Scarlett

The next week went by with everyone on edge and expecting another attack from the rogues, but it never happened. It was like the rogues had backed off totally, which had confused Cade and Blake. It wasn't normal rogue behavior apparently, but then again we already knew that these rogues weren't behaving like normal rogues.

If they'd been acting like normal rogues it would have been easier to try and figure out what their next move was going to be. The fact that they weren't predictable made them more dangerous. We had no idea what they would do next.

Cade became more protective, which was a little hard to handle. I was so used to being able to do what I wanted, when I wanted it and never having to take another person into consideration. It was taking some getting used to and a few times I'd lost my temper with him.

I'd started getting better at handling thoughts, although I was only linked to Cade. There were times when I was training with Hank that he would allow me to hear his thoughts and I did the same with him.

It was getting easier, but I was in no way ready to handle all the thoughts of the entire pack just yet. Just remembering what happened the last time I'd heard everyone in my head was enough for me to take it slowly.

The couple of times Keri had tried to arrange to go out, I'd had to make up some excuse not to go. Also the fact that I was training for at least two hours after school every day with Cade watching was a good excuse as well.

Slowly but surely my body's strength increased. I was also learning to react more quickly due to all the sparring. So far, under the proud gaze of Cade, I had been able to land Hank on his back three times.

Unlike human bodies, mine adjusted to the exercise pretty quickly and the pain from the training lessened each day.

Blake had totally recovered from his injury and was back to his normal self. He annoyed me every chance he got, but I had to admit I was happy he was okay.

Cade and Blake joined Keri and I for lunch every day at our table. Cade would sit beside me and Blake would sit beside Keri. From an outsiders' point of view it looked like Blake had a thing for Keri and I was pretty convinced with the fluttering of Keri's eyelids that the feeling was mutual. I was starting to suspect that they liked each other.

I didn't know enough about the whole mating thing to know whether if what I suspected was happening between Blake and Keri was even allowed.

I kept meaning to ask Cade about it, but it kept slipping my mind.

It was dark and I was lying in Cade's arms in his bed. It was late and I was tired. It had been a long day of school and training. I could tell from Cade's breathing that he wasn't sleeping so I decided to finally ask what I'd been curious about for so long.

"Where are your parents?" I asked softly. I felt him shift slightly underneath me as he pulled me closer.

"They are dead," he answered.

His answer took me by surprise. I'm not sure why it hadn't crossed my mind. The heaviness in his voice revealed that it still affected him deeply so I hugged him closer.

"They were killed about a year ago by rogues," he revealed softly.

I remained silent.

"There had been a couple of rogues in and out of territory a couple of months before, but by the time we discovered that two rogues had entered our territory it had been too late."

He let out a deep sigh and rubbed his forehead.

"I'm sorry," I said. There was nothing that you could really say that would help with that type of loss, I understood that, but I needed some way to tell him that hearing the loss in his voice had affected me, too. I didn't like the idea of anything hurting him.

He feathered a kiss to the top my head.

So many things began to fall into place. That bit of information gave me a better understanding of him and his fear for my safety against the rogues that were after me.

This had to be bringing up the memories of what had happened to his parents and I couldn't help feeling a little bad that I'd been pushing so hard against him when all he was trying to do was to make sure that what happened to his parents didn't also happen to me.

I felt like a complete bitch. I promised myself that I'd be more understanding in the future.

My thoughts drifted to Blake and Keri.

"Blake seems to like Keri," I started as I ran my hand across his bare chest.

"Yeah, I think you're right," he replied, confirming my suspicion.

"Is that type of thing allowed?" I asked.

"What type of thing?" he asked.

"You know, a werewolf together with a human," I clarified.

"There are no rules that say it isn't allowed but it doesn't normally happen unless the wolf has lost their mate," he explained.

"Blake hasn't found his mate yet, has he?" I asked, already being pretty sure he hadn't.

"No," he answered.

"How often does it happen that a werewolf doesn't find their mate?" I asked, wanting to know more.

"Not very often. Fate has a way of making sure their paths cross."

Well, that made it very complicated for Blake and Keri. There was no disputing it; Keri was human, and Blake hadn't found his mate yet.

It meant that despite how they felt about each other, there was no point in doing anything about it because when Blake found his mate, he would end up hurting Keri.

I kind of felt for them.

"There is no point in getting emotionally involved with someone until you find your mate because you'd have to walk away from them."

I understood why. There was no way anyone else—human or not—could compete with what I felt for Cade.

In that moment, I felt a wave of emotion for him and I hugged him tighter.

"I'm glad I found you," I revealed softly.

I felt him move and he shifted beside me so he was lying on his side, facing me, when he leaned forward and kissed me. I reveled in the feel of excitement that tingled through me at the contact of his lips against mine.

"I'm glad I found you, too," he whispered. In the darkness, I couldn't see him properly. I felt the heat of his gaze on me, though, which made my stomach flip.

It was astounding how with one simple touch he could make me feel so much.

Through the last week, it had become harder and harder to stop at just kissing. I hadn't been quite ready to go further, although my hormones that were running wild in my body disputed that.

I cared for him more than I ever had for a boy and I was sure that I was already starting to fall in love with him. But I wasn't ready to say those words to him just yet and he hadn't said them to me, either.

We'd come a long way from our first meeting.

He was so much more than the arrogant and self-assured player that I thought he was when I'd first met him. In the short time we'd been together, I'd learned that he was compassionate and caring while still being strong and in control. He was also extremely possessive and over-protective as well.

No matter what I was going through or feeling, just a small touch from him settled me into a peacefulness that only he could give me.

"What's going through your mind, Scar?" he asked softly.

In the darkness, I put my hand on his cheek and caressed it as I leaned forward and touched my lips to his.

He let me lead him into the kiss as my tongue tentatively slid into his mouth and touched his. His arms slid around me and pulled me closer as I deepened the kiss tentatively. Normally he always instigated it and I simply followed his lead.

I loved being in charge for a change.

I pulled away and looked at him in the darkness for a moment before I leaned toward him again and kissed him harder.

And in that moment, I'd made my decision. Even though the thought made me nervous and I had no idea how I was going to explain my little white lie, I was ready.