I ripped myself away from Caleb after his little speech. My neck no longer hurt but I was now blazing with anger.

"I don't want you near me." I told him pointing at his face as I took a few steps back.

"Eve, please I was honestly trying to help."

"No amount of apologizing and explaining is going to change my mind. Stay away from me." My neck stung for a brief moment. "Shit." I hissed moving my hand to the heated mark.

"You can't say that stuff to me Eve if you don't want the mark to hurt you." He explained standing up in front of me. His towering form causing me to take another few steps back. I was grateful when he made no advancement towards me.

"That's fine, I don't want to talk to you anyways. I don't need to talk to you to keep my distance." The venom in my voice was toxic enough to kill a person. Caleb looked like he wanted to argue some more but I left no room to speak as I turned on my heels and hurried out of the room.

I ran back up into his room and piled most of my clothing in my back pack. There were a million different things running around in my head and keeping away from Caleb was one of them. I needed space. If it were up to me and I didn't know that a band of bounty hunters were out to get me I would have taken my behind home. But I knew that'd be a death wish.

I couldn't leave this place. It was the safest I've felt in weeks.

"You aren't leaving are you?" I looked up from my stuffed bag to see Alex's distraught appearance.

Zipping up the bag I stood up. "No," I stated feeling nervous all of a sudden. "Alex, are there any unoccupied rooms?"

He crossed his arms with a sly smirk on his face. "I knew this was going to happen." Alex ran his hand through his blonde hair as he stepped further into the room. "I didn't agree with what he did." Hearing the sincerity in his voice helped me feel less guilty about removing myself from Caleb's room. It was funny to think I only lasted one night in this room since I got here.

"Thanks for agreeing with me. Will you help me get a free room?" I asked him again seeing how he dodged the question earlier.

"Caleb isn't going to be thrilled that you don't want to stay in the same room as him. It'll probably put everyone on edge." I raised an eyebrow at what he told me.

Was I supposed to care how Caleb felt right now? I don't think so.

Sighing he shook his head and nodded his head toward the hallway. "I'll show you a guest room at the end of this wing. Caleb definitely won't allow you in the pack wing. There's too many unclaimed males and I'm sure they'd all like to still have their dick attached to their body."

My bewildered and horror-stricken face must have showed how bizarre his statement was. And he said it as if it were no surprise.

"W-what do you mean they'd like to have their... dick attached?" I don't know why I was asking but what he said had to be one of the weirdest things I've ever heard.

"Ehh... let's just say any unmated male's scent on you will drive his wolf insane. Caleb will literally try and castrate every male near you." He gave a sheepish grin that told me he wasn't kidding. "I doubt he would but I'm not saying attempting to is off the table."

I scrunched up my nose in disgust. Were they all really this animalistic? Driven by pure instinct?

"Come on," Alex started for the door waving his hand to follow.

Throwing my back pack over my shoulder I stopped when a rattling object hit the floor. Looking down I recognized it to be a pill bottle. I picked it up to read the label. It was my pill bottle. My anxiety medication. I tucked it into my pocket before Alex noticed. I reminded myself to take one before I went to bed. I didn't want to have an episode in the middle of the night.

I hurried myself to catch up to Alex who was now nearing the end of the hallway. He stayed true to his words as he unlocked the last door of the wing.

As he opened it my eyes grew amazed at the saturation of color. It was nothing like Caleb's black room. It was teal and cream with silver embellishments and decorations.

"I thought you'd like this room." He said smiling amused by my amazement. "Here," Alex extended his hand grabbing mine and opening my palm. He placed a cool metal object on my palm. "It's your key. You lock your door when you want to or don't. You chose who's allowed in. That means Taylor, Loz, Naní, Caleb or I." His face dropped as he looked down at me. "I hope it's not me but you do as you feel you need to do. I really don't want you leaving the estate. So do what you need to, to stay here, and safe."

The level of honesty and transparency that Alex was giving me was mind boggling. It helped me feel more at ease about staying. I was glad he was willing enough to help me move to a new room but a twinge of guilt settled in my stomach when I thought about with Caleb might think about the sudden change. But then again why should I care? I didn't care... or did I?

"Thank you, Alex." I told him giving him a hug. He was stiff, surprised that I had embraced him.

It took him a few seconds before he hugged me back, a little awkward I must say. "Uh- you're welcome."

Pulling away he gave me one last smile before shutting the door behind him. I instantly locked it leaving no room for anyone to barge in all of a sudden.

I opened the silver curtains to let the afternoon sun in. The room became five times brighter. I leaned against the bench that was built into the wall. It was a plush bench built-in against the window. I imagined how many times I'd sit here to relax and read a good book. I could imagine Bastet sunbathing on the bench.

Thinking about her I remembered not seeing her in Caleb's bedroom, she must have snuck off somewhere. I cringed at the fact I'd have to leave the confines of my room now to find her. Then a little part of my brain was hype that we could possibly bump into him.

