Chapter Ten

I tried to focus on the files I had stacked on my desk. I had written a report to give to the Hunters to get them off my back. I was going to give them the files I had made on each of those who had conspired against me. It was more than enough to get them off my back and keep them off it. I ran a hand through my hair. I was tired but that was my own damn fault. Despite that I found a small smile tugging on my mouth. Making a cake for my mate hadn't even crossed my mind until I found I couldn't sleep as her words bounced in my head.

My feelings aren't toys. This is my life and I won't have it played with like it's a joke.

I felt guilty about how harsh I had been to her about keeping her in the house and had remembered Mark telling me she had demanded cake. So I found myself in the kitchen mixing up a chocolate cake with cream cheese icing. A peace offering of sorts. Then Kiel had told me she had pulled a fast on him and took another swim. To be honest I had felt a bit angry that she had tried to run. I was growing attached to her as mates tended to do, so I didn't appreciate her trying to escape.

However she had been returned looking like a drowned rat and berated me in her harsh, mouthy way of speaking. She was really mouthy. I frowned and rubbed at my forehead. It was almost like a minefield of what would come out of her mouth next. Sometimes she called down your intelligence or she would say something so sarcastically that it nearly made your ears burn. My wolf didn't like it but I enjoyed her mouthiness.

And then she cried.

I hadn't been expecting that and it had made the guilt that much worse. I didn't really now what to do with a mate, let alone one who cried because of something I did. It left a sour feeling in my stomach and I honestly didn't know what to with that so I defaulted to humor. To my surprise that actually worked.

She liked the cake though.

Her face twisted with an adorable look of innocent confusion as I had set it in front of her. I could tell she hadn't really had anyone do something like that for her before. The thought of her having no one to make her cake or give into her simple and slightly silly demands hurt my chest. The little cat had been alone for a long time and it didn't sit right with me. Even if I felt alone growing up, I still had people I could rely one. I doubted she even had that.

"She's beautiful." Benji's voice pulled me out of my reverie and I looked at him with slightly wide eyes. I wasn't sure if he been talking to me the entire time or had just came int. He shook his head, offering me the answer to the question I hadn't asked. "Your mate. She is beautiful." He was sitting in the grass stained chair. Ezekiel was laying on the couch I had someone pick up from a secondhand store. He didn't care for it and grumbled in my head as he saw it but he still laid down for a nap.

"She is." I stared at Ezekiel. She had pile drove him into the marble floor before I had stopped her. I didn't approve of that but he hadn't even cared that much about it if the images he sent me were anything to go by. Their entire meaning had been basically 'You win some, you lose some. Best not to dwell.'. I preferred that to him wanting to tear her throat out.

"Why don't you want us to tell the pack?" His voice held a faint reprimand but I ignored it. I knew how it usually was with Alphas when they found their mates. It was an excuse for a large celebration but I could also see Pisică's reaction at facing such a large crowd. Panic, desperation, and stark terror. Emotions I didn't really want her to experience. Current situation aside.

"She's skittish. She obviously doesn't want a mate bond so announcing to the entire pack that she is their future will cause her to run and then where will I be? I want to develop a bond with her first." The longer the bond stayed intact the harder it would be for her to leave. It was a rather archaic and conniving way of keeping her by my side but she was resistant to the bond. Much more so than anyone I had ever heard of. I wasn't sure at what point last night I had gone from being spiteful to actually wanting her to hang around but it was there all the same. I figured it was best not to question it too much, it was simply how the bond worked, or so I believed.

"I understand." He said it but his tone still stated he didn't like it. I shrugged, I honestly didn't much care what the pack thought. As long as it made sure Pisică stayed with me, I would do whatever it took. Michael forced himself over the link. He wasn't happy, in fact he seemed agitated. I frowned and focused on him and the images he was sending my way. Hunters were here and they found Pisică.

A rather dark growl escaped me before I could stop it. She wasn't strong enough to take on a group of Hunters and an Enforcer. I shoved away from the desk and stalked out of the room quickly. If they laid one hand on her they would rue the day they had set foot on my territory. My wolf fed my protective aggression, his need just as strong as mine to protect what was ours. Michael kept the link open, letting me see what he was seeing.

