Walking into the kitchen, the smell of sautéing vegetables especially onions wafts through the air.

"JD, I want to learn to cook, and you could teach me." I almost whine.

Trying to hide the smile on his face by not looking at me, he responds. "And why would I do that, Ev?"

"Because you love me." I grin and turn up the charm.

"Fine. What you do to me Evangeline." He grunts.

I walk over to where he is chopping vegetables to stand and watch. He's like a dancer with his knife, cuts precise - no moves seem to be accidental.

"Grab another cutting board, and you can chop the carrot if you want."

"And what are you making?"

"Working on a mirepoix that will be the initial base for my chicken noodle soup."

"And what is a mirepoix?"

"Mirepoix is a flavor base usually made with onions, carrots and celery. In Cajun or creole cooking it is usually onions, celery and bell peppers. There are similar flavor bases in other styles of cooking that might include ingredients like garlic, tomatoes, leeks or a variety of other ingredients."

"Isn't that what sautéing?"

"Have you ever feed a large pack like this one?"

"Not personally, but I guess you're right. The cooks at Silver Tide must have had an exhausting job."

Coming over with a cutting board, Julian hands me a knife and slides the carrots towards me. I try to follow his lead, but I just can't seem to get the damn carrot to cut - it keeps rolling to the side and the cuts are all off.

"JD what am I doing wrong?"

"Here let me help."

Julian walks behind me and wraps his arms around me.

"What are you doing?" I gulp.

"Just relax and let me help."

I'm confused at first until he places his hands on top of mine, and shifts my right hand until it grips the knife differently.

"Here's another problem you're having." Julian starts. "Carrots tend to roll a bit and that can cause problems especially if you're not experienced with cutting them. So, what we're going to do is trim off a small piece off of the side and this will create a flatter surface thus decreasing the chance of the carrot rolling on you. Then we are going to cut them into sticks and then cut across the sticks to create the smaller pieces. Like this."

He then begins to demonstrate what he just told me. We find a rhythm with chopping the carrot, but I'm not using all my concentration on this particular skill at the moment. I have become fully aware of how our bodies are working very much in synch - our bodies almost fitting together perfectly. How the muscles of his arms seem to be cocooning me. Then I imagine how they would feel doing other things.

It doesn't take long for me to feel all of him pressed against my back. And he's one very excited boy.

"Julian." I involuntarily groan out.

"Shit." He hisses, and I can't help but wiggle just a little - a need building in my body.

"Mmhmm." and I notice that we have luckily stopped chopping that carrot.

"Fuck." He bites out - his face in my hair at the side of my neck. Next thing I feel are teeth - probably more like fangs - scraping against the side of my neck, and I move slightly giving more access without even thinking about it.

Luckily, once again, we are interrupted when a door opens and shuts.

"Merde! Fils de pute!! Not again." Julian hollers. However when I turn to look at him, he's already disappeared.

What the hell am I doing? What the hell am I thinking? I can't let this go on anymore. I love Julian and want to be with him, but he is waiting on his mate.

****************

The actions of the day before helps make my final decision, and this causes me to visit Scarlett.

"So what do you need to discuss?" Scarlett asks me curiously.

"Two things actually. One is in regards with possibly taking the information we have all gathered together about Sanguis Silence and Crimson Edge and taking it to my mom's old pack, Tidewater Pack. Along with New Dawn, Tidewater is Silver Tide's strongest allies. I think they would not be happy with the movement of Sanguis Silence and Crimson Edge, and both would be willing to enter into an alliance with you, if you'd be interested."

"Of course, I'd be interested if they are interested in the information that you take to them. It is never a bad thing to allies - you can't have too many."

"I know that it is usually much more formal, but I thought with the situation as it is - I could preliminarily take the information that we know about at this moment to the Alpha of the Tidewater pack and see what he has to say about it. It shouldn't matter but the Alpha of both packs are friends with my parents, so they should be even more sympathetic - not that they wouldn't be under the current circumstances."

"So you believe they will want to enter into an alliance with Blackrose?"

"I believe so. There is nothing in their history to indicate they would even be slightly ok with what either pack is doing. My father is in communication with them quite regularly, however I doubt that he risked letting Sanguis Silence or Crimson Edge know that he knows more than they would probably like him to know. We have a few spies in the Crimson Edge pack, and he wouldn't want to give them up."

"I wouldn't believe he would either. So what else would you like to discuss?"

"I would like to adopt Devaney after I am done talking with Tidewater and New Dawn."

"That is unexpected, but I think it would be good for both of you. Rin and Gryphon tell me the little one has perked up quite a bit since you have been visiting her."

"Oh just the other day she called me 'mama'. It was so thrilling Scarlett. My wolf and I couldn't keep our excitement inside. The fact that this was her first word was one of the reasons that I decided to talk with you about the possibility of me adopting her. There are so many children in need of homes and even without a mate, I believe I can provide Devaney with a good home."

