We hear Sylvie gasp, and then a screech as she falls to the ground. I'm mortified. I rush to my feet and stare at Kaden with sheer horror.

Sylvie just saw me shove his dick down my throat! Did she have a recording device with her to capture and release the footage? Or was watching us just some sick kink of hers?

Kaden doesn't look happy. I would hate to be Sylvia right now, because I know he's about to rip her apart— and not in the delicious way he does to me whenever he's inside me.

"Stay here," he grits, yanking his pants on and stomping out of the room.

I rush to the window to watch what unfolds. Sylvie is limping away from the house, her hands empty, so she had no camera. She's too slow, though. Kaden catches up to her easily, cutting her off without touching her.

"You were spying?" He accuses, fists clenching and unclenching, but I know he would never hit her. This is an effect I also have on him whenever I anger him.

"Kaden, my ankle!"

"What about it? Do you need a doctor? How about Kenna?"

"Kaden!" She whines. "How could you joke like that?"

"Are you trying to play the victim? After invading my privacy? I'm a fucking Alpha, Sylvie. That makes your breach especially criminal. Pack your things. I'm transferring you off my territory."

Sylvie drops to her knees and begs him to reconsider. "I only wanted to watch so I can see what you like," she assures him, as if her logic would make things better.

I don't rejoice to hear this. I cross my arms over my chest and watch on, feeling uncomfortable and disgusted.

Kaden hollers over a pack member, ordering them to bring Sylvie to medical attention before escorting her to the territory's perimeter. Then, he walks home, slamming every door on his way.

I'm there to open the bedroom door when he enters to keep him from slamming it. He paces the room, and spins toward the wall. Suspecting he's going to punch a hole into it, I palm his chest and rub his biceps.

"That crazy..." he breathes hard, on the verge of explosion.

"Yeah," I say. "You sure know how to pick them."

He gives me a are-you-serious look, before walking to the window and yanking the curtain shut.

"She's done. I'm making sure she doesn't take another breath on my land."

I've known for a while that she's bat-shit crazy, but it's good that he's also coming to the realization. Maybe it's because of all the shit she put me through that I don't feel as angry as Kaden does. It's like I've become desensitized.

"It's fine. Just forget about it."

"Forget about it?" he frowns. "I'm making sure the whole pack hears of this."

That surprises me, because I was thinking Kaden would be rid of her and call it quits.

Seeing my disbelief, he adds, "I told you that I wasn't going to let anyone step over you now that you're my luna, didn't I?"

That's the thing, though. I'm not his Luna yet. I smile at him, because it's not like he's doing me any harm. After everything Sylvie did, I have no interest in protecting her public image.

The rest of the day, we hang out on the couch, watching a random rom-com that I selected. Kaden huffs and puffs, complaining that he's too grown and manly to watch this, but he never changes it because the dominant, 'manly,' beast, is a softie deep down that prioritizes my happiness.

His arm slides over my shoulder halfway through the movie, and I find myself sinking into his side.

When I clear my throat, he hands me his water bottle.

"Is your throat scratched up from all your cock-sucking?" he asks.

"Kaden!" I groan, embarrassed because he's absolutely right. All that sucking left me perched.

"Why can't you be romantic like the guys in the movies? Write me long letters that will sweep me off my feet."

He chuckles. "Babe, I just swept you off your feet a few hours ago. That's how you ended up with my fat dick in your mouth in the first place."

I jump away from his embrace, but he locks me in and clings on tight even when I struggle. He chuckles. "Alright, I'll stop."

I sag against his side and give him the silent treatment.

He kisses my temple. "You're so cute when you're pouty."

Deep down, I'm loving the time we're spending together, even if we tease each other. It proves that what we have is more than physical. Right now, this feels far more intimate than when we were in the bedroom. Instead of opening my mouth to let him in me, I'm opening my heart.

The next day, I return to work. Everything is normal at first– some people are distant as they cross me, some are friendly. When Chaney bursts in as I'm packing my bag to go home, I know something changed.

"Well, guess who went from the villain to the angel overnight?" she plops down on a chair.

"Is this a trick question?"

"No, bitch! It's you! People found out about Sylvie the peeping tomb. They've gone three-sixty on her. The trash took itself out."

I raise an eyebrow. "Really? All of this gossip ran through the pack in one business day? Geez. How do people work in this pack when they spend so much time gossiping?"

Chaney crosses her arms over her chest. "We do just fine, thanks Kenna."

I pick up my bag and slap her back. "Just kidding. Thanks for keeping tabs on my life and reporting them. Goddess knows I'm too lazy to do it myself."

"You're welcome, miss Luna." She winks. "Sylvie's out of the picture and you're all clear to sink your claws into our hunk of an alpha."

I want to smile, but then I'm reminded of Black's visit and the woman he mentioned. The one before me; the woman Kaden loved first. The mystery behind her digs a hole into my gut. Would it be inappropriate for me to ask Kaden about her? After all, she's his past.

I figure it should be fine to make sure he's over her. I don't want to be anyone's rebound.

When I arrive home, he's already there, walking across the living room shirtless while studying a sheet of paper. Damn, he looks so good. I want to jump him right here and now, missing curtains be damned. We already gave Sylvie a show, so we might as well perform for the entire pack.

I momentarily forget about all that's on my mind.

"Hey babe," he greets without turning, already knowing that I'm there. "How was the clinic?"

I clear my throat. "Hey. Same regular day. Are you busy?" I drop on the couch, and he follows. With his attention on the paper, he wraps an arm around my waist and hoists me onto his lap.

I squirm. "Let me at least take my shoes off."

"Silence, woman. I missed you." He kisses the crown of my head, and not even the strength of the Goddess can get him off me.

I laugh weakly. The moment is sweet, but I can't fully focus on it. Should I ask him about the woman, or should I backtrack?

"What is it?" he asks.

"What?"

"There's something on your mind," he accuses, reading me like the back of his hand.

"Okay," I admit. "There's something. It has to do with Black."

His embrace becomes even stiffer. "What about him?" His tone is cooler. There's something about his brother that brings out the worst in him.

"He mentioned another woman. One that you were with before me. Kaden, did you..." I can't bring myself to finish.

After a minute, Kaden finishes for me. "Did I love her?"

I dip my head.

"Yes, I did." He answers. There's a pause before he finishes. "She was my first love. I will never forget her."