After the interrogation of the alpha inquisition Winter needed to get some air. It was at least what she told herself. Maybe a part of her wanted to avoid seeing Alpha Arsen approach her.

The last thing she needed in this mess was a mate. What if he rejected her as well? She couldn't bear the thought. Winter was out of the room before someone could stop her. She made her way over towards the lake, she needed some time alone, time to think.

He was an alpha as well, what could that mean?

And what about Charlie?

Her pack?

A million question raced through her mind by the time she had reached the lake. She took a deep breath and then it hit her full force, the scent.

She inhaled deeply, the scent here was always something that calmed her down for as long as she could remember. The scent here at this place was the exact same scent as the alpha's. Winter took a seat on the soft moss, she removed her boots and dangled her feet in the water.

She closed her eyes, hoping all of this would go away. Maybe the cold water could wash away her sorrows and perhaps even these strange feelings. She felt how hot tears rolled over her cheeks and then she thought something funny.

Wouldn't it be nice to have someone to share all her responsibilities with?

Wouldn't it be nice to have a partner in all this?

Winter's train of thoughts was stopped as the scent around her became stronger, someone took place right next to her. She could feel it, her wolf started to pace around in her head. She carefully opened her eyes and looked out over the lake too afraid to turn her head because she knew damn well who caused that smell.

A soft warm hand brushed the tears from her cheek. The moment alpha Arsen touched her cheek electricity raged through her body, her wolf was highly on alert. She wanted to jump his wolf right away. But Winter collected herself.

"What are you doing?" she asked softly.

He knelt down beside her.

"Meeting my mate." He answered with a soft smile.

She had heard plenty of stories about him, he wasn't a nice or a good guy. The stories about him were almost as horrible as the stories about her. She studied the man, while his hand still rested on her cheek. Could it be that he was the same as her, everything for the pack?

"Why are you crying?" he asked.

"Aren't you happy that you have found me?" he asked.

"I am scared." She answered.

"You don't have to be scared. You Will become a good Luna for our pack" he said to reassure her.

Winter raised her eyebrows

"I am an alpha, maybe you can become a good Luna for our pack" she said with a smirk.

"Fight me" he challenged.

"Bite me" she answered.

"With pleasure mate."

Arsen's eyes had turned dark with desire and with that look on her Winter didn't know what to do, she felt how heat filled her core. He instinctively licked his lips and that turned Winter on even more.

His arms wrapped around her waist and he carefully pulled her between his legs. She turned around so that she sat facing him. He pulled her legs under his so that she was even sitting closer.

"You are beautiful." He softly said as he brushed a hair out of her face.

"Thank you." She replied, she felt how her cheeks heat up.

"Tell me, why are you scared?" he tried again.

She bit her lip discussing if she should tell him the truth or not, her wolf advised not to. She could tell that he was already possessive of Winter, if he would by any chance run into Charlie a fight would definitely follow.

"I am scared off the pain and the futures of our packs, our futures." She softly said.

He enveloped her face with his two big hands.

"You don't have to be afraid, we'll face it all together."

Winter felt his eyes on her lips, she knew he was about to kiss her and right in that moment her mind was a complete fog, she wanted nothing more than to feel him close. His eyes were still a deep dark blue, almost as dark as the night sky. And suddenly he moved forwards, his lips crashed on hers.

They were sweet and she savored the feeling of their kiss. It was far better than the kiss she had shared with Charlie. She closed her eyes and her arms wrapped around his neck grabbing the back of his hair. He softly pulled her closer around his body wrapping her legs around him.

His tongue danced over her lips asking her for access. Winter let him in and their tongues quickly started to dance with each other. It felt so good that Winter never wanted to stop. Here right in his arms, quickly became her favorite place. Here kissing with him, quickly became her favorite thing to do.

His scent, how he made her feel, she felt perfect under his touch and even hot under his look. She softly nibbled at his bottom lip and he groaned, twisting her over placing her on her back in the grass. He pecked her lips softly but she quickly grabbed the hems of his suit jacket and pulled him back on her.

He smiled as he kissed her, trailing kisses along the side of her neck over towards the place he would eventually mark her. A soft moan escaped from her mouth. His tongue danced over her skin setting her body on fire.

Winter pulled him even closer, he positioned his leg right between hers. She could see and feel how much he wanted her. She wanted him as well. Arsen's hand wrapped around her body and found the way to her ass, he softly squeezed it. Winter rolled him over placing herself on top and kissed him again.

She softly opened the front of his shirt and her tongue danced over his broad muscled chest. He growled loud and pulled her back up kissing her hard and twisting her back under him. His hand found the hem off her dress and travelled upwards towards her panties.

'Mate, Mate, Mate' her wolf howled in her head.

Arsen softly pushed her down in the grass and suddenly Winter froze, she was back there that night back with that man. Fear settled over her. And with that she snapped to realization. She couldn't do this she couldn't risk being hurt again. It would destroy her.

Arsen had noticed how Winter suddenly had frozen, how she simple stopped moving and how fear had filled her eyes. It was clearly that a lot had happened to her. He felt so conflicted his wolf was pushing him to move on.

