Lillian scrambled up, swaying a bit on her feet. The warrior steadied her and stepped back.

Noah stopped in front of her, not saying a word. The warmth his body usually radiated seemed to double ten folds, the heat of him a physical blanket enfolding her. When his fingers touched her chin, Lillian knew she wasn't imagining it; his skin was scorching hot.

"I'm fine. It's just a little scratch," she said. He looked over her shoulder. Lillian's hand circled his wrist, squeezing until his attention returned to her.

"I'm fine, Noah," she said more firmly. "It was an accident. I'm alright."

He closed his eyes, heaved a deep breath, and when he opened them again they were no longer blazing with fury.

Then he took her in his arms.

Lillian's breath froze in her lungs. In that moment, Noah was bigger than life itself. His broad chest beneath her cheek and his strong arms across her back a shelter so solid it felt as though nothing could ever hurt her again. He buried his nose in her hair, and Lillian forgot about all the eyes watching them, and melted against him.

Violet had never shied away from Lillian's touch. She even sought it out on several occasions. So Lillian was more than bewildered by the incident. The fights must have brought up bad memories. Lillian had her fair share of those herself, so she didn't blame the young girl.

Thirty minutes later, Lillian was sitting in the infirmary, her cuts cleaned and bandaged. Fortunately, they were shallow, so no stitches were needed.

"They won't leave any scars, I think," Eva said, putting the bloodied pads she'd used to wipe Lillian's cuts in a small tin on the floor. Then she lit it on fire.

"Whoa, was that necessary?" Lillian said, eying the flames warily.

Noah, who hadn't left her side, replied. "It is. Blood is very powerful. A witch could do a lot with someone else's blood."

"Which is why we try to never leave traces of it anywhere," Eva added, taking her gloves off. "It's a necessary precaution in our world. A habit you too should start adopting."

Lillian nodded, remembering on her very first day here how Katrina had used her blood and her sons'.

"So," Eva said, "how did this even happen? I know Violet is very fond of you. She wouldn't have hurt you on purpose."

"I'm not sure myself." Lillian frowned. "But you're right, she didn't do it on purpose. I think the fighting spooked her."

Eva's eyes shimmered with sympathy. She looked at Noah. "We should get them started on counseling sooner. I thought maybe giving them a little bit of time to settle down first would be nice, but..."

Noah rubbed his jaw, a frown tugging down his brows. "Yes. Let's hope counseling helps, especially with Violet. She was in captivity for a very long time."

Lillian's heart ached for the girl who had some of the most beautiful years in her life stolen from her. That's the period when a person is shaped, to spend it locked up in a dark dungeon, being forced to fight the only people you knew until you were the last one standing, being drugged, beaten, and possibly abused in various other ways, it was something Lillian couldn't wrap her head around. She truly had immense respect for Violet's spirit. The girl had survived trials beyond Lillian's imagination and came out on the other end, if not unscathed, then alive.

"I should go see her," Lillian said. Kiano had taken Violet to their cabin before Lillian and Noah headed to the infirmary.

Noah pushed to his feet and taking Lillian's hand, he pulled her up. "I'll go with you." To Eva, he said, "I'll have Lisette call the counselor. If they're not preoccupied, they should be here in a few days."

Noah didn't let go of her hand all the way. It looked so pale and small against his. They walked through the woods, their steps leisurely.

"When you say a counselor, you mean psychological counseling?"

Noah nodded, the light of the afternoon sun playing on the glossy black of his hair. "Yes. Why do you sound surprised?"

"I just never thought-" Lillian snapped her mouth shut.

He slanted her a gaze filled with humor. "You never thought that even monsters need psychological counseling?"

"It's just that you guys seem so invincible. I forget that even if your bodies are invulnerable, the mind is not." Lillian squeezed his hand. "And you're not monsters, whatever makes you think that."

A long silence. His jaw ticked. "We are monsters. We're just too good at hiding it. And counselors usually drop by a pack once a year if nothing urgent demands their presence. There is one counselor per region. For example, the packs and covens of the west coast of North America all have one counselor that makes the rounds over the course of the year."

Lillian hummed her understanding. He glanced at her, his gaze on her bandage leaden with guilt. "I'm sorry you were hurt."

"It's not your fault. And it's not Violet's fault, either, so don't be mad at her."

"I'm not mad at her."

"You're not?" Lillian asked, bewildered. Earlier, in the training grounds, he looked royally pissed off.

