"No."

"What? Why not?"

"As long as there's still a threat from the Rogues, you're going to have your guard." Emerson crossed his arms.

"There haven't been any sightings of them for three weeks. There have been no attacks anywhere! There's been no word from them at all. It won't hurt if you dismiss at least half of them." Madeline glared.

"You said it yourself that there's a war coming. The moment that I cut your guard in half, there's going to be an attack and you'll most likely end up in the middle of it and you'll end up back in that infirmary room, or worse, a grave. So no. You will be keeping your guard until the Rogues have been eliminated. This is not up for debate Madeline, so drop it!"

"But there are always going to be Rogues!" She Exclaimed, "You might be able to kill off the masses, but there are always going to Rogues out there, wanting revenge or whatever the hell else they want! What are you going to do then hm? Assign another ten guards to follow me around? Twenty? Thirty? I have no privacy! They follow me around everywhere and report everything I do! I can't even piss without one of them standing in front of the bathroom door, listening in!"

Curious wolves popped their heads into the kitchen to see what the commotion was, but instantly left when they realized it was their Alpha and Luna arguing. The cooks had left at the first sign of their arguing, so they were left alone in the kitchen. But they weren't really alone because almost everyone in the Pack House could hear them, and most likely wolves nearby the House.

"They are here for your safety! So yes, it means you don't have the privacy you're so used to but it also means that you are protected! So you need to shove aside your complaints and realize that it's worth it if it means you are safe!" Emerson bellowed at her.

"Why do you care so much about my wellbeing? When I first arrived, you couldn't wait to get rid of me! So why the hell do you care now?"

Emerson felt like he was going to explode she made him so angry. "Because I just do damnit! I care about you and I don't want you hurt! And you are the Luna of this Pack! The Pack needs you just as much as I do!"

His plans to distance himself from his mate and stop his growing feeling had ultimately failed. Ha hadn't kicked her out of their room, as he had meant too. He hadn't quick talking to her, as he meant too. And he hadn't hardened his heart, as he had meant too.

He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. He leaned against the table and closed his eyes. He opened them only when soft arms wrapped around his waist. He wrapped his arms around Madeline without hesitation. She molded into his body and he kissed the top of her head.

"Only until this is all over. Then I just want Ricardo and Isaiah." She murmured into his shirt.

He brushed back her hair. "Fine."

Compromise. He could do that.

He tilted his head up as someone walked in. Not someone. Brandon.

"Is it safe to come in now? We're all hungry. Especially me. I missed breakfast because of a meeting."

"You have your own house. Why didn't you just go home and eat something?" Asked Emerson.

Madeline laughed and pinched his side. "Yes, it's safe now Brandon. We won't keep you from your lunch any longer."

Brandon told the news the other wolves and they all came filing back in. the cooks resumed making lunch, and they all took their seats at the table. The wolves sat after their Alpha and Luna did.

The Alpha and Luna got their food first then the rest of their Pack filled up their plates. The Alpha and Luna looked as if they were enjoying each other's company, but what they didn't see was that Emerson had his hand resting on Madeline's thigh underneath the table.

He checked the time on his phone.

Shit.

If he didn't leave now he'd be late for his next meeting.

He leaned over and whispered to Madeline, "I have to go. I'll see you later."

He stood up, his Beta following his lead.

The two of them left the dining area and to one of the many meeting rooms located in the Pack House. They arrived just minutes before the rest of them.

Yay. Another boring and pointless meeting.

***

Emerson found Madeline, not in their room, not with her friend, but at the daycare. She was helping Edna out with story time. Several children were perched on her and others were tugging on her, wanting to be held next.

He thought of what she would look like with their children. The thought made him smile. He shook his head. He couldn't think like that. She just needed to give him a son so he would have an heir to take over Night Walker Pack.

But he couldn't stop thinking that way. He couldn't stop thinking about her. She wasn't Abigail. She would never hold his heart like Abigail did. But...Madeline did have his heart. And it scared him so much. He was scared he would lose Madeline like he did Abigail.

Madeline caught him watching and her smile was as bright as a thousand star. She waved him over to where she was seated.

He almost refused, but that smile drew him in and he walked over to her side. He sat down next to her and the child swarmed him as if he was a jungle gym. It made him realize how much he wished he had children of his own. But he had to wait until Madeline was ready. Until she was ready to be with him until she was ready to have his children.

"Children, please. Settle down before you scare away the Alpha and Luna." Edna scolded the children. "Sit down or we'll skip story time and go straight to nap time."

The pups settled down in their laps and others leaned against them. The pups loved story time and wouldn't miss it for the world.

Edna began reading from the storybook once more. The children had their attention on the words she said, but as the book went on, more and more eyes began to droop.

By the time the story had finished, over half of them had fallen asleep. Several were drool on Emerson and another too clutched his shirt so hard he had to pry their hands off him. He gently laid them down on the floor and stood.

"Thank you. The kids really enjoying spending time with you." Edna whispered so not to wake them.

"Of course. I love spending time with them. They're little angels." Madeline smiled.

"They are, though they can be a pain at times."

Madeline giggled quietly. Emerson smiled and placed his hand on the small of her back.

"When are you two planning on having your own little angel?" Edna asked.

Madeline looked up at him then back at the woman. "Not sure yet. With everything that's been going on, we haven't really had time to talk about it."

"Of course. After this...problem, I expect to see your beautiful babies running around with the other children."

She nodded and smiled, though the smile didn't quite reach her eyes. "We'll see."

Emerson cleared his throat and spoke, to save his mate from the uncomfortable. "Come, Madeline. I need your opinion on something."

She nodded. "Goodbye, Edna. I'll be by tomorrow."

"Goodbye Luna, Alpha."

The Alpha led his Luna away and back to the Pack House. He brought her up to their Wing. He poured her a glass of wine and handed it to her. She took a sip from as he poured his own.

"If you're not comfortable with..." He cleared his throat. "I mean we have too...but we can..."

Madeline snorted. "Let's wait until after this Rogue situation is sorted to have this talk."

Emerson sighed a breath of relief. He nodded. "What are your plans for today?"

She shrugged. "I was thinking of going into to town to spend some time with Casey. Or maybe go and help some others out. I'm not sure."

He nodded. A purpose. She needed a purpose. "Why don't come help me with paperwork? I have stacks on my desk that I really don't want to go through."

She laughed and drained her glass. "Let's go then."

She took his hand and he didn't pull away as would have a few weeks ago. He walked beside her to his personal office. He held the door open for her and shut it behind him. He walked to his desk. "Choose a stack."

She chose a smaller one. He scowled, "Leaving the big stacks for me I see."

She laughed and grabbed a pen. "Yep."

He grabbed a pen and started going through one of the stacks.

They worked for hours, silently mostly. There were a few times that Madeline asked Emerson for the meaning for a few things, or asked for his opinion. When the clock striked six, he tossed the papers he was reading on the desk and stood. He stretched and ran a hand over his face.

"Come on. It's time for dinner. Unless you would rather stay here and keep working."

She put the papers down and stood up. "Let's go. I don't want to stay here another minute."

He laughed and reached out a hand to her. She took it. her hand was so small and soft in his big and calloused hands. Their hands fit. Not as well as his and Abigail's but they fit well together.

Together, they walked to dining room. Other wolves were already gathered around, sitting and chatting. But they all stood as their Alpha and Luna entered. The wolves sat after they did and a few moments later, the food was brought out.