I found Asra in his office.

I walked through his door without knocking, ignoring the surprised look of Rio as I slumped myself into the sofa with a soft sigh. Staring up at the ceiling, I ignored the probing eyes. I was a squashed marshmallow; never have I felt jelly-like. And yet, I couldn't shift the guilt eating away at me.

Someone cleared their throat, and footsteps shifted across the carpet.

"You okay there, Tulip?" Asra wondered.

My head rolled to the side, finding him still sat at his desk with an amused glint in his eye. Rio was standing before the desk, half turned to me as he stared down at some paperwork. I could tell he was pointedly trying not to pry, but by the shifting of his eyes, I knew he was looking between the two of us.

Asra's smile turned to a grimace when I didn't answer. "Ailia?"

Sullen and silent, I stared up at my mate with a pout. He cocked his head, his nostrils flaring before the familiar ache started in my temple. I watched his expressions as he searched through my head, trying to find what had happened. He would get the idea of my feelings, but until I marked him, he wouldn't be able to have full access to my head. I hoped I could read him, but being human, I doubted it somehow.

"Rio..."

"Alpha?"

"If you could excuse us one moment."

Rio's grey eyes flickered to the paperwork before he bowed. "Of course, Alpha. I shall go get refreshments."

"Thank you." Asra mumbled.

"Luna." Rio bowed, shooting me a small nod and smile before he disappeared out of the office.

Asra waited until the door clicked closed before sighing and approaching me. I watched him as he moved, his movements fluid despite his size. He crouched before me, running a hand through my hair. I gave him a faint smile, and he returned the gesture.

"Why are you upset?"

I shook my head. "I feel guilty."

His eyebrows furrowed. "What ever for?"

My chest felt heavy as I gazed into his deep blue eyes. "Being here."

"Is it the whole title? It is who you are meant to be."

I shook my head, cutting him off. "No, it's not that."

"Then what is it? Talk to me, Tulip." He pleaded, taking my hand.

I sighed, pushing myself up, so I was sitting. He moved to sit beside me, keeping my hand in his and giving it a gentle squeeze.

"I am here. In a warm, ventilated, free place where I can have as much food as I want... And my sister... she..." My lower lip quivered.

He grumbled, pulling me closer to his body until I pressed against his side. "I understand."

"Do you?" I frowned. "I don't think you do, Asra. You live here in this castle of a house, with all the money, safety, food you could ever want! I do not know what has happened to my sister, or to my hometown. I just... It's been a dream being here. Everything has passed by so quickly and I just can't help but feel guilty for never thinking of it."

"You can't blame yourself. It's been a busy couple of months."

I squeezed his thigh with my spare hand, pulling away to stare into his eyes. "But I should've thought about her, at least."

"I'm sure you did." He shook his head.

"Maybe a passing thought, but... What has happened to her? To my mother? Has she mistreated her like she did me? I don't want my sister to be subject to that harsh treatment."

He growled deeply; the sound vibrating my insides. "You think she would?"

I nodded. "She is money hungry. With me gone..."

"You fear your sister is next to be used?"

"I do." I sniffed, pinching the bridge of my nose. "What has even happened to my hometown, you know?"

The question was rhetorical, but when Asra tensed, I knew there was something up. I pulled away from him, trying to catch his gaze, but he was frowning down at his lap instead.

"Asra..." I drawled, and he grunted. "What do you know?"

"Nothing in particular." He muttered.

"So... something?" I quirked an eyebrow.

He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "After I found out about your previous... relationships, I was ready to charge that pathetic town and tear it to the ground."

My eyes widened. "Did you?"

He growled, baring his teeth. "Rio stopped me, talked me out of it."

"Oh... So, you didn't go near?" I pouted.

"I didn't even leave my pack grounds." He shook his head, finally looking me in the eye. "I sent people to scout instead. I wanted to make an attack but..."

My breath hitched as I searched his face for any sign of what he knew. His eyebrows were furrowed, lips pursed into a frown. He took my hand again, playing with my fingers as he debated his answer.

"They go on as though nothing happened." He muttered. "Everything seems normal."

"And my sister?"

"Until I know who I am looking for... I can tell them to look for her."

I swallowed. "And what of the town?"

"What about it?" He cocked his head.

I nervously licked my lips. "They are illegally hiding from you... Is anything being done?"

Asra's lips quirked in the corner as he gazed at me. "You are a clever little thing, aren't you?"

Grimacing, I nudged him with my elbow. "I was being trained to be a leading lady of that town. I know what happens to lawbreakers."

His nose twitched, swiftly revealing one sharp canine. "They are under review. It takes a while to go to trial. If this was the old times, I would've slaughtered the entire town."

Ignoring his blatant taste for human flesh, I shook my head. "Who are they?"

"So many questions." He mused as I scowled. "The human leaders are aware of trials. When they are found guilty, we will take them down. From there, the village shall be destroyed or overrun, and the humans spread out amongst wolf districts."

"When is the trial?" I cocked my head.

"I am unsure. They are not so... fast with things like this unless there is a dire need for consequence." He grimaced.

"So my sister..."

