Sleep had now become an illusion. Without the medication and the distance I placed between Caleb and I, my nights where sleepless. I was plagued by broken sleep and vivid dreams. Though they weren't outright nightmares they were unsettling to say the least.

A week had past but that meant little to nothing. I was still avoiding Caleb, I ignored Taylor's attempts to make amends and a bounty was still very much over my head. The only good thing that seemed to come out of this week was the fact that my mark had healed a lot and my spiraling emotions had somehow leveled out. The only thing that lingered was a small sense of loneliness and a huge craving for him.

That was the major reason for dodging his presence. After the incident I had with Taylor and the small amount of time I spoke with Caleb I've had a growing alluring feeling towards him.

It was unavoidable and uncontrollable. I remember just a few days ago I just heard his voice and I sat against the wall listening because it captivated my attention. If the sound of his voice made me want him I didn't want to know what physical contact would make me do. Hence, why I've been eluding him. For my own good.

I was finishing up my bowl of cereal when I heard female voices coming into the massive kitchen. There was no need to look up, I wasn't curious enough to care. I continued to the table to sit down. I scrolled through my phone while whoever walked into started to giggle. There was silence however when the voices rounded the corner and stood at the entrance of the kitchen.

The sudden silence was what made me curious enough to look up.

Naní was talking with Taylor but when they noticed me they had ended their conversation. Taylor avoided my eye contact when I looked over both of them. Naní gave me a small smile that I did not return.

Taylor was swift to move out of my eye range darting to the kitchen behind me. Naní on the other hand came to sit next to me.

"How are you doing?" She asked me looking at my now empty bowl.

"As well as I'll ever be." I blurted out half-heartedly.

When Naní heard my lack of enthusiasm for holding a conversation she bit her lip. It was something that Naní hardly did. She wasn't the type to get nervous or self conscious. Where was her stoic attitude now?

"Hey, listen. I know you're having a rough time," I scoffed at her words. Rough didn't even begin to describe what I was feeling right now. "-but tonight is one of the biggest meteor showers. You should join us out back to watch it."

"Eh, I don't know. I'm pretty content with my bedroom." She sighed at my decline.

"Please come with us." Naní was begging at this point and I've never seen this strong woman beg for anything. The only person I've seen her bend to was Caleb and I think that was purely out of respect.

I looked at Taylor who was now standing beside Naní. I couldn't help my intense stare remembering the incident a week ago. I still wanted my medication back but I wasn't about to ask for them back. I had been trying to figure out a plan in sneaking them back but I haven't figured out a good course of plan yet.

Taylor must have read my doubtful face because she dropped her gaze from mine. She rolled her thumbs together in a nervous manner. This is the first time I think I've ever been able to make Taylor squirm under my gaze. This was all very new to me, I was usually the passive person between the two of us.

"I'll think about it." I replied standing up to wash my bowl.

They didn't press on the conversation as I made it hard to continue on. I felt a tinge of guilt for being curt but I wasn't okay. I was trying to take care of myself and I was failing miserably.

When I remained silent they both left. I was finally able to relax when I was left by myself. Release a breath I was holding, my happiness at being left alone diminished when I saw Alex walk in. Alex was probably the only person besides Naní that I could tolerate right now.

With a meek smile he said "Hey,"

I returned a smile before making my way back up to my room. That's all I've been doing. Hiding away and waiting for everything to pass and blow over.

As I was about to pass the threshold of the kitchen into the dining hall Alex grabbed my arm stopping me. His face held concern as he looked me up and down.

"Where have you been? I haven't seen you in days." He asked but he and I both knew the answer. It was obvious. I'm sure Caleb spoke to him about me. It wasn't a secret that Caleb checked on me multiple times a day, every day. Though he didn't barge into my room he did knock and ask how I was doing. I think he checked on me more for himself than for me. I wasn't complaining or inviting it because everyday he showed, the more I wanted him to linger around.

I was starting to find myself waiting for him to check on me everyday. It was unnerving.

"I've been keeping to my room." I answered blankly as I pulled my arm away from him. He frowned at the gesture of distance.

He stared at me and we were for a brief moment looking at one another in complete silence. It wasn't awkward it was like we were trying to read each other's body language and respond from it.

With a reluctant look Alex ran his hand through his hair, something he did when he was anxious. "Eve, I want to just say I'm sorry on behalf of everyone."

"Alex don't-" I didn't want him apologizing for everyone else. He didn't do anything wrong.

"No, wait please hear me out. What happened shouldn't have happened how it did. I know Caleb didn't mark you with malicious intent. He did it because he's scared to lose you. I don't think you see how much that man is nuts over you." He waved his hands around in fuss.

"I highly doubt he's that scared to lose me." I countered.

"That's where you're wrong. He's terrified of what could happen to you if this rat gets a hold of you. Though I don't agree with him marking you without first explaining why, I know he didn't do it to harm you." I scoffed at his explanation. When he noticed my disgust with hearing him defend Caleb he moved closer to me so we were only a foot apart. "What I'm trying to get you to see is that... don't avoid him forever. You need him and he needs you. That's what mates are. You guys are two halves to to a shared soul. You guys are made for each other and make each other better."

