I can hear the water from the shower as it hits the glass and porcelain as the sounds stir my senses awake. How long was I asleep for?

Reaching over the bed is empty and cold, she has been up for a while. The water stops and I hear her step out with a soft hum. Sitting up I head for the bathroom door before stopping myself, she would freak out if I went in there, moving to the closet in search of clothing instead.

The door opens slow and quiet, Sophia thinks I'm still sleeping with the way she steps softly on the floor. Watching her is amusing as she looks down to see the floor under foot. "Morning" she jumps with a shriek when she hears my voice, covering her mouth before covering her heart with her hand. "Damn it Cage! You scared me." Her nose scrunches while she calms her breathing, I can hear her heart racing. "Not so funny when it happens to you, is it?" Teasing her for something she does to others often.

"I thought you would be sleeping." Rolling her eyes as she tucks a wet strand of hair behind her ear breathing deeply, I can see the heat creep over her cheeks. Looking her over she has one of my button up shirts on with a pair of my boxers. "I hope you don't mind my clothing was dirty so I washed them with your basket of clothing. They are in the dryer." The slight pink of her cheeks deepens to an almost crimson colour as her blush spreads and she looks away.

"Feel free, What's mine is yours. It looks better on you anyway." She giggles with me when I chuckle. Her smile stays as shyness settles over her when she looks away.

"Have you eaten yet?" I have to get out of this bedroom before we never make it out.

She shakes her head no. "I was waiting for you." She admits.

"Come then, I'll make you breakfast." Taking her hand and leading her out of the room and to the table, pulling a chair out for her to sit down. I put more wood on the fire although it doesn't need it. She must have put some on it herself. "Were you cold?" Asking her while closing the wood stoves door and glancing out the window before turning to her, it's already starting to get dark outside we slept all day.

"A little." She says before pointing out the window "kind of late for breakfast." She gives a cheeky grin.

"Yeah guess it is, what would you like instead?" Her eyes roam my exposed torso. They are dilated slightly when she focuses back on mine. The bond strums loud between us, pulling its cords in a rhythmic trance, engulfing us in its silent sound.

Mate. The wolf can hardly be contained down. Her neck looks delicate and tantalisingly delicious.

"B-breakfast is fine." Sophia stutters as she tries to regain her own control, she is overwhelmed. This is something she doesn't understand and it is playing against her. I need to tell her, we can't continue like this, we are both falling into the waves.

Going to the fridge the cool air feels good against my heated skin. I take a moment to let it help to settle me down. I already feel my canines digging into my bottom lip, licking them when a droplet of blood forms. Breathe.

Reaching for the eggs I decide on scrambled eggs and bacon. Quick and simple. "Would you like help with anything?" She leans in her chair to glance over while asking.

I'm glad the island is between us.

Grinning more to myself I shake my head. "Not now." Winking in her direction. She covers her mouth while snorting, "You are such a pervert HotShot." She laughs out and I laugh with her. I could spend the rest of my life just like this with her, laughing. I want our lives full of moments just like this one. I wish I could pull her into me right now, just holder, kiss her lips.

Please, Goddess.

Shaking my head of the thoughts I busy myself with cooking instead. Glancing over now and again she inhales deeply before turning her head when we catch each other's eyes. Making quick work of it placing the food on a plate and serving her before getting myself some. She thanks me taking a bit with a hum while I sit down in the chair at the head of the table next to her and we fall into a comfortable silence while we eat.

"Cage?" Sophia seems nervous, she has been pushing around the last of her eggs on her plate. "Yes?" Saying it quietly, I don't know why she has gotten nervous suddenly and it sets off my own anxiety.

"While cleaning your house earlier," her face grows red as the heat spreads through her, a slight hint of guilt can be smelled on the tip of my tongue as I lick my lips, "I accidentally knocked over a few things, your sketchbook was one of them." She looks over to me and my eyes widen as the thought sinks in.

"What did you see?" Rushing the words out while reaching for my drink and trying to swallow it down, my mouth is starting to feel like cotton.

