I woke up at 05:00 am out of habit. I was itching to go on a run but, I don't know the routes here and I can't risk getting caught so I decide to work on my designs only to realize I don't have a working space up here.

The closest space to a table in this house is the kitchen counter and so half an hour later I'm down in the kitchen in my pajama shorts and a loose pink spaghetti strap top as I munch on an apple from the fruit bowl.

I make a mental note to ask Theo if I can get some furniture in my room so as to work in privacy. I mean if i'm going to be staying here, mights as well get comfortable.

I look at my easel and sigh contentedly, I managed to paint some designs that I found intriguing, I take a step back to look at my work when I hear someone clear their throat behind me. I turn abruptly and come face to face with my mate who is looking at me in amusement.

"Please, don't stop on my account," He urges when I look at him dumbfounded.

"I didn't hear you come down, "I say.

"I can be really quite when I want to," He replies cheekily making I roll my eyes at him.

We stand in silence facing each other not knowing what else to say as the events from last night flash back in my head.

I start packing my paints and other stuff when I notice his stare still on me. I look up and see him eyeing me from head to toe like a piece of meat, I notice his eye glaze and become a shade darker than normal.

It suddenly strikes to me that I am practically naked. I start feeling insecure as I quickly gathered my stuff and try to make a move but he blocks my way.

"Athena," he says in a husky voice which makes me feel weak in my knees.

He clears his throat then continues ,"You shouldn't be walking around the house dressed like this. I'm saying this for the sake of both us."

I find myself nodding in response not being able to break the eye contact. I'm clearly aware of the effect on him from seeing me like this.

The mate bond buzzes at our closeness and I make my way up the stairs before I end up doing something I'd regret.

I shower and head downstairs to see Theo already waiting for me by the stairs. He looks at my attire for the day and chuckles.

I'm wearing a bottle green long sleeved t-shirt and some whitewashed skinny jeans. I give him a condescending look before tearing my gaze away from his gorgeous eyes.

"Morning," I greet and he replies as he holds out his hand for me to take, I hesitate at first but then give in. The sparks start flowing through me the moment our skins meet. He leads me through the back door and I gasp in surprise at what's in front of me.

Overlooking the mountains and forest, there is a small picnic table and laid on it are various types of pastries, cheeses, fruits, bacon you name it. I turn to him and find him already looking at me , I give him a huge smile and am tempted to hug him but restrain  myself.

"I love this," I say excitedly as i walk towards the table to sit. He takes long strides and gets there before.

"Allow me," He says and pulls out the chair for me to sit. " Ohh, and they say chivalry is dead," I comment.

As we continue with our breakfast date I realize that I'm  starting to feel comfortable around him.

iIt's time i showed some interest in his life. I've been here a few days and he has done a lot for me already.

"So tell me about your company, what's it called and how do you showcase your clothes to the public?" He asks me.

"Oh well it's called Nightshade," I reply and he raises his eyebrows in mockery.

"really Nightshade? You couldn't come up with something else?" I stare at him dumbfounded.

"and what would you've called it if it were your company huh?" I question him.

"Hmmm,let's see," he ponders. "I would have called it 'clothes,'' he says in a serious tone and I burst into a fit of laughter as he joins me.

"Very original," I say in between laughs. "You should laugh more; you look so.....full of life," He says in a serious tone.

"So,what you're trying to say is that every time I don't laugh I look dead ?" I say in a challenging tone keeping in mind that I rarely do laugh.

"No no, no that's not what I meant," He says and I laugh again, "I was just joking, no need to get  so defensive."

"So how do you run your factories?" I question him. He looks at me surprised that I'm showing some remote interest in his life as I take a bite out of my croissant and take a sip of my coffee.

"Oh well, we have factories all over the world, 5 here in Canada only and rest scattered across the globe," He answers and I choke on my coffee.

"Wow...that's a lot of factories," I muse.

"You think?" He replies. Mom wants us to expand and I want to as well but I'm thinking of a different approach. I really don't want to open another factory somewhere in the world. I already have too many of those," He says casually. Wow he talks about factories as if they're phone covers.

I'm about to respond to him, when I see his face contort in concentration as someone mind links him, probably Charles. "Well love it seems we'll have to cut our breakfast short, the rest of your belongings from Crimson pack have arrived and Charles just informed me he is sending it over. also Alpha Ashton is coming by for a visit so I have to go, but i promise that we're not done talking; in fact I would love it, if you'd have breakfast with me every day?" He asks a bit skeptically.

