Ronin hadn't realized that he held his breath as he watched Alaric mercilessly slaughter everyone in front of him. The red lights flashed around the black room and he could only catch a quick glimpse of Alaric moving through the dozens of men that were trying to fulfil Han's command. But their efforts were fruitless because Alaric was trained to annihilate whoever was placed in front of his piercing blue eyes. At this point, Ronin wondered if it was even possible for Alaric to stop.

This was truly madness.

Ronin moved to go to Alaric, when suddenly, a hand caught his shoulder and he met Adrik's desolate eyes.

"Not yet," Adrik whispered.

The two of them followed Alaric here to protect him and so he wouldn't have to fight alone. But Ronin knew that it was probably a bad idea getting in the middle of the fight right now, except he couldn't help himself. He wished to storm in the middle of the blood bath and stand in front of Alaric and show him that he was more than just a murderous animal that was trained to kill. He was a brother, a son, a wolf part of a pack, a mate.

He looked back at the fight and saw how Alaric's entire suit was drenched in blood, it poured down his face as his blue eyes were electric even in the dark. His black hair, tousled and hung in front of his gaze that felt as if a sinister demon stared into the souls of the dead. Alaric dropped the knife and pulled the gun out of his holster, which he used to cut through the second wave of thugs.

This was getting out of control, Ronin thought.

He didn't know about anyone else, but he could see just how much this was ripping away at Alaric's heart. He was breaking inside and Ronin was the only one that could sense it as if his own soul was crumbling away in the icy darkness. This piercing pain that was throbbing through his body wasn't his own, he knew that he could feel Alaric through their wolves and it was frustrating that he was unable to do anything.

One dead body after the other, the men dropped like flies around Alaric's feet and he was a raging monster consuming them. Someone had to stop Alaric before it was too late and the damage was done.

"I have to go down there," Ronin voiced.

"Not yet," Adrik warned.

"Alaric's out of control," Ronin protested.

"I can see that," Adrik sighed as he watched his brother. "Once he starts killing, it's impossible to make him stop."

Ronin faced his friend with the desperation in his own eyes and it surprised Adrik. "I can't let Alaric be alone," his tone vulnerable before he leaped off the terrace and landed on the main floor.

Ronin knew that the consequences would be dire but the pain in Alaric was worth the risk. He had to stop him and show him that he wasn't alone anymore. Rushing towards the disarray of bodies, Ronin wasn't sure what Alaric was going to do to him if he came too close but he was willing to take the chance of losing his own head. But a few thugs noticed Ronin right away and attempted to attack him. Using the darkness to his advantage, he pulled them into the shadows and snapped their necks in half and quietly laid them on the ground. Ronin's eyes didn't leave Alaric for a second despite the chaos.

Using agility and speed, he noticed when Alaric was focused on the thug in front of him. Ronin took the chance right then and there hoping this plan worked. He rushed up behind him and wrapped his arm around Alaric's waist before Ronin collared the man's throat, like he tamed a ravaging animal with a collar and a leash. Both of them seized all motion as their breath was ragged in each other's arms.

"Calm down," Ronin rasped in Alaric's ear who thrashed against the hold ready to break loose again. "Listen to my voice, Alaric. Just focus on me." Alaric grew rigid as he recognized Ronin.

A thug was about to attack them but Adrik stepped in the middle and snapped the man's neck in half before dropping his body on the ground.

"What is this?" Han stepped ahead. "You are wolves from the Iron Blood pack."

Adrik faced him. "We came on our own accord," he said.

Ronin saw the anguish in Alaric's eyes as he witnessed his own brother defending him.

"You two are brothers," Han's eyes brightened as if he found interesting information before he glanced at Alaric. "Now, I know how to hurt you."

Ronin sensed Alaric's wolf surfacing to the edge and about to emerge so he could rip of Han's neck. However, that wasn't the only problem. From the distance, there was the sounds of sirens that belonged to police cars. Someone must have called the cops with all the disruption. If any of them got caught here, it could cause further problems.

