We didn't return home until our stomachs were filled with food and the smiles on our faces couldn't be wiped off. It was absolutely adorable that Evander prepared peanut and jam sandwiches. When he learned that I hated the guava jam, he was relieved that he made it with grape jam.

"You need to be quiet," I whispered as we made our way up the stairs. "Sh," he shushed me and in response, I pouted.

"Hey," I objected as Evander pulled me into his room, shutting the door behind me and locking it in the process. "What are you doing?" I asked, my heart speeding up at the thought of being in a room locked with Evander. "Sh," he hushed me before gripping his hands around my waist and I felt my feet leave the ground.

"What are y-"

Evander threw me on his bed, crawling between my thighs with his hands on either side of my head before he lowered his lips to mine. My body like it had a mind of its own, my head tilted up to claim his welcoming lips. Just like always, all my previous thoughts demolished and it was just him and I. The fire beneath my skin rose to the surface as my hand play with the hairs on his nape. Automatically my lips part after his silent request. His tongue invades my mouth as he deepened the kiss and I had no problem surrendering the control to him.

A knock on the door pulls us apart. Thankfully, the door was already locked so neither of us chose to pull away completely. "Yeah?" Evander shout, pressing his lips back to mine for a peck before trailing them down to my jaw. "Just checking to see if you were back," Brandon's voice pushed past the door.

A gasp left my lips as he sucked on the skin of my neck, bringing blood to the surface before his tongue massaged the skin and the sting goes away immediately. My fingers dug into his back as he does it again, the lust only increasing as it ran through my body.

I almost forgot about Brandon.

"We're back," Evander finally replied, his hands dipping to my thighs and I inhale sharply. "Okay...well, good night," Brandon replied.

"Night," Evander chose to say since he was very much distracted. At the sound of Brandon's footsteps walking away from the bedroom made me relax further into his touch.

Our lips pressed together among the uncountable times today but I wasn't complaining. Today, Evander was my escape from my family crisis. "You're sleeping with me tonight," he softly ordered, pulling away from me and I pouted at the loss of contact.

What's wrong with me recently?

"Why?" I asked, not disagreeing because snuggling in Evander's arms sounded perfect right now. "Because I say so," he smirked, climbing off the bed.

_♤_

My eyes open and the first thing I realized that the sunlight was hitting me from another direction. The other thing was how comfortable my body was even though I was snuggled into someone's side.

Evander's hand was draped across my body with his chest pressed to my back. His leg was wedged between my thighs as he let out soft breaths, letting me know he was still asleep.

I didn't want to move but I also didn't want to have an awkward conversation with him when he woke up so I carefully slipped out of his arms with much trouble but thankfully the duvet filled in my gaps and he was out like a light.

A yawn passed my lips as I padded down the hallway, my hand raking through my blonde knots. As I entered the room, the air was cold and the bed was untouched. This is going to be my room. Mates are known to share a room but I don't know if neither Evander nor myself are ready for that.

A silly smile discovered my face as I noticed the red bruised hickey that stood out on the base of my neck. Sighing, I brushed my teeth and showered before changing into a turtle neck and long jeans.

I frowned when I noticed my phone was still in Evander's room. Hopefully, I prayed that Jayden had messaged or something. Shaking away my negative thoughts, I followed the sound of Kira and Brandon talking in the kitchen.

"Good morning," I announced my entrance into the kitchen. Kira and Brandon both smiled at me where they are leaning on the counter with coffee cups in their hands. "Good morning! I'm so happy you decided to stay!" Kira cheered.

"So am I," the hairs on my hand stood as Evander entered the kitchen. The bond between us was getting stronger and stronger. No doubt us being inseparable yesterday had something to do with it. "Why did you leave?" Evander asked me.

"Food," I shrugged, walking to help myself to a cup of coffee. "What are we doing today?" Brandon asked his alpha. "I'm recruiting warriors today and I'll definitely need Kira's help for that. You can just make sure the new houses are fine until something else comes up as usual," Evander decided.

"What is there for me to do?" I asked before anyone else can say anything. I really wanted to explore the pack more but it was too soon for that. A great thing to do would be to visit my father but I need him to get into the hand of his new life before I bother him.

"Um...there is the library, swimming pool, art gallery, archery, sculpting," Evander continued to list the options that I could do until Brandon piped up. "Lisa said she needed some help at the orphanage, today is their fun day," he casually says.

My eyes lit up at the idea of being surrounded by happy little children all day. "Yes!" I agreed. They all looked at me. "Are you sure?" Evander asked.

"Yes, of course," I stated. Though I was kind of nervous, I was mostly excited. "Okay, I'll take you and pick you up and four when I'm done," Evander announced, throwing away the apple he was eating into the bin. Taking that as my cue to go get ready, I left as well.

I had on a jersey that thankfully hid the hickey but for safety measures, I still covered it up with concealer before slipping on my sneakers and making my way downstairs. Evander was waiting for me at the end of the staircase, showered, and changed into a shirt that hugged him perfectly with black pants and shoes.

He looked professional.

"Ready to go?" I asked and I nodded. Evander jiggled the car keys in his hand as we made our way to his familiar black van. The drive to the orphanage was a silent yet comfortable one. My eyes were glued on his pack as we drove through the streets.

As we entered the building, the door chimed above us and a woman of mid-age walked in from another room, her eyes lighting up at the sight of Evander and I. "Hello! Oh my God, you're so beautiful!" The woman gushed as she stared at my features.

"Thank you so much for helping out today, these kids really deserve the best of the best and today is their day," the woman spoke of the children with hearts in her eyes. "I honestly can't wait," I blurted out of excitement and nervousness, rubbing my hands together. She smiled widely before clicking her eyes on Evander who turned me by the shoulder so I could see him. "I'll see you at four okay?" He reminded me. I could tell he was very busy today and I didn't want to hold him back so I agreed like it was a choice.

"Bye," he softly said, walking back towards the exit. My heart clenched as I watched him walk out the door and jogged back to the van. "Amazing young man ain't he?" Lisa sighed as Evander drove off. "I guess so," I replied before turning to her.

"I'm Lisa, the owner of this all," she gestured around the orphanage. "I'm Rieka," I replied, shaking her hand that she had held out for me.

"Let's get started!" She cheered, pulling me

The rest of my day was filled with happy smiles and cute laughs as the twelve children or the orphanage had their fun day. I didn't even know what was the fun day about but I did in fact learn how hyper children can get after eating too much cotton candy and how to make cotton candy. Also, I couldn't even remember the last time I bounced inside a bouncy castle.

Today really brought back memories of my childhood and I definitely had fun with the children.

"Would you read me a story, Rieka?" The little girl named Cassidy asked. I stared at the five-year-old adoringly. I've never done such a thing before and I'd be happy to right now. "Of course! Let's go," I say almost right after she asked.

Her eyes lit up with excitement since she was scared I was going to say no. But how can someone say no to such a beautiful girl like her?

We entered her small bedroom that was pink galore with everything that you would expect her to have inside her bedroom. It was hard to be sad when you're inside a room like this.

As the words mumbled out of my mouth I quickly realized that I too was exhausted after nearly six hours of being active, running around with the children in the sun. Though it was worth it, sleep kidnapped me, pulling me into the silence, and suddenly, sleeping away here with Cassidy didn't sound so bad.