I'm not sure what to do. My mate can't even find comfort in me. Why does he get to be so good at making me feel better, but I do a crap job of it for him when he needs it?

I suck as a mate...

"Sophie?" Lily's sweet voice comes from the other side of the door. She is such a blessing.

"We saw Connor head out in a hurry." Trish is here too. My friends are even good at comforting me.

I'm a crappy friend...

"We brought ice cream." I open the door slowly, trying to not look like a mess. Trish hands the tub of ice cream to Lily. "Come on honey." She pulls me into the room, Lily closing the door behind us. "What's going on?" Trish sits down beside me on the bed and Lily hands me the tub with a spoon before doing the same.

"Well, I guess I should start off by telling you guys about this morning." And I do. I tell them everything, about being surrounded by wolves, the weird man, being demanded to appear in front of the Senate, everything.

Trish and Lily patiently listen, both nodding and rubbing my back. "So what got Connor so upset? Does he not want to go back?" Lily asks, confused. "We all knew we would be going back sometime, under different circumstances, of course, but still."

I shake my head, eating a spoonful of the creamy goodness. "He called his dad, to get us a ride back to Midnight Moon."

"And his dad said no." I shake my head. "Then what?" Both Trish and Lily look thoroughly confused.

"He and his dad, I don't know what happened between them, but it was something so bad that just hearing his dad sets him off. Any time I ask, he just gets this pained expression and tells me it's nothing."

"That's surprising." Trish says, looking to the bed. "I thought you two told each other everything."

"Everything, but that. It's the only exception. I don't know what to do about it. He won't let me comfort him. He won't." I down another spoonful of the ice cream, not crying, but definitely wishing Connor was here right now to hold me.

The girls stay with me all day. We end up watching movies until it's night. I ask them to stay, incase he doesn't come home tonight, but Lily is newly mated, and Trish doesn't feel right sleeping in a bed that I've had sex with Connor in.

So here I am.

Laying in a huge bed.

Spread out.

By myself.

Unable to sleep.

An involuntary groan leaves me as I fight with my body. I need sleep. I want sleep. Sleep is so much better than feeling lonely.

When did I become so dependent on Connor to make me feel happy? I love him, yes, but I'm not so lonely that I need him around every second of every day. Well, I wasn't. What happened to me? I used to be okay with being alone forever. I used to be okay with not ever getting a mate. Now that I have Connor, I can't even imagine what life would be like without him. Before, I would have just shrugged and smirked, not caring if I had a mate or not. Now? If I even think about losing Connor I get a terrible feeling in my chest.

The door quietly opens, and the bed begins to dip beside me. I smell Connor, and before he has the chance to take ahold of me I roll off the bed, landing on my feet while also flicking on my bedside lamp. "Where have you been?"

His soft eyes widen and he settles down on the bed. "I was running."

"All day long?" I cross my arms over my chest. If he's going to lie to me, he might as well lie well. Not this crap.

"I really needed it." Connor doesn't have any energy left in him. His head hits the pillow and his eyes close. "Can we just go to sleep? I don't want to talk about this."

"You were gone all day. You left me worried as hell, you said you wouldn't be long." I stare down at him, seeing how tired he is. It actually makes this harder on me.

"I had just as crappy a day as you. I promise." He says, tiredness and sarcasm pushing through.

"Just, tell me what the big problem is. I feel terrible, not being able to help you." I sit down on the bed, placing my hand on his face. He has slight stubble on his chin, seeing as he hasn't shaved since yesterday.

His eyes open and his brows push together. "You're upset because you can't help me?" I nod and he pulls me to him. "That's so wrong, on so many levels." His head digs into my neck. "I didn't leave because you weren't helping. I left because I needed time to think."

"But about what? What happened between you and your dad that riles you up so much?" I lift my head, staring at him.

Connor sighs and brushes a few stray hairs of mine behind my ear. "Let's just say that him and I had a pretty rough argument the last time we saw each other, and things didn't end well."

"Will you tell me what the argument was about?" I ask, hoping he'll give in.

"Not now. I will sometime, trust me, but not right now." I nod in defeat and lay my head on his chest. "I love you Sophie. Get some sleep. We have a busy day tomorrow."

Our stuff was packed up during the night, and, by the time we woke up, everything but the bed and blankets were gone. It's weird, knowing someone was in our room while we slept, but there was no way I'd get it packed in time to leave by nine in the morning.

The only thing left is a change of clothes for us. Connor and I take a shower, then we get dressed. He's not as talkative as normal, but I guess I can respect that. He's probably just still upset about yesterday, which I understand. The ride to the air strip is silent. No one is willing to speak, and I stare out the window. Despite his silence, Connor is still close by, his hand always touching me, as if he has to.