"You don't think you have another mate out there?"

"Scarlett, truthfully I kind of hope I don't, BUT honestly something is pulling me to leave here. I really don't want to leave here." I say sadly.

"This is about Julian isn't it."

"It's that obvious, huh?"

"To those who know Julian well, yes - Tyson, Grant and I the most. We see how you guys act around each other, the looks that pass between you, and all the sexual tension that goes on. Hell my knife would barely cut through the sexual tension."

"Sexual tension or not, I love Julian." I admit, looking down at the floor.

"I guessed."

"It doesn't matter though, Scarlett. I know Julian is waiting for his mate, and that is the end of the story. I respect Julian enough to not interfere with that. If the fates have decided that Julian and I are to remain best friends for the rest of my life, then that is just what I will have to live with."

"He loves you - you know."

"Does that change what the fates have decided??!!" I holler. Pausing, I collect myself. "I'm sorry. The situation really bothers me. Here I have a man that I love, who apparently loves me, but I'm not good enough for the fates to put me as Julian's mate. It is very frustrating...maybe I'm not good enough for anyone. Maybe I wouldn't be a good mother to Devaney." I question

"Listen Eva, if there is one thing I have learned as my time as a rogue, is that love is a complicated thing. We have more family than just the people biologically related to us, and we certainly are capable of falling in love with people who aren't necessarily our soulmates...it's what makes us human, so never feel guilty for that, or undermine yourself for it."

"Thanks Scarlett." I state but look over my shoulder as I'm walking out. "For everything."

Sienna POV

I've have so much fun at Blackrose. Eva and I have met so many wonderful people, especially Mariah, Juniper, Tyson and Grant. All of us, plus Julian, seem to spend all of our free time together - one way or another in some combination of people. The antics between Eva and Julian have been hilarious. Eva has been smiling more with Julian and Devaney in her life - well the whole gang, too. But suddenly she seems troubled. I don't like this turn of events. Something is wrong, and I am going to get to the bottom of the problems.

"Eva what's wrong with you lately?" I wonder.

"Nothing." She mutters, looking at the ground. Then I know for sure something is wrong.

"Let's take a drive." I demand.

"Sure. Why not." She sighs as she shrugs her shoulders. Not typical for her.

We drove off the pack house grounds and onto the connecting street. Once we were out of ear shot, I continue the conversation.

"Ok spill it." I start.

"I never intended to get close to any males here at Blackrose."

"Care to elaborate?"

"Not really, but I will. You deserve to know since I dragged you out on this adventure." She chuckles and pulls the car over on the side of the road and parks - then continues. "I started dating Romain because he is different and interesting. He really treats me right, but I just don't think a relationship with him is right."

"There's something else, isn't there?" I ask. She stays silent, so I continue, "It's about Julian, isn't it?"

She sighs, but mumbles, "Yes."

"So it's more about Julian than Romain." I respond more like a question.

"I suppose. Maybe that is one of the reasons I couldn't date Romain anymore. I feel a pull toward Julian, but he doesn't say it is a mate pull. I'm fairly certain he would have said something since he is so excited about finding his mate. The major problem is that, here of late, we just keep pushing the boundaries. Hell, last week we would have kissed if it wasn't for Romain interrupting us. And the other day we got pretty close and steamy just trying to cook." She replies.

"That does present a problem then."

"I think it's time for us to go, Sienna."

"What about Devaney?"

"I've thought a lot about her. I meet with Scarlett the other day about Blackrose trying to gain alliances with New Dawn and Tidewater, since our pack is allies with them. Scarlett and I have been planning for me to travel there to hand deliver the information we brought here anyway. I talked with dad, and told him I might travel there. It seemed to me that he understood the underlying reasons for me going there. Once I deliver the message, I plan on coming back and adopting Devaney. It will be hard, but I can talk with Devaney before I leave and every day I'm gone. And I'm sure I can count on Rin and Gryphon's help at the orphan home supporting Devaney's language development. Her language skills have improved greatly since her first word. We all think she suppressed her language skills after she watched her pack get destroyed. A new environment and new people is just more than she could handle." She finishes with an encouraging smile.

"It seems like you've put plenty of thought into this decision." I comment.

"I guess I have. It isn't the choice that will make everyone happy, but it is the choice I feel is best for the ones who choose not to make a clear decision, including myself If I stay, I will eventually give in to the love I've developed for Julian." She completes.

"Love?"

"Yes, I love Julian, but he is waiting on his mate."

"I understand. Let's go get some ice cream."

Seeing the conflict in her eyes, made my heart hurt for her, but I also saw the strong determination they held. She has made up her mind, and that is something I never try to battle against. I guess it is time for us to leave. Next destination - Tidewater Pack.