Ronan arose early the next morning, mindful of the woman curled beside him and was immediately overcome with a profound sense of contentment as his hand absently stroked her hair, all the while, his eyes drawn to her sleeping face.

          It was done. Kate belonged to him as he belonged to her; their souls permanently bound as one.

          He had betrayed his pack, had defied the very laws he once enforced and upheld. His actions now cast him a traitor to his own and Roux would undoubtedly seize his deception and twist it to his favor. He had committed the ultimate offense; he had taken a human as his mate and would most assuredly suffer the consequences. But no matter, he would kill to keep her, even if it meant the very blood he once defended.

          He slipped from the bed and crept to a window, fixing his eyes on that gray skyline. He pushed a hand through his hair as he slid a glance to Kate sleeping soundly in his bed. The vision of her, tucked safely beneath the duvet, robbed him of his senses.

          She was his; his completely.

          He averted his eyes back to that murky horizon as his thoughts deepened with the impending fray. His pack would be outraged, affronted with his betrayal and their fury would be nothing short of justified. He fully anticipated an onset of repercussions, and he would not fault them for it.

          But Kate was innocent. She fully did not understand the life he had inherently subjected her to. She was human and mortals were, for lack of a better word, breakable.

          They would seek to kill her, eliminate her as the threat they deemed her to be, unless –

          Ronan paused, leveling his gaze intensely on where she slept.

          Was it possible to change her? To claim a human as your mate was forbidden but to change a human into a loup-garou?

         It was a death sentence.

          He turned the thought considerably, contemplating its appeal all the more as it weighed heavily on his mind.

          Their souls had been merged as one from the very moment he had conveyed the ancient words of his people, words assembled to form a solemn oath, a pledge to honor and protect the woman paired everlasting to his beast.

           And after he had claimed her, that red-hot flame searing him from the inside out, that intense, fiery thread of the Bonded Call, had all but extinguished with one green-eyed beauty.

          He could not explain it but somehow the fates had chosen a human for his claiming and that feral side of him had not one objection, in fact, his wolf had all but retreated into a complacent state of dormancy.

          If he changed her, would her body accept it? Would she accept it?

          The thought of her falling prey to his enemies incited in him a savagery he hadn’t known existed. He could not, would not, lose her. It was a crippling notion and pack or not, whoever dared, would rue the day.

          She felt weightless, floating adrift on some feathery, wispy cloud and for some reason unbeknownst to her, hadn’t a care in the world.

          Shouldn’t she be running? Wasn’t there a reason to worry? But there was nothing, nothing but a diffused blue and a single cloud drifting astray.

          She couldn’t remember last when she had felt so – peaceful.

          The word itself seemed foreign to her and yet she fully anticipated on embracing it, having gone too long without it.

          But surely it was an illusion, a trick of some sort to simply lure her unsuspectingly into a trap?

          And as if on cue, her cerulean dream fell apart.

          Her eyes fluttered open and Kate blinked sleepily up at the ceiling suspended above her, realizing it had been a dream, suddenly recalling her whereabouts.

          Groaning, she rolled onto her side, inhaling deeply of Ronan’s scent, noticing particularly his absence.

          Sitting upright, she clutched the blanket to her chest and glanced around the room, frowning.

          It was still early, judging by the few rays of light streaming through the windows, so then, where was he?

          She leaned back and listened for a noise below. Perhaps he was preparing breakfast or taking a shower? But only the sounds of a rustic, cold loft met her anticipation and she felt a stab of disappointment.

          And suddenly her thoughts were turning. Where was he? Why would he leave her this way? Did he have regrets? Should she?

          She worried her bottom lip, weighing this as her fingers plucked at a snare in the stitching of the blanket.

          She closed her eyes and suddenly last night was every bit vivid on her conscious.

          His hands, so gentle and tender, had caressed and incited stirrings in her that she had long thought eradicated by the cruel hands of another. But in his arms, she simply felt unattached to the world around her and it was just the two of them. She could for a moment forget her pain; the horrors of her past and that grief that often threatened to consume her entirely, explaining her sudden dream. But the result of their lovemaking had awakened something in her that was frightening and left her feeling uneasy.

          He had wooed her with that irresistible charm and that incredibly sexy grin of his, and yet, here she was, deciding whether or not if last night was a mistake.

