My wolf was pacing back and forth in my mind as the SUV continued on down the road. I gripped the cushion under me tightly to keep myself from spinning around and ripping through the others to get to my mate who was resting in the back seat next to Valerie. He had no idea how his presence was effecting me and at the moment the fact that there was an unmated female so close to him was making my wolf antsy. I personally was not concerned about it because I knew that nothing was going on between them but my wolf didn't see things like that.

, She growls at me as she pushes at the mental block in my mind. I can feel the pressure in my head build. If she didn't stop soon I was going to be nursing a major headache by the end of this car ride. I rolled my neck, trying to release some of the tension in my muscles.

Marshall glanced in my direction quickly before focusing back on the road, "You doing okay over there?"

I gritted my teeth, "I'm fine. You just focus on the road—there is going to be turn off soon that you're going to need to take." He nods his head, hunching forward in the seat as his eyes scan the road off in the distance.

"What's the rogue alpha like?" Leo pops his head into the front looking at me with a curious grin. Out of everyone, he seemed to be the only one excited about our current destination. I shrugged my shoulders, "He's not much different then any other alpha I suppose and word to the wise, I would try to refrain from calling him that nickname when in his presence."

"I heard that he killed his own family..." Leo stated. I turned my face completely towards him with a frown. I ran my tongue over my teeth, "I don't know much about his family but I can say he didn't kill them all..." I look back to the road as Marshall took the turn off as I had instructed him to do.

"How do you know?" He questions me.

"Because I was the one who killed his brother..." I looked back to Leo, "I ripped out his trachea with my teeth." His eyes widened and he slowly pulled himself back into the back seat ending the conversation.

Marshall let out a soft chuckle, "Well that's one way to shut him up." I look towards him with a small grin, relaxing slightly into the passenger seat. The rest of the drive is done in silence until we spot the pack house through the trees. Marshall lets out a low whistle, "Now that is a pack house..."

When Marshall pulls the SUV into park in the dirt driveway dust billows out around us. There are quite a few people milling about and they look towards our car with curiosity and suspicion. The front door flies open and Noah marches out onto the porch with Dane, his beta in tow. I twist in my seat to look at everyone, "You all let me do the talking you hear?" They all nod without questioning me. I could practically taste the fear coming off of them. Valerie and I made eye contact before I looked to Silver who was still resting soundingly next to her.

"Everyone get out very slowly and be as non-threatening as you can. I'm talking about you Marshall..." I look towards him with a pointed stare. He glances in my direction popping his jaw, "I'm very non-threatening..." He replies before undoing his sea belt and opening the door.

I follow behind him and jump out of the car happy to get some fresh air in my lungs. I spun on my heels and moved around the vehicle as Marshall was helping Bunny out of it. Scarlett came racing out of the house looking around until her eyes landed on me. I could see a big smile spread across her lips and I couldn't help myself from returning it. She moved off the porch quickly, "Well look who returned—" She called out causing Noah to freeze and look back over his shoulder at her.

"Woman! I told you to wait inside—what if it was dangerous?" He growled at her. She swung her gaze to his and it narrowed, "You should know by now Noah that you can tell me what to do all you want but I hardly ever listen." She pushes pass him without much worry, patting him teasingly on the face as she did so. He growls at her again this time out of pure frustration but she ignored him. Her eyes roamed from me to the small group gathering beside me, "For some reason I was expecting your pack to be much larger..."

"Oh, this isn't my—" I was cut off when a warm hand wrapped around my arm and yanked me back taking me completely by surprise. The area around us erupted in fierce growls and it took me a moment to snap back into reality. I was staring at a firm muscled back, warm tingles were racing over my skin—erupting from the hand wrapped firmly around my arm.

I frowned as I pieced together what had just happened. I yanked my arm free in annoyance before pushing Silver to the side, trying to be aware of his wounds.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" I whisper-yelled at him, rubbing at my arm. Silver's eyes focused on me before moving towards Noah who was now standing protectively in front of Scarlett. I sighed loudly, "He wasn't going to harm me you idiot..."

"If you want to sleep in our bed tonight you will stop growling at our guests like a rabid animal!" Scarlett yells from behind Noah. Noah immediately quieted down but he kept his hard glare focused on Silver. Scarlett elbowed her way between the Noah and Dane, "Men! Honestly, this is why the moon goddess created women—or else nothing would ever get done..." She huffed before sending a meaningful scowl in her mates direction.

