**Aife


    pov**


    It was a risk I was taking, a massive one, but absolutely worth it.


    The moment thest words spilled over my lips as I was seconds away from spinning on my heel to leave Bane behind, the office door flew open, he thrust his hand at me and grabbed the front of the shirt I was wearing.


    His fist clenched the fabric as Bane pulled me to him. As soon as our bodies collided, he brought his hand on the back of my neck, leaned in and forced his lips on mine.


    All over again, the familiar feeling of warmth spread through me. Bane''s arms snuck around me, pulling my body incredibly close to his.


    His kiss grew more aggressive, demanding and desperate with each movement of his lips against mine. I had to push him away just to get a chance to breathe. Honestly, I had a feeling that he wouldn''t break the kiss even if he would run out of oxygen.


    "I need to breathe," I choked out the words, which finally brought him back to his senses.


    "Right, I guess so do I. Sorry," Bane muttered, still holding me trapped in his arms.


    ncing up, I noticed the slight twitch of the corner of his mouth before a smug smile spread across his lips. "Still thinking about going out there and shing my men?"


    First, I felt my cheeks start burning and soon after, the same sensation spread to the tops of my ears. Bane couldn''t understand how embarrassed I felt about the words I spoke earlier.


    I wouldn''t have done that. Times and times again, Zion had implied that Bane was somewhat territorial, so it was kind of ast ditch effort to lure him out of the office. "Ah, so it was a bait," Bane announced and startedughing.


    I half expected that he would release me and run back to his hideout, but he didn''t. Instead, he held me as tightly as ever while he clearly enjoyed the irony of the situation I created. The situation in itself was weird, that was a fact, but now that I listened to his deepughter echo against the walls, I found myself enjoying the sound.


    How I came here fuming and ready to kick his ass, just to end up standing here and admiring my kidnapper that I had clearly fallen for, was beyond me. It just happened. Like that. Magic. When Bane finally stoppedughing and caught his breath, I reminded myself what was the reason behind my arrival. "We need to talk," the words spilled out of me effortlessly. "About?" Bane''s whole demeanor changed. Even the aura that surrounded him switched from happy to tense.


    Clearing my throat, I looked him straight in the eyes. "Your behavior, it''s uneptable."


    His eyes widened, but a momentter, he caught himself and startedughing again. "Did you really just lure me out of my office just to tell me you have a problem with my behavior?" "Yes," I announced with nothing but certainty,cing my words.


    Finally, I felt like I could stand up for myself, even while facing someone so terrifying as Bane. Alright, perhaps I was biased at this point, because he wasn''t the same monster he used to be in my eyes. These days, he was so much more than the man who ughtered for joy. He was a powerful Alpha, a man who took me from a ce entangled with different questions and secrets to a fresh breath of rity. He was the man who kissed me with passion I hadn''t known before. A man who held me so tightly, I feltplete and safe in his arms. A man who hid me from himself to ensure I was safe, unharmed.


    Bane was rough around the edges, but at the end of the day, he was my Bane.


    As the thought crossed my mind, my jaw nearly dropped. Since when I started addressing Bane as mine? This had to be yet another sign of how my insanity had grown. The more time I spent around him, the crazier I became. "And what exactly is it that bothers you so much? Please, enlighten me," he spoke, pulling me out of my thoughts.


    I found it a little ironic how amused Bane sounded. I didn''t share the same feelings.


    "You can''t keep running from your problems. You have a choice to make." I started, but he quickly cut me off. "What choice?"


    Rolling my eyes, I tried to step away, but Bane wouldn''t let me. After a few failed attempts, I gave up and exined myself.


    "You can keep running for all I care, but if you do, you let me go. And I mean it. No games, I''m done with the games you keep ying with me, Bane. It''s simple - start facing your issues like an adult would or just stop this thing you''re doing to me." "What exactly am I doing to you? What is this thing?"


    I knew it was unreasonable of me to feel so darn offended by his words, but I did. Bane had to realize he had done plenty of stupid things, especially when it came to me.


    Now, I wasn''t thinking of the first days we spent near each other. I was addressing this pushing away and pulling closer nonsense. It couldn''t keep going like that. The choice was simple - he wanted or didn''t want me.


    "One day, you refuse to let me go just to push me away the other. I''m overlooking many things here, possibly even too many, but if there is one thing I refuse to be it is someone''s second chance. I refuse to be your backup option. I''m not asking to be loved, I''m asking to be respected or set free. For good."


    It felt as if my lungs were on fire and my heart clenched in pain. Thinking about those words was one thing, but letting them out and nearly seeing them hang in the air around us was another.


    "I don''t know," Bane muttered, averting his gaze.


    I could sense the sudden change in him. It was the same as many times before. Soon enough, he would pull away from me and run to hide away. But not this time.


    Wrapping my arms around him, I refused to let Bane run. He had to face me.


    "You don''t know what? You don''t know if you want me to stay or leave? Or is it that you don''t know if you want me? What is it? Tell me. Stop avoiding me and juste clean, for once. Just this once. Stop torturing me, stop using me whenever you see it fit. Stop ying your games. I am as much of a person as you are. I have feelings. Believe it or not, but I do. And right now, you''re really hurting me."


    "It would be so much easier if you would scream at me if you''re so angry. Maybe p me?" Bane tried to change the topic.


    Shaking my head, I let out a bitter chuckle and pulled my hands away from him. This time, as I stepped away, he let me, dropping his arms to his sides.


    "I wanted to. I was nning to, but I''m d I didn''t. Clearly, openmunication is a punishment way harsher than throwing fists for you. Make your choice. Silence won''t save you, not this time. I will take silence as the end of whatever you were building here."


    Bane''s eyes shot to me and although the look of desperation and fear in them broke me, I refused to show him anything. We stood there, looking at each other, waiting for something although we didn''t know what it was.


    As the silence dragged in, my own voice echoed in my mind. I made a statement, I told him I would take his silence as one of the answers, so I had to keep my promise.


    Tears welled in my eyes, but I refused to let them fall as I took one step back, pressed my lips in a thin line and forced a nod of understanding. I was sure this was it. This was his answer.