No! Absolutely not Evelyn, he forced a mark on you without any regard for your wishes or safety. He isn't good for you I reminded myself. It didn't matter though because another part of my brain thought the complete opposite. Telling me how my body was so allured by just his sheer presence. I didn't want to know what my mind would try and convince me to do if I was to dare do more than just look at him.

I moved slightly from where I was leaning and my hip hurt from the slight difference in pressure. Taking a step back my jacket pocket rattled. The pills.

Pulling them out I looked at the bottle. It was tempting to toss it all in my mouth right now. With the rush of emotions, the stress of Caleb marking me, and the unfamiliar atmosphere of the estate I was board-line desperate for the relief that came with popping one of these pills.

Looking for further privacy I opened one of the three-doors in the room. One I knew led out to the hallway but the other two must have been the bathroom and closet. Opening the nearest one to me, I grinned when it revealed a full bathroom.

Looking at my reflection in the mirror I twisted the cap open.

"One should do the trick," I told myself throwing the pill to the back of my throat. As I swallowed I absentmindedly read the label again.

I facepalmed at my ignorance. How long have you been taking these meds Eve, and you still can't remember to eat before you take it?

Great! I thought putting the bottle down and proceeded to rub my temple in annoyance as I walked back out into the bedroom. Now I messed up my whole day even more. I was bound to get sick in the next hour or so, I felt like I couldn't catch a break. Then again it was the perfect reason to lock myself away from everyone. The perfect excuse to avoid everyone.

My phone buzzed in my back pocket. Taking it out I saw Taylor had sent over a dozen messages. How'd I not see this until now? Almost all of the messages were her either threatening to kill Caleb or worrying about me and how I was doing.

Evie, are you okay? I'm really worried right now... can you please call me.

I swear Evie if he lays another hand on you I'm going to rip his head off.

Loz says I can't say that stuff but that doesn't mean I won't try and at least smack the shit out of him.

That's it! I'm coming to see you.

Well, I hoped Alex spread the news I left Caleb's room, or else that was going to be one awkward encounter if Caleb and Taylor bumped into each other. Then again I didn't really care at this point. Anyone displeased with Caleb should reiterate how uncanny he was marking me. Maybe that'll put some sense into him.

The medication was slowly setting in at the thudding of my heart was as aggressive as it was just moments earlier. The calm and tranquil cloud of relaxation settled in as I laid on the bed listening to my own settling heartbeat.

"I don't care Loz! Cry my a god damn river." I sat up as the voices that were coming down the hallways neared.

"I'm just saying I think that this-" Lawerence was cut off mid sentence.

"That this is a bad idea and that poor little Alpha Caleb is gonna be pissed we didn't tell him Evie moved out of his room." It was Taylor arguing with Lawerence. She sounded feed up by what I could hear. Taylor always became overly sarcastic whenever she reached her limit on giving a shit about anything.

"I'm being serious Taylor. We shouldn't be here and stop taking about the Alpha like that. You're gonna end up in the hole for speaking like that." Lawerence sounded like he was both warning and begging Taylor to cool her temper. Knowing my best friend I knew she was past listening to anyone.

There was a pause once they were at my door. I was now standing just on the other side.

"You know Loz I would have to give a fuck what he thinks to change my attitude. And wait-" I opened the door to see the scene in front of me. Taylor was pulling her jacket pockets inside out. "-I don't have a fuck to give." The level of sarcasm was monumental when I saw them both.

Lawerence looked like he was on the edge of wanting to throttle Taylor. And the way she was talking was both entertaining and alarming, I don't blame Lawerence.

Lawerence growled in annoyance when Taylor crossed her arms and rose an eyebrow in his direction. "You are literally going to be the death of me woman."

"Can't say I didn't give you a good time before you passed." She winked at him and I instantly flickered my eyes between the two of them. Did they just... I don't even want to know.

Were they really having this conversation just outside my door like they didn't see me standing here?

"Uhm, hello, I'm standing... right, here." I said out loud seeing as they never acknowledged me yet. Both of them turned to me look half surprised.

"Loz, babe, you can go now. This is..." Taylor moved to stand beside me wrapping her arm around my shoulder. "-girl talk time now. Go," She waved not looking in his direction. "- do manly stuff with manly men. Or beta duties. Anything really. Just don't bug us, since you encouraged this to happen."

I felt a twinge of hurt, coming to realize that some people probably thought what Caleb had done was perfectly okay. It wasn't. How could anyone think it was?

Taylor left no room for Lawerence to say anything as she shut the door in his face. There was a growl on the other side but I soon heard footsteps fade away from the door.

I sighed in relief.

