Alice never wanted to lose those daggers. She couldn’t lose them. She pleaded to the man with a look.

Conrad took a moment to sigh. “Why don’t you drink first?” He gave her the glass of water, and she carefully took it. She’s really thirsty. After finishing the glass, she realized there was food on the table. She stared at them almost longingly.

“I don’t think bringing a lamp would help much. Let’s wait for morning to come. Are you hungry? You should eat first.”

When he gestured for her to move towards the table, she was slightly taken aback. The food . . . she could eat them? It’s been so long since she had a proper meal. On a table. With utensils. But her daggers . . . she hesitated to move.

“I promise we’ll get your daggers back tomorrow.” His voice seemed to be pleading.

When she stared at him, he had this calming effect on her. She frowned for a few seconds before gasping again. This man . . . his scent . . . was he her mate?

Seeing the changes in her expression, Conrad could only guess what went on in her mind.

“What’s your name?” Although he already knew, he wanted to hear it from her.

She hesitated a moment before giving him her name. “Alice. My name is Alice.”

His was Conrad, right? Was he really her mate?

He moved back and gestured for her to sit by the table. As she did so, Alice frowned. She couldn’t help staring at him some more. He was doing the same as he sat on the edge of the bed.

“Eat.” With this prompt from him, she picked up the utensils and started eating everything on a loaded plate. As she chewed, she would glance at him and stare. Her desire to see him overrode the shyness she was feeling at being stared at.

“My mother told me . . . about mates,” she spoke up, and she wondered what made her do it. She didn’t normally speak to others, especially to strangers.

“So, are you feeling the mate pull?” he asked with a small smile and leaned back on the bed.

“Aren’t you?” she asked back with a hint of worry.

“I do.” There was silence after that.

Alice continued eating and finished everything in ten minutes. It was a very delicious meal.

“Thank you for the food. Everything tasted delicious.”

“Glad you liked it.”

Alice fidgeted in her seat. What was she supposed to do now? She looked around and saw a smaller door near a corner.

“Is that the bathroom?” she asked while pointing at it.

“Yes,” Conrad replied before getting up. He asked his mother to bring clothes and supplies for her. He looked through his closet and found nothing.

He turned and walked to the bathroom. He saw a pile of clothes and a small bag on the counter. He looked at her, who had been following his movements.

“My mom brought you a change of clothes and some supplies. It’s inside. You can use them.”

Alice was glad to hear that. She was relieved and moved towards it. Conrad quickly made way for her.

She frowned, thinking his actions were akin to avoiding her proximity. Her mom said mates normally stick together, especially in the beginning. Mates were intimate and loving towards one another. They couldn’t bear to be away from each other. She had no experience with being intimate with anyone except her mother. And those were only hugs and kisses.

Alice stared at him for a moment before getting inside the bathroom and closing the door. She picked up the small bag and found toiletries. She sighed in relief. From what? She was not sure. She brushed her teeth and washed her face. Seeing a mirror available, she quickly checked how she looked now. She’s probably thinner. She was a little chubby when she celebrated her eighteenth birthday. Her cheeks were plump back then.

She looked around before looking through the available clothes. They were dresses. Three of them. Sets of undergarments were also included. They were soft and made of cotton. Looking at her current state, she couldn’t help the tears falling from her eyes. She looked pitiful. Dirty, tattered clothes . . . maybe that’s why he was keeping his distance. She tried sniffing herself and knew she must’ve smelled bad. When was the last time they bathed? When was the last time they had a proper change of clothes? Clean ones? She felt overwhelmed by the sudden availability of these good things.

They made her so happy she was crying happy tears. She smiled while looking at the beautiful dresses. She quickly turned on the shower and removed the rags she was wearing. She didn’t feel bad throwing them in the waste basket. As for the dirty shoes, she set them aside under the sink. She looked for slippers but didn’t see a pair. She shrugged and decided to go barefoot. The place should be cleaner than the forest.

She spent quite some time under the warm water. She scrubbed herself clean, using the body wash and shampoo about three times. When she was satisfied, she dried herself and wore the dress she liked the most. The hem of it touched her knees. It wasn’t a tight fit, and she liked that. She’s able to breathe properly.

Conrad cleaned up while she was gone. He asked someone to bring more clothes for her.

When she got out, though, and he saw her bare feet stepping on the floor . . . he sighed. He looked through his shoe cabinet for fluffy slippers. He was sure there were a couple of pairs somewhere in there.