Noah stopped, making Lillian do the same. He searched her eyes then shook his head. "Why would I be mad at her? Incidents like that happen. I'm mad at myself, because I should've foreseen it. Being near a fight would set her off after what she'd been through. I'm responsible for the safety of my pack and-" he gulped, his fingers coming up to graze her uninjured cheek. Then, in a voice gone gravelly, he sent her heart racing out of her chest. "And my mate."

Lillian stopped breathing.

It was the first time either of them addressed the elephant in the room. Lillian was sure he knew she was aware of the mating game between them. But she kept putting off discussing it, coward that she was.

Now, looking into his expectant gaze, she had a feeling she was teetering on an edge. She could very well stay safe on her side, living her life as she had been doing, caring for her sons, being a nondescript member of the pack.

Or she could jump.

She had no doubt Noah would catch her, but her life would unquestionably change. Being Noah's mate would not be easy. Was she ready to take the chance?

Amber gave her the answer she needed. Lillian would never meet a man like him as long as she lived. He was loyal to the bone, strong beyond her comprehension but still gentle, amazingly caring and affectionate under the reticent facade he always wore. And he cared for her boys like they were his own.

Lillian's smile was hesitant. She squeezed his hand, and his eyes shone with emotions she couldn't yet decipher. Oh yes, he was absolutely worth it.

"Why me?" Lillian asked the question that had been bugging her ever since Jennifer had made her face the truth.

Noah's lips quirked up in a small but sure smile that took her breath away. Dear God, he needed to keep that thing in check.

"Let's just say my wolf is one stubborn bastard," Noah replied. Lillian felt her stomach drop.

"Your wolf?" Was it only because of his wolf?

Noah's face softened. "It's not just my wolf. You know how the mating game starts, right?"

"Yes. Anna filled me in."

"Then you know that it's not only the wolf who makes the decision. It's true that the wolf's instincts steer us toward a person, a potential mate, but nothing is set in stone until the man in us agrees to pursue that person. And let me tell you, I spent a lot of time arguing with myself and denying my attraction to you, thinking my wolf's instincts had gone wrong for the first time in my life. But you proved me wrong. You're the kindest, strongest and most infuriatingly stubborn female I've set my eyes on."

Lillian rolled her eyes, though her cheeks were burning. "Thanks for the compliment."

"You're welcome." His smile widened a notch. He stepped closer until only a few inches separated them and she could feel his warmth surrounding her. "So, will you give me a chance?"

Lillian smiled back, feeling suddenly shy. Who was she?! He was turning her into a simpering female. She rested her head on his chest, hearing the steady beat of his heart. "I guess I can try to put up with you."

His chest rumbled with what Lillian thought was a chuckle, but surely, she was wrong. Noah, laughing?

"Good," he replied. "Now all I have to do is get the blessings of the two other men in your life."

Lillian laughed, looking up at him. "Just get them some brownies and they'll give me up in a second."

Noah's eyes shone with amusement and another emotion she could only describe as joy. "You underestimate them. I don't think it'll be easy to convince them to share you with me. But I'll do my best."

"There's something, though." Lillian's mood turned serious. "You have to understand that the twins will always come first for me."

"And I wouldn't have it any other way," Noah said.

Lillian breathed out a sigh of relief. It felt as though a load had been lifted off her shoulders. She hadn't even known she was apprehensive about discussing the mating thing with Noah. But now that it was done, she felt unbelievably lighter.

"Have dinner with me." Noah said, taking Lillian by surprise. "You and the twins. My place."

"Oh, Um..." Lillian hesitated, then shrugged. Why not? "Sure."

"Good." Noah nodded, his face still lit up with a bitty smile, he bent his head and pressed a lingering kiss to Lillian's forehead. His lips a pleasant warmth on her skin.

God, he smelled so good. Up close, Lillian was surrounded by his earthy scent and the pleasant aroma of the homemade coconut shampoo Jennifer made for the whole pack.

Noah and Lillian resumed their walk to Violet's cabin. When they reached the pack village, people eyed them with knowing grins that made Lillian's face grow hot.

Someone hooted. Another one shouted, "nice going, Alpha!"

Lillian groaned and put her hand on her eyes. Noah's growl was only half hearted.

Fortunately, Violet's cabin wasn't that deep into the village, so Lillian didn't have to endure any more teasing.

Kinao opened the door. The flutters in Lillian's chest fizzled out at the sight of the grim lines of the wolf's face.

"She's in her room. She didn't want to get out to eat. I left her a plate, but..." Kiano shrugged.

"Go in." Noah urged Lillian. "I'll have a chat with Kiano."

Leaving the two behind, Lillian knocked on Violet's door. When she received no reply, she slipped inside and closed the door behind her.

