I took one of the folded towels that laid on the table, wrapped it around my body, and step out of the shower. Jacob shortly behind me takes a towel and wraps it just above of his hips. I walk toward the sink and turn on the faucet, then grab the blue tooth brush that sat in a dark blue tooth brush holder. As I reached out for the toothpaste I noticed my hands turned prune, it happens when you stay in underwater for so long. Time went by so fast, it didn't feel like we were in there a while, everything felt right and perfect. Being with him feels perfect. Time imperceptibly stands still. Is it always this perfect with him? Why is he still single? Well, I guess he isn't single anymore, but still.  He could be with anyone he wants, but he's here with me, and I have him.

I have him.

His for me, and no one has him but me. I don't want to make it a big deal or anything, but he makes me feel good and there is no place I rather be right now than here, next to him.

"What time was it when you joined me?"

"It just turned one, why?" He responded coming behind me grabbing the other toothbrush.

I squeezed some toothpaste onto my toothbrush and hand the toothpaste over to him. I shake my head, " Just asking." I say as I proceed to brush my teeth. He brushed his behind me, I watch him through the mirror. I watch him, watch me, watch him.

I can't help but admire how perfect this is, what we have right now. We are comfortable enough to brush our teeth in the same sink with nothing but towels covering our bodies. It's easy to get mad at him, but it's also exceptionally easy to enjoy him; cause he is a snack. Scratch that— a full course meal. He is all mine.

I blush, thinking about the shower we recently had together; are hand all over each other. I can still feel my hands covering his solid figure with soap and can still feel the soap on his hard chest, and the taste of his skin on my tongue. And I can still feel his large hands cupping my breast. I swear the sight of water running down his back, there is nothing like it. I am awfully infatuated by him, and how he makes me feel. It's actually strange, he's strange in the way that he makes me feel things that never would've imagine I could feel. It's like he's a drug and I'm afraid I'll never get tired of him.

I'm not exactly a prize to be won and he wants me. I'm not saying he's perfect, but it sure feels like it, he's exceedingly attractive and he's attracted to me. It's just... I don't know... hard to believe I guess. I'm not skinny, and I'm not blonde. Blonde and skinny are the type of women, men like him will go for. So, it's one of the reasons why it's hard for me to believe he is attracted to me. It's strange to believe that someone like him thinks I'm beautiful. I know I am, I wouldn't let anyone tell me differently, but still. It's really hard to believe that someone like him could have such strong emotions and passion for me; to believe he wants me the way he does.  And the way he touches, it's like no one can ever touch me that, it's like he owns me. It scares me that I feel this way about him, honestly. I barely know who he is, and I already feel committed to him; in a way connected.  The way that I want him to have me, now I absolutely  cannot imagine anyone having me this way.

It's supposed to be impossible to feel this way for someone you barely know. Yet, my emotions are immensely affixed onto him, and I wouldn't have it any other way, because it feels good to be close to him. Before Jacob, I never envisioned myself being intimate so passionately with anyone. I can still feel him holding me against the shower wall, with his tongue in my mouth. The feeling of being of close to him is indescribable, I don't think there's a proper word or term to use that'll describe how it feels. It feels good, too good. Probably too good to be true. This feeling isn't the feeling you have for too long, no, this is the feeling that goes away almost too fast. Feelings like this, never last. It's like the last licks of a lollipop, you try to salvage it for as long as you can but inevitable if you keep licking it and enjoying it will not last. I shut my eyes and try take in this moment, because as perfect as it is, it will end, and something will go wrong.

As much as I want to believe that he is perfect, he isn't, and neither am I.

I tilt my head forward, spit in the sink, and wash my mouth. Jake comes on the side of me and spits in sink, I take a step back.

"Do you by any chance, have a blow-dryer?" I ask.

He nods his head and walks backwards to the white cabinet that was attached to the wall. He opens it and takes out a white blow-dryer.

"And a comb? And a brush?" I ask quickly again taking the dryer from his grasp, he hands me a comb and brush. "Thank you."

"You are welcome ." He said.

"Uhm can I ask you a question?" I ask plugging in the dryer next to the mirror.

"What is it?"

