So it's a toss-up between Jash and Axon. Which one do you guys like better???

********

"Taylor!"

I sigh heavily into my pillow. "What?" I yell but it's muffled.

I hear my door open. "Alpha Dorian is here to see you," Logan says.

I groan. "Why the fuck can't he come at a normal time? Why must he show up so early in the morning?" I grumble.

"He's an alpha Tay, he has a pack to run. Honestly you're lucky he's putting in this much effort and showing up at all," he snorts.

"Get out," I spit. I hear the floor creak as he moves closer and a growl escapes my lips. "Logan get the fuck out of my room before I put my foot up your ass."

The door slams shut and a few moments later, there's a soft knock. "You can come in Shawn," I mutter, rolling over with a small sigh. It's dark in my room but I can still see.

The door slowly opens and my mate steps inside. I can't help the smile that creeps onto my face at the sight of his childish grin. "I apologize for coming so early in the morning," he says.

I sit up with a yawn. "Why do you keep coming so early?" I ask.

"My advisors don't like the idea of their alpha leaving his own pack just to see his mate so I have to sneak out of my own house," he chuckles.

My eyebrows shoot up. "Why don't you just get new advisors then? Ones that aren't dicks," I mutter.

"Believe me I would but unfortunately my father is part of that group and he wouldn't take too kindly to being dismissed," he laughs.

Honestly his laugh is such a beautiful sound. Deep and rumbling, it sends a shiver down my spine.

"Yeah probably not," I remark. I climb out of my bed then wince as the cold air hits my skin. "Oh I am so not looking forward to winter."

"Really? Why not?" he asks.

I rub my arms as I walk into the bathroom. I pull my tank top over my head and step out of my shorts and underwear before climbing into a hot shower."The mystics say it's going to be really long and the hardest we've had in decades as far as the amount of snow," I sigh, making the water as hot as I can without burning myself.

"What's wrong with snow?"

I look over and see his blurry outline leaning against the doorway of the bathroom through the frosted glass of the shower. "Well first of all, it's cold," I say, "and second, it's cold."

He laughs, shaking his head. "Yeah I've noticed you don't like the cold."

I smile a little as I reluctantly turn off the water. Shawn hands me a towel when I open the door, covering his eyes with his free hand. "Thanks," I mutter, wrapping it around myself. "You can uncover your eyes."

"You know, the greatest part about the cold is you can warm up in thick sweaters with hot tea and a fire. No warrior training, just staying inside and reading a book," he grins, stepping closer, "or cuddling with a beautiful mate."

I can feel my lip tremble as the corner twitches up into a tiny smile. I lean forward, resting my head on his chest.

He hesitates for a moment before cautiously wrapping his arms around me. "Are you going to tell me why you really don't like the winter?" he asks gently.

I close my eyes, sucking in a shaky breath. "When it snowed I had to stay inside. I was stuck in the house with my brother and had nowhere to go," I tell him.

"I promise you will never have to worry about anything like that ever again," he growls, hugging me closer to him.

"I believe you," I murmur.

He chuckles a little. "I want to show you something, can you get dressed quickly?"

I nod. "Yeah just give me a second."

*******

"Shawn can you please tell me where we're going?" I ask, my heart pounding in my chest and my stomach churning with anxiety. For some reason I let him blindfold me and I'm really starting to regret it.

"That would ruin the surprise. I know you're going to love it though so just try to relax, we're almost there," he whispers, squeezing my hands.

He gently tugs me along, warning me of any roots and pulling me around trees and bushes. He finally stops. "Okay you can take it off now," he says.

I pull off the blindfold and a gasp escapes my lips at the scene before me. Several fuzzy blankets are spread out on the grass with dozens of plush pillows on top.

I turn around to look at Shawn who has a massive toothy grin on his face. "Did you do this?" I ask.

"Yes, do you like it?"

"I love it, thank you," I breathe, throwing my arms around his neck.

He rubs my back softly and leads me over to the blanket. I plop down into the pile of blankets and pillows with a sigh. Shawn laughs before sitting down beside me.