"Julia fucking Savage. I thought you would be bigger. More butch." Pisică was smirking as Michael paced between her and the other female.

"Easy, rogue. I've dealt with bigger shifters than you." Ms. Savage didn't seem as amused as Pisică chuckled softly.

"Oh yah. I know that. Feeding your constant need for approval because you lack a wolf." My mate sounded amused and I silently told her to be quiet as I moved down the hallway. I knew of Julia Savage and she wouldn't take disrespect well.

"Mouthy little thing. Jacobs, what information do you have on this rogue." The voice was taunting and I followed the faint voices I could hear. I appreciated Michael's protectiveness for my mate. He wanted me to see what was going on so I could decide what to do.

"None, Savage." The voice was a deep baritone and I made my way down the hallway. Focused on getting to the large group instead of the images Michael sent me.

"Just as I thought. We have ourselves an illegal." Savage sounded dangerously pleased and I headed towards the hallway I knew they were in. I could now hear Michael's low growls of warning.

"The only thing illegal about me is how damn sexy I am. You wish you were me." Despite my urge to protect her, I almost smiled at her words. I couldn't exactly argue with that statement either. I could see the back of the two burly Hunters who had been here before. They were blocking the hallway and I didn't appreciate it.

"So I can get bent over like a bitch in heat for an Alpha? Yah. Sounds like a fun Friday night." Julia scoffed. "That is the only reason you are here. Isn't it? An illegal rogue on a territory in the pack house. You're the Alpha's little toy. When he's done playing with you he will cast you off." I bristled heavily at the words and moved forward quickly, trying to ignore how my body wanted to shift and tear into the female who dared to speak to my mate like she was.

"You wish you could be his cast off, don't you?" There was no amusement in my little cat's voice. Her tone was serious and Michael let out a snarl. Julia had jumped her, her hands around my mate's throat. I saw red and my body vibrated with rage. She dared to harm what was my future? I shoved through the two men without warning and grabbed Julia by the back of her neck and tore her off of Pisică who coughed loudly, holding onto her throat.

"You dare come into my house and attack my mate?" I said each words carefully, letting her hear the intent in each one. I could kill her for her transgression. The female glared at me coldly and I shoved her away, placing myself between her and my mate.

"Morning, Dickhead." Pisică's voice sounded raspy and it just served to anger me further.

I growled low in my throat. "Be quiet, Pisică." Each word came out clipped and I could practically feel her bristling at my order.

"Oh hell no, Dickhead. This bitch comes-"

"The only bitch here is you, you fucking dog." Ms. Savage looked like her namesake and I growled low in my throat, warning her off.

"Shut the fuck up, Julia." Pisică scoffed slightly at the interruption. "As I was saying before bitchface interrupted me was, she comes into the house. Fucking spots me, gets her goons to pin me down-" I snarled loudly at the thought of them pinning her down. The thought of her struggling against their grips tinted my vision with red and made my jaws ache from the urge to shift and tear them to pieces. I watched them as they lifted their heads. They believed they were above my wrath but no one did that to my mate without consequences.

"Shut up, Dickhead." She growled low at the interruption and my wolf wanted to pin her down for the attitude but the urge to protect her was greater than the urge for her to submit. "They pinned me down so they could get a fucking sample of blood. Would have cuffed me if Mike hadn't shown up when he did." There was a high note of affection in her tone as she said the name and I sent Michael a thank you for taking care of my little mouthy female.

"It's standard practi-"

"I don't give two shits what it is. You come onto my territory, into my house, attack my mate, and you expect me to let that slide?" I straightened to my full height, exhaling heavily through my nose as I stared down at the mundane female. A small hand touched my back and I refused to yield to the small touch despite the fact I was happy she was even allowing the contact.

"When you attack, could you leave Julia for me? She wanted to tango and I didn't like the cheap shot she got on me." Pisică asked it hopefully, her voice still raspy and I narrowed my eyes at the Hunters. I couldn't afford a full-scale investigation for murdering two Hunters and a fucking mundane.

"You three get to the fucking study." I needed them gone from my sight immediately before I ripped them to shreds. "Michael, show them some incentive." With that order given I turned and backed Pisică into the closest wall. She squeaked in surprise as I didn't stop until my chest was nearly brushing hers. I ignored Micheal's growls and snarls as I inhaled deep breaths of her faintly citrus scent. My wolf and I calmed down as the scent filled us.

