Going inside, I notice another group of guys watching football. Just what I like to do, so I jump in the middle of them and become engrossed in the action.

It's an intense rivalry game, each team matching the other in skills and power. Everyone is glued to the action and getting wrapped up in each touch of the football and every yard gained. Close to the end I'm so involved in the game that I jump off the couch yelling at the TV.

"Didn't that ref see that! The ball was clearly over the line! That was a touchdown!" like the refs could hear me.

"Calm down, Eva, they can't hear you!" Ashton exclaims.

"But that was a bullshit call!" I continue.

"Does it really matter?" Jacob interjects.

"I guess not." I huff and fell back onto the couch.

After my little outburst, I realize that I am not going to get anywhere yelling at the TV and go to get snacks. I bring them over and plop down in between Cole and Connor, who had joined the group. They were getting on my nerves with their bickering anyway — like my action was going to help. Maybe this was a mistake — a headache waiting to happen.

"Man will you quit doing that!" Cole yells.

"Quit doing what?" but I can see the mischievous gleam in his eyes.

"Are you embarrassing your brother again?" I scold.

"No." Connor grins. "Yes." Cole counters.

"He's always doing this to me." Cole pouts.

"Connor is that always necessary? One day you're going to regret the things you put your brother through." I try to tell him.

"How would you know?" Connor asks.

"Because I have two older brothers, one's my twin, and 4 younger brothers. Now that I've been away from them, I feel bad about some of the things I've done to my younger brothers and I miss my twin badly. You two might not always be together."

"I guess. I'm sorry Cole." He starts.

"I know, but please stop trying to embarrass me all of the time. Sometimes is ok, but all of the time gets old."

I smile at the two of them warmly. "See brotherly love."

Awhile later but longer than expected, the familiar scent seems to be getting closer. Knowing what is coming, I chose to ignore it. I hear the back door open and slam shut.

"What are you doing?" Callum growls looking at me through narrowed eyes.

"Enjoying a football game. You?" I reply nonchalantly

"And why are you doing this?" he asks while pointing at everyone huddled together in front of the TV.

"Because I like football." I state with a duh connotation

"With a group of guys?" He challenges.

"Well, 1) most girls, in my experience, don't like football, so I'm stuck watching with guys, and 2) I grew up with six brothers and a father in my house, so sports was just what I got used to — and I love it. Don't you like football?" I quiz.

"Yeah."

"So come join us instead of standing there upset that I am watching football with a bunch of guys. It isn't like I am trying to exclude you." I tell him, shrugging my shoulders.

And that is exactly what he does. He growls his way through the group of guys and sits his ass right next to me, pulling me on his lap — not that I terribly minded. He was one sexy ass guy.

Game on.

As soon as the game is over, Callum pulls me out of his lap, grabs my hand, and drags me outside to talk.

"You know we're not all born with the ability to teleport, right? So why did you run?" He inquires.

"My biggest fear growing up as a werewolf was finding my mate and being rejected like my mother was. That is exactly what happened. Oh he had his reasons, but he didn't talk with me before he rejected me. I was in love with him since I was a kid, and he broke my heart. I couldn't go through another heartbreak, not again. My heart's desire is simply to be loved by someone." I admit.

"Do you know my story of rejection?" Callum questions. I just couldn't imagine him being rejected.

"Who would reject you?"

"A girl that was in love with someone else — a human to be exact. She wanted to live life by her own choice and not by the mate bonds. I can respect that, but it still meant that I got rejected. Simple as that. But her rejection led me to you, and I feel a stronger bond with you than I ever did with her. I can be the one to love you — if you'll let me." He pleads the last part.

"I want to believe you. Just give me time and attention. I feel the strong bond too, but my heart will take time to heal. It's only been a month since my rejection, please give me time."

"I'll give you all the time you need princess." and with that he kisses my forehead and left to go back to his pack. I admittedly felt empty without him close to me, but was that enough?

Callum was back at the pack house late the next morning, claiming he couldn't concentrate without me near.

"So I thought we might go on a picnic together. I guess like a date." Callum asks.

"Ok. I suppose that would be nice." And the smile I got was worth it.

"We don't have to go far. There's a little area within walking distance where the pack has created an artificial lake. I thought that would be a nice place."

We take off - Callum carrying a basket in one hand and holding mine with the other. Wanting to make this work, I accept holding his hand - trying to make the most of this moment. It really doesn't take long for us to arrive and Callum starts unloading the basket full of sandwiches, chips and chocolate chip cookies.

"I take it you asked for some assistance with getting this together."

