I was warm, cocooned in a blanket. I sighed a little as I shifted in the bed, except the bed felt different. And there were voices. I cracked an eye open to see I wasn’t in the clinic but I was on the sofa in Maverick’s study.

How had I gotten here?

Disoriented I followed the hushed whispers of two figures. It was Maverick and Sebastian, who were both bent over the desk looking at something. Their backs to me.

It was difficult to make out what they were saying. I sat up and yawned, feeling disorientated and stiff.

“You’re awake,” Maverick said as he walked over to me and bent down to bring his face level with mine.

When he was this close I wanted to close my eyes and revel in his presence. He had this way of calming everything around me and it was pretty addictive.

I frowned. “How did I get here?” The last thing I remembered was falling asleep in the hospital room after Sandra had given me some pain medication to ease my discomfort.

Sebastian stood with his arms crossed. I wasn’t sure what his opinion of me was now, his features gave little away.

“I brought you here,” he explained softly.

“Why?” My attention went back to Maverick, who touched my arm.

“I wanted you close. Sandra assured me you would be fine here with me.”

I stared at him. No one had ever cared like that for me, it was as foreign as standing on the moon.

“You okay?” he asked, when I didn’t immediately respond.

I nodded, afraid my voice would give too much of my inner emotions away. Being open wasn’t something I was used to either. This man had a way of creeping through the cracks in my heart and making me feel very wanted and loved. Being with Maverick was an entirely different experience and at times it felt too good to be true. Usually when things were too good to be true, they were. Nothing had ever come easy for me, it was still hard to accept it without suspicion that it would be wretched from me at any given time.

“I can get Sandra to check you over if you need.” His hand lifted to touch my cheek.

I shook my head. “I’m feeling better.” Even though I was still weak and stiff but I was definitely on the mend. Rest was what I needed more than anything else.

“Sebastian and I were just going to grab some food. You hungry?”

My stomach grumbled and I smiled as I put my hand to my stomach.

“You good to stand?” he asked.

“Yeah, I think so.”

The truth was I hadn’t tried yet but I was determined to do it. Being dependent on others wasn’t something that I enjoyed at all. I believed the quickest way to get back to normal was to push myself to get out of bed and walking around.

He helped move the blanket that covered me so I could swing my legs over to the side. I was stiff so I felt a little shaky when I first stood. Maverick held my waist to keep me steady.

“You good?” His eyes filled with concern.

I nodded, even if I felt like a toddler taking their first steps, I would not show any weakness. Being weak had never been an option before and even though this situation with Maverick was completely different, I couldn’t change old habits.

It was my determination that had gotten me through a lot of tough times, it was an automatic response.

“Yes.” There was no other answer.

He raised an eyebrow, and he didn’t believe me but I wasn’t going to let him treat me like I could break. My past had made me tough, tougher than I believed Maverick was used to.

“I can always bring you some food,” he offered but I was already shaking my head.

I had to get back to normal and being bed ridden meant I would be dependent on others. It wasn’t something that I was comfortable with.

“We’ll meet you in the kitchen,” Maverick said to Sebastian who gave a nod and left us.

“You can put your arm around my neck,” Maverick fussed.

“Stop. Mav. I can do this.” It was impossible to stop the irritation from entering my voice.

He stilled.

I took a steady step followed by another. “See.” I would show him that I could do this.

“It feels good to take care of you.”

My eyes found his, a warmth spread in my chest.

“I know but I need to get up and about. Staying bed ridden is going to drive me crazy.”

“Let’s go before you starve,” he said, holding his hand out to me.

I was still stiff and sore but I managed to walk all on my own to the kitchen. Slowly, I was improving.

This wasn’t what I had imagined when Maverick had first mentioned me being able to shift. I had expected to be able to do it straight away but apparently that wasn’t how things worked.

It could take a few days and I was too impatient.

Over dinner while Sebastian and Lark sat by the kitchen counter Maverick and I sat at the kitchen table discussing the leads they had been following.

“It’s difficult to narrow things down. The description you gave me could be half the male population in town.”

I bit my lip as I tried to think back to the guy to see I could remember anything else that could help but I had nothing.

“How are we going to find him?”

“How am I going to find him?” Maverick corrected much to my annoyance.

That put my back up straight away. “Why can’t I help?”

“You need to concentrate on healing. That’s the most important thing you can do right now.”

“Maybe I’m the key to finding him.” I voiced my thought.

His features hardened. “No.”

“What if I’m the only way to solve this?”

He shook his head. “I’ll figure out who it is. I just need a little more time. If he is in this town I will find him.”

Was it a macho thing?

“Why do you do that?” I wasn’t going to allow our relationship to start like this.

“Do what?”

“Shut me down.”

“You are still recovering. You are in no shape to get involved in this.”

“That doesn’t mean I can’t help.”

We were arguing and drawing looks from Lark and Sebastian who were seated nearby.

Maverick tried to take my hands in his but I pulled them away from him. I knew what he was doing but I wouldn’t allow him to use our connection to calm me.

“I’m your mate. Your equal,” I reminded him. “I have every right to be involved in this.”

I would not allow him to dictate to me. After spending so many years being controlled I wasn’t going to allow it.

“I’m the Alpha of this pack. It is my responsibility to keep everyone safe, including you.” His eyes hard and unwavering. “Especially you.”

While I loved how protective he could me, this was a step too far for me.

“I won’t let you smother me Maverick. I’m not here just to follow your lead.” I lifted my chin determinedly. “I can make my own decisions, you don’t get to make decisions for me.”

His eyes darkened and I knew my response had not gone down well but I refused to back track despite his visible anger. It was clear he was used to being obeyed and this wasn’t going to go down well.

“Within a pack there is only one authority. Mine. I’m the Alpha and the pack does as I say. You will do as I say Victoria.” His voice changed. It deepened. It felt heavy on me.

“You don’t get to tell me what to do Maverick.” I stood. I wasn’t going to put up with this. Even a little unsteady I would not back down.

He was my mate but that didn’t mean he could tell me what I could do. I wouldn’t allow someone else to control me, even if he was my mate and I cared for him deeply.

He stood up and I had to look up to him. It felt like a power move.

He looked every inch a domineering alpha who was used to complete compliance.

But he was about to learn that I was no doormat.