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.

Conrad went to the room next door and took a shower as well. He promised that they’d look for her daggers, and he meant to do that first thing this morning.

He was ready to go when she came out of the bathroom. She was wearing a white shirt and blue pants. Ah, he forgot the shoes again.

“Wait here for a moment. I’ll get you some shoes.”

He quickly went out, and while he was away, Alice looked around his room. She was not able to do so yesterday. When he left her to sleep, she truly fell asleep.

He returned with a pair of white rubber shoes. He took her hand and guided her through the pack house. There was that undeniable spark when they touched.

“Are we going to the woods?” She’s still anxious about losing her daggers.

“Not yet. Let’s have breakfast first. My mother wants to meet you.”

In the kitchen, her mother was already there. She was usually early at work, overseeing the pack house management.

She approached when they entered the dining hall.

“Hello. You must be Alice. I’m Selena, Conrad’s mom. You can just call me Selene.” Her warm smile and friendly tone lowered Alice’s guard. She was actually reminded of her own mother. She was just as sweet and caring.

Selene gave her a brief hug before directing them to a table. The three of them sat down as someone brought out three plates. They were early, as breakfast didn’t begin until thirty minutes later. Alice felt comfortable with the scarce number of people around them. She would most likely freak out if there were too many people. One reason he brought her here before the others poured in.

His mother chatted with her, mostly asking if she was feeling comfortable or if she needed anything in particular.

“We’ll go and look for her daggers in the forest,” Conrad explained what their next activity was.

“Daggers? You use them?” Selene was intrigued. The young woman in front of her had a small frame. Though, of course, it was also possible that she knew how to fight. Every wolf had that tendency to learn to protect oneself.

“Yes,” Alice replied simply.

“We have daggers in the storeroom, don’t we?” She turned to her son.

Conrad looked at Alice before answering, “Yes, we do.”

“Why don’t you just get new ones? The forest is vast.” Selene suggested kindly. It made Alice uncomfortable.

“My mom gave them to me.” Her voice was small and sad as she kept looking down.

“We’ll find them,” Conrad promised her. Wait, he already promised her last night, didn’t he? Why did he forget about it so soon? He was losing points for trust. She might have thought he was unreliable.

“I see. Of course, you should look for them. Take all the time you need. Do you want me to pack lunches for you?”

“It’s fine. I can find them quickly. I’m sure I have my scent on them,” Alice assured them that it wouldn’t be a time-consuming task.

“Even so, you don’t need to rush,” Selene insisted, then turned to her son.

“Why don’t you show her around the territory? Have a picnic. I’ll prepare the food.” She smiled at them before returning to the kitchen.

Conrad stared at Alice’s figure.

“Look at me. Keep your head up,” he told her. When she didn’t budge, he reached out and touched her chin with a finger.

“What’s wrong?” He became concerned because of her expression.

“I need potions to conceal my scent, too. You said your pack has them?”

“Yes. We’ll drop by the storehouse. I told you, the borders already conceal everyone’s scent. You don’t have to worry about it.”

“I just want to be doubly sure. I don’t want to risk it.” She bravely looked directly into his eyes. She liked that he was concerned about her.

He smiled at her before lightly caressing her cheek. Her skin was too soft and fair. He decided that he’d ask her questions after they found her daggers. She seemed jittery because of her lost daggers. She didn’t mention last night how important it was to her, but he did think it had that kind of significance.

“You said the daggers were given by your mom? Where is she?” Or maybe he shouldn’t have asked.

Her expression became dark and sorrowful.

“I’m sorry.” He pulled her into a loose hug and caressed her back.

Alice couldn’t stop herself from crying. Her mother’s death was horrifying and terrible. The memory alone could make her tremble from fear. Even now, she was wondering how she managed to run away from that nightmare.

But in a way, she understood it was because her mom protected her. Clung to her killer so he couldn’t go after her immediately. That was enough time for her to leave and run endlessly.

Selene returned with a packed basket to witness this scene.

“What did you do?” She was ready to reprimand her son. You don’t make a lady cry! Even more so when it was your mate!

Conrad winced at his mother’s tone. He silently mouthed the words “her mom” to her.

“Oh . . .” She correctly assumed that her mom was already dead. Death was always going to be the worst experience one could have. No one truly knew how to deal with it. It was different for everyone.

With her presence, though, Alice stopped herself from crying and wiped her face with her hands.

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to cry.”

“It’s okay to cry,” Conrad softly replied by her ear. She shivered a little.

Selene breathed in relief. It was good that she could pull herself together quickly. “Here’s your lunch. Don’t let her go hungry. Also, be careful when you’re on the training grounds.”

“Yes, mom.”

“Does your father already know? Or should I tell him you’ll be away from your duties today?”

“I already informed him.”

“Good. I’ll see you both for dinner.”

“Thanks, mom.”

“Hmm . . .”

“Thank you,” Alice didn’t forget to express her gratitude and stood. They should go now, right?

Selene smiled at her.

“I hope you’ll feel at home here. I would like to welcome you into the pack in advance.” She gave Alice a warm but brief hug.

“Another one?” Selene gladly embraced her again when she saw how she looked disappointed at their parting.

Alice was glad, too. She missed her mom so much.

