"How old were you?"

I was slightly confused about Theo's question, considering it was a non sequitur to what we'd just been chatting about. I was laid up against his chest with my hand resting over his heart as we sat on my couch. We weren't really watching the movie I had on, it was more background noise as we talked. I looked up to him.

"What?"

"When you lost your parents." "Oh," I mumbled, replacing my head up under his chin, trying not to let their memory leave me bitter. "I was sixteen." I answered after a moment.

"And you were alone after that." He stated. "…Yes. I stayed with people here and there, but never long enough to endanger them. It's how I learned how to stitch people up. Not all the families I stayed with were reputable." "Hate to tell you, but this lot you've ended up with isn't much better."

"I don't care. I've learned that sometimes the innocent ones are the dangerous ones and the dangerous ones are the innocent ones. You can protect yourselves, but that doesn't mean I want you hurt. I need to leave, Theo, at some point. The FBI agent spouting out my name to everyone within hearing range was deadly. He might as well have called up my br-, uh, stalker and just told him where I was."

Theo's arm tightened around me, and warmth spread through my veins. "Well, if you have to leave, I'm going with you. I won't leave you unprotected, and I don't know how well I'd fare with you gone."

"You hate feeling that, don't you?" "Every damn second," he admitted, "but you're a good thing. You make me feel…different. Like I'm someone else, and not the person I still can be."

I was afraid to ask, but I had to.

"Would you ever kill me, Theo?" I whispered. "I know that my past actions are…less than desirable. I was young, stupid, and craved power. I learned several years ago that sometimes being powerful only gets you in trouble." He shifted, grabbing my arms and turning me to him, and I met his eyes.

"I will never kill you. I won't promise to never let it cross my mind, but I won't act on it. Consider that one of my rare promises." "Liam said you broke promises all the time, how can I believe you?" "You've stuck with me this long, sweetheart, I'm obviously your catnip," he winked, "and although Liam isn't wrong, he does need to mind his own damn business."

I smiled, and brushed the tip of my thumb over his lips. He hadn't kissed me since that day I'd tried to leave. Weird to think that had only been a week ago when it felt like a lifetime. "Alright, Theo," I said, meeting his eyes again, "I'll put my trust in you. Prove to me that I'm worth your time."

He gave me one of those smiles that only I got to see, and I watched his hazel eyes drop to my mouth, which I parted in response. "You're the only one worth my time. To hell with everyone else."

"Well, I guess that proves what Liam said about you not caring about anyone." I teased, letting my fingertips trace the curve of his jaw. He growled, but it wasn't in anger.

I wanted to lean in and kiss those firm lips, but refrained, and instead asked another dangerous question. "Why did you kill your pack?"

Theo took a deep breath, and looked away for a moment before returning his gaze to me. "I was struggling to run against Scott. He is a powerful Alpha, one who earned his power through determination, not stealing it. I saw him as weak because he wanted to save people, no matter the cost. I still think he can be a complete idiot, but the guy has survived wars you wouldn't believe," he said, wrapping his arm around me once more and pulling me against him, "anyway, we were battling a creature called Le Bete. I was trying to steal its power."

The thought gave me chills.

"Point is, I let my immaturity lead me. I trusted a guy named Deucalion, another powerful Alpha, who was actually working with Scott. Deucalion told me that if I took, in order, pain, life and power, I would be…stronger. My pack were chimeras also, and I killed them for their power. It didn't win me the fight, and I lost those powers eventually anyway."

I nodded, and dared ask, "Did you ever care for them?"

Without hesitation, he shook his head, and I fought the urge to gulp. "No," He said, "I saved their lives, but I was not their Alpha, they were a means to an end in truth. Two of them left me, the other two I killed. They were my pawns, my property."

I laid my head back against his chest once more, and sighed, deciding to change the subject. "How are we going to stop the wyvern, Theo?"

"We have to find its weaknesses. And I don't care what Liam says, I'll kill it if need be." I nodded and stayed silent, thinking of anything that might be a hint.

"What is your opinion on that?" "Hmm?" "If I have to kill it…what is your opinion?"

"I don't really have a say," I said. "Of course you do. We're a team, remember?" "Well…Theo, really, I'm with you, all of you. Of course, don't kill without means, but if you can't do anything but kill it, do so. There's a point where killing can be necessary." "Smart answer," He chuckled, "don't know if I could stand you anymore if you were another Scott." I smiled.