"May still be there. Someone has not brought here her as a mate since, and we killed no females that day."

I froze, looking at him with confusion. "So, they killed males? Why was this all so hidden from me? Why do I not know any of this about my old town?"

Asra growled, his chest vibrating with force. "I do not want you to think of that town. One that allows you to be mistreated, one that begs and reeks of desperation. Respect is earned, love is cherished, and I will be damned to let you go back to thinking you are nothing."

I sat watching him with wide eyes. His shoulders had broadened, chest expanding with heavy breaths. His eyes were dark, canines protruding from his mouth as he fought back his anger. Gulping, I waited for him to calm down. When it didn't seem like it was coming soon, I softly placed my hand on his cheek.

Asra blinked, his pupils fighting for control until he finally relaxed. It was funny to me; how I was doing this. I had come to this wolf pack, terrified of seeing a canine or piece of fur and yet, just this very moment, I held an almost shifted wolf by the jaw.

My lips quirked, and Asra's eyes dropped to the movement. "What is it?"

"Nothing." I laughed softly. "Just a lot of things have happened lately."

I felt him slowly melt back into the soft, warm marshmallow he often was. He wrapped an arm around my waist, pulling me so I sat on his lap. I laughed, adjusting my position as his hands moved to my ass.

Wrapping my arms around his neck, I found the short strands of hair at the back of his neck. The more summer seemed to come, the lighter his hair became. When I had first seen Asra in person, it was only brown with a mixture of natural highlights. But here, this close, I could see the caramel and lighter brown that peeked through.

I ran my hand through the entire length, snagging on a few knots along my way to the back of his head. Asra grumbled beneath me, his hands tightening on the flesh of my rear.

"What things have happened?" He wondered, referring to my comment.

I shrugged. "Just things like... here I am, sat on the big, bad wolf's lap, inches away from being clawed to death."

Asra's eyes narrowed playfully before his hand came to grasp at my jaw. I flinched automatically when his fingers dug into the joint, the familiar hold giving me way too many recollections than I'd like. Team it with his haughty eyes and grimace... I slunk away from his touch.

His eyebrows furrowed, and he released me as though I had burnt him. "What's wrong?"

Swallowing, I dipped my head and dropped my hands from his neck. "It's nothing."

"Ailia, you have spent the last ten minutes saying that something is nothing... Was I too rough?"

"No, it's just the topic..." I muttered.

His thumb gently stroked my thigh, trying to coax me out from behind my wall. I sighed, straightening my spine and facing him head on.

"The way you grabbed me, teamed with the look in your eye, just reminded me of him... I know you are not him! I know you would never hurt me. It's just... sometimes when we talk about Evermore I get on edge and..."

"It's okay." He interrupted me. "You don't need to explain everything. Just tell me what triggers you and we can understand it better."

My heart beat wildly in my chest, and I shook my head. "Not a lot does."

"If you are sure." He smiled softly, running his hand through my hair. "No more harsh throat grabbing."

I laughed, shaking my head. "The throat is... good, it's just the... joint, near my ears. It's tender."

"All the time?" He frowned, staring down at my mouth.

I nodded, hesitantly letting him into my past. "He broke it once, and it was always a target of control."

The low growl he let out didn't scare me. It weirdly comforted me knowing that he was angry about it. Once again, I rest my hand on his cheek and his eyes snapped back to mine. I felt his arms loop around my waist, pulling me into his chest until we were flush against each other.

"If I ever come across him, I will break every bone in his body." He promised.

I winced, tucking my head into his neck to inhale his scent. I felt him do the same, his nose brushing along my throat before he grumbled softly. Hesitantly, I let my lips kiss his skin, feeling him freeze and shudder when I ran my tongue along the exposed skin.

"Tulip..." He groaned as I sucked the flesh.

My lips curled into a grin, happy I distracted him from wanting to go on a blood hunt. "Cheesecake..."

"Cheesecake?"

I laughed, pushing out of his hold to stand on my feet. "Just trying them out, Butterscotch."

He scowled, reaching out to grab me, but I jumped from his hold. "I prefer my name."

I cocked my head. "Whatever you say, Mousse."

He smirked, standing to his feet, so he towered over me. I edged backwards, trying to escape him, but alas, much like the movies and books, he pinned me to the desk. I cursed, going as far as stomping my foot when I found myself trapped.

"Tulip, you tease me with your lips on my throat, and I may just bend you over and take you right here." He warned.

I shuddered, a thrilling shot of intrigue running down my spine. "How interesting."

"It can be."

I patted his chest, laughing. "Maybe another time, Butterscotch."

"Why? You got plans?" He scowled.

"No, but you do. You are going to find out about the trial, and I want to know if my sister is still alive." I deadpanned.

He slowly leaned away from, observing me curiously. "You want to know that bad?"

"I do."

"I will find out myself."

"You will?" I narrowed my eyes. "You will go there?"

"I will." He nodded. "For the trial, I can try to make it so I am present."

I felt my chest lighten with relief. "Then let's hope it's soon because I fear for her health."

"I will make sure of it." Asra nodded. "I will speak with them today."