A couple of days passed since Ryker and her little rendezvous in the greenhouse. Every time Mary thought about what happened, she would blush in silence. To be honest, it was a little amusing. She never thought she would be in that kind of intimate situation. Thinking back to how he touched her and made her come alive, she never felt such a rush of self-confidence and love. It shook and frightened her all at once.

For the hundredth time since the start of Mary’s first day off from the restaurant, she blushed again. She was scrubbing the floors with some old rags and a bucket filled with floor cleaner, but her mind was completely elsewhere. Slow scrubbing, careless movement with a weird smile on her face. She sat on the hardwood floors of her kitchen with a little dazed look.

It took a while before Mary heard the knocking on her front door. They were loud and impatient. Quickly, she dropped what she was doing and stood up to open the door. Alexei stood on the other side with a basket filled with all kinds of goods. She saw some home baked bread, a jar of pickles and a carton of eggs.

The early morning sunlight shined on Alexei’s horrid, scarred face. The scowl he wore on his face was intimidating and filled with irritation. He wore a worn white t-shirt that had old grease stains all over it and light, stained, denim blue jeans. The ripped jeans didn’t look like he did it on purpose because of the style, but because he had worked on his knees in the fields long enough for it to rip. Alexei shook his head and his black hair slightly fell over his right face to cover some of his scar.

For a minute, there was an awkward silence between them. Mary was a little shocked to see him here. Alexei said nothing. Instead, the rude male pushed the basket right into her arms. Afraid that the goods would fall on the small stepped porch, she grabbed onto it instantly.

“Good morning,” she finally said.

“Ma asked me to drop these off for you,” he muttered.

Mary looked down at the basket once again. The bread had a golden brown crust to it. The pickles in the jars looked deliciously pickled and she knows for a fact that the eggs in the carton was from their chickens on the farm. This was really sweet of them.

“She didn’t have to—”

“Ma doesn’t like to owe favors.”

Mary couldn’t stop the frown from appearing on her face.

“I wasn’t asking for anything in return.” Mary could feel her frustration rising.

“It doesn’t matter. She asked me to bring this to you.” Alexei brushed her response off like nothing.

“Well, wait here a minute. I baked some cookies earlier. How about I pack some for you to bring back to share?” Mary halfway turned but stopped when Alexei refused.

“We’re fine,” he said gruffly.

“I said wait,” Mary nearly growled her reply.

Alexei stopped retreating. His eyes trained on her. Mary didn’t mean to snap angrily. She just didn’t like how Alexei was treating her.

“Come inside,” she ordered.

Without looking behind, she walked inside with the basket still in her hands. Placing the basket onto the small kitchen counter. She started packing the cookies she baked this morning into a Ziploc bag. Surprisingly, Alexei followed her inside. Standing in the middle of her cabin with his hands stuffed in his pocket. With his towering figure, he looked like a Giant enclosed in a small space. Even her furniture looked small to his size.

“I’m sorry if I came off rude,” Alexei said, breaking the silence between them.

Mary looked at him. She knew he meant no harm. Alexei uses harsh words to stop people from looking at him for too long. She zipped the bag up before walking and handing him the bag of cookies.

“It’s fine,” she replied. “I’m sorry that I snapped.”

“Yeah, you did. You surprised me.”

She broke into a smile before chuckling softly. “Just know that I appreciate everything you and your family have given me and when I give you guys things it is not to make you guys feel uncomfortable. I just wanted to thank your family and you.”

Alexei said nothing, but nodded his head in understanding. She hoped that this minor exchange in conversation would change how Alexei interacts with her. After he left, Mary continued to clean her little home.

It was late into the afternoon when she finished, and her stomach was grumbling in protest. She made herself a quick sandwich before settling down outside on her porch step and calling her brother on a satellite phone that was given to her on her first day here.

Marcus answered right away.

“How is everything there?” Marcus asked.

“It’s going great. I’ve found a job here and I’m learning so much, Marcus. The things that Ryker has done for the pack here, it’s genius, Marcus. He’s amazing, sweet, and kind—”

“Ryker, huh?” Marcus interrupted.

Mary realized she had slipped the intimate name-calling.

“Alpha Ryker, I meant,” she corrected.

“It sounds like Alpha Ryker has been paying special attention to you.”

Mary could sense Marcus’s overprotective brother’s mode even through the phone.

“Marcus, I’m doing great here.”

“So, I’m guessing you won’t be coming home soon?”

Mary looked at the tall, vast trees before her and felt a sense of belonging. It seemed so quick, but she felt more at home here than she had ever been. The weather and elevation took a while to adjust, but aside from that, she loved everything about living here.

“Mary?” Marcus called for her attention again.

“I don’t know,” she replied.

She could hear Marcu’s huff of frustration.

“This is for me, Marcus.” Mary reminded him again. “I’m a big girl now. I should get to decide my future.”