Scarlett turned her attention back to us with a smile, "I apologize for my mates rude welcoming—"

I sent a glare in Silver's direction before focusing back on Scarlett, "Likewise..." Silvers gaze snapped to me but he kept his mouth shut. Scarlett's eyes widened at my words before she looked to Silver, "This is your mate?" her eyes wander over him quickly before she sending a smirk in my direction, "Well I can say you are one lucky girl."

Noah lets out a growl behind her, "Oh hush! You know you're the only man for me even if you are a pain in my ass." She replied quickly silencing him. Dane let out a chuckle before covering it up with a cough when Noah turned his glare towards him. Scarlett stepped forward, "Would you all like to come inside where we can chat a bit more comfortably?" She looks from me to the other smiling at them.

"We would appreciate that, yes." I answered for them.

"Wonderful—" Scarlett claps her hands together looking a bit excited for the company, "If you follow me I'll give you guys a little tour of the place." She really had stepped up into the role of Luna quite well. I smiled as she turned on her heels and made sure to give Noah a quick kiss on his cheek before linking her arm with Dane. He looked over toward Noah with a look before he let his Luna pull him along back to the house. I looked over my shoulder toward the others, "Well?" I lifted my eyebrows and nodded my head for them to follow.

They hesitated a moment looking from me to Silver. Silver was looking more than a little upset but he motioned his head, "Don't be rude—" He half growled at them. That's all they needed before Marshall pulled Bunny with him towards the house. Libra and Leo following after them, giving Noah loads of room as they passed by him in quick steps. I glanced at Valerie who let out a loud sigh, "I'll leave you two lovebirds—" Before she strutted after the others.

Noah spared one last glance in Silvers direction before following after Valerie. I turned quickly towards Silver, "Do not ever treat me like that again in front of other people!" I snapped. His jaw muscle popped as he met my gaze, "You're my mate what did you expect me to do? Leave you out in the open for a possible attack when I can protect you?"

I reached up and pinched the bridge of my nose trying to calm myself down. I inhaled slowly counting in my head before I responded, "No I don't expect you to not protect me, but I do expect you to trust me and my judgement. I told you that I knew these people—that I trusted them. You're my mine just as much as I'm yours, do you really think that I would put you or anyone for that matter in a situation where they might get hurt?"

Silence stretched between us as we continued to stare at each other. I watched as the anger and annoyance slowly receded from his eyes. He looked away from me with a heavy sigh, lifting his hand to rub the back of his neck. I tried not smile at the apologetic stance he was taking. He slowly lifted his eyes back to mine, "I'm sorry Grace—I just—shit. I'm not sure how to be a mate. This is all new to me and my wolf he's..."

"Possessive. Controlling. Demanding..." I supply him with words.

He cracks a smile in my direction that sends my stomach fluttering, "I was going to say he's a jackass but those work too." I let out a laugh and take a small step towards him, "This is all new to me too but I need you to trust me, okay? I'm not weak and I don't need protecting."

He tilted his head to the side as his gaze seemed to burrow through me straight to my soul, "I know you don't need protecting—but I want to protect you, Grace. There's a difference." His words seemed to caress a part of my heart that I had long forgotten. The part of me that used to allow me to lean on others. I could feel it sparking with life at his simple statement. He took a step towards me, effectively closing the distance, "But I will wait until you tell me you need my help next time. If that makes you feel better." His hand grabs a hold of mine and gives it a light squeeze.

My face heats and I clear my throat, "It would."

He smiles at me, "Come on..." He turns us toward the house still holding my hand in his. I tried to ignore the way my body seemed to be humming with energy from such a simple touch. I let him pull me along for a moment before he chanced a look back over his shoulder at me. He wore a smug smile that told me he knew exactly what his touch was doing to me. I frowned at him, "You wipe that look off your face before I do it for you."

He throws his head back and let out a hearty laugh. I yank my hand free from his and push him, which causes him to lose his footing and fall to the ground. He looks up at me with a frown and I smile down at him, "Next time stay out of my head unless your invited!" I turn away from him and leave him to pick himself up off the ground—serves him right.

"So that's how it is?You're really going to leave your mate out here, wounded and defenseless..." He calls after me. I throw a look over my shoulder to find him frowning but there was an amused light in his eyes and I know he's teasing me, "Better hurry up, or else you'll miss out on dinner." I turn away laughing as I went.

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Song: 'You Don't Own Me (Feat. G-Eazy)' -Grace