"Ok, that's enough, V, or I swear I'm walking out of here without you."

"How can you when I'm still holding your hand?" "Oh really? Do you think that's gonna stop me?"

Vince opened his palm and interspersed his fingers through hers, then carefully but tightly curled up his hand into a fist. Now her hand was completely covered with his and their fingers were practically merged together.

"Try me…" his voice so velvety smooth despite the challenging look on his face.

Siel now laughed aloud, feeling the kick of the alcohol. She enjoyed the pleasure of being led around by this suave and sexy gentleman who seemed intent to sweep her off her feet.

But despite all the charm and attention, there were thoughts behind her head that were still continuously nagging her…

Why me, when I have children? Why is he even that interested in my twins? They aren't even his, and he doesn't have his own kids!

"See, you can't even pull yourself free…" chuckled Vincent as he reached for a couple more toddler overall pajamas from a store's display rack.

"V, STOP! That's enough! Let me go, or I'll scream!" Siel said, still laughing.

"For more? Go ahead, I can do this all night!"

Why doesn't he get himself a rich businesswoman like him and not a secretary like me? Why does he keep telling me I'm beautiful when I have a mom bod with this slight bulge on my lower tummy and my hips a little wider than before?

"I'm not kidding, V! Don't put any more clothes into that shopping cart, or I'll bite your hand so I can go home!"

"Alright… alright… this is the last one…" countered Vince as he tossed a pair of bonnets into the aluminum cart then laughed along with her. "I just can't believe how cheap it is to shop here, so it's hard to control myself right now."

Why does he choose me when I know he can easily get any woman he wants just by smiling at them?

"No excuses, we had a deal, boss!"

"Knock it off, Elena. Stop calling me boss since it's already around seven and beyond office hours."

Why? Why are you doing this, V?

Meanwhile, in her bag, Siel's mobile phone had been vibrating due to more than a dozen messages or so that Nella has been texting her. The babysitter was sending a continuous play-by-play report of what was happening at her house.

And she's too happily distracted to even be aware of it…

* * *

"Ah, there you are, Gamma. I was hoping you'd finally meet me since you did agree to."

"Sorry, had to deal with my sister. She messaged me a while back, not long after you called, that she's found her mate. That was something I find hard to believe…"

  Aaron almost choked on his shot but still managed to say what was on his mind, "Why would it be hard to believe? I mean, sure, I haven't seen her in… uh… years, but she still has her wolf, right? I'm sure she'd be looking for a mate as well."

Ma'Heron huffed and raised a hand towards a waiter. The server immediately skittered to the bar to get this emotionless even almost soulless - man a bottle of his usual drink.

"Well, this is a private matter within the family, Beta. Sorry, but if I never answered your questions about why she left the packhouse so many years ago, I'm not about to tell you now."

"Riiiight… I do remember that M. No problemo…"

But it's going to be a real problem very soon, Aaron, Onyx half growled and half-whispered in his head.

Speaking of problems…

"So, what do you want to talk about first? The Alpha's possible big problem or the fact that you've already found your mate?"

Aaron drank his final shot and raised his hand for another batch. This time his whole right hand was open, displaying all fingers to the bartender.

"I guess either one will do… both are… kinda a problem anyway, to be honest…"

"How so? Is finally having a mate also a problem for you?"

Just then, a full-breasted, tanned redhead in casual pants and blouse ensemble that showed off her curves despite her being slim came into view. Well, at least the Beta's view…

"Kind of…"

"Hello, guys!" said the female in a sultry melodic voice.

The Gamma's eyes opened wide in sudden surprise and suspicion. He then turned around slowly…

And saw Diwa just about a step away from him.

"Hello, brother. Hello mate," M's only and youngest sibling greeted them with a smile.

The older Denar's eyes narrowed into very thin slits as he looked at his sister's face while breathing in a familiar but now infuriating scent on her. "Excuse me, sister, but what did you just call Aaron?"

"Oh, you didn't hear me? Read my lips then, big brother… MMMYYYY MMMMATE-AH"

Aaron internally cringed as the Gamma swiftly turned around to look at him, the glowing embers in his friend's eyes now looking more like great balls of fire. At the same time, he also heard a low and livid growl starting to erupt from his friend's wide, muscled chest.

Yup, you're right, Onyx… I'm dead.

* * *

Now that the shopping was finally done, Elena decided to have him go through a popular drive-through and order some takeout. She found it funny that he didn't use his credit card to pay for their food the same way he did at the mall due to security reasons. He only had large bills on hand to pay for their food and that seemed more like a security risk than his credit card.

