The next morning, I didn't wake up to an alarm clock like I usually do but just woke up on my own.

There was a clock sitting on the stand beside me and it read 7:50 am. It usually is around the time I wake up. The sun already peaked above the horizon, the window covered in foggy mist from the cold outside, and it being warm inside.

This all felt like a dream.

The covers felt warm on my skin, my body warmth still lingering in the sheets. The queen sized bed was definitely enough room and the most comfortable thing I have ever slept on in my life.

Swinging my legs over the bed, the floor felt cool against my bare feet. I stood up with my arms stretched behind my head and my back arched with the anticipated relief of my muscles. I slept good, much like how Adrian said he hoped I would.

It's early in the morning, which means there's plenty of time to make breakfast. And I'm sure i'll get to eat with him too.

Making my way to the door, I checked myself in the mirror. I looked the same as last night but needed to smooth my edges down a bit. Perks of having really curly hair.

The door easily opened not making a sound. I turned down the hallway going past Adrian's room and could hear his faint snores. He was still sleeping.

That's good.

A part of me wanted him to still be sleeping anyways because I didn't want him to ask about my scars. I know he had to see them. There's no doubt about it. Adrian already knows what they did to me but he doesn't know everything that they've done to me. And I wanted to keep it that way for a little bit.

Trying to remember where the kitchen was while I was going down the stairs, I realized that there was no one in the house. I thought that maybe, with the return of this packs alpha, that they'd be around somewhere just to see it for themselves that yes, he was back.

And I'm glad he was. Adrian seems loved by his pack from what I've seen so far and I haven't seen that much. Also, if he didn't come back, I wouldn't have this. He could've ditched me somewhere and he didn't. I'm very grateful for that.

This breakfast can show my appreciation.

It didn't take me long to find the kitchen and I immediately spotted the cupboards beside the stove, looking for some pans to cook everything with. Finding them, I placed them on the counter and went to the fridge to look for some eggs and bacon. The fridge was just about empty, only harboring some juice and a few energy drinks.

What did he eat everyday. Did he even eat breakfast?

Closing the fridge, I opened up some more cupboards to see if there was any food at all. There was some cereal and a few ramen and chip bags.

He lives like he's in college. Can alphas still go to college? Would they have time for it st-

"What are you doing up so early?" My thoughts were broken by a sleepy, raspy voice.

I jumped or really jolted, and turned around to see Adrian standing at least 3 feet away from me. He looked like he just woke up. His hair messy and tousled and falling into his eyes. Other parts were sticking up in different directions too. His eyes were droopy and he yawned. But all of this didn't take my attention away from the fact that he didn't have a shirt on.

I wanted him to put one on.

There he was, standing in all glory as if he wasn't self conscious at all with his toned abs and skin. I guess I can see why he wouldn't feel that way with how he looked but still, I could never be that confident with my body.

Usually in this situation, if a guy came to me with his shirt off anywhere back at the old pack, it usually meant that they wanted to touch me or, the other things i mentioned. Of course that never happened, because of Sirs orders or Liam's intervention. It's like he knew every time.

With Adrian it felt different. Way different. I'm attracted to him and not that much afraid. I say that much cause I still don't really know him and I hate myself for it. I want to get to know him more and with doing so, I feel like I can trust him a lot more. Especially with what happened last night. I wanted to be comfortable enough to tell him about everything but I couldn't. We've only known each other for a few weeks..

Turning around really fast, I could already feel the blood running to my cheeks.

"U-um, I-I was just going to m-make you breakfast." I'm back to stuttering.

"Kayla you know you don-"

I interrupted him, "I w-was trying to but y-you have no food in the fridge.. or anywhere." I trailed off quietly. This was supposed to be my thank you to him. I should've expected something like this to happen. And i was in a way afraid that if I didn't make him breakfast, he might get mad.

I know Sir was wrong in many aspects, and he always made me make food or do stuff for him if he ever did anything good for me. Like intervene with some of the males in the pack, but in return would want me to do the same stuff with Liam if he wanted. Like I was some toy.

"Well you probably think so since I was missing for a few weeks. Someone probably came and took the food out so it wouldn't spoil." Adrian laughed quietly before making his was over to me. I backed away further into the cupboards with my head down. His upper body making me uncomfortable just being this close to a masterpiece.

He stopped before getting to close to me, giving me my "personal bubble" as many have called it. Peering up at him, he looked conflicted, like he had to stop himself but he didn't really want too.

"And don't think you have to make breakfast for me. I'm the one that takes care of you." Adrian backed a little further away from me.

"No one takes care of me."

"I am. And I will keep on doing it."

There was an awkward silence between us. I really didn't know what to say to that. He'd keep doing it?

This is different.

I wanted to look up at him for confirmation, but didn't want to get distracted or made fun of for staring. I knew I would.

