Chapter Twelve

Pierce's P.O.V

Every moment that passed by with Isaac was hell. Words could not explain the kind of special torment I endured all for the sake of my father and the loyalty I had sworn to this pack years and years ago. Nothing is inherently wrong with him. He's just. . .different. I expected him to change in a way that was better for the pack not worse.

I am his Beta. Not an Alpha. He cannot keep shrugging his duties on me and going off to do dumb things only a child would care to think of in his position. I huff out madly as I stamp and sign the last of the documents left on the desk for me. I am not a secretary.

"Oh. Pierce. You're still here." Isaac asks drunkenly while holding a she-wolf in each arm. It took all of me not to glare daggers into his soul right now, instead I nod my head.

"Someone had to do it and it surely wasn't going to be you."

"A little snippy don't you think? It's Saturday. Go grab a drink." He walks inside his office and gives me a strong pat. "No need to be like this. Relax." His hot breath comes wafting towards me causing me to turn my head and nod silently. I will not allow him to run this pack into the ground.

"As you say." One of his hands find their way into my hair tousling my hair this way and that.

"You have such fine hair. . .thick, dark, straight locks of hair that is silky under the touch." I grab his wrist gently into my hand and take his hand away from me. "You're drunk."

"Amber, Lisa. Go take him to room and have him lay down. He needs to rest." I get up from his seat and tower a good four inches over him.

"Don't listen to him. Just leave." I give him a questionable look, but he doesn't even bother to look at me. Instead he goes and sits in the chair I just got up from making me turn around and eye him warily. ". . .You need to sleep."

"Don't tell me what I need. As I do recall, I have a mother." A sigh escapes me. After spending seven hours of the day doing the paperwork for both him and I for the past month, I've grown extremely tired of this and him. Everyone has their own way of grieving. I understand. But he is taking his "method" too far, to the point to where lives are at stake.

"I know I must be exhausting." I blink a couple times and turn to look at him. "Forgive me." He says as soberly as he possibly can. "I don't have anyone I can rely on, but you."

"I wouldn't necessarily call it relying at this point." He starts to laugh, but I find nothing that I just said funny. "You've done nothing but shrug your duties onto me. I'm doing your work and as of right now you're merely just holding a title."

"So. . .you're saying I'm using you?"

"Practically." I scoff out. "I lost my father too, but I know when enough is enough Isaac."

"So. . .you want me to find comfort in a different way?"I look at him completely drained of this conversation. He has been acting like a complete child. He is twenty-three. There is no excuse for his past actions.

"Pierce."

I close my eyes annoyingly and open them only to be tugged down by my belt loops towards his face. "You have the most gorgeous eyes. . .and a nice smile as well. It's no wonder all the she-wolves want to date you. You leak sex appeal and just by your physique alone they know they'll be taken care of. . .whoever that lucky she-wolf might be."

I blink a couple times not knowing what to say to that. "And your lips. . ." I push away from him and narrow my eyes. "Isaac now isn't the time for this."

"Who is it?"

". . ."

"You would never act like this. . .after all the other times. Now you act as if you cannot accept a simple compliment." His hand brushes down my chest causing me to back up a little further. "You're drunk."

"I'm sober enough to know what I want."

". . .Isaac. . ."

He starts laughing out loud and shakes his head. "I'm just toying with you. No one wants to be with someone like you. You're feelings get hurt easily. You trust in others too much causing you to become almost gullible. And goddess Pierce, you're so. . .you."

". . ."

"Tomorrow. . .we start on our trek to the Northerner's Territory. Apparently one of their high ranking guardians would like to invite us to a wedding. A wedding Pierce. A wedding. Showcasing their alliance with the Westerners. I really need to drink right now."

He tries to reach for the drink he sat on the table, but I purposely spill it. "Get yourself together. People in this pack are looking to you for guidance, leadership, and protection. How do you think they would react if they saw you like this?" I ask madly, however it only causes him to shrug.

I prepared myself for that kind of response."It won't lead to war if it can be avoided Isaac. Just because the Alpha is wedding a Westerner doesn't mean that they're scheming to kill us all off. You're acting hysterical."

"Next you're gunna say 'they're not as bad as you think' right? You've been their captive for far too long. It messed with your thought process." He hits me playfully on the leg with his, but I only move away from him. I don't think I can go my entire life serving someone like him. He's not worthy of the title Alpha, nonetheless, my service.

"I advise you to worry about yours for now on." I try to walk out the room but he calls my name before I can.

