Holly and I Only!!!

Ryder walked in after her, the dog following him closely behind, sniffing him curiously. Ryder waited patiently, looking around and politely not commenting on how horrid the place looked. He was glad she was getting a warm bed and clean surroundings at the compound. "What is your dog's name," he asked her curiously, scratching him behind the ears again. He was quickly growing to like this dog.

Lilli smiled at him. "Jedi." She said. "I got him just before I watched Star Wars. He sat in my lap the whole time."

Ryder laughed. "I love it. How you doin, Jedi," he asked the dog, scratching his back and smoothing his fur.

The dog rolled over on the floor, wanting his belly scratched.

Lilli laughed, going into her bed room though she felt funny being in there. She stepped back out and shut the door, shivering. Jedi got up and went to her.

Ryder went to her, curiously following the dog. "You alright," he asked her.

"Someone not me has been in my room..." she said.

"Stay close," he growled and went in, sniffing and looking around the dark room. He pulled out one of his blades, knowing someone was in there. A rogue came out and attacked him; Ryder easily disposed of him, killing him with a single swipe to the throat. He'd barely moved six inches. "There anything in particular you want out of here," Ryder asked her, looking back to make sure she was still close. He relaxed only slightly when he saw her.

She nodded. "Everything on the dresser." she said, bending down and holding onto Jedi who was growling lowly.

He nodded and grabbed her bag, quickly and carefully scooped everything on her dresser into the bag, and quickly went back to her, zipping it up. "Anything else," he asked, patting the dog on the head. "It's okay, boy. No more danger."

"The clothes in the dresser and the closet. There's another bag on the floor of the closet." she said softly, taking the bag full of the stuff and filling it with things from the living room. She was careful since most of the stuff was important to her.

He nodded and grabbed whatever she told him to. He laid the bag of clothes on the floor. "Anything else," he asked gently.

She shook her head. "That's it." she said.

"Let's go," he urged gently. "More rogues will come if we don't hurry back," he picked up her heavy bags and easily threw them over his shoulder.

"Please be careful of those... they're glass and breakable things in there." she said, putting a leash on Jedi.

He nodded and was more fluid with his motions so he didn't accidentally break something. He led her out, making sure she and Jedi stayed close, and got into the van quickly. He drove to the compound and relaxed once they reached his home. "I'm sorry," he apologized. "I've always been overprotective of my mom and aunt. I guess that goes for all Breedmates. I didn't mean to stress you out."

"It's okay." she said softly. "I feel very safe around you, so I don't care."

Her admittance made him turn slightly pink. He cleared his throat. "I'm sure my mother is finished making up your room," he said and led her down the hall, opening her door for her.

Once in her room, she let Jedi go and looked around. She smiled and nodded. "I like it." she said, looking at him. "Will you stay with me or do you have other things to do?" she asked.

"I can stay if you want," he nodded, gently laying her bags down on the ground.

"I wouldn't have asked if I didn't want you to." she said, blushing a little.

He blushed a little too and chuckled. 'I'll stay," he assured her and watched Jedi sniff around the apartment-suite.

She nodded. "why are those people after me?" she asked, talking about the man that had been in her room.

"Breedmate blood is the sweetest of all," he told her gently. "Rogues, like the one who was in your apartment, are nothing but bloodthirsty, lustful monsters. He'd smelled the sweet scent of a breedmate and went to hide where it was strongest in hopes you would return. Thankfully, you got in and out of there while he was sleeping. He woke up from my growl."

"What if I don't want to be a breedmate?" she asked softly, looking at him.

"It's a part of who you are," he murmured gently. "Like Jedi is a dog, and I am Breed. It is part of your genetics."