Bolting upright in my bed, I look around the cabin to find it's empty, her side of the bed's cold and panic sets in.

Fuck, she's gone.

I register that exquisite scent on my sheets of cherries and apple orchards. My possessive side kicks in wanting her back in my arms as one thing is for certain I'm far from done with Alice Green. After last night, I'm pretty sure that I'm addicted to her. My wolf growls in my head, he's dissatisfied that she's not here either. My head swims with possibilities of why she's left without waking me. The most probable is that she regrets sleeping with me and she's ran off which is like a dagger to the chest, but my priority is to find her and keep her safe.

This is my fault; I've gotten too close. This is why I don't get involved with my cadets! Or fucking anyone!

"Shit." I curse under my breath as shoot out of the bed and grab some clean clothes from my cupboard, frantically throwing them on. I dash out of the cabin to try and track her down, jumping right from the top step and not bothering to climb down the steps. I don't even put trainers on as no doubt I'll have to shift soon if I ever want a chance to try and...

My wolf ears pick up voices and I come to an abrupt stop.

Looking over my shoulder my eyes fixate onto the larger cabin that's behind the one we'd stayed in.

Has she seriously gone in there without me? He doesn't like visitors. In fact, he hates them. He only tolerates me because I'm his son.

Frowning, I look down at the mud and see clear tracks running that way and sigh. Fuck, she really does have some balls.

The rogue attack that took the life of my mum left my dad so badly disabled that he shunned away from pack life and has lived out here like a loner wolf ever since. He's heavily scarred across his face and body. His lower lip and jaw were literally sewn back on the right-hand side which causes him to slur his words. There was huge muscle damage to his left thigh, so he walks with a cane and has some mobility issues with his right hand that often claws up. As far as I know, he barely shifts now a days because his wolf is so weak. That being said, he's a survivor and one tough son of a bitch. Even in this state as a former Gamma he could cause Alice some real damage if he took a dislike to her. My dad's temper became so unpredictable that life out here alone suits him and the pack where he can't hurt anyone. I even had a small cabin built nearby for when I visit as he doesn't like people in his cabin anymore.

Picking up speed, I stride towards the large lake side cabin and hurry up the steps. Pushing open the wooden door, I'm expecting to hear shouting...but all I hear is laughter!

What the fuck?

Slowly, I walk through the open plan living room and head towards the large kitchen. My jaw actually hangs open for a moment when I find my dad in apron cooking Alice some pancakes as she chats and giggles away to him like their best friends.

Relief washes over me to find Wonderland safe, plus holy shit she looks good enough to eat sat at the kitchen island on a high stool. My eyes zone into her sexy legs and thighs that are on show as she appears to be dressed in just one of my old shirts and fuck if the sight of her in my clothes doesn't make my dick go hard. I stand there a good few moment just watching her until my dad breaks my attention.

"Well, you're finally awake!" Growls my dad as he spots me and puts down the frying pan, instantly looking pissed.

"Hey dad." I reply, but my eyes are back on Alice. She whips her head around to look at me, biting her lip nervously with a sheepish smile on her face. "Hey." She mumbles out.

Smirking, I take a seat next to her on one of the high tools and rest my arm across the back of her stool. I see her tense up, but I'm going to punish her for running out on me this morning.

"Coffee?" My dad barks at me.

"Yeah, that would be good. "I nod at him.

"Well, you know where the fucking pot is, we've guests. Where's your manners and offer Alice some will ya?" He barks again making me grin at him as he shuffles over to the fridge with his cane to get some ingredients out.

Turning to look at Alice, my eyes scan over her flushed face. That familiar sexy hue is back on her cheeks when she's embarrassed. I say nothing, I just stare at her with a heated look. I'd have loved to have eaten her pussy out this morning rather than these pancakes. I know how good she tastes now; I don't think I've ever tasted anything sweeter.

"What are you looking at? There's no birds in here Gamma Cole." Alice whispers nervously trying to break the ice, but I still want to punish her for waking up alone.

I get out of my stool, then crowd right into her space caging her in with my arms either side of her from behind and lean in. Alice trembles as I move my lips to her ear, "I'm looking at you. Just you." I whisper back.