"Pierce. You know you are also coming along with us as well, right? You lived with those weres for a month. You would benefit us greatly if you came." I try not to show my complete desire to come after all that I said. "As you wish."

I miss him. I've finally managed to come to terms with this yearning feeling nestled in the pit of my stomach. It's because I've been away from him too long. All my life I've been accustomed to not relying on people or getting "too attached". And here I am now, neck deep in my growing feelings for a man I barely know.

Still, I can't wait to see him.

"You say to get it together. . .and I promise you I will. Just give me this last day." I give him one last look and head outside the door and down the stairs. I'm paying him no mind. No matter what he says. It needs to be said through actions not words. As his puppyhood long friend, I don't want to travel down the road he has set up for himself. . .but if it has to be done. It has to be done.

I won't have him destroy centuries of history because of his unexpected loss.

Once I open up the door to outside Kenzie comes crashing down me and plants a long, hard wet kiss on the side of my cheek and a very light one on my lips. "Kenzie." I start laughing as she shifts her body strategically on me whereas I can't push her off me without touching somewhere I don't exactly want to touch. Her hair falls down in cascades covering most of her face as she begins to laugh and nuzzle my neck.

"You're a mess." I say after I feel her arms wrap around me.

"You're a mess." She mumbles into my neck causing me to bite down on my lip. "You know. . .you can't keep doing this anymore."

"I've been doing this since we were three Pierce. Three! All this lovin' is never going to end." She nuzzles her nose into my neck causing me to laugh softly. Goddess, I love this girl. I run my hands through her hair with a lazy smile playing on my lips. That's why. . .I really want to tell her.

"Hey. . .do you believe you're fated to be with someone the moment you're born?" She gives me a small smile before nodding.

"Of course I do, but I also believe life gives you choices. You don't have to be with that person if you choose not to be." She stares into my eyes for half a second before smiling widely. "What? You found someone you're actually interested in? It's not just a week thing?"

I let out a long sigh as she starts laughing again. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bring her up again. Man, she was bat-shit crazy in love with you."

"She was crazy. . .but her feelings were sincere. Feeling that way about someone. . .it's something everyone wants to feel right?"

"Of course. As long as if it's reciprocated that is." Her voice is a little softer than usual causing me to look at her. "You're speaking of mates right?" I nod and let my hands fall to the sides of me. ". . .I think I may have found mine." Her eyes widen and narrow as quick as a blink of an eye and a very small smile forms on her lips.

"So do you feel it? That feeling. . ."

"In the beginning, it was confusing. Caring about someone I knew little to anything about. I like him. I know that for a fact. . . .Somehow it's all falling into place." I mumble incoherently but I know she understood me.

"Wow. You should have told me that!" She gets from over me a little and hits me playfully on the chest. "She's such a lucky-"

"He. . ."

"Heee?" She starts laughing a little. "Well thank the goddess for that. I don't think I would be able to stand you being with another girl besides me~." She kisses my cheek again causing me to huff out. "You need to get a lover or something. I think you're taking your sexual frustration out on me. Again."

"And what makes you think that?" Her nose touches mine causing me to bite a little harder on my bottom lip. Surprisingly, despite what everyone thinks, we haven't slept together. We're just really good friends. In a sense, she is the love of my life when it comes to friends. It's ok to blurr the lines a little bit with her. It's how we've always been.

Her nose scrunches as she laughs a little causing me to smile. "You're afraid someone's going to see us again huh?" I roll my eyes while not trying to break into a laugh. The last time it was complete misunderstanding. It was unbelievably messy. "Just. . .just promise me you'll go easy on Isaac. He's had a rough time and I know you. Just don't make any rash decisions right now."

"For you, I promise I will." I brush my hand lightly down her cheek wishing I could just smother her with kisses. She's unbelievably sweet. She has a big heart and that's what I'm so afraid of. I don't want someone ever hurting her. Her head begins to lean into my hand. I especially don't want that person to be me.

". . .I really do love you Pierce." She adds in as a low mumble causing my eyes to fall.

"I love you too." I kiss her lips lightly and linger a little longer before kissing her again. "Twice as much."

"Then don't feel like you can't tell me things. It doesn't matter what. What we have. . .what I think of you will never change. No matter what. Okay?" She leans her forehead onto mine causing me to smile and nod.

"No matter what."

____________________________________________________________

"Pierce. When we arrive I want you to be on your highest alert. We never trust Northerners, no matter their courtesies. They are known for being betrayers and wretched liars." I nod my head as I keep an even pace with him.