"Don't touch m-" She squeaked again as I brought my face to her neck, not close enough for our skin to touch but my breath moved across her skin. I pressed my hands to the walls beside her shoulders, caging her in. I wanted to wrap her in my arms. I wanted to hold her to me tightly but I knew she didn't like me touching her. "Don't touch me." Her voice became a bit stronger and I gave a low growl, I could almost feel her shiver at the sound. I wanted to smirk at the reaction she had to the small vibration.

"I'm not touching you, my pisică. God knows I want to but I'm not." I practically growled the words. I wanted to bring my face closer to her neck and taste her skin. Being this close to her and not touching her was torture. "I need this. Just let me calm down." She shuddered as the words brushed her skin and despite how stiff she was, I could tell the bond was whispering at her to give in because she was slowly relaxing, milometer by milometer. I took several more inhales before the urge to kill the Hunters and the Enforcer faded slightly.

I pulled away from her neck reluctantly and searched her face. Her eyes were closed but to my delight her cheeks were slightly flushed and she was breathing hard. She wasn't as unaffected as she let on. I let my gaze fall to her neck. It was slightly red but it wouldn't bruise. I don't know what I would have done if the mundane bitch had left marks like that on my mate's skin. I slowly let my arms drop and I took a step back before running a hand through my hair. I took one more look of her before turned and headed down the hall. I couldn't help the harsh steps that I took. They had still touched my mate without her permission and that wasn't something I would easily forget.

"Hey! Where are you going, Dickhead?" Pisică did not sound impressed and I stalked down the hall, trying to ignore the sound of her footsteps following me.

"Throwing out the trash." I said each words carefully. If those bastards said one wrong thing they would be thrown out the window just like the chair. I had no use for them dirtying up my study or my house.

"You can't just do that and then walk away!" Her voice was pitched higher and I was reminded of her strange comment about being offending that I wouldn't watch her change. After which she had proceeded to change in front of me anyway. I fought against the image of her naked form hard. I did not need to walk into the study with my pants feeling too tight.

"I just did." I said it carefully. If I would have stared at her any longer I would have ended up kissing her. Making her shut that pretty but venemous mouth of hers in a rather pleasurable way.

"Don't be such a dick, Dickhead." She spat it out and I turned around.

I stared at her, my eyes narrowing. "Little cat, do not test me. I'm this close." I held my index finger and my thumb an inch apart as I stared at her through narrowed eyes. "This close to grabbing you and pushing you against the nearest wall to do something we would both enjoy immensely but I know you would regret later." She stared at me with wide eyes, a faint fear filled those green depths but a flash of heat followed it closely. I bit back a groan and whirled around again. When I started up the stairs, I could hear her behind me.

"Would you regret it?" The question was asked softly and I froze mid step. She sounded vulnerable and some of the tension slipped from my body. She was showing me a crack in her armour, was showing me a weakness that I could either guard or use to destroy her.

I closed my eyes, letting out a heavy sigh. "Pisică, I could never regret a single thing I would do with you." I said it softly and even I was struck by the sheer honesty in the words. There was nothing about her, about wanting her, about being with her that I could ever regret. Maybe it was the slowly growing bond or the vulnerability she showed me or just who she was as a person but even if she rejected me, even if she cast me aside, I wouldn't regret her. A thick silence fell and I slowly started up the stairs once more. I hadn't meant to come to that realization.

After a few seconds I could hear her following me. "Julia likes you." She said it quietly and I scoffed. I wasn't aware of that but Julia Savage wasn't my type. Besides the fact she had her hands around my mate's throat pretty much welded the 'I want to murder her slowly' feelings in me.

"Julia Savage is a mundane female with an inferiority complex." I spat it out quickly, my mood souring. I disliked the Enforcer before but now I downright hated her. "Who she likes and who she wants to fuck is of no importance to me." Truth rang in the air as I started down the hallway to the study.

"She's pretty, why not?" The comment seemed a bit offhand and I froze before turning around slowly. She was closer to me than I expected her to be but she looked up at me with stark curiosity. I wasn't sure if the curiosity was slightly morbid. I needed to deal with her more before I could figure out her moods and quirks.

