My parents and Victoria are no where to be found and neither are their cars once we step out of the house. I'm relived they arn't here to see me walking out with the Beta and Alpha. Who knows what they would've had to say.

I follow behind Peter; Maddox still has his hand securely on the small of my back. I can't help the blush that creeps up my neck. He starts to walk into Maddox's house...Lucians old home. I stumble a little and can't help but stop. Maddox looks down at me and after a minute he realises "if it makes you uncomfortable we can go somewhere else, I want you to be comfortable in your f-" he stops and clears his throat "never mind"

I raise and eyebrow but shake my head "no, sorry I'll be fine" I assure him and he nods, still a little reluctant

We follow Peter inside and I look around, last time I was in here I was cleaning out all there things...I shutter at the memory. It looks completely different, which helps. I'm surprised at the decor, it's nice, modern and simple...not what I was expecting from Maddox.

"The two of them-" Maddox hits to Lena and Peter "had to move in yesterday, their house next door had pluming failure. I hope you don't mind they'll only be staying a few days" he tells me "it's actually been a help, Lena forced me to go to the store with her...the house was pretty empty and she insisted I fix it up for when yo-...I mean people come by" he looks away rubbing the back of his neck with a small smile

I smile too "it looks nice" I tell him and he looks back over to me

We hear a shriek as we make our way into the living room, someone walks out of the kitchen "Eve I didn't know you'd be coming over today!" Lena says with a happy smile, she smacks Peter for not telling her, he laughs and hugs her tightly

"Anyways I was just making a snack for these two hungry boys but I have plenty" she says happily and runs off back into the kitchen

"She's happy you're here, she hasn't really been able to talk to a lot of the girls in the pack besides you" Peter tells me and I smile glad to be thought of as a friend by someone

Lena come back with snacks in hand, holding a tray of sandwiches "I had to make Maddox fill his fridge, you should I have seen it two days ago, all he had was milk and bacon" she laughs setting the tray down on the dark oak coffee table.

"I don't need much" he shrugs and makes a side glance at me

Lena rolls her eyes and motions for us to sit on the cream cloth couch, I sink into it right next to Maddox's heavy body. Peter sits in a silver stitched patterned chair across us on the other side of the coffee table, Lena taking the golden victorian style chair next to him.

"You did an amazing job decorating" I tell her and she seems overjoyed by the compliment

I look around, a large book case is filled with hundred of books, framed pictures of beautiful places of the world line the wall and a few pictures of family line the other. The marble fireplace is lit, the flames dying out but coals still red hot. The air smells of Maddox, but that may be because he scoots closer and closer to me every passing minute.

"Thank you, Maddox was very open to suggestion" she laugh, her brown eyes are sweet as she looks around at her work, her honey coloured hair is slightly frizzy and spread across her shoulders

"Honestly I just let her pick out everything" he chuckles and his hand inches towards mine that rests on the couch next to me

"One day when the plumbing is fixed you have to come over and see what I've done with me and Peters place" she suggests and I readily nod

"I would love that" I answer with honestly, her eyes light up

I start to ask another question but I feel Maddox stare intently at me. I try not to notice but his stare is overwhelming and makes me shiver.

Peter looks between us with humorous green eyes "Well if you two don't mind I'm going to eat" He says and reaches over, grabbing a sandwich from the silver tray

"Oh! I forgot to put mustard on yours" Lena says and jumps up, I sigh in relief...I hate mustard

"Oh no you don't" before she can squeeze between the two chairs to go into the lavish kitchen, he grabs her arm and spins her into his lap, careful not to drop his sandwich on her

She giggles with her legs laying over his lap, one hand holding his food the other wrapped around her. I blush and look away when he kisses her. My eyes lock on Maddox and his eyes are still on me. I try to look away but his golden stare has me honed in. It's like his eyes hold an entire universe and the longer I stare the more I see the depth, the more I want to witnesses and understand him.

