sealing his lips to mine. I ran my tongue across my lips. His taste still lingered.

Steam quickly began to fog up the mirror as I gripped the sink further. I could hear the shower water running loudly behind me, and heat settled over my naked body. Sweat began to trickle down my neck, but even that couldn't distract me from the longing in my chest.

Sighing in frustration, I pivoted and stepped into the shower, welcoming the blasts of hot water that rained over me. When I closed my eyes, I saw Hannes. My body shuddered as I remembered the way he'd cup my head as he'd kissed me.

Suddenly, I swore I could hear his voice. My eyes shot open, and I stared at the white tiled walls in confusion as I listened. I tilted my head when I heard his voice once more,

"Olivia!"

I cursed, hand lifting to grasp the small knob in the shower to turn off the spray of water, eyes locked on the closed bathroom door.

"Yes?" My voice was breathy as I responded to Hannes, and there was a long pause before he went on, his voice noticeably huskier than previously,

"Dinner is ready."

I swallowed, nodding my head even though he couldn't see me. "I'll be out in ten minutes."

I listened to him walk away before I turned back on the shower as I began lathering my body with soap. When I was finished showering, I left the bathroom and entered my adjoining bedroom, wrapped in a thick towel.

My choice of clothes were comfortable and created with materials to keep me warm. They were what I'd intended to sleep in.

The sound of Nicholas' voice shocked me when I reached the dining room, and I was taken aback by the sight of all the Elders and himself seated. My eyes ran down my clothes, at the dark blue pajama shorts and long-sleeved shirt and I sighed in exasperation. I hadn't been expecting anyone other than Hannes and maybe Athena to be in the dining room.

"We were waiting for you." Bronwyn snapped as I walked inside. My eyes twitched as I fought glaring at the woman's snarky attitude, and instead I gave my apologies. Hannes was also inside of the dining room, and when I began to circle the table, deciding to sit on the opposite side of where him and the Elders were, he stood and pulled back a chair.

"Do sit beside me, Olivia." Hannes' eyes flashed with mischief, and I gave him a baffled look.

Athena looked between us curiously when I reluctantly chose to sit by his side. Almost immediately, my skin began to feel hot as Hannes sat as well.

Concentrating was difficult as it was since my dratted mind kept going back to the kiss in the woods, but that concentration shattered almost completely when I felt Hannes place a large hand on my thigh discreetly, not moving it, but simply keeping it there.

My eyes lifted to his face, and the fork which I'd been toying with lowered to rest noisily on my plate. Hannes did not look at me and he appeared to be listening to Helmitch speak about something regarding the pack, but I saw the smallest hint of a grin on Hannes' lips before my attention was pulled to Athena, who sat beside Nicholas.

"Did you enjoy your training today?" Athena inquired. "Nicholas said he saw some of it and thought it to be quite interesting."

My eyes darted to the smirking Alpha, who was pushing some garlic bread across his plate. The uniform I'd seen him in earlier was gone, and the clothes he adorned were casual. I could see various tattoos on his arms and his eyes were tainted with amusement.

"Really?" I muttered to Athena; the scent of the meat and vegetables resting on my plate had begun to distract me, and my mouth salivated as I began to slice through the chicken.

When I leaned forward to bite into it, I was once again reminded of Hannes' hand being on me. When I glanced at him once more, he still was not looking my way.

"What sorts of exercises did you go through today?" Athena asked, and I went on to ramble about what I'd done, the variety of exercises Willow had instructed me to do. Athena watched with interest, and I noticed Declan and Nicholas listened as well.

Nicholas spoke up when I was finished, "I'll be in Wildeland for the next couple days. Perhaps I could guide you through some exercises as well."

The hand on my thigh curled against my skin, almost painfully so.

"That won't be necessary." Hannes' voice was low but guttural as he fixed Nicholas with a heavy stare. "Willow, Jeremiah or myself, will be able to train Olivia."

Nicholas' smirk widened, but he nodded. "I see."

I winced, feeling Hannes' fingers dig into my skin further. His hold immediately lessened, and his thumb grazed across my thigh, as if attempting to soothe the area there.

"Why are you holding me?" I asked, keeping my voice soft. This time, Hannes did look at me, and the tension on his face relaxed as he gave me a smile.

"I like touching you." He told me. His fingers dipped lower, moving to the inside of my thigh and I sucked in a soft breath. But then he paused, and his smile began to fall away when I simply stared at him. "Does that make you uncomfortable?"

"No-I-" My voice trailed off and I jerked my head forward, a familiar sting of embarrassment creeping up to the tip of my ears when I heard Hannes' chuckle. His fingers relaxed against my skin, and his thumb continued to stroke continuously against my thigh as conversation flowed across the table.

I noticed Nicholas avoiding eye-contact with me throughout dinner, and despite Athena's many questions, and at times, Declan's, I found it difficult to focus with Hannes still holding my thigh. Pleasurable small shivers would creep up my body every now and then with his caresses.