"How are you guys doing this lovely morning?" a familiar voice asks.

I sit up and immediately start laughing. "Maia what the hell are you doing?" I ask.

She looks down at her apron then back at me with a grin. "I'll be your waitress, can I interest you in our house special?" she asks dramatically.

I can't wipe the grin off my face as I turn to Shawn with a questioning look. He shrugs. "She was determined to know if I had anything special planned and demanded to be apart of it when I told her," he says.

I laugh. "Goddess Maia you are the most amazing friend a girl could ask for," I mutter, turning back to her. "So what's the house special?" I ask.

"Alpha Daerius' famous chocolate chip pancakes with strawberries and bacon on the side," she says, wiggling her eyebrows.

I clap my hands together. "Oh yes I love your dad's pancakes!"

"Do you want coffee too?" Maia asks.

"Yes please."

"Alpha Dorian, would you like some pancakes too?"

He chuckles. "I would, thank you Maia. Tell your father thank you as well," he says.

"I'll be right back," she smirks, sending me a wink before walking off into the forest. It suddenly hits me that we're only a two minute walk from her house.

I feel Shawn put his arm around me and I slide over so I rest my back against his chest. His fingers trace light circles on my shoulder. "Your friend said this is the best place to watch the sunrise," he says.

"This is so cheesy and perfect and I absolutely love it, thank you Shawn," I mutter.

I sit up and turn so that I'm facing him. He watches me with his gorgeous dark green eyes. He really is a handsome man, I think as I look over his face.

I take a deep breath before leaning forward. Right as my lips meet his I close my eyes. My breath catches in my throat.

His lips are soft and warm and move with mine almost instantly. I feel his hand cup my face and his thumb brush against my cheek.

The kiss is slow and sweet and everything around me seems to fade until all I can hear my mate's heart beating in time with mine.

Come on Tay, get closer. You want to, don't you? my wolf purrs in encouragement.

I start to shuffle closer to him―careful not to break the kiss―and his hands slowly slide down to my hips. He helps me move so that I'm straddling his lap.

His arms curl around my waist, pulling me closer to him until my chest is pressed up against his. His body is warm and strong and safe; I practically melt in his embrace.

He suddenly pulls away and I start to ask what's wrong when I taste something salty on my lips. It takes me a moment to realize that there are tears on my cheeks.

"I'm sorry, I didn't go too fast did I?" he asks worriedly.

"Shawn you've been taking me out on dates for weeks and haven't tried to do anything at all even though I'm your mate. I've never heard of a wolf―much less an alpha with so much patience."

"Tay you're my mate. That means I do everything I can to make you happy and I respect you no matter what," he says, "you deserve at least that after what you've gone through." He wipes my tears away, his head tilted to the side.

"I honestly don't know why I'm crying," I mumble.

"You're happy."

"What?"

He shrugs. "You're crying because you're happy."

You know that actually makes perfect sense, Pandora mutters.

I smile. "Thank you for making me happy." I snake my arms around his waist and hug him tightly, burying my face in the crook of his neck. He leans back on pillows, pulling me with him so I lie on top of him.

A few minutes later I hear footsteps. "Okay who wants pancakes?"

I leap up excitedly and snatch the tray from Maia who just shakes her head at me. "You're the most amazing friend ever I love you!" I tell her.

She hands Shawn a tray as well before glancing at me. Did you guys kiss? she asks in a mind-link.

Yeah I finally got the guts to try, I admit.

I wince as she squeals loudly in my mind. I can tell she's trying really hard to maintain her composure on the outside. So how'd it go?

It was perfect, I actually felt safe, I tell her.

She grins at me and obnoxiously ruffles my hair. I glare playfully and she sends me a wink as she saunters away. "Have fun you two."

********

Hey guys so I put in another fluff chapter (these are just so much fun to write XD) I hope you all enjoyed it.

I think I'm gonna do Maia's POV next since the vote between Maia and Tay tied after I had already started writing this chapter. Also I think it would flow pretty nicely to do her POV next. What do you guys think??