"Because, my insecure little cat, I have you and you are at the very edge of what I could possibly handle." I tapped the tip her nose gently and her eyes flashed with anger as she swatted my hand away.

"I'm not insecure. I was just curious." She huffed slightly and I couldn't help but smile down at her.

"I am more than happy to assure you that you are all the female I can possibly hand or that any male could handle for that matter." My smile turned to a smirk as her mouth dropped open in offence to my statement and she swatted at me. I jumped back quickly, avoiding her slapping hand. I chuckled at her and her green eyes flashed enticingly. My wolf and I enjoyed riling her up. He wanted me to shift so he could play with her, let her see our playful side. The fact he wanted to come out for something other than blood because of her, made my heart clench slightly as I looked at her.

"Yah, well I've dealt with males far more capable of handling me." She spat it out and I stopped chuckling despite the amusement I still felt. I tilted my head at her as she stared up in stubborn triumph. "Yes, dickhead. I've had more than enough men able to adequately handle me." I knew what she was insinuating and I finally understood what Maricella had told me.

Why would I be jealous, Luka? I'm with him now. I carry the mating mark, not them. Why would I drive myself insane with jealousy over memories? She had blinked at me like it was the most obvious thing in the world but I never truly understood what she had said until now. I didn't care how many men my cat had before me because they weren't here. They weren't standing with us.

I made my expression blank as I stepped closer to her, invading her personal space. I bent down so my mouth was close to her ear. I could hear her heart start to beat frantically at my sudden closeness. "I don't see them here, my pisică, so they don't matter. None of them matter because they all let you go and that makes them less grown males and more dogs." I couldn't help but chuckle at the shudder that ran through her as my breath caressed the shell of her ear. I pulled back and her green eyes landed on mine. She looked deflated for a moment before the corner of her mouth twitched and she looked away. "Will you be joining me?" I gestured down the hallway and she gave a sharp nod.

"You can't stop me. If that bitch still wants to tango I'm not holding back." She held her head up and I shrugged. If she wanted to tangle with the mundane female I would let her. There was less of a chance for her to get hurt against a mundane, even one like Ms. Savage. I turned away, all softness from the exchange gone as thoughts of the Hunters filled my mind.

I was not impressed with them and if I had half a mind to fill out the paperwork I could send a complaint to the nearest headquarters but I just wanted them gone. I moved down the hallway quickly and threw open the study door. My anger flared up brightly as I took in the three people in my study. Benji, Michael and Ezekiel were all tense as they stared at them.

What happened, Luka? Benji's meaning was clear. Why was there so much tension?

I moved over to my desk and sat down gritting my teeth. They attacked my mate. I watched as he stiffened before his gaze immediately landed on Pisică who had just entered the room and moved to stand behind the best beside me. Benji was scanning her for noticeable injuries and she didn't seem to notice his gaze or the fact he positioned himself so he could easily protect her if he needed to. I appreciated the gesture from the older shifter and I nodded at him.

"Alpha Sterling, we are here to investigate-" Julia's words were cut off as Pisică sat on my desk in front of me. She leaned forward, knowing full well she was blocking Julia's gaze from me. It seemed that despite the fact she was adamant that she didn't want a bond, she was territorial. It was an interesting note to make and if I had half a mind, it was something I could have used to my advantage.

"Dickhead, I am going to be bored listening to all of this legal mumbo jumbo of whatever bitchface is going to say." She said it just loud enough for Julia to hear and I looked up at her. She tilted her head before her eyes flicked down to a stack of death certificates I had yet to finish filling out. "Do you mind?" She said it sweetly and I shook my head before reaching around her to pick up the files on the dead shifters. I set the death certificates on top of them, sliding the stack over so it touched her leg.

"You like paperwork?" I stared at her and she nodded hesitantly. I was impressed she was willingly giving up information about herself. Although I was a little curious as to how she knew what the paperwork was and how to do it.

