For the next little while, we sat in silence in our new room. After the news of a potential rogue threat had gone out, I immediately moved all of Frankie's belongings into the Alpha house.

In the meanwhile, I was pretty bummed. Everything was just so sudden, so abrupt. I wanted to enjoy spending the next little while with my mate out in the open, but I supposed the Moon Goddess had other plans and wanted to stir up some drama.

We sat in the packhouse, wanting to be close to the Alpha's office in case he had any updates on the situation. I observed Frankie's expressions carefully, trying to read his emotions. Was he scared? Upset? Angry?

Yet as usual, I was unable to deduce anything. He stared into space, the signature glassy and blank look in his eyes. It was as if he were simply...gone. His body was present, yet his sense of being was just detached from him. That surely wasn't a good sign.

"Frankie?" I asked him tentatively. "If you have any worries or concerns about the news, you can always talk to me."

"What does this mean for the pack?" Frankie's voice was so quiet, I had to strain to hear his words.

"Well, you heard the Alpha, we'll increase our security measures and ensure everyone in the pack is protected."

"Are we safe here?" he demanded.

"Yes, of course we are, Frankie," I told him seriously. "Nothing will hurt you. I won't let anything happen to my mate."

"How can you believe that?" Frankie bit his lip. "Your father and brother looked really worried back there."

"We're one of the top packs in North America. We have more technology and equipment than most pack clusters. Not only that, but we also have access to provincial and federal resources. When we go into emergency mode, you can bet that we have our own mini military."

"It won't be enough," he murmured.

"Excuse me?"

Frankie shook his head. "It just won't, Bennett. Trust me. There are packs out there with more money and resources than you could ever imagine."

"We have resources too, you know," I said. "Don't underestimate our pack."

"Don't underestimate theirs," he shot back.

"We're well-prepared for an attack, Frankie. I've grown up in this pack, and I understand our full potential."

"You don't understand," Frankie clenched his jaw. "If the enemy is able to get their hands on that type of advanced equipment..."

"They won't."

"What if they do?"

"We'll outsmart them."

He narrowed his eyes. "What if they're smarter?"

"Then we'll just have to get creative, Hedgehog. Trust me, I won't let any harm come to the pack, you especially. Anyone who lays a hand on you will die a slow, painful death. It's my job as your mate to protect you and care for you."

He sighed. "Ben-"

"They will," I insisted. "I'll kill them with my bare hands if I have to, because you know what? You're mine. You belong to me, and I don't let anyone mess with what belongs to me. Don't you ever forget that, Frankie."

Frankie's eyes widened. "Please, calm d-"

"You are mine, and there is nowhere on this planet where we can be apart! I won't let anybody take you, and if they do, they'll..."

By that point, my eyes were glowing painfully, and my voice had escalated to a shout. The idea of someone even touching my mate evoked a fury so powerful that it even surprised me, a wolf who usually couldn't stay angry for more than a couple of minutes.

"Ben," he repeated, and for once, his voice was gentle and filled with emotion. "It's okay."

All my anger dissipated, and was immediately replaced with guilt and concern. I knew Frankie was still hesitant to accept our mate bond, and going all 'protective Alpha mate' probably didn't help our situation.

"I'm sorry," I said. "I'm really sorry, Frankie. I...listen. My hormones have been all over the place ever since we found out we were mates."

He swallowed nervously, and I continued along with my apology. "I'm sorry if I came off too strongly. I know you're still settling into this whole arrangement. I'll try not to be as...intense, okay? I can't promise you that I won't be possessive, but I'll try to control it."

"Yeah," he said. "I understand."

After my little rant, I just crashed inside. My thoughts swirled angrily around me, and they were so sensitive, I was afraid a little nudge would send me over the edge. What the heck was going on? Mateship wasn't supposed to be like this. It was supposed to be filled with positive emotions, it was supposed to be rejuvenating and wholesome. That's what everyone said it felt like.

Yet here we were, not even mated for a day, and we were already arguing to the point where I wanted to explode.

"Listen," I began, running a hand through my hair. "I know we didn't have the smoothest of introductions..."

He raised his eyebrow.

"But I just wanted to say that now that we're mated, this changes everything. We can't be fighting and arguing like this. We never get anywhere."

"I know," Frankie said stiffly. "I suppose we should talk things out more."

"Yes, we should," I agreed. "So from this day onward, can we make a promise to each other that we'll try to talk things out civilly? I don't like fighting with my mate."

Frankie was silent for a moment. Before he could answer, though, I heard a holler come from the other side of the room.

"Wowzers, it's the new guy, here in the flesh!"

Frankie ducked behind me as a mound of fur came soaring through the air.

"Woah, Mark, be careful!" I warned, stepping in front of my mate to take the full blunt force. Mark's jumbo-sized wolf landed on me excitedly, his tail wagging eagerly.

"Dude, you can't just pounce on any person that walks into the pack house," I reminded him.

'He's not just any person, though, he's your mate!'

"What?" I asked, my voice sharper than usual. "How did you know that?"

He transformed and looked at me sheepishly. "Okay, so I may or may not have overheard a snippet of your conversation when you were in the Alpha's office."

"How much did you hear?" I demanded, narrowing my eyes.

"Not much! I was just walking past the study when I heard the word 'mate', and I could smell the new guy in there with you, so I assumed you two were mates...?" He looked at me, his eyes wide with earnest.

I sighed. Leave it to Mark to discover all the tea in the pack house. That kid was definitely more observant than he had initially let on.

"Did you hear anything else?"

He raised his hands in a surrender position. "No, sir. That was all I heard."

I relaxed. "Good. Now, I ask you to keep that information private, okay?"

He nodded earnestly. "My lips are sealed!"

I was relieved he hadn't picked up anything about the rogue threats. The last thing I needed was for Mark to spread rumours and stir up a panic among the pack. No, we needed to stay calm and alert in the face of danger.

"So, what's your name?" Mark asked my mate, who looked at the younger wolf warily, as if afraid he would pounce again.

"Frankie."

"Frankie and Bennett, Bennett and Frankie," he considered thoughtfully. "I like it! Has a nice ring to it."

"I'm glad you like it," I smiled. "Now, Mark, if you don't mind, could you give us some privacy?"

He gasped. "Oh, of course! I'm so sorry, I didn't realize I was interrupting something important! I'll let you get back to your making out, or whatever mates do."

"We weren't making out," Frankie intervened, but the kid had already run off.

"Phew," I sighed. "I'm glad Mark didn't hear about the rogues. He would've had a total meltdown."

A thought suddenly occurred to me.

"Curtis!" I smacked my face. "Dang it, what am I going to tell him?"

"Curtis?" Frankie frowned.

"He's one of my students from swim class. I told him there would be no rogue attacks, but apparently the Moon Goddess has other plans."

"I see."

"Can't wait for the 'I told you so' party," I groaned. "Oh, well. I guess this would be a good time to introduce you to my swim class, you know. My next one is in a couple of days, and you're coming with me."