"I'd like that," I affirm as I stand up and we walk back inside, I notice one of the omegas come and clear the table.

"So, Charles will pass by later and he can bring you to the pack house so that you can meet some of the members. Hope that's fine?" He asks and I nod in agreement, "sounds cool."

"Okay then, so uhh see you at dinner," He says and walks out of the house as I awkwardly stand there.

As soon  as he is gone I release a breath I don't realize I'm holding and face palm myself. 'Duh Athena, the least you could have done is kiss the guy on his cheek or hug him.'

"Ugghhh what am I going to do?" I say loudly to myself as a loud knock on the door startles me.

I open it and see two burly guys standing there with my bags. "Hello ma'am, Beta Charles sent us here to drop off this stuff," One of them says.

"Yes please come in," I reply and give them way. Slowly they move all my stuff to the room, I thank them and they take my leave.

I spend the rest of the afternoon setting up my room, making sure to leave enough space for the furniture that I forgot to ask Theo about,I remember as I rub my temple in agitation.

At four o'clock I hear the front door opening and hear Charles, "come out of your tower princess, it's tour time," He calls.I walk out of my room with an annoyed look on my face.

"Tower? Really Charles, that's the best you could do?" I mock him.

"Oh Athena, you haven't seen me at my best yet," He replies cockily and I roll my eyes at him again.

"What's with that outfit, are you from church or something?" He says as he looks at me with disgust .I remember my 'situation' with Theo this morning and a blush creeps up my cheeks.

"Ohh you've got to be kidding me!" He shouts. "You did it, didn't you? Please tell me you did," He begs.

"Did what Charles?" I ask confused. He gives me a look and my eyes widen. "Oh my god Charles, No! No we didn't.... what's wrong with you? We just met a few days ago!" I shout at him clearly offended.

"Okay, okay....I'm sorry I asked," he laughs and we walk outside.

"To be honest Athena, my grandparents get more action than you and they are 80 plus," He says in an effort to instigate me once again.

"Oh my god you son of a bitch!!" I shout at him as he walks away from me in laughter.

"The truth is bitter Athena and you know it,'' He says.I take long strides to catch up with him, knowing that there is some truth in his words. But I'm not there yet, i don't think Theo is either.

As we get to the pack house I see a lot of people working and Charles leads me to the kitchen first where a lovely smell of freshly baked cookies engulfs me.

As we walk in, a bulky man walks to us, "greetings beta, ma'am" he says. "Chef Perez, I see that preparations for dinner have already started. I'd like you to meet Athena, she is our special guest and will be here for a while." Charles introduces us and I shake my hand with him.

"Un minito," he says and walks to the counter, he comes back with a plate of cookies and offers them to me. "For the lovely lady," He says kindly. I take two from the plate and thank him as we walk out of the kitchen.

I take a bite of the cookie and  couldn't help but moan in pleasure, not realizing that 1; it was too loud and 2; over 10 males just heard me. I open my eyes and see them all looking at me,some with pure lust in their eyes.

"Come on let's get you out of here," Charles quickly says and pushes me forward, he growls at one of the males who attempts to follow us and he Immediately backs off.

"Are you out of your mind?" He yells at me as we get to the stairs heading to Theo's office in the pack house, "moaning like that in front of unmated males; what were you thinking?" He scolds me like a parent does to their child, "you know our emotions are heightened cause of the wolf senses Athena, please never do that again or else Theo will have my head," He pleads and for once I see him genuinely scared.

"I'm sorry, It's just that this cookie is just so damn good and a moan just came out, I didn't intend for it to be sexual," I say.

"I  know Athena, just be careful the next time you decide to pull a stunt like that," He cautions and I nod.

"So since you really loved the cookies, want me to ask chef Perez to pack some for your dinner tonight, maybe you can  moan like that again In front of Theo and I guarantee you'll give tough competition to my grandparents," He teases and starts to run up the stairs.

"You perverted idiot,get back here!" I yell and chase him up to Theo's office.

"He is not inside," I say since I'm unable to sense his presence.

"Yeah I figured that out too Sherlock,'' he replies sarcastically and I roll my eyes at him.

"Try mind linking him," I suggest and he nods. I see him concentrate and he goes quiet for a few minutes. "He's  at home, let's go back," he says and I follow him.

As soon as I reach the door, I sense his presence inside the house and we walk in, he is seated at the counter eating cookie dough ice cream.

