"What are you doing?" Judith whispered to Ryan who hugged her waist before turning her around to face him.

"Shh, I missed you" He replied and took her lips in his.

"This is not the place for - " Judith who had pulled away from the kiss had her words swallowed again.

They both were so immersed in their passion that Ryan didn't hear the Alpha coming until he was dragged away by the collar.

Judith was surprised but burst into laughter when he saw her mate being manhandled by Daniel.

Yeah, the news was shocking. But it was astonishing, how they had found each other before discovering they were mates.

"How's the arrangement going?" Daniel asked his beta who had a sullen look on his face.

Yeah, he could relate. Staying away from their mate was like stopping an addiction, it was hard to live with.

Right now, he wished to just have Lia in his arms and show her how much she meant to him but he had to be patient - It was tomorrow, a whole three days with her.

His biggest torment would be stopping his wolf from taking control and taking their mate - he has to put on the whole armor of control.

Yes, it was true Lia belongs to both of them - he and his wolf - but he was the master while his wolf was in

Submission to him and that was what he had to teach his mate - how to put her wolf into submission.

"Their living quarters has been taken care of "

"Good" Daniel complimented him, taking a seat in the swivel chair in his office.

"What about the girl, would she - ?"

"She would stay with me "

"Wouldn't that raise envy and suspicion amongst her classmates?" Ryan expressed his fears.

"Don't worry about that, I have everything prepared for tomorrow. The only thing you should worry about is security"

"There hasn't been any movement from Tristan's pack "

"Trust me, he wouldn't move now. The best time to strike would be after the students arrive in the village "

"Harming humans? Isn't he afraid of offending the council?"

Daniel took a deep breath, "That's the problem, I don't know what's going on in that head of his "

"He wouldn't dare "

"Still, strengthen the security at the border " Daniel reminded him, "Also, Asher would be sending his men too for extra security, they would come alongside the students "

Ryan's nose scrunched up in disgust.

"Welcome them warmly" Daniel added, "Please" but it sounded more like an order than a request.

Unlike him who was now buddies with Asher, his pack was not yet receiving towards vampires due to their bad blood.

Moreover, during history, vampires and werewolves were natural enemies; they were each other's nemesis.

If it wasn't for the fact Mates was quite a delicate and sensitive issue between species, he would have gotten rid of Asher long ago and kept Lia for himself- the winner takes it all.

"I just hope they behave "

"They would behave if you don't provoke them" Daniel pinned his beta with his knowing look.

Ryan looked away with a guilty expression - the alpha already knew what he was thinking.

Werewolves were prideful, hormonal, and temperamental aasholes who would try to show their dominance.

Daniel was sure, two or three fights would break out before the field trip was over - he was prepared for it.

"Fine, let them come"Ryan gave in, yet the anticipatory gleam in his eyes couldn't be hidden.

Meanwhile...

"Mom, are you going to sign the slip or not?" Lia asked for the umpteenth time.

"I'm still thinking" Her mom responded.

"You can't seriously be thinking when the event is tomorrow" Lia was bewildered.

All students were expected to submit that slip as evidence of their parent's or guidance's consent before entering the bus that would take them to Kinney village.

Though Lia could forge her signature or get Asher to help her out, she doesn't want her mom tracking her down to Kinney because she didn't grant her permission to leave - that would be so embarrassing.

"Isn't Kinney village where your boyfriend lives?"

"Ugh" Lia rolled her eyes vexed, "Mom, I'm going for a field trip not honeymoon"

"Your boyfriend is the chief of the village you're about to go for a field trip, he could use his influence to -"

"Mom, nothing is going to happen between Daniel and me! And even if something does happen, I'm an adult and old enough to take responsibilities for my actions "

"Tell her sister!" Rex who was working on his homework cheered her on.

"You don't understand, I don't want you to end up like me " She spoke out her concerns.

Jenny finished high school, but the same couldn't be said for her university education because she was heavy with a baby - her daughter, Lia.

"Mom, if you're that worried about me, just give me a pack of protection"

"A Pack?!" Jenny was bewildered while

Lia's mouth twitched, her mom was hyping her words - She requested a pack, just for extra protection so Jenny could be at ease.

Who knew she would misunderstand her?

Jenny's eyes were wide, "How active are you two?"

"Why use protection? I'm in urgent need of a cousin" Rex chimed in, eliciting a glare from both mother and daughter.

Was this loyal idiot dousing out the fire or adding more fuel to the flames?

Lia understood her mother's concern, as the first and only daughter, her mother had high expectations for her. Getting pregnant in high school? that

was not her plan for her daughter!

"Mommm" Lia whined, throwing a childish tantrum.

"Fine," Jenny gave in at last," You're very hard to resist, " She told her daughter who was jolly with excitement, watching her mother sign the slip.

"Here "

Lia took the paper from her mother, kissed her on the cheeks, "I love you mom, thanks a lot" and ran into her room, throwing herself on the bed.

Problem solved, her next objective: Visit Asher for her punishment.

Trevor was still not talking to her and though she pretended not to give a damn about his opinion, it still hurt her.

Well, after the field trip, she would have a heart to heart discussion with him.

Lia stayed awake till everyone was asleep before sneaking out of the house. She just hoped to God that the dummy she constructed on her bed was enough to fool her mom if she did check up on her during her absence.

Asher it seems was prepared for her tonight, the moment she was about to ring the doorbell, the door was opened on the inside.

"Wow! " Was all she muttered at his readiness.

"Come in " He opened the door for her the way a true gentleman would.

Lia looked around and was startled to discover that the damages from yesterday had all been repaired. It didn't look like there was any damage at all - the power of money.

"A beautiful flower for a beautiful lady," He said with this sultry tone and brought a beautiful yellow flower to her view.

But just when she thought he would give it to her, Asher lifted the flower and put it in her hair, just over her ear.

"Beautiful" He exclaimed, his eyes gleaming with pride while she blushed furiously, why was he being so cheesy tonight?

"You're weird tonight "she observed

"How so?"

"Am I not here for my punishment?"

His lips lifted, "What type of punishment were you expecting, then ?"

Her cheeks became red," I-I.. I-I..d don't understand" she stammered miserably.

His hands snaked around her waist and pressed her against the length of his body, her heart skipped a beat.

"Liar" He accused her, his hand trailing down the small of her back, "You're just too shy to say it " he whispered into her ears, grazing his canines briefly against the top of her ears.

Lia's heart was slamming against her chest, this was a slow seduction and he was enjoying every bit of it.

"Asher" She called him breathlessly.

"Hmm?" He made a deep sound from his throat while dropping butterfly kisses on her neck.

She said in sharp gasps, "My legs are weak, I don't think I can stand much longer "

He chuckled, the sound a music to her ears, "Who said anything about standing? "

Eyes closed, eyes closed; she was in his room. How did he ….oh, he sped.

He sat upright on the bed, relaxing against the headboard with her on his laps. The room was dimly light with colored light giving a romantic ambiance to the room.

Her body was on fire, her mother was worried about Daniel - if only she knew there was another person she had to look out for.

Lia met his eyes full of desire and shivered, he was undressing her with his dark orbs.

" Lia "

Even the way he called her name sent tingles down her spine.

"I want to love you tonight "

" But you - "

"Shhhh" He silenced her with his finger, letting it stay there as he finished the rest of his speech.

"There are several other ways I could satisfy you without the full-on mating "

Her eyes widened, of course, she wasn't a novice.

He let go of her lips slowly.

"Do you trust me ?"

"Yes," She answered without a doubt.

" Then let's begin "