"Yes."

Breath caught in my throat. I had never even thought about the possibility of him having been engaged. Because since the first day I met him, he was there with me, for me. The thought that he would have been someone else's just made my heart ache, but it also sparked a flare of jealousy.

"It was years ago," he said. "After my mother fell into coma, my father and I were... we just weren't the same. We were ghosts walking around. My grandparents went around making arrangements that suited their tastes. I think they were sort of glad about the curse that kept me from finding my mate. That meant they could chose the future queen to their taste. I've never even met the person they were talking about."

He rubbed his face. "God, I keep screwing up with you. I should've told you, but it totally slipped my mind. I wasn't going to go through with it, anyway. A year or so after my mother went unconscious, I realized that my grandparents were serious about it. They tried to talk me into meeting Alpha Michael's daughter. That's when I snapped out of it."

He stopped and gave me a sad smile. "Even knowing that I didn't have a mate, I couldn't bring myself to consider making someone my queen. Besides, Alpha Michael's daughter would have a mate out there, I couldn't take that chance away from someone.

"So I told my grandparents that they can take their plans and shove them up their royal ass."

I snorted. "In those exact words?"

"Close enough," he said. "My father understood. The queen is an important person in the werwolf kingdom, but he supported my decision."

"What about the royal line, though?" I asked. "Shouldn't there be an heir?"

He shrugged. "That was one of the reasons my grandparents wouldn't take no for an answer. But Zach had found Ashley by then, their kids would ensure the royal line continued, and one of them would ascend to the throne after me," he said. "Well, that was before. Now that I found you, I think we should get to working on those heirs-"

I slapped his arm. "You're unbelievable!"

He chuckled and hugged me to him. "I'm sorry. I know I should've told you this. I just genuinely forgot. The engagement was never on my mind."

I sighed. "Okay. Are you sure you don't have anything else to tell me? A secret girlfriend? Another fiancé? A wife?"

His embarrassment flitted through the bond. It was endearing.

"Sorry," he mumbled. "I just really never think about it, the engagement or Joanna or anyone else. And after I met you, you're all I think about."

I chuckled against his chest. His warmth and smell banished the weight of his grandparents' words. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. "Are you trying to smooth-talk yourself out of trouble, your highness?"

"I'm just telling the truth," he said. "Is it working? Are you still mad?"

"I wasn't mad," I hesitated. "Okay, maybe a little. I just wish you told me before."

He pulled back and framed my face with his hands, looking into my eyes. "I'll try my best. I promise. But there's no secret girlfriend, no fiancé, and no wife."

I smiled. "Good."

"Good."

He kissed me, and the last of this evening's stress faded away.

Ten minutes later, Ezra and I were snacking on a box of chocolate truffles he brought from the kitchen.

"Won't someone look for it?" I asked even as I picked a white chocolate covered piece.

"No. It's yours. When Dad found out you like chocolate, he made a stash of chocolate here for you."

"Oh." I looked at the box between us. It was odd how this simple gesture erased every bad feeling I had today. I smiled. I guess people who really cared about me would always do, even if they knew about my past.

Ezra picked up a truffle with crunched hazel. Mhm. That looked tasty. He glanced at me, his amusement pulsing through the bond, and gave me the piece.

"Are you sure?" I asked even as I reached for it. It was in my mouth before he could reply.

He chuckled, shaking his head. "You little chocolate monster."

"So," I said after swallowing."How come your father is nothing like your grandparents?"

"Mom always says she's thankful my great-grandparents are the ones who raised Dad, that if he'd been anything like his parents, she would've strangled him a long time ago."

I smiled. I could see her saying that. "I like your mom. So far, I'm not considering strangling you yet."

He choked on chocolate. "Yeah?" he said when he recovered. "So that might change in the future?"

I grinned. "Maybe? So don't get too comfortable."

His hearty laughter filled the cabin and my heart. He shook his head, a smile still on his lips. "I love you, even if you want to strangle me."

I would never get used to hearing those words. I was so grateful he was my mate. He was a gift I didn't know what I did to deserve. But he was mine and I wasn't letting him go.

"I love you too," I mumbled, reaching in the box only to find it empty. "Oh, we finished the entire box?"

"You mean you finished the entire box," Ezra said.

"Hey!"

He chuckled and closed the empty box. "There's something I want to show you," he said, uncharacteristically hesitant. "It's not done yet, but I don't think I can wait any longer."

"What is it?"

"Come with me."

We left his parents' house. The night air was crisp and chilly as we made our way through the dark forest. Ezra's arm around me was the only thing that kept me from tripping.

A distinctive sound separated itself from the nightly symphony of the woods. Running water. A creak?