"We need to leave," Ronin dropped his arms once he saw that Alaric was calm.

However, he was sorely mistaken.

In a flash, Alaric crossed the room and had Han pinned to the ground with his throat being crushed under that leather-clad fist. Ronin and Adrik were just as surprised as the other thugs around the room. But with Han pinned to the ground no one could do anything.

"This fear in your eyes is what feeds me, Han," Alaric seethed as his hand crushed the man's throat. "I'm not going to spare you."

"K- kill him-" Han choked out.

His thugs obeyed and stupidly attacked Alaric.

But since Ronin was too busy watching his mate, he didn't notice when a man ran up to him with a swinging blade. He lifted his arm to protect his face and the sharp knife sliced across his forearm, it wasn't deep so he was still able to punch the man in the face and knock him back onto the ground. Ronin reached for his gun so he could kill him, when suddenly, Alaric covered the thug with his own body and slammed his fist into the man's face, breaking his jaw in half upon contact.

"How dare you lay your filthy hands on him!" Alaric snarled, his gloved hands trembling with rage as he dripped blood all over the place. The man didn't stop as he put the head of the gun against a thug's forehead and emptied the barrel ruthlessly. "Fucking loser," he seethed breathlessly before he turned and faced Ronin who was left stunned.

"We need to get out of here right now," Adrik came to them with his disheveled appearance after killing so many of them.

The sirens were getting closer and closer. Ronin turned and saw that Han had already took that chance to escape.

Taking the back entrance through the employee section, they all emerged in front of their cars and Ronin grabbed his mate's arm. They locked eyes and both of them remembered that moment when Alaric killed for him.

"You're coming with me," Ronin ordered. "Adrik can drive your car back to the house."

Alaric gritted his teeth and he cursed under his breath. He didn't say anything as he was being taken towards the mustang. The sirens of the police cars were loud as hell and Ronin got in his car to block out the sound. He saw when Adrik drove past them and he quickly followed after him.

"Why did you come here?" Alaric asked then.

"You know why," Ronin responded.

Alaric's blue eyes blazed like twin flames. "You risked the safety of the pack," he growled.

"Isaiah knew we were coming after you," Ronin revealed.

Alaric stiffened as his expression morphed into disbelief.

"Isaiah wanted us to come," Ronin faced the man, "and I did too."

Alaric's gaze fell to Ronin's lips before he turned away towards the window. "Han will hunt all of you now," he predicted grimly.

"Are you going to let him?" Ronin asked.

"Of course not," Alaric snapped. "If it's the last thing I do, I'm going to kill that man."

Ronin couldn't help but smile. "Welcome to the pack-" Alaric's eyes snapped to his and he didn't know what to say to that proclamation.

They drove home and arrived at the pack house. Ronin and Adrik parked in the garage as they got out and shut the doors, that echoed in the concrete chamber. Adrik came up to his brother and saw that the state that both of them were in after that fight.

"Get some rest," Adrik said. "I'll see you in the morning."

Alaric lifted his eyes that were drowning with guilt. "You-" he stiffened and didn't say the truth that lingered on his tongue. "Never mind." He pulled away as he grabbed his jacket from the car.

Adrik met Ronin's eyes and both of them knew that this was a long night. Adrik left to freshen up and be with his mate, while Ronin was left alone with Alaric.

"You got blood on my car again," Ronin tried to lighten the mood, even though he was aching to ask something else.

Alaric turned and saw the stains on the leather. "I'll clean it," he answered.

"I'm going to hold you to that," he said.

Alaric's eyes softened when he saw Ronin's smile. He moved to leave.

However, Ronin had other intentions now that they were alone. He circled around the hood of his car and closed the gap between them. Alaric turned his back towards the wall as he found himself entirely caged by Ronin. The air between them disappeared as if even the oxygen refused to get between them too. He stepped closer, the stench of blood was nothing compared to the pheromones that exuded from Alaric and into Ronin.

"I need to ask you something," Ronin said softly.

Alaric stiffened. "Can't this wait until tomorrow?"

