I sit there silently.

"So, let's recap what we know and don't interrupt me." Leif says.

I don't know what just happened between us.

"Okay." I whisper.

It was so intense.

"Alright."

I could barely breath or think. I can't explain it.

"You are a hybrid. Fairy and werewolf one. You are twenty two years old, you are on a run from hunters.

You entered my forest and – didn't know, as you claim." He raises a brow.

I nod.

"Alright. So the pack. Is it silver night?" he asks serious.

I gulp down. "Yes." I look up to him.

He scoffs. "I hate the alpha."

"That makes the two of us ..." I mumble.

He turns to me. "Really? You hate your alpha? Isn't that daring?"

"He doesn't like me or my family either. Well, what's left of it."

"Wait, wait. What do you mean by that?"

I sigh. "Why do you care?"

"I want to know more about you." He insists.

"Okay, my dad ... he was a wolf."

"Clearly."

I twist on the couch. "But he died. When I was eight."

He straightens his back. "Well, sorry about that. Must have been hard."

"It was because then the alpha kicked out my mom and ...she has to hide with the fairies. And the new alpha is his son who is suck an asshole." I sigh.

"Wait, he kicked out your mom? Why?"

"Because she's a fairy and after my father's death, he – didn't want her there."

He looks shocked. "That's low ... not even I would do that."

"Wow, such a saint, aren't you Leif." I mock him.

"I'm on your side on this." He looks deep in my eyes.

"Well, I didn't ask you to be but ..." I take a deep breath, "fine, thanks. Sorry."

"Continue, please. Surely you're not insisting they left an eight year old live alone."

"No. she – well, I was eight, soon nine. She celebrated the birthday with me.

Then it took about year of arguing and negotiating, but by the time I was ten years old, she had to leave me with my uncle.

My dad's younger brother.

I barely knew him, but my mom told me it's my uncle and ... I had no choice than to stay with him.

He was quite young by that time and he was a full wolf too, but he took good care of me."

"Hm, so he just- let you go?" he asks me.

"He was never a fan of the system. He understood how hard my life is as a fairy and -he learnt about the hunters.

He just gets me okay? And the best decision was to run away but then you were chasing me around the woods and caught me.

How did you even know I was there?"

"My raven." He says.

"What now?" I stare at him like he's crazy.

"My pet raven."

"I- what do you mean?"

He sighs. "It's a black raven and he talks to me."

"Wait, there was a raven!" I say, "that snitch." I frown, "but how does he talk to you?"

"A witch once accidentally hit him so now- he can talk."

"So he's like a person?" I ask him.

"No. No. He's a raven but he's able to communicate with humans and supernatural. He learnt our language.

It's not the best, but pretty decent for a bird." He smirks.

"Shit." He has a talking raven? Does he stalk people? "So he told you about me?"

"he did."

"Hm, so he is the reason I am here." I huff, "maybe I should have a bird for dinner. I'm sure it tastes like chicken."

He start laughing and I'm surprise. Leif. Having a sense of humor? Laughing. "Don't be so mad about him.

It's his job. He is my eyes and I give him place to stay and food. We are ... friends you could say."

"Great. First, vampires and now talking raven."

"Where did you want to go? Humans?"

"I was thinking about humans or witches."

He scrunches his nose. "Witches? Why? Those skanks ."

"Well, I was hoping they will have mercy on me and take me in."

"Huh? They don't care about anyone besides themselves." He shakes his head, "good think you didn't go there.

But ... why not to your mother and the fairies?"

I gulp down. "I just didn't- I- it's been a long time since I've seen here.

I would probably not even recognize her and who knows-maybe she moved on from me." I close my eyes, "I just didn't want to be heart broken twice." I whisper.

"Well, don't you thinking staying with the vampires is a good thing after all?

Am I cruel to you or something?"

I open my eyes. "Cruel? Yeah. You are. This castle is like a maze and I don't know how to get out.

I need – fresh air and walks.

And when it's the full moon I will transform. Do you want me to go nuts in here?"

"Don't you have self-control?"

"Hello? My wolf self will go absolutely feral when smelling all the vampires."

"Okay, we will solve it when we get there."

"What? So- I'm really supposed to stay here and accept it."

"Baylor, I'm gonna tell you a secret. I'm a mafia, I know the hunters personally. I have contacts on them.

If I wanted to sell you to them, I would do it. it would take five minutes.

But I didn't, okay? And I'm not ... like them when it comes to you."

"okay."

"When you will cooperate, we can make it work. You have no family, no money, no friends and no place to live.

I have all of it and I will ...offer it to you if you listen to me."

"That's it? Just listen to you."

"Yes, just LISTEN."

I huff. "Okay, whatever."

"But if you DON'T LISTEN, I will call the hunters and they can take you."

"Right."

"Do you understand that?"

"Yeah, yeah."

"Baylor." He moves my jaw to look at him. How did he get so close again?

"Yes. I understand that ... Leif," I gulp down, "but I have a condition too."

"Huh?" he raises a brow.

"You won't touch me without my permission- again."

He scoffs. "What's wrong with touching?" he lets go of my jaw.

"Well, respect ...m-my boundaries."

"Any reasons for them?" he frowns and crosses his hands on his chest.

"Yes. Cause' I said so."

"Fine but if YOU break my rules, I will break your rules, just think of that."

"Hm."

"Hm."

"So, I'm no longer a prisoner, I'm your guest."

"You are not my captive anymore, you are my personal guarding dog." He smiles happily.

I throw a pillow at him and he catches it easily. "Don't test me, pup. I don't give many chances."

I throw another pillow and his eyes flash red. "What are you going to do? Touch me? You can't ..." I smirk.

"Then to me and stop being a little child.

I have a meeting, so today, you will be with ."

"I don't need a nanny."

"Who said it's for you, you will be play doll, pup."