"You will show me who imprisoned you."

". . .That's unnecessary." I try to hide the panic from my eyes as best as I can.

"It is neccesary. You are my beta and they treated you like dirt beneath their paws." He says while glaring at no one in particular.

"That's not necessarily true. . .Isaac. They treated me kind enough."

"Ah yes, everyone likes a hundred lashings on their back or so."

"I can take pain. What you truly need to worry about is this marriage and how it will impact us. We don't need any more unecessary falling outs with them as of right now. Our pack won't be able to handle it." He nods his head solemnly not bothering to meet my eyes. I know he wants revenge for the death of his father, but it shouldn't be like this.

Whoever their Alpha is. . . must know there is a death note out for his head. What he had done is unforgivable. "While we are attending their ceremony we must be hospitable and uphold the golden rules of hospitality Isaac. They prove to be no exception."

He scoffs under his breath and doesn't bother to make eye contact with me. "I swear I have lost a father and gained another mother." I ignore his comment and focus on the gates ahead of us. It's gaurded with so much weres and security.

There will be a time for retribution, just not now. The time will surely come and when it does. . . I will be more than happy to indulge in his bloodlust.

Until then. . ." The Eastern Party has arrived." I hear one of the gaurds shout to one another. One of them hurry down the ladder and open up the gate. He turns a knob and then a wheel. The gates slowly begins to rise with a slight screech coming from the rustic henges. As soon they fully rised, the sun-kissed man scurries back up the ladder and looks at us with wary eyes and wonder as we enter.

I made no attempt to hurry in because I can't help but help but feel this feeling of dread. As long as we're here, it's pressuring me more and more to tell him about Cassius. However if he isn't willing to accept him. . .the consequences. . .the assumptions and remarks would be immense.

I look around for Kenzie before Isaac can notice I'm not by his side. Just by the smell of this place alone brought so much memories of him and my time spent here to the forefront of my mind along with the pressing need to seek him out. Despite my reluctance to admit it, I want to hear his voice again. I want to see that smile and hesitant laugh.

Soon enough I find her by the food, helping herself to all these different kinds of substenance she knows little to anything about. "This place is very. . .nice. Gold things everywhere. Buildings built so high! And the clothing and fabrics. God even the food. . ." The sparkle in her eyes said all that needs to be said.

"It is quite different from our pack, I must admit. But the granduere of this place will fade with time. You'll be missing home soon enough." She stuffs a bunch of little cakes in her mouth and continues on down the path that leads to the entrance of the Grand Hall.

"So. . .you're guy is here?" She asks as she stuffs another one in her mouth causing me to shake my head then nod. "Are you going to go see him now? If you don't it'll be kind of hard to separate away from Isaac. You are suppose to be with him at all times you know."

"I know." As soon as the big golden doors open I can faintly make out his scent sending my wolf down into a spiral of giddiness and anxiousness. "Just watch him for me."

"For how long?" She gives me a skeptical look causing me to bite down on my lip and shrug. "An hour maybe two."

"And when can I meet him?"

"For the love of the Lunar Goddess Kenzie, stop with all the questions." I try to walk away but she grabs my arm. "Just be back by sundown. All the excuses in the world won't help you if you are late for the feast being held in our Alpha's name." I purse my lips, nod, and bolt down the long hallway.

I have no idea where I'm going. I'm just following the slight scent of him that's growing more and more distinct by the second. He has such a distinct smell it's hard to mix it up with anything else. Overall, it drives my wolf insane with the need to touch him, see him, anything will do. He just has to be tangible to me.

As soon as I round the corner I bump into someone causing the person to fall back a little then eye me like I'm some kind of filth. "Oh so we meet again, Pierce. On rather, interesting terms this time nonetheless."

"So good to see you doing well, Stevens." He gives me a fake smile. In repsonse I give him a very disgraceful bow causing him to push on my shoulder as he passes me. I am not so well-loved by his inner circle. I don't know whether that'll cause an inner conflict or not, but for now it doesn't matter. I just want to see him.

I continue down the hallway and soon enough I see Grimm along with Cassius and Addelin. This fuzzy tightening feeling begins to appear in my chest causing me the hesitate and stop for a second. His amber eyes widen at the sight of me. Addelin looks at him then me and gives me a warm smile.

"So nice to see you again Pierce." I give him a small smile and a slight bow to Grimm before they continue to walk until they are pass me.