Ronin shook his head. "Why'd you protect me?" he asked then as both of them remembered when Alaric lunged over that thug and slaughtered him in a heartbeat.

"Instinct," he brushed off.

Ronin didn't believe him. "You know exactly why you did it," he whispered as they stood inches apart to do something that could change everything. "Why did you kill that man for me, Alaric?" He planted his hands on the wall and caged him. "Say it," he met the man's haunted eyes, "Say it for me just this once."

Alaric's eyes flashed and the answer was clear that words weren't even needed.

Mate, Ronin felt their wolves infuse their bond like blood mixed with oxygen. "We're mates," he confessed. "You're my mate, Alaric."

"That's impossible," Alaric denied immediately.

Ronin met his mate's blazing blue eyes that were lovely to him and him alone. "No, it's not," he said. "I've lost myself to you, Alaric. And there's no going back from this for me or for you."

"You don't know what you're talking about," Alaric said. "I don't get a mate in this lifetime."

"Well, this isn't the first time you've been wrong about something," Ronin stepped back. "You're mine whether you like it or not."

Alaric grumbled a curse before he left the garage and Ronin was standing all by himself. He shut his eyes and leaned against the hood of his car wondering how he was going to convince his mate to concede. This wasn't going to be easy, but Ronin relished a challenge and he'd win.

Leaving the garage, he went to his bedroom and freshened up from all the blood and grime. He changed into a clean set of clothes and went downstairs for something to drink. He grabbed an iced-bottle of water before he returned to his room, that was dark and cold. Ronin laid back on the bed and stared at the forlorn ceiling with nothing but emptiness in his chest. He wished to go to Alaric and be by his side. Even though, they shared a bed only once, Ronin had already gotten used to it.

He got out of bed and went to the guest bedroom where his mate was stubbornly staying on his own. Ronin knocked on the door but he didn't need permission anyway. He pushed open the door but the room was dark and it was empty too. The balcony doors were wide open but something told him that Alaric couldn't have run away again. Ronin wasn't going to draw conclusions like last time.

Suddenly, he heard the splash of water and he turned towards the bathroom door but the lights were off, so no one could be in there. Unless...

Ronin went up to the door and pushed it open when he saw a dark shadow in the bathtub and a candle flickering on the counter by the sink. His lips parted as he sucked in a quick breath when he saw Alaric who was submerged half-way into the water, the golden light from the singular flame was almost red on the marble surfaces. But the fire danced on Alaric's skin that gleamed because it was wet. There wasn't any blood covering him anymore so he must have rinsed it off.

Alaric tilted his head back revealing his corded neck and those daunting tattoos. "What are you doing here?" his voice haunted but soft.

Ronin lost himself the deep blue swimming in Alaric's eyes that felt almost black in the dark. He couldn't help but feel as if their souls were intertwining without any concern of the consequences. The desire to reach out and kiss Alaric was dangerous but so enticing, that Ronin was afraid he'd force himself on the man.

"Sorry, I'll leave-" he turned quickly to go back to his room.

"Wait-"

Ronin stopped in his tracks as he realized that Alaric wished for him to stay. Unable to resist the invitation, he turned around and took a seat on the edge of the marble tub. He held onto the rim as his eyes drank the sight of the man lounging in the glowing water. There was something ominous in the way Alaric rested back with his eyes closed and his head leaning against the marble. His hair soaking wet, he'd lift his hand occasionally to push the dark strands back. Ronin studied every move, every inhale, every exhale. Although, the darkness of the bathroom didn't allow him to see inside the water, he had this wicked desire spark inside him that begged him to dip his hand into the forbidden tub and touch Alaric. But he withheld the urge.

The silence wasn't awkward like Ronin thought it'd be now that he stayed. But instead, he noticed that Alaric was comfortable not using words. He stayed relaxed in the water and with Ronin invading his space. Perhaps, it was his way of showing that he accepted him.

Ronin smiled then.

"What is it?" Alaric said then.