"I think the real question should be what are you drawing mister!" She raises a brow leaning back in her seat. Clearing my throat doesn't seem to help either "nothing like that," I can feel the heat in my face now as she watches me, eyes swirling with thoughts. Her lips tug to the side in a slanted smirk. "A few pages before I closed it. You are, very good." Her face gets deeper in colour but her smile does not fade.

"Im sorry really, I couldn't help it." Starting the embarrassing apology now at what she must have seen. All the pictures of moments I have caught her in, trying out the shape of her, page after page. Practicing her eyes to regain the lost skill, then her face as it got better. She has a slight chuckle to her. "Its fine, I probably would have been creeped out before but..." She trails off with her thought. I want to know that full thought. My own mind turns with my own deep thoughts, I need to tell her the truth of what I am. "I closed the book after I saw a few pages, it didn't feel right going through your belongings like that although the look on your face makes me wonder how far you went with it." Her eyes roam down from my face over my arm across my chest before darting back up with a mischievous smile on her face.

Shaking my head, "so you cleaned my cabin?" I need to change the subject. Those pictures I have been waiting for the live model to draw.

"Ya, I have a habit of it when I'm in a mood." She says looking at her fingers as she fidgets them inhaling in and out slowly, "I kind of reorganized your kitchen." "I feel it's more efficient now. Sorry I really couldn't help it." She looks over her shoulder to the cupboards, her eyes land on the box I had been trying to forget about. She looks back to me. "How are you by the way I never got to properly ask you since the other day. Ready to talk about it yet?" She asks pushing the plate slightly away. Taking both of our plates scraping the leftovers before washing them in the sink "I don't know," voice so low the sound runs down the drain with the water. Sophia waits patiently for me to finish putting them back in the cupboard, after drying them as slow as I could, before she taps my seat for me to sit again. Placing her chin in her hand as she rests her elbow on the table she studies me closely, putting her hand over mine when I do finally take my seat. "I have been avoiding it." watching her thumb run over my skin, back and forth comforting.

"I can tell" she gives me a slight smile. "Im probably the worst person you could come to for advice and comfort but I'm here to listen if you want, I won't push you if you don't."

Turning my hand over I grasp her hand entwining our fingers together. "You are doing better than you think." releasing the breath I didn't realize I was holding, "it's a lot to take in, I spent my whole life not knowing and at some point I didn't want to know, but now that I do, I think I'm going back to those same questions I had when I was younger."

"What questions?" She leans in closer to listen.

"Who he was and why he left, mostly." Speaking softly Sophia turns her head slightly away and I look to our hands when she squeezes tightly. She looks back when she finally loosens her grip apologizing, "I'm still listening," she tells me.

"We don't have to talk about this if it bothers you." putting my arm on the table tentatively placing my free hand over hers encasing it completely. "It's fine, really." Her smile is forced as her shoulders tense up and she bits her inner cheek before releasing it from her teeth. She wants to say more but she won't.

"Your dad left" coming to the conclusion, "you said the other day your parents relationship was far from perfect, Wayne told me your parents divorced."

"Of course that gossip did." She blows out an annoyed breath. "It was a long time ago that my parents separated, my dad moved back home, got himself a new family, left little time for me." her eyes no longer swirl with their usual strength as they start to dull while she explains, "He tried but he couldn't do both and I was never welcomed there. When mom died and I was forced to be there it caused nothing but problems. It's a touchy subject and besides, we are discussing you." She redirects the conversation back to its origin.

Taking my hand back rubbing my neck while leaning on the arm I never realized she had these kinds of problems, I guess I didn't know as much about her as I thought I did. "My dad didn't leave surprisingly, he died." responding sheepishly, "doesn't seem so bad in comparison." She lifts a brow and her cheek is pulled back between her teeth.

"I don't mean it like that, just that... " letting the sentence die not knowing what to say; now I feel like a total ass.

