I'd thank him later. I would get some time for myself. Our exams were over. There was nothing to do in the school but our English teacher, she never stopped. Now we're prepared to take on the duties related to our packs. But we were already doing our duties along with our studies. War took everything in a few minutes, but it took years to build them back. 

        I kept moving deep into the woods. My wolf was calm and she wasn't making any comments. Perhaps, she wanted this too. Distraction! 

       I tried to calm my breathing. His thoughts gave me a lot of unwanted and new feelings. For a sec, I thought I wouldn't be able to peel my gaze off of him. I couldn't stop his handsome face flashing before my closed eyes. 

       Thanks to my anger, it distracted me and helped me not to do anything wrong. 

       "Kimberlie," I was startled by the loud scary tone. I recognized his voice instantly. He was our Alpha. Max. What did he want? I hadn't forgotten his glare. 

       "Max?" I arched my brows. What was he doing here? Shouldn't he attend to the needs of his guests? "I hope your guest would have loved the food." I couldn't hold the sarcasm. 

       Max smiled. He's a good Alpha. He has lost his father too, "Anger is not good for you, Kim." He said softly. 

       My nostrils flared, "I'm not angry." 

       He laughed, but I couldn't find any humor. It felt like It was urgent., "See, your red nose, Kim." He tapped on my nose. He was twenty-nine years old, tall, a bodybuilder, a kindhearted Alpha, sometimes angry too. Like today when I collided with Troy and didn't want to hold my tongue. 

        I couldn't be angry with him. He always tried to do his best for his pack. My lips' corners kicked up, "My nose is not red," I told him. 

        "I know, you're upset," He said. 

        "I'm not upset," I told him. 

        "Let me complete," He said in his Alpha's authoritative tone. I nodded my head, "It's good for our pack. Our people! Moreover! Most important!" He smiled again, bending his head down, so he could clearly glance at me, "His sister, Katherine, she's my mate." I was expecting a blush. Nothing came like that. His expression turned more serious, "He wasn't the one to attack our pack. His father did and he's dead. Let's bury our differences with his death." He said. 

        No one knew how his father died. It's a rumor that he killed his father. He challenged him in the middle of the night. Only his Beta was witnessed. 

       "But he is our enemy," I told him. I had heard it from the day my father didn't return home. 

       He rested his hands on my shoulders, "His father was. He's not our enemy." 

       "Yeah! Your mate's brother," I rolled my eyes. 

       He chuckled, removing his hands from my shoulders, "I would love to hear it. Now," He glanced around the woods, "Go back home. Kelvin has noticed wild bears. It's not safe until we kill them." He said. 

       "Yes, Alpha." I nodded my head and whirled on my heels, crushing leaves beneath my feet, "Good night, Max." I muttered. 

       I heard him howling. I peered over my shoulder, he shifted into a big dark brown wolf. I didn't know, wild bears had walked into our territory. My head was hovering over him. Troy! He wasn't like his father. That was what everyone was saying. 

       Still! Geez! I can not repeat the same sentence again and again. He's the enemy. We don't invite those who have caused us so much trouble. I should be with my friends in high school but I was taking care of my mother's herbs. My mother has adjusted in her life where our father wasn't part of it. I loved my both parents, I was close to my father. 

        I wanted to hate him. But I couldn't. He was ruthless like his father. 

        A hand yanked me away from my path. My heart thudded in my ears. Another hand clamped over my mouth. I tried to shout, kick him, elbow him. Nothing was helping. He didn't agree to leave me. I called for my wolf. 

       "Shh, there is a bear." He huskily whispered in my ear. 

       I inhaled his scent. It was unique. My wolf liked his scent. There was silence for a second. I didn't want to see the giant bear some feet away from me.

       His touch, hot breathing over my neck was so intoxicated. 

       I hesitated for a moment. I placed my hand on his arm. His muscles budged under my soft touch. I covered his hand with mine. I tried to pull back. I needed to turn and I wanted to look at him. I tapped the fingers of my hand on the back of his hand and arm. 

        I heard his soft laugh, hardly reaching my ears, "I don't want you to get hurt. Stay behind me, love." He slid his hand down my chin, to my neck. I stopped breathing. What was he doing? What was wrong with me? I was liking his touch. I hadn't been touched like this before. His soft contact of callous fingers stirred something deep inside me. I wanted to twirl on my heels. His hand around my stomach was stopping me. I could feel him so close, the heat of his body. 

        I swallowed hard. I stood frozen when his fingers moved down my shoulder taking the thick strip of my top along with his fingers. I could perceive his hot breath as his face hovered over my shoulder.    

       "What are you doing?" I asked when I couldn't understand his move, my voice was barely a whisper. He wasn't touching me but he was affecting me. 

        My anger had long dissipated, I couldn't even decide how to react, how I could feel about him. He was an enemy and always will be. Max was looking at the positive side. No one wanted to see that we have to submit to him, bow to this dangerous Alpha.

       "Don't you know?" His soft voice showed calm, but he made me feel both safe and panicked. 

      "Yes," He was sniffing me. The Alpha has his own kind of powers more than a normal wolf. 

      "You should go home, love." He said, pulling his hands back, taking a long stride back, facing me. I felt empty without him. 

       I roamed my eyes on his face. I wanted to prolong the moment. When I couldn't move, he drew his arm around my waist. He was very tall, I was just five feet three inches. He was above six feet tall. His amber eyes were drowning me. I could look into his eyes forever. The strong smell of his cologne engulfed me. I couldn't move back. My wolf nudged happily at the back of my head. I knew, my cheeks looked flush as his hot breath was brushing against my face. His hand enveloped around my neck. His thumb caressed my cheek. My lips parted in shock, his touch felt so right. 

      I was expecting a kiss. Instead, he buried his face in the crook of my neck. I felt ecstasy after years. 

      He inhaled deeply. I was taken aback by surprise. My skin tingled. I felt his lips softly pressing on the crook of my neck. A moan left my throat. He sucked lightly on my skin. 

      Something cracked behind us. His agileness pushed us behind the thick tree' trunk. There was one more bear behind us. 

      "Go home, love. The path is safe to your home," He caressed his thumb on my cheek and leaned in to peck on my lips. 

      He took several steps back. I knew he was going to shift. I could still feel his lips on my skin. My brain was still busy with the processing. His gaze turned to me as they were ordering me. 

      I sprinted toward my house. I couldn't dare to look back and disobey him. I couldn't ignore the disturbing feelings I perceived going away from him. 

      'Gosh! I smell like him. I need to wash myself.'

       My wolf growled at me. I dropped the idea until the morning. I felt her relaxing.