          Yet hadn’t she somehow inherently made the first move? Sure, when he had returned late last night she had been worried and the sight of his bloodied frame hadn’t eased her concerns. But then she had touched him and it was as though all her pressing objections no longer mattered. She simply couldn’t fight the inevitable anymore and gave into her desires.

          She had forgotten her purpose. Had she not moved to Asheville to escape a man? Danny had deceived her, beguiled her into believing he was every bit her prince charming, all simply to sink his possessive and controlling hands into her.

          Ronan made her feel beautiful and cherished but none of that mattered when a man wanted nothing more than to control you. Ronan was the epitome of dominance and here she was, in his bed.

          She felt foolish. She had done exactly what she had sworn never to do, and she feared now, that she was at risk of losing her heart.

          It was nearly noon when Micah strolled through the front entrance of Club Red. They caught eyes and Ronan leaned back against the leather at his back, bracing an arm the length of the couch as he greeted his beta, “Have you a word of dispute for me?”

          Micah stopped short of his extended legs and simply snorted, “Do you intend to listen?”

          Ronan smirked, “No.”

          His beta groaned as he took the seat opposite of him, “You have not heeded my warnings thus far, I don’t expect you to entertain them now.”

          He averted his eyes to peer intently at some spot across the room, aware of Micah’s gaze and the growing speculation behind it. He said nothing but simply allowed his beta to engage his suspicions and after a prolonged moment, Micah bowed his head, declaring gravely. “They will kill her but not before retaliating on you first.”

          “They can do as they please to me.” He growled ominously.

          Micah straightened his expression grim. “And what do you think they will do to you?” he swept a hand through his hair, “Hell, why not simply relinquish your rank to Roux? Just pass your bloodline over on a silver platter!” he exclaimed furiously.

          Ronan raised his chin, his expression a hard resolve of stone. “If Roux wants rank as alpha, then he must challenge me for it.”

          “Hah!” Micah cried, “You think the rules still apply? The dynamics have changed, my friend.”
          “There isn’t anything you’re telling me that I don’t already know. Regardless of what I have done, I am still Alpha.”

          “You could have prevented this –“

          “Had I wanted too, I would have done so.” Ronan interjected sharply, “It’s done – she’s mine.”

          “They will turn on you.”

          Ronan met his intense stare, “And you? Where do you stand, Micah?”

          His beta fell silent and inhaled a deep breath as though to quell his frustration.

          Ronan gathered to his feet, “I warned you that lines would be drawn and my actions will only determine who will turn against me. I don’t expect anyone, you especially, to stand with me. Regardless, I intend to carry out my title with Kate at my side.”

          Micah spun around to face him, “And what of your human? Does she know what you are? Does she know of your true nature?”

          Ronan remained silent, having weighed the latter since the first moment he laid eyes on her.

          “You may have told her what you are, but telling and showing are two very different things, my man.”

          “Again, something I already know.” He growled.

          Micah smirked, “Well then, I suppose you have everything figured out.” and whirled for the bar.

          Ronan watched as he grabbed the Jim Beam, poured a glass and downed it. “Why have you come here?” he asked.

          Micah paused, his double shot of JB suspended in the air, “I thought you should know that another body was found this morning.”

          Ronan stiffened, “Another attack?”

          Micah nodded, “In the mountains.” He finished his second shot and set the glass aside. “I thought perhaps you’d like to pay a visit to the coroner.”

          “I intend to carry this out alone.”

          Micah straightened and turned to peer at him directly, “I’m taking a wild guess that you’re not referring to the body?” and with Ronan’s silence, continued, “Your claiming of a human will most assuredly piss some people off, nonetheless, it doesn’t change where I stand with you.”
          “So what are you saying?”

          His beta smirked, “Let’s bag us a killer.”

          After showering and dressing, Kate decided to make some breakfast, but once seated at the island, her poached eggs planted firmly on a plate, her appetite all but vanished.

          She glanced at the clock on the wall, her thoughts beginning to turn with anger.

          How could he just up and leave her with no inclination as to where he was going? And still he had not returned, and like a fool, she waited.

          Kate shoved her breakfast aside and got to her feet.

          She had sworn never to allow another man to dictate her life and Ronan Morrissey was no exception. Had she not convinced herself of this before? How could she have tolerated this? Had he not already made demands of her?

          She had escaped Danny only to gravitate towards another controlling, near insufferable male!

