An early update! Hope you all enjoy!! 💕

Upon awakening, I almost immediately knew that I was no longer outside of Hannes' door. Instead, I found myself on his couch, covered with an unfamiliar blanket.

A quick look across Hannes' room revealed that the one which I'd brought with me was folded on the edge of his bed, and the dark one that was on me held his scent.

I slowly sat up on the couch, taking notice of what I at first thought to be the Alpha's absence. But then I heard his voice from a nearby room, low and deep as he spoke. As I eventually stood, I left the dark blanket on the couch and quickly gathered my own, intent on leaving the room before Hannes entered.

But just as my fingers wrapped around the handle of the door and it began to open, a large hand slammed it closed.

The sound of it slamming rang in my ears loudly and I sighed quietly as I glanced over my shoulder to meet Hannes' gleaming eyes, the corner of his lips lifted in a half-grin.

His other hand held a phone to his ear, but nonetheless he slid his large body before my own, until his back rested against the closed door and his eyes languidly watched me as he continued speaking to the person on the other end of the phone.

I cradled the blanket to my chest as I waited for him to end his phone call, and when he did, I straightened in expectancy, hoping for a short, quick conversation before I'd return back to my bedroom.

"I asked Stewart to bring us breakfast." Hannes simply said instead. When I didn't move, and stared blankly at him whilst trying to handle my confusion, his grin widened as he went on, "We'll be eating together."

And with that, he stepped away from the door. My eyes immediately flickered to it's handle and then back to Hannes, who looked on with barely hidden mirth, his arms folded across his chest and honey eyes half-lidded as his gaze swept over me once again.

My throat tightened, and I jerked my eyes away from him, stepping backwards so there was considerable distance between us. I circled back to the couch, and almost immediately Hannes began to follow me, his walk slow and casual, but his eyes rapidly became predatorial.

"I'd been wondering when the bond was going to affect you." He murmured, voice startlingly husky as he watched me sit on the couch, blanket still in my hands. He went on to ask, "Isn't that why you came to my door?"

I licked my lips, opened and closed my mouth before deciding to settle on shrugging. Hannes' grin widened, and I sighed again; he knew already that it was the reason.

"Don't you have pack work or something?" I asked Hannes, just as a knock came from the door. Hannes didn't look to it at first like I did, but instead answered,

"I will have Elijah deal with that for now."

The door opened when Hannes called out for Stewart to come inside, and I quietly watched from the couch as Hannes assisted Stewart by carrying in the trays. I winced internally as I saw the bagels and pancakes dripping with syrup.

My stomach was churning nervously, and although I was peckish, I doubted I'd be able to eat some of that food, even if Hannes too ate some.

After Stewart left, I lowered my body to the carpeted floor, dragging the blanket down with me, only for it to be yanked out of my hands and tossed aside.

I shuddered, feeling somewhat exposed and my eyes narrowed sharply at the Alpha, who innocently lowered his body beside mine on the floor as well, and rested his back against the couch.

It was almost comical as he did this, since he looked uncomfortable, but said nothing regarding that, and simply handed over a tray with the plate of food.

My fingers prodded absent-mindedly at one of the toasted bagels with cream cheese spread across it after tearing off a small piece of it to eat, whilst Hannes easily ate his own breakfast swiftly.

"Helda has asked for you. She's been allowed to stay in the pack." Hannes told me and I nodded, just as I noticed the way Hannes looked at my food and then back to me repeatedly. He frowned, setting aside his now empty plate.

"Are you not hungry?" He asked.

"I am." I said, continuing to prod the bagel. I allowed silence to fall for a couple seconds before continuing, "But I am unable to eat."

"Why?"

This time, I lifted the bagel to my mouth, more so far his sake than mine, and barely nibbled on it. He stiffened at my actions, and his eyes searched my face, before realization dawned on him. He slowly rested back against the couch, and I watched as a slow smile built, amusement capturing his expression.

"Ah." Hannes' fingers lifted quickly before I could comprehend the act and move away, and I resisted shuddering at his touch as he leaned over to me, pushing some of my hair behind my ear as he inquired, "Do I make you nervous, Olivia?"

It was one of those questions I need not answer, because he already knew the truth. His fingers traced across the shell of my ear and then drifted against my cheek, near my scar.

The bagel shook in my hands, and I thought to tilt my head away from him as my stomach warmed, but as if sensing my intentions, Hannes' hand gently took hold of my face and kept it facing him.

"I can hear your fast heartbeat," He growled, darkened eyes lowering to rest on my chest and then raising back to my face, then lips. His long, dark lashes lowered as he inhaled, bringing me closer to him when his arm captured my waist and thrusted me forward, until I was almost on him. My fingers curled into his shirt, and I attempted to straighten upwards.

