Laviñia's P.O.V. I kept myself calm despite the fear spreading through my chest. My hands were clenched into fists, a mixture of fear and anger coursing through my veins as I sat inside the vehicle with the men surrounding me. They were laughing and exchanging words that made my stomach churn with disgust. I've done nothing but show kindness and offer help to the people around me. I couldn't believe someone could be so heartless and soulless as to order my abduction and murder. Whoever that son of a bitch was, I would make sure he paid for this. And he would pay dearly! "Hey, bro. Should we kill her now?" I heard one of them ask. "Not yet. Just look at Miss. Her skin is so smooth. It would be a waste if only the worms got to enjoy her." I rolled my eyes in irritation. I was blindfolded, but if I wasn't mistaken, there were currently four men inside the van. Whoever had sent them clearly had no idea who I really was. For that, I was thankful. It gave me an advantage despite being tied up and blindfolded. I scoffed inwardly. If anyone was going to become food for the worms tonight, it would be them, not me. I silently thanked the heavens when I felt the van come to a stop. A small smile crept onto my lips as I heard the doors open. Almost time. All I needed was to wait for the perfect moment to strike. I allowed myself to be dragged out of the vehicle when one of the men roughly pulled me by the arm. "We're lucky. This one still looks fresh and untouched. What a shame the boss wants her dead so soon." My eyebrows shot up. Why couldn't they just mention that bastard's name? At least then, I'd have an idea who I needed to kill after burying these idiots. Judging by the sounds around me, we were somewhere in the middle of a forest. It was a perfect place to murder a group of foolish men without worrying too much about anyone hearing their screams or desperate pleas for help. I fell to the ground when one of them shoved me roughly. Another man then removed my blindfold. I looked up at the four demons standing before me. What made them think they could rape and kill me so easily? Did I really look that weak in their eyes? "Sorry, Miss. We were just following orders. Nothing personal." A sinister grin spread across the man's face. If another woman were in my situation, I'm pretty sure this would have been her worst nightmare. Somehow, I was thankful that it was me and not someone else. I was more than capable of protecting myself from bastards like them. One of them was about to grab me when I loosened the ropes binding my hands. The rope fell into my lap. The men frowned as they stared at the now-loose restraints. It was my turn to smirk. "Do you know what the biggest mistake you made today was?" I asked. When none of them answered, I let out a dry laugh. "What? Does no one here understand English?" One of the men seemed to recover from his initial shock. Anger flashed across his face as he stepped toward me. I immediately prepared myself for the attack. The man lunged at me, but since I was smaller and faster, I easily dodged his hand. I pulled out the tiny needle I had been hiding and quickly drove it deep into his pulse point. Perhaps because of the adrenaline rushing through his body, he barely noticed what I had done. The other three men stared at me in shock when their companion suddenly collapsed to the ground. I pulled another needle from my pocket and removed its safety cap. One down. Three more to go. ❤️❤️❤️ I leaned against the trunk of a tree, sitting on one of its protruding branches. With my vision gradually blurring, I struggled to focus on my phone screen before dialing my godbrother's number. He was a first lieutenant in the army. Let's just say I didn't trust the local police at the moment. My gaze fell on the badge I had taken from one of the men. My eyes narrowed as I examined it. Interesting. One of them was a police officer. "Hello?" "Hi." My voice sounded slightly raspy, probably because I had already lost a considerable amount of blood. I dropped the badge and pressed my hand against the bleeding wound in my stomach. "It's me, Laviñia. I need your help. Trace this call and come get me as soon as possible." I struggled to speak. "Laviñia, what the hell happened to you?" His voice was filled with concern. I coughed slightly. As time passed, I continued losing more blood, making it increasingly difficult to breathe. "I'm fine. Just a small bullet wound in my intestines, but I'll be okay as long as you find me within the next two hours. I'm pretty sure I'll survive." My response was barely above a whisper. I heard him unleash a series of curses from the other end of the line. "Stay exactly where you are. I've got your location now. I'll be there in thirty minutes." Well, that was quick. I smiled. At least I knew I wouldn't die tonight. I placed my phone on the ground but didn't end the call. Instead, I