I looked away from him to the window where I saw a dash of blonde run into the woods. My heart sped up as I fought the urge to follow after it. I knew it was Caleb but I reminded myself I couldn't trust myself around him. The welcomed distraction however was cut short as Alex caught my attention again.

"Eve, if there's one thing I ask you to do, it's please don't take the bond you have to each other for granted. Not everyone gets a mate." When he said this, there was a somber look on his face.

"But aren't you and Naní... mates?"

Alex looked amused and surprised by my question. I wasn't sure how werewolf bonding worked. I knew Naní had a mate and he was killed but Alex never mentioned anything about having a mate. For all I knew he was Naní's mate but she wasn't his because she already had one. My heart felt for her when I thought back to how broken she was when she talked about her late partner.

Alex chuckled as he ran his hand again through his hair. At this rate he was going to go bald running his hands through his hair. "Naní and I are not mates. Leo, my best friend was her mate." He explained. Though he was giving me a small smile I knew it was forced to cover up the sadness that came over him as he thought about his friend. "I won't ever have a mate. A drawback of being turned. Only born werewolves have mates."

"Oh, then how do I have one? I'm human." The longer we conversed the more I was perplexed.

"You would have never known you had one if it weren't for Caleb. He knew who you were to him the moment he saw you. You didn't even know it at the time, but you had become the most beautiful and most important person to him. And you didn't have to do a thing... but be you." Alex paused for a moment letting me absorb everything that he was throwing at me. "Like I said before Eve, you have every right to be mad at him but try not to close him off completely." Guilt slowly blanketed over me as he continued to speak. "It'll do more harm then good. Go at your our own pace and on your terms, just don't close yourself off forever."

I couldn't help but groan. As if Caleb was going to let me do anything completely on my own terms. That's what landed us in the position that we are in now but he went ahead and ignored my wishes.

Annoyed as the thoughts of how I ended up where I am now fluttered in my head I was quick to respond. "Caleb is a hard headed-" Alex laughed interrupting me.

"Trust me you don't have to finish that sentence. I've known this guy for the past fifteen years. He was the one that turned me after all."

My eyes widened in surprised. It never crossed my mind that Caleb was the one that turned him. I guess Caleb couldn't help himself when it comes to biting people.

"Did- did you want to be turned?" I asked innocently, trying not to pry, but it was so intriguing how could I not wonder? I wondered if it hurt as much as the mark on my neck.

Subconsciously, I rubbed over the mark on my neck. It wasn't so red and inflamed now but there was still a dull ache. The ache would get worse at night I've noticed. I wasn't sure if that was because pains are worse at night or the fact that it was the separation. I was hoping it wasn't the latter of the two.

"Of course I wanted to. Caleb didn't hold me down and bite me." He joked. The moment the words left his lips his face immediately dropped. "Shit! I'm sorry Eve. That was a fucked up joke."

Pursing my lips and looked back over to the window. My mark throbbed as a deepening allurement surged in my chest. My body was sending my signals to go look for him, but my mind new better. I was still hurt and felt betrayed by him.

"You okay?"

Alex snapped me out of my trans as I connected with his hazel eyes.

"Umm, yea. I think you're right about not hiding away. I'm going to get some fresh air." Stepping towards the garden room Alex grabbed my wrist again.

"Be careful, you don't have your Presidio Casta."

Scrunching my eyebrows together in confusion. "A paradise what?"

"You don't have you necklace on anymore Eve. You're very vulnerable right now." I thought back to when it was removed. Caleb had taken it off to mark me. How stupid I felt recalling it all again. When he was taking it off I should have known something was up. As I thought more in-depth about it I remembered what all the necklace protected me from. It all made sense now why he removed it. He would have poisoned himself when he bit me if he hadn't taken it off.

"Caleb has it. He took it off when-" I didn't want to bring up the subject again knowing it would only heighten my temper. I had become short when it came to the fuse of my temperament and aggression. "Anyways," I sighed shaking off the topic. "I'm going out back."

With a simple nodded I brushed past Alex. I headed towards the garden. Stopping in the luscious garden I allowed myself to inhale the abundance of different fragrances the many random flowers had to offer. I wondered why werewolves would even care to have a garden. There was a part of me that couldn't imagine any valid reason for having this many different flowers and herbs. But... maybe there was a reason I thought as I set my eyes on one of the plants that looked dark in color. It reminded me of the dark flower petals in my pendent. Now I know where Caleb got all those flowers for the necklace.

There was a sudden clatter that sounded like someone dropped a small metal object in the garden. Turning around my anxiety flared up as I tried to find the source of the sound. I was alone though as I scanned my eyes around the room. My palmed became clammy and my mouth was suddenly dry.

"Hello?" I questioned hoping some random person would pop up. I gulped down a ball of nerves as I slowly stepped around the many tables of herbs and flowers. "Hello is anyone there?"

