"Care to explain?"

Landon paced in front of me, a frown etched deep into his features. I only sometimes saw him like this; all unkempt and frazzled. Not to mention his distractingly bare torso and lose fitting pyjama pants.

But that's hardly the major subject that needs to be covered at this point.

I sat in some sort of lounge room. It was quaint, dressed in red velvet features. What was seemingly eye catching was the frame strung on the wall. It was of Landon and I, when we were younger. Mother had taken it, but I don't know how he managed to get his paws on it. But I wondered briefly whether or not his father had asked him to take it down yet.

"There is nothing to explain..." he dismissed, folding his hands over each other, and resting his chin in them while he continued to walk back and forth across the fur rug with his bare feet. I gave him a deadpan look, wishing I could look inside that head of his. Did he seriously think I would dismiss this, and walk home without an explanation? Does he not know me at all?

"Nothing to explain? You won't even tell me why you have underground holding cells?" I question. Having experienced these first hand pushed my frustration to get it into Landon's head. He looked especially pained by this, like he was fighting some sort of eternal war. Don't tell me he's the one dictating this...

"Those cells hold bad people Althea. They are there to stop them hurting people like you," he stated. Damn, he sounded so reasonable right now, and I had no argument to retort back with. I hate it when he uses his logic to overpower anything; it makes me feel inferior to him. But still, I will always be the one to question his judgement.

"So what, someone walks into your 'territory' and all hell breaks loose? You lock them up underground in some filthy cell with a possible serial killer?"

That should do it, or at least I hope it will.

Landon sighs and walks over to where I sit, kneels down. He had allowed me to shower, even in these early hours of the morning, before he demanded some answers to my questions. I was wrapped up in a mink blanket, watching his every dangerous move.

"It was for the Royals’ safety... we can't just have anyone walk in," he explained. He was giving me that look. The look that meant 'shut up and listen to he me Althea, I am the reasonable one here' that I see all too often. It always came back to being the damn Alpha of this joint.

"Am I, anyone?" I asked, sounding pettier than intended. I just wanted Landon to explain to me why I had to undergo that. Landon sighed and grabbed my hands between his own, running his fingers across the top of my hand. He seemed troubled, looking straight into my eyes.

"You can come here whenever you want," he answered softly. Except when his father is around. Thank Goddess he's probably asleep right now, or else I would have remained in those cells for the rest of the night till either my family, or Cyrus would bail me out.

"I came here to ask you about that note that you wrote," I stated, and he nodded. I was here, in front of him. He had seen me, now what? It made me nervous to think about what was going to be said between us. I didn't want to break our friendship up at the seams, but looking at his face, I see a glimpse of someone different.

"I wanted to invite you to a lunch, later in the week," he exclaimed, taking me by such surprised, I dropped his hands, my eyes widening. A lunch? That's what this is about. You're telling me I was locked up against my will to hear him ask me to lunch?

"Seriously," I question in disbelief. Had I heard wrong? Maybe fatigue is getting to me. What time is it? 3 AM maybe? He looked away, then back at me, nervously. He nodded slowly. I couldn't tell which one of us was the most awkward.

"Yes, I am attending a lunch with the Alpha of the Wisdom Pack, and since you're my friend, I wanted you to accompany me," he explained, giving me a tight smile.

I had heard only rumours about Alpha Alden of the Wisdom Pack. He wasn't feared like some Alpha's, but respected. His Pack was responsible for many technological creations that spread through many Packs. But his intelligence will be intimidating, I can tell already.

"You want me to come all the way to the Wisdom Pack with you?" I had to make sure he actually meant it first. You can never tell with an Alpha.

"Yes Althea. Alden insisted I invite you, and since invitations are plus one, I figured you would want to bring someone with you. Your father maybe?"

He looked uneasy, knowing I wasn't going to bring my father. Never in a million years. I felt my heart plummet to my feet. Cyrus had been talking about an opportunity to get into the Wisdom Pack. Maybe this was his chance...To talk first hand with the Alpha himself over a lunch.

