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I don’t know… hide in your room and help you sleep.

His teasing tone makes my skin tingle and fills my stomach with butterflies from the excitement. I almost want to scream yes, come over, hold me, kiss me, do whatever you want with me. Unfortunately, I had already promised my mother I would be home tonight. If I decide not to go home, she might put out a search warrant and have our pack warriors come and find me. And… I honestly don’t want her to find out about me having a mate like that.I need to visit my parents today. I’ll be away until Friday. But if you manage to have time on Friday night, I… well…I blush a bit. Please say yes.

I will definitely be there.I can feel him smirking.And you are teasing us again, my mate.

I’m not!

You absolutely are, and you know it.His chuckle sounds low and alluring.I will make you pay for that.

Again, I can feel a well-known tug in my chest. Goddess, yes, make me pay for it, Liam.Yes, Liam. Make me pay all you want.

There is silence for a moment, and I almost wonder if I insulted him in any way.

I need to go.He suddenly says. He sounds restless, his voice a bit strained.Or I will come immediately and snatch you away from class! Who knew you would be such a little tease?!

I flush slightly.

Annalise,he starts again after a while.I would like to have a warrior watch you when you return from visiting your parents.

I sigh. I knew he would suggest it eventually. Bye-bye normality, but I guess it has to be done.All right…

Or maybe you could…He pauses again, sounding a bit nervous. I wonder what he is going to suggest to me now.Please think about moving out of your dorm and to my pack. You can have your own room there if you don’t feel comfortable yet sharing one with me.

I nod to myself. I literally have to hold myself back from packing all my stuff and knocking at his door. It’s not only that I feel safer when he is around, but also that I really long to be close to him. I want to talk to my parents first though – in person – and tell them that I found my mate, and I need to organize a few things with my college and dorm.

Despite my little cheesy romantic side, I’m quite the rational kind of person. Before I move somewhere else, I need to make sure that I know how to reach my college without a car. I don’t want to rely on Liam all the time. I need to think about things like distances, potential online classes… oh, and my dorm room is already paid for. Maybe I can find a replacement for me. I need help with packing my stuff, and I definitely need to talk to my mom. And I don’t want to do anything behind my dad’s back either. He has always supported me. And before I move to Silverlake, I have to meet his parents! That’s something that has been on my mind for quite a while now. The thought of meeting Alpha Elden, the infamous Iron Alpha scares me, but I need to meet his family and-

Annalise?

Oh sorry! I was caught up in my thoughts,I hurried to answer, blushing a bit when I realized how wild my thoughts just ran. I am getting carried away.I’m thinking about it, honestly. I just need to prepare and organize a few things before I can leave. Maybe we can talk about this in person?

Are you really thinking about it?He asks, sounding slightly surprised.

Of course.

I thought I would need to pester you more. I have prepared a list with reasons for why you should, hesays dryly.

It makes me giggle.Keep that list. I don’t want your efforts to be in vain.

Chatting with Liam made my worries go away for a moment. That is until I check my messages. There is a WhatsApp message from an unknown number.

A picture of me.

I blink, needing a moment to grasp what I’m seeing. For a moment, my blood runs cold. I swear my heart skips a few beats.

It’s a picture of me. I’m stepping out of the shower. I have wrapped a towel around my body. But if they have pics of me stepping out of the shower, they must've been in here! They have nudes.

My eyes burn dangerously.

Don’t cry. Don’t…

How could they!? Who would do something so shameful? And why? Why do they want to hurt and shame me like that?

I break out into cold sweat at the mere thought of someone constantly watching me in my most private moments.

That’s it. I’m going home today. Being with my parents and within the security of my pack will make me feel a bit more… safe. I just want to sleep one night without being scared.

The moment I pass my pack’s borders, I feel an air of belonging, of safety around me. I take a deep breath, allowing the familiar scent of home to linger around me. We’re already approaching April, and while the air still feels a bit cold, I can feel the warmth of the sun on my skin. There are newly budding trees and flowers popping up. The scent of early spring mingles with the familiar scent of home. I take my time for a while, only standing there and letting all the feelings settle in. I know they all noticed my arrival the moment I crossed the border; I can feel the waves of feelings of different pack members around me as the link to them re-opens now that I’m within the borders.