Chapter 32.

*****

My eyes were shut even though I was trying to stay awake because I knew that Karabo and I would have to get dressed before anyone came home and found us much less clothed than the first time they had interrupted us. We hadn't moved and it was just so calming to lay there with him despite everything feeling so much more intense because of our marks. I did not want to move away, did not want to break the contact I had against his warm skin at the moment. Our pull was so strong and I felt incredibly attached to him, more so than before. The thought of even moving across the room seemed upsetting to my wolf. I was afraid that if we moved from our position we would have to deal with the whole issue of his pack being on another continent, whatever he wanted to speak about earlier and I would have to keep my word to my parents and go speak to someone about my... issues? Ordeal? Whatever. I didn't really want to speak to anyone but would have to because no one was going to let it go. I just wanted us to stay there and never think about anything more than just how perfect the moment felt, pretend everything outside of my office did not exist.

"Eli?" I didn't move nor open my eyes. His voice held the same serious tone it had earlier when he said we needed to talk. "I know you're awake." I pouted hearing my mate laugh.

"I'm tired though." I groaned.

"After just one –?"

"Don't you dare," I shot him a narrow-eyed glare. He burst out laughing and I shook my head.

"Right, you were tired before that... which is why..." he drifted staring at my neck. I assumed he was looking at the mark that had appeared after I bit into his neck, it was most likely identical to the one on his neck. I studied the slight smile on his face as his fingertips brushed over the mark softly before the smile disappeared and his serious eyes returned to mine. "Can we talk?" he asked. I sighed moving my gaze to the fabric of the couch behind him.

"Can I say no?" I replied in a mumble.

"Right, I shouldn't have asked because it's not optional," he said seriously.

I chuckled turning to lay on my back but cried out as I slipped off the couch, my back slamming against the wooden floor as Karabo burst out laughing. That was until I grabbed his arm and tugged him quickly rolling out of the way so he could land on the floor as well. He punched my side making me groan.

"Damn Alpha," I hissed rubbing my waist.

"Sorry, I wasn't sure how hard to hit. Wanted you to feel it," he mumbled. We chuckled.

"Let's just start over," I said staring at the roof when our laughter died.

"Can't exactly do that." he poked the mark on my neck making my skin tingle slightly and I grabbed his hand so I could keep the feeling without his finger stabbing into my neck. "Eli..." he mumbled. I sighed shaking my head, still avoiding his eyes and heard him shift closer to me. "Fine. You don't have to talk about any of it right now, but you don't have to pretend nothing happened around me, just know that I'm here and it really makes me think nothing different of you. To me, you'll always be the asshole Tamia introduced me –" he was cut off by my pushing him away from me and he laughed as his shoulder bumped into the base of the couch. I watched as he turned onto his side to smile at me and I shook my head as his smile faded again, "Seriously, Eli. I may have no idea what you went through, I can't possibly imagine... but I know what it's like to fear losing your position or being unable to defend your pack... I know what it's like to always have to be or pretend to be strong, to always fight and appear pretty much invincible. You don't have to do that around me..." His eyes didn't move from mine as he spoke until he added, "We can be okay with not being strong around each other. I mean, right now neither of us are Alphas, you're just my mate, I want to – need to know when you're hurting... so I can help."

We were quiet for a moment until I spoke up.

"You're so sweet." I nudged his jaw with my knuckles gently.

"Seriously?" He shot me a glare.

I chuckled before smiling at him. "Sounds good, Babe." Seeing how happy he looked made me want to try my best to be more open with him. I shifted forward to plant a kiss on the mark on his neck but paused and pulled back as his phone went off from one of the items of clothing scattered on the floor. He glanced at it biting his lip.

"Could be Richard," I said urging him to answer it despite our moment. Maybe this Alpha thing really was good because I completely understood his duties. He nodded getting up and I watched as he pulled on his underwear and pants before answering the call.

"Beta," he spoke.

"Oh. So your flight hasn't crashed." Richard's voice came as I got up and began to get dressed. He sounded exhausted.

"You sound disappointed." I joked.

"Am I?" Richard questioned, "Karabo, what the hell? You were supposed to be here in the morning. I told Nick you would see him. Some of our teens snuck onto his territory and he won't release them. He got attacked and he's saying they had something to do with it. I can't see him and be with Musi and the others at the same time. They've travelled far. You knew we had all of this set up, they'll assume we think they aren't worth our time if I cancel on everyone else to see Nick." Richard said.