The room was dimly lit, the daylight coming through the window darkened by the dark green curtains. The twin size bed was pushed against the wall right under the window, a bedside table next to it, the door of the closet on the opposite side. The room was stark and impersonal, hopefully it would grow more alive the longer Violet lived here.

Lillian focused on a small huddle between the bedside table and the wall. A plate of food lay untouched on the floor in front of her.

"Violet?"

No reply. Lillian didn't approach. She sat down on the floor, her back against the door. Violet made no movement to indicate she was aware of Lillian's presence. Knees pulled to her chest, forehead down on her knees, arms locked around her legs, Violet was still as a statue.

"The food will get cold," Lillian said. "You should eat it while it's warm. But I guess if you're not hungry yet, we could save it till later. I heard Jennifer helped in the pack house's kitchen today, so I'm sure the food will be absolutely delicious even if it's cold."

Still no reaction. Lillian sighed, leaned her head back on the door and closed her eyes. On instinct, she started humming a familiar tune. Lydia used to hum it when she helped Lillian with the twins as babies, and Lillian learned it. It still worked to this day to get them to fall asleep.

A few minutes into it, Lillian heard a rustle of clothing. She didn't dare open her eyes or stop humming. She kept entirely still. The clock ticked by, Lillian didn't know how much time had passed when a head rested on her shoulder. She smiled so wide her cheeks hurt.

Lillian slowly leaned her head on Violet's and kept humming until all tension drained out of the girl's body.

"It's okay," Lillian whispered. "It's all going to be okay. You didn't do anything wrong, sweetheart. I'm fine, just a couple of scratches."

Violet whimpered, her knuckles going white around her legs. Lilian's nose tickled. She blinked back her tears. How she wished she could take away all the girl's demons.

"I know you're sorry, sweetie. I know you didn't do it on purpose," Lillian said. Violet made a faint growly sound at the back of her throat. Lillian smiled, turned her head and pressed a kiss to the soft brown strands on top of Violet's head.

"Want to eat?" Lillian asked. "You must be hungry."

Violet nodded. She crawled on her hands and knees to get the plate of food, then curled back in Lillian's side again.

The sautéed vegetables and roasted venison smelled divine, reminding Lillian that she hadn't had lunch yet. She linked the twins to check on them. They were already at Jennifer's place having lunch there with Johnson and Anna.

After a tentative first bite, Violet dug into the rest of the plate.

"It's good, isn't it?"

Violet nodded, holding the plate up to her face. Her manners were those of a child, bringing to mind the fact that Violet had spent most of her childhood and all of her teenage years in captivity.

Violet wolfed down the food in mere minutes, as if she was afraid someone would take it away once she started eating. What in the world had happened to her in that place?

"Do you want more?" Lillian asked, taking the empty plate from Violet. The girl shook her head, then, eyes shimmering with regret, she touched a finger to Lillian's bandaged cheek.

"It's okay. It doesn't hurt now." Lillian smiled, the motion pulling at the gauze. "Besides, now Noah and I will match for a little while."

When Lillian walked out of Violet's room, the girl followed behind her. Noah and Kiano were at the kitchen table, both nursing drinks. The strong aroma of coffee filled the cabin.

Violet was practically hiding behind Lillian, her hand clutching the back of Lillian's shirt. Noah stood up and walked up to them. Violet whimpered. She was afraid of Noah.

"It's okay, sweetie," Lillian whispered over her shoulder. "He's not going to hurt you."

Noah stopped a few feet away. Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath. His exhale slumped down his shoulders and leeched tension from his body. For a moment, Lillian blinked, feeling a pleasant haze blanket her mind and slow her heart. Her breathing deepened, and every knot in her muscle loosened.

She could feel Violet behind her do the same. Her grip on Lillian's shirt slackened. Noah opened his eyes, and Lillian shook her head clear.

He held out his hand toward Violet. The girl took a hesitant step forward and blinked at Noah's hand. After a few seconds, She put her hand in his.

Noah pulled her toward him, enclosed her in a loose hug. Violet flinched, but when Noah's hands remained gentle and patted her back and hair in a fatherly, affectionate manner, she slowly put her head on his chest and heaved a sigh bigger than her.

Lillian caught Noah's gaze over Violet's head and smiled at him. How could he ever think of himself a monster? Beneath all the muscles and power, he was such a gentle soul. He would never use his strength in harming an innocent.

Lillian's chest throbbed with an unnamed emotion, both new and yet so very familiar, tearing down walls she had built over the years, and stitching Noah's name in the deepest, most intimate corners of her heart.

When they finally left the cabin, Violet seemed much better. She looked at Noah with new eyes, as if finally coming to believe that someone so big and powerful could be gentle and good.