"It's easier to figure out than people." She picked it up and set in her lap. Her legs brushed against my knees and I shifted to break the contact as I grabbed a pen for her. I set it on the stack on her lap and she suddenly placed her feet up on the chair on either sides of my legs. I raised an eyebrow and looked at her before she leaned closer to me. "Thank you, Dickhead." Without warning she pressed her lips to my cheek for a faint heartbeat. It wasn't nearly long enough in my opinion as she pulled away and pushed my chair away with her feet. I couldn't help the smile that crossed my face as she ignored me and hopped off the desk.

My cheek tingled slightly as I watched her move over to the couch. I opened my mouth to warn her off but she made a move over motion with her hand and Ezekiel actually sat up and let her sit down. I had to snap my mouth close as I watched as he lay his head in her lap and she scratched him almost affectionately before she set the stack of files on his side. Michael whined slightly and sat beside her legs, laying his head on the arm of the couch. In one night she had managed to get the two contrary wilds to like her. I had no clue how but she had.

"As I was saying. We are here to investigate the fourteen deaths of your pack members." Ms. Savage's voice was tight and I had to tear my gaze away from the cozy scene on the couch to look at the female.

"Oh you mean the conspiracy that I uncovered? I dealt with it accordingly." I clasped my hands together and levelled her with a hard look. I didn't want to even look at her, let alone deal with her.

"Conspiracy?" She snapped it out in disbelief and I gave a half-committed nod. I didn't care what she thought of the truth.

"You heard the Alpha. Everyone in the pack minus those under the age of eighteen heard them admit to it. Dylan Colter was the ring leader. He was to challenge the Alpha for his position on behalf of his group." Benji shifted, his hand clasped behind his back. He looked every inch my Delta and I was impressed as he held his head high and stared down at the group with barely contained disdain.

"I wasn't speaking to you, mutt." Julia hissed the words out, throwing Benji a dark look. Foolish mundane should have known better than to test a wolf. My patience was nearly out. In fact, it was so out there were barely fumes left.

"Need I remind you that you are on very thin ice? You came into my home and attacked my mate. That alone demands immediate action that I refused to take for purely selfish reasons. Do you really want me to rescind that decision by insulting my Delta?" I said it carefully, letting each word sink in. If they pushed me too far I would protect my mate and my Delta from them. I would spill their blood and as I looked at Julia Savage me and my wolf decided hers would be the first.

"You don't want to drop the Hunters on your pack. You can't touch us." The Hunter to the left of Julia said it smugly and I bristled, as did my wolf, as his words.

"I don't want to deal with the paperwork your deaths would cause me. I could kill you without a thought like I killed all fourteen members of the conspiracy. Don't mistake my inaction for cowardice." I said it evenly even though I wanted to do nothing more than throw the desk out of the way and go for his throat. My wolf was baying for his blood throwing images of his hands on my pisică.

"I could do the paperwork if you really wanted to kill them." Pisică's voice was sickly sweet and I glanced at her. She gave giving Julia a very predatory smile. I had a feeling that if her wolf wasn't so weak, she would have been very intimidating.

"That is a very tempting offer, Pisică, but I want you to recover from the traumatizing attack you suffered at the hands of these beasts." It was an exaggeration but it made the two Hunters stiffen. If I wanted to, it I truly wanted to I could have their badges for what they did but I disliked the Hunters and I didn't want to deal with their bureaucracy. Trials and statements and so much paperwork a person could be crushed under it. It was so much simpler to just kill them and be done with it. "And I hope they get to the fucking point because I wouldn't wish for you to see another very traumatizing event." I kept my gaze on the group in front of my desk.

"I thank you for your concern, my handsome male, but I know just how to hold my own in such a situation." Her tone was polite and sweet but there was no derision or mocking in it. She was playing this game just as well as I was and I was impressed yet again.

"I bet you could. He's a bit scrawny. Come to me to see how a real male feels." It was the smug bastard on the left and I gripped my desk tightly in my hands. The wood groaned under the pressure and I fought back my wolf with everything that I had.

"What did you just say?" Her tone was so cold that I damn near felt the air drop in temperature. I turned my gaze to her and she sat stiffly, her expression that same blank one that she had put on in front of me after her shower.

"You heard me." He made a show of looking her up and down, making a kissing motion at her. Before I could say anything she was across the room and had her hand around his throat. In one awe inspiring move she took out the back of his knees and slammed him hard against the hardwood with a crash. I could almost feel the anger through our new bond and I stood up slowly.

