Feeling the sun rising outside, he woke from his sleep and looked down at the woman resting in his hold. He had fallen asleep without shifting against his wishes and knew it was going to make it harder now. She was still curled up against him and he knew if he left the nightmares would return. Looking up at the ceiling, he took a deep breath and felt her stir. He felt her freeze when she opened her eyes and then she bolted up.

"Oh my god."

He almost wanted to laugh at her reaction and watched her climb out of bed. She put the room between them and fixed her hair.

"I am so sorry."

He sat up and watched her search the room just to keep from meeting his gaze. The woman was acting like he had never been in here overnight with her before and it was actually humerous. She wrapped her arms around her and took a deep breath.

"Kara."

"I shouldn't need your help. You shouldn't have to come to my aid everytime this happens."

He climbed out of bed and approached her. She retreated further and he caught her wrist just before she slipped out his reach. Her hazel eyes slowly looked up at him as the contact sent power through each of them.

"I've spent many nights in here."

"This is different."

"How?"

She looked at him and said "You are different."

He rolled his eyes and said "You are such a girl."

He released her wrist and heard "Excuse me?"

"You take on all this responsibility and can handle it just fine. You fight through nightmares and some other burden no one knows about and yet you flip out if I am not a wolf when I sleep in here."

Her eyes narrowed and lit up just before her palm hit his jaw. The blow stung and he looked back at her. She was past her modesty and finally showing some of her temper. She sent him one final look and left the room. When she was gone from his sight he let the smirk capture his mouth and he walked out of the bedroom.

"Kara."

"Go away."

Her muffled voice made him smirk again and he said "I didn't mean to offend you."

She appeared in front of him and said "For a while I thought you weren't just a cold hard ass of a protector but someone who might actually care about me. Thank you for correcting that illusion."

He watched her disappear back into the bathing chamber and let out a low chuckle as he left her room. He walked down the sunlight hall and made his way to the stairs. Leon was returning from his early morning hunt and saw the fading mark on his face.

"What happened to you?"

He sent the man a look and said "Your granddaughter."

Leon chuckled and said "I've never seen her take anything out on you. What did you do?"

"I don't think that concerns you."

The man continued chuckling and said "Just don't let her leave scratch marks where everyone can see."

His jaw tightened as the man walked away enjoying himself. Frowning, he descended the steps and walked out through the waterfall. Needing time alone, he kept from shifting and walked into the bordering forest. The birds talked above in the canopies and he could smell the prey miles off. Every nerve was still on fire from touching her and he was unsure if he could shake it.

No matter how dangerous it was being close to her he couldn't pull himself from her and last night proved it. He couldn't fight the need to ease the pain rolling off her and it was because he had never seen her so vulnerable before. When she had first met him she had just lost her father but she was holding herself together just fine. When her mother had left, she just withdrew from them until she could handle the separation. The nightmares were the killer force on her and he knew if he left her side, they were going to kill her.

He wished he could see what they were to try and figure out what their sources were. She needed one good night's sleep and not the ones he has been able to give her. As much as he wanted to keep Leon out of this part of her personal life, he was afraid he was going to have to speak with the man.

"What are you doing out here?"

He looked over his shoulder and found her approaching. She had her hair pulled back in a braid again for the hunt and was wearing a white t-shirt with faded blue jeans. The closer she came, the easier it was to smell her and he could remember how she felt curled up against him all night long.

"Waiting for you."

"After I hit you?"

He shrugged and said "I apparently offended you."

Her eyes lit up again and he looked ahead at the future playing field. She stood beside him and he looked down at her.

"Let me help you this time."

"I don't need help. I prefer to hunt alone."

"Kara, it's hard on you."

She looked up at him and asked "What are you talking about?"

"I felt the last time you hunted."

She tore her hazel eyes away and said "You weren't supposed to know."

"I do."

Frowning, he took a deep breath and shifted. He watched her take off in a trot and followed in his form. They ran among the trees until he caught scent of prey and came to a stop. She looked at him and he looked at her.

Trust me.

His voice in her head was foreign after these years but it helped ease her growing emotions. She watched him track down the prey's hideout and she closed in. He let her take over the hunt and settled down in the grass. He watched her wait until the rabbit came out and stood up. She didn't reveal herself and looked at him.

Try something different.

