James and Thomas reacted when Laurel mentioned that she wanted to meet Charles.

Her mate's Alpha instincts kicked in. His protectiveness over his loved ones made him not think clearly. The couple raised their voices while talking, with James winning the confrontation. Laurel tried to explain her motives, but he didn't want her to go. He was afraid that Charles would do something to her. He trusted her completely and had faith in her powers, but at that particular moment, his heart proved stronger than logic.

Thomas stood there, watching them fight while he was exhaling noisily through his pursed lips. He couldn't understand why his best friend wanted to speak with that monster.

"Stop that, Thomas!" She stopped talking to James, never leaving his eyes. She had sensed Thomas's discomfort and disagreement but thought that he was overreacting.

"Oh, please! Don't tell me that I'm the absurd one here!" he fumed.

"Thomas is right. Zach is working on finding the location. You don't have to see him. Don't you understand that you only increase his megalomania?"

"Zach is working on many different projects. If I can find out the location, he'll have less caseload. Also, I can handle him," she said as a matter-of-fact and gave them a face-wide smile.

"No matter what I say, you will go, right?"

Laurel took a step closer to James and touched his cheek. With a half-smile and an adoring gaze, she verified him, "Exactly. See? You know me well enough to understand that if I want something, I take it. I'll be fine. And if I'm not, you will know it immediately."

Their bond grew stronger with each passing day. They were trying to hold themselves in training to avoid further hits and bruises on their bodies, but they had noticed that sometimes they could feel even the slightest touch. In some cases, it was useful. For example, when they were alone, enjoying their time together, their senses were exploding from pleasure and excitement. However, the constant growth of that part of their bond worried them.

They tried not to talk a lot about it, but they feared what might happen to the other if one of them was badly injured or worse.

Laurel knew that they were both thinking the same thing. She didn't need the bond or their mind link to understand it. She could see his tense body and listen to his raised heartbeat.

"Nothing is going to happen," she said and turned her head to Thomas.

He hadn't muttered a word.

"What? Do you want me to lock you inside or do you expect me to drag you to your room?" He put his hands in front of his chest. "If he tries anything," his tone changed to a worried one, "you will kick him and run. No fighting. Not today, at least." He smirked.

She cracked up. "Okay, big wolf. No fighting."

Laurel knew he wouldn't hurt her. He was obsessed with her. Somewhere deep in his crazy mind, he believed that he was in love with her and that he was the right one for her.

However, she knew that this wasn't true. Charles never had real feelings about anyone. She knew his story. His parents died in a questionable accident, and he was raised by his aunt, who died when he was too young to live on his own.

He had barely found out his abilities as a werewolf, and he thought he was capable enough to survive alone. Year after year, Charles got into more trouble and met many prominent people from the worst parts and small societies this world had to offer. Soon, he realized what a great influence he could create upon others and how easy it was to manipulate and deceive.

Wittiness and ambition were his most exceptional traits. He wanted to rule the world because he thought he deserved it after his survival without people around him to help him. When he met Laurel, something dark and hidden arose from the deepest parts of his existence and became delusional and possessive.

Charles needed to love someone because he thought that only then he would be complete. To everyone else, he was powerful and cunning, but she knew how damaged he truly was. She also believed that she was maybe the only one who could reach out to what was left of his soul.

Lyra and she made a plan during the ride to the meeting point about how she would approach him. She arrived five minutes earlier that gave her enough time to calm herself and gather her thoughts.

"That was unexpected."

She turned around and saw him walking toward her alone, without weapons. She smiled internally, seeing that he had obeyed her orders. Using her senses, she smelled and tried to listen and find out if anyone was hiding near them. Nothing. They were alone.

"I wanted to talk to you."

"I'm here and ready to listen."

"I've been thinking lately about who I am now and how others see me. Everyone says I've changed, but I know they are wrong. They want to see light and good in me and they are so convinced that they are right. We know better, don't we?" she asked and waited for the answer.

"I think you were always yourself. Sometimes some specific traits of yours are more prominent, but your true self was always there. They can't see it because they don't want to. But I do," he said and came so close to Laurel that she could extend her arm and touch him.

"You could always see my soul." She smiled melancholically and sat at a huge rock that laid near her.

"Yes, and I've never walked away from you because of it."

Laurel looked at him with a sad face, but in reality, she was pleased with herself. She needed him to remember how precious she was to him. She wanted to make him believe that they shared a bond like no other. Lyra was purring pleasantly inside her head and approved her words so far. So, she went on.

"I know, and I appreciate it. I understand that there is a part of me that is dark and powerful, but the truth is I am trying to hide it. I know it's wrong. I have to embrace it and fully accept it. Right?" she asked as if she was waiting for approval.

"Exactly! Laurel, my offer still stands. Come with me. I am going to make this world worth living. No one will be able to fight us, and you will be my queen. You won't have to hide or pretend to be what they want you to be. Come with me, Laurel," he pleaded with eyes shining more and more in excitement.