There was no answer. When I was about to ask again I found the source of the noise, there was a small garden trowel. There was dirty around it like it had fallen from a pot but I couldn't find a pot with disturbed dirty. About to pick it up I sensed something move in my peripheral view but couldn't see exactly what it was as it darted out of my vision. What ever it was, was on the outside of the garden room and only a shadow against the glass mosaic of the walls.

This abrupt encounter created skepticism in going outside. I knew I wasn't going out just to get air that was only an excuse to tell Alex. The moment I saw his blonde wolf I knew I wanted to see Caleb. What I would do when I did... I wasn't sure. I just had this uncontrollable urge to look for him, be around him regardless of everything.

Was I okay with what he did to me? No. But I'll be damned if I wasn't honest with myself in saying I still yearned to be around him.

Looking around again for someone, I knew had already left, I picked up the trowel and put it on one of the tables. Biting my lip I opened the mosaic doors to step outside in search of Caleb. Careful to peek my head out to be sure no one was there I waiting to make sure I truly was alone. I didn't want someone to get the jump on me, but then I facepalmed knowing I was safe on the estate. Someone would notice an enemy before they got this close to the mansion... right? But then there was the rat...

Screw it! I told myself as I fully opened the door and made my way outside. If the rat was watching me right now I was good as dead. And like Caleb said they were playing their cards right so far, they wouldn't risk doing something to me here on the property it would be too risky. At least I think it would be.

Pushing these possibilities to the back of my mind I opened the gate that circled the pool area of the back yard and started my way up the hill that led to the tree line of the forest.

I didn't wait to go into the woods, too afraid I would change my mind if I stopped. I pushed branches out of my way and continued on.

There wasn't much noise in the woods besides the birds chirping above and the faint rustle of the leaves as the breeze brushed through them. I didn't know what direction to go as I realized I didn't know where Caleb had headed off to. I was sure he hadn't gone that far I assured myself, then again what do I know about what an Alpha does on his free time. For all I knew he went off to kill something.

Did they hunt wild animals on their free time? Probably just more fun, I thought.

I let my mind wonder off as I walked through the forest floor. I pulled myself over fallen trees and under thick low branches, all the while I was lost in thought.

My mind was playing dangerous games in my head as I kept thinking about him. It was like that was all I was capable of thinking at the moment. All that my mind could do was consume itself in everything and anything related to Caleb.

I thought about his touch, about his deep sapphire blue eyes, and the bliss feeling that engulfed me every-time that I touched him. I groaned as I realized that this bond was starting to drive me closer to the end game I knew was upon us soon. It didn't matter how terrifyingly fast everything was moving between us and the fact I felt like I had no control over the pace. I should have had this feeling that I was being forced to like him but it didn't feel like that at all. I felt enticed since the bite.

I hummed a random tune as I wandered deeper into the woods. The rays of the sun decreased the longer I wandered in. That wasn't the only change as I walked further the woods were becoming more dense with more random twigs and branches. The spaces between trees became tighter and vegetation grew up the towering trunks of the tall pine trees.

My admiration is the massive pine trees was cut short as a snap of twigs had my breath hitched in my throat. My heart pounded against my rib cage as I tried not to panic.

It was probably a deer or something Evelyn, nothing to worry about.

Another snap was heard but it sounded closer and louder like an entire branch snapped in half. I bit the side of my check to keep from tearing up with the endless possible scenarios that could possibly happen if what ever was near decided I was food.

It didn't matter, however, as my body relaxed and my heart kept with joy at the sight that came from behind a near by tree. A blonde coat wolf appeared with piercing blue eyes. I let out the breath that was hitched in my thought out feeling a sense of relaxation set it.

He came up to me put stop a few feet away from me. I could tell he wanted to come closer but wasn't. I assumed he stopped himself in fear it would scare me away. The wolf sat down in front of me and I noticed it was holding a pair of gray sweat pants in its mouth. It dropped them and continued to stare at me. What was he waiting for?

Then it dawned on me. He wanted me to come to him. To show him I was scared of him any longer. I'm sure after the last time he was a wolf in front of me I screamed and ran. Now it all just seemed normal and expected though it was still astonishing every-time I thought about it.

I took slow stepped towards him all the while he watched my ever move. He was reading me like an open book. Every movement I made never went unnoticed. Not even when I rolled my lip into my mouth in a nervous way as I neared him. I was not only a foot away.

Cautiously, I extended me arm out to him. Watching and waiting for him to sniff my hand or walk into it but he didn't. Getting the impression that he didn't like my deep gaze I closed my eyes letting him feel more at ease I hoped. It must have worked because soon after I felt the soft coat of fur that I knew was Caleb.

Opening one eye I peaked at my hand. I was lightly scratching behind his ear as his eyes had closed slightly enjoying the feeling. I opened my other eye has his mouth opened in delight when my hand moved to the top of his head to continue scratching.

I couldn't help the tiny chuckle that came out of my mouth when I saw the wolf grin I was causing him to make. He snapped out of the moment when he heard my chuckle pulling back and looking up at me. He was a couple inches shorter than me but regardless he was definitely massive compared to a normal wild wolf.

When I finally dropped my hand to my side he moved back to his sweat pants picking them up and running to the other side of one of the massive trees.