I managed to understand that Athena had talked to some of the pack members, and that they'd asked to spend some time with me.

"You are their Luna after all," She'd said. "They'd like to get to know you."

I was silent throughout the remainder of her talking about the pack, only making appropriate noises or sounds to show her that I was listening when necessary.

Nerves knotted my stomach however at the thought of mingling or talking with the pack members. They all were oddly intimidating, but seemed for the most part, civil.

When dinner was finished, Athena asked for my help cleaning up, and I did as asked, standing, which made Hannes drop his hand away. I walked around the table, gathering empty dishes and plates before walking to the kitchen.

Athena's soft hums and the soft clashing of her gold bracelets on her wrist was heard for the most part, other than the sounds of water running every now and then whilst I washed up.

"I have to go to a nearby store to purchase a few items tomorrow at noon," Athena said at one point. "And I was wondering if you'd like to join me. Of course, I'll have to bring along some warriors in case any danger arises."

I lowered a plate onto a counter. "The shop is outside of the pack territory, yes?"

"Yes. It's not too far from the pack though, and I'll be quick." Athena lifted the plate I'd rested and I watched as she dried it. "I'll have the warriors go ahead of us, just to ensure that no Alberrechian people or suspicious individuals are around."

"I'll think about it." I eventually told her, reluctant to confirm anything. I had become significantly wary of many things after seeing what the Corozal army had done, and because of what had happened to the neighboring pack.

Eventually, by my urges, Athena left the kitchen to sit with the others, and I cleaned up the rest. Just as I was wiping down the counter, muffled voices came from behind a window in the kitchen.

My eyes followed the slow movements of Alec and his father, Victor, both of their heads lowered as they walked by the house. It struck me then; Victor was human as well. Could he maybe have created a potion? But was the likelihood that he'd even known where Anabelle's grave had been? And what reason would he have for taking Anabelle out of the coffin and trying to bring her back to life?

My eyes continued to stare out the window long after Victor and Alec went out of sight, lost in thought about potions and the few humans in the pack. There were also former prisoners of the Klawmoon pack who resided in Wildeland, and I wondered if either Elijah or Hannes had taken them into consideration regarding the making of potions.

My hands abruptly dropped the cleaning cloth when I felt Hannes hug me from behind. I hadn't heard him come in, but nonetheless knew it was him. My back was pulled to rest against his chest, and my breath hitched when he spoke,

"I'm not sure if you're aware of this or not," Hannes said, his voice a deep rumble. "But because of the bond we share, I can feel your emotions."

My eyes widened, and my immediate reaction was to move away, but I felt Hannes' arms around me tighten.

"I felt what you felt in that bathroom and shower." Hannes' smile was downright sinful when I tilted my head to look up at him, and he placed a hand on my waist to turn me around to face him.

My legs felt like noodles, and I avoided looking directly at his face. A low growl of displeasure surfaced from his throat. "Olivia."

My eyes lifted heavenward, the tips of my ears still burning from mortification at the revelations that Hannes could have felt my need and lust for him. I finally looked at Hannes after a moment of silence.

"You shouldn't be ashamed about how you feel." He spoke again, now that I was maintaining eye-contact with him, and when I would glance away, he would pause from speaking until I met his eyes once more.

That sinful smile on his lips remained throughout this entire time, and he went on to say, "My own needs have been growing." His hand moved to rest against the side of my neck, and his eyes darkened as they appraised the skin there. Sexual tension crackled between us, and a flash of fangs could be seen as he murmured, "It's been increasingly difficult for me to suppress them."

I could feel the back of my hips graze the kitchen counter, and I felt a pinch of discomfort and attempted to shift away, but Hannes allowed no distance between our bodies, and kept me in place. His head lowered, and our breaths mingled for only a few seconds before I leaned forward and pressed my lips to his own.

A satisfied groan rumbled his chest, and his fingers held my hips, pushing them to his own. My eyes fluttered shut as I felt his need, and I dragged in air when he pulled away from my lips to nuzzle my neck, his hips grinding against my own.

Soft noises tumbled from my mouth, and my fingers sunk into his hair as he continued to press soft kisses against my neck. The back of my hips began to bump almost painfully against the edge of the counter, but that was the last thing on my mind as Hannes continued to grind against me. Heat circled in my lower stomach as I felt his hands move to the top of my shorts.

"Hannes!"

My eyes shot open, and my mouth snapped shut. Nicholas. He was standing near the kitchen, and I could not see him, but I knew he was near. Hannes' snarl as he straightened seemed to shoot ice through my veins and I swallowed thickly at the sight of the large bulge in his pants.

"Hannes! Are we going to go over those documents are not?"

I was beginning to find Nicholas irritating even though I hadn't known him for long, and judging by the scowl on Hannes' face, he was too.