"Why is Milan not here?" I ask. No, I don't really want to deal with her now, but I have to ask. This evening has been great. I don't want to ruin it.

"That's because she's not part of the pack," answers Constantine.

"Oh?" I raise an eyebrow.

"To be part of the pack, you have to be approved, not just by the majority, but by all members of the pack," answers Serena at my questioning look.

"Serena and I didn't want her to be a part of this pack," informs Caspian with a smirk.

"Besides, she's not always with us. She comes and goes as she pleases. She would stay with us for a few months or so, then she's off to Europe or somewhere. She'll disappear for months or sometimes years before she shows her face around here again," comments Serena, shrugging her shoulders.

"This is the longest she's ever stayed with us. Almost a year now," explains Lazarus.

"Where is she, anyway?" asks Constantine. From the tone of his voice, I sense a confrontation coming.

"We don't know," answers Serena looking at Lazarus.

"We haven't seen her since this morning after you left," says Lazarus.
******************************************

"Come home with me tonight?" Constantine has been trying to persuade me to spend the night at his place, while I feel that I should go home. I feel kinda awkward about telling my parents that I'm spending the night at his place. Besides, I left everything at home when I went for the run this afternoon. I don't even have my phone with me.

"Maybe some other time?" I'm blushing beet red. Oh, goddess, why am I so weird, and awkward....and weird? Why oh why can't I be normal?

"What about me spending some time at yours?" He smiles roguishly. His silver grey eyes glint mischievously. I get the feeling that he's enjoying making me blush way too much. He also knows how much I want to spend the whole night with him. He's so hot and...blast him and this mate bond feeling sharing thingy!

"This thing....about sensing each other's feeling, it's great and all...but Is there any way I can keep my feelings to myself?" I finally ask him.

"What, you don't want to share your feelings with me, sweetheart?" He flashes his straight white teeth.

"I do, but...not all the time." Especially not now.

"I know. There's no off button anywhere, but you can hide it a bit...sort of like turning the volume of a radio down. You can't totally turn it off, especially if you're experiencing some strong feelings like extreme sadness or fear, or anger....or passion," he whispers the last word in my ear. The warmth of his breath teasing my skin. Funny bunnies!!! I grab the back of his neck and slam my lips against his. I kiss him long, hard and good until we're both panting.

"Meet me up in my room later tonight," I inform him breathlessly.

He grins like he just won a round of battle. Well, he just did. That was an easy win for him.

Gah!!! I'm such a sucker for this hot, delicious, irresistible...

"Sweetheart," he groans, reaching for me again. Oops... I forgot that he can totally feel me.

It's fifteen minutes later that I finally walk on unsteady legs across our driveway. Sheesh, I need a shower. A cold one. Wait! I didn't even get to know how to tune my feelings down from him. Arghhh...Genesis! One little whisper and you forgot everything. I suck!

The tv in our living room is on. I know mom and dad are watching their favorite show. So I sneak in the back and climb up the window into my room. I'm amazed at my own agility now. I doubt that my parents or Autumn can hear me.

I quickly gather my stuff and take a shower. The warm water feels good on my skin. I wish I had Constantine's amazing shower. Constantine...just the thought of him makes me smile like a crazy woman.

I stop in front of the bathroom mirror on my way out. My skin seems to glow. The mark on my shoulder seems darker. I put on a pair of yoga pants and a tank top and run a comb through my hair.

I can hear my parents talking and laughing downstairs. I haven't seen them since this morning. I should go downstairs and talk to them.

"Hey, sweetie!" greets mom as I enter the living room.

They are watching The Golden Girls. My parents love that old tv show. Autumn is on another chair munching on chips. It's Friday night, she gets to stay up late. I'm surprised she's not out with her friends.

"I didn't even know you were home until I heard the shower going," says dad.

I grin, walk over and squeeze myself in between the two of them on the sofa. I used to do that a lot when I was a little girl. I still like to do it from time to time even though I'm all grown up now.

"My baby girl," mom squeezes my cheeks. I giggle when dad kisses my other cheek. Ahhh...just like old times.

"Genesis sandwich," laughs dad.

"Hey! What about me?!!" yells Autumn just before she launches herself right on top of me. Oommpphh!!! Cuddly bunnies!!!

"Flattened out Genesis," I groan from under her. "Autumn, you heavy cow," I manage to muffle out as she squishes her back against my poor mushed up face.

"Genesis mashed!" she yells as she jumps up and down on top of me. I have a heavy cow for a sister. A crazy one at that.

It's funny how my life has turned out to be. If Logan had accepted me, I'd probably be living in the pack house as the Luna of the pack now. Instead, here I am, mated to a lycan and still acting like a kid. I know sooner or later I would have to grow up...uh, maybe...and leave my family to live with my new pack, wherever they decide to move to. Right now I'm just going to enjoy my time with my family.

