When I woke up the next morning I was just itching to jump out of bed and do laps around the outside of the house. My skin was full of electricity. The moon was drawing my wolf to it. Jackson stirred beside me, running his hand over my bare stomach before groaning and pulling me towards him.

All the hair on my arm stood as if I just had a power surge.

"Jackson!" I squealed as he picked rolled me on top of him.

"Good morning to you too, sweetheart," he grinned.

I smiled at him as he leaned up and brushed my lips with his. Another jolt of static coursed through my body.

"I need to work off the excess energy until we shift tonight."

I moved to get off of the bed only to have Jackson hold me still.

"I can think of a pretty good way to do that."

I rolled my eyes.

"I need to go outside. It is too cramped in here."

"Well, we don't have to be inside to continue where we left off," he suggested playfully.

I slapped him on the shoulder playfully and rolled out of bed, making my way towards the bathroom for a shower.

"Are you sure you don't want me to join you?" Jackson whispered in my ear.

I had barely heard him move across the room. He ran his hand down my arm; I shivered all over. I turned around and bit my lip. I really wanted to get outside and go for a jog, the longer I stayed in the house the more my wolf revolted.

It only took one kiss from Jackson to let him join me in the shower.

It was mid-morning by the time we made it outside. I was wearing Lulu Lemon black shorts and pink tunic running top that I had found in my closet. I did my pre-running stretching while Jackson finished his and leaned against the house and openly stared at me.

"See something you like?" I teased and bent over to touch my toes, giving him ample to look at.

"If you want to get to running, I suggest you finish your stretching."

I stuck my tongue out at him and stood up, jumping back and forth on my feet to get ready.

"Get ready to get your butt kicked, Alpha."

He raised an eye and pushed off of the side of the house.

"You really think you can beat me?" He chuckled.

"I guess we'll see," I replied and pushed him over before taking off.

"You're a cheater!" I heard him shout out behind me.

---------------------------

He won. I'll admit it. But he did say that I did pose more of a challenge than most of the others. I attributed it to my Alpha blood. I was stronger and faster than most other wolves when I wasn't beaten down and half-starved.

We did manage to soothe the electricity for a while though and had lunch with some of the other wolves. Everyone had been jittery, just itching to be outside running freely.

Now, I stand outside the house while all of the other pack members had shifted and run into the woods. Jackson assured me that they wouldn't go far and that we could catch up, but that didn't stop me from shifting nervously from side to side. I was worried that they wouldn't accept my wolf.

"Don't worry, everyone loves you," Jackson soothed as though he could read my mind.

In a couple of minutes he would be able to, I reminded myself.

"You love me," I said. "I'm not sure what they really think."

Jackson placed a hand on both of my shoulders and looked me straight in the eye.

"I am the Alpha of this pack. You are my mate. You belong here as assuredly as any other member here and if they have a problem with that they will have me to deal with."

I nodded and leaned in, resting my forehead against his. I breathed in deep and slowly let it out.

"Are you ready?"

"As ready as I'll ever be."

Jackson shifted first. His wolf was large even by Alpha standards. It was the deepest, midnight black with the same stunningly bright blue eyes Jackson was gifted with. I reached down gingerly and touched his soft fur. He nudged my hand in annoyance, telling me to get on with it. I stretched my muscles and then shifted into my wolf.

Our wolves seeing each other for the first time was nothing short of feeling like a miracle. Something I wasn't sure would even happen a mere week ago. We rubbed our heads against each other's bodies, marking each other and memorizing the other's scent.

Are you ready? Jackson's voice floated through my mind.

I nodded and we ran into the woods to be with our pack.

It took a few minutes for me to get used to the patterns of my new pack, but once I had them it was like I had been with them forever. They were nothing but accepting and compassionate towards me. I loved the feeling. My father had always been an overbearing presence in our pack mind and it was oppressing. I had never felt freer in my life than running with the Merphate Pack. I belonged here.

But I still had no idea who the spy in the Merphate Pack was and it was troubling.

Early that morning after we had shifted back Jackson and I lay in his bed. Jackson was relaxed against the headboard, one arm behind his head and one around me. He had a serious look on his face and was staring at the wall.