"I avoid using credit cards because the security risk here is digital. Physical threats, I can easily solve. Having to deal with hackers who target public networks that many of these low affordable eateries use is a nightmare," he explained in a matter-of-fact voice, as he took a large bite of his burger while trying to not get his suit or steering wheel all messed up.

Siel just nodded as she munched on her chicken sandwich. They ate their food inside the car, parked in front of a nearby pier, enjoying the smell of the ocean, the sounds of the dark waves, and the view of the harbor's horizon.

This is probably the most romantic date I've ever had in my life. Wish it didn't have to end…

She is truly an amazing woman. All the dates I've had with her surpasses any date I've had in the past. And none of our destinations are five-star restaurants or a hotel venue!

When they finally finished, he drove her home, helped her out of the car then walked her to her door. V had the foresight to ask Myron to send someone to pick up their purchases and deliver them to Elena's address the next day. That way, they wouldn't be bothered by lugging around so many packages when he brought her home.

Besides, he had his hands free to open the car door for her and he never felt better doing it. Feeling that now-familiar spark going through his arm as she took his offered hand, his heart raced when she did not let go even when she's already standing.

Still holding hands as they chatted, he watched her open the front door…

And was totally taken by surprise by the man standing in the middle of the living room, looking at them with danger lurking in his dark eyes!

Behind him, he could see Nella carrying a very upset baby Rose who seemed to have been crying for quite a while. Both the nanny and the baby's expression were both very anxious…

Nervous… even terrified… seemed to be the more appropriate word.

"Oh my God… Jonah!" he heard his mate say in shock… and even fear.

Jonah… he's, her ex-husband? The one I've read in my Gamma's email. This is him?

As he heard Roth's growl in his mind, he felt Siel pull out her hand from his almost violently. V couldn't help but feel the void of the sudden space between his fingers, and his heart twisted in response. He also noticed that his mate's face was now devoid of the usual joy he saw that whole afternoon when he was with her.

Though feeling a bit down because of Siel's actions, he instinctively felt being protective and defensive. Not such a wonder upon seeing Nella's and Rose's emotional state, their facial expression and voice, plus the feeling of dread in the air which wolves could easily detect…

Warning signals were already erupting in his head, along with his wolf's snarling, when Elena moved away from him and ran straight through the living room, going directly to her crying daughter while avoiding her angry ex.

"Who is this man, Siel?" Jonah asked without even looking at the woman behind him.

"H… he's…" she hesitantly tried to answer while trying to calm herself and her baby down.

Vince intervened, to his secretary's relief and the ex's consternation, "I'm her boss. Excuse me for asking but, who are you?"

  "I'm her husband."

"NO! He's, my EX-husband!" Siel interrupted a bit too loudly.

It was later, on before she slept, that she realized how much it mattered to her that V would realize that she no longer wanted to have anything to do with Jonah. Despite forgetting for a second the real reason why she got a divorce, she was intent on letting her employer know that this crazed maniac was no longer her husband, despite what the guy might say.

Presently, her thoughts were more on how she felt protected when she was with V, but she also realized that he couldn't stay and be with her all the time. Her face paled in terror as she thought of what she had just said and the possible consequences that she would have to face afterward.

The look Jonah threw her over his shoulder gave her the proof of her fears and a prelude to what he planned to do to her later.

"I'm still the father of these kids," hollered the ex-husband as he returned his angry gaze to V. "And I don't understand why the mother of my son and daughter should be with you at the mall, while her kids are home alone."

"They're not alone," Vince corrected pointedly but calmly. "As you can see, she has a very concerned and committed Nanny. Besides, I asked Elena a favor to help. I picked her kids from the Christmas tree angels at the office, and since she is the mother of the said children, I found it right that she helps choose their gift."

"For whatever reason, she shouldn't be out when she has kids waiting for her at home."

"And yet you can do that, while she cannot? Why so?" 

"What do you mean?" the biological dad snapped furiously.

"You make her think that she's a bad mom for taking some time out for herself when the only thing she lives for is to take care of her twins? And yet, you are free to go anywhere for whatever reason, and yet she doesn't question you? Is that supposed to be, ok?"

"Well, she can ask me herself. But you, who are you to question me?"

"I'm just a decent man that's worried about this family because they are being constantly exposed to someone like you," V firmly stated, holding Roth back from coming forth. He barely managed to keep the wolf from taking over while still giving this worthless excuse of an ex-husband a few lessons on how to properly treat a wife.

"WHAT THE FUCK! How DARE YOU talk to me THIS WAY! AHHHH!"

Jonah then lunged at V, with his right fist aimed at his target's face…