I watched as my cake slowly began to rise in the oven. It is such a delicate process, the heat slowly injecting itself into the mix helping it grow, but with interference the whole process crumbles. The cake caves in on itself.

"You need to get up, the cold tiles aren't good for the pups." He scowled seeing me crossed legged on the floor.

I rolled my eyes ignoring him, his hand clamped around my bicep hauling me up harshly. "Go set the dinning table," he disregarded my irritation turning to the stove.

I deliberately made noise watching his body tense as the metal noise of the cutlery assaulted his sensitive ears.

I headed into the room adjacent to the kitchen, it held long windows that let the light stream in and an oval wooden table the sat six people. I neatly set the table with the placemats, making sure every seat had a glass and a knife and fork.

I stood there staring out the window admiring the birds with their wings spread out wide. Two birds happily glided together moving to a tune that I could not hear. I laughed seeing the pair interact with one another, they almost looked like they'd been dancing.

The shrill that floated around the house broke me from my trance. I quickly walked towards the door only to have my waist tackled by small arms making me smile instantly. I could feel his dark eyes analysing how tightly Beau hugged me, as if he could hurt me.

I picked Beau up placing him on my hip. I noticed the Betas mouth open about to protest but I turned quickly fleeing into the dinning room. Footsteps followed as I sat Beau down in the seat beside my own. Soon my Nana, Emmet and the Alpha all took to the various seats around the table.

"Mate will you help me lift up the dinner?" It sounded like a question. Yet there was no space for a negative response. I stood from my seat watching his wide shoulders as he walked in front of me. He had tension in his back making me wonder why. We dished up the meal in silence, I enjoyed it that way. The soothing sound of nothing kissing my ears in his presence.

I carried two plates inside while the Beta skillfully placed two plates on each thick arm. My eyes met my Nana's and I realised how little I had talked to her since they arrived from sector two. The steam raised from each plate and my stomach rumbled in anticipation from the delicious smell.

A little laugh broke the tense silence and I glanced beside me. Beau showed off his missing teeth with a grin. "Li-Li your belly sounds like a lion! You should eat."

I smiled releasing a small laugh of my own at his oblivious childlike nature. "Well I bet I can finish all of my dinner faster than you!" Beau's face changed automatically to a much more serious expression at the thought of the challenge.

He quickly picked up his fork digging in to his food. "We'll see," he whispered before he began shovelling food into his mouth. I kept smiling, a hand resting on my own distracted me from my little brother. I looked over to the Beta who watched me and my brother fondly. The genuine smile quickly disolved and was replaced by a nervous one. The males in the room began to chatter amongst themselves about pack business and I simply drowned them out.

"Lilah?" I blinked, my eyes traveling to the speaker. Everyone was focused on me and I realised that I has zoned out of reality. "Why are you wearing your collar? I told Donovan that it was no longer necessary."

My head quickly swivelled to look at Donovan in questioning. His face was a calm sea, I was a simple onlooker waiting to see what choppy waves would soon lay ahead. It was only because I was sitting in close proximity to him that I noticed the slight twitch of his lip. "I think I have the right to decide whether or not to keep the collar on my mate don't I?" His eyebrow lifted while accompanying his question.

"Oh I'm sure you are but for the benefit of the pups, future pack members of mine she will be taking it off." The Alpha continued to eat his dinner, unaware of how his simple order affected the Beta. His hand clenched around my own until his knuckles turned white.

"My pups wouldn't be affected by a simple collar Alpha, but don't worry it'll be off her by the end of the night," a hiss laced his voice. A lump formed in my throat, if he was unhappy with the thought of taking the collar off how would he behave while doing it.

I could feel the atmosphere starting to weigh down on my shoulders as the Alpha's eyes locked with the Beta's. They were challenging one another. I took a deep breath in, trying to stop the nauseous feeling from taking over. A deep rumbling came from either end of the table as they warned one another with their growls. Before I could process what was happening my body reacted as I fled the table running for the bathroom. Tears filled my eyes as everything I just ate pushed it's way up from my stomach, tearing it's acidic claws into my throat on it's way up. I emptied my stomach into the porcelain bowl until I felt as though my insides had been removed. I sat with my head resting against the seat depleted of all energy.

"Mate, are you okay?" My body didn't flinch when his fingertips descend upon my face. Without even noticing my head nodded his fingers traced strands of my hair in foreign deliciously. "It's merely sickness from the pups, you shouldn't feel like this for to much longer."

