"Aella, leave my hand please." Logan demanded. That single point of contact made him want to grab her and kiss her, hard. "Please, or I'll do something we'll both regret."

Aella was mildly surprised at the alpha's begging as she had never seen him plead for anything since she met him. She released his hand and the alpha walked to the bathroom and shut the door, leaving her alone in the room.

Immediately Logan shut the door of the bathroom, he walked to the bathroom sink and splashed water over his face in order to calm his nerves. Damn, he was so hard for her. Bringing her to his room was a terrible idea. But then, that was the only way he would be able to keep a watchful eye on her.

She was so desirable, he thought. She looked like she was specifically sculpted for him. Her large brown eyes looked like they were made only to look at him in admiration. Her lips that were now going back to their red colour after being out of the cold, was full and plump, made for him to kiss alone. And her breasts! He had seen those nipples through the thin gown she wore. He wanted to see them naked, wanted to hold them in his hands and put them to his mouth. She drove him utterly crazy.

The things he wanted to do to her were unholy and intensely sexual. If only she would give in to him. He thought he had seen the desire in her eyes but he couldn't be sure. She changed moods as swiftly as a chameleon and he did not want to make any move that would jeopardize anything they had between them forever.

You can't fight the mating bond; his beta had told him all those days ago. He could see it for himself now. He was consumed by raw lust anytime he looked at her, but beyond all the lust, he was filled with love for her. She was a strong and resilient woman, and he knew there was nothing she wanted to do that she wouldn't do if she sets her mind to it. She had survived in the wild for God knows how long while most wolves lived under their pack and alpha's protection. He did not know much about her, but the little he had seen made his heart swell with love for her.

Damn, she was so stubborn. Any other she-wolf would have given themselves to him if he showed the slightest hint of interest in them. But he knew that she would not give herself completely to him without a fight. He loved her so much for it.

Logan stripped and turned on the shower. He stepped into it and allowed the running water to wash off the stress and anxiety from his body. Apart from whatever he was going through with Aella, the other thing on his mind was the attacks on his pack members. He was at a crossroads as he did not know which step to take next. If he stopped the patrol team from staying at the border, there would not be any protection for the members of the pack. And on the other hand, if he continued to send his pack members to the border, they would continue to get killed.

Whatever or whoever was killing them was extremely patient. It never tried to attack the pack members inside the perimeter, only going for those who stayed at the boundary. It was swift and ruthless, mutilating and deforming the bodies of his pack members. Logan closed his eyes as he thought of the two wolves, he had buried some days ago, how their bellies had been torn open and their internal organs had been torn apart. His mind suddenly went to his father and how the man had failed as an alpha. Logan did not want that to happen twice in his lineage.

He finished his shower and dried himself off with a towel, putting on only his sweatpants. He walked back to the room where he found Aella sitting on the bed.

 Immediately she saw him, she stood up and came to him. The expression of longing that he had left on her face had been replaced by annoyance. 

"Logan, you haven't answered my question. What am I doing in your room?" She demanded.

"It's to keep you under a close and watchful eye. Apparently, my guards aren't enough to watch you if you could have gone that far. You were so close to escaping from me. From now on you will stay in my room till I can figure out what you're all about."

Aella folded her arms and smirked "Is that really why you want me in your room?"

Logan glared at her "What are you implying?"

"Nothing, Alpha." She replied slyly, staring at him from the corner of her eyes.

"That's just as well." He snapped "You are a spy, aren't you?"

Her smirk faded "What?"

"Yes." He answered her "I know you're up to something. Your movements have been shady these past few days."

She unfolded her arms and flared up "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Oh, yes you do." He cut her off "Why did you even attempt running away when I have told you that you would be perfectly safe under my protection? We're mates, after all. You should be around me at all times. Why would you risk the mating bond to make a run for it, unless you're running back to something?"

Aella shook her head "That's preposterous, I–"

He moved closer to her face and growled "I know who you really are, Aella. I know you were sent here by those attacking my people, and even though I cannot deny the fact that we are attracted to each another, I would not allow anyone or anything to harm my subjects, mating bond or not."

She shuffled uncomfortably "What are you even talking about?"

"I'm talking about last night, when you stole food from the kitchens. I'm talking about the clothes you packed. I'm talking about running away from the pack, from safety, from me. Now you are going to stay in this room where my eyes will be on you. You will not be allowed to leave this room or this building till I give you the go ahead. Do you understand me, Aella?"

All the intense passion that had been between them mere seconds ago had faded. He was close to her, so close that she could reach out and place her hand on his chest, but there was none of the desire or affection she so wanted to see in his eyes. He looked like he wanted to lash out at her. A hopeless pain bloomed in her chest and she looked away before he could see it in her eyes.

She laughed nervously "You must be joking."

"You think I am?" He asked her, his voice laced with danger "Try me, Aella. Take one step out of this room without my permission."

"She looked into his intense green eyes "And what are you going to do if I disobey you?"

He smiled and moved even closer to her till they were nose to nose, sharing breaths. Aella could kiss him without even moving at all.

"Just try me." He said, then moved backwards. The look she saw in his face told her that he was dead serious and she knew that it was only a matter of time before she lets her guard down and jump this man’s bones. But before she could do anything, he walked away from her and sat on the bed without saying another word.