The next morning Dean and I didn't say much as he dropped me off at school on his way to work. When we reached the school I kissed him (one peck per our new routine) and wished him a good day, he promised to pick me up or call me otherwise, then he took off.

Now that Dean drops me off I get to school earlier, But being the great friend that she is, Stephanie decided to also come to school earlier to spend time with me.

Just as Stephanie was getting off her car my phone began to ring. It was a number I didn't recognize but I answered it anyways.

"Hello?"

"Good morning darling Cassandra!" Lola sounded excitedly.

"Lola?"

"Oh my dearest I hope you don't mind, I begged Dean for your number...anyways my sister is in town and I was hoping that she'd be able to meet you outside of being with all the men, so I suggested that we have brunch this morning."

"Oh Lola I can't." I sounded.

Of course I wanted to meet Lola's sister, I wanted to see if she was just as eccentric and zany as my potential mother in law.

"Oh I'm sorry my darling, did I wake you?"

Just then Stephanie made her way over and say with me on the bench. She made a 'what's up?' face and I motioned for her to listen.

"No Lola you didn't wake me, I can't make it to brunch today because I've just gotten to school."

"Oh Cassandra dear, playing hookie once in a while won't kill you, please join us?!"

Stephanie was nodding her agreement already, "fine...but I'm bringing a friend."

"Fabulous!"

She gave me the address and Stephanie smiled from ear to ear as we made our way to her car. Once inside I pulled out my phone and text Dean.

[Cassie: Skipping school to hangout with your mother and aunt...I'm assuming your cousin is also in town? Anyways you don't have to pick me up i'm sure one of them will give me a ride home my love.]

As Steph drove toward the address we were given, we talked about what we would possibly miss today at school and then Stephanie asked if I had talked with Dean about the stuff we had talked about the day before.

I looked at my phone wondering if my text had gone through since he hadn't text me back. "No, he was too busy with work for anything else last night."

She only nodded, but I knew my friend well enough to know she had something she wanted to ask, she was only holding back to possibly spare my feelings.

As we parked I finally got a text back.

[Dean: Alright]

I rolled my eyes.

"Everything okay?" Stephanie asked.

"It's perfect just seems like my mate is too busy for me these days...like hello it isn't like we are suppose to be doing certain things on a certain time frame or anything...but he's the alpha so I'm sure he knows what he's doing." I ranted.

"Sounds like you need to get laid."

"You have no idea." I mumbled knowingly before exiting the car, I couldn't tell you if she heard me or not, and at this point I didn't even care if she did.

We found that we were at a country club just outside of town, I was so lost in thought that I hadn't realized we had in fact driven right out of town. But there stood the marvelous Lola and a woman who looked exactly like her. Right off the bat looking at the sisters you could tell they were as different as night and day, like Samantha and Charlotte from Sex and the City with the looks of Raquel Welch.

I had only known Lola as the gorgeous Scarf wearing beauty, but looking at her sister I can see she would have had lovely chestnut colored locks.

Lola hugged me tight "I hope you remember my best friend Stephanie." I said.

"Of course I do...hello again sweetheart." Lola sounded before pulling Stephanie into the same tight hug. "Oh but my lovelies, this is my sister Lizzie."

Stephanie and I greeted he woman politely and she returned out greeting with her own warm wishes.

"Cassandra is it a pleasure to finally meet you, I apologize for missing your Giles presenting, but of course my Jaxon told his father and I all about you."

"Thank you, and it's truly and honor to meet you ma'am." I said with the politest smile I could muster as I had no recollection of her son in the least.

"Ma'am" She giggled just like Lola does "...please just call me Liz, I mean we're practically family."

"But not quiet yet." Lola pouted, "tell me when are you and my son going to get married...I need grand-babies."

My stomach fell but I tried to make light of the situation. "Well as soon as Dean can pull himself away from work long enough to ask me I'm sure we can get this ball rolling."

Lola rolled her eyes like a teenager "I swear that boy is just like his father." She said to her sister.

"Hey you're preaching to the choir." Liz sounded. "I can't get Jaxon to even come and visit for a family meal every since he started working with his father a few years ago."

I wanted to ask her what she'd do if Jaxon accepted the position of Beta but thought better of it, what if Dean hadn't even asked him yet?

We finally made our way inside and I felt just a little underdressed. We were seated and ordered immediately.

The sisters talked happily, you could tell they were close (but of course I wouldn't expect anything less from twins) and trying to catch up on everything they've missed since the last time they've seen each other.

I turned to Stephanie, I just wanted to confide in her that I think Dean is knowingly pulling himself away from me but I also didn't want Lola to overhear and begin to worry.

So instead I asked Steph about her weekend plans.

"Nothing much so far, probably start looking for an apartment around town...school will be over soon and I don't exactly want to live with my parents forever."

I nodded. "Well maybe I can tag along, get out of the pack house for a while...I fell like all I do is walk around that place." I admitted.

"Sounds great...but don't you have something you should be doing?" She asked a little low as if she only wanted me to hear.

I shook my head, "I don't remember having any plans."

She gave me a look like 'come on girl, how could you forget?'

I thought about it and was seriously coming up with a blank.

She looked at me and mouthed the word 'marking'

I nearly choked on my drink, how could I forget something so important? I guess maybe because Dean was putting it off it didn't seem as important anymore.

Then a sinking feeling hit me...what if Dean was putting off marking me simply because he doesn't want to mark me?

After that, brunch seemed to run too long.