Cassius just continues to eye me looking like he is completely unsure of this situation when he should be more than happy to see me. Despite the small tension beginning to form between us I walk up to him and wrap him in my arms. Goddess, he smells so damn good. I put my nose in the crook of his neck as I hug him just a little tighter. Soon enough, I begin to feel his arms wrapping loosely around me then tightening after a couple of seconds.

". . .Hey." He mumbles in my chest causing mini little sparks to go through it. I hug him even tighter causing him to laugh in my chest. "You really do smell good Pierce. . .but you're smooshing my face into your chest." I let go as quick as I understood him.

"My apologies . ."

"No it's fine. . ." He looks towards the ground then finally back at me. "I missed you too you know. . .almost immensely." I see a small smile then a huge grin after a couple of seconds. I bend down a little, just a few milliinches away from his lips. For some reason I love to just stare into his eyes and just look. There is so much emotion in them then there usually are for most weres. They're gorgeous, just like everything else about him. I see his eyes fall down to my lips then back up to my eyes. "What are you waiting for?"

Just as the longing to feel him against me becomes unbearable I feel his arms bind around my neck bringing me down a little lower. He gives me another small smile before covering my lips with his own. His warm breath sent a trail sparks down into my body causing me to press a little harder and deeper getting completely lost in the sweet taste of peppermint and honey cloves.

I can feel his heart beating against my chest. It quickly begins to pick up its pace as my hands wander from his face down to the hem of shirt. My hands snake their way inside feeling his warm, soft skin against my cool finger-light touch. He lets out a sensual moan causing it to travel all throughout my body. I press myself against him until his back is up against a pillar and soon enough he pulls away from me to break for air. Fully flushed and all.

". . .You're a terribly good kisser. . ." He says still trying to catch his breath. I smirk at this and continue to press my lips against his cheek and down his face until I'm at his neck. I leave light, small kisses around his neck causing him to put both his arms out and push me a little away from him. I know I must be a little slower with him, but it's hard considering the circumstances. However, I don't think that's the reason why.

I can smell it and goddess is it tempting. I purposely press my body further into his hands until I'm hovering over him. "You smell good." I say close to whisper towards his ear. If his blush could turn any redder it would have. Is it wrong to say I love to tease him?

After a long moment of silence he finally manages to mumble out, "You really are terrible. . ." I take his chin in my hand causing him to look at me. "You're so proud even in situations like this." Soon enough my thumb finds it way to his bottom lip resisting the urge to kiss him again. He nibbles on his lip a little bit before sighing out. ". . .So what? I love it when you kiss me like that. . ."

"I love it when you look at me like you want to eat every last bit of me." He tucks in his lips trying his best not to blush from complete embarrassment, but as always it fails incredibly. He lights up like a tree decorated for the Blue Lunar Night. There is no guessing with him, I know how he feels and what he wants almost instantly. There's no games, no riddles, or complicated feelings with him. He's genuinely honest and straightforward.

I think. . .that's why I like him so much.

". . .Pierce. There is some things I must discuss with you. It's rather urgent. . .so if you can meet me somewhere later tomorrow. . ." His voice trails off causing me to nod.

"Of course." He rakes back some of his loose strands of hair from his face before kissing me lightly on my lips. Before he can completely let go I press my lips to his unexpecting ones. Like clock work, I hear a very satisfying moan come from him. As my hand presses against his cheek, I can feel his face getting hotter by the second.

". . .Can you please stop doing that?" He says close to breathless while pushing me fully away from him. "Can you tell the moon to stop rising?"

"Pierce." His voice held a sense of reprimand, but I ignore it as I usually always do. I lick my thumb and press it over the slight bite I gave him causing his eyes to fall and eyebrows to furrow. Obviously something must be on his mind. However, I already know if I ask he isn't going to tell me. I'll have to talk to him about it tomorrow...

He looks pass me and gives me a little smile. Just as I'm about to say something he cuts me off.". . .and I believe you have a guest." I quickly turn around and Kenzie staring at him then me. It gave him more enough time to walk away in the same direction Grimm and Addelin left towards.

She gives me a small smile before turning back around. "Wait. Kenzie.." She puts her hand up, a gesture for me not to follow her. Is there something I'm not getting?

I touch my lips subconsciously and sigh out loud. Goddess, I miss his lips already. I swear. . .something's wrong with me. My had falls against my cheek then my forehead feeling just how hot and feverish I'm becoming.

And I hate it. . . .Not having control over my emotions.