"What was that?" Lillian asked as they headed to the pack house. "Back there, how did you do it? Get her to relax?"

"It's an alpha thing. When the alpha feels agitated or angry, it reflects on the members of his pack around him. The same applies when I feel relaxed. So I use it to my advantage. When someone in the pack is too angry, I can help calm them down if I project my mood on them."

Lillian nodded, it must be one of those alpha advantages he had once told her about.

"I talked to Kiano about Violet," Noah said. "Since she was taken very young, I wanted to know how much she knows about the world. If she can read and write, for example."

Lillian frowned. "She needs a lot of help, doesn't she?"

Noah nodded, his brows shadowing the light in his eyes. "Yes, I'll talk to Anna, get her to work with her. But she might need you during their first sessions."

"It would also be good for Violet to spend time around other people." Lillian added. What better way to learn than to watch.

Lunch was still in full swing in the pack house. Lillian and Noah took their trays to the backyard and sat on a bench under an old fir. Minutes later, Sean, Jake and Eva joined them.

"What happened to your face?" Jake asked before he even sat across from her.

"Just a little accident." Quite a few people had witnessed the incident. Surprisingly, news hadn't reached Jake yet. She didn't want to paint Violet in a negative light right now.

Jake's dark eyes were still confused, but he let it go. Eva sat next to Lillian, and Sean next to Jake.

"So," Lillian said, desperate for a change of subject. "When exactly is that little guy popping out?"

Eva patted her belly, a fond smile on her pink lips. "Very soon."

"Are you done with that crib yet?" Sean asked Noah.

"Almost, it just needs some finishing touches."

Eva nudged Lillian then. She was looking at the far edge of the back yard where a few bench tables were scattered, mostly empty. When Lillian followed her gaze, the sight drew a wide grin on her face. Robert and Jasmine were sitting together, their sides touching from shoulder to hip. They had their backs to Lillian, but she could recognize Robert's redhead anywhere.

Eva gave Lillian a playful smile. "Hopefully, we'll have a few mating ceremonies by the end of the year." Eva winked.

Lillian almost choked on her food. Jake barked out a laugh, and Sean was barely holding in his. Lillian didn't dare look at the towering figure by her side, but his intense gaze branded her cheek.

Lillian shot Eva a death glare. The doctor grinned, unrepentant, the rosy glow of pregnancy highlighting her cheeks.

Jake was still laughing when Lillian looked at him, her lips twitched up in spite of her. The man was always in a good mood, it was difficult not to smile looking at him. She threw a green bean his way. He caught it with his mouth and chewed on, wiggling his eyebrows.

"Showoff," Lillian muttered underneath her breath. Jake grinned, he was so cute Lillian could barely believe he was Noah's master of arms. With his boyish features, his brown eyes and dark hair, he was built more like a track runner than the rest of the huge, muscled warriors in the pack. But Lillian wasn't fooled by his lanky disposition. She'd seen him spar, and he was ruthless.

"Well, someone is a little green," Eva muttered, looking over Jake's shoulder at a table where Phoebe was sitting with a few other warriors. Lillian blinked when her eyes met a piercing glare. Whoa, if looks could kill...

"Eva," Sean warned softly. Eva shrugged.

"Aha. So I wasn't imagining it," Lillian said, ignoring the brunette's glare in favor of her tasty food.

"Imagining what?" Jake asked, glancing over his shoulder.

"I don't think Phoebe likes me very much," Lillian said. She had noticed Phoebe's scowls on more than one occasion, but for the life of her, Lillian couldn't remember whatever she had possibly done to be the object of her ire.

Eva scoffed. "Of course she doesn't. She's jealous."

A light bulb went off in Lillian's head. Her brows shot up. "Oh."

Noah closed his eyes for a second. He looked past Lillian at Eva, "Eva."

"Yes, dear brother," Eva replied in a saccharine voice.

Noah shook his head, murmuring something under his breath. Seeing him so needled was a source of great amusement to Lillian.

So he and Phoebe had history. Hmm. Lillian couldn't lie to herself, she did feel a little prickly. Okay, very prickly. The thought of him with someone else made her want to stab her fork in that someone's eye and tear it out of its socket.

Lillian hummed vaguely, stabbed a few beans with a little more force than necessary, and shoved them in her mouth. She looked up to find everyone at the table staring at her.

She raised her brows, swallowing her hastily chewed beans.

Sean whistled a tone, Jake held his hands up and Eva went back to eating. Noah was busy cutting the meat on his plate.

Calm down. This sudden urge to be violent was not reasonable. The wolves must be rubbing off on her. She took a deep breath and blew it out, reminding herself that of course Noah would have been involved with someone on several occasions in his life.

