Landon came back into the room, holding a towel.

"We can't just leave Cyrus out there," I insist. I sit on a chair in the kitchen, soaking wet. Landon had taken me inside despite my vicious protests. Cyrus is outside, needing urgent medical attention.

"He's dead Al," Landon grumbles. He kneels down in front of me, wiping my hair back with the towel. I don't care that I'm a mess...Sometimes when your emotions are too high, you don't even register the tears running down your face.

I push the towel away, which makes Landon growl. "You'll get sick if you kept this up."

"We can't just leave him out there though! What if he's actually alive, and we are letting him suffer?" I question, exasperated. Landon sighs, trying to wipe my bare legs of the dirt and water that recently covered them.

Once he had cleared all the dirt off my legs, he said, "My guards will get him in the morning."

"In the morning?" I question widely, completely shocked that he wouldn't see this from my perspective. I know Landon never liked him, but this is way too far, even for a protective Alpha.

His eyes darken.

"Althea, I don't think you understand-"

But I cut him off. "No, you don't understand."

Landon narrows his eyes. He throws the towel over my shoulders, but I shrug it off. He isn't listening, and it's getting on my nerves.

"You're in a lot of trouble Althea," he murmurs, standing up fully. Seeing him stand in front of me fully like that is nerve racking. Not because I think he will hurt me, but because he is so much taller than me, and asserts so much dominance.

"Stop saying that?" I demand. He furrows his brows in confusion.

"Stop saying my name like that. You're making it sound like..." I break off. I sound stupid.

He sighs, holding his hand out to me. I take it warily, letting him bring me to a stand. He engulfs me in a hug, despite the fact that my clothes are soaking wet. He doesn't care, so I embrace him gladly.

"I'm just worried about you Al," he mutters lowly, kissing my hair. I sigh out deeply. We are both stressed. I no deep down that Cyrus is dead, but I feel numb. It's like my mind hasn't accepted it yet, but my body has. I feel weak, drained almost. I just want to curl up into a ball and forget about the world and its entirety.

"What's going to happen now?" I ask warily. I don't want to know the answer because I already know. But maybe if I hear it come out of Landon's mouth, I might actually be able to believe it.

He sighs, running a hand down his face.

"Kaden," he mutters. I know that. Whatever tie Kace has to him, it's bound to be enough for him to get mad at me. And a mad, murderous Alpha isn't something I want to think about right now.

"Maybe he won't know for a while. It will give us time to get out of here," I say quickly, as if time really is about to be a major issue for us.

Landon looks conflicted. He doesn't look like he feels bad in the slightest. I don't blame him; I blame myself for not caring as well. I know later I will sit down and think about the real burden of Cyrus's death, but right now adrenaline pumps through my veins.

"And go where? I can't just abandon my Pack like that," he tells me. That's a good point. His father is retired now, and not just anyone can take over his role.

"Then I need to go," I say, my voice breathy. My heart drop at the thought of even considering it. Landon's face is instant disgust-not wanting me to run away either-but I am faced with little other choice. Landon grabs my hand in a firm grip.

"That's not an option," he tells me, his eyebrows furrowing together. He holds my face up, so I am forced to look in his eyes, and face the scared look that hides beneath them. "We are in this together remember, so there is no negotiation when I say that you are not going anywhere."

I smile. And for the first time in a while, I feel complete.

Landon, still holding my face pulled me closer, so that our lips met.

His lips pressed against mine are searing hot. A sudden moment of realization dawns on me. I am ready for Landon, and by the feel of it, he is too.

He picks me up and takes me upstairs. I am not aware of anything around me, until I am being lay on the soft surface out Landon and I's bed. He lays between my spread legs. I concentrate on his comforting green eyes I know so well.

"Don't be scared," he whispered in my ear. And I am not. How could I be when my first time is about to be with my best friend/mate?

He leaves soft kisses down my neck that make me shiver. Experimentally, I attempt to pull his shirt off, but he has to finish the job for me. I run the tips of my fingers down his muscular back.

He undresses me piece by piece, making sure I am comfortable with everything item that he rids from my body. The awe on his face is obvious, as he takes in my blushing figure. He may be my mate, but seeing him look at me still makes me nervous.

Taking some control, I roll Landon over so I am straddling his waist. I slid down his warm body, introducing myself to the rest of him that I haven't explored. His chest, his stomach. I fumble with the button and zip on his pants, so he helps me again.

Kaden is now out of my mind completely. And I am glad. This is a welcome distraction from reality.

Landon pulls me back up before I can explore further. He turns us around, so once again I am below him. We are both naked, and I try to come to terms about what is about to happen.

This could have been Cyrus and me if Landon had never mated me. I shiver at the thought.

"You can back out of this if you want," Landon says, nervously noticing my expression. I shake my head at him. There is no turning back now.

"Shut up and take me now Landon, and don't regret it," I whisper in his ear. He smiles, and thrusts in cautiously. Checking if I am okay, he thrusts again, more confidently.

At first, I feel pain, but his soft whispers in my ear, and the feeling of his fingers against my skin soothe me, and begin to feel myself enjoy it. I enjoy the feeling of him inside me for the first time ever. Now I feel complete.

And the feeling doesn't stop. It doesn't stop until it hits its peak. Landon hits his climax at the same time, as I call out his name, and moan in his ear. The feeling is like nothing I can ever explain, but it's more pleasure then I could ever imagine experiencing.

Landon rolls off of me, breathing heavily as he does so. I regain my breath, before rolling on my side to look at Landon. His face is covered in a slight sheen of sweat. He turns and smiles at me.

"I love you," I tell him confidently. And I mean it.

"I love you more."