"It doesn't bother you?" Taking a few steps towards me, she let a dry chuckle of irony escape her throat. "No. It won't ever be true." The squeak and annoyance in her voice was clear. A second passed.. Two. Come on Lana, you'll get it. She stopped in front of me, looked on the side and frowned in somewhat realization before she glanced back at me. "Why does it bother you though?" She wanted me to serve every word and thought for her.. "Because." "Because?" I stared at her.. How could be so pushed off track? I saved her once, twice, and I was living for that.. To keep her safe and protected.. Cherished and away from those that tried hurting her.. And no it wasn't because of some damn deal. It was because she was her. And it was hard not to want her.. It was the hardest thing I had to do. Wide green eyes stared back at mine, dark unkempt hair that made an insane contrast with her skin, and those lips.. Once again slightly parted, cherry red.. It took me everything not to kiss her senseless right there. It was hard to focus back on my words. "Because you're mine to have." The distraction that she was.. It was unreal. She disturbed every and each one of my emotions in the harshest way possible, yet I loved every second of it. It was,- it was something that I haven't felt in years.. A confusion that I had to deal with such a long time ago.. And no she was bringing it back.. So damn effortlessly. She never allowed me to read her, not at that point either, other than the slight hidden smile that curled her lips. She bit down on her lower lip to hide it, but I saw every and each spark of amusement that my words seemed to bring.. With a simple step closer, she slide her hands over my waist and pressed her body against mine in that simple way of hugging. It took her a little effort to het on her tiptoes and reach my face, but there was nothing better in that moment than to see a hidden smile of that perfect face of hers from up close, a look in her eyes that always seemed to flame a strange fire inside me. It was not normal to be drawn to someone as much as I was drawn to her. If it was someone else, a human, or someone that lived away from this twisted world, perhaps my possessiveness would've drawn her away.. But it was Lana. She was the little wolf I knew found amusement in such protection, having grown up in the same wicked world that I did. That's what I loved about her. She understood my madness. Cause sometimes she could be even crazier than me. I pushed every urge in my body not to move my head just a little towards her and take her lips.. Instead, she moved closer until I felt her breath against the side of my face and left the most innocent butterfly kiss ever. In moments, it was hard to believe she had a side like she did the previous night. Wicked and feisty in one moment, innocent and sweet the next. Real toxic for my soul. I could help but pull her closer my her waist when I felt her leave another few kisses down my jaw and neck, before she simply leaned into that hug she preformed earlier and stood back in her full height. Without any boots or shoes she was just a pretty small feisty lass, reaching somewhere around my shoulders.. With that simple hug, she pressed her head right where my heartbeat was and stood still for a few seconds. I closed my eyes.. God, she soothed every burning fire inside me at times.. The same one she flamed herself. And I never felt calmer than I did in that moment. I kissed the top of her head.. The scent of fresh spring, roses.. It was my new favorite smell. "Next time, he dies." I would've expected a laugh, but she knew I was being serious.. She just stayed in my arms allowing me to listen and follow each one of her calmed breaths, steady heartbeat.. "I won't be going back. Not anytime soon." She mumbled with the side of her face still pressed against my chest.. The faintness in her voice took me by surprise.. In that moment, I knew what she was going through.. Every bit of it. Family wasn't always there for comfort. It was sometimes the very people that could hurt you the most. I was just glad I had her in my arms.. For myself. And I didn't care what others would think. I just knew that I could breathe as long as I had her close.. Which was the absurd, foolish even, but even in all that foolishness, it could hardly be denied. "Good.." I pressed my lips against her hair one more time.. I could never get enough of her smell. "Good." ~ Lana's POV The leaves and branches underneath my boots cracked, the millions of birds from the woods chirping and singing, and the slight wind caused the shadows from the sun to move in the most delightful was. I never knew that the backyard of the house was directly connected to the woods. Christian of course didn't really pay much attention to it, but the yard was decorated with the nature's most loving colors, all shades of green, yellow and the little white dots here and there on the grass.. I had just walked out of the house when I heard the backyard doors closing from behind me and those intimidating footsteps over the wooden porch.