After the little scene in the lobby, we all parted and no one spoke for awhile.

Though, when the time came, everyone was gathered into the kitchen. I was one of the last ones to walk in and I awkwardly sat on the chair at the end of the long table.

A huge feast was set out on the table and my eyes hungrily gazed over it. I glanced up at Tate in the process who sat across me on the other side of the room.

The table was that long.

Colin, Tom, Dale, Roger, Eddie, Joseph and my father Jonathan, also sat around the table.

It was a full house.

Once everyone was seated no one spoke. It irritated me how I seemed to be the one who always broke the silence.

If only I got a dollar for every time...

"Beautiful day isn't it?"

Was what I had managed to blurt out.

Dale chocked on the pea he had threw into his mouth and fell into a coughing fit.

All eyes shifted to his and still no one spoke. But Eddie glanced at me and his small figure shook slightly as he tried to conceal his laughter.

"Sorry," Dale said hoarsely as he cleared his throat.

I narrowed my eyes at him and felt my cheeks go red as I looked down at my lap in embarrassment.

"What did that woman mean," Tate suddenly asked in a gruff tone, "-about Elina," he finished, asking the question on every ones mind as he stared intently at Jonathan.

I heard Colin sigh as he leaned back in his chair and looked into his glass. I glanced at him in curiosity as he stared intently at the cup and looked like he was lost in a memory.

Strange.

"I do not know. But if she means harm to my daughter I will have her gone," Jonathan spoke lowly as he stared right back at Tate.

Tate slowly nodded and gave Jonathan a look that left me suspicious.

Now...what exactly did he mean by gone?

"Son," Roger cut in and glanced sharply at Tate.

"-I passed down the Alpha position knowing you are very capable of running this place. But If certain people are causing-" before Roger could finish, Tate shook his head and silenced his father.

"No. I have it under control. No harm will be done," Tate said with determination as his eyes found mine.

I sighed and grabbed the glass of water near my plate and drank it all at once.

"You have it under control?" Dale snorted once he recovered from his coughing fit, "-are you sure about that? The amount of shit-"

"Dale," Tate growled as he turned sharply to face his brother.

Colin slammed his cup onto the table and sharply leaned forward making me jump a little.

"Ladies, ladies. Please, not in front of the guests," Colin scowled.

"Ladies?" Eddie called out as he looked at his brothers in horror and Tom snickered behind his hand.

I opened my mouth to speak but an intense pain in the side of my head made me stop.

I clenched my teeth as signs of a headache made me rub my temple.

"My daughter," Jonathan interrupted as he looked at Tate with firm eyes, "-if she is not safe here I will have to take her back with me."

My eyes snapped to Jonathan's and I opened my mouth to speak once again but Tate's loud growl made me pause.

"No," Tate growled sharply and I rubbed the side of my head as the pain returned.

"Tate-" I tried but his focus was directed to my father.

"She goes no where. She stays here. With me," Tate growled possessively and I flinched when the glass in his hand shattered as the force of his fist was way to strong.

"Son. Calm down," Roger said softly as he glanced at Tate with a frown.

"Alpha..."

I soon found myself not being able to listen. My ears began ringing and a wave of exhaustion washed over me making my breath hitch.

"I said no!" someone yelled and my vision blurred not allowing me to see who it was.

I felt paralyzed and it scared me. I blinked my eyes repeatedly and picked up my glass hoping a cool beverage would make me feel better- only to find it empty.

By now shouts and growls were heard around the room. I stood up from my chair needing the noise to stop, only to stumble and I grabbed the chair for balance.

The empty glass in my hand slipped from my grip and it shattered as soon as it made contact on the floor.

Almost immediately the noise vanished and I sighed in relief at the little moment of silence, my eyes closing on there own accord.

"Elina?" A concerned voice called out and the scrap of a chair was heard.

Was it Tate? Tom? Maybe Colin? I couldn't tell.

However I didn't have time to find out. I felt my body descend to the ground and muscular arms were there to catch me as a world of darkness welcomed me.

************************

The smell of hand sanitizer made the first of my senses wake. Then it was my mouth, tasting the dryness of it and then it was my ears.

"...stress. Way to much stress," an unfamiliar voice said and I squinted as my eyes adjusted to the rooms light.

