Hey guys! So Knox's POV comes later in this chapter. For some reason I kept getting writers block when writing his, so hopefully next time I do his it'll be more fluent. Either way enjoy!

Don't forget to comment/like/fave/share.

Thanks a bunch!

Chapter 22

Opening the front door of the Light Moon pack house, the smell of Knox's familiar scent hit me like a ton of bricks. Then in a second he was running down the big staircase.

His dark brown hair a little shaggier than normal, like he had been running his hands through it. Unlike the pajamas he wore earlier this morning he wore a white dress shirt with the arms rolled up half way, and dark wash jeans.

"Where the hell have you been?" He asked anxiously, stepping closer to me.

"I told you this morning that I was going to see my parents. Why are you so riled up?" I asked with suspicion. He knew where I was, so why was he freaking out?

"You realize that you got here ten minutes after two? I told you 2 o'clock!" He stood a couple steps away from me.

"Are you kidding me?" I asked, with an annoyed tone. "I'm only ten minutes late and you're getting angry at me? And who are you to say when I get here?" I asked, feeling my face getting red with frustration.

"I'm your mate!" Knox said. A vein in his forehead showing.

I stumbled for words after he spoke. For some unusual reason, I was happy that he said it. As if he finally acknowledged me as his mate.

"No you're not Knox. You rejected me." He just needs to get that in his stupid little brain that he was stupid and that I don't want him. "Now since I had to be here at exactly 2 for, I assume, the meeting with my protectors and you, can you please take me to the meeting room?" I asked while looking him straight in the eyes.

A flash of pain shot across his features for a split second before he went expressionless. "Fine" He said and turned and walked me toward the meeting room.

"I'm sorry Hazel." I heard him mumble.

"For what?" I asked, curious.

"For rejecting you. Being a jerk." He said, looking back at me with a look of sorrow.

I just looked at him for a moment. I didn't reply to him and just let his words soak in as we made it to the meeting room.

Knox opened the door for me and I entered.

I saw everyone sitting at a long wooden table, including Archer.

He was wearing a blue hoodie and black jeans.

Seeing him made me really happy and I gave him a huge smile and I walked toward him.

"Hey babe." I smiled at him, sitting on his lap.

"Hey. You look so beautiful." He whispered, giving me a kiss on my lips.

I heard a growl and turned to see Knox glaring at us.

"There is a chair for you." Knox said nodding his head firmly at a chair at the end of the table.

I rolled my eyes and kissed Archer once more before going to sit at the chair.

"Alright, let's begin. I'd just like to start off by thanking you all for coming here and helping out the Light Moon pack." Knox said looking at everyone. He was definitely in Alpha mode right now. I hate to admit it but it was really hot.

"As you all know we have been threatened by our top enemy. I would like to give you some background on that pack. The pack is known as the Shadow Runner's. Their Alpha is a woman called Andraea Wolfgang." Knox grabbed out a picture of the woman and handed it to Porter, who was sitting on Knox's left.

"They have acquired quite a lot of members and have recently come to the decision that they could take over our land. And yes, the Light Moon pack and the Shadow Runner pack have been enemy's for many, many years but it has never come to a direct threat such as this one." The picture made its way to me and I looked into the eyes of a beautiful woman with curly brown hair that was very long and grey eyes. She didn't look like the power thirsty person that I had heard about.

"Now that you know that background, I will tell you you're duties. We need one of you to help run our boundary line with one of our protectors once a day. Other than that, we just need you to be ready to fight." Knox looked at me with a small smile, which I returned. Just to be civil.

"So you just need us to be here then? We don't need to do anything special?" Kara asked, obviously shocked at the easiness of the mission.

"Yep, that's it. Now you can all leave now." Knox said, excusing us.

Archer walked over to me and held out his hand. I grabbed it and kept hold of it while walking out the door. I didn't even look back at Knox.

"Sounds fun. This is basically a little vacation." Archer said with a small smile.

"Yea, speaking of which. We still get to go to Hawaii in a week." I smiled at him fully.

"Do you think that we'll be able to go?" Archer asked.

"Well duh!" I laughed. "We're going no matter what. They can't just keep us here!"

He wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me close as we headed toward the kitchen.

"I'm so excited! That was seriously the best gift ever!" Archer said with a sparkle in his eyes.

"I'm glad. It is going to be so fun!" I said to Archer.

"And just suggesting that we might want to run this by Knox. Just to let him know that we will be gone." Archer said with hesitation.

I sighed. "Yea, probably. We'll do that later though." I said.

"Are you doing anything tonight?" Archer asked when we got to the big kitchen.

"I am actually. I am going to hang out with Landon." I said as I opened the fridge.

"Oh. How long have you guys been friends?" Archer asked.

"Umm since 8th grade, I think. Landon and Martie were my best friends before I left." I said with sadness creeping into my voice.

"I'm sorry Hazel, but Landon was really excited to see you! I'm sure that they can still be your best friends." I looked at Archer as he said that and felt hope for my old friends.

"Thanks Archer. Hopefully I can be a better friend to them then I was. In fact, I better go find Landon right now. Then we can go find Martie." I said kissing him on the cheek.

"Ok, have fun." Archer said grabbing my hand and squeezing it three times.

