A/N: Sorry my updates have slowed down, it's the busy season for my job and there are never enough hours in the day

She wants to scream, every inch of her being pulling her in every direction. Natalia's heart is ready to burst at the thought of having a mate again yet her head is telling her it's the worst mistake she could ever make. He's not a Hyena, he's not a weak minded fool she can wrap around her finger so that means he's dangerous and can't be trusted.

Deep down Natalia is sure he won't be anything like Vlad, his eyes don't have the same cold cunning spark her brother has when Emil looks at her. While Emil's fingers can send the same shiver down her spine, there's a warmth to his touch she's never known before. It melts her heart and sends her mind spiraling into near madness. She shouldn't love it but, she finds that she craves his touch.

He's young, almost innocent and it's clear she's taken his virginity by the way he stumbled around the first day of her heat. It was awkward, clumsy and full of a new lust that both found they adored. Once the lust wore off on her fourth day she expected him to leave her to eat and change but there he was until finally on her last day she awakens to see him sleeping tucked into her arms.

For what feels like hours she watches his chest rise and fall, a soft purr vibrating her left side. As his tail moves softly behind him.

It brings a smile to her face as she kisses the top of his head, almost daring to touch his sensitive ears. The hyena brings a finger close, watching the Alpha's ear twitch away. She does it again surprised that her Alpha doesn't stir. So after one more time she turns her head away, towards the window of her nesting room. It was made a bit haphazardly, one of the first buildings the clan finished but while it's not perfect it's hers. Or really, it's theirs.

Meanwhile the Neko curls up, listening to her heartbeat as he mulls over his actions in the past few weeks. Emil could have said no, could have refused but his heart won't let him. He could read the pain in her eyes, even without Ivan's help. She's not perfect, than again neither is he. There's things he's done that he'd never admit to anyone, some might even have kicked him out of the Blue starlight anyway. So while the nightmares might still haunt him at night, there's no turning back now. He's made his choice and he'll have to live with it for the rest of his life.

Eventually he opens his eyes, not wanting to be with his thoughts any longer. "Hey," he says looking into her eyes amazed by how full of life they've grown to contain.

"Hello." She gives him a soft smirk seeing his hair fall into his eyes. "I'm surprised you're still here."

"Oh?" Emil rolls over slightly so he's resting on his arms.

"I thought you would have gone and drowned." She chuckles as he rolls his eyes.

He sits up and reaches for his shirt. "Oh yeah I thought about it a few times but, guess you're stuck with me so the fish will have to find someone else."

As Emil finds his pants, Natalia pulls her hair back with one of her golden ribbons. "True and I'm sure they will. They have a way about them."

"Oh?" He turns back slightly, watching her hide the curves he's grown to love under her dress. "Are they really that determined to take land creatures or do they just enjoy watching people drown?"

She stands smoothing her hands over a few wrinkles. "A mix of both, they were the first kind my sister and I observed when we came here. Them, the Avians then sadly the Jackals."

"Interesting..."

"Not really." She says sounding bored with the conversation already. "You understand one breed, you understand the basics of them all."

"The basics but not the individual," he answers standing himself and moving towards the locked door. "That I think you need to study a bit more."

He waits as she walks over and stares at him, chest to chest. "Really, you think you understand this world better than I do?"

"I've watched it."

"I've lived it."

Both stare at each other not wanting to blink until Emil makes the first move. "Fair enough but have you figured out why I came?"

She fixes his collar, taking her eyes off of him for a moment. "I might have." Her eyes rise, a knowing sparkle in her eyes. "You got tired of watching and wanted to try a bit of living for yourself."

"Hmm," he says letting the sound echo for a moment. "And you wanted to stop running and watch the world slow down for a while."

"Are you sure Cat?"

At that Emil walks out the door, turning on his heel only when he reaches the outer door. "I said running, not living." The Alpha opens the door and disappears into the sunlight leaving her leaning against the door frame, smiling.

The Alpha is a smart one, not one she can play with. At least not like she's done with Alphas in the past, no he's her equal. So just like with Alfred, she'll treat Emil as such, at least until she gains the upper hand in their mental chess match.