Curled into the corner of the large sectional couch I kept my eyes locked on my phone screen.  Aliya and Rocky and I had met up with Berry before heading to the packhouse.  It was already full when we had arrived, I had recognized some from the night at Berry's but still didn't know any of them, the only one I could name was beside  Mateo's was his older brother Luciano who was in and out of the room constantly. 

Berry had disappeared with Aurora somewhere saying they'd both be back shortly... that was almost an hour ago. While Rocky and Alyia spent their time in the kitchen, kicking me out each time I attempted to help them, Rocky insisting I was just like Emerson when it came to interacting with others. Which..in way she was right... At the same time, however... no one really seemed interesting in befriending me either... 

A weight dropped onto my lap pulling me from my phone for the first time in a while. I watched Sal as he flipped onto his side using my lap as a pillow as she scrolled through his phone.  There was something comforting about the action, a sense of familiarity I had been lacking since Berry disappeared on me.  I let my arm loosely drape over his torso his free hand instantly taking mine as we sat there in silence. 

I wasn't sure how long the two us sat there zoned on our phones before I noticed a chill run down my spine. I could feel a pair eyes on me slowly lifting my head from my phone I turned to look back over my shoulder, at the far end of the room leaning in the doorway was Luciano and Roman. both seemed to be watching Physalis and I... or maybe it was just me. slightly bowing my shoulder I dipped my head down looking back at my screen. For a moment Sal turned to look up at me a suspicious look on his face before his hand tightened on mine and his focus went back to the video he was watching. 

"Move it cheesesteak" Berry demanded walking around the couch.


"Make me shortcake"   Sal challenged, Berry narrowed her eyes at him



" I got this one" Rocky suddenly pipped up walking into view, the siblings' attention now on her.



"Try me runt" Sal dared 

"I'm not the one running against you for prince charming. Taeo is" She informed  Rocky shrugged causing Berry to step back with a raised brow as Sal sat up.


"What?" he questioned


"oh? Mikie didn't tell you, Some asshole was harassing her at the diner and Mateo came swooping in like a real-life Superman, didn't he Micah?"  You could see in her eye Rocky was string mischief 

"uh.. yeah..." I half mumbled as all eyes were suddenly on me


"Nobody puts baby in a corner!" Sal announced getting to his feet. "Micah's mine Tatertot!" Sal announced storming towards Mateo.

"I'm sorry were you the one that rescued her today?" Mateo teased gaining a growl



"And that's our cue..." berry announced taking my hand and pulling me from the couch

Rocky giggled following insult, neither seeming to be fazed by the loud crash the escaped behind us.  Heading toward Roman and Luciano I ducked my head down looking out the corner of my eyes I could see Rocky putting on a clearly guilty innocent face as the two walked past us.


"That went way better then I planed" Rocky smirked.


"but there fighting?" I questioned looking at her.


"Oh I know, that was the plan. You know those two, Physalis  is jealous of literally everything and the only Mateo would back down from challenge would be if he was dead" Rocky admitted


"That is true..." I mumbled


"Don't worry, They'll get a couple of swings in each before Roman and Luca pull them off each other," Berry assured as we entered a room.


"Rocky what did you do." Alyia scolded as soon as we stepped foot in the room.

"Why do you just assume it was me? I could of been Strawberry or Micah!" Rocky defended. 

"Please. if it was Berry she'd still be out there and if it was Mikie she'd probably carried in here by someone after being dragged off Mateo"  Ali stated firmly "So once again, I ask what did you do" She requisitioned 

"All I did was make Physalis aware of what happened at the diner earlier, its not my fault if he's a more little green monster then man"  Rocky defended


"forgot the animals in the living room, It movie time" Auroura announced exiting what seemed to be an on-suite bathroom.  even in her soft pink-footed onsie and her blond locks twisted into a messy bun and no makeup she was stunning 

"That is the best idea ive heard all night" I admitted gaining a giggle.