"Hey man, did chef Perez send you that?" Charles asks purposely and I shoot him a glare, he chuckles but doesn't say anything more, thank God.

"Hey you," Theo says. "Hi there," I reply.

" So I have something for you upstairs," he motions me to follow him.

I  look at him astonished. I follow him up with Charles lagging behind. He opens my bedroom door and ushers me to walk in, what I see makes my jaw drop.

There is a brand new mahogany table right next to the window, with a plush new office chair, a cabinet for my files and a new easel with new paints and brushes.

"OH MY GOD,''I let out a squeal, ''Theo this is...wow...thank you, thank you so much," I say and this time I don't think twice before throwing my hands around his neck and hugging him.

"You are welcome love, I hope you it's to your liking," He says.

"It is, I love it, " I say and place a soft kiss on his left cheek. He looks stunned at first and then whispers lowly, "remind me to surprise you more."

I laugh and reply, "don't get any ideas mister."

He chuckles as I continue admiring my new furniture. Suddenly there is a loud knock on the door,  "I'll get it,"  Charles says.

''So umm, how much do i have to pay you for the furniture?'' I ask Theo.

''I'm sorry what love? do you actually think i'm going to take money from you,are you out of your mind?''

''This is expensive furniture Theo, i can't let you pay for all of this!''

''You are not paying anything Athena, I bought these for you to have a better working place and to avoid situations like the other day.''

''But Theo...'' I start..''No buts Athena, i'm your mate; my goal is to keep you happy and comfortable and i will do everything in my power to make that happen. You can scowl and glare at me all you want, but i'm not taking money from you.''

''We are not done here,'' I growl at him when we hear Charles calling us.

We go down shortly and I see him thanking the omega who delivered our dinner.

"Ohh would you look at that, chef Perez didn't include the cookies," He says faking a pout. 'I will kill you' I mouth from behind Theo as we descend.

"You're staying for dinner Charles?" Asks Theo.

"Nahh man, I've got to rush home." He replies and walks towards the door, bidding us Goodnight.

As we sit down for dinner, I  ponder over the question I wanted to ask Theo. After a short silence I decide to go for it.

"Theo, can i ask you something?" I say and he looks up to me from his food. 

"If it's about the furniture, i'm not answering?" He replies.

"it's not about that; actually,I haven't gone for a run in like 3 days now and my wolf is itching to be let out, I was wondering if someone could show me a route that I can take for the run, so that I know how to find myself back to the house?" I ask softly.

"Yeah sure, what time do you want to go, you can accompany the other females when they go for their runs at 7," He responds.

"Umm actually I go for my runs at 5:00 am," I say and he looks at me incredulously,"but it's still dark at that time love, why do you want to go so early?" He questions. "It's how I prefer to do my runs, it's quiet at that time and my wolf likes it," I say.

"Well how about I come with you tomorrow at 5, in that way my wolf will meet yours too.

"What say?" He asks with hope in his eyes and as i look at him I couldn't help myself and blurted out a 'yeah, sure.' 'We then continue to finish our dinner in silence.

As I lay on my new desk, going over my emails I try to mind link my mom, after a few seconds I hear her voice in my head. "Athena honey, is that you...how are you? how is crescent pack? She asks and starts bombarding me with questions.

"I'm fine mom, it's nice here. I am settling in well. You were right mom Theo really is a nice guy, I think I will give this a chance." I say and I hear her laughter vibrate through the link.

"That's good to hear. So tell me why have you contacted me?" She asks.

"I'm going for my first run as a wolf tomorrow and Theo suggested that we go together so that his wolf can meet mine, I said yes mom but now I'm scared, what if I'm a threat to his wolf, what if he does not like the alpha wolf, what if his wolf rejects mine?" I question worriedly.

"You're overthinking this Athena, I know Theo; neither him nor his wolf will reject you. My gut tells me this man will, stand by your side no matter what. You do what you have to do." She assures me.

"Okay mom, thanks a lot, I miss you." I say , "i miss you too honey" she says and the link cuts off.

I thought about what she said and decide to give Theo the  benefit of the doubt tomorrow but if things take a wrong turn I will have to be ready to activate plan B.

As I think of ways on how the situation tomorrow can play, out something in the forest catches my eye, or rather someone; as I see a pair of icy blue eyes stare at me from the dense forest.

I blink thinking it as a hallucination but the eyes are still there focused on their target of sight. Me.

***
Well what do you guys think?
What will happen when their wolves meet.
And what's up with the blue eyes????

-Jessica.S