She closed her eyes and located some foxes further down the stream. Something that was cunning would help fight back the fear the rabbit gave off in chase. She took off after the fox and he watched her chase it down when it began its flight. The fox crossed the stream and she pursued it. It tried to shake her but she refused to lose his trail.

Joseph caught up just as she tore into the dead prey. He watched her enjoy the food and waited for her to finish. The fear had been lacking and he knew she was eternally grateful for the lack of headache this early in the day. When she quenched her thirst, she looked up at him and stood up. He waited as she approached and stopped next to him.

She didn't have to say her thanks because he could feel the elation coming from her and he stood up. She followed him until he caught another scent and took off to feed himself. Settling down in the grass, she looked up at the sky and rolled onto her back. In the movement, she shifted back to human and stared up at the blue sky. Just the idea of changing prey eased her torment and she had to find a way to make it up to him.

Maybe figuring out a way to sleep at night without needing him there beside her would be the right gift. She knew he wasn't getting all the sleep he could when he has had to rouse her from her nightmares before they got out of control in the middle of the night. She didn't mind waking to him but after spending a night together and him not in wolf form, it changed things between them. She remembered how warm and safe she had felt in his hold and the touch of his hand on her wrist this morning just made it more powerful. The man that was supposed to protect her was causing more trouble than he was preventing.

When she saw him returning, she shifted back to wolf as she rose and they walked back home. The slip through the waterfall was quiet and she found Leon waiting. He didn't look happy and she knew it was because of the trip he had to take. She held her tongue when they stood in front of him and he looked at Joseph.

"I want you to stay here."

"You need someone to watch your back."

The man leveled him with his hazel gaze and said "I have trained men going with me. Besides, I don't trust anyone else to keep her safe in my absence."

Kara watched the man walk past them and she felt eyes rest on her. Looking over her shoulder, she found the other residents watching him leave. Taking a deep breath, she climbed the steps and made her way down the hall. She had work to do on her own and to shake all the viewers was going to be difficult. Whenever Leon was missing from sight, they all turned to her about all of their problems and she would always have splitting headaches by the end of the day.

She entered the courtyard alone and took a seat at the fountain. The running water was soothing to listen to and she looked up at the sky. She studied the movement and patterns of the clouds as she began thinking on a solution. Before she became a teenager she never had nightmares and she slept soundly at night but now they were part of her sleep. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath and slowly looked up at the trelis.

The vines were still running over it but she had refirmed and solidified the foundation. The cracks were now only on the outside and the shrubbery was covering the ground with evergreens and flowers. The willow tree was growing larger and was filling out in canopy size. More birds have nested in the tree and a few squirrels were burrowed inside the trunk.

"Kara?"

She looked ahead of herself and found Rafe approaching. He was in his natural wolf form and she felt him rest his head on her lap.

"What are you thinking about?"

She scratched his ear and said "Trying to find a way to repay someone."

"You mean Joseph."

"I didn't say that."

He licked her hand and said "He has everything he wants. Anyone can see that."

"Meaning?"

He lifted his head and sat down in front of her. His ears went up and his tail curled around his leg.

"Well, he has a very nice home and a great job. Plus, he has a great mate who happens to be the granddaughter of our leader."

Her eyes narrowed and she said "We are not mates."

Rafe laughed and said "You can't deny it. You can't go anywhere without him and everyone knows that his room is empty every night."

Her jaw tightened and she stood up. He watched her run her hand through her hair and take a deep breath.

"Rafe, he is my protector."

"And my mother explained what that means."

She looked back at him and said "It means he is responsible to keep me safe."

Rafe chuckled and said "That and become your mate for life."

"That isn't going to happen."

The pup looked a little disappointed and said "You two are great together."

She watched him leave and let out a sigh. The young boy's opinion of her and Joseph was hardly acceptable and she knew there had to be a correction to appearance. She didn't want everyone to expect something out of them when it wasn't going to happen. The idea of mating with anyone was terrifying for her and something she never wanted to undergo. It meant a commitment and any real commitment to her had been shattered a long time ago.

She never wanted to feel that alone again in her life and if that meant forcing herself to handle her nightmares on her own at night she had no choice.

Glancing up at the birds, she took a deep breath and asked "Do you have any ideas?"

They looked down at her and began singing again. She frowned and and walked into the hall. Looking around the place as she approached her room, she saw the residents introducing the new children to the place. They were practicing their shifting and playing with the older children. She spotted Rafe playing chase with the puppies and watched them tackle him.

