Connor and I both look at each other as the door quietly opens. I can smell Lily, and her mate. "They may be in their rooms." Lily says in almost a whisper. She's shy, even around her mate. Connor stands and takes my hand. I place my book on the end table beside the couch and take his outstretched hand.

We walk out of the sitting room to see Lily looking up to Desmond. Yes, up. He isn't as tall as Connor, but because Lily is so short he's still way taller than her.

"That's fine." He says, and I almost feel bad to disrupt. Key word, almost, she's messed up perfect Connor and I moments before, so I clear my throat.

It's been a couple of hours since I last saw her, and I know that mark wasn't there when I left her. "Oh my goodness." I run to her, my speed rivaling Connor's. My hands gently grip her face, tilting her head to let me see it. Once I know I'm right, I let go and cross my arms while smirking. "Well, it seems like you've had a very productive last couple of hours."

I glance at Desmond. Despite what I had originally thought, about him being a teenager, he is actually a very fit man. He looks to be quite the opposite of her, build wise anyways.

Lily smiles while blushing. "We marked each other." I give her a happy smile.

Connor walks to Desmond. "Welcome to the family bro." With a slight pat to the back, Connor tells him that they're cool.

"Thanks." Desmond smiles at Lily, like how Connor randomly smiles at me whenever I move, or breath. Hunter walks into the group, giving Desmond a quizzical look.

"Threat?" He asks me, to which I shake my head no. A quick nod and he's in Desmond's face. "If you hurt anyone in this house, I will have the Tigress Guard on you quicker than you can say shit. Got me?" Desmond nods, wide eyed. "Good." Hunter smiles and backs off. "I'm Hunter. Sophie's head guard, and loyal protector. I also protect the rest of the clowder. Their safety is my job." He holds out his hand for Desmond to shake, and he does.

"Clowder, but I thought this was a pack?" He asks, and I give Connor a worried glance.

"It is." Lily says, walking over to Desmond. "It's just a little different, you know, us being cats and all. A Clowder is a group of cats."

"So, are all of the women in this pack big cats?" He asks her, to which she nods.

"So far at least." Trish walks in, probably having heard us. She leans against the wall, staring at the couple. "I'm Trish, Lily's other half." Is she jealous? Desmond pulls a confused look, to which she holds up a hand. "In battle. I'm not gay honey, although I could be." She flips her hair, smiling.

Desmond looks at us all, then to Lily. "I'm a tad bit confused."

Lily giggles, then blushes. "Well, you know Sophie and Connor." Desmond nods. "Sophie is a the legendary tigress, her powers were gifted to her by the sun goddess." Again, Desmond nods. "Sophie is a very powerful tigress. I think it's because she has Alpha blood, we all do, actually. That's Trish. She used to be a red head, but dyed her hair, and then there's me, Sophie's second, and best friend."

"Wait, you all are related to an alpha?"

"We're actually all children of an alpha. Cool, right?" Trish walks over to Lily, placing her elbow on Lily's shoulder.

By now Hunter is gone, not seeing the point in joining in on the conversation. "We girls don't shift into wolves. Instead, we shift into other wild cats. Me, a cheetah."

"And me a black panther." Trish finishes Lily's sentence, and Desmond looks at all of us, stopping on Connor and I.

"So you two are technically the Alpha and Luna?" I nod my head, technically we are, I guess.

Connor pulls me to him by my waist. "She will be the Luna of my pack once we return to our homes." I roll my eyes at him, but don't argue. He can't wait to show me off to his pack. His "beautiful, amazing mate that is so perfect that no one can argue it." Connor's words, not mine.

Lily nods. "As soon as Sophie gives the okay, we're all going home for a little while. Although, we have to find a place for the clowder. We don't exactly fit in with normal werewolves anymore."

"Lily's right. We'll be outcasts, at least us girls will be. We'll have to find someplace else to stay. Somewhere that belongs to us, that no one can take from us." Trish says in a strong voice.

"Easier said than done. Anyways, enough with what hasn't happened yet. We have a new member of the clowder. We should let him get himself integrated into the house." I turn to Desmond and Lily. "I'm not sure where to put you."

Desmond looks to Lily, nervous. Awh, a big strong guy is nervous around his mate. This is too adorable. "I'd rather stay with you, but if you're uncomfortable with that, then I can go somewhere el-" He's cut off by Lily wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing his cheek.

He forgets his words and kisses her cheek. "He can stay with me."

I nod and give Connor a smile. "Alright. Glad that's settled." Connor takes my hand. "It's getting late, everyone should be heading off to bed."

Trish and Lily both agree and Lily leads Desmond up the stairs after us. When Connor and I get to our room, I start to change. "You know, I'm happy for Lily." I say, pulling on one of Connor's shirts. It reaches about mid thigh on me.