Alice's scent is tantalising when I'm this close to her, although I'm a little bummed out she no longer carries my scent on her soft skin. Damn it, she's already showered. I'd of liked to take her again in the shower. Nice and hard.

"I... umm... I..." Alice tries to speak. She truly is adorable when she's embarrassed, but I've also seen a different side of her now and she's certainly not timid in the bedroom.

Chuckling to myself, I give her some space and walk around the counter towards where the coffee pot is and start making up a batch for us. "You want some coffee?" I grin at her with a raised brow.

"Sure." she says quietly as she chews her bottom lip.

As I make up a fresh pot, my dad shuffles over to the counter and throws down some fruit from the fridge right next to me. "Here wash and cut these up will ya." He growls. This is progress, he never asks for help for anything.

"No problem." I nod at him.

I physically see him smell the air, he looks at me then Alice, then back to me. "Is she your mate?" My dad frowns at me, obviously clocking that unlike Alice, I've not showered and washed her scent from my skin after last night's activities.

"You know I won't take a mate." I dead pan back at him; I don't fail to notice Alice flinch a little at my words and already I know shit is getting more complicated between us. I should have been open with Alice before we jumped into bed together. I guess I'll add that explanation to the growing list of things I've got to sort the fuck out these days.

My dad sighs at me shaking his head with his usual disappointed look on his face. "Fucking idiot." He mutters as he shuffles past me and over to Alice before putting his hand on her shoulder fondly. Something he's not done to me in years.

"I just can't get over how much you look like your mother. She was always a favourite of mine. Didn't take any shit from no one and my god she was fast." My dad chuckles and smiles, actually smiles, at Alice and I can't help but stop what I'm doing to watch them chat together. "I've got some old photos to show you of her and her squad when you're done with today's training."

"Wait, what?" Alice looks to me.

"You've not told her? Too busy last night huh?" My dad scowls at me and I roll my eyes at him before looking back to Alice.

"I brought you here because my dad trained your mum. I thought that maybe he could..." I start to say, but my dad interrupts me.

"You should've brought Alice around earlier, as soon as you knew what she was; you know shit all about training a silver. Let me guess, I bet all you've done is have her running fucking drills. Making her legs tired and seeing no results." My dad taunts.

"You wonder why I didn't come sooner! Because asking you for help is like a kick to the ball's dad!" I snap back. Hating that he's got me pegged so quickly.

My dad ignores me and looks to Alice. "Silvers don't become fast because they run endless laps."

He presses two fingers to her forehead and taps it hard twice. "The training is all in here. It's about training emotions. You get them under control, then you're talking. Now you two finish your breakfast and I'll meet you by the lake in thirty minutes." My dad says grouchily before he starts shuffles away up the corridor and slams his bedroom door closed leaving me alone with Alice.

"OK, I love your dad!" Alice beams at me. "Gamma Krane is literally the coolest guy ever; he was telling me about this time..." she giggles.

"Hold on!" I raise my hand up to her. "You like my dad?" I look at her puzzled.

"Of course! Plus, he makes killer pancakes!" Alice smiles as she finishes off the last of her breakfast and I can't help but shake my head at her. I drop the bowl of fruit I was cutting up on the counter for her to dig into as well, then bring over two mugs of coffee. I don't sit next to her this time; I just lean on the counter opposite her whilst I sip on my coffee as Alice demolishes the fruit bowl. Weirdly, this feels kind of nice. Just sitting having breakfast together, but then reality hits and I won't let myself go down that road. I need to shut this down now.

"Listen, about last night..." I say placing down my mug.

"Let's just forget it happened. I just needed to blow of some steam and by your own admission you don't want a mate and I'm not the sort of person just to sleep around when there's no future in it. It was a one-time thing. I've got enough going on, so let's just forget it OK. That's what you want too, right?" Alice says, never breaking eye contact with me.

Everything she says makes sense. She's right, that's what I want also, isn't it? She deserves more than to be just someone's casual hook up. Alice has given me a clean, no questions asked 'out' here. I should take it will both hands and run the other way... then why do I feel like fucking shit as soon as she spoke every single word...

"Yeah, that's what I want." I agree, before throwing back my coffee down my throat and turning away from her and head back out the front door.

Time to get a shower and rid Alice from my skin and from my fucking heart.