"I'm not much of a cook, and I didn't plan on this until I was driving here this morning. I think it would be good if we got to know each other." He confesses.

"Sounds good to me."

"Sound stupid but lets go with the basic favorites." He suggests.

"Color gray, food Italian, I love sweets, football, card and board games, photography, travel and family."

"Interesting. I love the color combination of blue and gold, Mexican style food, fast cars, sports and exercise. What do you dislike?"

"The color orange, raw fish, atomic level spicy, and wearing clothes were the colors don't match in some way."

"That is different, I guess. I dislike wine, country music and most things sour."

I wasn't going to admit that Julian disliked sour things. Shit why am I thinking about Julian! I'm sitting here with my second chance mate and I am thinking about another guy - Not good Eva, not a good move.

"Ok. What kinds of fast cars do you like or own?"

"I prefer more modern cars like my Audi A8 or a Porsche 911, but I can appreciate some old classics too and fast motorcycles."

"I love my Charger, but I am partial to trucks actually."

"Not sure I can see that?"

"And why not?"

"You don't seem like the country type."

"Trucks are not necessarily county. They can be classy, if you want that type of truck. They are very function and rugged and sometimes downright sexy."

"Sexy - a truck sexy?" He chuckles.

"I like to take a romp in the mud on occasion. You can go off road, pull the truck over, get a couple of sleeping bags our and gaze at the stars. Try doing that in one of your fancy cars. Now I'm not saying that those cars aren't sexy themselves. Most of the time it's the person behind the wheel that makes a car even more sexy - at least that's my opinion."

"If you say so princess."

"I am not a princess. I like doing outdoor things - like hiking, 4-wheeling, camping and most sports. I don't particularly like shopping or dresses and prefer camo and boots. So I'm not sure what your definition of princess is, but that's not mine." I huff.

"Whatever you say. You're the only girl in a household of seven children, you're telling me you weren't treated like a princess?"

"By my daddy yes, and maybe by my oldest brother, but usually I was just one of the guys. My cousin, Sophia, now that was the princess. Everything down to the pink dresses, manicures, and regular trips to the salon. Now that is the princess, and her mate treats her as such. Sienna is the next closest thing to a princess, although you can get her to play some football on occasion - and she might even enjoy it."

"You're close to her - aren't you?"

"Very. She became my closest friend growing up - as far as confidant. Ethan is a close second, although there are just some things I absolutely refuse to share with him and vice versa. I have a few other people I consider close friends, but they aren't at Silver Tide. I felt like people especially girls just got close to me because of Asher and Ethan. Girls flock to those two. So I began to not trust their intentions. Now I have a group of friends at Blackrose that I've become rather close to. We did everything together as a group - both girls and boys. It was nice to develop friendships with people I felt like I could trust." I confide.

"Do you think you could build those relationships here - with me?"

"I'm certain there will be people I can eventually trust. It might take some time. I can build relationships with plenty of people, but I will be exceptionally cautious. I've seen what people will do for power and potential position. When Asher decided not to take the Alpha position, several of the girls that were interested in him started paying more attention to Ethan. Those were the girls that Ethan especially stayed away from, although like me Ethan is waiting on his mate. It is something that my mom instilled in us."

"Why is she so adamant about it?"

"It would be nice if my mate had waited." I sigh and become deathly quiet.

"I'm sorry."

"We can't change that now. We'll just have to move forward. And Asher isn't my father's son. I mean he is - but not biologically. His father was part of the Tidewater Pack before he was killed in an attack. Asher was about a month old when mom met dad. It crushed Lucas and he rushed home - only to come in the middle of an attack. Him and his twin sister died in that attack, and mom still blames herself."

"I bet that was hard on her."

"It was. Mom still believes it was destiny - I mean hell, Asher is the product of that and is a damn good warrior and healer. Mom had lost faith in fates after her first mate rejected her. She said she felt pulled to Lucas and eventually gave in to that. She says she even got a visit from the Moon Goddess after Lucas was killed and everything was explained to her. She said that helped her have faith in the fates again. It's what helped me through my rejection, and I guess the fates brought me here to you."

"I'm glad they did." and I hear the sincerity in his voice.

"Will you please come back to New Dawn Pack with me? You can bring Sienna with you." He pleads.

"Why not. I suppose it is where I'm going to live since you've decided to accept me."

He quickly packs up what's left and lead me back to the pack house to collect Sienna. Sienna and I pack our bags and deposit them in my car. Callum says that it is going to be about an hour and a half drive, so I climb in and start my car - Off to my next adventure.