"Why didn't you have a girlfriend before me?"

"What are you asking me?"

"Why were you single before me?"

"I didn't want anybody."

"So, you weren't sleeping with anyone?"

"I didn't say that, I just... didn't want anyone."

"But you wanted me?"

"Yes." 

I bite the inside of my mouth and look at the cream ceramic floor, I close my eyes. "What were the circumstances that made you want me?"

"Scarlett..." He started agitated.

"Just answer the question."

"It's not that simple."

"Make it simple."

"I can't."

"Okay." I sigh. "You can probably have anyone you want, but you want me."

"Yes, I want you."

"Why?"

"Why are we having this conversation Scarlett? Why do you want to argue with me?"

"...I'm not arguing with you. I am asking you a question. Answer it.

He walks to me and I walk back against the bathroom door. He comes close to me and I bite my lip. He presses his body against mine, he takes my left hand and entwines it with his.

"You know how I feel about you."

"No, I don't."

"Yes, you do."

"What? You love me? I don't believe you."

"Why are you being so difficult ?" He takes a step back, still holding my hand.

I look at him and stare at him, and shrug my shoulders, " I don't know. Why do you give me a reason to be?"

"Scarlett." He sighs defeated.

"Jake, do you honestly believe yourself, when you say you love me?"

"Scarlett it's so much more complicated than that, it is more than love, I'd anything for you—there is literally nothing you can say or do that would make me stop feeling the way I feel about you. You have this cosmic hold on me that you can never understand, and it will always draw me towards you. I am incapable of loving anyone other than you."

"Jacob." I shake my head.

"You keep fighting me, you're not making this easy for me."

I look down away from his piercing gaze, "I know. I'm sorry." Is all I can think to say to that. I don't know why it's so hard for me to understand why or how he could love me. Did Kai really hurt me to the extent where I can't accept anymore love in my life? Or am I simply just so insecure to the point that I honestly believe it's impossible for someone to actually love me? Why is it so hard for me to let him love me? Why is it so hard for me to let him in?

"I know I love you, why is it so hard for you to believe me?"

"I don't know."

"You do know."

"I don't want you to."

"You don't want me to love you?"

I shrug my shoulder and shake my head, "No, I don't."

He lets go of my hand.

"Don't be mad at me."

"I'm not mad at you." He says looking at me.

"Don't look at me like that?"

"How am I looking at you?"

"Like you're upset with me."

"And I shouldn't be."

"No. I'm sorry that I keep fighting you, I can't help it. I just don't..."

"You just don't—what?"

"I don't know how to do this with you. I want you, but I hate that I want you. And I am confused as to why you want me or why your putting up with me."

"I can't make you see what I see, but when I look at you, I see everything."

• • •

A couple hours later...

"Hi." I greet as I walk onto the deck where Jacob sat on the deck chair drinking from a beer bottle.

"Hey beautiful." His eyes light up when he sees me.

I walk toward him and sit on his lap, taking his beer and drink from it. I scrunch up my face at the bitter taste, it's my first time drinking beer and I am not impressed.

"No, this taste disgusting." I shake my head looking at the bottle repugnantly.

"First time drinking beer?"

"Yeah," I nod my head.

"The taste gets better."

"You should hope so, I don't know you drink this."

"Maybe you just have a taste wine."

"Not only wine—I don't think. The champagne from last night, I liked it."

"You liked it?"

"Yeah."

"Maybe we can have it again for dinner tonight."

"What else are we having?"

"Whatever you want?"

"I don't know—can I have you?"

He chuckles, "You can have me now."

I leaned to kiss him, the kiss turn hot real quick. I accidently spill his beer on the ground, but we both ignored it. I stand just to spread my legs over him, sit on him better, giving me more access to him. I push my fingers through his hair, and his hands traveled on the side of my thighs to the inside of my short floral dress, his grasp lands on my waist.

Noah P.O.V

I grab the chair and take it to sit in front of my latest victim. Victim. I like that word. In this case, it's really ironic because this bastard right here has had so many victims and now he's the victim. He's beaten, bloody, bruised, and scared.

He coddled into a corner, blood is running down his face, he's teeth— the ones I knocked out were in his pool of blood scattered on the ground.