"You're getting that opinion from a girl who lost her family to a murderous leach. Of course I'd justify it to a degree. The man who killed my parents…I would do it myself if I could."

And it was true. I would put Damian down like a rabid animal if I could, but I also knew that if the time came, it was possible I wouldn't be strong enough to pull the trigger. Could I kill my own brother? Yes…and no.

I saw my parents' dead, open eyes flash through my head again, and I fisted my hand in Theo's shirt. "What is it?" He asked.

"Just…some bad memories." I said. "Parents?" "Yeah," I said, then looked to him, "will you stay with me tonight?"

He nodded, and tucked me into him. I had never felt so safe in my life. All those years I had to decline invitations to parties, study groups and after school activities, the people I left behind to keep safe, never to see again, and all the roads I'd traveled just to be a step ahead of my brother, they meant nothing if I was in Theo's arms.

It said something that I was to Theo what he was to me. A safe place, free of our pasts.

Explaining things to Liam, Corey, and Mason hadn't been easy. At first, they were confused, and Liam was mad, but they had understood, especially after the truth of trying to keep them safe came up. They were good young men, and I respected them.

Time rolled around to ten p.m., and I rubbed my eyes. "Sleepy?" Theo asked, humor in his voice. "Yeah, think it's time to go to bed," I said, smiling.

Theo untangled himself from me, and stood, then startled me by pulling me up into his arms. "I'm not a toddler, Theo," I mumbled, too happy to be in his arms to refuse too much, "I can put myself to bed."

"Gives me the excuse to hold you," He said with a sly grin.

He walked into my room and placed me gently on the mattress. He went to grab the blankets from the top of the closet to make up the couch, and I inhaled deeply.

"Theo?" I asked. He turned and looked at me. I scooted over to the left side of my bed and made the offer with a look. "You sure that's a good idea?" He asked.

"I don't care if it is or not. Just hold me." I said, and he put the blankets back up in the closet. He removed his jacket and shirt, leaving him in his jeans, then his shoes followed. I smiled and turned the lamp off, feeling the bed dip beside me. I turned and let my back rest against his chest. His arm came around me, locking me in place against him, and I felt his lips gently graze my ear.

"Night," I said, feeling my lids grow heavy.

"Night," he whispered.

~Theo POV~

It could be like this every night, the voice in my head spoke.

It had been all of twenty minutes since laying down, and already, Cassia was asleep. She was so warm and soft against me, and her gentle breathing was mesmerizing.

How in the world had I ever called her Rachel? She was not a 'Rachel', she was my Cassia. It fit her so much better, and I couldn't imagine it otherwise.

I wasn't sure when, but I would eventually make our relationship official, and she'd be my girlfriend. Right now, we were going through the motions for time's sake, but after the wyvern was either dead or saved, I would take her on an actual date.

I drew her even closer, and even in slumber, her response was immediate. She shifted to fit my shape better and I laid my head close to hers. If Liam tried to take this from me now, I'd finish what I had started last time.

Sleep wasn't coming anytime soon, so I let my thoughts take over. When we were finished saving this town's ass once again, I needed to begin putting some roots down. If Cass and I were ever going to live together, it wouldn't be at her house with her as the breadwinner. Just the thought made my pride sting and burn. I wanted her to be my queen, not my bitch, and I would find a way to provide for her.

I had to stop myself from going too deep into the thought of life with her. I wanted that, but the ball had to be in her court. I wasn't for the idea of marriage, and that might be something of importance to her. I supposed we'd figure it out once we got there.

There was also the matter of a family. I didn't have much of one, and she didn't have any. I felt dread in my stomach at the thought of telling her about Tara.

She might could look past the pack, but would she be able to look past what I had done to my sister? I regretted it, killing her.

Yeah, she was a pain in the ass, but Tara had been a good big sister, and I'd shown her how much I cared by letting her freeze to death.

It would have to come out to Cassia eventually. She would want to know why I was taking white lilies off in secret.

Hopefully, she'd forgive me again.

At last, my lids began to get heavy, and I cuddled closer to Cassia and drifted off to sleep.

**Hope you're all enjoying! Thank you for reading, you guys rock! Also, happy 2018!**