Alice curiously watched him as he rummaged through something in a corner. Then, she looked surprised at seeing what was in his hands. He walked over to her and bent down to set the slippers by her feet.

“Thank you.” She quickly wore them. They were soft to the touch, making her smile. Such comfort . . .

She looked at him again. He was scratching the back of his neck as he stood a few feet away from her. This made her frown again. She didn’t smell bad now, did she? And the new clothes were clean. She was disheartened by his distance, and she decidedly looked down at her feet.

“You look beautiful.” His words made her look at him. He was smiling at her, and she returned it.

“Thank you.” She looked uncomfortable as she didn’t know how to proceed.

“Aren’t you tired? Why don’t you sit down? Or do you want to sleep already?”

The prospect of sleeping . . . in his room . . . she assumed this was his room. She walked towards a chair and sat while facing him.

“Where are we? What’s this place?”

“Our pack is called Snow Mountain. One side of the territory is protected by a mountainous area. It gets covered in snow during winter.”

“Your wolf is white . . . as white as snow?” Alice couldn’t remember seeing white wolves before. He was the first she’d seen. Of course, she’d seen others earlier. He seemed the whitest, though.

“That, too.” Conrad grinned.

“You have a very nice room. You must have a rank.”

Conrad was proud of his rank, so he promptly answered, “My father is the Alpha.”

Her expression showed surprise. She wasn’t expecting him to be of the Alpha’s family. But then again . . .

“I see . . .”

Silence ensued after that. He didn’t like how she seemed unimpressed.

“Why . . . why are you distancing yourself from me?” She’s curious about this.

Conrad frowned at her question. “I thought you would feel uncomfortable. I’m giving you space and time to get used to my presence. I don’t want to startle you.”

“I see.”

His explanation satisfied her, and they stared at each other again. Conrad was finding it more and more difficult to stay put with each passing minute, maybe even seconds.

As minutes went by, Conrad watched as her expression darkened.

Alice couldn’t believe her luck. Her mate came from the family of the Alpha. But would he want her as a mate? She knew mates could be rejected. All she would bring to this pack was trouble. They might want to avoid that. She dashed her own hope. No way would they want her here. She was glad for this brief reprieve, though. It was nice to feel comfortable once in a while after so many months of discomfort.

“What’s wrong?” he finally asked, not liking how her face paled. It was rosy when she got out of the shower, and he liked seeing her with color. He could almost feel how soft her cheeks would be. The dress also looked good on her.

She gave him a sad smile, “You’re going to reject me, aren’t you?”

His heart skipped a beat at hearing her question.

“What made you think that?” His expression showed agitation. That would never happen.

“You’re avoiding me.”

He frowned at her answer. “I already told you. I don’t want to startle you. If you weren’t jumpy, I would have touched you already.”

Her eyes turned round at his admission. So, he did want to get close to her.

But . . . she didn’t want to cause them trouble. If she didn’t leave soon, those haunting her would probably attack this place. Remembering this was a pack, and maybe they had supplies? Maybe she could ask for some before she left?

“Do you . . . does your pack have potions? One that can conceal a wolf’s scent?”

Her question made him remember her situation. She was running away from her pack, a hostile pack at that.

“The borders alone can conceal your scent. They won’t be able to tell if you’re here or not.”

“But they already know I’m here. Just to be safe, I should also use potions.”

“I’ll check with the doctor tomorrow. They have a lot of potions in their storage, all kinds of them.”

This made her relieved. One problem is solved.

“You’re worried about masking your scent? How long have you been running?”

Alice knew what he was actually asking. “It’s been a few months.”

“How long have you been on your own? How did you survive?”

She didn’t want to be reminded of her nightmares but thought it would be rude not to answer his questions.

“A few months. Potions helped me a lot.”

Conrad could make out the trembling of her hands and her lips. He should stop asking these questions that reminded her of her terrifying ordeal. He should comfort her at this point.

Conrad stood up and walked near her.

“Are you afraid? Don’t be. I’ll protect you.” He kneeled in front of her so he could see her face. His hands were itching to touch her. He couldn’t move his gaze away from her eyes and her lips.

Alice heard his soft voice, and it soothed her heart. Suddenly, as if on impulse, her body moved. She was thrown into his arms, and he stumbled backward. Hearing him grunt in pain and the position they were in, she quickly apologized to him.

Her wolf purred in contentment.