"Cmon let's go get our pyjamas on" Berry announced pulling  me towards the bathroom

The five us curled together on Auroars kingsize bed intertwined in each other as we mindlessly watched the various movies the girls had chosen and gossiping about nothing in particular as we did.  With my head resting on Berrys legs the five of us free silence as the door opened, one of the younger men I didn't know walking into the room. Stepping into the room he brushed his fingers through his dirty blonde locks.

"It's about time Zeke, wondering when you'd finally find your way in here" Rocky taunted.


" Ash started a game of bloody knuckles tournament style and made Adrian the moderator so he wouldn't nag them into boredom" The man named Zeke admitted slinking his way over to us, the girl shifted on the bed as we puzzled his lanky limbs onto it.


"Zeke, this is Micah. Micah this is Ezekial Beaumont he eventually ends up hanging with girls when the pack has get together as this" Berry informed.


"I just don't get the fascination with seeing who's more stubborn.Its not like its  going to change the pack status or anything." Zeke said throwing his hands up in the air "Men are savages" he added 


"Agreed"  Alyia grinned leaning over and pecking his cheek, my eyes briefly darted to Berry she simply nodded solidifying my assumption of them dating. 


"Different note,  Aurora how did the meet up with Red oak pack go?" He quizzed  as Alyia leaned against him

"Same as usual" you could hear the defeat in her voice.


"Hey, don't worry you'll find you mate soon" Berry assured patting her leg.


"mate?" I questioned, 


"Yeah, every wolf has a mate, the one there meant to be with forever, some of us like Aliya and Zeke are lucky enough to find each other early on. Others take longer" Aurora informed


"Or never..." Berry mumbled, she always hated the idea of being tied down. 

"did your parents never tell you about mates?" Rocky asked somewhat shocked.


"No... not really... My mom died when I younger... and my dad doesn't really talk about his past... I mean once in one of his blackouts he went on about how he wasn't going to marry the she-beast arranged or not... So I just assumed it was an arranged marriage sort of deal..." I admitted with a shrug



"Oh god no."  Aliya announced "At least not in the old traditional sense, Your mate doesn't have to be romantic, it can just be friendship Usually does developed into more but  there is nothing that says you have to get married or even like each other" Aliya announced


"Watch your mate be Mateo" Rocky snickered, Instantly I glared


"That. That is not even close to funny" I warned.


A smirk spread across Rocky's face, as the other tried to hide there,  Zeke pretending to itch his face, while Aliya fully hid her and Berry and Aurora simply filled their mouths with large spoonfuls of there ice cream. Their simple gestures made the back of my stir, maybe Rocky was right... there always was a chance it could be him, a terrible horrific chance but still a chance..

"uh... how would one know?" I questioned suddenly very nerves  

"The flash, some times its a slow burn but sometimes, if your lucky you know instantly" Zeke explained his eyes admiring Ali

"The flash?" I  questioned


"It's like millions of warm little sparks flooding your body, it changes everything. When you've found your mate, at first there all you can think about, dream about all you want is to be with them and when your not you wonder and you worry...  It's incredible and terrifying all at once." Aliya explained smiling as she looked up at him cupping his cheek.


"Uncle Stoney told Sal and I that it's like thousands of tiny firey needles burning you from inside out, its painful and  make normal butterflies in your stomach feel like the have razors for wings" Berry added with a shrug


"Uncle Stoney is a nut job,  I like there version better" I  informed point at the love pups giving each other Eskimo kisses in front of us.


"I'm going to vomit" Rocky gagged, gaining a giggle from the rest of us.


"Back on the subject, does Mateo give you any of those warm tingly sparks?  Zeke questioned curiously filling his pale blue orbs.


"Mateo fills me with the warmth of thousands sun, and by that I mean I want to burn him alive 90% of the time" I retorted gaining a chuckle from the rest of the group