          As she paced a groove into the floor her thoughts turned to his crazy claim of being some supernatural beast. That alone should have been an alarming bell but she had enlightened him, but now as she mulled it over with a clear head, the notion was absolutely outlandish!

          Was she so desperate to live a life of normalcy that she had overlooked the crazy? She had already made too many mistakes – this being the dagger.

          Ronan had charmed her right into his bed. Had he wanted that all along, for her to become one of his exploits?

          Her face burned red with mortification and she spun towards the stairway, driven with a sudden impulse to get the hell out!

          She gathered what belongings she possessed and stormed from the loft. She was not about to become another man’s submissive puppet. Ronan Morrissey and Danny Horner had no say over her! 

          As she rounded a corner in the stairwell she collided roughly with another body, her clothes falling to her feet as a familiar voice cried, “Och!”

          Kate took a step back, startled. “What are you doing here?”

          Julie straightened, mirroring her slight retreat. “I came to see you – where are you going?”

          She bent to gather her things, “I’m leaving.”

          Julie frowned, her brows furrowing all the more as Kate ushered around her. “What’s going on? Where’s Ronan?”

          Kate stopped abruptly in her tracks and spun around to face her, “That’s a good question, maybe you should ask him that when he returns?”

          Julie grasped her elbow, her expression hardening. “Has he hurt you?”

          She was silent a moment, her face betraying her embarrassment. “Just my ego.” and then shrugged out of her grip.

          “Where are you going?” Julie snapped, following closely at her heels as they descended the stairs.

          “I’m going home.”

          “No, you can’t –“

          “Do you have any other suggestions?” Kate asked, spinning around to face her friend. “Because frankly I’m all out of places.”

          “You know that’s not true, you can stay with me?”

          Kate shook her head, “I will not impose on you.”
          Julie laughed, “Are you kidding? We can do late-night movies, eat a bunch of junk food, make some prank calls? A roomie sounds ideal to me. Come on, what do you say?”

          Kate suppressed a grin and then sighed, “I just can’t, Jules. It’s not fair to you.”

          “What’s not fair about it?”

          She dropped her gaze, “My baggage …”

          Julie chuckled, “Everyone has baggage.” And then sensing her discomfort quickly added, “Well then, how about I impose on you?”

          Kate peered up, “What?”

          “Why not I just stay with you for awhile? I can eat all your ice cream; borrow your clothes, use up all the storage on your DVR?”

          This time she laughed, “Ice cream, maybe, clothes, sure, but DVR?”

          Julie shrugged, “I watch a lot of shows.”

          Her smile broadened and after a moment, “Okay.”

          It didn’t take much convincing to examine the body. The coroner was more than eager to allow them entry after a little buyoff, and considering Ronan’s influence hadn’t put up much of a fight.

          Just like the first body, the second bore wounds that suggested an animal attack, at least to the human eye, but Ronan knew something far more sinister was at play. The lacerations on the body were thin and clean-cut, and a mere inch in diameter as opposed to the wide lacerations of a werewolf.

          No, the slashing suggested something else.

          “What exactly are you saying?” Micah had asked after some speculation.

          “I’m saying a vampire did this.”

          “How can you be sure? There were no bite marks, no drainage of blood. And there hasn’t been a vampire in Asheville for nearly a decade.”

          Ronan considered this, “I know a vampire’s mark when I see it. This wasn’t a werewolf.” He paused, feeling his beta’s gaze and then added, “And I think I know someone who could be sure.”

          “What about the full moon tonight?”

          “What of it?” he demanded, “Do you forget that Von and Draven acted on their impulses last night?” he growled ominously, “I fully anticipate a fight.”

          Micah exhaled a deep breath, “As do I.”

          Ronan shook his head, squeezing his friend’s shoulder. “No, it’s mine alone. Think of Luna and how this will affect her.” and with that he left before Micah could utter a word of debate.

          There was much he needed to consider but first he needed to get home. He had been gone far too long and imagined Kate fuming with his absence. He hadn’t planned on leaving her but needed time to think, time to consider their future together.

          As he neared his block, an uneasy feeling settled in his gut. He quickened his stride and when he reached his building, took the steps two at a time, catching her scent in the stairwell.

          He practically burst into the loft, his gaze sweeping the lower floor, noticing particularly her abandoned breakfast.

          He didn’t need to check the second floor. He felt her departure like a block of concrete on his senses and muttered a curse beneath his breath.

**********