Nathan stood away from Paige and Holly to give them privacy but not so far away as he couldn't hear what they were saying. He knew Holly had hurt Paige and he was reluctant to let them be close to each other but he also trusted that Paige could handle it. As he listened to her kindness he couldn't help but fall more in love with her. He knew that the Moon Goddess had given him a gift in Paige and he would do everything in his power to protect and cherish it. He smiled as she walked up to him.

"What?"

"Nothing, that was very- I wasn't expecting that."

"What, her apology, or what I said?" She stopped in front of him.

"Both. I knew she had a crush on me, she's not exactly subtle, but I didn't know it's extent. I almost expected her to start swinging again."

"Well, she's young." Paige looked down the hall after Holly. "She hasn't learned that other women aren't the enemy yet." They were quiet for a moment.

"Soooo," he smirked and raised an eyebrow at her. "You think I'm 'hot as fuck' do you?" She rolled her eyes and started walking to his office again.

"Don't let it go to your head. It's big enough already, any bigger and it'll throw off your proportions."

"The proportions of my 'hot as fuck' body? I just want to be clear of what we're talking about here." They reached his office.

"Can we focus now? We have work to do." She opened the door to his office and headed in.

"Sure, just as long as we're on the same page."

"On the same page of what?" Patrick asked as the entered.

"The book where Paige thinks that I am-"

"A good Alpha." She cut him off and turned to greet the doctor's. Nathan exchanged a look with his officers and struggled to control his face. He turned to the doctor's.

"Doctor Lawrence, Healer Hartland. What can we do for you?"

"I'm sorry Alpha, I know you cancelled this mornings meeting but we found something you should know ASAP." Healer Hartland started.

"I reached out to some colleagues of mine in Boston to see if they have heard of anything like this." Doctor Lawrence said. "One replied that he had heard of it in the rouge populations in the city. He put me in touch with a Professor Moran at the University. We've been emailing, he said he knew some other wolves that might be able to help but that he's going out of town tomorrow. The wolf in question won't meet us with out him there."

"That's unsurprising, most of the unpacked are incredibly wary of pack wolves." Paige interjected.

"You have experience with rouges?" Healer Hartland asked her.

"I know Professor Moran, I was his student."

"That makes this easier then," Doctor Lawrence said. "Professor Moran said he can meet with us today to introduce us to this other wolf, but we have appointments all day, but if you already know him then we don't need to go with you."

They all looked at Nathan who had sat and gone incredibly still. Allen shared a look with Patrick before clearing his throat and said, "Thank you Doctor, Healer, we'll discuss it and let you know." He ushered them out the door. With the door closed, they all looked at Nathan, who still hadn't moved.

"Nate," Patrick said cautiously. "I know you didn't want to involve them but it looks like it might be our only option."

He exploded out of his chair and walked to the window. He stared out it trying to control his temper. His was desperate to protect his mate, even from civilized rouges. He braced his hands on the window sill.

"Nate, we can take precautions, she won't be unprotected."

"You can't go in there with a battalion of warriors." Paige interjected. "This wolf is scared of meeting any pack wolves, you can't take a whole-"

"No." Nathan said.

"Nathan, we are running out of time." She walked over and put her hand on his back and the sparks from it spread out through his body. "I know you didn't want to involve the unpacked but it looks like we might need to."

"I can't-" The window sill began to break under his grip. She moved her hand up to his shoulder.

"You can, you are strong enough." Her touch grounded him, he knew she couldn't feel it but the calm he felt anytime he was near her strengthened with her touch. He took a few deep breaths.

"Okay, but I'm coming with you and we will bring some warriors. We are not going into this unprotected."

"Nate-"

"No Paige. It's the only way I'll be able to go through with this." He turned and took her hands in his. He looked at her pleadingly. "I can't lose you."

"Okay," he let out a relieved breath. She wasn't going to fight him on this. "But it's only a few and they should at least be comfortable with the idea of unpacked wolves."

"There's not a lot of those around here. This pack is only a few years away from the end of a rouge war." Patrick said.

"Then find some." Paige said sternly, "We scare this wolf off we might lose our chance to figure this all out."

A few hours later Nathan was waiting for Paige in front of the pack house. She had gone home to shower and change and he was growing more anxious being away from her. She pulled up in her old Jeep J10 and Nathan was at her door before she turned off the engine. She opened it and stepped right into his arms. He held her close and breathed in her scent, letting it relax him.