"I am too. She needs someone to keep her balanced." I nod, and his arms snake around my waist. His lips move against my neck, in torturous movements. I squirm in his arms, wanting more. "Who said you could move?" He gently bites my mark and I give up fighting against him. My head lays on his shoulder and he continues his pleasing torture.

《The Next Day》

Connor's right arm is around my waist while his left is in my hair. After waking up, I realized he wasn't letting go, so now I've taken to looking at him. He looks so childlike when he's asleep. If I didn't know him, I'd swear he wasn't an alpha.

"Sophie?" There's a soft whisper from the door, and I'm shocked at myself for not hearing it open. "Connor?"

I try to release Connor's grip, but he growls lightly and tightens his grip. I roll my eyes. "Connor, wake up." I see his lips curve in a smirk. Sneaky wolf. I bring my face really close to his, and, just when his breath hitches, lick his nose.

"Gah!" He immediately brings a hand to his nose, releasing me. I sprint to the door and open it to see Lily, all before Connor has a chance to collect himself.

"Lily, what do I owe the pleasure?" I ask with a warm smile.

She blushes, a small, nervous smile on her face. "Well, I was wondering, if you and Connor are okay with it, if we could officially make Desmond a part of the Clowder." I take a deep whiff of the air, and a small laugh escapes me.

"Well you definitely didn't take your time." I give her my best, I know what you did, smirk and she blushes.

"Didn't take her time with wh- oh my god. You've already fully mated." Connor takes ahold of my waist, and smiles down at Lily. "Where's Desmond? Fully mated and not following you around?" He winks at her and I giggle when she blushes even more.

"He's still sleeping. I thought to leave him be, I don't think he's slept in a real bed for a very long time." A sad look crosses her face, but she covers it up.

There's no doubt in my mind that it's been a while. "Lily, we'd be glad to accept him into the Clowder." She lifts her eyes to mine and smiles wide.

Her arms wrap around me and I hug her back. "Thank you, Sophie."

When she lets go, Connor possessively pulls me back to him. "No thanking me. He's a part of the family now. It'd be obsurd not to accept him. I'll have Hunter set up a small ceremony, like packs do." She nods, smiling.

"You should go back to Desmond. If he wakes up without you there, he may get worried." Connor says as his thumb rubs a circle on my hip. "When I first mated with Sophie, I couldn't even stand her to be in the bathroom too long."

I roll my eyes, remembering just how true his statement is. If you've ever been forced to keep the bathroom door open so your boyfriend knows you're safe, that was my struggle for almost a month.

Lily giggles and nods with a smile. "Alright, I'll see you two at breakfast." She disappears, and I hear her door open and close.

Connor muzzles his face into my neck, then walks to our closet. "I feel like going for a run. Care to join me?" He turns his head to glance at me.

"Sure, I'd love to." He digs in the closet and I smile to myself. In all reality, he's the best thing to ever happen to me. A thought crosses my mind and I charge him.

"Wha-" I wrap my arms around his neck and my legs around his waist. Before he can stop me, I start to kiss his cheek and he chuckles softly. "What are you doing?"

"I'm loving on my big bad wolf." I say, kissing his cheek again.

"Is that so?" I nod and he pulls me off of his back to stand in front of him. "Does that mean my pretty little kitty doesn't want to go for a run?"

I smile at him and shake my head. "I just wanted you to know that I appreciate you."

Connor takes a shirt off of a hanger behind me and hands it to me before pulling his pajama shirt off. "Uh huh?" I nod and pull the shirt over his head. Once it's on, he leans down and claims my lips with his own. My eyes close while my hands rest on his chest. "I live to serve you." He says softly against my lips. Just as he was there, he's gone, and back into our bedroom. "So, are you going to change for our run?"

I smirk at him and place my hands on my hips. "You better be glad Solis is itching to go for a run."

I'd much prefer staying here and let him light our fire. Solis purrs in my head. I think he'd prefer it too, but he's a tease.

I ignore my horny other half and decide to change into something more fit to workout in. Once I'm fully dressed I check on Connor. "You ready?" He's laying on the bed, eyes closed, yet he's asking me if I'm ready.

"I think I should be asking you the same, sleeping beauty." I snicker as he sits up.

"I was only waiting for you." His smirk isn't hidden very well, and I roll my eyes. "It was well worth the wait though."

"Nice try Romeo. Run, let's go, Solis is itching to be let out." I lie. She wants to climb in bed with him, but I'm still sore from last night. I swear, he has the libido of a horny teenage wolf. Maybe cause he is one, but that isn't the point. I have an urge to go out today. Call it a feeling, but I know there's something waiting for me out there.

Connor gets up and walks to the door. He opens it swiftly and bows. "Ladies first."

I walk out, but not before kissing his cheek. "Who said chivalry was dead?"