Ronin found Alaric's attentive eyes on him. "I just told you that you're my mate and you didn't run away," he said to him. "I'm surprised."

"Why would I run?" Alaric sighed grimly. "You'd just chase me again."

Ronin put his hand in the warm water and splashed it on Alaric's face surprising the man. "You're absolutely right about that," he admitted and he earned a scowl as the man wiped his face with his hand.

"So, you haven't sensed the bond between our wolves?" Ronin asked.

Alaric was quiet but his stern eyes told Ronin that he definitely sensed it, even though he probably didn't know what he felt or if it was real or not. Except, Ronin wasn't interested in playing another game. He needed to know how Alaric felt about him.

"If you don't want to bond with me, I won't force you," Ronin said surprising Alaric. "I'll go-" he got up from the tub, when suddenly, he heard the water splash behind him. He froze by the door.

Ronin couldn't turn around since his body grew rigid from anticipation as he felt the warmth exuding from Alaric who stood right behind him, completely naked and soaked. The water pooled around his feet and Ronin felt a bit of it drench the back of his shirt letting him know how close the man stood to him.

"You've been infuriating from the day I laid eyes on you," Alaric's smooth tone caressed the back of Ronin's nape. "You're too damn stubborn for your own good and I don't know what to do with you anymore." Suddenly, something grazed Ronin's arm and his eyes widened when he realized that Alaric wrapped his bare fingers around his wrist. "You're bleeding," he pointed out.

Ronin forget that he had a cut down his forearm. He thought he washed off all the blood in the shower but it must have started to bleed again. Ronin would've cleaned it off but he couldn't move his arm now that Alaric had his hold on it.

A towel touched his cut and he shuddered not from the pain but from the mere thought that Alaric was touching him.

"It doesn't hurt," Ronin assured.

"It hurts-" Alaric whispered- "me."

Ronin stiffened as his heart hammered in his chest to the point that it might explode. He couldn't understand the different sides to Alaric. The man doesn't want to mate but then he does things like this that cause Ronin to believe otherwise.

Unable to take it anymore, he turned around and kept his eyes locked onto Alaric, but he didn't look down despite the fact that the man was completely bare. Those sizzling blue eyes were consuming him and he couldn't pull away, it was as if the tidal wave was too strong and he wasn't brave enough to survive its wrath as it sucked him into a turbulent storm. This desire that pulsed through his heart and rushed through his veins consumed him. Ronin dropped his gaze towards his perfect lips and he could claim them for himself.

"You have no idea what you do to me," Ronin's voice was as low and dark as the flickering flame behind them right now. "You're standing right in front of me but I can't touch you," he said as he frowned. "I can't kiss you because-" his words fell the moment Alaric's lips parted.

"Because-" Alaric whispered.

"Because I don't want to scare you," Ronin finished.

Alaric frowned. "Then why are you doing this?"

"Do I need a reason?" he retorted.

"You won't find a future with me," Alaric claimed.

"When did I say I was looking for a future?" Ronin said then as he stepped forward and Alaric moved back until his back hit the counter. "Everything I need is right here-" he melted in front of this man's sweltering gaze- "in these blue eyes." Alaric sucked in a breath and it felt as if Ronin was the one that gave it to him.

"These eyes have seen more blood than you can imagine, Ronin," Alaric said.

"They've seen loss and love too," Ronin retorted.

Alaric pulled his gaze away. "Stop it," his voice pleading.

Ronin reached up and tilted Alaric's chin back, so their eyes never separated. "I haven't even gotten started yet," he said. "I've got you, Alaric Petrov and I'm not letting you run away." Ronin turned and walked out of the bathroom. But he felt as if he ripped his heart out and left it where Alaric was stood by himself.

The cut on his arm burned as he returned to his bedroom, when suddenly, he noticed a figure by the door. It was Adrik. Their eyes met and Ronin instantly felt like a deer in headlights, but anyone did when Adrik's sapphire eyes were locked onto them.

"Is everything okay?" Ronin asked the man who stood with his arms crossed and his frown was always grim.

