"So how has you training been coming along?" Desmond asked passing me a bowl of mash potatoes. It was just us two in the dinning room.

I shrugged. "I'm sure Ivy thinks that I need a lot more practice." I mumbled serving myself.

It was true. Ivy thought I had much still to learn and get better at. I could hear her voice now telling me how uncoordinated I was and how unfocused I planned my attacks. Fighting wasn't something easy that I could do, I was fast, strong, or as agile as werewolves. Learning to fight seemed counterproductive to me. It left mee realizing just how out matched I was.

"Well, since you're feeling much better I'd like you to start back up with Ivy tomorrow." I placed the bowl down and looked over at him. "If you're up to it." He added.

Footsteps that have come to both leave me buzzing with excitement and apprehensively stiff approached the dinning room. Desmond and I peered up as Osiris sat himself reticently at he head of the table. He rolled up his sleeves not once looking over to us.

A part of me was annoyed another grateful for his lack of interest in me. I wasn't sure why it bothered me but the fact he didn't acknowledge felt hurtful.

Desmond cleared his throat, an attempt to catch Osiris's attention, but it did nothing but make the atmosphere to become thick and uninviting. It made my skin crawl with the awkwardness.

"How was the evening patrol brother?" Desmond started putting a fork-full of chicken in his mouth.

Osiris began filling his plate. "Same old."

There was silence again except for the screeching of our silverware. I gulped down half my glass of wine nestling my limit of apprehension.

I wiped my bottom lip training my eyes over toward Osiris with a new found confidence.

"Desmond shared with me that you spoke with Philip." Osiris stopped his scooping of mash potatoes his eyes were still glued to the bowl when he froze.

Regret filled my body as he slowly placed the bowl back down. I shouldn't have brought up the subject, I should have just kept my mouth shut. But no, little ole Seraphina had to open her trap.

Osiris slide a slice of chicken breast onto his plate when he peered through his eyelashes over at us. His face was unreadable.

"I didn't know we were discussing private alpha meetings with just anyone Desmond." His monotone voice and harsh words squished what little confidence I still had.

I couldn't understand his cryptic behavior. One minute he'll let me get my way the next he seemingly despises me. The mixed signals were throwing me off.

Desmond gave his brother a sneer. "I wouldn't normally share such information but seeing as this impacted Sera I think it'd be appropriate to tell her that she doesn't need to worry about her mother."

Osiris sighed with a bored expression opening up the napkin and laying it on his lap.

"You could have told her, she didn't need to worry anymore without sharing the part about the alpha meeting."

"She's my mate Osiris and the beta female of the pack now. She has every right to know this kind of stuff."

Osiris's jaw clenched while his shadowy eyes turned infinitely black on his brother then on me.

"She's not just anyone." Desmond commented causing his older brother's lip to twitch.

It felt good having Desmond stand up for me and correct his older brother. Osiris has been nothing short of rude and put off toward me, finding any error I make as monumental. I knew alphas to be controlling but I never had one this indulged in me, not even Philip dealt this much with me.

"I'm well aware," Osiris grumbled his eyes dimming back to their hazel warmth. He picked up his fork looking away from us as he piled food into his mouth.

My appetite diminished with each passing minute. Desmond had to tell me a multitude of times to keep eating finding my plate mostly full regardless of the number of times I scoops half spoonfuls of food into my mouth. He wasn't satisfied and from the glances, I took his direction periodically told me he blamed Osiris.

Desmond did little to hide the vexed state he had toward Osiris. Osiris either didn't seem bothered or didn't notice, whichever one it was he never looked over at Desmond.

There were a few minutes that follow that were solely filled with the clanging of our silverware. Calling the atmosphere of the room awkward would be an understatement and to make matters worse my mind was filling with possible ways I could properly apologize to Desmond for the spontaneous kiss.

My skin heated when I recalled the way his lips felt on mine. The kiss felt warm and safe. I was so thrilled hearing that Desmond persuaded his brother that I cared little about how I expressed my enthusiasm.

"How are your fingers?"

His voice broke the awkward silence. I debated a moment if I wanted to train my head over in his direction, but I forced myself to show some kind of acknowledgment. I didn't need to give him any reason to be further bothered by me.

I flexed my fingers in front of my face so Osiris could see them. "Much better. Thank you for finding me." I thanked turning away. "I never got a chance to tell you how grateful I was that you found me the other night." I paused. "And you were right, I shouldn't have wandered out alone as I did."

I heard him suck in a breath of air as he listened to my apology. I figured he wasn't expecting me to say anything to Osiris. If I never tried to show some chivalry in admitting that I made a mistake I feared that Osiris would see me as a brat.

It bothered me how much I cared what he thought of me and the more mistakes I made and conversations I had with him the more I wanted to perfect myself. I blamed it on the fact that he was the alpha and the last thing I wanted was to piss him off and he kicked me out of the pack.

That would make for an argument between Desmond and him. Osiris cleared his throat. "I'm glad you've come to realize your actions were poorly executed." My chest tightened. "But I'm glad you are okay."

My eyes snapped to his in disbelief. He was glad I was okay. The words sounded sincere as he said them, but I couldn't help but feel that his sincerity was a mask. He wouldn't openly admit that to me, not after the way he treated me since I'd arrived here. Like I said before, he was a roller coaster of ups and downs. Nothing was straightforward with him.

I offered him a small smile turning back to my plate and finishing the last bits of food I had left.