"You do not get to look at me, you do not get to speak to me. Apologize to my mate or I will snap your fucking neck." She said it so calmly and so evenly that everyone in the room stiffened slightly. It was as if she had commented on the weather rather than threatening someone's life. I sat back down in my chair slowly. My gaze on her as she released his throat and turned to look at me. Her face was still that mask but I could see the anger she held tightly in her eyes.

"Alpha Sterling, I apologize for my crude words." The shifter got to his knees, his voice was raspy and I could see the redness around his throat. He was lucky my little cat hadn't thought to bring out her claws. I watched him carefully. My wolf needed one excuse and to be honest I needed to make an example. Pisică moved back towards the couch and he glanced at her, his gaze lingering a second too long, it looked a bit too appreciative. She had warned him.

I stood up and moved around the desk. She had gone back to filling out the forms on the couch. Ezekiel kept his head on her lap and I looked down at her as I reached her side. "You promise to take care of the paperwork?" I tried to hide the angry trembling as best as I could but she didn't even look up at me as she nodded. The pen practically flew over the page as she glanced between the file and the certificate. I inhaled her scent before I turned and looked at the shifter who was slowly getting to his feet. I moved over quickly, letting my wolf have a minuscule amount of control. Our claws slid through the flesh of his neck easily.

He looked surprised as he grasped at the ragged edged of his throat. He couldn't do anything as the blood poured steadily from the wounds, leaking his life out onto the threadbare carpet. Our cold and calculated action would have consequences but as I glanced at my little cat I realized whatever the consequences would be, they would be worth it. I looked towards Julia who narrowed her eyes at me before pulling out a pair of silver handcuffs.

Her usually cold face was red with anger as the shifter hit the floor with a thud. "Alpha Sterling! By order of the Hunters, I hereby place-"

"Place him under arrest? That male touched me without my consent. In fact all of you did. You, Julia Savage, attacked me without provocation. You insulted his Delta and that male insulted him and made a pass at me. He was well within his rights to protect what was his." Pisică's voice was like a calm port in a storm. It radiate a strength she looked and felt like she didn't have. She sounded like a true Alpha. "Shifters are ruled by their instincts. His wolf probably took something the Hunter did as an insult and dealt with it how wolves usually deal with things they do not like." I looked over at her and she hadn't even looked up at us as she finished what looked to be the last certificate and set it off to the side.

She let out a sigh as she set the pen down. She lifted her gaze and looked slightly amused. "Why do you insist upon being here, Julia?" She shifted slightly before scratching Kiel's snout gently. "You are on assignment to find a rogue by the name of Bryce. Not harass an Alpha doing his duty. Your colleague's death is on your hands. If you hadn't have brought him here then none of this would have happened." She tilted her head slightly as she gently lay her hand on Ezekiel's side. I was surprised he hadn't started growling at her, he was very particular about his couch.

"Two hours south of here is a pack that I spent a few few weeks around. Bryce is scoping out their territory. He has been there for the past month. If you had any sense you would have known this." She shrugged and levelled her gaze with Julia's, looking every inch of an Alpha of high standing.

"That is no concern of a rogue." Julia spat it out and Pisică shifted on the couch.

"That doesn't make the truth any less true. Do your duty and stop harassing my mate. He has me, so he would never fuck you." She said it so sweetly that the crude words sounded even stranger coming from her mouth. I felt my mouth twitch upwards as I crossed my arms over my chest.

"You fucking bit-"

"Ezekiel, if they don't move their dead colleague from the room, do you mind throwing his corpse out the window?" Pisică asked it nicely and to my shock Ezekiel moved off of the couch shifted, pulling himself to his full height.

He bowed his head at her. "Pleasure." He took two steps towards the dead shifter when the other Hunter quickly moved forward.

"Savage, just fucking drop it and let's leave." He sounded tired and I watched him lift his colleague with apathy. I felt nothing from his death but a bit of satisfaction. I had made my point, don't covet what's mine. As if sensing their retreat Ezekiel shifted back and returned to the couch where Pisică had stood up, the files and certificates in her hand.

