**Aife pov**


    I listened to Amelia rant about everything she knew about Bane. Starting with what kind of Alpha he was to everything she had witnessed during hisst rtionship, but didn''t offer any of my thoughts. This was supposed to be a fun day with a friend, not another chance to discuss Bane.


    It felt a little weird when Amelia kept addressing him as my crazy boyfriend, but I saw where she wasing from, so I didn''t correct her either. When she finally realized I wasn''t paying much attention to her words, she announced that she was hungry and disappeared in the kitchen.


    As if they had agreed on something, a guard entered the house just when she entered the kitchen.


    "Luna?" He called out, catching my attention.


    "I''m in the living room," I shouted.


    The man that entered didn''t look a day older than eighteen. He seemed all sorts of ufortable as his eyes darted everywhere but at me. Had Bane told his men they weren''t allowed to look at me?


    "Alpha sent me here to tell you that unfortunately, the day with your friend has to be cut short. Something came up; he needs you to pack a bag, and be ready to leave in thirty minutes. He wanted me toe here and make sure you could manage on your own. If not, he cane back."


    My jaw nearly hit the floor. It couldn''t have been any longer than maybe an hour since Bane left and now, he wanted me to drop all the ns and just pack a bag?


    Taking the risk that probably wouldn''t give me anything, I cleared my throat and looked at the ufortable guard, "why am I supposed to pack a bag?"


    "I don''t have knowledge about any details, my apologies, Luna," he muttered.


    Frowning, I decided I wouldn''t blindly followmands, especially those given by Bane and delivered by someone else. If he wanted me to follow him like a puppy, he had toe here himself.


    "Okay. In that case, could you please be so kind as to tell the Alpha that I''m incapable of packing the bag without a big, strong man at my side? Emphasis on the big, strong man part." I offered the guard a grin. Finally, he looked at me. "I- I couldn''t."


    Slowly, I got up from my seat and stepped closer. "You can. All you have to say is ''Luna said, and I quote,'' and then, just add my words. Doesn''t sound that bad, right?"


    "Luna, you don''t understand. He will kill me if I mention you and a man in one sentence. I''m too young to die."


    I couldn''t help butugh at him. All of these people feared Bane for the wrong reasons.


    "Maybe you have a phone then? Dial his office and I will speak to him myself." I even extended my hand, waiting on him.


    Although hesitant, he still reached in his pocket and pulled out a mobile phone. The guard kept ncing at me and muttering something under his breath as he dialed the number and brought the phone to his ear.


    I knew Bane had answered the phone as soon as the boy''s eyes widened and color drained from his face. "My apologies, I didn''t mind-link because I''m not the one who wanted to talk to you, Alpha. Luna wants to," the guard whispered. "Oh, yes, sure, my apologies," he quickly added and offered me the phone. "Alpha wants to talk to you."


    "Can I walk around while I talk or do I have to stay here? I promise I won''t steal your phone," I questioned the guard before I paid any attention to Bane.


    In all honesty, I needed to get away from everyone as none of the things I was nning to tell Bane could be considered anywhere near innocent.


    "Whatever makes you morefortable. I don''t mind staying around and waiting." The guard finally shed me a smile.


    I nodded, spun around and walked up the stairs, finally bringing the phone to my ear. "Hi."


    A loud, heavy sigh left him before Bane spoke, mimicking me. "Hi."


    "Wow, and is that how you greet your girlfriend?" I seriously struggled to keep up the act withoutughing at how stupid I sounded.


    "What? No!" The panic that dripped from those two words was just asughable as it was endearing. "That''s nowhere close to the way I would greet you, and you know that. Let''s say I''m confused about why you asked the guard to call me. Has something happened?"


    I listened to Bane pace around the office for a bit, just to drag out the time a little. He deserved to experience some suspense after he decided to cut my day short.


    "So?" He finally broke.


    I giggled at the annoyance I could nearly feel radiating off him as I slowly entered the bedroom and scanned it. "Well, I was told I had to pack a bag and be ready to leave in thirty minutes," I parroted the guard''s words. "Yes, that would be correct."


    "And also, I was told the guard was there to make sure I could manage the task on my own."


    Bane remained silent for a bit and then repeated himself. "That would be correct."


    He was such a strong and smart man, but at times, Bane couldn''t see how he was digging his own grave with every word that left his lips.


    "But you see," I started as I walked toward the bed and sat down. "I don''t think I could ever manage a task as important as packing my own bag without a strong, big man at my side. I couldn''t be trusted to do it alone."


    Honestly, at first, I thought that Bane could see through my bullshit and would probably ignore every stupid thing I said. But, Bane being Bane, he reactedpletely opposite to what I assumed he would.


    A loud growl left him and I heard something break in the background as he added, "be there in a minute," and the call ended.


    I stared at the phone in my hand with my jaw hanging. Holding onto the remaining hope that Bane could have understood the joke, I dialed the number again and started pacing the room as it kept calling, but there was no response. Panicking, I called again. Bane couldn''t have taken me seriously, he just couldn''t.


    What if the joke I tried to y would end in disaster? What if he would decide to go back to his old ways ande up with punishments for me?


    Just as the thought crossed my mind, I heardmotion from downstairs that was followed with heavy steps up the stairs. Gripping the phone in my hand, I turned my body to the door, held my breath, and waited for Bane''s arrival. I managed to experience a tiny mental breakdown by the time Bane appeared in the doorframe and grinned at me. Slowly, he closed in on me, a twinkle of mischief ying in his eyes.


    The moment he stopped in front of me, Bane leaned closer and whispered, "the strong, big man you ordered is here. Do as you please for I am nothing but y in your hands."