Immediately I recognized the place as the Committees infirmary. I inwardly cringed as I suddenly found the smell of hand sanitizer too overwhelming.

I glanced around- only to find Tate talking with a woman dressed in all white. She had wrinkles by hair eyes and her thin grey hair was neatly tied back.

I spotted a glass near the vanity that stood in the single bed I laid in. Reaching over I quietly grabbed it as Tate spoke to the woman.

I searched for a jug of water and spotted it on the other side of the room. I was about to make a move to go grab it but I came to a halt as a small smirk spread onto my lips.

Now..There's no need for that..

I lifted up my palm and motioned it to the cup I held in my other hand. Almost immediately it filled up with water and I quickly moved my palm away as it overflowed from the edges.

"You should be resting."

I jumped and spilled the water some more as my head snapped up, only to see Tate beside my bed.ed

"Let me," he gently whispered as he placed a hand onto my back and pulled my up as he brought the cup to my lips.

The cool water slid down my throat and I closed my eyes for a second as the water worked its way down my throat.

Seconds later I felt myself regain my energy.

"What happened?" I asked him as he sat on the corner of the bed.

I noticed the woman had left, so I sat up and faced Tate- his eyes never leaving mine.

"You passed out," he whispered and looked away from me.

I frowned as I noticed his hazel eyes darker than usual and his jaw clenched.

"What is it?" I asked with furrowed eyebrows as I gently placed a hand on his cheek so he could look at me.

"I can't seem to keep you safe," he said in a low tone but his eyes were hard.

Tate looked away from me again and my hand fell limply to my side making my frown widen.

"Tate," I cooed softly.

"-It's not your fault. I never asked for you to keep me safe, so please don't feel-"

"That's my job Elina!" Tate growled as his gaze snapped back to mine and I flinched at the tone of his voice.

"-Its my job as your Alpha and better yet as your mate," he insisted and I stayed quiet.

"But no matter what I do or say you're constantly unsafe and..." Tate trailed off.

"...and it scares me. It scares me because I love you Elina." Tate said clasping my hand tightly as his soft brown hair fell onto his forehead.

As soon as I comprehended what he had said I stopped breathing. My whole body forgot how to function and my heart began melting as his grip on my hands tightened.

He said he loved me. Loved me.

Those simple words left me breathless. I didn't know what to say. But I knew. I knew I loved him too.

But before I told him that, I needed to feel his lips on mine.

I wrapped my arms around Tate's neck and slammed his lips against mine.

Immediately Tate's strong arms grabbed me by the waist and pulled me towards him.

His soft lips mended with mine and I pushed harder feeling the urgency. I tangled my hands into his hair and Tate placed his hand onto the back of my neck to hold my face close.

The kiss felt ecstatic. The kiss was what I could only describe as passionate... needful...love... smokey...

-smokey?

My eyes snapped open and the perfect moment was shattered as I pulled away from Tate and a cough bubbled up in my throat.

"Can..." I coughed, "-can you smell that?"

Tate leaned back and his dark, lustful eyes cleared as he sniffed the air around him.

His arms tightened around my body and his head snapped to the doorway.

"Smoke," he growled.

I looked over to were he was looking and I gasped as clouds of smoke seeped through the door and into the room.

Tate quickly pulled me out of the bed and backed the two of us away from the door.

"Tate!" I gasped as flames erupted on the frame of the door and Tate growled loudly holding me to his chest.

Suddenly, a silhouette appeared behind the smoke and flames and I found myself coughing hysterically as smoke invaded my lungs.

"Elina," Tate growled as he held my chin and made me look at him. Tate wasn't effected by the smoke and I mentally scowled at myself to man up.

You are a werewolf Elina. An Elemental too.

I stifled a cough and stood up straight giving Tate a reassuring look. I narrowed my eyes at the silhouette that hid behind the flames.

Lifting my hand up, I allowed water to move freely out of my hand and the flames hissed as it died down allowing the shadow to be in plain sight.

I gasped at the person standing in the doorway.

"No...,"

Tate's arms tightened around me as he growled.

"Lily..." I whispered with so much disappointment and disbelief.

How can she even...

"You have got to be fucking kidding me," Tate growled in a deadly tone.

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