I nodded wishing that what he was saying was true. But I questioned why I had really gotten sick, was it the energy leaches inside me or had it been the tension downstairs that pushed me over the edge.

I was no stranger to the crippling tallons of anxiety, it was a monster that lived inside of me from a young age. It loved twisting and scrunching my organs inside it's unwelcome claws, pumping my heart between it's hands like a stress ball. Slithering it's way through my blood, rising towards my skin, making me breakout into a cold sweat. Yet this monster had a poison that done worse damage, it affected your mind, your thoughts. With each leak of it's wretched presence it filled your powerful brain with irrational thoughts. Sometimes some people can't recognise their monsters, because we all have different variations and no one talks about them. I had a monster residing within me and I shared a bed with another monster. One much darker, swarmed with secrets. I glanced up at my worse monster and wondered did anyone really know him at all?

"I think I'll make some tea," I spoke at my own pace before leaving him in the bathroom to clean up any mess. I floated effortlessly down the stairs, gliding into where everyone sat with empty plates in front of them. "I made cake is everyone ready for some?" Their heads nodded as I collected the plates before bringing them inside.

The roar of the kettle was the only thing to be heard as I stood in blissful silence. I quickly emptied the silver packet into my empty cup before dumping my tea bag and water in on top of it. I let it brew moving the tea bag around until there was no visible trace of my special powder. I carried a pot of tea and cups in separately before going back to retrieve my warm cake and tea.

Beau couldn't tear his eyes away from the sponge slathered in chocolate as he had never seen one before. His face contained all of his excitement. I cut him off a huge slice and smiled seeing his reaction to how amazing it tasted. Chatter continued around the table as everyone helped themselves.

I sipped my tea, but then nearly choking on it as the Beta's lips smothered my own before I swallow it. His tongue found it's way between my lips, tasting my drink. He pulled back and I noticed a droplet on his bottom lip. The silver winked at me as I held my breath, his tongue darted out lapping it up before he began laughing. I gulped as dread filled me, I was too afraid to ask what was so funny.

"Donovan I've just been notified about something that's been found near the borders. We need to go immediately." He nodded standing along with the Alpha without arguing which shocked me. His hands landed on either side of my face before his lips found my own once again.

"Stay safe Li, don't go near any of the windows. Emmett is here and so are our guards outside, I'll be back soon okay? I love you." He whispered tenderly in my ear.

"Okay." Was all that I could come up with. His eyes looked at me disappointed at my reaction but changed slowly into something that I didn't like. He looked determined, which wasn't a good sign. I watched the muscle in his back ripple as he walked away, the door slamming in his wake.

"Beau why don't you try and find a movie that we can all watch inside? Maybe Nana can help you?" I smiled seeing my Nana follow the shadow of the chocolate covered child who ran in zig zags to the sitting room.

Emmett has been in a daze since they had gotten here, he slowly stood from his seat helping me collect the dishes.

"Are you okay Emmett?" I asked cautiously not wanting to annoy him.

"Just tired that's all." His voice was strained making me wonder why.

We stood in the kitchen, I scrubbed the dirty pans and plates while Emmett dried them. Silence once again blanketed us. It was normal to me to be coddled by a comfortable silence while in his presence.

"Emmett can I ask you something?" I could see his head nod in my peripheral vision so I continue on. "If I am no longer on house arrest and the alpha is helping me, why do I still have guards posted outside my door?"

I could see his eye twitch at my question making me worry about what he might tell me. "The Beta was told that they are there for your protection which is partially true. They have been given orders to step in if the violence gets out of hand."

He coughed loudly making me look up at him. I raised my eyebrow encouraging him to explain the rest. "Lilah the guards aren't here to keep an eye on you. They're here to watch him under the Alphas order. They've reported to the Alpha that he has been leaving the house frequently the past few weeks, due to new orders one must follow him when he leaves."

I stood there soaking up all the information he just flung at me. My lips tightened in confusion.

"I'm worried about you." Instantly my eyes searched for his hearing his words.

"Why?" I asked stupidly.

"Because we don't know how dangerous he really is." I gulped nervously and for the first time in a while I worried about myself. His arms surrounded me.

One monster may have walked out of the door moments ago but the other stood behind me patting my back, discreetly leaking it's poison into my mind. Leaving me lost in a sea of questions, doubt and worry.

Sorry for the long wait guys. Hope this was okay.

Please comment it always helps. Vote If you liked it and want another update. Share if you're feeling genorous haha ~Ari.