turned on the speaker. My gaze shifted toward the four unconscious men lying on the ground. If murder weren't a sin, I probably would have killed them myself already. A flash of lightning streaked across the sky, followed by a deafening rumble of thunder. Moments later, the clouds began to weep. I looked up at the dark sky as raindrops started falling against my skin. Great! What perfect timing! I was already soaked in blood. Wasn't that enough? All I could do was let out a deep sigh as the rain suddenly poured harder. I could barely feel the pain in my stomach anymore, but the cold wind was beginning to send chills through my body, reaching deep into my bones. I waited for more than thirty minutes before I finally spotted a pair of headlights approaching through the darkness. That was probably the longest thirty minutes of my life. I struggled to get up from the muddy ground and staggered toward the approaching vehicle. The door opened, revealing Rylan. A sly smile tugged at my lips when I saw him. We spent most of our time bickering with each other, but right now, he looked like an angel sent straight from heaven. "Fuck! What happened?" he asked, his voice filled with concern as he helped me into the vehicle. I didn't miss the flash of anger in his eyes when he glanced at the four unconscious men lying on the ground. "I don't know. They tried to kill me, but this wasn't some random kidnapping or attempted rape. Someone specifically ordered them to abduct me and kill me." Rylan frowned as he helped me settle into the seat. "How sure are you?" "One of them mentioned that their boss wanted me dead." He shook his head before opening the built-in compartment of the vehicle. He pulled out a .45-caliber handgun and closed the door. From where I was sitting, I watched him raise the gun. A moment later, a series of gunshots echoed throughout the forest. The driver's door opened, and he climbed inside. "What did you do?" I asked. He simply smirked. "No one messes with my lovely godsister and gets away with it." He returned the gun to the compartment and started the engine. I finally felt a sense of relief as the vehicle began moving. I knew I was safe now. I closed my eyes and leaned against the backseat. The pain in my stomach was becoming more intense, but my thoughts were far from it. I was more concerned about what tomorrow would bring. Someone wanted me dead. They had failed tonight, but that didn't mean they wouldn't try again tomorrow. The bullet lodged in my stomach made me realize one thing. I wasn't invincible. Just like everyone else in this world, I was vulnerable to threats, too.

Chapter 1 Laviñia's P.O.V. 'Well, I'll be the strongest that he'll ever know, and I'll be there when he needs a love strong enough...' I raised one hand in the air, swaying to the rhythm and singing along with the music blasting from my car speakers. I've been playing this song nonstop. 'Let's talk about family, let's talk about family... Let's talk of the ties and the lies and the love we have in this family...' My gaze shifted from the road to the enormous archway ahead. Because of my speed, I barely managed to read the words written across it. WELCOME TO TYNE. I slowed down slightly when I noticed two men standing a few meters beyond the archway. They were wearing some kind of uniform, which made me assume they belonged to the local police force. Perhaps they were patrolling the area, but what exactly were they looking for? I stopped in front of one of them, turned off the radio, and rolled down my window. I'd been driving for more or less seven hours now. My back was killing me, and I was practically starving. "Hi," I greeted him with a smile. The man gave me a suspicious and rather unwelcoming look, but I chose to ignore it. "Is there any fast-food restaurant or diner nearby?" His eyes lingered on my face longer than I would have liked. I was just about to switch to bitch mode when he gestured toward the road ahead. "There's a diner up ahead. Just three kilometers from here," he answered flatly. "Thank you..." I flashed him my sweetest smile before rolling up my window and speeding off in the direction he had indicated. Through my side mirror, I noticed the other man approaching him. Perhaps he wanted to know what I had asked his companion. One of them even pulled out a walkie-talkie and began speaking to someone on the other end. I could only shake my head before focusing my attention on the road again. They looked awfully alarmed by my presence. What the hell was their problem? A few moments later, I pulled over beside what I assumed was the diner the man had mentioned. I stepped out of my car and glanced at its exterior. I nodded in approval. The place looked nice. I just hoped the food was equally good. I was about to enter the diner when something caught my attention. A massive figure, resembling an enormous dog, stood