Conrad kept close to her as they made their way toward the forest. He’s got this prickly feeling in his chest whenever he caught another guy looking at his mate. It was an irritating feeling, but he knew he needed to keep it under control.

Alice noticed his closeness, but it did make her feel safe in this unfamiliar territory. At one point, he grabbed her wrist and held it as they walked. Then, he started telling her the areas in the pack that they’d come across. She looked around and felt a certain level of calm in her heart. This place seemed to have that effect on her. It looked peaceful. It was simple and neat, but that was its beauty.

She frowned at how organized and tidy the place was. Her old pack was known for being chaotic and messy. The environment alone kept her alert and on guard. But here . . . she liked the momentary feeling she was having. She took in a deep breath and then smelled his scent again. Apples. At some point, his hand had moved toward hers and clasped it. It was warm and seemed to be sending a tingly feeling through her arm toward her body. She knew this was a result of the mate bond. She wanted to be as close to him as possible.

He tugged her towards the woods they were in yesterday, and she simply followed while staring at him.

She actually found her mate, but what should she do now? Last night, she hadn’t been able to make a decision. It’s a good thing that she didn’t want to let go, but her conscience couldn’t let them suffer because of her. She had to go.

Sensing her feelings, Conrad squeezed her hand and stopped walking. She bumped into him, a clear indication that she was spacing out.

“I’m sorry.” She looked around, unsure why they stopped walking. This wasn’t the place.

“You look sad.” He carefully touched her cheek, and she savored the feeling.

Alice bit her lip. Yeah, she was. She stared directly at him. She would commit his appearance to her memory. She was happy to have simply met him, so she smiled.

Sighing, Conrad asked, “Can you tell me what your situation is? Your companions couldn’t tell us much. All they know is that you’re being hunted. Who’s after you and why are they hunting you down?”

This was the task his father gave him, but he was equally curious. Why would anyone want to hurt his mate? An indescribable anger surged from within him, and she felt it. Her eyes widened, and she tried to pull her hand away.

Conrad closed his eyes and took deep breaths, but he didn’t let her go.

“Sorry. I just . . . I’m angry because there are people who want to hurt you. I won’t let them hurt you. I’ll protect you.”

His words were sweet, but she couldn’t . . .

After she retrieved the daggers, she would ask them for supplies. Then, she would be off. Just like that, she had made her decision. Her heart ached, but it was what she must do.

“Alice?”

“I have to leave. I can’t stay here.”

Her words alarmed him.

“No. You have to stay. This is your home now.” There was urgency in his voice, and he gripped her hand tighter.

Home. That sounded nice.

“I can’t . . .” she told him again.

“Why can’t you?” he pressed for an answer.

Alice shook her head. “I don’t want to cause you trouble. They would attack your pack if I stay here.”

Just thinking about it made her feel so much guilt. Her mother died protecting her.

“We know that part already. And as my mate, do you really think I would simply let you go? I’m going to protect you. My father agreed it’s the right thing to do.”

“It’s too risky . . .” she continued. “Members of your pack could die if they attack.”

“We’ll be prepared for that. We’re not exactly weak.”

Seeing the doubt on her face, Conrad knew he must convince her.

“It’s the Silver Crescent, right? They’re notorious for their strength and brutality, sure, but I can assure you that we can take them on. Won’t you trust me?”

Okay, it might have been too early to ask that from her. They didn’t know each other yet, but here he was, asking her to trust him.

“Alice, you’re my mate. That means you’re going to be this pack’s Luna later on. There are no coincidences to the moon goddess, is there? You’re meant to be here.”

Alice very much wanted to believe his words and rely on him. But could she really?

“Why don’t you tell me the situation first? That way we would be more prepared. We need to know what you know to do that. You can tell me anything, Alice.” He liked saying her name. It still felt surreal to him that he found her after so many years. It was a good thing that he waited until now. The elders had already advised him to choose a mate instead. Thankfully, he didn’t listen.

“I ran away from my pack,” she began after a few minutes of silence as they stared at each other.

He nodded and encouraged her to continue.

“Alpha Walter wants me dead,” she admitted.

Conrad frowned at this. “Why?” Why would that vicious wolf want her dead?

“He . . . he killed my mother. He k-killed his mate. He’s my f-father.” Her voice trembled as she told him the truth.

Conrad inhaled deeply as she finally gave him some answers. So, some of the rumors were true. The guy actually killed his own mate. But that begged the question, why?

The rumors . . . somehow, he couldn’t bring himself to ask her. ‘Are you sure he’s your father? Why would he want you dead if he is?’

The implication would be . . . her mother was truly unfaithful. Then, who was her father?

Alice watched his expression closely.

“They’re saying he may or may not be my father, aren’t they?” she asked in a low voice, her expression turned serious. She considered it, and it could be possible. Otherwise, the man who showed her love for many years wouldn’t just . . . kill his own flesh and blood.

“Your mother didn’t tell you anything?” Since she brought it up, Conrad simply wanted to make sure.

Alice shook her head. Her mother didn’t say anything. She couldn’t even understand how her father could possibly know what the truth was. He came home one night with the intent to murder them. It was horrifying. Remembering that night made her cry, and Conrad was alarmed to see her tears.

“I’m sorry. I promise he won’t be able to come near you. I’ll protect you.” He enclosed her in his arms, and she finally let herself grieve. It had been so long, and she’d been enduring so much.