"Now me, I'm done for the day. After you die—which is not long from now." I look at my watch, he has an hour maybe less. "I'm going to take a hot shower and maybe have a burger and a milkshake, but you will only be a corpse that will be cremated in the morning. Now, if you help me out by telling me something that's worth my time, your luck may or may not change. Either way it's a win-win for me. So, it's your choice buddy.

"Fuck you." He spits out.

"I've seen your fucking balls man! They are right over there." I pointed behind men, I ripped them off. Would not want to be him right now. "You literally have no balls, and even if you did have them attached to your body they are not that big yet you keep talking shit like you have the upper hand here. You don't! I do!"

"I won't... say... anything." He choke on his blood.

"You're going to die anyways. Just give it up. Tell me who or why you and your garbage coconspirators are killing on my pack's territory. If you tell me I'll put you out of your misery."

"It doesn't matter what I say..."He mumbled, blood dripped from his mouth, "She'll kill you all to get what she wants."

"She? Who's is she?!" I shout. The closet I've been, this leech is a woman. A woman?

He coughs up some blood.

"It's doesn't matter-"

"Yes, it does fucking matter. Who is she?! And what the fuck does she want?!"

"She wants power." He whispers before closing his eyes.

He's dying.

Now see, if he said something like that before he probably wouldn't be dead right now.

Steps walks up behind me.

"It's Alpha Jacob." Gregory holds the phone behind me, I turn and take the phone call.

"Yeah." I greet.

"You have anything for me? Did you learn anything?"

"I learned that a woman is in charge and she is looking for power."

"That's it?"

"That's it."

"A woman is coming for power. I don't know what power; does it have anything to do with yours?"

"No. No one can take an Alpha's power, it's not me. There obviously after something big."

"A powerful being. Maybe it's someone from the elder councils."

"A being with a rare retractable power."

"What about Lou's? She comes from a power blood line of sovereignty."

"I doubt it, but maybe. Go speak to her tomorrow."

"I think there is another lead, but I don't want to touch the idea until we've exhausted every and all possibilities. Okay?"

"Yeah, alright."

"Look I need you to do me a favor."

"What do you need?"

"It's not really a favor, it's actually me doing you a favor."

"What is it?"

"Your mate."

"I don't have one."

"Yes, you do, I heard her voice."

"I don't have one and I like it that way."

"Yeah well, that's too bad. She is coming, and I need you to get her."

"Coming from where?"

"I'm gonna send you her flight information."

"Wait, what do you mean her flight information?"

"She's coming down here. She's Scarlett cousin, coming for a visit."

"Not interested."

"I don't care if you are interested. Her name is Emily, she's Scarlett's cousin and she's flying here. I want you to pick her up from the airport and take her to a hotel. That's that, do it. I'm not really asking you, it shouldn't be too much of a problem you are stationed right by the airport."

"It is a problem, because I don't want to meet her."

"I'm sending you a picture of her, and her flight info." He said hanging up.

I hand Gregory back his phone and stand up. I really don't want to fucking deal with this right now.

"Gregory?"

"Yeah."

"I need you to do me a favor."

"Anything."

"I need you to pick the girl up."

•••

Emily P.O.V

I walk out through the revolving door of the airport exit, I set my luggage on the ground of the side walk, people walk past me, some called out for taxis.

I call Scarlett.

"Hey Scarlett."

"Emily, hi."

"Yeah, so I just got off the plane. I'm outside."

"Oh okay, my boyfriend's friend is coming to pick you up. I forgot to ask you if you were fine with that."

"Oh no it's cool—but wait—what? You have a boyfriend now?"

"Err... sort of. It's new."

"Are you with him right now?"

"Yeah."

"Okay cool. I hope you're being safe."

"Of course, always."

"Okay, so who is this person coming to get me? Girl...guy?"

"It's a guy."

"What car is he driving?"

"A grey Mercedes-AMG Gt. You should see him soon."

Just as she spoke, the exact car parked in front of me. "Wait, I think I see him."

"Oh cool."

"Hey, I'm right here!" I wave and shout at the guy that stepped out of the car.

He sees me, nods his head, and walks in my direction me.