After Osiris's words, my appetite grew back to what it once was before he entered the room. I hadn't noticed just how hungry I had become locking myself away in my room.

Patting my lips clean I pushed my chair back to stand and take my dish to the kitchen. Lucky was gone for the day, and I would normally load the dishwasher up for him but I decided I'd take my time to wash the dishes in the sink.

"Ivy mentioned that you've missed your family," Desmond muttered in the doorway of the kitchen. "I've had time to talk to Osiris about allowing them to visit for a few days."

Soap trailed down my arm as I jumped at his voice. I would normally care about the mess I was making with the bubbly soap, but I could have cared less as excitement clouded my mind.

He had gone out of his way, without asking me first, and spoke to Osiris about letting my parents visit. Maybe Desmond wasn't as put off by me as I originally thought.

My lips curled up in delight as I rinsed off the plate.

"Are-are you serious?"

Desmond smiled walking closer stopping just shy of the wooden island. "I've arranged them to visit once this snowstorm passes."

I reached across the island grabbing the collar of his jacket pulling him closer until I could wrap my armed joyfully around his neck in an embrace. He moved his head to the side more than he needed. If I didn't know any better, he tilted his head as far from my face as possible. Was my kiss that bad?

I knew I should have asked before just throwing myself against him and kissing him in the bathroom earlier.

Insulted and embarrassed I pressed the side of my face against the middle of his chest. His steady heartbeat was heard clearly in my ear, and it was racing.

"I wanted to properly apologize about earlier. I- that's not like me." I explained pulling back to look up into his brown eyes. His eyes fogged over for a split second before they returned to normal.

He let out a nervous chuckle putting his hands on my waist, facing me I noticed how uncomfortable he looked. This was not how I imagined my mate looking at me. I thought it'd be a bit more homely and inviting.

"It's alright, you were happy. You acted on pure excitement." He shrugged.

His face scrunched up in deep concentration. I took a step back at his peculiar expression but I didn't step far away before he dug his fingers into my sides. It wasn't painful, it was strong enough to keep my planted in place.

"Is everything alright?" I heard Osiris question as he moved into the kitchen. He rose his eyebrow as he looked between us both. "I overheard you apologize."

"Nothing happened Osiris." Desmond corrected letting go of me allowing me to turn around and follow Osiris's movements.

Osiris stopped in front of the sink dropping his dish inside. He leaned his palms again the edge of the island as his eyes wandered from his brother. His eyes trailed down Desmond's arm to where his hand rested on the small of my back.

Osiris's stare was lethal, aggressive, it was curious and suspicious. I didn't see the need he showed for knowing the littlest of details between Desmond and I. He was noisy like an alpha but his curiosity was overbearing.

"Then what's with the apology?" He tilted his head.

I yawned feeling the sleepiness settling in and my food coma leaving my tired. Hurry to crawl into bed I rested my hand on Desmond's abs and rested my head on his shoulder.

Osiris's eyes tightened slightly at my hand placement but I ignored it as I spoke up. "When Desmond shared that you spoke with Philip I was ecstatic. So, I kissed him as a thank you." I'd rather the information be out than to ignore or possibly anger Osiris.

I looked up at Desmond with a smile. He looked down at me with a small smile of his own before we were distracted from our starring at the sound of wood cracking.

My head swiveled in the direction of the noise and I was shocked when I witnessed splintered wood. The place where Osiris's hands rested were dented now; splintering wood jetted out in different direction out around his clenched hand. He had somehow squeezed with enough force to break the thick wood.

Stunned and concerned I believed this all to be a freak accident so I moved quick to examine his hand. There was no way he didn't pierce himself by accident.

"Jesus Osiris!" I grabbed his left hand turning it over to look at it.

I didn't get even a glimpse of his palm before he tore it from my hands. "Osiris, you're hurt. Let me see it."

"I'll heal, forget about it." He grunted. Osiris stared over my head toward Desmond.

I didn't turn around trying hard to sneak a peek at the damage he wouldn't show me. I could see droplets of blood fall from his fists. It annoyed me he would let me help him.

"Desmond we need to talk over a few things." Osiris's voice was strained when I gazed up. His eyes swirled between hazel and black; I took a cautious retreating step back.

I heard Desmond sigh. "I figured, let me walk Sera to bed first."

"Uh- no, I'm fine." I answered Desmond looking still at Osiris. His chest rose and fell with aggravation. The muscles in his forearms flexed with agitation. Fixated on his shaking muscles I continued. "I'll take myself to bed."

It wasn't that I didn't want Desmond to walk me to bed it was the fact that his brother looked like he was a few seconds away from snapping. I could hear Ivy's echoing words in my head about not getting in between the brothers when they were heated.

I didn't want to linger around any longer than I already was.

With causation I exited the room scurrying to my room. I had shut the door behind me and plopped myself down on my bed. My fingers ran through my curly hair as I stared at the wood floor.

The cabin was silent and I took that as a good sign so I was ably to let out a breath of relief. My hand ran down my face, exhaustion finally hitting me.

My nose twitched as I smelled something salty. I dropped my hand from my face peering around my room for whatever the smell was. Bewildered when the smell went away I picked at lip with my fingers still feeling the pent up anxiety from earlier.

The smell quickly returned and I pulled my hand away from my lip. Once again the smell, disappeared.

Confused, I brought my hand to my noise again and the smell was this time potent. My hand jerked away from my nose as I turned on the lamp to see my hand.

My eyes widened when I realized what the smell was.

There was the smallest dried up smear of blood on the back index finger.

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