not too far from where I was. It was standing in the middle of an open meadow, staring directly at me. Wow. They actually had wolves in this area? A gentle breeze blew in my direction, and that's when I caught a sweet scent that was almost enough to make me lightheaded. Pine and mint. Damn. I never thought a scent could be this intoxicating. I quickly pulled my attention away from the strange animal and focused on my growling stomach instead. I opened the diner's door, and a little bell chimed above me. The sound immediately caught everyone's attention. Almost every head inside turned in my direction. A few people gave me curious looks, but I was far too distracted by the delicious aroma of steak and mashed potatoes. Damn! I swear I could hear my stomach growling. I took a seat in front of the marble countertop. Judging by the number of customers eating inside, this place seemed quite popular. And it wasn't even dinner time yet. "Hi." I looked up when a waitress placed a glass of water in front of me. She wore a friendly smile. "What can I get you?" I glanced at the menu in front of me and smiled. Damn. Everything looked delicious. I practically wanted to order everything on it. Instead of choosing an item from the menu, I looked up at the woman. "Can you give me your bestseller?" She smiled and began writing on her order slip. "Sure. And would you like a glass of wine to accompany your steak?" "Sure. That would be great. Thank you." The woman gave me another friendly smile before turning around to process my order. Almost ten minutes later, she returned with a tray in her hands. She carefully placed everything in front of me. I nearly drooled at the delicious aroma wafting from the food. This diner was definitely a stairway to heaven. "Is there anything else I can get you?" she politely asked. I shook my head before digging into the steak. Every bite tasted like a little piece of heaven. The meat was incredibly tender, cooked to perfection, and seasoned with spices that practically exploded across my tongue with every chew. I was already halfway through my meal when I heard the bell above the door chime again. I lifted my head to see who had just entered. And immediately, my eyes widened. Standing by the entrance was a ridiculously handsome man who was practically half-naked. A mischievous smile slowly spread across my lips. Good food, beautiful scenery, and handsome men. The longer I stayed here, the more I found myself falling in love with this place. The man glanced around as though searching for someone before his eyes finally landed on me. He smirked when he noticed me practically feasting my eyes on him. My breath hitched slightly as he began walking in my direction, his deep brown eyes never leaving my face. His muscles flexed with every step he took. My gaze traveled from his handsome face down to his well-defined six-pack abs, then further to the V-line disappearing beneath the waistband of his pants. I picked up my wineglass and took a slow sip, savoring its sweetness on my tongue. The man stopped right in front of me. "Like what you see?" he teased before taking the empty seat beside me. I smiled flirtatiously, biting my lower lip. "Sure I do," I admitted. I didn't even bother hiding the lust in my voice. Why should I? I was a woman, and the man sitting beside me was absolutely ravishing. There was nothing wrong with appreciating a beautiful man. He chuckled at my response, and I swear, it was the most beautiful sound I'd ever heard coming from a man's mouth. His attention shifted to the waitress when she approached to take his order. That gave me the perfect opportunity to examine him more closely. Now that he was only inches away, I could clearly see the tattoo of a wolf on his back. A black wolf. Just like the one I'd seen outside the diner earlier. After ordering an iced tea and steak, his attention returned to me. "So, what would a beautiful woman like you be doing in a place like this?" he casually asked. I stopped eating as memories of what had happened two nights ago came rushing back. Those bitches who had forced me to pack my things and leave my hometown. I swear, once Rylan figured out who was behind the attempt on my life, I would be the one to kill him with my own hands. He would be the first to have his blood stain my hands. "So?" His voice pulled me back to reality. I looked at him and noticed his eyes fixed on my hands, which were gripping my fork and knife tightly. I immediately loosened my grip before putting on my most charming smile again. "Let's just say I got lost and am looking for a temporary place to stay," I answered. The man studied me curiously. "Is that so?" A moment later, however, his expression shifted back to its playful state. "If you're looking for a place to spend the night, my bedroom can certainly accommodate the two of us." That was smooth. I smirked at his