" Thank you princess Catherine," Noah says, kissing my cheek before running off after his sister, who stands close to her curious, but relieved parents.

"Bye!" I call after him, waving with a small smile.

I watch on fondly as the family walk away, making me wish for just a moment, that I had my family complete.

But I will never have that ever again.

My view is blocked by a tall figure in front of me, which diverts my attention. A hand suddenly outstretches infront of me. Trailing my eyes up to the owner, and his scent overwhelmingly good in my nose, I meet my mate's eyes.

He won't harm me, I can sense it.

I place my hand on his, letting him pull me up , only to trip on my feet and the force to push me onto him, where I land in his arms. His hands make contact with my waist to hold me in place, while my own grab ahold of his arms.

Sparks and warm tingles erupt throughout my body, making me gasp in surprise. I raise my head, and my wide eyes, meet his intense ones. I don't know for how long we remain like this, just staring into each others eyes and basking into the mate bond.

It feels so good to be in his arms, the tingles up my spine, makes me feel relaxed. Nothing else seems to matter but being in this moment. I'm too comfortable to move but I know that I have to do so, it's all too new for the both of us, this sensation, the good feeling of it all.

' It was all a mis-hap, ' I tell myself.

With this mental note, I start to lean back, only for his hold to tighten around me, stopping my movements.

I give him a questionable look, wondering why he's stopping me.

"Alpha?" I call him.

"Glass." He responds.

" What?" I ask, confused.

" There's broken glass behind you and you're not wearing any shoes." I glance down over my shoulder, realising that he's definitely right. There's broken glass just a step or two from my right.

Looking back up at him to tell him thank you, for the second time now, I gasp silently when out of nowhere, I'm picked up and held bridal style.

My arms on their own accord wrap around his neck, my eyes on his, where they dare not, to move elsewhere. There's just something about staring into his eyes, his eyes tell all and right now, I can sense him, his wolf, having been mostly dominant now, and causing such actions to take place.

I can't say I'm disappointed, just that I'm too entranced in the beauty of his eyes, the same eyes, which will instill their selves in my brain forever.

I feel us moving, I don't know where we are going and I don't have the urge to find out, this moment is too surreal to let it end.

I can feel his fingers trailing up and down on my sides, this creating goosebumps, parts of me jumping in reaction. When I feel a thumb touch a spot close to my ribcage, I close my eyes and hold my tongue to not make a sound, because of the pain, which still lingers.

This pain was the same pain, caused by that fall down the stairs, the same fall that Kylie is responsible for.

His thumb pressing more on that same spot, indicates that he has already detected my pain. I open my eyes to look at him, just as his fingers leave that area and I can't help but release a sigh of relief.

His eyes hold question but I refrain from answering.

"What happened?" He finally asks.

" Someone is looking for you." I tell him, sensing it.

He frowns and opens his mouth to speak, but then someone calls him from behind us.

" Alpha." Evan.

I blink twice, shifting in his arms and telling him to put me down. I'm soon placed on my feet and I step back from him, letting him turn to face Evan.

"There's a call for you in your office."

" Who?"

A simple question yet so much meaning connected to it. He's letting me be present, while he discusses his business. He's put acknowledgement to my existence, my presence in front of another wolf, one of his trusted men.

Evan briefly glances my way, due to Mica blocking his view. I don't believe he even comprehends what he's just done.

" Alpha Ronan sir." My brother, what could he want?

"Show the lady the way back." Mica says, walking past Evan.

As Evan steps forward and is about to speak, he's called once more by the alpha.

" Use the back and do make sure that she's not bothered, she is our guest." The alpha adds, before walking off.

" Right this way miss." Evan says, walking past me and already leading the way.

I follow after him without a word.

I don't know how to feel about the alpha's words, the fact that he acknowledged me in front of his own, and called me a guest, instead of something else, is relieving. It'll decrease the amount of curious looks I've received today, though a part of me, had slightly wished for him to call me his mate.

It would have complicated things for him, I understand. He's still trying to figure things out, my presence alone has shaken his world and he doesn't want to make rash decisions. Another fact, is that he's torn between what fate had brought before him, and his strong denial of the mate bond.

He's been adamant for so long on overlooking having a mate, but now that I'm present, everything is not clear, where as for me, everything is.

I know where my destiny lies and what I should face ahead, if he were to accept me. I'm only here to be his helper, to not let him fall, and to strengthen him, to give him a sense of home, the kind of home provided for him, instead of him being the provider.

It's sad to think of the long road ahead, before such can happen. It all lies to him, while there's only so much I can do.

The back entrance has led us through the back porch, and inside the house. Right by the stairs, Evan turns to face me, probably curious as to where I'd like to go.

" I'd like to go back to the room please." I tell him and he nods, but he does not move for a second.