"I'm sorry, Charles. I can't.'' She removed her hands from his. "At least, not until you leave my mother. You know I can't be near her. She hurt me a lot, and she is the main reason I'm in pain. I thought my sister died, and it turned out that she lied to me. If it wasn't for you, I would still be in the dark. Thank you."

"It makes me very happy to hear that. You are right. It was a mistake to say something like that. I understand. Will you come with me when it is all over? I can give you everything you want."

"I need to know more about your plan. I mean, how am I going to be a queen? Have you found a way to make everyone obey you?" she asked pretentiously innocently.

"She said I can't talk about that."

"Maybe she's afraid of what we have. Has she ever connected with someone like you and me? I doubt it," she told him and sat closer to him. She was so close to learning their plan, and she couldn't afford to screw it.

"I think she is jealous. I can't tell you about the plan," he said finally and Laurel put a sad face. "But I can tell you where it will all end and start again. The world is going to change, and I want you to be there to see it firsthand."

"Will you really do me that favor?"

He leaned closer and, with his right hand, touched her hair and put it behind her ear. He went closer, put his lips next to her ear, and whispered to her the place she was looking for. After talking, he leaned a little more and planted a small kiss on her cheek while she pretended to be happy and thankful.

"I'm sorry for leaving you that day. And I'm sorry for what I told you. You deserve better," she said, meaning the time she abandoned him hurt and destroyed.

"I'll be waiting for you. I can't wait to change this world."

"That makes us two!" She faked a smile, and the moment she made sure he was gone, she wiped her cheek with her palm trying to remove the scent he had left on it.

"The world will change, but not because of you. It will change because I'll be done with you and my mother!" she promised to herself and started driving back to the Blue Moon pack.

She would spend the night there, and she couldn't wait to be done with her two-hour-long drive back home. She smiled to herself. "Home." It was a simple word and, yet, it made her heart flutter with joy.

When she returned home, Lena was gone, and Thomas had gone to survey the witches' village. Laurel wanted to keep an eye on them. They were unpredictable, and her instinct told her to be careful and wait for more.

She found Liz, Alex, and Asher cooking while Tyler and Chloe were in the garden playing with some kids of the pack. Her Chloe seemed so happy and peaceful. She had a genuine smile on her face, and her eyes were glimmering.

She heard giggles from the kitchen and found Liz almost on the ground. She had fallen from her chair in an attempt to reach a bowl, but instead, she slipped. Alex rushed to pick her up even though he was laughing himself.

"I hope there is enough food for all of us. I'm starving," Laurel informed them, trying to stop laughing, picked up a spoon and started stirring the ingredients in a purple bowl.

"Don't worry about that."

"Do you have blood?" she asked Asher.

He could eat human food, but it wasn't nutritional to him. Only blood could keep him alive.

"Yup. I brought some packages from the hospital. Liz was kind enough to let me put them in the fridge."

"Don't mention it," she said with a wave of her hand and helped Alex, who was struggling with the pan.

"Where are James and Zach?"

"Upstairs. In James' office. You know the way."

Indeed, she knew it. How strange it was! Her life had changed drastically in such a short time. It had been two months since the madness with Graham, the vampire that turned Asher, started, and now she was home, in her pack with her mate and their family. She had only spent a few hours in her new home, but James had given her a tour and was quite familiar with everything.

James and her, now, shared a bedroom, and she had already chosen a room for Lucy. Soon, she would be with her sister again, and her family would be complete.

Laurel headed to the bedroom and changed clothes. She put the old ones in the laundry and took a quick shower to remove every scent of Charles. The door of the room opened and then closed again. A familiar scent of wildflowers, that she could detect from miles away, hit her nostrils. His scent was, constantly, in her mind, and she could never forget it. He came inside the bathroom, and with a smirk and slightly darker eyes, he removed his clothes and got in the shower.

The water was spraying them and watering every inch of their bodies, getting into their eyes, but that didn't stop them. He pinned her to the wall with her back touching his chest and raised a little her right leg. He started kissing her neck, and she turned her head slightly to give him more access. She placed firmly one of her hands on the wall to steady herself, and with the other, she touched his neck and hair and pulled him closer.

She started moaning, and he kept touching her and putting her body on fire in a way that no water could put it out.

"Don't stop," she whispered while their breaths deepened.

"I love you, Laurel," he said and tightened his grip on her waist.

Everyone was waiting for them for dinner, but when they saw that the two mates weren't going to show up any time soon, they started eating without them. There was no shame about these kinds of things in their house. Thankfully nothing could be heard, for the walls of the bedrooms were soundproof.

Later that night, Laurel, exhausted and no longer hungry, let her head rest on his chest, and the sound of his beating heart lulled her to sleep. He hugged her and felt the warmth of her body. A welcoming feeling came rushing to him.

They say home is where your heart is, and they are right.

James's heart belonged to Laurel, and he was feeling at home only when she was around.