“It was my wolf . . .” She weakly explained. She didn’t know how she’d get up without squashing him further. She put one hand on his shoulder so she could push herself up. Before she could do so, his hand wrapped around her waist and trapped her in his embrace. His breathing slowed down as her scent invaded his senses.

“You smell like apples.” They both said at the same time.

Their eyes widened slightly at this coincidence. Conrad moved closer to her and sniffed near her shoulder. She visibly shivered.

“What are you doing?” Despite asking, she was actually tempted to do the same. She quietly inhaled his scent. She inched closer and closer. The wonderful scent made her close her eyes. She was startled when the tip of her nose touched something. Her face heated up at realizing what she’d done. The warmth from his body enveloped her, and she didn’t want to move.

Alice yelped and grabbed his shoulder when she felt him licking her neck. It was only one stroke of his tongue, and then he was pressing kisses on it and her shoulder. She could feel some wetness on her skin. She was feeling light-headed, and her body seemed to be seeking something. She pushed herself closer to him, eventually laying her head on his other shoulder. She heard him groan. His kisses were now making noises she could hear, his lips smacking against her skin. She felt hot. ‘Is this how it feels to be so close to your mate? It feels good.’ She wanted to savor it.

Conrad was barely controlling himself. She was such a temptress. His own wolf howled inside his head. Her body, cradled in his, felt light. He needed to take this slow. She was only nineteen if what the middle-aged woman said was true. She was too young compared to his twenty-eight years.

He adjusted his position on the floor before getting up and carrying her. The movement did startle her, and she moved her head away, looking at him.

“Can I kiss you?” His muscles tightened in anticipation. This was only their first day. They didn’t know each other yet. He sat on the bed and maintained her position in his lap.

She looked lost and nervous, but she nodded her pretty head. Alice caught her breath when his hand moved up her nape and held her in place. His face slowly approached hers. When his gaze dropped to her lips, she did the same. Was she supposed to breathe? It would be difficult if she didn’t, right? It’s good that she brushed her teeth. Eventually, she closed her eyes. The first touch of his lips on hers made her feel a fluttering of wings in her stomach. Butterflies. ‘Is this the feeling they’re describing with that phrase?’ It started with just a pressing of lips together. When Alice started feeling that it seemed lacking, she gasped when she felt him licking her lips. As they parted, Conrad suckled on each lip. This made her squirm. It felt good. His lips were soft, and his breath smelled like mint, too. However, the scent of apples remained the strongest in her senses. Her hands gripped his clothes when his tongue delved inside her mouth, making her moan in helplessness. She didn’t want him to stop. It slightly felt like drowning, but she could feel his strong hand supporting her back. She noticed a throbbing sensation between her legs and didn’t know what to do with it. Something seemed to be pulling at her insides.

He explored every inch of her mouth and only tasted sweetness. Hearing her moan spurred him on, and soon, he was hard for her. He couldn’t touch her tonight, though. He wanted her to trust him first, to get close, to understand each other, to rely on him, and to love him.

Soon, she mimicked his actions, and her tongue slowly met his. Good. She was a fast learner. Alice could feel something hard and large beneath her. She was sure it wasn’t there earlier.

Conrad knew he should stop while he was still in control. He didn’t want to scare her off. Who knew how long they’d been engaged in kissing each other? Her taste was now etched in his memory. As sweet as apples. With much difficulty, he pressed a hard kiss on her lips before moving back . . . only to find her following him and seeking his lips once again. ‘Damn.’ He groaned in frustration. He knew she was not ready. She didn’t even know how to kiss just a while ago.

He tried pushing her off very lightly, and he saw her expression of desire and haze.

“Alice, we should stop,” he whispered as he caressed her cheek, and yes, her skin was as soft as he imagined. Her face was flushed, and her chest was heaving. Still, there was an ache below her navel that hadn’t gone away.

“You should rest. Lie on the bed and sleep.” He pressed a kiss on her nose. He waited for her to move, but she didn’t. They simply stared into each other’s eyes. When he smiled, she shyly returned it.

“If you don’t move, we’ll continue kissing. I don’t know if I could still stop myself.” He nuzzled her neck, making her shiver. She gently pushed against his shoulder and plopped over the bed.

‘She was really obedient,’ Conrad thought. But then, his eyes were attracted by something else. With her legs up, he could see her bare legs and her undies. Her skin was clearly fair and smooth. He was blessed with a beautiful mate, that’s for sure.