But would Landon be mad? There's only one way to find out.

"You wouldn't mind if Cyrus comes, right?"

If he's picking up on how nervous I am, wringing my hands together and such, he doesn't show it. He stares at me blankly for a few painful moments, before shrugging carelessly.

"Should I mind?" He asks. I can sense some sort of play on words there, but I don't question too much. He doesn't need to be jealous.

"No... It’s just, it doesn't seem like you like him that much," I stutter. He shrugs again. He stands up straight again, turning on his heel to walk out the room. Confused, I stand also, and wander out after him. He was walking down the hallway, toward a flight of stairs.

"Landon, what are you doing?" I question, following him up the stairs. We were having an important conversation, and he decides it about the right time to just leave? Alpha's these days.

He continues to mindlessly lead me up the stairs. I've never really had the guts to wander around his home, so seeing this is new. But still, an uneasy feeling sets in. If his father sees me, I'll be in big trouble for sure. Landon doesn't seem to mind, ambling along carelessly.

"Up here," is all Landon says, pointing weakly to a door right at the end of the corridor. I briefly reminded myself that I do trust Landon, and that the fact we are beat friends hasn't changed. Maybe a little, but it's not like he's going to open the door, for me to keep walking and plummet into a pile of snakes or something.

But, he leads the way, opening the door and slipping in. He leaves it open partially, intending for me to follow. And I do so, wondering what game he's playing.

Turns out he has lead me into a bedroom. His bedroom I guess.

He holds the door open for me to enter, watching my every move. Nervously, I amble in. His room is massive compared to even my house. Mainly because of the high ceilings. Although, the walls are bland. Only a few portraits line the wall.

One was of him and his mother, before she passed. The other was of Landon and I when we were younger. I must have been thirteen and still figuring out my feels for Landon.

I turn back around, as I hear the click of the door. Landon stared at me, eyes no longer that warm brown colour I love, but cold and coal black. I have never seen him like this, but I have heard that Alpha's can get angry. This was more unnerving, because I could see the livid anger brewing under his skin.

"You're right Althea," he stated, making me shiver. It's not very often I hear him say my whole name. Al is a nickname he gave me when I was a lot younger. It's stuck since. But now, as I take a step back, I know this isn't friendly.

"I am?"

He nods.

"I hate Cyrus. Because he doesn't deserve to be with you," he proclaimed, his voice deadly soft. I swallowed, feeling my nerves bubble up in my throat. Why is he telling me this now? But I stayed quiet, wanting to hear what he had to say.

"In fact, I don't see why you want to be with him...to mate him," Landon spat, utter disgust and distain evident in his voice. I flinched, as he stepped closer. I matched his steps back, needing air to he able to think properly. I could smell his spicy scent from quite the distance already.

"Landon it's fine, he's fine," I tried to explain, my voice coming out desperate. Why can't he understand! He stalks forward, as I back up, till my spine hits the wall. I winch, but Landon doesn't take notice, till the tips of his feet touch mine. He looks at me, impassively.

"You can't love him, you need someone who you're more compatible with," he insisted. His arms moved suddenly, his palms slamming against the wall beside my head, his arms locked into place. He leant in, till I could smell his recently mouth-washed breath against my neck. I had my head turned, afraid of what might happen.

"You wouldn't know," I gritted out in frustration. Landon sighed, leaning in further till his soft lips pressed against my neck lightly, briefly, making me gasp. What is he doing?

"Trust me, I know exactly who you suit," he whispered. My hands remained pressed firmly against the wall, as I felt unsure of what to do. His words were chilling, leaving me reluctant, but wanting to move my hands to touch him, finally feel what it's like.

"Remember the night at your house after dinner?" He asked, his lips leaving soft kisses up to my ear. I shuddered, nodding. He smiled gently against my skin.

"I did want to kiss you."