offer. "That sounds tempting, but I'd rather spend the night alone. If you could recommend a nearby inn, that would be helpful." He shrugged. "I know an inn near my house. You can spend the night there. And, of course, if you find the place boring, you're always welcome to knock on my door." He winked at me. My grin widened. This man was definitely a playboy, but somehow, I could sense that he was a good person. When his order arrived, our conversation briefly came to a halt. We continued chatting while finishing our meals. I learned that his name was Greyson and that he owned one of the most famous wineries in Tyne. As it turned out, the wine I was drinking was one of their bestsellers. Wow. I've always been a wine lover, but it had never occurred to me that one of my favorite wines actually came from this part of the countryside. I'd always assumed Lafeti wine was imported from another country. I couldn't help but laugh at my own ignorance. If I hadn't almost been killed, I probably wouldn't have thought about stepping outside my little bubble and traveling somewhere new. ❤️❤️❤️ "So, are you really sure you don't want to spend the night at my house?" he asked with a smile. I raised an eyebrow at him. "You're handsome, gentlemanly, and all that, but sorry, Mr. Stranger. I don't trust you enough to spend the night in your bed just yet." He frowned at my answer, making me laugh softly. "What do I need to do to earn your trust, then?" My eyes sparkled at his question. "How about giving me a tour of your winery tomorrow?" A wide smile spread across his face. "Sure!" he readily agreed. "See you tomorrow, then." I smiled back at him. He opened the passenger-side door and got out of the car. I had asked him to accompany me to the inn. He hadn't brought his own vehicle, and since I was the one who requested his company, he simply rode along with me. I guess it was a good thing that his house was only within walking distance. He remained standing by the roadside, watching as I maneuvered my car toward the inn's entrance. Once I got out, I couldn't help but look around the place. It had a rustic theme that gave it a mystical yet homey atmosphere. It wasn't particularly large compared to the inns in the city, but I could say it was spacious enough to accommodate around thirty people. The signboard read: TYNE INN. It was rather amusing how the name rhymed, but I guessed this was the perfect place for me to hide. ❤️❤️❤️ This place feels like a home away from home. That was what crossed my mind as I enjoyed the warm water against my skin. This was the life! I'd been so consumed by my work and business that I'd completely forgotten there was an entire world beyond the four walls of my room, which also happened to serve as my office. I wanted to stay and enjoy the water a little longer, but unfortunately, I wasn't allowed to. My wound hadn't completely healed, and the last thing I wanted was for it to become infected because I'd soaked it in water for too long. The bathtub looked equally tempting, but I couldn't enjoy that just yet either. I turned off the shower and wrapped myself in a large towel. Afterward, I sat on the bed and rummaged through my first-aid kit to get the medication I needed for my wound. Since I was alone, I had no choice but to clean my wounds myself. Back in Rouen, I had my own nurse whom Rylan had hired to look after me, so I rarely had to worry about these things. Now, however, I needed to figure out how to do everything on my own. I was halfway through cleaning my wound when someone knocked on my door. My eyebrows furrowed. I didn't remember ordering anything, so who could that be? I placed the cotton on the bed and walked toward the door. I was wearing nothing but a bra and cotton shorts, so I figured it would be better to know who was standing outside before opening it completely. I unlocked the door and opened it just enough to peek outside. "Hi? How can I help you?" I greeted the woman with a smile. I couldn't help but look her over, along with the trolley she was pushing. She appeared to be in her early twenties. But what caught my attention was the food trolley she had brought along. I hadn't ordered anything yet, so why was she carrying a trolley full of food? The woman's eyes traveled from my face down to my stomach. My eyebrows furrowed. Most of my body was hidden behind the door, so what made her stare at my stomach? Perhaps she noticed my puzzled expression because she quickly lifted her gaze back to my face. She offered me a friendly smile. "Hi. I'm sorry if I'm disturbing you, but the Alp- I mean, Mr. Greyson, called us and ordered dinner for you." Greyson? How thoughtful of him. I opened the door wider to let her in. She looked harmless enough. She pushed the trolley inside, and the enticing aroma of food immediately filled my room, overpowering the smell of alcohol I was using to clean my