“Kara? Are you ok?” Torrance asked softly as she stepped beside me and gripped my hand. I looked at her and nodded. “Come on Kara don’t lie to me, what’s going on with you and Silas? I thought you’d be happy to find your mate.” “It’s complicated Tor. Under normal circumstances I would but...that’s the pack I came from, I saw what Silas did the night he and his dad came in and killed everyone, I saw it all. How can I be ok with him as my mate when he’s responsible for killing people I loved?” I sighed and gave a small shrug. “Oh god, Kara. I’m so sorry. I completely understand now why you haven’t fully accepted the bond. I can’t even imagine what you are going through.” Torrance gasped and pulled me into a hug. I held her tight and took comfort in the offered hug, pulling away with a small smile. “Why didn’t you say anything?”

I woke to the smell of fresh coffee, warm, fresh-baked bagels, the fragrant wood smoke from the crackling fireplace, and the absolutely distinct and pleasant scent of Magnus. I stretched and groaned with how good it felt, sitting up and looking around the room. I saw Magnus sitting on the chair by the fire, once again in just his lounge pants, coffee cup in hand as he read the paper. I smiled at him and sat up, climbing off the bed and moving to sit on the chair across from Magnus, enjoying the warmth of the fire even though it wasn’t cold enough outside to need it. I sat with my knees tucked into the chair and pulled a fresh bagel that was still warm towards me and spread some cream cheese on it before taking a bite. God that was so good. “Morning little wolf. Sleep well?” he asked as he sipped his coffee and smiled at me.

Stirring in bed, I felt hot and restricted, an adjustment leading to me being gripped tighter and pulled closer. I huffed and turned so I was facing Silas, frowning as I noticed he was still sound asleep. I moved his arms off of me, grunting as he tried to keep clinging to me and awkwardly climbed out of the bed as he groaned in his sleep and tugged my pillow close to him. I shook my head and tiptoed to where I left my jeans, slipping them on before I slinked out of the bedroom and closed the door behind me. I made my way down the stairs to the main floor and towards the large eat-in kitchen at the back of the house. Ravenfield didn’t operate the same way other packs did. The ‘Pack house” was just the Alpha and Luna’s house, especially if they had a big family. With my parents only having me, the Beta and Game both lived in the house with us, but business was not done in the house, it was done in the offi

I stood in the doorway and watched him, mulling over my thoughts and contemplating just walking away, back to the bedroom and going to bed early. But I slept for a large part of the afternoon and I wasn’t even remotely tired. I sighed and made my way into the room and sat in a chair on the other side of his desk. He smiled at me and watched me with his warm honey eyes as I settled in the chair, the stubble on his jaw longer and darker. It still threw me that he didn’t resemble his father at all. It would be easier if he did. “What are you working on?” I inquired as I looked over the papers on his desk. “It’s the report from Anders. The scouts being back is worrisome. And the fact they’re working with a vampire? It just doesn’t sit well with me. They have to be after something.” He sighed and ran a hand over his face, scratching the stubble at his jaw. I chewed the inside of my cheek in thought before responding. Had to get him off this line of investigation

I was woken up by a loud bang and a muffled curse, the sound of objects clattering to the floor. I sat up and looked around wildly, my hands immediately going to my mouth to muffle my laughter as I saw Silas was on the floor, holding his foot with one hand, the other hands gripping the fabric runner from the dresser and a pile of his things on top of him. He swore again and pushed it all off of him as he got up, fabric still in hand and scowled at the mess of his cologne and deodorant bottles, a few watches, a box of cufflinks and some odds and ends he kept on top of his dresser. I burst out laughing at the indignant look on his face as he glared at the pile of his personal belongings scattered on the floor, his hair dishevelled from sleep and his sweats low at his hips. He looked up at me startled and then grinned as he tossed the fabric down and climbed on the bed to sit beside me, moving my hair away from my face and rubbing his thumb over my cheek. I