DISCLAIMER: DONT OWN ANYTHING.

I lay in bed for a long time after Chloe left, just trying to not think about last night. It had been rolling around in his mind all night and morning, and he was just trying to think of something other than Chloe telling him he was her life mate. I finally gave up and dragged myself out of bed to go for a run. Normally I didn't run just for the exercise. I had so many other things to do for exercise, what with training Chloe and basketball practice, but with Chloe in meetings and so much going through my head running helped me process. I put my ear buds in my ears and hit play on my Ipod. I started off slow but as I got further and further down the trail I sped up finally steadying at my full gait. I was on my third trail when out of nowhere someone tackled me from behind. I had trained long enough that my body reacted immediately. I put my hands out in front of me and once they hit the ground I pushed up and over so that I landed on my back instead of my stomach. This also made sure my attacker was thrown off of me. I rolled off my back up to my feet all in one movement. But almost as soon as I stood up I was hit again this time across the jaw. I didn't get a glimpse of my attacker, they moved to fast, too agile. I knew whoever it was, they were not human. I snapped my head back putting my arm up to block the next hit meant for the same area. But I missed the punch that followed a second later into my diaphragm. I hunched forward, unfortunately meeting yet another blow. My attacker pushed me up by my shoulder and now I felt four claws dig into my back. I blinked a couple times trying to clear my vision. Peter. I grimaced, grinding my teeth. I tried to pull my hands up to block him but my body wasn't cooperating. He punched me across the face and then again in the mouth. I stopped counting the punches I took, the ones I couldn't keep my head clear enough to block. I'd never lost the upper hand in a fight before, ever, it was my job to not lose. I was a Kizekh, and yes the other members of my order gave me a better fight than most people but never this bad. I fell backwards and lay there unable to move. I felt a heavy object press against my chest. It forced blood into my mouth and I had to turn my head to cough it up. Peter had set his knee on my chest. "Your friends might treat you like a prince, but don't you ever talk to me like you did last night again, you understand me, Petrov. I'll have you killed, and when you aren't there I'll be the one with the Uniter in my bed." He smiled wolfishly. That last comment made me angry and he knew it. "She is fine, I'm sure she's fiery." Now, nothing mattered, he didn't talk about Chloe that way and get away with it, nobody did. He'd pay for it a million times over. I knew I could be a cocky bastard sometimes, I could run my mouth, I know, but it was always about me. Peter had brought Chloe into it. He'd threatened her. I was her protector, I was the Opekun, and I was her mate. I pushed up off my legs rolling backwards over my head throwing peter off of me. When I got up I didn't give him the chance that he needed. Peter was still on the ground. I grabbed the front of his shirt, pulling him up to me. I punched him repeatedly in the face and the stomach. I saw his eyes start to roll up in his head. I shook him and brought his face up to mine.

"Next time you threaten someone, make sure you can follow through or at least make sure a leg or arm is broken so they can't kick your ass like I just did. See, when I make a threat like if you ever come near Chloe, or make a play for Chloe, I will personally rip every vital organ out of your body making sure you stay alive until the last one, I know one hundred percent that I can and will do it. I don't care who you are, I don't care that you are a pride leader. I am a prince, chosen by the God's, and that's something you are going to have to deal with. Remember what I said." I kicked out my heel connecting with his knee. I made sure it didn't break but he wouldn't be able to walk on it for awhile. I released his shirt and he crumpled to the ground. I walked off trying not to show the pain I was actually feeling. I stopped a little bit up the trail and turned back. "I'll make sure your people know where you are, I'll tell them you had an accident." I smirked and then turned back. Once I was out of sight I stopped, trying to catch my breath. My eye hurt, my lip throbbed. I knew my shoulder was bleeding; I'd probably go back and kill him if he had messed up my tattoo, but I'd have to save that until I was sure and could actually stand up straight. I think I had a cracked rib but I wasn't sure, it hurt like hell. I stumbled into the house, all I wanted to do was lay down but I couldn't make it to my bedroom. Chloe's bedroom was the closest, I knew she wouldn't care. I stumbled in expecting her to still be out with her Grandmother but she wasn't. She looked up and gasped.

"Alek!" she ran over slipping her shoulder underneath my arm and supporting me over to the bed. She helped me sit down, her hands instantly going to my face, her soft fingers lightly touching my eye, which I knew already had to be turning black and blue, and my lip which was split and bleeding.

"How did this-" Her hand had traveled to my back. She pulled her hand back blood glistening on her fingers. "Oh my gosh, Alek. What happened?" I shook my head, which made me dizzy.

"I got into a fight, it's no big deal. I just need to lie down."

"It is a big deal, why did you get into a fight?" She asked walking to the bathroom She turned the water on letting it run for a minute.

"It doesn't matter." I lied, of course it mattered, but I didn't want to upset her. She threw a washcloth into the sink, she was already upset. Chloe came back out and crawled on the bed behind me. She was on her knees and lightly patting my shoulder with the wash cloth. "Is my tattoo messed up?" I asked. She pulled the cloth away and leaned down pressing her lips against it. I'd never felt a sensation like the one that followed her kiss. I could feel every detail of the tattoo like it had just been done yesterday. It almost burned. She put the cool wash cloth back now. "It's fine. Who did you get in a fight with?" She asked quietly.

"Just some guy. It's really no big deal." I told her putting my hand on hers. "I mean you should see the other guy, a lot worse."

"Alek, I've known since the moment I met you that I could trust you. You never lied about what you were thinking- no matter how shocking, or what was going on. But now," She trailed off. I sighed, I knew she was right.

"Peter." I told her turning so I was facing her. "I was running and he attacked me. We've had problems with each other for a long time, since I came here actually. He was pissed off for what I said yesterday and he wants you."

"You got into a fight over me?" she said quietly. I nodded. She was angry, I could see it spelled out on her face.

"Normally I would say most girls would be flattered. But you aren't most girls, you're anything but, Chloe. Unfortunately, I was like most boys when something they love is threatened. These things tend to happen, I just love you and I get a little protective." She sighed and looked down. I followed her gaze and saw a locket around her neck. "Is that from your grandmother?" I asked. She nodded.

"Yes, it's got a picture of my parents and me and then her with me as a baby. She told me everything I could ever want to know." She opened it and showed me the pictures. "She also told me about the Opekun. I know you were just protecting me. I know that you love me and would die for me, that's why I fell in love with you, for all the sweet and tender moments that we have and the ones that tend to come with being Mai. And I dont think I can honestly say I wouldn't do the same thing if a girl went after you." She leaned forward and pressed her lips against mine, slightly skewed so she missed the cut. "Let me get some ice for that." She said.

Hope you like it!