“I know, Mary, but the kids they miss you and Dani, she’s pregnant. I’m just worried about you.” he sighed.

“I’ll come back to visit,” Mary replied.

They can’t travel to see her. With Dani being pregnant, it was important that they stayed safely within the pack. She could understand Marcus’s struggle right now. His mate’s pregnancy and now he had to worry about her too.

“You’re really going to stay there.” He said it like a question, but they both knew it was a statement.

They said nothing for a bit before Marcus spoke up again.

“I miss those days when you needed me. When I had to protect you from everyone and when you looked at me like I was your hero. It was easier for me to take care of you.”

“I still need you, Marcus.”

“Not the same way.” He was sad.

She didn’t respond because she was fighting back tears. Swallowing the lump in her throat. Trying to control the vibration in her throat so that when she speaks, the words don’t come out shook and filled with tears.

“I’m proud of you though, Mary. It’s always been us, and I’ve gotten used to taking care of you, but to see you grow into an amazing female…”

“It’s because I have you.” Damn, her voice shook.

Marcus’s next sigh was shaky too.

“I-I have to go. Dani is up from her nap and the boys want food. If anything happens, you’ll let me know? You’ll call me?” Marcus asked.

Even if she tried fighting back her tears, they slipped down her cheeks like a waterfall. With her vision blurred, she took in a shaky breath and bit her lips. She missed her family so much. Hearing Marcus’s voice made it harder for her because they have never been this far apart.

“Yes, always,” she whispered.

After her phone call with Marcus, she took a stroll in the woods. Hoping that the walk would soothe away the tears and clear her mind. Mary truly missed her family. Thinking back to all the times that spent together and her sudden decision to leave, her heart couldn’t stop the terrible throb. It was almost unbearable.

The sun was almost setting over the horizon and Mary was still wandering around with no actual destination in mind. Her straying mind came to a halt when she stopped in front of the packhouse. She only came here once on her tour, and it wasn’t too far from her home. When she realized where she was, she turned halfway to return home but stopped when she heard movement in front of her. Whoever it was, was too far for her to identify them. They were also wearing masks and dark clothing.

Without thinking, Mary moved closer to see what they were doing. The smell of gasoline filled her nostril. Immediately, she knew what was going on.

“Hey!” she shouted.

Three bodies turned to look behind them. Panic whispers before matches were lit. Immediately, they tossed the matches onto the gas and the wood-built building immediately lit on fire. It burned quickly with the gasoline. The terrifying fire smoldered the entire backside of the building.

Pack members were inside.

The three unidentified individuals ran and disappeared into the woods. Mary had no time to think. She screamed, the only thing echoing in her mind.

“Fire!” She repeated the word constantly while running towards the building. In seconds, the building was burning furiously.

Lights turned on in the packhouse. People were running in and out from all kinds of directions, trying to kill the fire before it could burn everything to the ground with water.

Mary could hear people screaming and crying for their loved ones. The more able pack members ran inside the building to rescue as much people as they can.

Mary noticed a little female pup, who looked only six years old, crying outside. Standing in front of the burning building.

“Mommy!” she sobbed and attempted to run back inside herself to save her mom.

Mary grabbed onto her shoulders.

“Stay here. It’s too dangerous for you to go inside,” she urged the pup.

“My mommy is inside. She wanted to go find my dad—she ran back inside.”

Mary turned to look at the building. It was bright as the sun, with its bright orange and fiery red hues. Everyone seemed busy trying to do something. The little pup struggled in Mary’s arms, wanting to run back inside to save her mom. Mary took hold of her shoulders and turned her to look at Mary.

“I’ll go inside to find her. Do you know what floor she is on? What does your mommy look like?” Mary asked.

“We live on the second floor. My daddy says she looks like me.” The little pup looked hysterically through her tears. It reminded Mary so much of her. Losing both her parents hurt Mary more than anything.

“I’ll go inside to find her, but you have to promise me you’ll stay out here and wait for me,” Mary said.

“But you don’t know where they are. I don’t know you,” the little pup argued with tears still running down her cheeks.

“You’re right. What is your name?” Mary asked.

“Tegan,” she hiccuped.

Mary smoothed back her hair. “Tegan, you told me your mommy looks like you. I’ll find someone with beautiful golden brown hair and ask her if she has a little pup named Tegan. That way I’ll for sure get your mommy out.”

The little pup seemed to be happy with that response. She nodded through her tears. When Mary realized the little girl will not chase after her. She released the little pup and headed inside the burning building. By now, the fire has covered the entire backside of the building and burning its way to the front.

Many people have made it out alive, and we’re working actively in putting out the fire. She entered the burning building. Walked inside the main foyer and towards the stairs leading up to the second floor. All the while, she was inhaling smoke and coughing. Immediately, she ripped the ends of her shirt to cover her mouth and nose.

Mary knew she didn’t have much time. The building was going to fall.

She needed to move quick or else she’ll burn inside this building along with everything else.