"it's fine. I am over it. we have our dealings, I come down in the winter to tend to his cattle and horses as a veterinarian and I get to stay in the small guest house with pay. We spend family time together and then I come back here in the sping. it's not perfect but it's better than nothing." she explains. "I love my siblings, and I don't always hate my father. I just don't get my hopes up with them anymore."

"I'm sorry," it isn't the right thing to say but it's the only thing I can think of to at this point.

"anyways, back to you remember." she points.

Taking the cue to move away from that subject, explaining the only things I know. "There really isn't much to say, seems like most of his life is on that box. some old nick nacks, pictures, cds, not really much to go by. I know he was my friends uncle who died a long time ago, Scott named his oldest after him."

"your grandparents never told you about him." she asks and I shake my head, "never, most of my questions always dealt with the why not the who. Grams always got this hurt look on her face and it made me feel bad so I quit asking and eventually I didn't care to know anymore."

Sophia nods her head with a smile, "at least you had people who loved and cared about you enough to take care of you. That's what matters."

"They tried." tugging at the collar of my shirt that is starting to feel too tight around my neck.

Restricted.

She giggles softly before biting her lip, "most parents do It's not meant to be perfect. I think they did a decent job, you aren't half bad." she winks as she leans in closer. I can't help leaning in with her. I can feel the air around intensify and vibrate the closer we get to one another. Her tongue darts out to moisten her top lip and I can't stop myself as my lip press to hers. Eyes close in bliss as her hand slides up my neck making my skin tingle with the feel of the contact before she rests it on the nap of my neck her other hand grips the front of my shirt pulling me closer. She pulls away with laughter when the table moves as I push against it with my body trying to reach hers.

I'm too far gone to stop now.

Pulling her into my lap she makes no attempts to stop me, pressing her body closer to mine instead. Groaning when I feel the heat of her against me. Grabbing her chin bringing her lips back to mine nipping her lips she gasps opening her mouth enough for me to seek entrance. I can feel the pressure of her fingers digging into my shoulders when she moans before they run over to my neck causing a shiver to run through me where she just skimmed. My pants are starting to feel too constricted.

Sophia pulls away first whispering my name in a begging tone and that's all I need standing up her legs wrap themselves around my hips as her feet lock behind my back. Her hands hold on to my shoulders tight as her eyes lock with mine. They now swirl like a raging sea as it crashes waves against anything trapped in its storm; I want to be lost at sea. Teeth rake themselves over her lips so inviting, puffed and swollen. Those eyes watch me intently when our eyes meet again and she crashes those lips to mine biting back hard before seeking her own entrance into my mouth. She's not gentle with what she wants, its demanding and who am I to deny her?

Her body presses against mine a slight grind in her hips, I have to move my hands from her thighs to her ass for a better grip. Musten drop my precious cargo. Sophia demands more the moment her back hits the bed pulling me tight to her. Popping open the top few buttons of the shirt blowing on her heated skin making her body tremble. She tugs my shirt up my back running her nails over it as she moves before I help take it off, no patience to wait fingers skim over skin stopping at the button on my pants. Kissing down her neck I can't stop my canines from coming out when she turns her head moaning loud as I kiss over her bare neck and shoulder. I pause for a moment heavy breathing as my mind swirls with the wolf trying to push through. What am I doing?

"w-we need to stop." I try to pull myself away but her hands grab hold of my arms.

"Seriously? Again?" she pants, "I ain't drunk so what is it this time?" Sopha tries to look me in the eyes but I have to turn my head away so she can't see what is happening to me in this moment while I fight for my full control. I feel the hurt and anger rolling off of her.

"There is something I need to tell you" panting hard and groaning from the exertion. I'm not winning this fight with him I'm barely holding on, vision blurring I can't see straight. This has gone too far now and she needs to know the truth before she finds out the wrong way. "Only now? This couldn't happen 10 minutes ago?" she asks in angry disbelief propping herself on her elbows.

