Conflicting emotions weaved through Constantin. He knew deep inside that he didn't deserve Natalya. She was an amazing woman who had a vast amount of skills and knowledge. In just a week in a half, he have come to realize she was competent as an Alpha. She knew how to paint and build. She spoke different languages and although she might say that reading makes her fall asleep faster she was always learning.

How did someone like him get bonded to someone as amazing as her?

Moon Goddess must be playing a joke on him.

But if it was a joke...he didn't care.

He knew deep inside him, hidden away in a large part of his heart an emotion that almost seemed to make him selfish. He was grateful that she was his.

Looking down at her he couldn't be any surer of the words he had just spoken. She was his.

The way her once soft violet eyes flashing with a stubbornness that has his heart tripping over his feet; he was sure that this woman will be the only one who will have him do anything she beckons. His eyes skimmed over her small dainty nose down to her ample cherry lips.

Those lips that kept him awake every night since coming here.

Sinful and teasing.

He swallowed the desire to kiss them. He wanted to go slow. Constantin wasn't sure where their feelings lie.

Change subject, before you go crazy and do something stupid. He argued with his sanity.

I like to build too. He signed.

She blinked in confusion and he silently cursed his awkwardness. He didn't know what to say. She was his mate. He should be smooth not an awkward idiot.

Then she broke into a smile and that smiled met her eyes before her body shook and she started laughing. It was dazzling to hear her sound of laughter. She looked at him and her eyes crinkled on the side as she pushed him off from her.

"Constantin." She whispered through her fits of laughter. She crawled on her hands and feet towards him. He felt a little cornered. How quickly the tables had turned. It was only minutes ago he had her underneath him.

He backed up until his back met a tree. She moved to straddle his hip boldly. He dug his fingers into the dirt to stop from grabbing onto her and ravishing her right then right there. Placing both hands on his shoulders she bent down to his eye level.

"I didn't mean to laugh but that was much unexpected. Either way though, I am glad you told me something about yourself. Tell me more; I want to get to know you, Constantin." She encouraged, her eyes held a hope that Constantin couldn't deny.

My mother loved to make candles when I was little. My father will get paranoid because he will go onto the training fields smelling like all kinds of flowers. One day though, he told me when we were alone that what my mother does is what he calls home. The scent of candles was what brought him home every day. He knew where she was. The candle smell became a part of his life. The smell of it gave him a sense of comfort. Constantin opened up finally. His fingers finally retracted from digging into the ground. He slowly moved so that she was nestled between his legs and the curve her back molded with his front.

"Candle making? That's amazing. I would love to meet them someday." She said and Constantin immediately stiffened. She turned to look at him the second she noticed how stiff he was.

They aren't alive any longer. He replied.

Sadness appeared in the glints of her eyes and she moved to cup his cheek. "I'm sorry I didn't realize."

It is okay. They have been gone for a very long time. He tried to turn his gaze away but she moved to cup his cheeks.

"Know what I use to do when I was a kid?" She changed the subject quickly. He arched an eyebrow now fully curious to find out what his mate did as a pup.

"I am not very good at making friends. There were pups my age who said that I was too nerdy for them. A few of them said that I was weird for memorizing the history of werewolves to the very last details. I tried to make friends. I attempted in acting normal but no one liked hanging out with a pup that who had a more advance vocabulary than them." She pouted almost as if she was watching a memory play in her mind.

Her eyes met Constantin then. "I decided then that I won't beg for attention. Instead, I turned my attention to more books, more painting, and obtaining new knowledge of everything around me. My father will find me in the meadow and even at times hiding up in trees like a little monkey as I tried to paint the Moon."

He chuckled as he could visualize her sitting in a tree, straining her neck to look at the sky. The corner of lips lifted. "My father told me that I will burn the woods down one day if I continue to sit up in a tree at night. He lectured me on my animal; said I was not a bat or an owl. I was born a wolf. I should be spending my time on the ground not on top of trees where I can fall and break my neck."

He's right. Constantin nodded. You shouldn't-

"I'm alive." Natalya rolled her eyes and then her eyes lit up. "I like it when you laugh. You should smile more often, Constantin."

His chuckle stopped and she was about to speak up when something caught her eyes. She moved her hand out and caught a green water balloon in her hands. Her eyes narrowed at it in disbelief.