I went in search of Landon's room.

~~~~~~~Knox's POV~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



Earlier that Day.

I woke up early that morning with Hazel's words still in my mind about how if I really regretting rejecting her then I wouldn't sleep with other girls. It just kept replaying in my mind, like a broken record.

I was currently sitting at my desk working on bills, bleh.

Honestly though, I didn't know what I wanted. I didn't know if I wanted Hazel or if I didn't. Two years ago, when I smelled the delicious smell of what I would assume warmth smelled like, I knew that I didn't want my mate. I mean I was 18! I was the new good looking Alpha; I didn't want to be held down!

But now there are times when I really don't want Hazel, but then when I see her I want her more than anything.

She is just so beautiful and I can tell that she was loved at the Farkas pack judging on how Alpha Royce talked about their top protector. Little did I know that he was talking about my beautiful mate.

I heard my door open and the enticing smell of Hazel came wafting into my office.

I quickly looked up at her and of course she looked stunning, but quickly looked back down. Being in this small space with her was difficult, especially because the separation is unwinding itself, causing me to want her more than usual.

I kept my gaze on my papers, because I knew that if I looked at her for too long I might just end up groveling at her feet for forgiveness.

"Hello to you too." I heard her say sarcastically. I inwardly chuckled, but stayed silent.

"I'll get to the point, I need a car." She said to me, causing me to go on panic mode.

"Why would you need a car?" I asked, hiding the panic rather nicely.

What if she wanted one to leave, and go back to her "pack"? What if she and that tool Archer were going to leave together? I got angry just thinking about those two together. I'm her mate, not him!

"I am going to see my parents." She said, pulling me out of wonder.

"Fine." I said, opening the drawer that held all my keys.

I looked down and every car that I could give her and decided on my favorite. She is my mate after all. I pulled out the Aston Martin Vanquish keys and held them out to her.

"Here" I said.

She grabbed for them and our fingers brushed against each other and the most pleasurable warmth ran up my arm. I couldn't help the smile that snuck on my face.

Maybe she felt it too. Hopefully she did, and then she could see that the separation has been rekindling.

If she did or didn't, she pulled away quickly and was quickly walking toward the door.

"Thanks Knox."

That was the first time that she had ever said my name, and I liked it. Her soft voice got me excited way more than it should have.

"Be back by 2!" I said, trying to keep my voice normal. I don't think it worked.

She looked back at me and we made eye contact. I was frozen in place just looking at her. Her dazzling green eyes mesmerized me and I couldn't think.

All too soon, she broke eye contact and left. Leaving me to my thoughts.

I finally was done with all my work for the day and just wanted to watch TV. I left my office and went down the hall toward the living room.

"Knox!" Oh god.

I turned to see none other than Courtney. She would not leave me alone!

Ever since that first night, she would always find me no matter where I was.

"Courtney." I said as I nodded my head.

She just about kissed my cheek but I quickly leaned away.

"Courtney, I have told you. I'm not interested." I stated firmly.

"But you were interested a couple nights ago." Courtney whispered trying way too hard to sound sexy.

"Courtney that was the last time. I'm done with you." I know it sounds harsh, but I repeatedly tell her that I'm done. Although I haven't been that firm with her, now I really am done with her.

"Oh you know that's not true. We've had a thing since day one." She said while readjusting her way too tight tank top.

"No we haven't, so just leave me alone." I said, leaving her in the hallway and going to the kitchen.

As I was walking away I heard her high heels clomp on the ground harshly as she left.

Relived that she didn't follow me like she usually does, I made my way to the living room.

My beta and best friend was sitting on the couch watching TV when I got to the room

His curly blonde hair always gave him away.

"Oliver." I acknowledged him, and sat on the couch.

"Hey Knox. What's up?" He looked at me.

"Nothing, I'm just exhausted." I replied.

"Same. What have you been doing all day?" He asked, turning the volume on the television down.

"Bills, bills, and more bills." I chuckled at my own joke.

"Aww. I could have helped you, if you would just tell me when you do them." He looked at me.

"You know that I like to do them alone. That way I know if it is getting done right." I stated eyeing him back.

Last time I let him help me he messed up all the checks and stuff and I had to start all over. It sucked.

"Yeah, yeah. But that was a onetime deal. I won't do it again." He replied.

"I love how you're begging me to do bills." I laughed.

"Oh right, I am huh? Never mind, I suck at bills." He quickly spit out.

I just laughed and we went back to watching TV.

I stared at the clock just as the big hand ticked 2.

Hazel should be here by now.

I went to the garage and didn't see my car there yet.

I started pacing back and forth in my bedroom.

What if the Shadow Runners somehow found out that we were mates and kidnapped her?

What if she did actually run away?

I anxiously kept running my hand through my hair, no doubt messing it up.

I just kept pacing, and pacing. Maybe something happened to her.

I don't know what I'd do without her.

I stopped pacing, shocked at my own thoughts.

It hit me right then. I do want her.

I was so stupid before. Why the hell didn't I try to find her? Now she hates me.

But you can't hate your mate, right? I never hated her, but she also didn't reject me and then sleep with other people.

Yeah, she probably hates me.

I think all I need to do is become her friend, get to know her. Let her see the real me.

Then maybe just maybe she will forgive me.

Wow, even saying it sounded impossible.

I heard the front door close and I darted out of my room.