"What's going on between you and my brother?" he inquired.

Ronin knew that this would come up eventually because Adrik also saw the way Alaric pounced on that thug earlier at the nightclub. But he didn't think that it'd be strange to tell his best friend the truth.

"Alaric is my mate," he revealed.

Adrik straightened and dropped his arms. "And what does my brother think of this?" he asked then.

Ronin went up to his room and opened the door. "I'm still working on that," he said before he entered and Adrik followed him.

"Did he reject you?" Adrik said.

"I don't think so," Ronin replied when he took a seat on the edge of the bed.

"He accepted the bond?" Adrik sounded surprised for once.

"I don't think so," Ronin sighed.

"I can't believe it," Adrik mumbled before he went quiet for a while like he was considering his thoughts. "You and my brother-" his eyes softened then before a small, very small smile creased his lips- "I don't think I could have chosen anyone better for him."

Ronin's eyes widened. "You're not mad?"

"Why would I be mad?" Adrik took a seat on the chair in front of him. "You always had my back and I know that you'll have his too."

Ronin was glad he confided in his friend. "Your brother is being stubborn though," he confessed. "He thinks he's not worthy of this bond."

"That's how I felt," Adrik admitted.

"Rosalie changed that," Ronin reminded.

"You did too," Adrik said. "You told me to let go of my past and move forward. I know you can help my brother do the same."

"I also remember giving you a box of condoms," Ronin remarked with a laugh.

Adrik rolled his eyes. "Are you going to tell the rest of the pack?"

"I think they already know," Ronin admitted as he remembered the girls being overly excited and he was sure that Isaiah knew already too.

Adrik got up from the chair to leave.

"What made you stay with Rosalie despite your past?" Ronin asked one final thing that was most important of all.

Adrik faced him. "Love," he answered. "Love changes everything."

Ronin smiled not only at the fact that his best friend was saying sappy lines but so much had changed over the years. "Thanks," he said. "Good talk, dude."

Adrik sighed. "Right," his frown returned before he left the room and shut the door.

Ronin stripped out of his shirt and laid down in bed but he couldn't fall asleep. He kept imagining that moment in the bathroom where they stood inches away and he could have kissed him. All he had to do was lean forward and touch their lips together. From staring at the ceiling, he turned to his side and viewed the giant balcony doors wondering if Alaric had gone to sleep already. Well, considering the night they had, it was hard to forget and close their eyes.

Ronin grabbed the pillow on the other side and wrapped his arm around it as if it'd fill the vacant void he felt. But it wasn't going a great job at it. He kicked off the duvet since it was getting hot and he ignored the howling wolf inside him to go to Alaric's bedroom and finish what they stared earlier. But Ronin knew that he couldn't force himself on the man as much as he fucking ached to do it right now.

With a sigh, he saw the moon hidden behind the clouds and realized that even it was avoiding everything right now like a certain somebody.

Love changes everything.

Ronin remembered Adrik's words and felt a bit a solace. If love was going to get him his mate then he'd figure out a way to do just that. He'd make Alaric Petrov fall in love with him.

That even sounded impossible.

Ronin grumbled as he tossed the pillow aside. "Alaric," he whispered his mate's name throughout the night until he finally fell asleep.

In the morning, Ronin was waiting by the coffee pot for Alaric to come down and they'd meet, so it was unavoidable. However, the man was taking forever to get down here. Everyone had already gathered in the kitchen to enjoy breakfast, that Alexey prepared again. The man was quickly becoming everyone's favourite for being such a skilled cook, even Lazarus enjoyed the latte Alexey brewed and Lazarus never let anyone touch his expensive coffee machine, that could froth milk and grind the beans all in one. Ronin didn't get it, he preferred the normal coffee pot over that fancy stuff.

The girls were chatting about going on a picnic when Ronin noticed that Evelyn was jumping around in the living-room with Vivian. Both of the girls were happy that it was a day off from school and couldn't wait to spend it outside, since it was warm.