"Let me see your neck." She didn't give me a chance to decline or accept her demand as she pulled my hair back from my neck turning my cheek to expose the sore mark. "Jesus! He has a huge mouth." She gently poked the mark, I hissed in pain. "His canines must be long as hell, cause your mark is really deep."

When I pulled away from her touch I could see how angered she was about how the mark looked. Her eyes were darker in color giving me the impression of a violent storm behind them.

"Thanks for pointing that out." I groaned sitting on the bench by the window. I curled my legs up to my chest and wrapped my arms around them. I was essentially a ball, poking my eyes above my knees to look out the window.

For a few moments, Taylor stood beside me in silence. With the way she shifted from one foot to the other, I could tell she was bothered about something.

"I feel like I'm losing my mind." I mumbled into my forearms. The contradicting feelings I was having were exhausting to say the least. One moment I hated him for what he did the next I want to throw myself at him. I never felt it this strong before but after the bite... a lightbulb went off. I lifted my head to look over at Taylor. "Does this make me want him more than I really do?"

Taylor looked surprised as I pulled my jacket from my neck to point at the mark. She pursed her lips sitting down next to me.

"No and yes. It's a complicated thing to explain because you're human. You don't understand what a claim or mark does to you." She rested her arm on the back of the bench.

"Then explain it to me because I'm beyond pissed off at Caleb for what he did but then I want to be all over him the next moment. He's on my mind even more and I feel borderline obsessed. It feels-"

"Feels like your in a trans." She finished the sentence for me. I nodded my head in agreement. "Like you have this undying urge to fulfill something, craving him every moment and every breathe you take?"

"I wouldn't say all that but I feel something similar to that." I explained covering my face in dismay.

Taylor chuckled making my peek through my fingers. "You could never handle the pull you would feel if you were a werewolf. That shit is a hundred time stronger than what you feel. It's the one things that drives us to procreate so quickly."

I dropped my hands from my face covering my mouth in shock. The hell was she talking about?

"Umm, what?"

"You heard me." She clapped back. "What you're feeling is a little bit of what we feel. I'm surprised Caleb hasn't come searching for you yet. I can't imagine the pull an Alpha would feel towards their mate."

"Wait, wait , wait a minute. You told me that a mark was like an engagement. When did sex become part of all this?" I was in horror. Though Caleb was a masterpiece of a man I wasn't ready to drop my pants and tell him to take me. This was moving at the speed of the light. I need this all to slow down to the pace of a tortoise. Please and thank you.

I needed another pill. I stood up to walk to the bathroom. Taylor followed.

"I told you it was part of it remember?" She reminded me. I paused for a second when I entered the bathroom, recalling our bathroom conversation from a few weeks ago. Back then it all seemed so surreal and a part of me still thought all this was fake. Hell, I still want this all to be fake.

Shaking my head in denial. I twisted the cap as she leaned against the bathroom door frame watching me as I scooped a pill out.

"Aren't you supposed to eat with that?" She asked a hint of concern in her voice as she watched me throw the pill back. I nodded my head as I swallowed. "Come on, I'm not letting you hide away in this room. You need something to eat."

"I don't want to-"

"You don't want to run into Caleb, I know." She grabbed my arm to tug me towards the hallways. "I'll hear and smell him coming before you even see him. I'll warn you if he's coming so you can sneak back up here." I smiled following behind her. She stopped when I closed the door locking it. "I can't promise you he won't try and follow though."

"As long as I have a door between us I'll be fine." I assured her. I dangled the key in front of her. "And he's not coming in."

She smirked at my sudden confidence.

"But back to what you said I don't think I'm ready for any of that stuff. I don't even know if I want any of this." A slight sting was felt on my mark but I ignored it. I wasn't going to let it control how I truly felt.

"It'll happen eventually Evie. I don't think anyone has ever successfully repressed the urge the mark gives off to mated pairs." We walked down the stairs and I was surprised to see numerous people scrambling all over the place. This was the first time I saw anyone other than Caleb, Naní or Alex walking around the place. "It'll happen when you least expect it." I stopped walking stunned by her directness. "Don't get me wrong, it'll come naturally, it'll feel right."

The more she told me the more I was becoming unease. I was sure she was reading that off my face now as my face was dropping with every new drop of information.

"Forget I even said anything. I don't want you petrified of him but I don't want you to bend to his every whim either. You're the Luna, you're his equal not owned by him remember that."

She grabbed my shoulders in a sympathetic way. I looked down at the ground suddenly overwhelmed by everything.

"Look at me Evie." With much effort I looked up to her. "You are the most powerful woman on this estate. What you say goes. You are the only and I mean only person that can tell the prick what to do or can't do. Don't let him intimidate you in anyway."

For the first moment in a while I felt some sort of serenity. The confidence that Taylor had was rubbing off a little and I was appreciative of it. I needed it more than ever now.

I just hoped it was Taylor's words that were bringing me ease not the pills.