ARI

A loud, high pitched scream filled the air drowning out my own scream. When I realized what just happened, I started to bark with laughter.

Alex came thundering towards me in concern. "What's wrong!" But he stopped in his tracks when he realized we weren't in any danger.

Matt threw a glare in my direction, tapping his foot impatiently as I rolled around the floor still choking with laughter.

It's just not what I expected his scream to be like. Every time I stopped, I would think about it and then start laughing again.

Alex stared at me with amusement, his mouth forming into a smile.

"Alex! Did you hear him?" I asked in-between my breathing.

Alex laughed, his eyes twinkling. "No, what happened?"

"Hey Matt." I moved my attention to Matt who was still staring off into space with a glare on his face. "Can you scream again?" I teased him trying not to laugh.

Matt just narrowed his eyes at me and then walked away, his arms crossed across his chest.

Alex chuckled with me.

"It's good to see you laugh." He told me beaming with a smile.

"It's good to see you smile." I told him.

"Maybe we are good for each other." He said in a small voice, smiling crookedly at me.

I blushed. "Maybe."

He looked at my moms car and leaned against it, putting his hands behind his head, deep in thought.

I avoided looking at him but couldn't resist.

The way his arm muscles flexed, with his rock hard stomach tempting me. I mentally slapped myself because of the warm feeling I felt inside my stomach.

Alex looked at me and I looked away trying not to blush.

I shifted awkwardly before my mother showed up and looked at Alex pointedly.

Alex narrowed his eyes at her but left, making me frown.

"Ari, we need to stay here for a couple of days. Uh, Zander, already set us up with our rooms." She said wringing her hands, blushing. She was obviously blushing because of Zander.

"Okay fine. But after the danger is gone we should leave." I would feel a lot better if I wasn't here reminded about Jen but it hurt to think about leaving Alex.

"Hey, Mom." I haven't asked her how she was about founding out about everything that's happened to her. "How are you holding up?"

She made a confused face. "What do you mean? With werewolves? Because I'm doing fine. I'm just glad you aren't all alone in this world. I told you their had to be someone out there like you." She smirked.

I rolled my eyes and laughed. "I know Mom." I hugged her. "Thanks for always believing in me. I know it probably wasn't easy raising me after Dad died and then after I turned into a giant fluffy monster."

She grew quiet and I looked at her face. She was troubled and I knew what she was thinking.

"Mom, I have a question." She nodded her head, giving me permission to ask it. "Uh, it's about Zander."

My mom looked down and blushed but she had a pained expression on her face.

"What did he say to you when you found out he was your, um, mate?" My mother surprised me by giving me a half smile which quickly turned into a frown.

"After I ran away, he followed me into the woods. I knew he was behind me and honestly I actually felt safer with him there." She bowed her head in shame and fiddled with the necklace around her neck. "He told me what a mate was after a few minutes of silence and how he was so happy it was me and how he will love me." Her voice cracked and a few tears escaped her eyes.

I hugged her again as she cried. "I don't know what to do Ari. I love-loved your father. No, I still love him. I thought he was my soulmate but he went and got himself killed and left me here all alone." She sobbed.

I cried with her, feeling her pain. "Then I found out that this man is declaring his love for me! He doesn't even know me! I don't even know him!"

"Shhhh." I rubbed her back and tried to sooth her but she just kept getting louder. Her whole body shook and she started to gasp for air. She must be having a panic attack.

"Mom! Calm down. You're having a panic attack." I brought her to the porch stairs and forced her to sit down. She wheezed in and out of breath.

"Zander!" I called him. I don't know why but I felt he could help her.

Zander burst through the door and without any questions rushed to my moms side, grabbing her hands.

My mom tried to push him away but was no match against his werewolf strength.

"Listen Helen, you have to breathe. Listen to my voice. Calm down." He whispered.

Almost immediately my mother slowed her breathing and started to breathe normally. She pulled her hands out of Zander's grasp and wrapped her arms around herself.

Zander quickly masked the hurt he felt but I saw it. I felt bad for him. The way he acted around my mom made me believe he actually cared for her.

"Helen." He whispered. My mother shivered but didn't look at him.

"I know how you're feeling." He sat next to her and I felt I should leave them alone but decided to stay. "Just take your time. I know you feel as if you're trapped and I know you were happily married."

My mother looked at him and grabbed her necklace again.

"Thank you." She whispered.

Zander got up and was about to leave inside when he stopped in the doorway. "Ill wait for you, Helen. I'll wait as long as it takes." And with that, he left. I took his place on the stairs and grabbed my moms hand.

"Mom, I know you miss Dad. I miss Dad." I nervously played with my fingers. "I think you should give Zander a chance."

My mother looked at me so fast, I'm sure she got whiplash. "What?" She said incredulously. "No."

She seemed so offended by the idea.

"Mom, seriously, Dad is gone. I'm sure he would have wanted you to be happy." My mother looked so heartbroken.

"I know he's gone." She whispered. "I don't know why, but it feels so wrong and right at the same time." She placed her head in her hands. "I'm so confused."

"You don't have to be. Tell me, if the roles were reversed, wouldn't you want Dad to be happy." Why does she feel so guilty?

"Yes I-" She began.

"Okay then it's settled!" I slapped my knee and helped her up. "Tomorrow, ask Zander out on a date!"

She suddenly laughed. "I like how your ordering me to be happy and yet you aren't taking any of your advice."

"What do you mean?" I blushed. "I don't need that advice! Alex and I are-" I shut my mouth quickly. What are we? It's not like we defined the relationship or anything. It felt wrong to call him my boyfriend. Mostly because he was so much more than that.

"That's what I thought." My mother said matter-of-factly. "I'll ask Zander if you ask Alex." She said with a smirk.

I stood my ground and scoffed. "You're on." I said arrogantly.

My mother shook her head and laughed. She opened the front door and looked back at me with a smirk. "See you later, loser." She childishly stuck out her tongue and shut the door before I could protest. "You-you're the...loser." I said pathetically.

I squeezed my eyes shut.

Okay, so now all I had to do was ask Alex out on a date.

He won't say no will he?

I laughed to myself. Of course he wouldn't!

Would he?