Faint lights peeked through the trees, and seconds later, we reached a small clearing.

A two-story log cabin stood in the middle. Small lights glittered on the front porch and along a dirt path leading up to it, and reflected off the surface of the creak running nearby.

As we got closer, I noticed the windows were empty holes, the porch railing was unfinished, and there were tools and unused wood planks on the porch.

It would be such a pretty house when it was finished.

"What do you think?" Ezra asked. The bond stirred with his uncertainty.

"It's beautiful," I said.

Relief soothed the bond. "It's ours."

I blinked at him, then at the house, then at him again. "Ours?"

"Yeah. I began building it soon after we met. Dad, uncle Zane and the guys helped. I thought it'd be be nice having our own place," he said. "Well, if you want to live together. Otherwise, we can just-"

My squeal cut him off. I threw my arms around him, grinning so widely my cheeks hurt. "I love it! We can really live here?"

Ezra chuckled, his arms coming around me. "Yes. It's our home."

I leaned my cheek against his chest and looked at the house. Our home.

My eyes watered. I never had a home. After the orphanage, I lived with my adoptive parents. Their house had been a home when Dad was alive. But after, I knew I wasn't welcome there. I knew it was just a place I stayed until I was of age.

But now I had a home. A home with the person I loved. A person who loved me.

"Thank you," I whispered, squeezing him tighter.

"No," he said. "Thank you."

The house was dark inside, I could barely make out another door on the other side of the house, a backdoor, and a flight of stairs.

"There are some issues with electricity, so there's no lighting inside yet. We'll come back during the day so you can see it better," Ezra said, leading me through the back door to the pack porch. "We also need furniture. I thought we'd build some things from scratch, but we need to go shopping for most of it."

The back porch was more like a terrace. Even through the darkness, I knew the view would be spectacular by day, with the creek and the forest around.

"Remember the waterfall we went to?" Ezra asked as we sat on the steps of the back porch. "That's where the creek comes from."

"It's beautiful. I can't wait to see it by day," I said. My excitement mirrored his. I couldn't wait to live here.

"It's big enough for the basketball team we're going to have," he said, his smile teasing.

"A basketball team?"

"We're going to have five kids. It's only fair that they should each get a room."

I snorted. "You're dreaming. Five kids are a lot."

The thought of having a big family some day warmed my heart. But I wasn't sure giving birth five times would be a walk in the park.

He threw his arm around my shoulders. "That's not a lot."

I rolled my eyes. "Right, because you won't be the one carrying them nine months then pushing them out of your body."

"Hey, maybe we'll get lucky and have triplets and twins. It runs in the family, after all."

"We'll see about that," I said.

"Well, I have years to convince you."

I shook my head and kissed him. He was so happy right now, so at ease and open, I loved it. I guess this was what it meant to be at home.

*** **** ***

The following day, Ezra and I planned to go shopping in the afternoon since we were both free.

There was a spring to my step as Blake and I walked back from class at noon. Compared to yesterday, the students' looks were different. There was less wariness. Less suspicion.

Ezra told me Zyron spoke to the pack about my past. That had to be it.

"I heard the king's parents came back," Blake said.

"Yeah," I slowly nodded, "they did."

My mind flashed back to their monstrous house and its extravagant interior, and how hostile they had been. I never had grandparents-well, I never knew if I had them- but even I knew they weren't supposed to be that way. Grandparents are supposed to be warm and caring, especially to their grandkids.

The way they acted yesterday and what Ezra told me about them made me wonder how they could be so selfish as to put anything above their children and grandchildren's well being.

If my grandparents were like that, I hoped I'd never know them.

I would be lying if I said their words didn't get to me. They poured oil on the fire of my insecurities, and I was hurt.

I shouldn't be, and I was trying to be more unaffected by other people's opinions of me, but it was difficult to do. I would just have to work on it. Ezra was right. People who really knew me and cared about me would always have my back.

"You can keep the damn throne if you want."

His words were a salve to my heart. I didn't think I could love him anymore, but yesterday I was proved wrong.

"I see you had the honor of meeting them," Blake said, snapping me out of my musings. His eyebrow disappeared under his black curls.

"I did." I bit my lip. "They're... pretty direct."

Blake chuckled, shaking his head. "They definitely are. You have no idea how relieved everyone was when king Zyron finally took the throne."

"Yeah?"

"Yep. Mom told me it was one hell of a fight."

I frowned. "Fight?"

"You don't know how it works?" he asked. When I shook my head, he explained. "Unlike humans, the throne isn't just passed down after death or by abdicating. The crown prince has to challenge the sitting king and win the fight for the throne."

"So Ezra would have to fight his father?" I asked with wide eyes.