"Anyways Eve would you like a tour of the house?" She asks and I tilt my head almost telling her I've seen it a million times. She seems to understand without me saying "oh I'm sorry...I forgot, I'm sorry for your loss by the way"she smiles sympathetically

"Thank you" I nod, not really wanting to think more on it "but I'd love to see what you've done" I tell her and she stands from Peters lap and already starts to walk into the kitchen, explaining

I stand to follow her but Maddox grabs my hand, I turn back "don't be gone too long" he asks of me and I slowly nod, not knowing how else to respond.

*

I follow Lena around the house that has been transformed into something completely different from how my aunt and uncle had it. The office now has maps of the territory, a dark mahogany desk and matching book cases are spread out. A patterned rug and dark leather office chair sits behind the paper cluttered desk. My mind wonders on seeing Maddox sitting in here with stitched eyebrows and a fixed eye on his work, thinking over the packs enemies and allies.

She leads me upstairs and I hesitantly follow. Like the rest of the house, the master bedroom has changed since...their deaths. All new furniture and in different places, I'm glad of this but I can still see my Uncle lying across the bed...dying with May hanging onto him for dear life. But my thoughts quickly stray from that memory...I think of the day I saw Maddox standing in the window, eyes dark and piercing through me as I stood in my undergarments in the window across him. I stare at his unmade bed against the wall, the sheets and covers pulled back on one side, pillows in a chair beside the dark bed. I feel my heart flutter and cheeks heat at the instant image that explodes in my head of me and him laying together.

We finish the tour and head back into the living room. Maddox and Peter are talking and sitting in the same place we left them. Maddox stands instantly when we walk in "how do you like it?" He asks and for a moment I am confused

"Like what?" I ask and Peter chuckles

"The decor, look at him he's a nervous reck just to see if you like it" Peter laughs harder as he finishes

"Maddox I told you to trust me" Lena sighs and goes to sit in Peters lap

"Oh yes, it's beautiful" I nod honestly and he lets out a relives sigh and smiles softly

*

We sit together all talking. Lena tells stories of the three of them growing up, then the day of her eighteenth birthday when she found out Peter was her mate. I smile and listen to the stories, Peter tells embarrassing stories of Maddox and I can't help but laugh. Even Maddox smiles, bigger than I've ever seen. He's cracked a few grins but here, in the isolation of his house, with the three of us, he seems so much more relaxed.

I helped Lena fix dinner, we talked right through lunch, the boys watched and listened to our conversation. Maddox never took his eyes off me, it was so distracting I caught a hand towel on fire when taking out the food from the oven. I blushed as red as the fire, but everyone laughed and was only worried if I was hurt.

I feel like I'm in my own little bubble here. No one judges me, no one thinks I am weak, no one looks at me as if I'm nothing. All three of them make me feel like I'm not different, like they actually want me around.

I smile, sitting next to Lena and Maddox, Peter across me, at the table. I wipe my mouth with a napkin "this was good" I look down at my empty plate, stained red from the sauce

"It was, you two did a good job" Peter smiles with his mouth full of his third helping

"Yes you did" Maddox agrees

I begin to thank them but my phone rings "excuse me" I say and stand, I walk into the living room, Maddox's eyes linger on me

"Hello?" I answer looking out the window, into the darkness

"Where are you young lady?! Are you with Logan?! How dare you! I knew you were bad but this-!" I hear my Mothers screeching on the line and pull my phone away at the sound

Chairs slide against tile and a moment later the three of them are behind me. I turn and Maddox looks mad, the other two frown...I'm assuming they heard "Mom I'm sorry, I'm not with Logan...I'm with-" I cut myself off, if I tell her I'm with the alpha she'll either think I'm lying or in trouble

Lena instantly points to herself and I nod "Lena" I rush out

"Lena?" My Mother asks surprised "the Betas mate?" She asks

"Yes ma'am" I say "I'll be home soon"

"I don't believe yo-" before she can finish Lena steels my phone

"Hi Mrs. Mason? Sorry for keeping Eve out so late, we just got to talking, you know how girls do. We've already eaten and lost track of time" Lena says with a smile and I silently thank her and she laughs lightly

"Oh-...uhh" my mom seems speechless "that's alright dear, just make sure she gets home soon" she finally says, her tone completely changed

"Of course, thank you" Lena hangs up and hands me my phone

I don't speak for a minute but then die laughing, Lena joins and Peter chuckles. Maddox just frowns and after we calm down he speaks "Do you want me to walk you home?" He asks and even though it's right next door I nod

I wave to Lena and Peter and they tell me they'll see me soon. Smiling we walk out into the brisk air. The pack is quiet, most lights already out. The sound of crickets and birds echoes across the area, bouncing off the trees. I smile looking up at the clear night sky. Hazy grey clouds float across the star filled darkness like mist.

