Maksim and Octavia took a detour. He needed to change after all his shirt was slightly torn with her fingers digging into the back of shirt last night. After changing, they walked out to meet Antonia and Roman who were sparing on the fields.

"Where are Natalya and Yulian?" Maksim asked.

Yulian was Natalya's best friend and apparently came on the trip along with Natalya. He had agreed to become her Beta. They grew up together and did almost everything together. Being together for so long and sharing almost everything, everyone assumed they will become mates when they reached the rightful age of finding their mate but it didn't come as easily. The two weren't mates. In fact, Yulian found his mate already.

Roman looked up from his mate who was firmly trapped in his arms. "South border, there is some water damage on the bridge from the heavy rain. She and a few pack warriors went to go examine the damage."

Maksim nodded and Octavia eyes lit up immediately. She looked up at him and a smile appeared on her face.

"I know where it is. My father use to take me there to swim and fish." She stated.

"Were you good at fishing?" Maksim asked.

She nodded. "Of course. I still take the pups there once in a while to fish when we have nothing to eat."

"You two smell like you two are thoroughly mated." Antonia said breathlessly as she struggled out of her mate's embrace. "If it wasn't for the love bites I would say you two were."

Octavia wanted to be swallowed up completely into the earthy ground. Roman chuckled and looked at Maksim approvingly.

"You did a good job in keeping males away from her."

"Damn right I did." Maksim retorted.

Octavia led Maksim into the woods. He lingered behind and allowed his eyes to roam her backside. Octavia was oblivious to the fact her mate was behind her ogling her back. She took her time looking at the scenery and pointing out several areas where she held very good memories.

"Oh and over there-"She pointed in a hidden patchy, woodsy area. "It was the night we had a bonfire and all the teen wolves were hanging out. I remember this was where this boy name Michel kissed me."

Maksim's deadly and furious growl vibrated from his chest. She turned around mid-step to look at her mate. He looked like he could very well split Michel into two pieces right now.

"It was a long time ago." She tried to ease his possessiveness.

Maksim appeared in front of her and his hands moved to grab her around her waist, pulling her up close to him.

"That is not something I want to hear, Octavia." He snarled. "You are mine."

"I know." She said bluntly. "It happened a long time ago. We were young besides I didn't like him like that and he got himself a pair of blue balls afterwards for kissing me."

That appeared to make him happier and he nodded as he released her. She huffed and straightened her deep maroon t-shirt to cover her stomach. He had pulled it up a little when he wrapped his arms around her.

"You shouldn't get all possessive of me, Maksim. I remember you telling me one time about a girl name Anastasia. Tell me, did you ever kiss her?" She questioned, burning jealousy already filling her veins just at the mention of him kissing another woman.

"Why do you want to know?" He evaded the question.

Her eyes narrowed and she moved to pinch his cheek really hard. He yelped and tried to remove her hands but she held on tight.

"Tell me, Maksim." She snarled.

"Ok! Ok! Yes!" He submitted. His pride was a little wounded but submitting to his mate was a pass he was willing to give.

She huffed and let go of his cheek. She was now very angry. The idea of someone kissing those lips that belong to her was enough to make her want to punch something really bad. She glared at him and spun on her feet as she marched away from him.

"Octavia." He called out her name.

"You got mad at me for kissing a boy when you kissed a girl." She barked over her shoulder.

It was probably not a good time for them to start discussing who did what in the past because their wolves were still clearly on the surface and their heat were still prominently boiling under the surface ready to erupt. However, it was probably what was instigating their fierce emotions and possessiveness with each other. She could hear Maksim following behind her.

"It was a long time ago." He pointed out.

"Exactly!" She snapped over her shoulder.

"You know I only have eyes for you." He smoothed his way in.

She scoffed. "Or is it for Anastasia?"

"She has a mate already, Octavia!" He was growing impatient.

They were closely nearing the place where the water current can be heard--indicating they were close to the bridge. She knew she was being irrational but he was too. She didn't want to be angry with him but she couldn't help the fury that swarmed inside of her.

When they were just a few yards where they were heading she stopped completely. His front met her back. She turned around to meet her towering mate's gaze. Her eyes narrowed and she moved to grip his cheeks, pulling his face down to meet hers.

"Those lips are mine." She snarled and kissed them harshly. Just before pulling back, she bit him hard on his lower lip. He whimpered but groaned when her tongue lapped at the pain sending pleasure through his body.

When they pulled back, their fury had dissipated. His eyes were dark and hazy with an unspoken need for her. She licked her lips tasting a metallic taste on her lips, knowing full well that it was his blood. His eyes darkened even more upon seeing her tasting his blood.

"Hi love birds." Natalya sung from behind them. He blinked and looked up toward the voice.

Natalya trotted over to them along with Yulian who was a pretty big man. He walked over and shook Maksim's hand.