"Y'alright there?" She asked him.

"Now I am." He took a few more deep breaths before releasing her. "I'm sorry, I know you don't like it when I'm possessive, but this trip has me and Malcolm extremely nervous. I'm trying to hold it in the best I can."

She gave him a small, knowing smile. "I know. I appreciate that. Just let me know when it's too much and we can take a break."

"You'd do that?" They were still standing closely, and he had to look down at her to see her face.

"Nathan," she said softly so only he could hear her, "I may not be experiencing the bond but I know enough about it. I know how territorial it makes you. The possessiveness does drive me crazy but as long as you're controlling it and not me then we'll be okay. I don't feel the bond so I don't know what you need, that doesn't mean I don't want to give it to you. Just let me know and we can figure it out."

"You're incredible, you know that." He stared into her eyes hazel eyes and was overcome with love for her. She was so strong and fierce, he hated that the bond made him try and control her. Paige was something that should never be controlled. She hated it and yet here she was saying she'd help him with his feelings. That he wouldn't have to be alone with them. It made his heart swell.

His eyes were locked on to hers, he saw her gaze dart down to his lips and then back up to his eyes. He couldn't help it when his did the same. He leaned in slightly and looked back at her with a question. Their breathing quickened. She gave him a slight nod in answer and leaned into him. Nathan bent his head down to meet her lips.

"Found them!" He jumped back before they could make contact. "Oh, sorry." He looked up to see Micah standing at the end of the truck. "Uh, everyone's ready and waiting Alpha. Paige." He nodded to them and then made a hasty exit. Nathan looked back at Paige.

"What is my brother doing here?"

"He's one of the few warriors who has less awful feelings for rouges, says he's met a few."

"Yeah, when he visited me in London." Her voice trailed off, "Does he know about me? About my wolf? Does he know about why we're going?"

"No, I haven't told him anything."

Her eyebrows pinched together in concern, "Okay." She turned around and grabbed her bag from the truck.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I just- I wasn't planning on telling my family about this until there was something to tell." She said backing away from the car. She closed and locked the door before looking back at Nathan.

"I'm sorry," he said. "I didn't think, he doesn't have to come." In truth, Micah being more comfortable with rouges was less the reason for including him than it was that he was Paige's brother. His possessiveness was being loud and Nathan didn't feel comfortable with other males around Paige. His officers were the only exception. He knew having Paige's brother in the car with them would be easier than any other male warrior. He had wanted to bring Dorothea but she and the rest of the Dawn Guard were out on a mission at the moment.

"It's okay. Let's go." She started walking to the rest of the group and he had to resist the urge to hold her hand. They reached where the others stood waiting by two black SUV's. The doctor's were there as well as his officers and some other warriors.

"No, this is too many. This won't work." She said as they approached them. "We can't bring five pack warriors, not including an Alpha and his officers. This guy will get one sniff of you all and run for the hills."

"I've been trying to tell them," Healer Hartland said to her.

"It's fine." Nathan replied. "These four are going in the follow car, they won't be in the meeting. I just want them close incase anything happens. And Allen is staying here, so it will just be me, you, Patrick and your brother in the meeting." She took a deep breath.

"Okay fine, let's get on the road." She started walking to the front SUV.

"You heard the lady." Nathan said, "You four in the follow car. Stay close." Nathan started following Paige. "Micah you're with us in the front."

"Yes Alpha." He followed.

"Here are a list of question's to ask the professors friend." Healer Hartland handed him a folded piece of paper. "It sounds like he may already know what it is we're dealing with but if he doesn't this will help him."

"Great thank you. We'll let you know what we find out. Allen, you have the conn."

Paige turned around to face him. "Really? A Star Trek reference? Gods I forgot how much of a geek you were." He looked at her and saw eyes twinkled with sarcasm. She was teasing him. He decided to give it right back to her.

"One, it's a classic. And two, you caught that reference, so don't be judging me for making it."

"The only reason, I know that reference is because you made us watch all six movies when we were holed up in Tokyo during that storm." She smirked at him and he wanted to kiss it right off her face.

"I distinctly remember you telling me once that no one makes you do anything, so you only have yourself to blame here." She rolled her eyes and threw up her hands in the air.

"Get in the car we're going to be late." He just chuckled to himself and followed her into the back seat of the SUV. He knew she was trying to distract him and he was grateful for it. He would never stop being grateful for Paige.