wound. I didn't miss the way her eyes briefly wandered over my body, particularly lingering on the wound on my stomach. I'd only covered it with a bandage because I hadn't finished cleaning it yet. "Ahem!" My little cough brought her attention back to me. She winced slightly. "Err... I don't mean to be nosy or anything, but do you need help cleaning your wound? What happened to it? It looks pretty bad." Wow! She was certainly honest, perhaps a little too nosy for her own good. "Thank you for the offer, but I can manage." She looked at me as though she wasn't entirely convinced. "Are you sure? I can call the pack doctor-I mean, a doctor from a nearby clinic-to look at it and make sure that-" "No, really. I'm fine. I can clean it myself," I interrupted. Somehow, despite finding her a little irritating, I couldn't help but feel touched by her genuine concern. Her face scrunched up at my response. "Okay, but if you need help, don't hesitate to dial the intercom, alright?" I nodded. I helped her transfer the food from the trolley onto the nearby table. Once she made sure everything was properly arranged, she immediately excused herself. Only when I was finally alone again did I let out a sigh of relief. I quickly finished cleaning my wound before putting on an oversized T-shirt. After packing away my first-aid kit, I eagerly turned my attention toward the table. The food looked just as delicious as it smelled. I smiled as I picked up a slice of cheese from the platter. This place was heaven. ❤️❤️❤️ Greyson's P.O.V. "Alpha, you have a phone call from the inn." One of my pack members approached me with a telephone in his hand. I immediately put down the documents I was holding and took the phone from him. "Hello," I answered. "Hi, Alpha..." I could hear the hesitation in the woman's voice. Whatever she was about to tell me, I was pretty sure it wasn't good news. "What is it, Annette? Did something happen to my mate?" I asked. "Yes... I mean, no. But I think something bad happened to her before she came here." My eyebrows furrowed. "Can you please clarify that?" I rubbed my temples. I already knew she wasn't here for a vacation. The scent of blood surrounding her was far too strong to ignore. I just needed to know what had happened. "She has a bullet wound in her stomach." My grip on the telephone tightened. A bullet wound? I released a deep breath, forcing myself to remain calm. My wolf was already growing restless and agitated upon learning that someone had attempted to take our mate's life. Someone had actually dared to hurt her. "Thank you for telling me, Annette. Just keep an eye on her. I'll assign two warriors to patrol the area around the inn to ensure her safety," I instructed before ending the call. I swiveled my chair toward the window and looked at the inn not too far from our packhouse. A bullet wound? Interesting. The corner of my lips lifted into an amused smile. My mate was a badass. I couldn't help but wonder what had happened to bring her to this part of the country. I couldn't sense any trauma or fear coming from her, so I hadn't expected her injury to be something as serious as a gunshot wound. I supposed I'd have to ask her about it myself. But first, I needed to earn her trust. I didn't think that would be too difficult, considering we were already mates. Soon enough, the mate bond would work its magic, and she wouldn't want to leave my side anymore. A smile spread across my face as I playfully twirled the pen between my fingers. I couldn't wait to finally have my mate and our future pups here in the packhouse. This place had felt so empty for far too long. And I couldn't wait to experience the warmth of having my mate beside me.

Chapter 2 Laviñia's P.O.V. "Hi, good morning." I lifted my gaze toward the woman who greeted me. She looked lovely in a simple floral dress that almost reached her ankles. She was also the same woman who had delivered my dinner last night. She was holding a tray with freshly brewed coffee and croissants. I raised an eyebrow at her. "Let me guess. Greyson ordered those for me again?" The woman smiled at my question. "Nope. This is a complimentary breakfast from the inn. You should try our croissants. I baked them myself." I smiled at her and allowed her to place the tray in front of me. I was sitting in their backyard, admiring the vast vineyards stretching before my eyes. I hadn't been able to appreciate how enormous and beautiful the place was last night because it had already been dark. But now, with the beautiful morning sunlight blanketing the entire area, I couldn't help but marvel at the breathtaking scenery. I wondered if Greyson's family owned the entire vineyard. If they did, then that guy was seriously wealthy. "This is a lovely sight to wake up to," I remarked before taking a sip of the coffee she had brought. "Yeah, and I'm truly grateful that I get to start every