I push around the carrots, peas, and the strange meat that’s on the food tray they slid under the door today. It looks like shit and I’d have to be desperate to eat it. I pick it up and slide it back under the door, before going back to my daily pacing. It’s been three days since they threw me into this room, the same one East was kept in. The sheets even still smell like him, and I know Alaric put me in here on purpose, as a reminder he had East locked up or maybe a reminder that he is hunting East. It doesn’t matter, because I have to believe he’s safe.

Jumping when I hear the sound of a key turning, I force myself to stand still as the door opens. Mr Daniels walks in slowly as I let my eyes trail over him. His clothes are wrinkled, his hair is messy and his eyes look tired, he looks nothing like he usually does, but exactly how I expected him to be. He lost his sister, and my heart hurts for him. I wish I could have been there when he found out. I wish I could change everything about that day so that his sister didn’t die the way she did.

“Shut the door and don’t disturb us,” Daniels tells the guard behind him, who nods and closes the door, as I keep my eyes focused on Mr Daniels. There’s a tense silence between us, neither of us saying a word as we just stare at each other.

“Why?” he finally asks, his voice cracking, and it breaks my heart to hear it. I’ve never seen Mr Daniels weak, or anything other than strong, and yet right now, it’s the only way to describe him.

“Why what?” I ask quietly, but my voice still seems louder than it should in the otherwise silent space.

“Why did you kill her?” he asks me, making me step back in shock, not expecting him to accuse me of that.

“You think I killed her?” I ask quietly, wondering how he could ever think that of me.

“Did you?” he asks. “I know you hated her, I know she would have gone after you first, but she was my little sister Mackenzie!” he shouts, looking away from me, “Who I just put into the cold ground. She’s dead, and—” he stops, his words just cutting off as if he can’t bear to say anymore.

“I’m sorry,” I mumble as I step closer, but he steps away from me, shaking his head and looking down at the ground.

“I need to know,” he asks so quietly, but it’s still a demand.

“Look at me,” I ask, stepping closer once more. He looks up from the ground, finally meeting my eyes. I almost want to look away when I see the hurt in them, the pain, but I don’t. He deserves for me to look at him, to be strong for him when he can’t be.

“I didn’t kill her, I tried to save her because my father told me he was going to. And he did anyway, despite how much I did try to save her and I hate myself for that,” I say, taking a deep breath. “I gave her every chance to escape, but in the end, she chose to side with my father. He killed her right in front of me,” I say, and he still doesn’t move or make a sound. I watch as a tear drops onto the floor; he wipes his hands over his face. Something clearly snaps, as he walks over to me, picking me up and slamming me into the wall. He holds his body close to mine, as he grabs my chin so I have to look at him.

“Why the fuck didn’t you call me? Let me know what was going on? I could have lost you both because you’re so stubborn,” he nearly shouts, the emotion in his eyes is hard to look away from and he won’t let me anyway. He wants me to feel this, his pain, his worry and most of all, his love. Even if he doesn’t say the words, because he can’t, I can see it. I can feel it. “You’re not alone anymore, we are here for you, and you need to be in this with us or we will lose everything. Don’t push me out, don’t rely on anyone else that doesn’t love you, because they will never protect you like I can. You can never trust them like you can trust me. I’m with you one hundred percent, Mackenzie Crowe,” he says and then he crushes his lips onto mine. Mr Daniels uses one hand to lift my ass, pulling me against him as his other hand slides into my hair, controlling the kiss. I reach down, pulling his shirt up and he breaks the kiss to let me pull it off him and my eyes widen at his sculpted chest, the little scars that I can see trailed across it, and the v shape that dips into his pants. That’s the only pause we have as we kiss again, our lips harshly battling against each other, as all the frustration we have built up pours out. Mr Daniels pulls my shirt off, pushing down my jeans and underwear in one go. He unclips my bra seconds later, breaking away from my lips as he kisses down my neck and towards my breasts. I moan when he teases me, kissing around the nub before sucking it into his mouth and moving to the next one as he puts his knee between my legs, rubbing against me. He doesn’t spend long with my breasts as I slide my hand into his trousers and pull him out, feeling how hard he is.

“Mackenzie, tell me to stop and—” he gasps, placing his forehead on my shoulder as I stroke him.

“Don’t you dare fucking stop, Daniels,” I say, making him chuckle as he carries me over to the bed. He undoes his trousers, climbing over me and I pull him closer as I kiss him. He slides into me in one harsh, long, and amazing stroke, making my back arch in pleasure.

“You’re mine now, Mackenzie,” he whispers in an almost growl against my lips, as he keeps thrusting in and out of me. His hand slides down my stomach towards my core, rubbing my clit in perfect circles—driving me insane with the pleasure.

“Daniels,” I moan as he bites down on my neck, and sucking on a spot that I love. I lose control as he makes me come. He quickly follows me, slamming into me so hard that the bed slams against the wall with every thrust, before I feel him finish inside me, and he presses his lips agianst mine as he groans my name.

“This is us now, together. All of us, no more secrets,” he says a little breathless.

“All of us?” I ask, needing him to understand.

“I know you love them, and I like them...okay some of them in smaller doses than others, but I like that they love you. They will protect you when I can’t,” he says, sliding out of me, but keeping his body on top of mine as I trace the pain mark on his ribs.

“You never told me your first name, it feels weird to even ask now,” I say, making him laugh. He goes to answer me just as the door is opened. I quickly grab the blanket, covering myself, when I see Logan walk into the room, holding keys and smoke trailing in after him. His eyes widen as he looks between us, before grinning and leaning against the wall.

“Time to leave, naughty student-teacher time will have to continue later,” he says, making me laugh a little, while Mr Daniels glares at him as he pulls his trousers up.

“One, not a real teacher. Two, what the fuck are you talking about?” he asks, getting off the bed.

“The council is attacking the base, and Kenzie’s father is distracted. It’s time to leave,” he explains and then a loud alarm rings throughout the place.

“What the hell is that?”

“Oh, I blew up the science labs,” Locke answers as he comes into the room and stares at me, and then Mr Daniels for a second before grinning.

“Sexy teacher time?” Locke comments.

“That’s what I said,” Logan says and then high fives Locke.

“Small doses, very small fucking doses,” Mr Daniels mutters, making me laugh as I slide out from the bed and quickly grab my clothes.