"Good morning, Alpha." He greeted Maksim.

"Good morning indeed." Natalya wiggled her eyebrows at them, clearly already knowing what happened between her brother and his mate.

"Nat." Maksim warned. Yulian chortled and jabbed a thumb in Natalya's direction.

"She can't resist." Yulian pointed out and Maksim nodded. "She enjoys pressing your buttons."

"Pretty soon I am going to have to call home to tell my parents to apologize to them that they no longer have a daughter-"

"Oh you are just being grumpy!" Natalya chided before turning the attention back to Maksim and Octavia. "I wouldn't have imagined that imprinting will be a choice but I can see that it was a very smart move for the both of you."

Natalya has always been carefree and enjoyed taunting her dear brother but deep inside she yearned for what her brother had. She wanted to have a mate by her side. She wanted to experience what they all felt. Her search for her mate was delayed with her becoming Alpha but she made a silent promise to seek him the moment she had the chance.

Underneath all the sassy comments she had a heart that was big enough and a soul that was as sweet as honey. Even with all that she was a righteous ruler just like her father and brother. She evaluated the situation first before forming a plan. She never jumped ahead of the game. She was brass or impulsive.

"It was a last minute thing." Octavia mumbled.

Natalya rocked back and forth on her feet with her hands behind her back. "What are you two doing out here? Shouldn't you two be at the cottage getting cozy?"

"Natalya." Octavia spoke up again to keep her back on track. She giggled and her face fell into seriousness.

"I'm kidding." She turned to her brother. "I am assuming you are here to see what I have learned?"

Maksim nodded. "I heard the bridge was damaged during the rain."

"It was severely damaged. We will have to make repairs on the bridge. The people here are very nice and a lot of them are pretty resourceful. They know these woods like the back of their hands." She pointed out.

Maksim already knew that. Octavia talked a lot during their way here and there were things that amazed even him—clean wells, drainage systems, water wheels, etc.

"I also found something that might be of interest to you." Natalya said.

"What?" Maksim asked.

"Fresh paw prints. There were too many of them and they were headed in a direction. It looks like Alpha Hansen emerged around the bridge with his group of rebels." Natalya stated.

Maksim stiffened. This was good news but to realize that Alpha Hansen was still on the territory going unnoticed was what had him feel helpless and almost borderline fearing. Octavia was right. He couldn't allow Alpha Hansen to jump ahead of him. He needed to remain a step ahead.

"Do you know which direction they were heading?" He asked.

Natalya nodded. "The paw prints led just to the border of the territory but it stopped."

"That doesn't make sense." He growled as he ran his fingers through his hair in frustration. He was becoming anxious.

"You don't have to handle this, Maksim. I am Alpha now. This is my job to take care of." Natalya said. "If he is an intruder, I will find him and he will die."

Maksim looked back at his sister. It seemed only yesterday she was chasing after his tail and asking him to give her piggy back rides. It seemed only yesterday, his sister and him were sitting in the woods with their family. Time flew and suddenly they were adults making their own decisions without their parents.

"I don't want you to do it alone." He admitted.

"Maksim, I am more than capable of doing this. Besides, I have Yulian here with me. You trained both him and me." She pointed out.

"I can't let you do this alone. I have to be here with you. I can't leave this place like this. I need to straightened things out before leaving. You are my sister and I know you are Alpha to this pack. You are more than capable of taking care of it but it is my duty to right the wrong I did." He pointed out.

Octavia nodded her approval of her mate. He was right and she was glad he didn't fight over who was the bigger Alpha. Instead, he only wanted to finish what he started. She could see him a new light now. He wasn't a cold, heartless man like her old Alpha. Her mate was much more and she felt the last pieces of her resolve slipping away.

"Then what do you purpose we do?" Natalya asked diverting Octavia's thoughts. "You two are still in heat. I'm pretty sure the next one will hit you two the hardest because you two have already gone two days without mating during the heat. It will only get stronger. I need you to be focused, Maksim. I can't have your mind clouded with heat and thoughts of your mate. You won't be any use to me."

Octavia bit her lip because she knew she was the one who was refusing to let them mate. They headed back home together in silence. She knew Maksim was deep in thought and she knew that he wouldn't force her to mate with him but she could sense where his mind was. He was torn. His duty as an Alpha and a man to right the wrong he did and his duty as her mate. He knew she needed time and will do everything to keep that promise.

It was late in the afternoon when they came back to the cottage. She missed the pups terribly. She should call in and check in on them. Maksim dropped her off at the cottage and promise to return. He needed to finish a few Alpha duties without her before coming back to check in on her. She watched him from the window and felt her heart hurting. She was being an awful mate.

She picked up the phone and rang her mother who picked up shortly after two rings. She needed someone to talk to and her mother was always there for her. She explained what happened and her mother listened quietly on the other end.