"I'm a werewolf," forcing words out through clenched teeth digging my nails into my legs to try and ground myself to my spot. I can still feel my canines poking out past my lips but my sight is starting to slow its spinning. She stares at me but I can't meet her eyes. I don't know why I feel so ashamed, this isn't something I should have ever felt shame for. "I've wanted to tell you this whole time. I never meant to keep it from you." Her breath hitches in the back of her throat as fear takes hold, the storm in her eyes has calmed while she backs away from me on the bed. "Don't touch me. T-take me home." She is trying to be brave as her face hardens but I can hear the fear, I smell it souring her blossoming scent and her heart beats rapidly in her chest. She pulls her body away completely covering up when I reach for her. I can't swallow down the whimper that rises up from my chest from the wolf.

"I'm not going to hurt you, Sophia, I told you two days ago you were my soul mate and I meant that. I only want to talk, please don't do this." Begging, pleading. I can't let her go.

"I want to go home. If I matter as much as you claim respect my wishes and take me home." Her voice strengths now, the fear is starting to dissipate.

Clenching my jaw nodding my head forcing myself off the bed, I can't look to her. I feel my eyes starting to burn. "let me get your clothing," mumbling while grabbing my shirt off the floor where it was discarded before slipping out the open door shutting it behind me. Trying to walk down the hall while pulling my shirt on my heart feels like it's being crushed in a vice grip and breathing is feeling restricted again as I feel the oppression once more. I thought I was finally past this I can't go back to isolating myself again. The tears that welled in the lower lids of my eyes have escaped to leave their stained trail on my cheeks.

Why? Why me? What have I done to deserve this kind of heartache?

Getting to the machines it still has time left as it spins the heat through the clothing. Sinking to the ground absently watching it rotate over and over. Maybe it'll be enough time for her to calm down so I may explain. "I'm trying, please let me catch a break," begging the moon, my lame last-ditch effort for this to work. I wonder if the Moon actually loves us or does she only love some? Are we only here for Her amusement? My thoughts and anguish are silently hurled towards my God before they are retracted and forgiveness and mercy are begged from Her as they spin with the clothing from one to the other. The buzzer sounds to alert of the cycle ending and I have to pull my thoughts back as I reach up opening the door and dragging it out to place it in the weighting basket. Glancing towards the bedroom door Sophia hasn't tried to open it yet.

Picking myself off the ground is harder than it should be as the weight sinks me down rubbing my face trying to wipe away the hurt and frustration grabbing the basket dragging my feet back towards my impending doom. Knocking on the door before entering she pulls the phone away from her face telling the other person she will call back ending the phone call. Swallowing hard, I did not realize she had her phone, "Sophia I should have warned you, you cannot tell anyone about this not even Wayne. I understand you may be upset with me," she scrunches her nose up "I am, no maybe about it," she interrupts to correct me. Dropping the basket on the floor I have to pinch my nose and breathe out slow, "we keep ourselves hidden for a reason."

She jets her chin up defiantly, "it was Wayne" she informs me before looking away, "I asked if I could stay there for the night."

"Is that where you want me to bring you?" asking her, Wayne lives farther away, that's a long drive, a good time to talk, maybe.

"No, take me to my uncles" she twists her face as she squashes the thought with her words. the disappointment drags my shoulders down as my body starts to cave into itself. "I'll be waiting for you in the living room." telling her head hanging low, closing the door once again. She doesn't take long coming out like a whirlwind going straight to the door to leave tapping her foot waiting for me to hurry. I still drag my feet anyway, try and get as much time as I can. She rushes to the truck before I can get the door for her, getting in my side I breathe in through my nose and out of my mouth while I mesmerize her through every sense I can. I'm torturing myself but I just can't help it.

She is quiet the whole drive back facing towards the window so all I can see is her face through the reflecting. Her eyes dart over me through the mirroring effect of the glass but I can't feel the gaze only watching them move every chance I get to steal a glance of her the second time she catches me gazing she pulls away, leaning in her seat more so I see less. When we pull into her uncles driveway she doesn't get out. Instead she turns to me and scrutinised me under her harsh gaze. My head bows down, trying to focus on the steering wheel to anchor me as I fall apart while she only watches. Her angering storm slams against me ruthlessly.