"You have something to say." I state.

His eyes are conflicted, his mind is working overtime, and he's not sure if he should say anything.

" Something about you tells me that you're different, you are unlike us, and I speak this with no bad intention, but just curiosity."

"You're not the only one, most who've crossed my path are just like you, curious."

He nods.

How do I explain myself to anyone, I can't.

"No one can feel your wolf or that part of you, yet nothing indicates you being full human. You're a mystery."

" I'm a mystery to myself." I mumble, lost in thought.

"What?" I shake off my thoughts, focusing my eyes on him again.

Looking at him and into his eyes, I can tell that he may be like many with curiosity, but his curiosity has a meaning behind.

"You're a man of importance in this pack, a man of high rank. Anyone can tell."

" I'm the third in command." He says.

" You aren't just curious, but you want to know, in order to understand whether I hold a threat to your pack or not." I state all of this, based off my senses. " I can't disclose much, but be rest assured that I have no intention of harming your people. I leave in three days, my presence here won't hold anymore uncertainty."

I leave him with those words, though he has a lot to say.

Retracing my steps back to the guest room, I feel quite tired and a little rest will do me good, especially with the pain left on my skin, right against my rib cage.

A few doors left till I reach the room, I meet Travis on the way.

"You are distressed, why?" I speak up.

He sighs, burying his hands in his front pant pockets.

" I don't know what's going on with Kylie. She is - I don't know how to describe it."

" She's unnecessarily uncertain and threatened by my presence. You, being away from her for so long has played a part, she's not in control of her emotions, her wolf needs and craves for your attention."

"She's never like this with the other guests."

"Well I'm not like the others, now am I?" My lips twitch into a small smile, trying to lighten the mood, but he's too troubled to be at ease.

I sigh. " Make time with your mate, you both need it, that level of understanding. Listen to her, and it just might make all the difference."

He nods, and the tension somewhat leaves his body.

" I'm sorry about what happened, let me take you to the infirmary." He steps forward.

I hold up my hand to stop him.

" I'll be okay, you go to your mate, she's calling out for you." His eyes are conflicted just like Evan was.

I nod reassuringly, walking away and making the decision for him.

The minute my body hits the bed, I'm out like a light.

********

I'm not alone, that much I can tell. This knowledge wakes me up.

Hair is pushed back from my face and a finger trails down my cheek, with the tingles trailing after. I'm well aware that it's him. His scent is all around me and I sigh in contentment, with a smile threatening to come out.

His eyes are trained on me, with his fingers doing the exploring. I'm resting on my side, facing away from the door.

My eyes flutter open and I quickly adjust to the dim lit room. The moon provides light enough for me to make out my surroundings. He's seated right beside my legs.

His fingers which were still on my arm, fault, and he tilts his head up to look at me. His green eyes shine in the dark.

We remain in this position for a moment, until he's the one breaking the contact. He reaches over to switch on the bedside lamp, bringing more light into the room and he becomes more clear.

He settles back to his original position and before he can touch me again, I decide to sit up, placing a pillow behind me and leaning against it.

He closes a bit of distance between us, and takes a hold of my hand. I watch him silently as he looks down at my hand, tracing lines on my palm. The warm tingles feel nice but I can't get carried away.

"You're here." I say, breaking the silence.

" I'm here."

I try to pull my hand back but he tightens his hold. His finger starts pressing along my wrist and I hiss, trying to pull my hand back.

Yet still, he doesn't let me go.

"You skipped out on dinner."

" I was too exhausted to think of food."

"You should eat, for energy purposes." He clears his throat awkwardly, avoiding my gaze.

"You should be resting alpha." I say and he arches his brow in reaction.

" I could say the same about you."

" I was....." In not so many words, I tell him that he's the reason, being here now in the middle of the night.

He looks me in the eye.

" My wolf needs this." He mutters, letting go of my hand and rising to his feet.

He gives me one last glance before he starts to strip off his clothes, I close my eyes at the sound of bones cracking.

Something wet touches my hand, making me flinch back in surprise.

I open my eyes to meet the sight of my mate's wolf. He's so beautiful with his eyes more blue-black like. The wolf leans its head on my arm, and it's then I understand. He just needs to be close to his mate.

I push back down on the bed, laying sideways once again. I now face the wolf, who steps back until he finds a suitable place beside the bed, to lay on his stomach and rest his head on his arms.

I can still feel his eyes on me, watching my every move. I let him have his fill, watching him, watch me.

This moment all together is calming, so much so, my eyes start to droop low. I look at him once more, taking in his large form.

I watch till I can't no more, my eyes fail me and I fall asleep, this time, for the first time, in my mate's present.

*******"**"*************************

Thank you to everyone who's checked this book out.

Enjoy the chapter.