Thankfully mom rescues me by digging me out from underneath my demented sister.

"Oh, my goddess!" exclaims mom suddenly, pulling on my shoulder. "You're marked!"

My cheeks heat up as mom pulls me into a hug, then she turns me around to study the mark on my shoulder again.

"Lycan's mark," she marvels.

"Well, finally," mutters dad. "For a lycan, he showed a lot of restraint. Even a werewolf would have marked her a long time ago."

Whaaaa..What??? I almost choke on my embarrassment.

"Yeah, well...your dad marked me the very next day after we met, and that's very considerate of him..."

I so don't want to hear this! Autumn and I start covering our ears.

Mom laughs and pulls our hands down.

"We should celebrate," she suggests enthusiastically.

Suddenly my chest burns. Something is wrong. Constantine.

"Something's not right," I blurt out, pressing a hand to my chest. My phone starts to buzz and I jump up to answer it.

"Genesis, you should come right away," Serena's voice comes through the line as soon as I swipe right to answer.

"Why? What's wrong?" My heartbeat picks up with burning anger and fury that's not mine.

"It's Constantine. Caspian is on his way over to pick you up," she says before she ends the call.

"That was Serena. I have to go," I inform my parents.

"What's going on? What's wrong?" asks dad.

"I don't know, but I have to go. Caspian's on the way over to pick me up."

"Do you want us to come with you?" Mom looks worried.

"No, I don't think so. I'll let you know when I know for sure what's happening," I assure them. I'm feeling so much fury, my eyes keep changing. Constantine. I have to get to him fast.

The roar of a car engine just outside our house alerts us to Caspian's arrival. He must have been speeding to get here so fast. I sprint to his car. He guns the engine as soon as I close the door to his sleek silver Porsche.

"Okay, I'm freaking out. Tell me what's going on Caspian?"

We're flying along the highway. I don't think a regular police patrol car would be able to catch us.

"Well..." he says, checking the traffic beside us before he switches the lane, then he speeds up even more. "When we got home this evening, we found the door to Constantine's studio wide open. Apparently, that crazy bitch Milan broke in and went into a fit of frenzy. She pretty much destroyed the studio...and the paintings."

Oh, My Gosh!!! All those beautiful paintings. They're not just paintings to him. There was so much passion and emotions poured into those magnificent artworks. To him, part of them represented me. All the years he was waiting for me. Each and every one of them held a special meaning and were very precious...it's something that money can't replace.

Constantine...I feel his rage and now it's mingled with my own. This is not helping.

"How is he doing?" I ask Caspian, trying to calm myself down.

"Not great. He was tearing her room apart the last time I saw him before I came to get you."

"Where is Milan?"

"I don't know. She wasn't there when we got back, but we can smell her scent everywhere in that studio. You can sniff the crazy, you know..."

I can now sense Caspian's anger as well. He's gritting his teeth when he's explaining this to me. His knuckles are white on the steering wheel.

We arrive in front of the mansion in record time.

"Come on, Red," urges Caspian, touching my arm gently after he kills the engine.

Serena is waiting for me by the front door. She is looking outwardly calm, but I can sense her inner turmoil. Together, we walk in through the massive heavy double doors. I can hear the commotion even before we fully step inside the grand entryway.

Lazarus meets us at the foot of the stairs. The sound of banging and things breaking get louder as we climb up the grand staircase.

"None of us dare to go in there. We're just waiting for you," explains Lazarus. The four of us are standing in front of a close door, listening to the sound of destruction inside.

"You better get in there and calm him down before he tears the whole place apart," says Caspian.

"Sure, feed me to the lion why don't you?" I mumble and manage to get some smiles from the three lycans.

I gingerly pull the door open and I feel somebody pushes me inside. Most probably Caspian. So much for pack loyalty and love.

Cuddly bunny and fuzzy slippers!!! This is what I call a destruction. I think my mouth is opening and closing several times without any sound coming out as I gape at the sight before me.The only thing that is still intact in the whole room is the ceiling. Torn fabrics, splinters of broken wood and glass are everywhere. The windows are all smashed and broken. Gaping holes in the walls.

My mate is standing in the middle of it. His shirt is torn. His glistening chest rising and falling. He raises his black vacant eyes to stare at me as soon as I step in the room. I'm not afraid, but the hair at the back of my neck stands up from the chill of his stare and the anger that I can feel, still brewing inside of him.n

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So many of you were wondering what Milan had been up to. So now you know 😜. I have another trip coming up, just for a few of days, though. I will update as soon as I get back.

Thank you for your votes, comments, reading, and following! I ❤you guys!!!

XOXOXO
Nicole❤