The smell of dawn was intoxicating, like the first light of a cigar…and the breath after. Rumen turned on his side to face the beginnings of daylight as a mass of thin, dark stands tumbled out of his face. His back was immediately met with a more than welcome warmth and a pale arm came across his torso over the white sheets.

"Mmm…morning." A feminine voice mumbled.

"Morning." He grunted, black irises fixed on the shade-less window. He could see the front yard from the enormous bed. It was spotless, though the window itself was starting to be overtaken by the native plant life. He'd have to have someone see to that…

His mate was crawling out of bed by now, he felt. He turned himself back over to watch the young woman, a much desirable blonde. It was her natural color too with darker strands thrown into the mix. They called it "dirty blonde" – which she was in more than one way. She still had those baby blue eyes and baby cheeks, even had a nice mole on the corner of her upper lip. Her skin was smooth, absolutely pink with some form of youth she still hadn't lost. Of course, he had no idea what it was that kept her this sexy – genes from hell, maybe. With how narrow that nose was he could believe it. 'What is…' Rumen squinted as the girl, hunched over, pulled on her shorts. There was a very light mark on her hip; the shape appeared to be that of an oval. That was new.

The sound of shouting broke his attention. Blue eyes met his, then they both flickered to the door of the master room. His mate zipped the gap of her denim and pushed the button through its hole. Rumen now left the bed, a slight shiver building on his shoulders from the cool air. He took a moment to pull on some underwear as the commotion began to shake the morning into action. He could feel the floor shaking…which wasn't saying much when he took into account the man who was causing it. As Rumen pulled on a pair of jeans, he could hear bare feet stomping up the stairs. His mate gave him a look of agitation.

The door swung open with a rage only a brother could appreciate. Rumen was indifferent this morning, however, as he saw Rex blocking the view of the hall. He was a tad bit taller than Rumen as the older of the two. He had a nice bulk to him and a personality to match. He was unusually angry this morning, however. And he was towing someone along.

"Rex, do you have any idea what time it is?" His mate, Tess, was staring at him. An unamused look took over her face as she crossed her arms over her chest; Rumen could still see the lacey bra.

"Try telling that to this little fucker!" His voice boomed. His left arm came into view then. His fingers were caught in a thick mess of loose mahogany curls. Rumen could hear a whimper. Rex pulled her from her knees until she was standing, the long mess falling from her face. Her face… His body became rigid. Rex was talking again with his annoyingly loud tone, but Rumen wasn't listening anymore. Something had him…and it had him tight. Tess must have noticed because he could see her now, talking. But he couldn't hear her. Rex had him by the shoulders, the animal rage now replaced with a genuine concern. And the girl…he couldn't shake her eyes from his mind. They were light…like amber. Round face…bronzed skin…small features…so beautiful. 'Holy fuck…'

"RUMEN. Come on, snap out of it!"

The blur was over. For a second.

It all happened so suddenly.

Tess was visibly furious, but her hatred was unlike anything he'd seen. Rex, on the other hand, was a confused fool's toy. He did not see coming what happened next.

Tess grabbed the girl by her hair and slammed her down into the hardwood floor. She had her fingers on her neck while she sat positioned on the girl's legs. Rumen barely had time to think before he realized what he was doing. He'd attacked Tess, throwing her off the girl and into the hall. They stared down on another for a split second before they took aim at one another. Rumen felt her slam into him. She threw two manly punches before Rumen swung his arm to her head. She fell back, but he kicked her. One kick nailed her in the back. The second was far more powerful. She'd gotten to her feet when his foot made contact with her chest. The force of it sent her off her feet and back into the hall. Her body hit the wall and she fell to the floor. He heard several other feet making their way towards the violence from all ends of the house.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" Rex shouted.

"What in god's name is going on?" Rumen recognized the voice of his father.

"I don't know! One minute he was fine, and the next–"

"The bastard's imprinted!" Tess cried. She lifted her face and body from the floor, assisted by two other females. "He's imprinted on that…that freak!" Her finger pointed, fueled by repulsion, at the younger female behind Rumen. Her eyes betrayed her terror as she remained on the floor, now on her knees. All eyes went to Rumen; his heart was pounding for reasons he dared not say. His father revealed no shock or disgust if he felt it. And when he spoke, he was calm.

"Is this true, son?"

Rumen refused to meet his father's inquisitive gaze. "I…don't know."