My eyes were wide and I opened my mouth to speak, but his face dipped, and pleasurable shivers crept up my skin as he pressed his lips slowly against my neck. And then I felt a slight prick as his fangs grazed my skin, before his tongue soothed the sting that arose there. His lips moved across my jaw, his arm tightening further around me as he continued to hold me to him and I could feel my body slowly relaxing, but then I jerked in surprise when his lips suddenly captured mine.

Unsurety battled with pleasure as his gentle and surprisingly soft lips pressed against my own and after a few, long moments, I pushed my palms against his chest and moved backwards, breaking away. Hannes groaned in frustration, and he refused to relent his hold at first, his gaze filled with lust.

"I think I can eat now." I murmured, and despite the clear frustration that mingled with lust simmering in his eyes, he finally released me.

Quickly taking up the plate, I stood and then sat on the couch, attempting to ignore when Hannes climbed to his feet, seconds after, his own empty plate in hand.

He was surprisingly silent as he went out of my line of sight, and I didn't hear from him for the next ten minutes as I ate.

The tension which had been in my body before we'd kissed was long gone, and now all I felt was an unfamiliar thrum in my chest as I listened for any of Hannes' footsteps. I glanced around the room after finishing the breakfast, reminding myself that I'd have to thank Stewart for making it.

When I stood to leave, I startled at the sight of Hannes. He sat on a chair beside his bed, expression hard to read as he watched me grasp the now empty plate. When he stood, I held my breath, watching as his long body unfolded.

He lifted my blanket he'd cast aside, and smoothly tossed it to me. I barely caught it since I was already holding a plate, and the small glare I sent his way went unnoticed as he turned away to look at his bed, and the opened folders upon it.

Nothing was said at first, and I quickly walked to the door of the bedroom, only pausing when Hannes rumbled,

"Feel free to come into my bedroom tonight or whenever you please. I won't bite." His eyes flashed as he smiled almost slyly. "Yet."

************

"I saw you last night." I called out to Athena, who sat on a tree branch, one of many which was void of any leaves. She snapped the book which she'd be reading closed, and her eyes widened briefly in surprise at the appearance of me, before a wide smile broke across her face.

Before I could breathe, the agile woman skimmed down the tree easily, managing somehow to make it gracefully down despite the thick and heavy looking green skirt she wore.

The orange turtle neck shirt she adorned somehow emphasized her slender neck, and my eyes darted to the glittering feather shaped earrings in her ears in admirance.

"You did? When?" Athena asked, evidently excited to be conversing with me. Surprise flitted across her face, and her already large smile became even wider. "You spent some time with Hannes, hmm?"

I glanced away the question, ears stinging until I caught sight of the red book in her hands, and used that as a way to turn it into a topic. "I saw you with that book last night. The Elders and yourself had been reading it."

And as I spoke, with my eyes lowered on the cover of the red book, I saw the slightly blurred word of Anabelle on it.

"It was her diary." Athena lifted the book, almost as if wanting me to hold it, but at the scathing look I sent her she quickly lowered it back down. "I was showing it to the Elders last night. She'd written about what happened to your parents, and her knowing that they hadn't been involved in my mate's death."

"Oh." I muttered dryly, dragging my eyes from the book and meeting Athena's eyes. "Is there something else in it that interested you?"

Athena frowned deeply. "It's been very shocking to know of the true person she was. Her words about humans and her stated beliefs contrasted greatly with what she'd written here." She glanced away briefly. "I'd intended to burn the diary after showing the others, but Bronwyn has asked to keep it."

She grimaced and watched my reaction, or lack thereof.

"I see." I scratched at the back of my neck, and then gestured at the bald-headed Helmitch in the distance. "Your friend is coming."

Athena peaked a look at the lycan and then at the briefcase in his hand. "Probably wants to have a word with Hannes." She looked at me. "I'll be leaving now to give the diary to Bronwyn. Would you like to walk with me to her home?"

I immediately shook my head, giving her a short smile. "I will probably see you later. Good day, Athena." I zipped up my coat and after a nod of my head, turned to walk deeper into the woods, to go back to the same spot in which I'd been in yesterday.

I passed by Helmitch, and he barely spared me a glance despite me greeting him. I scoffed softly at that, but then I saw Helda standing outside of a house.

She stood merely a few feet away and her blue eyes were awash with tears.

"Are you okay?" I asked, taking hold of her arms when I reached her. She sighed, and her smile was watery as a lone tear trickled down her cheek.

She gave a small shrug as she croaked, "I'm better now that I've left Corozal."