Ronin went up to them, but it was also so he could get a peek of the stairs for his mate. "Aren't you kids hungry?" he asked them.

Evelyn who was jumping up and down on the couch faced him, her black hair flopping around her grinning face. "We already ate," she answered. "Alexey made big star-shaped pancakes only for us."

"I'm jealous," Ronin remarked as his eyes trailed back to the stairs.

"You should be," Evelyn said. "They were delicious. Right, Vivian?"

Vivian peered up from her book. "Yeah," she answered.

Ronin drank his coffee but there was no sign of Alaric.

"Why do you keep looking at the stairs?" Evelyn stopped as she leaned towards him with her big observant eyes. "Are you waiting for someone?"

"No," he wasn't sure why he was nervous around this pup.

"The only person missing from the kitchen is uncle Alaric," Evelyn said. "Is that who you need to talk to?"

Ronin didn't know why he felt obliged to answer her, like she was the alpha of the pack already.

"You can tell me, I can keep a secret," Evelyn charmed him.

"I highly doubt that," Ronin remarked.

"If you tell me, I'll give you my favourite dress," she said.

Ronin grinned. "I have a feeling that it's not going to be my style," he told her.

"Why not?" Evelyn put her hands on her hips. "It's pink and purple and has glitter all over it."

Ronin reached and pinched her chubby cheek between his fingers. "All I know is that you're going to drive your mate crazy someday," he believed before he let go.

Evelyn rubbed her cheek. "When I meet my mate, I'll make sure he buys me all the dresses in the world," she declared.

"What else would you-"

"What are you doing?" Alaric intervened all of sudden surprising Ronin more than the pups.

"Uncle Ronin was missing you so I was keeping him company," Evelyn blurted out.

Alaric raised a brow as Ronin searched for the nearest cliff to jump off right now. "Really," he smiled suddenly.

Ronin gaped, so did Evelyn.

"Uncle Alaric, do you want to go on picnic with us?" Evelyn asked.

But Ronin was too busy lost in the way that smile lit up the room. Alaric stood dressed in a clean navy-blue shirt, his trousers matched and he wore his black gloves unlike last night when Ronin felt them against his skin. Heat rose inside Ronin's body and he swallowed the nerves that were twisting and turning inside him. Everything came flooding back and it felt like he could forget about the world and be all alone with Alaric.

"Hey," a finger snapped in front of Ronin.

He blinked and it was Alaric staring at him confused. "Wh-what?"

"Are you going to stand here all day?" Alaric asked.

"R-right," Ronin stepped back and moved letting Alaric go to the kitchen. He was about to follow when Evelyn's small hand grabbed his shoulder.

"Don't let him defeat you," she whispered.

Ronin was left confused. "What does that mean?"

Evelyn shrugged it off and sat down next to Vivian to read. Ronin ignored the pup and went off to the kitchen. Alaric sat down next to Marcello who asked him about meeting Han. But Adrik and Ronin looked up from the table and met eyes. They knew everything that happened while Alaric just shrugged it off. Ronin thought that Isaiah would be curious as well, but the alpha's phone rang so he got up and left the table.

Ronin was about to grab one of the sandwiches when Ashley leaned over to him.

"Should I move so you can sit next to him?" she whispered.

"Wh-what, no, that's fine," he said, his voice weirdly high-pitch that he had to clear his throat.

"You sure?" she grinned.

"What are we whispering about?" Sophia leaned in then from the other side of him.

"I'm asking if Ronin wants to sit next to-" Ashley pointed at Alaric.

Sophia giggled at his frazzled expression. "Maybe, we should move," she said.

"No, don't," he intervened. "Just eat your breakfast before I hurl myself out the window." The girls laughed together.

Isaiah returned and it was obvious that something happened because his mood had darkened. "Girls, can you give us a moment," he asked.

Ashley, Rosalie and Sophia faced him as they noticed his grim frown. They got up and grabbed their plates of food before going to join the pups in the living-room, they took Alexey with them.

"Han called," he revealed.