"That's how it works, yes."

Wow. "I didn't know."

I guess it made sense. They were wolves, after all. Still, the thought of Ezra and Zyron fighting seriously made my guts knot. I shook my head, I guess should develop a stronger stomach.

Blake and I had lunch with Sam, Haley, Hayden and Ezra. I got used to seeing Hayden around that I almost forgot he wasn't a student here.

Much to Ezra's discontent, Sam and Hayden ended up accompanying us to town. Haley would have, as well, if Wren hadn't asked her to bring Gray around. The pup was the werewolf's queen's favorite.

I managed to beat Sam to the front seat of Ezra's car, although I suspected it had more to do with Ezra's glare than my speed.

Two hours later, Sam and I were lounging in a gigantic bean bag chair. It would probably fit three people.

"This is so comfy." I sighed, disappearing into the bean bag. Sam agreed with a groan next to me.

We had gone into a furniture store where we picked a few pieces. A large sectional couch that would hopefully fit the whole lot of us, a couple of carpets, a bean bag similar to the one Sam and I were dozing off on, and a hanging egg chair that Sam insisted we bought. He would probably be visiting us just so he could make use of it.

There were still many things we needed, but the sun would be setting soon and we still had a grocery trip to make.

Ezra was paying and giving the staff the delivery information. When I had mentioned helping him pay, Ezra gave me an unamused look. Sam dragged me away before I could argue, and we found ourselves in the bean bag chair.

"So when are you guys moving in?" Sam asked, his eyes closed.

I yawned. The store was busy and people were walking all around us, but I wished I could just sleep right here. The background noise was a nice lullaby.

"Whenever it's ready, I guess?" I said. "But we won't be spending a lot of time in there. There's still school, you know."

Sam hummed. "It still needs some work, so..."

"You've been helping?"

"Yep. Along with Jason, Zach and Hayden," he answered nodding towards Hayden, who was dozing off in another bean bag.

They were just so comfy.

"Thank you," I said, turning my head to smile at him.

He cracked an eye open and smiled back. I laid my head against his shoulder. He kissed my hair and mumbled. "You're welcome, Little Red."

There was more than just friendship between Sam and me. I thought of him as a brother, and I was certain he thought of me as a little sister. After Ezra, he was the one who made me feel safe the most. He'd always have a special place in my heart.

That was how Ezra found us. He tugged me to my feet because getting out of the bean bag was much more challenging than getting in.

We made our way to do the groceries next. The town was busy late in the afternoon, and the supermarket was no exception.

Ezra put food in the cart while I struggled to stay awake. I was always sleepy these days. Hayden and Sam were somewhere behind us, arguing about coffee brands, when Ezra stiffened.

Sleep evaporated, and my heart raced. The bond pulsed with intense alarm and anger. Ezra growled lowly. Fortunately, the isle was empty.

"What is it?" I asked. He glared in the direction of the store's entrance, his jaw set. He pulled me closer, Sam and Hayden were beside us in a blink.

"Rogues," Sam hissed.

What?! "Again?!"

"This time they're wolves," Ezra said. Abandoning the cart, we rushed to the doors, Hayden and Sam on either side of us.

Before we even reached the doors, Ezra halted. Slowly, he turned his head to the side. I followed his gaze towards five men with beards and a scruffy appearance. Even across the store, I could tell their eyes were on us.

"Only two of them are sick, and just barely," Sam mumbled. "The others are lone wolves."

"The guards?" Hayden asked.

"Outside," Ezra whispered, not taking his eyes off the men. "They're well hidden, waiting for my orders. They can see at least a dozen more rogues."

"A dozen? How the hell did those numbers get in here?!" Hayden hissed.

"They weren't travelling on foot. Jason said they got out of a damn van."

The rogues approached us. I glanced at the doors nearby, where a few more men waited outside, their pale eyes almost glowing even through the glass doors.

Ezra turned towards the five men inside, pushing me behind him.

"Your majesty," one of the rogues said, dipping his head. A few people walking by threw us confused looks.

"What do you want?" Sam asked, standing next to Ezra, Hayden on the other side, blocking me from view.

Ezra's power almost shook with the need to be let out. My magic stirred in response, reaching out to him and flowing to my fingers. I fisted my hands and pulled my magic inside. I still had no idea what my magic could do, the last thing I needed was to let it out by accident and announce to the entire world that we were supernatural creatures.

"We're not looking for trouble," the man said. "We'll take what we came here for and leave."

"I'll humour you," Sam said. "What do you want?"

The rogue's reply made my heart drop. "Her."

--- ---- ---

Thoughts? 

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Much love <3 <3 <3

M.B.