Karabo shut his eyes tightly. "Tell him I'll see him in the afternoon, tell him my flight was delayed," he said. I almost growled as I grabbed his arm, the thought of him being so far away was absolutely terrifying.

"Kara –" he shook his head cutting me off as he pulled his arm from my hand to rub the back of his neck.

I bit back my annoyance trying to be rational about it, my wolf was considering tying him up.

"I'm so sorry, Richard. I'll fix it. Just call Nick and tell him I'll see him later tomorrow, you see Musi and then cancel anything else you had to do, I'll take care of it once I land."

"It's not a problem for me to do, Alpha, it's just –"

"Overwhelming. I've got it. You sound like you need rest. You'll get some after the meeting." Karabo said.

"Right." Richard let out a clearly drained sigh, "Did I interrupt something?" he added, his voice laced with mischievous suggestion.

Karabo hung up instead of answering. I would have laughed if it wasn't looming over me that he was going to have to leave in the next couple of hours to be there before midday.

He swallowed.

"Come with me." I raised my brows as he looked at me hopefully. "It'll be like another holiday. You won't stay –" he was saying.

"Karabo, I just let a couple of hundred wolves I know nothing about into my pack, you know I can't," I said. I bit my lip as he looked down, his eyes quickly brimming with tears as he clenched his fist. "Hey, we'll be fine." I said hiding my own dread, "You can borrow Ashton so you feel clos –" I stopped as my fingers brushed the skin of his torso lightly.

"You okay?" He looked at me concerned. I smiled. "You're not okay," he stated, more to himself than me.

"Oh my God, it's so simple!" I grabbed his shirt from the floor and tossed it at him, not giving him time to put it on as I dragged him from the room by his wrist.

"What the hell, Eli?!" Karabo hissed as he followed me into the living room – or stumbled after me. I unlocked the front door. "Hey. I'm obviously not leaving forever. Can you not go insane?" he said planting his feet to make us stop walking once we were halfway towards the street from the door. I turned to him to see him looking worried and annoyed.

"I'm not insane." I smiled.

"You're smiling and I'm about to leave. You can't tell me you're happy..." he mumbled.

"I'm not." I said, "I have an idea though... What if... Ashton agrees to go in your place?" I asked.

He tilted his head seemingly confused before his eyes widened slightly. "You want him to help Richard run my pack?"

"Our pack." I rolled my eyes. He snorted. "Seriously, Karabo. What's supposed to happen between us? What's mine is mine and what's yours is yours?" I asked tilting my head.

"I guess not." He glanced around us. "Our packs... so... we merge?" he mumbled.

"Yes. I was thinking we could alternate. When we let them take care of your pack, they did great together. They can stay there for six months, maybe a year, and then we'll swap. One of us can fly out if anything urgent happens. We'll be the only pack in the world on two continents, and the biggest by far. Not to mention, the strongest. Two Alphas, two Betas, two of every kind of Delta." I smiled. He stared at me and for once there was no emotive reaction on his face. My smile fell. "Karabo."

He smirked. "I learnt that from you." He chuckled.

"Don't learn things from me." I glared at him and his smile fell into a pout. He looked like a child that had been yelled at by his parents. I wanted to comfort him, it was distracting and had to remind myself why we were outside. "So? What do you think?"

He nodded seriously.

"They're both pretty powerful..." he said, "But the meeting's tomorrow, we'll have to figure this out –"

"Now. Right now." I cut him off.

He chuckled. "It could work... if they agree."

"Why wouldn't they agree? They'll jump at the opportunity to get to be co-leaders while we're on the other side of the earth." I said.

"My Beta actually likes me." He frowned.

"Sure he does," I said walking towards the street. "He was disappointed that your flight didn't crash." I reminded him.

"Because I... Hey, wait. We need to book the flight before we see Ash." he said, "Eli." I smiled to myself. If I kept walking, would he continue calling my name? I liked hearing his voice. "You didn't lock..." he let out a groan, "Eli, wait up."

"Aren't you going to get your shoes?" I asked as he ran up to me, his feet pattering on the sidewalk as he did.

"Race you there!" He ignored my question as he sped off towards my sister's house.

I rolled my eyes giving a chuckle before grinning in relief that it may not be the last time I would see my mate in months.

"Stop walking so slowly." I heard his concerned voice in the distance.

"I can take care of myself," I replied.

"Really? I bet not the way I can."

I felt my face heat and lifted my palm to it. Was he really the same man that had just challenged me to a race? He was so weird.

I laughed as I picked up my pace to run after him.

*****