Anaïs POV

I felt someone shaking me. I opened my eyes to see myself in Xavier's arms. Concern and then relief washed over his face as he seen I was okay. I reached up to cup his cheek and he sighed at my touch.

"I'm sorry for the pain I caused you." He said as he lowered his head down to kiss my forehead.

I looked around and realized that we were back at the pack house in Xavier's room. I looked around and noticed that Rosalina was no where in sight so I began to worry.

"Rosalina is with my grandparents don't worry." He said as he sensed my worry.

"What happened?" I noticed the wound on the side of his face now looked like how it looked a few days ago.

"Gabriel and his followers attacked us. I'm not sure if it was a coincidence or if someone tipped him off that we would be gone but he attacked. I had to shift in order to protect Raven which is why you felt pain. He's locked in the dungeons, I'll let you decide what to do with him."

"I don't want to think about him right now, I'm just glad you're okay." I smiled.

We sat there in silence, enjoying each other's presence. I studied his face, memorizing every line, every blemish and his features as he kept his eyes closed thinking about something.

"How long have I been out?" I finally asked. He opened his eyes and looked down at me.

"Almost the whole day, it will be night time soon." He said.

There was a long silence until Xavier broke it.

"Anaïs I want to take you out properly and somewhere special, no one else, just us." He whispered in my ear.

I nodded and looked up at what seemed like his sparkling grey eyes. He gently removed me from his lap and placed me on his bed.

"I already moved you and Rosalina's belongings into my room so they all should be here. I will come back for you at 8." He kissed my forehead before walking out the door.

I sighed and sat up from the bed. I walked into his bathroom and looked through the mirror. I was tired of looking like this.

I looked weak, I looked vulnerable, I looked like a fragile girl who people could walk all over.

Not anymore.

I looked through all his cabinets until I found a pair of scissors. Just as I snipped off a chunk of my hair, there was a knock at my door. I walked over and opened it up for Raven to bum rush her way in. She turned around and looked at the missing chunk of my hair.

"Cutting your hair? Cause right now you're doing a horrible job." She raised an eyebrow.

She grabbed my arm and tugged me into the bathroom. She sat me down on the toilet and snatched the scissors away from me.

"So are you alright? I noticed Xavier coming out the woods with you in his arms." She asked as she snipped away at my hair.

"I was at their lake house and I passed out from the pain of Xavier."

"It's good you're okay." I heard her mutter.

"So what's going on with you and Chris?" I asked.

I felt her stiffen up. "It's hard to ignore him, he's goes wherever I go and he is always apologizing, the mate bond keeps pulling me to him." She sighed.

"Raven you can be with him I don't mind, he hasn't done anything to you but love you." I said quietly.

"He loved you but he still beat you. Felicity I'm scared, I may act tough but I'm scared of a lot of things. I'm scared that my one and only will reject me and leave me alone forever. I've lost a lot of people I've loved in the past. I just don't want someone to take advantage of my vulnerability and use it against me." She said quietly.

I was shocked at the sadness and disappointment in her voice. I wasn't used to this Raven, or should I say Gabriella. It was like Raven had two sides of her, Raven was cocky, immature, badass and tough but Gabriella was scared, vulnerable, loving, and just wanted someone to love her.

"Does Xavier have any clippers?" She asked interrupting my thoughts.

She went through his cabinets until she found a pair of clippers.

"I'm gonna give you a edgy look, hopefully it looks right." She muttered.

I sat there, still as a statue as she cut away at my hair, I didn't know if this was a bad idea or not but I trusted Raven to make it look nice.

About 30 minutes later, with hair all around me, Raven dragged me to the mirror and I gasped. All my long beautiful jet black hair was gone. But I liked this look, it looked edgy. I didn't look so vulnerable anymore, and I loved it.

I turned around to hug Raven.

"Hey hey you got hair all over you and it's itchy." She said as she pushed me away but smiled.

"Now hop in the shower or something, you look hairy and it's not cute." She joked as she walked out.

I closed the bathroom door and removed my clothes. I adjusted the water to the right temperature and hopped in. My stomach was bubbling with excitement and nervousness. I didn't know what to wear, where we were going or what we were going to do. This month has been a bit crazy and mixed with crazy emotions.

2 years ago I would have never imagined going on a date with Xavier or even being his mate.

I don't regret it.

I hopped out the shower and dried myself off. I walked out of the bathroom and noticed it was 7. I still had to dry my hair and apply make up find something to wear.

There was a knock on the door that disturbed my thoughts. I walked over and slightly opened it to see Victoria standing there nervously.

"Hi there." I smiled.

"I'm sorry is this a bad time?" She asked as she looked me up and down.

"Actually how good are you with makeup?" I asked her.

"I study cosmetology why?" She asked.

"Well I'm going on a date and I don't know what to wear and how to really do makeup." I said shyly.

Her entire face lit up as I said those words.

"I would love to help!" She said excitedly.

I invited her inside and she immediately went to my closet.

"Did he tell you where you're going?" She asked as she continued looking through my closet.

"No." I shook my head.

She pulled out a black dress that went mid thigh and lace sleeves. I don't even know where that came from.

"This is really nice." She said as she admired the dress.

I grabbed the dress and a pair of undergarments and went into the bathroom. As I put on the dress, for the first time in two years I felt beautiful. I walked out the bathroom and heard Victoria gasp.

I sat down on the bed as she began to curl the little hair I had and began applying makeup. She quickly walked to the closet and pulled out black pumps.

I slipped them on and stood up. I looked into the mirror and almost didn't recognize myself. I truly did look beautiful.

"Thank you Victoria." I smiled and hugged her.

"Nothing much, just a little smoky eyeshadow, and eye liners and a dap of foundation. You already have pretty skin." She said shyly.

"What was is it that you came here for?" I asked.

"Well-"

There was a knock on the bedroom door. I opened it to see Raven and Chris staring at me.

"Damn girl! You look hot as hell." Raven smiled.

Chris looked up at me guilt and admiration. But I couldn't look at him, I didn't care what he thought of me anymore.
"Xavier is practically yelling, trying to figure out why your ass is still up here, he's being a brat." She rolled her eyes.

I giggled and walked out of the room. I walked downstairs slowly, making sure I don't fall and practically melted at the sight of Xavier. He had on black slacks, white button down shirt with a suit jacket in his hands his hair was untidy as usual but his face was priceless. His eyes roamed by body up and down as his mouth was slightly ajar.

I walked up to him nervously and looked down at my feet.

"Hi." Was all I said.

"I'm glad you cut your hair." He finally said.

"Why?"

"Now I can finally stare at your beautiful face and not have to worry about something getting in my way." He gently placed a kiss upon my lips.

I blushed at his compliment.

"Don't you clean up nicely." I said.

He shrugged.

"I'm nothing compared to you right now." He smiled.

He always knew what to say.