"Those little brats." She murmured before crawling off his lap. He looked around and saw two little heads peeping up from a bush. They were Yulian's pups.

Constantin gestured his head towards the bush and when Natalya saw them she grinned. "Constantin, why don't you wait here while I go see who the culprits are?"

Constantin watched as Natalya disappeared from his sight. He noticed her moving quickly, too quickly for a young pup's eyes to catch but enough for him to find her moving around to behind the young pups who were giggling. When she came up behind them she lifted the balloon above the two giggling pups head before popping it.

Shrieks and screams of surprise filled the air. He laughed then, it might not be a full on laugh but enough for anyone with ears to know what the soft, very brogue sound was coming from. He wouldn't have thought his mate will really do that to her Beta's pups. The horrified facial expressions on the two young girls were enough to have him laughing more than he expected.

"Alpha Natalya!" They screamed. "Why did you do that?"

She bent down low. "You know why. Now, tell me why you two were out here in the woods?"

"We were trying to set up traps for rabbits." They admitted. "But then we got distracted with balloons."

Constantin heard Natalya chuckled softly as he moved closer to her. He couldn't pin his finger on it but he was drawn to her. It was a constant pull that nagged at the back of his mind all the time.

There were days he will day dream about her when she was gone patrolling the borders or doing her pack business. There were times he missed her terribly and she was in the next room over. It was overwhelming. He couldn't stop the drive to be near her.

He meant it when he said she was his. He was weak against her and the bond. She was an amazing woman. Someone that he was instantly drawn to even without the bond of that he knew for a fact. His mother always told him that a bond is just a bond but other things come into play. In order for two soul mates to be able to have a pure bond—one solely on true love it has to do with the heart's desire.

Just the thought of love has his heart palpitating in his chest.

How can someone love someone as defective as him?

He felt a movement against his chest and glanced down to see Natalya looking up at him with concern. She must've been trying to talk to him but he was completely zoned out.

"Are you alright?" She asked.

His heart thumped hard in his chest.

"Should we head back?" She asked again not waiting for an answer.

His heart thumped harder. He swallowed the huge lump in his throat and licked his suddenly parched lips.

I'm fine. He answered.

She nodded and he watched those violet soft eyes turn back to the little pups again.

He was doomed. His heart was at risk.

Natalya saw how distant Constantin looked for that one moment. His body was rigid against hers. She felt a sense of comfort coming from him but also she felt how terrified he was. For a moment she thought there was a threat until she sniffed the air but caught no scent.

Turning back to the pups she ushered them back home before turning back to her mate. Constantin seemed to be avoiding the idea of meeting her gaze. He looked at about anything except her. She felt irritation settle in her chest. She didn't like to be ignored.

She could see the fear in his eyes. She could feel his insecurities. She wanted to heal all of him and soothe away all his doubts. He was the only person in her world that she wanted to wipe away the worried lines from his forehead.

"Constantin." She whispered his name almost pleading for him to look at her.

His eyes flickered up immediately.

"What is wrong?" She asked.

They stared at each other for what seemed like the longest time. A silent battle passed between them--fighting their feelings and emotions to a tense magnitude. She wanted to help him but he was too afraid. He wanted to help her but he found himself not worthy.

Natalya opened her mouth to be the first to speak but a sudden noise in the bushes caught her attention. She turned towards it immediately and saw five unknown wolves emerged. They were no scent but Natalya also knew they didn't have a rogue aura around them.

By the numbers, others might say it is an uneven fight but Natalya and Constantin should never be underestimated.

The Alpha blood in their veins demands dominance.

Growls met the air as they shifted into the air and attacked the unknown intruders who were snarling with saliva dripping down their jaws. The threat was clear; they weren't here for anything good.

They were here for a reason and Natalya was bent on finding out.

Author's note:

I am so sorry for the lack of replies! I promise to catch up on it as soon as possible. I have been busy with school work. My two classes are ending but I have one that will merge right with the two. As you all might know, I also am experiencing a new dilemma in my life that I am working on besides school. There won't be much updates as usual but I hope you all can be patient with me.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter and sorry again for the lack of updates. I haven't forgotten you.

Leila Vy