16.

**Caiden**

I had to end our intense make-out session before I lose my self with her; my wolf wanted her right then and right now. She was so addictive.

"Okay. That was amazing" she breathed out pecking my lips. I groaned at the immediate loss of her lips.

"More than amazing. Let's... Let's go eat"

**

As we were about to end our meal, she placed her utensils on the table and looked at me expectantly. "What's wrong, baby?" I asked praying to the goddess she hasn't regretted our stolen kisses earlier I couldn't bear if she suddenly pulls away from me.

"This mate thing. Explain it to me. Is it because of me being chosen for you that I have these strong feelings for you so soon? I feel like I need to be with you every minute of the day. I think about you constantly and when we kissed it felt so... so...."

"Perfect," I finished for her.

"Yes. Please, Denny. Explain this." That nickname she had for me had me feeling so wanted by her. I wanted to answer her right away but her admitting that she had strong feelings for me had my brain in shock.

"Okay. Ummmm yes it's the mate bond attracts us but the two people decide to accept the bond. Once accepted our feelings for each other become very strong. Usually, the mate bond between wolves allows them to feel each other's pain, joy even sense where they are. I don't know how it works between us it's also new to me and my family. Remember when I said you're my weakness now?"

"Yeah."

"For anyone to bring a wolf or vampire to their knees where they are vulnerable is to hurt their mate. We are very protective of our soul mates. We won't allow any other male to touch you, come near you in any intimate way nor be around unmated males. My men are allowed around you because I trust them also they know if they disrespect me by touching you even hurting you they would die"

I realized my wolf made an appearance when she gasped in fright, I willed him to calm down before continuing to talk.

"If you have rejected me then... I don't want to even think about it. Just know what we feel for each other is real with the mate bond as a push, a stepping stone maybe"

"Wow. Okay. I can do this. I am sure I can do this" she said to herself going towards the window. Quietly I went and stood behind her and rested my hands on her shoulders, the stiffness and tension in her body melted away as I kissed her head.

"Think of it as a new life both of us are going to live. This is new to me. All the lessons Dad gave to me is what I'm doing now."

"Lessons?" Slowly she turned to me with a confused look on her face

"I must always treat my mate like the queen that she is. Care for her. Listen to her. Love her and Protect her. My mate is my life, my world, my heart she would always be my top priority I should always put her above all others. My mate is my Queen" Carefully and slowly I recited the words Angelo and I grew up by and witnessed from Dad. I lived by those words and I would die by it. For her.

Tears lingered in her eyes as I cautiously stroke her cheeks with my thumbs, I thought over the words I was about to ask her it can go both ways even after what I explained to her about mates.

"Rosaline are you willing to accept me as your mate?" I asked gazing into her beautiful eyes.

Before I can understand what I saw in her eyes, she threw her self on me capturing me in a tight hug kissing my neck then my lips, I quickly responded to it pushing her petite body against the glass behind her. I was lost in her kisses, boldly she asked for entrance by her tongue and I gladly obliged while playfully nipping it. She giggled at my playfulness against my lips I couldn't be happier its all due to this woman in my arms.

"That's a yes right?" I asked between our wild kisses.

"You bet your sweet ass it is," she said before pulling me back to her more. On cue I let out a laugh cutting our kiss, my mate is so unpredictable. "Life would never be dull with you," I said ending my laughter. Rosaline had this silly grin on her face as I looked down at her, my queen.

"Come. I need to talk to you about something more about us being mates" I said pulling her towards the leather sofa on the other side of the room.

"Do we have to? Why can't we continue kissing?" she asked pouting. Someone has gotten bolder.

"Because my love, your lunch hour is nearly up and if I continue with kissing those luscious lips of yours I won't be able to control my wolf from claiming you" I answered her while she placed herself on my lap.

"Claim me?" she asked in a somewhat confused voice.

"Claim or mark is part of the mating requirements. It's just like how the normal wolves claim their female, you know like animal planet? We bite our mates just by the curve of your neck and shoulder it's usually done while mating or when the two are ready. It's showing other males who you belong to."

"So it's like showing us off?" she asked

"No. It's claiming what is ours also it brings us closer. Wolves tend to covet other wolves' mates and I won't hesitate to get rid of them" I said holding her closer to me.

"Would it hurt?"

"From what mama and dad told me it hurt at the beginning then pure pleasure after" I answered her with a smile after I remember how silly my parents were when they were telling us when they claimed each other.

"Oh okay..... what else?" she asked. I can tell she was willing to accept it all but I don't want to scare her away. Maybe the part with her mate and his family all have gifts and when she is claimed she would also get a gift can wait. I know she would freak out if it just creep on her and I can't let that happen.

"As a royal, we are different from other wolves, we..." I started to say.

'I'm sorry for interrupting your majesty but there has been another attack by hunters this time closer to the city,' Nicky said to me over our link.

'Very well I will be there soon. How bad is it?' I asked.

'Not bad but they took a few young wolves this time' he responded.

'Be out in front with the van in five minutes.'

Focusing back to Rosaline she rolled her eyes and muttered, "Mind link".

"I got a situation to handle. Seth would drive you home. Text me when you do. We have found your protector, don't worry she's in safe hands" I quickly told her while rushing us to the door.

"Keira cancel all meetings I have for this afternoon. You can leave when its good for you" I shouted over my shoulder as the elevator door opened. Inside, were my men already suited up, Nicky handed me my bag to change quickly. I stopped the elevator and began to get rid of my jacket and dress shirt.

"Caiden what's going on?" Rosaline asked looking around her. To see my men in full defense gear with guns strapped to their backs and wearing a grim look might be too much for her. Thank you Karma, this might set us back.

