"Romeo, you can't do this!" Helena said, raising her voice at the man who'd just wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close.
She was tempted to melt into his arms, to blush at what he'd said.
The picture he painted of them, of a family, was something she wished she could close her eyes and dream of too.
"Helena, what's wrong?" Romeo said as he pulled her closer, resting her head on his chest.
Helena pushed him away and shook her head.
"Don't," she told him angrily. "You should have told someone that you were taking Rebecca out with you."
"And I told you, Rebecca and I have done this so many times that I didn't think it would be a source of concern," Romeo told her as he kept his tone calm.
He placed a hand on her upper arm and slowly brushed his thumb against her skin. He seemed to be attempting to calm her down.
"I didn't know about the attacks, Helena," Romeo reminded her. "Had I known, I would have told Dad, and I would have brought Neil with me."
Helena shook her head and sighed.
He was right, he didn't know.
"And if you are pissed about the our family and our children comment, I'm not taking that back, love," Romeo told her. "It's either you or no one else."
"And what if I'm not your mate?" Helena asked him coldly. "Did you ever consider that it might be someone else, someone better suited to be Luna of Blackmoon?"
"Is there anyone better suited?" Romeo asked.
Helena didn't answer.
"I'm Alpha Heir to Stonehill," she argued.
"And if we are mates, you will still be Alpha of Stonehill," Romeo promised.
Helena closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
"Helena, how will we even know if we are mates if you keep running?" Romeo dared to ask.
Helena never thought he would bring it up, but here they were in her Uncle's office, and he was bringing up the fact that she was running.
"Why would you run from me, Helena?" Romeo placed his hand on her cheek, his eyes filled with pain. "I love you—"
"Rome," Helena hissed as she raised her hand to stop him.
"What? Can't I tell you what I've felt since we were young?" Romeo demanded. "Helena, you know how I feel. You've known how I've felt since we were kids. I've never seen you as my sister."
Romeo doesn't even give Helena the chance to argue. His lips are on hers before she can even come up with an answer.
This kiss was hungry and possessive, as if Romeo was trying to prove a point, to tell her that what he said was the truth, and there was nothing she could do about it.
He felt what he felt, and they both knew she had feelings for him, too.
"Helena," Romeo exhaled as their lips parted, and he rested his forehead on hers, cupping her face with one hand and pulling her close with the other. "We just wanted to see you, we missed you. When you're there, you take up all of my attention and when you're gone, it's like the world loses its light."
Helena was left speechless at his declaration. It took her a minute to gather herself and speak again.
"Did you have to drag Rebecca along?" she groaned.
Romeo laughed, "That little girl thinks you hung the stars for her. She's desperate for every moment you'll give her, just like I was but a little differently."
Romeo planted a chaste kiss on her lips.
This time, Helena didn't argue. This time, she just closed her eyes and took in what Romeo had to say.
"Helena!!!" Rebecca's small voice called out as the door to Jeremiah's office opened.
To Helena's surprise, Romeo didn't pull away.
"Can we go home?" Rebecca pouted. "I want to go home."
"What happened?" Helena asked her sister as she walked up and got down on her knees again to check on her sister.
There were no visible signs of injury, and Rebecca only seemed annoyed.
"Vernon and Shane said you were going to move to Stonehill and be their Alpha and leave me!" Rebecca cried out. "I don't want you to leave."
"Becca," Romeo sighed as he knelt next to Helena. "Stonehill is a short drive from home."
"Helena belongs in Blackmoon," Rebecca insisted.
Helena bit her lower lip, she didn't know how to answer Rebecca's demands.
If things fell into place as they dreamed they would, she would stay at Blackmoon. Should her Uncle step down without an heir, then she could merge Stonehill with Blackmoon and Starlit River.
But all of that was wishful thinking.
That was if she and Romeo were mates, if no one attacked, if things were peaceful, then maybe she could stay at Blackmoon.
"Did you bring a car?" Romeo asked Helena.
She shook her head.
She ran here. She wanted to clear her head after what had happened between them last night.
"I brought one. You can ride with us." Helena wordlessly nodded as she watched Romeo pick up their sister.
Rebecca was not a small child. At ten years old, most people would scold Romeo for carrying her like she was four or five, but the man spoiled Rebecca.
On their way out, Helena bid goodbye to her Uncle and those of the pack who were around.
When they reached the car and Rebecca was safely tucked in the back seat, Romeo pulled Helena out of earshot.
"The attacks," he said in a serious tone.
"I only found out about them now as well," Helena admitted. "Uncle said that they are a mix of packed and rouge wolves. Have they been attacking Blackmoon too?"
Romeo shook his head and frowned. He looked up and stared at the woods as if he was waiting for someone to attack them now.
"If they'd been making attempts at Blackmoon, I wouldn't have taken Rebecca out without at least an escort, and I wouldn't have let you leave," Romeo told Helena.
"Let's get something straight, Romeo," Helena said with a hand on her hip. "You do not control when I come and go, and you do not control if I fight or hide. I'm more capable than you know."
"I just want to protect our family and our packs, Helena," Romeo told her. "I think you're forgetting I have more than one now."