day of my life with this view." She took the seat across from me. "I forgot to introduce myself last night, but you can call me Annette." I shifted my gaze from the vineyard to her. She had a very friendly aura, and I could tell she was genuinely kind. But for some reason, a part of me was reluctant to trust her. I didn't mean to be rude, but when it came to people, I always trusted my instincts. I could sense that she was being cautious around me, as though she-or perhaps everyone here-was hiding something. "My name is Laviñia," I introduced myself. "Yeah, I saw that when you filled out the registration form yesterday. That's a very rare name nowadays," she commented. "By the way, I'm curious. What exactly happened to your stomach?" I slowly placed my coffee cup back on the tray. This woman really was something. "I got shot," I answered simply. I didn't see any reason to lie. It was pretty obvious that my injury was caused by a bullet. Her eyes immediately sparkled with curiosity at my answer. "I won't ask why or how it happened because I'm pretty sure you don't want to tell anyone about it." She stood up from her chair. "But if you ever feel like opening up, you know where to find me." I simply nodded and smiled in response. It wasn't that I wasn't ready to tell her about what had happened. I just genuinely believed she shouldn't get involved in whatever mess I was dealing with right now. I watched her as she made her way back inside the inn. She was almost at the entrance when she suddenly stopped. She turned around sharply. My eyebrows furrowed. Her eyes weren't fixed on me but on something behind me. To say she looked shocked would be an understatement. She appeared completely terrified. I was about to stand up and approach her when I heard a warning growl from behind me. My eyes widened. That explained her reaction. Slowly, I turned around to see what was waiting behind me. I instinctively took a small step backward when I came face-to-face with a massive white wolf. The white wolf growled at my movement, as if warning me not to move another inch. It was absolutely gorgeous, with its pristine white fur looking incredibly soft. However, I couldn't bring myself to admire its beauty when it was staring at me as though I were its next meal. My heart nearly leaped out of my chest as the wolf began advancing toward me. I took another cautious step backward, but it released another warning growl, forcing me to freeze. I stood completely still as the white wolf slowly closed the distance between us. It was barely a meter away when another wolf suddenly tackled it to the ground. I screamed at the sight of the two wolves fighting. The newcomer was considerably smaller than the white wolf. A part of me wanted to run away, but I couldn't bring myself to leave when I saw the gray wolf struggling beneath the larger one. "Laviñia, let's go!" I heard Annette shouting from the inn's entrance. Her voice finally snapped me out of my trance. I turned toward her as she quickly crossed the distance between us and grabbed my arm. "Let's go!" she urged, attempting to pull me toward the open door. Her eyebrows furrowed when I didn't move. "Laviñia?" My eyes remained fixed on the two wolves as the white one sank its canines into the gray wolf's neck. I must have been losing my mind because instead of running away with Annette, I pulled my arm free from her grasp and walked toward the fighting wolves. "Stop it!" I hissed. My voice immediately caught the attention of the white wolf. It lifted its head from the poor creature beneath it and turned its gaze toward me. Its jaws released the gray wolf, who immediately cowered and collapsed onto the ground, struggling to stand. Blood was oozing from its neck. Without thinking twice, I rushed toward the injured wolf and gently cradled its head on my lap. I heard the white wolf growling behind me. I turned around and shot it an angry glare. "You are a bad dog!" I scolded. The wolf stared at me as though I had deeply offended it. It took a step toward me, but I immediately raised my hand, motioning for it to stop. "You're not taking another step toward us!" I had no idea where I got the courage to do that. I was more concerned about the gray wolf dying if we couldn't get it to the nearest veterinarian in time. Thankfully, the white wolf stopped moving and simply sat in front of us. It seemed content to remain there, glaring hatefully at the injured creature. "Annette, you need to call a vet!" I turned toward Annette, who was still standing frozen in place, staring at me. "B-but..." "Now!" My voice came out much more commanding than I had expected. Annette immediately rushed toward the open door, probably to call the veterinarian. I heard the white wolf huff behind me. I raised an eyebrow at it. It was looking at me with an irritated expression, as though it was the one being inconvenienced