Maverick was alone in our room when I finally went up to bed. He stood, shoulders rigged staring out the window.

I took a moment to study him.

My heart warmed at the sight of him. He was mine. Steadfast, determined. He was my anchor in a world where I had spent almost my entire life adrift, lost. I swallowed, taking in all the emotions he created in me.

He was my somebody. Mine. The possessiveness was calming.

When I entered he didn’t acknowledge my presence, even when I closed the door quietly behind me. I waited for some response but when he didn’t turn to face me, I closed the distance between us and put my arms around his waist, resting my head against his back.

“You aren’t your father,” I whispered to him, taking in a deep breath of his scent. It was something that eased my stress along with his touch.

He was my calm in the storm. I had always been alone, on my own. No one else to depend on. Now that I had found him and experienced what we had together, I couldn’t comprehend going back to a life without him.

“The same blood than ran in his veins runs in mine.” He sounded sombre, like there was no way to escape it. “There is no escaping it.”

I wanted to take away his self doubt. He didn’t see how I saw him. He was calm in stressful situations and he always took control when most people felt overwhelmed. It was clear he was a leader.

I tightened my hold on him, breathing him in again and closing my eyes. He calmed me. The situation was stressful and with no clear solution everyone was feeling the pressure. It was my fault. If it hadn’t been for me, they wouldn’t all be in danger.

“Well according to my genetics I should be some power hungry villain but I’m not. The same way you aren’t like your father. We have the choice to be who we want to be. We are in control of our destines, not our DNA.”

He bowed his head.

“I have never trusted anyone Mav. Not anyone. But I trust you. I know you would never put me in harms way. And I know, like I know the sun will rise in the morning, that you would never hurt me.”

He was quiet as he absorbed my words.

“We’ll figure a way to get through this.” I said the words but I was just saying them to ease the pressure on him. “There is a way, we just need to find it.”

I wasn’t convinced we would find a way to defeat my family and selected mate. The reality is they were stronger and we didn’t have a lot of options.

He turned slowly to face me, lifting my chin so my eyes would find his.

“No running Victoria.” His tone heavy, like he had the weight of the world on his shoulders. “I know things look bleak right now but I will figure a way out of this. You need to trust me.”

“No running,” I agreed. I would have to find another way to ensure our survival. But like I promised, I would not give into the instinct to run as far away as possible.

“I need you to promise Victoria. I need to know that I can trust you not to run because when things get more real that’s what I fear you’ll do.”

Was I so easy to read? I wanted to argue but he was right. I would never be able to stand by and watch people I care about die for me when leaving would save them.

“I’ve never had anything to fight for before.” This time I did.

“This will be dangerous, I’m not going to lie to you. I don’t even know if there is a way out yet but I will do everything I can to keep you and my pack safe.”

“I won’t run.” I tried to assure him but he didn’t look convinced.

“They know you’re alive. There isn’t a corner of the world they won’t search for you. You are too valuable. So it’s either face them now or spend the rest of your life looking over your shoulder wondering if today is going to be the day they find you.”

He was right. It was no way to live. And I didn’t want to be without him. I was torn between what I knew was the right thing to do in the situation and the need to stand with him and face what was coming together.

“No more running?” he asked softly.

I nodded. “I promise.” I sighed. “And if I’m not running anymore, you might as well call me Alexandria. I’m not hiding anymore. Whatever happens from this point on I’m Alexandria.”

I released an emotional breath. Names had defined me my whole life, reflecting on my situation. This was the first time I could acknowledge myself with the name I had been given by my parents.

It was who I was. I wasn’t Mary. I wasn’t Victoria. I was Alexandria. Alexandria Mason. I finally had an identity.

“Alexandria,” he said my name softly.

“I’m not hiding anymore.” I lifted my chin. “I’m Alexandria Mason. I won’t allow the people who were trying to marry me off for power to take it from me.”

I might not have much of family but at least I’d had an aunt who had cared enough to go to such great lengths to protect me. Someone had loved me. It was more than I’d ever had before.

“That’s my girl.” The pride shone from his eyes.

His words spread warmth through me, I wanted to hold onto the feeling and keep it forever.

He reached up to touch my cheek gently. I felt the calmness that only he could give me.

“Now I need you to promise me something.”

“Anything,” he assured me.

“No heroics. Okay?”

He stared at me silently. He shook his head. “I can’t make promises I might not be able to keep.”

“You are my mate and I would do anything to keep you safe. Do you understand that?” My words were stark but true.

“I can’t let anything happen to you Alexandria.” He gave a resigned sigh.

I frowned. “In the same way I can’t let something happen to you.”

He mirrored my frown. “It’s not the same. I’m supposed to protect you.”

I rolled my eyes. “That’s so sexist.”

“Call it whatever you like. Physically I’m stronger. It’s biology.” He dismissed me, which only put my back up.

“So you expect me to standby meekly while you risk everything to save me?” I asked the question, really hoping he didn’t give me the answer I suspected I was going to get.

“I don’t want to fight Alexandria but I’ll do whatever it takes to keep you safe.”

The dark look in his eyes made me shiver with apprehension. His words stark.

“What I need most in this world is you. Do you understand that?” Now that I had found him, I couldn’t imagine being without him.

He pressed his lips together, like he was trying to stop himself from arguing with me.

“I can’t lose you. Not when I’ve just found you.”

I would never recover if anything happened to him. It was something I could barely imagine, never mind live through.

It had crossed my mind that if I hadn’t pick pocketed the guy in the bar that night our paths never would have crossed. If there was such a thing as destiny, could it be so cruel to take away what we had just found.

“I’ll figure a way out of this. I will.” He sounded more confident than I felt.

I wanted to believe him, more than anything. Maybe it was because any alternative would would cost lives. I didn’t want to lose anyone. This was my past, my mess. And mine to fix. Somehow. I just needed to figure out how.

There had to be a way. There was no other option.

“I need you to promise me Mav. I need to know you won’t play the hero.” My eyes pleaded with his.

He closed his eyes, briefly. “I can’t.” He paused. “If there is no other way, I will do it in a heartbeat.”

My heart sank.