Maddox stands next to me "beautiful" he says hardly above a whisper

I smile and nod, my eyes still on the night above us. I turn to him, the moon glows behind his tall figure and he looks like a god, but his eyes arnt on the sky-but on me. The dark gold orbs scanning my face.

He turns from me and start to walk, I shrink down and shake my head. I follow him but he doesn't stop at the front door, he moves over to the side of the house...so I follow.

"Thank you for letting me stay over today" I break the silence

He doesn't say anything he just stares at my face, inspecting every aspect. He reaches up his hand like he's done before but this time it seems slower but I don't know if my brain is moving in slow motion, trying to savor every moment.

I look down at his hand as he cups my cheek "did you have a nice time?" He asks in a quiet and deep voice and I nod

"Yes...a lot" I hardly hear myself

"Why do you let them treat you like that?" He asks stroking my cheek with the pad of his thumb

I sigh and shrug my shoulders "I don't know any other way...I've gotten used to it honestly" I tell him

"You will know a other way, things will change" he tells me and I smile

"Maybe..." I look up at him through dark lashes

He sighs, eyes widening, and looks away "I can't do this much longer" his voice is strained and he pulls me against him

I don't know how to answer so I don't. I wait until he looks back at me, his eyes lock onto my lips and don't move. He holds my cheek and leans in, I can't comprehend what's happening because I think I may be dreaming. But when his warm lips lean into mine and they mold against each other I know I'm fully awake. I close my eyes and sink into him. A warmth and tingle spreads around me as I become too aware of his strong hand that has crept up the back of my shirt. His fingertips touching my skin, causing fire to erupt in those few spots.

My hand instinctively moves to the hair I'd been craving to touch. It's soft as my fingertips effortlessly move through the dark strands. He wraps both arms around my waist and pulls me so close to him the breath in my lungs disappears, but I don't care. All I feel is his hard body against mine and the heat exploding through me. I lean up on my tip toes trying to get as close to him as I can.

Light floods the pouch and I almost don't pull away, too wrapped up in him but when I hear the door he pulls away, his mint breath fanning over my face. He drops me and I step up to the door. Breathless and flushed I smile as my mom opens the door, her blonde hair in curlers. Her hazel eyes widen and look over me "what's wrong with you?" She asks

I try to stop smiling but I can't, I hold my ragged breath "nothing, just ran from Lena and Peters, wanted to get home...I'm tired" I tell her

She perfectly sculpted eyebrow raise at me but she nods, pulling her white robe tighter to her body. She takes a step into the house when I don't move and eventually walks in further. I look back into the bushes to see him looking back. I blush deep red and wave, he smirks and raises his hand.

"Bye" I whisper

He smiles and steps out "goodnight Everly" he nods and my feet feel anchored to where I stand

Half of me knowing I have to go inside, the other side of me wishing I could run after him. He watches me as I step into the house and then as I slowly close the door my eyes stay locked on him for as long as possible.

I lean against the door and feel light headed, a smile so big my cheeks ache. My brain spins and I have trouble catching my breath. Did that just happen? Am I going insane? What was that about? I shiver, my brain thinking back to the first couple of times we met and how I'd didn't know if he hated me or not. And now this. I swear my heart is about to pound out of my chest. Dreamily I walk up the stairs and into my room.

I feel like I'm floating as I fall on my bed, my body still tingling from moments ago. I sigh and kick off my shoes and clothes, throwing on a long T-shirt. I cuddle with my pillow, pulling it close to my chest and fall into an effortless sleep, feeling more alive than I ever have.