We get to the air strip and a werewolf I've never met is standing by the plane. He bows his head at Connor. "Alpha Thompson, when the pack heard of your returning, everyone became excited. It will be so nice to have you home again."

Connor takes my hand and shoves his other one in his pocket. "I'm glad to hear that, but I'm afraid I must ask everyone staffing this plane to take these vehicles home. See, despite my place in the pack, I know my father is your Alpha right now, meaning you have to follow any orders he gives you." He nods at Connor, confused. "I can't risk her safety, and as much as I wish I could trust him not to place a threat on her life, I can't. So the people staffing this plane will be my own."

"I must plea otherwise. Your father demanded that we bring you home safely. I'm afraid we must come with you." The man glances at me. "I don't even know who this woman is sir. I can't possibly see the threat towards her."

Connor shakes his head. "As truthful as you sound, I still have to do this." He takes a deep breath. "As future Alpha, I order you to collect your staff, and leave this airstrip in these vehicles." He just used his Alpha tone. He looks so calm, and yet so pained. What is going on with him?

"Yes sir." The man bows his head, unable to deny an Alpha. He hurries onto the plane, and soon four or five men follow him out. "This is everyone."

Connor turns to me and kisses my cheek. "I'll be right back." He walks to the plane, looking at each of the men that just left. He walks inside and I wait patiently. A minute later, he walks back out, nodding. "It's clear." I walk towards him and he takes ahold of my hand again. As I predicted, Hunter sent a good bit of the guard ahead, so there are about twelve men with us. Two of them head into the cockpit, and the rest place themselves around the entire cabin. Connor leads me to two seats facing each other. He sits me down, then walks to the back wall. There are bottles of wine, along with wine glasses. He brings a bottle and two of the glasses to me, then he sits across from me.

"Wine? This early?" I almost chuckle when he pops the cork.

"Yes, this early. My dad isn't going to be happy that I challenged his authority." Connor pours a glass and offers it to me. I give him a small kiss and take it.

"Well then I guess we will just have to show him we don't care." Connor gives me a small smile, but it doesn't reach his eyes.

"I guess we will." He finishes pouring himself a glass, and takes a sip from it. I take one from mine and look out the window. The plane is speeding down the runway, everyone in their seats. The plane lifts off the ground, barely shaking as it does so. I've been on many plane rides, seeing as my father flew everywhere, so I'm no stranger to flight, but that was the best take off I've ever been on.

Connor doesn't comment, and I take note of how tense he is. Whatever happened between him and his dad, I don't think it was just a fight.

The flight takes a little over eight hours, but once we land, every guard meets me outside of the plane. They bow their heads and I look to Hunter, who snaps at them to keep their eyes up, that they're always supposed to be watching. He knows that I'd rather not have them bow to me. I'm not really an alpha. I'm hoping this situation is strictly temporary.

There are four SUVs running and ready to go. Several of the guards shift and run alongside the cars, through the woods. Everything seems so intense, like there could be an attempt on my life at any second.

We get to Midnight Moon pack land quickly, and, once on the land, some guards break off. What for, I'm not sure.

When we pull up to the pack house, the first thing I notice is how dark it is. This isn't how my home looks. It's lit up, as if there's some sort of party happening every day. The next thing I notice, is that I don't see anyone. There aren't any kids playing, even though it's only about five thirty. There should be loads of children, running around and playing, waiting for dinner.

I go to open my door, but Connor stops me. The guards file out of the other three SUVs and check the perimeter before my door is opened for me. Connor is immediately at my side, still trying to comfort me, even though he's not alright. "It's just extra precaution. We don't know what exactly happened here, but it doesn't look good." I nod, agreeing with him. It definitely doesn't look good. It looks terrible. Like something from one of my childhood nightmares.

Hunter knocks on the door, with Connor and I a few feet behind him. "Who is it?" A voice asks, one I don't know.

"I am the head guard for Sophelia Desperte." The door swings open, revealing a skinny woman, one far too old to be my mother. She looks like a witch.

"Well don't stand out there. Get inside. It's dangerous out there." I look around. The only people out here are my protectors. I hope she doesn't think they're a threat. "They may be watching. Come, quickly." She grabs my wrist, dragging me inside. Connor growls, expecting a fight. "Oh hush. Alphas are always too wrapped up in protecting something they shouldn't have to." The old lady turns to me. "Your father is expecting you. He'll be in his office." I nod, thanking her. I may not know her, but she seems alright.

I turn to my friends. They all give me smiles, all except for Connor. He's looking forward, towards where my dad should be. A look of icy determination pushing through. I thread my fingers with Connor's, causing him to look down at me. "Together."

"Together."