here. We remained in that position for almost five minutes until the white wolf suddenly became tense. It stood up and turned its attention toward the open doorway. I finally breathed a sigh of relief when Greyson emerged from the entrance, followed by two men. One of them, I assumed, was the veterinarian. "Greyson!" I could clearly see the relief in his eyes when he spotted me. He was about to take a step toward me when the white wolf suddenly stood in front of me, seemingly shielding me from Greyson. Greyson's gaze immediately sharpened at its actions. I allowed the two men to approach and carefully carry the injured gray wolf onto the waiting stretcher. The poor creature whimpered in pain as they lifted it. I turned my attention back to Greyson. "I'm glad you arrived in time. I was afraid the wolf would die before the doctor got here." I stood up from the dirty ground. A grimace crossed my face when I noticed the bloodstains on my clothes. This was going to be a nightmare to wash. I was about to approach Greyson when the white wolf suddenly blocked my way. Greyson's expression darkened even further. I couldn't help but reach out and caress the wolf's soft fur. To my surprise, it purred in response. "So cute!" I exclaimed while running my fingers through its beautiful white coat. "Vinnie, stop it!" I lifted my gaze toward Greyson. "He looks harmless," I argued. The wolf tilted its head toward me. Blood covered the fur around its mouth and snout. "Errgh... probably not that harmless," I added. Greyson's eyes suddenly turned murderous as he glared at the white wolf. "Leave now, Pyro! You've trespassed into my territory, nearly killed one of my warriors, and threatened the life of my mate!" I instinctively placed a hand over my chest at the intensity of Greyson's voice. Even the white wolf turned its attention toward him. The wolf growled at Greyson, and suddenly, the atmosphere around us became threatening. We were standing in an open area, yet for some reason, I was beginning to feel suffocated. It was as though the very air around us had turned poisonous. What confused me the most was how Greyson was talking to the wolf as if it could understand every word he said. Mate? Warrior? Territory? Was I missing something here? The wolf slowly advanced toward Greyson, seemingly challenging him. Meanwhile, Greyson looked absolutely furious. I wasn't sure what I was supposed to do, but I was certain I didn't want to witness a man and a wolf fighting each other right in front of me. I slowly bent down until I was at eye level with the white wolf. "You little wolfie, let's go ahead and clean your fur." The wolf's eyes shifted toward me. In a matter of seconds, its murderous aura completely disappeared, replaced by a calm and almost serene demeanor. I lifted my gaze toward Greyson, but before I could say anything, he suddenly grabbed my arm. He roughly pulled me to my feet. "Get the hell away from that mutt!" he snapped, his voice laced with irritation. My eyebrows furrowed while the white wolf snarled at him. "What the hell is your problem, Greyson?" I asked in confusion. Instead of answering, he pulled my hand away from the wolf's reach and dragged me toward the inn. Although I was surprised by his behavior, I didn't resist. My gaze briefly dropped to our joined hands. A strange tingling sensation spread across my skin wherever his palm touched mine. I glanced over my shoulder at the white wolf, who was staring intently at us. Its eyes were burning with anger, but it made no attempt to attack. It remained seated in its spot until Greyson and I disappeared inside the inn. Greyson's expression remained dark as we walked down the hallway leading to my room. My eyebrows furrowed. Did he actually know where my room was? As if answering my unspoken question, he stopped directly in front of my door. He opened it and pulled me inside. "How did you know this was my room?" I asked quietly. That seemed to stop him from dragging me any farther. He released my hand and fixed his intense gaze on me. "I just know," he answered, as though that was a perfectly reasonable explanation for his strange behavior. "Stay here." He was about to leave when I reached out and grabbed his hand. He stopped and looked at me, the frown never leaving his face. "You can't hurt that wolf!" I said firmly. "You have no idea." He gave me a stern look that, under different circumstances, I would have found incredibly hot. "Then give me an idea. You're scaring me!" I insisted. To my disappointment, instead of explaining what was happening, he simply pulled his hand away from mine. "I'll deal with that mutt first. Then we'll talk." His tone left no room for argument before he finally walked out of the room. I was left staring blankly at the closed door. All I could do was release a deep sigh before walking toward my bed. What a wonderful way to start my morning.