Ronin wasn't surprised and neither was anyone else at the table.

"What did he want?" Lazarus asked.

"He wants to talk," Isaiah revealed.

"That can't be good," Zeiden pitched in.

"Are you going to meet him?" Marcello asked.

Isaiah nodded. "I'm going to see what he wants from us," he answered.

"No," Alaric stood up then. "Han will trap you in one of his ploys. I know how he operates. Ignore his call, it'll be better for you."

"I can't just ignore him," Isaiah said. "The man might retaliate."

"Then I'll go instead," Alaric told him.

"I already sent you once and you butchered his entire gang," Isaiah said. "I'm going and you're staying here."

Alaric faced him. "Han will trap you," he advised before he walked off and left them.

"He's not wrong," Lazarus added.

"I know," Isaiah agreed. "But I need to know what plan Han is weaving in order to stop it."

"What about Alaric?" Zeiden asked.

"Ronin can stop him," Adrik spoke up.

Everyone looked between Ronin and Adrik.

"Or get killed trying," Zeiden remarked.

"Alaric won't kill him," Adrik said.

Ronin stiffened. "Adrik-"

"Am I missing something?" Zeiden said.

"The two men are mates, Zee," Marcello told him.

Zeiden gaped at Ronin. "Oh god," he laid his hand supportively on Ronin's shoulder. "I feel so bad for you right now."

"It can't be worse than when Marcello found out he got you," Lazarus chimed in and Zeiden grew furious at him

Isaiah ignored his brothers though. "Is it true?" he asked.

Ronin faced him. "Yeah," he said. "It's true."

"Then go talk to him," Isaiah said.

With a deep sigh, Ronin grabbed the bowl of strawberries before leaving the group of men to go find his mate. He wasn't sure where he'd be but he tried to find the spot where there was the most sunlight. Ronin opened the door to the library and saw him sitting on the rocking-chair by the window with his feet up on the table and he was rubbing the temple of his forehead.

"Go away," he ordered.

Ronin shut the door and Alaric opened his eyes when they saw each other. He didn't say anything after that and let Ronin take a seat next to him. Quietly, he ate the fresh strawberries and Alaric continued scowling in his seat.

"You can't pacify me with strawberries," Alaric remarked grimly.

"Who said these were for you," Ronin said. "I'm hungry."

Alaric looked away and rocked on the chair slowly. Ronin couldn't help but smile as he lifted the strawberry and held it to the man's mouth. But just as he reached to take a bite, Ronin pulled it away making himself laugh while Alaric glowered like a raging wolf. He gave in and let Alaric eat the strawberry.

"Just because I'm eating doesn't mean I'm going to listen to you," he said.

Ronin bit into another strawberry before feeling a bit devilish and holding it towards Alaric who saw that too but still ate the rest of it.

"Isaiah's making a mistake," Alaric shared before he noticed Ronin's quiet demeanour; "Why aren't you saying anything?"

"Because it's taking you so long to see that Isaiah is trying to protect you," Ronin revealed.

"I don't need protection," he grumbled.

Ronin held him another strawberry but the man didn't accept it. "You will stay here while Isaiah and the rest of us go to meet Han."

Alaric met his eyes then. "You're going too?" He grew rigid on the rocking-chair that halted immediately.

Ronin nodded. "You're going to be home alone with the women and pups," he said. "Can you keep them safe?"

"Hold on, why are you going with him?" Alaric said angrily.

"It's my duty as a pack enforcer to guard our alpha," Ronin reminded.

"But you're supposed to be with me," Alaric blurted out before he realized what he said.

Ronin smiled at him. "I'm sure you can survive a few hours," he got up from the chair and handed Alaric the bowl of strawberries. "Finish it for me." He lost himself as the sun poured over Alaric's skin and those eyes were bright blue pools. "I'll be back before you know it."

"Don't go," Alaric voiced.

Ronin reached down and ran his fingers along Alaric's cheek. "If only you had told me that last night," he whispered before he left Alaric in that library alone while he went to fulfil his duties to their pack.

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