"Easier said than done, what if I bite too hard? I don't want to hurt them." Eva gave a huff of laughter; at least, I hope it was laughter.

"Seriously? That is the most erotic thing you can do to a Wolf, the nibbles, the play bites, and the marking bites!" Eva howled, "It's amazing! If you really want to rile them up, you should let them chase you. Holy cow, you need to do that. Wolves love the hunt, and then BAM, you get done on the forest floor." Eva howls again.

Who is this Wolf?

Shaking my head, I stood up, looking around the meadow. As short as the conversation was with Eva, it was a cultural difference we were dealing with here. Wolves did things differently, but that doesn't mean I will let anyone walk all over me. I call the shots, not some wolf that just entered my body. At least we had talked things out, for now. I'm sure many other difficulties will come up later. However, I really wanted to go home. I didn't want to be stuck in this purgatory anymore. Eva, sensing my stress, licked my hand and nodded her head to follow her. As I walked behind her, we walked out of the meadow. The low-lying fog covered the crunching of the leaves, giving it a somber feeling.

"This is where every Wolf goes when we are not out fighting or running with our humans. It's beautiful, tranquil, and a place of rest. We can see what you see and experience those same feelings no matter where we are. We can talk to you, give you encouragement, and yes, sometimes we come forth when you don't want us to."

"Like Dax did when he half shifted?"

"Exactly. If a Wolf of our own is in trouble, especially a mate, it is the Wolf's drive to protect the pack or their mate. I would never forcefully come out of you unless that happened. You would want it to happen anyway if you had a mate in danger."

We continued to walk until there was a small clearing. Sticks were pushed away, and a large blanket with pillows was covered at the base of the tree. "Couldn't let you sleep on the ground, could I?" Eva's maw came up into a smile. "Come sit with me, Seraphina." Eva's playful voice became a motherly tone in an instant. No more of the sassy Wolf I first encountered. Laying on the blanket, my face met hers.

"You are strong, Seraphina. You have been strong for a long time, but now we rely on each other. Our mates, our parents, are here to help. You will never have to be alone again, and you will never get caught by that terrible man." I sniffed and rubbed a bit of tears, trying to escape. "I could tell this to you a million times, and you won't believe me, but we all love you. Selene loves you too, and you have been welcomed into a powerful royal family. Peace will come, and you and your mates will have you happily ever after." I heaved a heavy sob. I just wanted to go back. I was done sleeping here.

Since living on my own for just one year changed me that much? Then again, I did live in fear when I was younger. I always stayed out of my ‘father’s’ way and listened to every commanding word he said. I wasn't completely messed up, was I?

"You think too much,' Eva complained. "Look at the future; the past is gone. Time to make a new life for ourselves. After we rip off every single one of those mafia pieces of shit."

"You know," I took my hand and petted the black mask between her eyes. "For a horny Wolf, you give great advice." Eva's chest puffed out.

"You think so?" Giggling, I laid my arm on the ground, resting my head against it.

"I know so. And we will have our time to kick some ass too."

"Thank the goddess!" She yelled exasperatedly.

Eva curled up around my body, my eyes becoming too heavy for me to force them open any longer. I fell into a short sleep, when I mean short, it was insanely quick because when I opened my eyes again, my face was buried in a hard chest. The slow, heavy breathing tried to lull me back to sleep, but I shook it away, wanting to know who I was sleeping with.

Then I smelled it; it was the old whisky that had surrounded me. Large yawns blew through my hair, and Dimitri pulled me to his chest tighter. "Dimitri?" I whispered right above his heart. Dimitri's body stiffened; holding me close, he looked down. His electric blue eyes were now a steel blue, not as vibrant as before.

"Dimitri, what's wrong?" Being pulled into his mighty chest, he kissed my forehead repeatedly. "Well, nice to see you too!" I laughed.

"Gods, we thought you were so mad you wouldn't wake up. We were so worried."

"Huh? Why wouldn't I?" Dimitri ran his hand through his messy hair. Dax just woke up, pulling me by my hips making me the little spoon. "Seraphina," he whispered, kissing my ear.

"What is going on? Why are you acting like that?" I asked, concerned.

"We fucked up, we let our Wolves take over," Dimitri sat up in bed; his hand never left my body, that I may disappear forever.

"All of our Wolves got a little rough, not just you guys. I'm pretty sure Eva started it all too. She's been reprimanded, and it won't happen again except under dire circumstances."

"So you aren't mad?" Dax whined. "No, Bambi," I cooed." I'm not mad at you or Dimitri. A little upset about the Wolves, but that is what being part animal is about, right? Trying to control your animal's desires? I have to say this is going to be tough."

I was pulled into a giant bear hug, rocking me back and forth while someone started tickling me. "Oh! Gods stop!" I screamed, but the tickling got worse until we heard a knock on the door.

"We need locks," I whispered to Dax, and he started laughing.

"Our parents said the same thing; now all the castle doors have some sort of lock on them," Dimitri interlaced our fingers together.

"I don't know if I needed to hear that," I joked.

"We will get some locks once we head back home," Dax responded after a few rounds of laughter. "Then no one will disturb anything that we do." Dax nibbled my ear, pulling it lightly.

Home, he speaks of a home so much; I hope my mom decides to follow us and go to a new world. A home with new people, new adventures. Away from my stepfather, away from old memories. My mom and I could start over; she could build a new family with her mate and actually be happy. All those years she suffered trying to keep me safe, she deserved it. She deserved so much more.