She moved over to Julia and held them out. "Proof of conspiracy and the death certificates. I figure you will be going back to headquarters anyway so you wouldn't mind dropping off the certificates while there." She held her head high and Julia stared at her with a rather deadly look. Pisică either didn't see it or didn't care. I put my money on her not caring.

"Savage, just fucking take the papers and let's go." The remaining Hunter seemed to be losing patience with the faint power play between the two females. Well, Pisică didn't seem to be partaking in such an immature action. She acted as if such a thing was beneath her notice. I wondered just how powerful she would have been if her wolf wasn't so weak. Julia snatched the papers out of Pisică's hand and stormed out of the room. I looked at Benji and jerked my head towards the Hunter who was struggling with the corpse. He gave me a quick nod and moved to help him.

As soon as the door closed Pisică's face twisted into a disgusted sneer. "I fucking hate mundies who think they can challenge a fucking Alpha. Bitch will get cut one of these days." Disdain coated her words as she glowered a the closed door.

"So violent, guriță." I couldn't help but chuckle at her murderous expression.

"So says the male who clawed a male's throat out for looking at me." She turned around, glaring at me intently. I raised and eyebrow and she huffed with irritation. "I think I know when a male is perving on me, dumbass." And my mouthy she-wolf was back.

I smiled at her, raising my eyebrows slightly. "What, we are back to insults? What happened to calling me a handsome male?" I looked at her expectantly and she gave me a deadpan look as if to say 'Really?'. She rolled her eyes at me.

"Stop fishing for compliments. Vanity is not flattering." She stuck her nose up and I bit back a laugh.

"Excuse me, you're the one who said you were illegal because you were too sexy." I watched her as she flipped her hair back haughtily. The action was mocking and in no way serious.

"What? That's the goddamn truth." She was fighting against a smile and I laughed at her expression.

"Don't we know it, my pisică." I turned and saw the pool of blood congealing on the floor. I wrinkled my nose. "I should clean that up." I didn't want to but it was my mess and an Alpha cleaned up their own mess.

"Don't worry about it, Dickhead. You have to prepare for the funerals." She said it surprisingly soft, all humor gone from her voice as she looked at me. The words hit me like a punch and I let my arms drop to my side. That was why I had been filling out the death certificates. I had to finish them before I started grave digging. "Go. I'll deal with this." She turned away and moved towards the door.

"The mop is in the kitchen. Just ask Gamgam if you can't find it." I closed my eyes. The burden I had forgotten was starting to push down on me once more. I slumped my shoulders as if the weight was hanging off of them and in a way it was.

"You know, just because you're their Alpha it doesn't mean they can't grieve themselves." She said it carefully before looking at me over her shoulder. Her eyebrows were furrowed in a faintly thoughtful expression. "Some burdens are theirs alone." She opened the door and closed it softly behind her, leaving the cryptic words hanging in the air.

"One of you will have to say with her." I rubbed at my face and neither of them budged.

Stay with you. She not run. Michael's words were clipped as he moved over and rubbed against my leg in a gesture of comfort. It felt strange to have his clipped and broken sentences in my head.

"Do you honestly believe that?" I didn't. She would run because it was in her nature. She wasn't a wild but rogues very much liked their freedom. Plus she hadn't stated she would stay, her escape attempt had shown that much.

Moon told her stay. She stay. He sat beside me, leaning against my leg heavily. I resisted the urge to push him away in irritation.

"The moon? Really, Michael?" I rolled my eyes but he shoved flashes of memories in my mind. Raela, Andy, and Dylan were speaking flashes of words about not fighting fate, while they lay on their altars and I shivered in discomfort. "The dead aren't supposed to speak." I muttered it out. No wonder Pisică in the memories looked so horrified.

They did. He said it simply and I shuddered.

"I can see that. Okay. You two can stay with me but if she makes a run for the border. You two are in charge of retrieving her." I headed for the door. I didn't want to think of her running off on me. I didn't want to think about it because it shouldn't have made my heart clench in my chest. I had known her for less than a day and she was adamant about not wanting a bond. I knew it was only a matter of time before we couldn't fight the bond anymore. The longer it survived the harder it would be to break and if I had my way. My cat would never get another chance to break it.