"Theo," My mouth went dry instantly as I gazed at the tall and built man in the doorway, leaning himself on the hinges with his eyes directly staring at mine. "How long have you seen there?" I spoke breathlessly.

Eliza looked back at me with her eyes wide-- she looked like she had interrupted something.

"Well," She cringed, slowly stepping backwards. "I'm just gonna go--" She pointed her thumb towards the door behind me, sending me an apologetic look. "--Yep, I'm just gonna go." She nodded before giving me a quick wave and speeding past Theo out the door.

Inwardly, I rolled my eyes-- Cow.

"Theo," I said, watching as he began to step closer into the room, closing the door behind him. "How much did you hear?" I asked, my face scrunched up in embarrassment.

He probably heard me complain about myself-- I could already feel my cheeks go red. So much for the strong leading Luna I talked myself up to be.

"Baby," He spoke so softly that his words almost sounded like whispers. Soon enough, he was inches away from me. "How could you think I would blame you for this?" He asked, his own face scrunching up-- an almost pained expression painted on his face. I couldn't help but frown, the idea of making him upset hurt my wolf and I.

Within me, my wolf whined and reached for Theo's wolf-- the need to comfort them both felt overwhelming to the two of us.

"Oh no," I whimpered, my hands instantly reaching for his face. I lightly cupped his face with each hand, my thumb tracing back and forth his cheekbones. "I'm sorry, I'm just not feeling like myself." I apologized.

Eliza's words were seeping into my head, and I was slowly beginning to realise the mess that I have become and the only fault was mine. I was pushing my father's wrongdoings on me-- it shouldn't be my fault that he hid how murderous he was deep down.

I just felt so much overwhelming sadness that Alpha Hayden had something to do with Ella's disappearance-- this man wasn't the man that raised my brother and I.

"You aren't at fault in this one bit," Theo reassured me, leaning his head down and placing a kiss on my forehead before pressing our foreheads together, his warmth increasing comforting me.

"Thank you," I whispered, looking up from my hooded eyes. Our faces were inches from each other, my hands caressing his cheekbones and I couldn't help but let my eyes flicker down to his lips.

As if he was reading my mind, his hands that found their way on my arms slid up to my shoulders, only to continue up till Theo had his hands resting below my jawline.

"Holly," His voice was so soft, it was more of a whisper. For a second, my eyes flickered back up to his to see that he was glancing down at my own face, his eyes wondering low.

"Theo," My voice matched his intensity, I felt my body moving closer to his own and I almost felt myself melting in his touch.

The sparks we felt between each other were not subtle, however, it almost felt natural.

"I love you," His words were smooth, I couldn't help but widen my eyes at what he said, slightly pulling away from me so I could clearly look at his face.

"What?" I was gobsmacked-- surely I didn't hear that correctly.

I could tell Theo was somewhat nervous by the way his eyes flickered from every part of my face to my eyes. I hadn't ever seen Theo act like this.

He cleared his throat. "I love you," He repeated, my mouth falling slightly open at his words. Before I could say anything, he stopped me, reaching with his hand to block my mouth with a single finger rested on my parted lips.

"You don't have to say anything back Holly, but I have to tell you that I have never felt this love before. I look at you and my day instantly brightens, and I know we've known each other for a short time and the beginning of our story wasn't the sweetest, but I couldn't help but fall more and more in love with you as each day goes by."

I felt myself melting at his words, my facial expressions softening as I looked up at him with glossy eyes.

I didn't know what to say as I just stood there watching my mate. I wasn't ready-- I couldn't say it and it killed me on the inside. But Theo deserved for me to say it and hundred per cent mean it, and I intended to do so when I'm ready.

My heart warmed at his words, his own announcement replaying in my head and I felt my face stretch as a smile became present.

He loved me.

Theo chuckled nervously, breaking me from my thoughts. "I know I said you don't have to say it back, but I'm going to need you to say something."

I didn't say anything. Instead, my hands fell from his cheeks and slid down to the back of his neck, gripping on and pulling towards me. Our lips collided, catching myself breathless as I pushed on my toes and pressed myself closer to him.

Instantly, Theo's hands fell from my jaw, finding their place-- one of my waist and the other pressing on my back. He was quick to reciprocate the kiss, dominating it.

The one hand that was resting on my waist lifted back up, using little strength to press on the back of my head-- almost smushing us together. There was no space between us, however, we both craved more.

His teeth grazed my lip, taking a second away to pull at my bottom lip before manoeuvring his tongue inside.

Theo began to walk forward with me in hand, causing me to walk backwards. Soon enough, my back was pressed against the wall beside the window sill, the corner almost stabbing in my back but I pushed that slight pain to the back of my head.

The firm hand that previously held onto my waist slide down my leg before gripping under my thigh and lifting it up. Theo pressed himself further into my body, a moan slipping from my lips.

"Oh Holly," He muttered with his lips pressed on mine, the vibration of his words sending me a rush through me.

I threw both arms over his shoulders, my body almost burning in heat. Theo broke the connection of our lips, causing a little groan to come out of my lips, however, that quickly became a short moan as I felt the feeling of his wet lips hitting the skin of my neck.

I instinctively tilted my head for him, using my hand to gently hold the back of his head, the other gripping his shoulder tight.

"Theo," I let out, unconsciously allowing my head to fall back.

Against my skin, I felt Theo growl affectionately as he nuzzled further into the nape of my neck, causing a louder moan to erupt from my mouth.

I felt the skin burn with pleasure when Theo pulled away and gripped my body tight and he moved us away from the way and in the direction of the bed.

As gently as he could, he dove us into the bed, my back cushioned by the sheets under us. My mate hovered above me, pressing his forearms in the bed on both sides of my head as he pressed his lower body down on mine, my legs instinctively capturing him.

He lowered his head and collided our lips together once again, my hand instantly lifting to rest on the back of his head.

Slowly, I lowered my hands, focusing on the edges of his trousers-- his top had lifted up slight causing his skin to show, that alone made my fingertips tingle. As if it was a natural thing, my hands slid up and inside his top, pressing my palms against his warm skin.

I felt him groan in my mouth, a smile reaching my mouth. "Holly watch it," He groaned lowly, pulling away from my lips barely, our lips still touching. "Don't make me do something I may regret later," He opened his eyes, looking back mine. His icy stare had dimmed down, now only his darkened eyes stared back at me.

"I won't regret it," I purred, my hands lowering from his upper back to the edges of his trousers, picking at them teasingly.

At my words, his eyes completely darkened as he gripped onto my thighs, digging himself deeper into me.

His hands went from my legs to sliding up my torso, his fingers slipping under my shirt.

"Are you sure?" He asked, momentarily pausing his movements.

I responded by lifting my head up, capturing his lips with mine and pulling my hands forward from the back of his trousers to the front, instantly attaching to his zip and pulling it down.

Before I could do anything else, Theo pulled away from me, stopping his hands from moving anymore from my skin.

"I need words, my love." He said firmly, looking me straight in the eyes.

"I'm sure," I confirmed softly, pulling his trousers closer to me, causing Theo to follow in suit-- our chests pressed against each other.

His darkened eyes bore into mine before he dove back down, using one of his hands to slip from under my top to down below my jeans.

He paused one more time, causing me to groan lowly with irritation at him. He looked back at me once again, his expression that was once lustful softened.

"I love you," He said, a gentle smile resting on his face. I couldn't help but let a smile of my own spread across my face, ecstatic.

He loved me.

Theo loves me.