"Security breach. This is what I do. I protect my people in ways they cant. This may seem a bit like......" I started to say.

"GI Joe shit," she finished for me. I bit my lip trying hard not to laugh, Nicky couldn't hold it at all which earned him a scowl from her, he got quiet instantly. "You cool with this right?" I asked slipping on my boots and guns.

"Uh yeah I guess," she answered biting her nails. The look she gave me was enough to send me wild, I can smell her arousal as her eyes took me in fully. My wolf surfaced instantly, letting out a possessive growl I pinned her to the wall capturing her lips immediately. I was lost by the way her lips felt against mine the faint sweet taste of the wine lingered on her lips.

I wasn't surprised when she responded quickly, I didn't care that my men were around as I lifted her onto my hips, her groans were loud as I grind my arousal into her core.

"Mine," I growled against her lips. Her eyes fluttered open and gazed into mine, adoration filled them as she was lowered to the floor.

"Yours" she finally said running her fingers through my hair. Someone cleared their throat bringing me out of the bubble of Rosaline and me, "Right. Work" I said trying not to be distracted again but it seems impossible when all I wanted to do is to stay with her.

I restarted the elevator and held her hand as we descended to the lobby. "How did the elevator stop when no one pressed the call button?" she asked after a moment of silence.

"Explain later," I said quickly as we all rushed outside to the two waiting vans. The patrons of the building were used to our departure and made way for us to pass, holding her hand I felt a sort of calm took over me and it stayed that way till we dropped her off at her workplace.

"Seth would be waiting for you after work. See you soon baby," I said kissing her again before she left the van.

"Y'all do look pretty hot in those gears," she said grinning as she closed the door.

That was one moment I saw my men blush holding back a laugh we made our way to Lake Union.


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


**Unknown**

"This is unheard of. Working with wolves? The same wolves we live to kill. This is all gonna end bad" one of my men was saying behind me. Practically doing a whole stage show with his doubts. It was beyond annoying. The concept of the plan was simply stated when we arrived on the east coast.

Attack the packs surrounding the target.

Gain the target's attention.

Find their weakness.

Get rid of them.

Hunting werewolves and vampires have been in our blood for centuries, these creatures who walked among us are abominations. Now they are mixed breeding creating stronger creatures. We have to get rid of them to save humanity. To do that we had to bargain with the heathens themselves but what they want in return may never happen.

"Can't we just kill the runts? No one would miss them" another said looking at the five teenagers we captured near the school a while ago. They were drugged with wolfsbane to keep their wolves dormant so they wouldn't escape.

"This is a test. If our source is true, he would come to rescue them. Remember we are not attacking just observing. We got his weakness all we need is an offense. Without him, this race would fall apart." I said turning to them.

"Yes sir" they answered loyally.

Covering our distinct scent, we left the abandoned house on the outskirts of Lake Union, surveillance cameras were hidden in the building to keep an eye on them.

"They are on their way twelve men excluding the target sir" one said over our earpiece.

Hidden a few miles away we watched as they approached the area in our van. Four wolves first approached the surrounding area from years of watching these werewolves we knew they were in defense form protecting whoever was behind them from any oncoming danger, not too long after eight other wolves made themselves known with one man walking alongside them.

"The alpha king," I said. I recognized him from the documents we received from our 'partners'.

They didn't enter the house only surrounded it. The man stood still for a moment then as if he knew we were there he turned directly into one of the tree cams we were using to spy on them. His silver eyes turned dark as he fully turned to the camera. My heart began to race faster in fear, his eyes bore into mine unseeingly in a flash our cameras went dark.

"Check the ones in the house" I ordered.

"They're out sir," was the response.

"How can all ten cameras be out at the same time?" I shouted pushing him away from the computer bay trying to re-established a connection. In our desperation trying to get the cameras back, the van jolted then began to rock slightly.

"What the fuck was that?" someone whispered. Cautiously, I stepped out armed with my gun filled will silver bullets. One by one my men followed with the same precaution, everything was undisturbed not a trace as to why the van was jolted that way. A wind could never be so powerful to do that. We made our way to the abandoned house, growls were heard a few feet away. I looked at the odds six to thirteen, surely its suicide but I won't leave before one of those beasts were dead. Without warning eight wolves broke through the bushes, canines on display to us striking fear into us momentarily. The wolves rushed towards us not caring about the weapons we had pointed at them, on instinct we began to shoot at them what happened next wasn't what we expected.

None of the bullets hit our target.

The wolves didn't even stand in awe at what was happening before them, they were gaining closer, we tried again and the same thing happened. What is going on?

"Fall back, NOW!" I yelled running ahead of them back to our van.

Screams and the sound of flesh being torn followed my path, glancing back I saw two of my men being ripped to pieces. The other wolves stilled in their attack and sat down looking at us running away.

I made it back to the van with one of my men before I heard the painful cries. We both sat frozen as we took in what was unfolding before us. The remaining two was frozen in mid-air, their cries were unbearable as their bodies began to contort in odd angles.

I watched in horror as I looked closer their bones were being broken, my gaze shifted from them to the man who was walking slowly towards them. His eyes were dark as the night, as he raised his hand towards my men, their cries went silent, they went higher with the motion of his hands.

Abruptly, he brought his hand back to his side, with that one movement they came crashing down hitting the ground with a loud thud. We said nothing as the alpha king looked at us in a domineering way.

"Leave. NOW!" he shouted at us in the most powerful voice.

"What the hell is he?"

"I don't know but our 'source' forgot to tell us something" I grounded out, putting the van in reverse.

They all were monsters but something was unheard of and I will find out.