Randomly I blurted,"Can you put a shirt on?" My conscience got the best of me.

A sudden burst of laughter sounded, breaking the air from the previous awkward silence. "Was it bothering you that much?." I tucked my hair behind my ear still not looking at him. A habit that I've come accustomed to.

"I'll tell you what. I'll run upstairs to put a shirt on and grab you a pair of my sweatpants and I'll take you out to breakfast. Just you and me. Sound good?" I realized that our situations were opposite. He had pants, i didn't. But I had the shirt. Any exposed skin could raise some questions. My legs shared similar qualities with my other scars.

"Kayla.. are you okay with that?" Adrian asked, looking at my face for any taste of an answer.

"Yes. I'm looking forward to it," sincerely speaking, I looked away from him trying to clear the awkward moment of me just blatantly daydreaming.

"Okay.." he showed me a bright smile. He gave me a once over before he turned around and his back muscles clenched while he lightly jogged upstairs.

Every minute I spend with him was starting to get more dangerous.

I woke up to her scent.

It was strong, it trailing down the hallway towards the stairs. She's somewhere down there.

I looked over at my alarm clock and saw that it was 8 in the morning, to early to be up at all. So shy was she?

Swinging the covers off my body, I sold on a pair of loose shorts and rushed out of my room just to see her again. She was absolutely beautiful and I couldn't get her off my mind for these past few weeks that I've known her.

Yesterday gave me a whole other perspective of Kayla. How much she truly has been put through. While being definitely underweight and malnourished and so sheltered, she still. It all wasn't fair for her. She shouldn't have deserved any of that. But worst of all she's been abused worse than what I originally thought.

There were so many scars running down her back, her spine and ribs were clearly shown too. There were old and new scars all along her back. Residing there. Forever.

Everything that they did to her makes me sick. And I can't imagine what I would be feeling when she tells me everything. If she tells me everything.

And I still has a lot of explaining to do.

I followed her scent downstairs to find her going through the fridge and cupboards with a confused look on her face, probably wondering why I don't have any food.

Making myself known I asked, "What are you doing up so early?" My voice was raspy, spoken with sleep.

Kayla jumped obviously not expecting me to be standing behind her. She was so cute.

"U-um, I-I was just going to m-make you breakfast," she stuttered. Is she scared of me again?

"Kayla, you know you don-"

She interrupted me, " I w-was trying to but y-you have no food in the fridge.. or anywhere." She wasn't looking at me but instead looked everywhere but me. I know she felt uncomfortable, but I want her to know that there's no way I could ever be mad at her. How could anyone?

"Well, you'd probably think so since I was missing for a few weeks. Someone probably came and took the food out so it wouldn't spoil." I moved a little close to her, really really, wanting to feel her touch again. But she probably wouldn't even let me now. Reason being from yesterday in the bathtub and I can't use the fact that I'd benefit from it like I did back when those assholes captured me. I needed to tell her that we were mates. Soon.

Kayla moves further away from me putting as much distance as she could between us. It was hurtful I'll admit but she doesn't know better. It's partially my fault, and her experience with guys wasn't the best. I know that.

"And don't think you have to make breakfast for me. I'm the one that takes care of you." Her shoulders relaxed when I took a step away from her.

"No one takes care of me."

"I am. And I will keep on doing it."

It pained me that she truly thought this way. It's like she was brainwashed into thinking a certain way because of how she's grown up. I couldn't stop thinking about what she said— that they had her for 10 years.

I took it upon myself to admire how beautiful she was right now. Her hair was still pulled up and her skin was already glowing from last night. She also looked so tiny in my shirt. Again she was so cute.

"Can you put a shirt on?" She asked

That would probably explain a little bit of why she could've been uncomfortable. I have to think that she's not used to this. Even talking to a male in a nice way is a whole new feeling for her. And it also could be worse since we are mates and she doesn't know it yet, but it still affects her.

Nonetheless her sudden bluntness caused me to laugh, "Was it bothering you that much love? If you asked earlier I would've done it." I wanted to hug her and kiss her all over right now. But know that I'm not close to that point yet, and I'm definitely willing to wait for her. I'll do anything for her.

"I'll tell you what. I'll run upstairs and put a shirt on and grab you a pair of my sweatpants and I'll take you out to breakfast. Just you and me. Sound good?"

She blushed. A lot. I'm already effecting her in the way that I should. In the way mates should.

Cutting her out of her daydream, "Kayla.. are you okay with that?" I asked.

"Yes. I'm looking forward to it." I'm glad.

"Okay.." Smiling at her, I jogged back upstairs to go "put a shirt on." Up to this point, I don't know what I would be doing if she wasn't in my life right now. Kayla's already my everything.

And I want to be hers.

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