After brunch we all headed over to the pack house (I still feel weird calling it MY house) and talked about various things.

"So Liz, may I ask what brings you to our pack?"

She smiled sweetly, "well it's been too long since I've gotten to visit my sister...but of course we are all so proud of Dean so we've come to celebrate his rise to power, of course it's a position that always should've been his being a Giles and all."

"We should have a pack party." Stephanie announced.

"Of course miss Stephanie is absolutely correct." Lola clapped excitedly. "Cassandra my dearest just get the okay with Dean and then Liz and I will organize everything."

I nodded, "I'll talk with Dean about it." The women all looked at me waiting for me to do as I said. I had planned on talking with him tonight possible during dinner, "I suppose calling him now wouldn't hurt."

Once again I pulled out my phone and this time I called Dean.

It rang about four times before he actually answered. "Cassandra?"

"Hello my love," I said with a slight blush because the women giggled as they listened on.

"I'm sorry love but I'm really busy right now, is there something you needed to talk about?"

"Oh well I won't keep you long, I was just wondering...since your aunt is in town with her family, why don't we have a pack party this weekend?"

"Yeah, that's fine." He chuckled. "Look at you, your first official act as Luna, I'll see you later...I love you."

My heart fell, "I love you too."

I hung up and felt crappy, I wanted my first act as Luna to be productive and something worth remembering like the Werewolf lessons Stephanie and I had talked about, only Dean was too busy for me to bring it up last night.

"So did he say yes?" Lola asked.

I nodded, "he's fine with it."

After that the three of them got into planning mode, Stephanie feeling comfortable around them as much as I should, but I couldn't help but feel like an outsider looking in.

Before I knew it every detail was finalized and the women were bidding me a good evening.

"I can't wait until Saturday." Liz said, "oh I can't wait to see everyone again."

Liz and Lola left and shortly after, So did Steph and soon I was by myself. After finishing up some school work I had left from the day before I wondered around a little. Cleaned up the bedroom and then I had ordered pizza for dinner (using the new bank card that Dean had given me) and no sooner than it arrived so did Dean.

He told me hello in the most familiar fashion.

His arms snaked my waste and when I kissed him he actually let it grow.

Our kiss became a steamy impromptu make out session and the pizza was all but forgotten as the box laid on the floor by the front door.

Luckily we were home alone otherwise when Dean decided to use the decorative antique table that sat in the foyer as a pedestal in which to sit me upon (to make undressing me easier) it would've been very uncomfortable.

I missed this.

This was what I had greedily grown so use to with my mate. He could mark me right now and I wouldn't even care.

As I threw my head back to let him have free range of my neck I let out a soft "I love you."

And for some reason his actions slowed until he found my lips and kissed me once more, before pulling back. He picked up the box of pizza and I looked at him completely baffled.

What in the hell would cause him to get me all worked up and then just stop cold before things were just about to get good.

"Seriously?" I asked.

"Don't want our food getting cold."

"I mean Goddess forbid right?" I put in sarcastically.

"Is everything okay love?"

"I don't know Dean, IS everything okay?"

He looked at me completely confused

"...you've never initiated sex and then pulled away like I repulse you or something...d-do you not want to mark me?"

He sighed heavily, "it's not that love, I swear I love you and will do anything to keep you happy...how about we just enjoy our dinner?"

"Dean you didn't exactly answer my question." I pointed out, "do you not want to mark me?"

"Of course I do." He said a little angrily before his eyes turned sad then he sighed. "...The thing is once I mark you it can't be undone Cassandra." And just like that he placed the pizza box on the very table I had sat up only moments ago..."I've got some work I need to finish, I'll join you in bed later."

And once again he disappeared into his office, I was just about to go after him when I heard the distinct sound of the doorknob locking behind him.

It was the most heartbreaking thing I've had to deal with when it came to our relationship.

Suddenly I wasn't so hungry anymore. I went upstairs and found my cellphone, I immediately called Stephanie.

"Hey Cass what's up?" She answered.

"I think my mate hates me." I began to cry.

It was the first time I had come to this conclusion, but what else could it be?

"What?" She asked, her tone full of concern. "I'm sure you're overthinking things doll."

I shook my head, "no Steph, nothing's the same anymore...he hardly touches me, he's suddenly too busy to spend any kind of time with me, he won't mark me, I feel like all I'm doing these days is walking on egg shells trying not to push him further away from me...I don't know what I can do Steph, do you think we moved too fast and now there's no more spark in our relationship?"

"Calm down Cass...I'm sure it's nothing, mates don't just fall out of love okay...if anything he's just probably overwhelmed by all this new responsibility."

Once again I shook my head. "Steph we were going at it right now...I know you don't want to hear this but we were just about to have sex when he just stopped, like something inside of him was preventing him from doing anything with me, like the very sight of me repulsed him or something...I don't know much about mates but I do know guys don't just snap out of a horny mood at the drop of a dime."

She remained quiet before she finally spoke "I don't know Cassandra, I wish I could help but this doesn't sound like anything I can help you with...I don't even know what to say really."

Even my friend couldn't come with an explanation. "I'll see you tomorrow at school."

She echoed my farewell and I hung up.

I ended up going to sleep shortly after, and for the first time I didn't recall Dean joining me in bed...it was later confirmed that he didn't in fact come to bed last night as I woke up for school the next day, in bed...alone.

I got ready and made my way down stairs, when I walked into the kitchen I looked at the calendar on the refrigerator...only 3 days left until the full moon, that means only 3 days left for Dean to mark me.

Just then Dean walked in, donning a dapper suit and tie...much more formal than his usual attire he wears to work.

"Good morning." I sounded.

"Morning love...I apologize in advance but I'm already running late, do you think Steph can pick you up this morning?"

"No problem." I said. "Dean I'd really like to talk to you."

"We can talk at dinner babe, I've really got to go."

"No Dean now!" I shouted.

It had taken every ounce of courage I had to speak to my mate like that.

But I shook my head and looked at him, "I'm tired of this pass and go conversation bullshit we've been having lately...I'm your mate and I can tell something's wrong so just talk to me...it doesn't have to be right now but let me make one thing very clear...if you don't want to sleep in the same bed as me then I can just move back to my parents house and not have to feel the pain of rejection from my mate that I felt last night."

"Cassandra...-"

"You're late remember." I cut him off.

I didn't want to hear his excuses, nothing he could say would change the feeling of rejection I felt last night and this morning.

"I love you Dean, with everything I have in me, but please try and remember I'm your mate."

He nodded and then kissed my forehead before he left.