He reached for her knees and pushed them down, her legs now lying flat on the bed. Leaning over her body, he grabbed the blanket and unfolded it for her.

“You should sleep first.”

“How about you?” Alice noted that he didn’t seem to have the intention of sleeping next to her.

“I still need to speak with my father.”

“Will you tell me what happened to the others? The ones who were with me? Are they safe?”

“They’re fine. I’ll speak with the Beta. He’s getting information from them. If he finds them faultless, they will be treated well.”

Alice stared at him as he tucked her in.

“My daggers . . .” she wanted to remind him.

“We’ll find them tomorrow,” he promised her.

Alice closed her eyes as he kissed the tip of her nose again. As he stepped away, she watched him go. At the door, he smiled at her before closing it.

There was a fluttering of wings in her stomach again. Conrad seemed strong. He had the build of a warrior. A fighter. Would he really protect her?

As he made his way to the conference hall, he was reminded of his father’s task. Well, he hadn’t been able to get any significant information from her. Maybe tomorrow, she would be willing to talk. He could tell her that it would help them prepare against those wolves. Well, it was the truth anyway. He simply needed her to open up.

He reported to his father. Then, the Beta shared his findings.

“Except for two young men who are clearly hiding something, the rest are good. They don’t seem to be in collusion, though. They’re hiding different things. I’ve isolated them for now. I’ll speak with them again, see if they’re willing to be more truthful.”

The Alpha stood up and turned to his oldest son. “Well, it would seem we’ll be waiting for you, boy. I expect answers by tomorrow.”

“Yes, Father.” It shouldn’t be difficult, right?

He went to see her mother before going back to his room. She prepared more things for his mate. Her name is Selena, but she’s fondly called Selene. Most of the pack members simply refer to her as Luna.

“Are you treating her well?” Her expression was stern. She didn’t like it when male wolves acted like jerks toward their mates, imposing their wants and not listening to the women. As Luna, she was educating the younger generation on this subject. She couldn’t have her own sons disregarding her lessons.

“Yes, Mother. We’re doing good. She’s now comfortable with my presence.”

“Good. Up you go, then. I expect to see her during breakfast.”

“Yes. Good night, Mother.”

On his way up, he saw his younger brother, Caleb.

“Happy for you, man.” They exchanged a grin.

“You’ll meet yours soon enough,” he assured him.

His brother patted his back before entering his own room. Conrad continued walking towards his. He set on the table everything his mother had prepared for Alice. Then, he simply stood next to the bed, watching her face. She was not having a peaceful sleep, that’s for sure. Her face would scrunch up from time to time. After he calmed himself, he moved to lie next to her. His movements were awkward. He was not sure where he was supposed to touch her.

He had one arm on top of her stomach, his hand touching her waist. He cuddled closer to her and pressed a kiss on top of her head. She seemed so small next to him. With her scent surrounding him, he fell asleep in satisfaction.

When Alice woke up early in the morning, she was momentarily startled by his proximity. But somehow, it felt right to her. His presence was calming, a source of comfort to her troubled thoughts. After staring at him for a few minutes, she reached out to embrace his body and sidled closer to him. His scent alone was bliss. Add his warmth to the equation, and she was in heaven.

She felt him move, and then his leg was on top of hers, locking her in place. Such a tangle of limbs, but it was not uncomfortable. On the contrary, it made her feel safe. Protected.

When sunlight began to bathe the room, Conrad stirred in his sleep. He rolled on his back before taking a deep breath. He got a lungful of her scent, and he quickly looked to his side. Her eyes fluttered open, and she yawned. Catching his gaze, she quickly covered her mouth and blushed. It made him grin.

“Good morning, Alice.”

“Good morning,” she mumbled her reply. She quickly got up and went to use the bathroom.

“My mom prepared those things for you. See if there’s anything helpful.” He called after her, and she stopped by the bathroom door. She looked at where he was pointing. After seeing it, there was a smile on her face as she walked toward it. More clothes. Comfortable ones. Shirts and pants. Shorts, too. And, of course, undies. She chose a set and took them with her.

She liked the warm shower, so she spent ten minutes enjoying it. She was not sure when she’d have the chance to use these amenities again, so she’d use them as often as she could while she was still here. The thought of leaving hadn’t left her mind. Though she found her mate here, she was not sure if she wanted to stay. She didn’t want to involve him in her problems.