But in the end, Lillian was the one who got him all to herself. She actually felt sorry for Phoebe and the rest of the unmated female population. Noah was hers. Lillian held dearly to that thought. She was better than to stew in an irrational fit of jealousy.

But Phoebe wasn't of Lillian's opinion, apparently. The glint in the other woman's eyes was borderline psychotic. Lillian smiled widely at her, waving her fingers.

Jake choked on his food and Eva chuckled. Phoebe's head reared from shock, she scoffed, the glare never parting ways with her face, and looked away.

"Really, Noah," Lillian couldn't help but say. "What in the world were you thinking? I would've expected better from you."

Phoebe didn't seem like the type of girl sane men associated with. To be so hung up on someone even though she knew he was in the mating game with another person is quite petty, to be honest, considering the fact that mating is a very sacred thing in their world.

Lillian sighed. She shouldn't judge someone based on what she herself thought was happening. So she tried not to let any ill feelings toward Phoebe breed in her heart.

Sean and Jake's shoulders shook with suppressed laughter. Noah dragged a hand down his face. "I guess I wasn't thinking."

"Probably." Lillian nodded.

After lunch, everyone went back to their business. Lillian checked on the twins first, they had a feast with Anna and Johnson, and barely stopped to talk to her before rushing to where their friends were waiting by the lake. Lillian gazed after them, feeling oddly bereft. They rarely spent as much time together as they did when they were living with humans.

But as soon as the thought entered her head, Lillian chased it away, feeling silly. Being in the pack was good for them. She could see the effects on them every single day. They were glowing with delight, always excited, their wolves more present in their eyes than ever before. Living like healthy little pups, the way they should live.

Back then, they rarely ever went outdoors, never spent time with other kids their age, and only shifted in the confines of their home, never stretching their little paws in a free run. They would have spent the rest of their childhood in a cage.

So if the price was spending less time with her, she could bear it.

Lillian spent the rest of the afternoon doing paperwork, going from her office to Sean's to Noah's, where Lisette was a permanent resident. Noah only dropped by his office for a few minutes. He spent the majority of his time out and about around the pack and the territory.

She came to learn that he hated sitting still in a confined space for too long. It suited him, she thought. He was too wild to be sitting behind a desk.

Lillian was replying to an email, thinking of how shocked the people she emailed would be if they found out they were communicating with a human, when a knock sounded on her office door.

"Come in," she called. Noah walked in, closing the door behind him. "Oh, hey."

He came around to sit on her desk beside her. The poor wood groaned under his weight. "I'm going to pick up the twins for our dinner together, so don't worry about them."

"You sure?" Lillian asked. "They could be a handful if you're alone."

"You've been handling them for five years," he said. "I'm sure I can manage for an hour."

"Okay. Should I bring something?"

"Just yourself. You know the way to my cabin?"

Lillian squinted her eyes, thinking back on the way there. Noah's cabin was a bit secluded from the other cabins. "I think I know the way, but just to be sure, I'll ask Kate to come along after our workout."

Noah's body stiffened. "You should rest."

"I'm fine, Noah." She pointed to her cheek. "They're just scratches, and I'm sure Kate won't be going hard on me today, anyway."

"You were sick yesterday."

"And I'm fine today," Lillian said more firmly. "I could use a good sweat."

A tick in his jaw, Noah looked away. Lillian narrowed her eyes at him. "Don't you dare link Kate."

He cleared his throat, ran a hand down his face and heaved a deep sigh. "You're impossible."

"Pot, kettle," Lillian replied. She shooed him away. "Go on, I need to finish this. Kate will be waiting."

Taking her by surprise, he leaned down until they were nose to nose. Lillian held her breath, frozen in place by the look in his eyes. His nostrils flared as he searched her eyes for what seemed like forever. Then he kissed the tip of her nose, straightened up, and walked out like nothing happened.

Lillian stared after him like an idiot. Her throat suddenly parched, her heart skipping wildly. She touched a finger to her burning nose, her breath coming out in a whoosh, surprised when she searched her feelings to find she was actually disappointed. For a second there, she thought he was going to kiss her.

And she wanted him to. Dear God, she was in trouble.

Lillian shook her head. He would be speaking with the twins about the mating thing between them. Lillian smiled. She wished she could be there to see the twins' reaction.  

--- ---- ---

Hey guys! Hope you're doing well!

Did you like this chapter? How do you think the twins will react to the news?

Comment your thoughts and don't forget to vote!

Also, merry christmas to everyone who celebrates it <3 <3 <3

Much love <3

M.B.