'I can't she is terrified.'

'Just mark her and then we'll always have her.' His wolf told him.

'Not like this, I can't.' he responded.

He carefully wrapped his arms around Winter and rolled on his back, her head landed right on his chest. He held her close waiting for her to relax back into him.

"Your safe, I don't want to hurt you."

He softly whispered as he kissed the top of her head and softly brushed her back. She looked so fragile in his arms, the badass woman he had seen a few hours ago was completely gone. In his arms lay something fragile shaking like a leaf.

Winter slowly realized what was happening. She took a deep breath and tried to compose herself, nobody could see her as weak or fragile.

"I think we better go back." She said.

"They'll want to resume the meeting."

"We'll go back when you are ready."

Arsen answered holding her closer to his chest. She softly pushed against his chest to remove herself from his hold. He was quick to stand up with her, he grabbed her hand and pressed his lips against it.

"You are mine, I never felt more happier than in this moment." He stated.

"We shouldn't."

The words left Winters mouth and her wolf whimpered.

"We shouldn't?" he asked her amused.

Winter started to walk back.

"Enlighten me." He said.

"The packs, we are both alpha's, we are too much alike. This is a bad idea." She responded.

Winter started to walk quicker back towards the pack house.

"Sweetheart, I don't care what we should or shouldn't. I am not letting you go. We'll find a way." Arsen responded.

"We don't know each other, my past, your past." She said.

"Plenty of time to get to know each other." He said with a smile.

"Arsen, we can't."

Winter stopped him and looked him right in the eyes.

"We simply can't." she said.

He was a bit startled by her answer and before he could respond she turned around and walked further.

Winter wanted to be back inside as quickly as possible, she wanted to go home, forget about all this. About the way Arsen made her feel, how good it felt around him.

And then suddenly she stopped death in her tracks.

"Winter, Winter"

Someone was screaming her name. Arsen stopped right next to her and studied her face.

"Winter"

The person was getting closer and she realized who was calling her.

"Winter there you are." Charlie said.

She tensed again next to Arsen. He looked intrigued from his mate towards this wolf.

"We had a break." She stated.

Why was she giving an explanation to this ordinary wolf, Arsen thought.

"And what about him?" Charlie asked looking at Arsen.

"I had a break too." He answered not amused by the tension in the air.

"Aster said you left rather upset, I have been looking for you this whole time."

Charlie took a step forward and grabbed her hand. Winter looked shocked at him.

"What are you doing?" she asked.

"Winter I don't care who can hear it, but I need to tell you something."

Her eyes widened in panic.

"I made a horrible mistake, I want you with every fiber in my whole body. I want you and nobody else."

Winter was startled, she couldn't move or respond. And in horror she saw how Charlie tried to move forward to kiss her. A loud growl followed and before she could registered what had happened, Arsen had pulled her flat against his chest.

"Mine" he growled loud.

Charlie instantly broadened his chest and bared his teeth.

"Let go off my mate." He hissed between his teeth.

Winter felt how Arsen's hold on her tightened, how the tension was suffocating them all.

"She is my mate. You couldn't even find her, I had no trouble in following her scent."

He said as he pressed a kiss on top of Winter's head.

"She was my mate first, we have known for three years. She is mine."

Charlie growled again, but he knew that he was no match for the big alpha.

"Winter please say something." Charlie pleaded.

Tears of anger filled her eyes.

"How dare you?" she spat.

"You rejected me as soon as you found out. And now you dare to claim that I am yours?"

Arsen still held her close to his body, not letting her go.

"I was wrong, I was so wrong that night. Please give me a chance." He pleaded.

"Have you even felt the pain of the rejection? Are you wearing scars?"

She asked stern while she looked him right in the eye.

"I have felt the pain too." He answered softly.

"When?" Winter asked stern.

"When you were fucking that blonde? You rejected me and you went on to fuck someone else." She screamed.

"Where was your pain? I lay on the floor keeping my self together, trying to stop the pain, trying to stop my wolf from killing you. And you were simply screwing her brains out." She yelled.

She felt how her wolf got more and more agitated with each word he had said.

"Don't come begging me for a chance." She almost spit.

"Leave me alone or this time I won't stop my wolf." She said and walked away.

Charlie and Arsen looked startled at Winter, she disappeared in between the trees and walked straight back to the pack house. Arsen was fuming, the reason his mate was hesitant was because of this asshole. How could her brother tolerate that he was still alive?

Charlie's eyes trailed from Winter back to the giant man in front of him. How could this be possible? How could it be that she had found another mate? They were destined to be together. As if reading his thoughts Arsen smirked at Charlie

"I think she was pretty clear." He started.

"I am not giving up, she is not wearing your mark yet." Charlie responded.

"If I ever find you near her again, I'll kill you myself."

Arsen answered and grabbed him by the collar lifting his feet from the ground.

"You must be the biggest idiot alive if you rejected her. And not only that, but you hurt her a lot with your actions afterwards. The irony is that I should thank you because if you weren't this moron I would have never found her."