She smirked as he pretended to being attacked and felt the cold gaze on her from down the hall. She spotted Joseph standing outside his room watching them and glancing down at her. He walked into his room and she bit her lower lip. Glancing down at the fun going on, she slipped into her room and looked around the place. The carvings had taken all the wall space in her open room and her bedroom.

She walked into her bathing chamber and studied the bare walls. The room was only lit by a few openings in the wall and she knelt down by the water. Looking around the place, she could see alcoves carved in for storing items and it gave her an idea. Other women in the temple had excess candles and had mentioned how they were soothing at the end of a long day. She could bring one of her rugs in and set up some candles for some relaxing after her evening bath.

Maybe some evening meditation and mind clearing exercises would help ease the nightmares. She used the morning exercises to make the hunting more bareable and now that she had a different method to her hunting, she could see if they would work for her sleeping.

"Kara."

She left her bathing chamber and found Joseph looking around the place. He casted her a questioning look and she watched him examine the most recent carvings.

"Something's bothering you."

She took a seat and said "I need you tell me what it means to be my protector."

He stopped studying the carving and looked back at her. It had been longer than he expected for her to ask for all of his responsibilites but right now it was not a good idea. She holding her legs against her chest and had her chin rested on top of her knee. The woman was starting to become too alluring for him and his eyes focused on the scar. It eased the temptation she stirred by replacing it with guilt and self disgust at his mistake.

"It means that I do everything possible to keep you safe."

"Any other responsibilites?"

He leaned against the wall and asked "What are you asking?"

She took a deep breath and said "I was informed the others believe we are mates."

A low growl filled the room and she watched him run his hand through his hair. He had heard the rumors floating around but had prayed she wouldn't find out about them. Appearances in her position meant everything and if people didn't see their relationship as solely work related it was a problem.

"Joseph."

He took a deep breath and said "It's part of being a protector."

"You know that isn't a possibility."

Looking down at her, he saw the determination and old withdrawl shining in her eyes. She may need his presence for her sleep but she was still holding back from contact from everyone. Rafe was the only resident that received any physical affection from her and he knew it was because she felt like an older sibling to him.

"I do not plan on fulfilling that position."

Her eyes relaxed and she asked "You won't push the idea?"

He sat down and sighed "It's going to come up in the next few years but it won't be me. I cannot allow that to happen."

"Why?"

"If I were pursue you it would put you in danger."

"Really?"

He held her hazel gaze and said "I would get too distracted and not be able to protect you to the best of my ability."

"You never let anything happen to me."

He looked away and said "You don't know who I am or what I am capable of. I'd harm you more than protect you."

His words hung in the air between them and she took a deep breath. He was a powerful being and she knew if he was pressed, he would fight to the death.

"Do you know that when I first met you I saw you for who you really are?"

His black eyes turned back to her and he said "You were four years old. I was almost twenty. You didn't know what you were seeing."

She smirked and said "You looked at me and I felt cold freeze my blood from your eyes. The power was overwhelming, especially after I had just lost my father."

He looked away and said "It would be worse."

Her hand caught his arm and the contact rippled with power up her arm. He met her gaze and she took a deep breath.

"Tonight I don't want you here. I need to sleep on my own."

He saw the determination in her jawline and nodded. She was working to correct the image everyone saw between them and he was grateful. If the pressure had gotten too much, he knew Leon would push him on her and he couldn't do that to her.

"If you need me, I will come."

She nodded and said "I am grateful for your help but I need to start handling this on my own."

He stood up and she watched him walk to the exit. He never glanced back whenever he left and she watched the skin close behind him. Letting out a sigh, she ran her hand through her hair and walked into the bathing chamber. She stripped from her clothes and waded into the water. The warmth helped to wash away the power still running through her from touching him and she closed her eyes.

She relaxed in the hot spring until she felt all the tension finally missing from her. Climbing out of the water, she let her skin dry quickly and dressed. She walked to her bedroom and changed into her sleeping clothes. Her eyes moved up to the opening in her ceiling and she pulled herself up out of the room. The moonlight welcomed her and she stretched out on her back.

The stars shown brightly above her and she closed her eyes. She took a deep breath and took in the cool evening air. It left her in peace and she knew she was ready to face one night alone. Dropping back into her room, she lit the firepit and climbed under her covers. She curled up on her side and let her eyes close as sleep sucked her under.