"Ooh he's cute, Scar." I say, but my beeps in response notifying me that it's dying.

Fuck. I shouldn't have used it so much on the plane. I stuff it in my purse.

"Hi, my name is Gregory." He holds his hand out, I hold mine out to shake his.

"I'm-"

"Emily I know." He spoke cutting me off.

"Okay awesome," Okay he knows my name, not weird at all. What else did Scarlett tell him about me? "Can you open the trunk?" I ask.

"Yeah and don't worry about it, I can put your things in the trunk."

"Oh, really? Okay."

"Yeah, you can get in the car—I got it."

"Okay." I say with a smile, pleased with the service. He's cute and sweet, if I wasn't engaged I might flirt. Not that I know how to, I don't have too much experience with men. I've been with the same guy for 5 years, since I was junior.

I walk to the passenger side, open the door and got in, and put my seat belt on. In a moment or two, he came in the car.

"Done. You ready to go?"

"Yeah." I nod my head. He starts the car and drives away.

"Where are we going?"

"To where you're staying."

"Scarlett told you?"

"Uhh, not exactly her."

"Oh, I assumed Scarlett told you."

"I know where I'm supposed to take you."

"Yeah to the—wait. Wait what is that smell?"

"What smell?"

I was taken aback at the scent, it's not ordinary. It's the smell that only werewolves carried. Witches new when a werewolf was near, and right now there is one right next to me; and I am a witch and he's a wolf. I find werewolves absolutely repulsive, they're violent and dangerous, they're animals.

"You smell like a werewolf. You are a werewolf."

"And you're a witch."

"Okay no, no, no. Stop the car. I have to get out." I say abruptly, I can't be in the same space as a werewolf. Is Scarlett associating herself with these filthy creatures? Ugh, this is the exact opposite of what her mother wanted for her; to affiliate herself with the Lycan kind. My mom is Scarlett's late mother sister. I don't remember too much about Scarlett's mother Eviett, I was only three when she died and my mother doesn't speak about her much. But one thing my mother always said is that Eviett did not want Scarlett apart of this world. My mom is not strongest witch, she knew basic witchcraft and she taught me some to, my mom and I live mostly normal lives and try to stay out of the weaves of the unmundane world. "It's perilous and it consumes you." She always say. She stopped practicing hardcore magic when I was young, actually couple years after Eviett died. She's a simple witch now, spell here and there, nothing big. I took after that, not practicing too much magic, maintain a mundane lifestyle; as does she. All of my friends are mundane even my fiancé is human. Mundane lifestyle is much humbler than a mystical one. I stay away from witches, demons, werewolves, vampires, fairies, ghouls, the whole nine-yards. I'm not even a part of a witch's coven, my mom and I are basically off the grid of the social untypical world.

"Sorry can't do that we are on the highway."

"Let me off on the next exit."

"Can't do that either."

"Why the hell not?"

"I'm under strict orders to bring you to where you are staying."

"Wait if you're werewolf, what is Scarlett's boyfriend?"

"For cousins, you guys really don't talk much."

"What is he?"

"Take a guess, you look smart."

"A werewolf."

"She's with my Alpha."

"Why is she with him? Is she being held against her will?"

"No, I doubt that. As far as I know she is with him completely willingly."

"That's impossible. What does your Alpha want to do with my cousin?"

"I believe they're mates."

"No, I don't believe you."

"Believe what you want, I don't care."

"Let me out of off this car."

"For the last time, I can't do that. I don't like repeating myself."

"AND WHY THE FUCK NOT?!"

"Those are against my orders."

"Who's ordering you?"

"My superior."

"What does your 'superior' want with me?"

He sighs, "I don't know. When you meet him, he'll tell you."

"Let me use your phone."

"Why?"

"I need to make a phone call you fucking idiot."

"You can't ask for a favor with a disrespectful comment."

With that his phone rings, he answers it.

"Hello... yeah I got her... I'm on my way now, I'm not too far."

"Who fuck is that? Is it the little shit that's making you kidnap me?"

"I'm not kidnapping you—yeah she's little crazy" He says.

"Fuck you." I spit.

He hands me the phone, "Yeah okay—for you."

I grab it