"What are you thinking about?" I asked him, tracing circles on his chest with my finger.

"Hm?" He asked, looking down at me.

I repeated myself, stopping my motions and letting my hand rest on his chest. He looked down at me for a few moments in contemplation.

"I would like you to marry me."

I reeled back for a moment and looked him in the eyes. I opened my mouth and closed it. Tears began to form in my eyes.

He couldn't possibly mean now. It is too dangerous for the pack.

"I would love to marry you too if I am ever free of the Cadarver pack."

He pulled his hand from behind his head and used it to grab my hand.

"That isn't what I meant. I want you to marry me before the end of this month. I want you to be my wife no matter what."

"Jackson, we-"

"Please, Romy," he pleaded and squeezed my hand. "We're mates, we're bonded. Please let me make you my wife by human standards."

"Why are you asking me this?" I said, blinking rapidly as I tried to keep the tears at bay. "You know that we can't. The packs-"

"We'll keep it a secret. No one has to know. Your father doesn't have to know."

I looked away from him as a few tears ran down my face. He let go of my hand and brushed them away gently.

"I need to protect you Romy. If anything ever happened to you I would die. I couldn't live without you. I need to have human ties with you in case I can't get to you. As your husband, I would have more power to help you in both worlds."

The word husband sent shivers down my spine like a full moon. I had never thought I would have a remote chance of having Jackson as my husband. I was sure that after this month I would most likely be dead or worse. But, as his wife, I may be able to do something – anything – to help him with the little time I had left. If not, he could get my body back from my father and I wouldn't have to be buried with the family who didn't protect me.

"That goes both ways. I would have more power to help you as well."

"Is that a yes, Romy? Please say yes."

"Yes, Jackson. I will marry you."

Then we got lost in each other again.

----------------------

I could tell it was killing Jackson not to tell his pack that he was getting married. It was one of the biggest days of both of our lives and we couldn't tell anyone. There was plenty of excitement for Christmas, but none for our upcoming nuptials. Sometimes I wanted nothing more than walk into a room of people and sing out that we are getting married. But, we didn't know who the spy or spies within the pack were. If word got out to my father the pack war that would ensue would rip the families I know and love apart.

We had set the date for December 24th – Christmas Eve. I told Jackson that The Globe would be decorated to the nines for the Christmas celebrations. It would be beautiful. Bill was officiating as owner of the hotel, I guess he got ordained. To keep it secret, two of the staff of the hotel were going to be our witnesses.

A few days before the wedding the pack was having a Christmas celebration for the children. Jackson was going to dress up as Santa Claus and pass out presents to all of the kids. He gave me his credit card and his car keys and told me to go and buy a wedding dress and price was no object.

"What can we help you with?" One of the girls smiled at me as I walked through the door of the bridal shop. "Looking for a Christmas party dress?"

"Actually, I am looking for a wedding dress," I said nervously.

"Oh, well let me help you!" Her smile widened, sensing a big sale. "What kind of style?"

"Um, I'm not sure," I said uncertainly. I hadn't even had enough time to think about the dress with everything else going on. "It is a small and simple wedding. I was thinking maybe a simple, short dress with a reasonable price tag."

The lady led me to a dressing room and handed me five gowns to try on. They were all beautiful and I found the experience bittersweet. I always imagined having my mother and a hoard of girls with me when I did this.

I fell in love with the third dress. It was perfect. It had a lace, sweetheart bodice, embroidered belt and fell lightly down to my knees. The shop keeper was concerned that I would be cold, but I assured her at no time I would be leaving the hotel. I bought a pair of rhinestone encrusted sandals with a small heel, a shiny headband and a faux-pearl necklace and earring set. The total for everything wasn't sizeable and I was happy. I didn't want to spend any more money than absolutely necessary.

I got back to the house in time to see all of the children playing with their new toys from "Santa". Jackson was a hugely giving pack leader and I loved him for it.

Jackson was back in his normal clothes, telling the kids how disappointed he was that he had just missed Santa Claus when he spotted me. He said his goodbyes to the children and walked over, taking the garment bag from my hands.

"I take it you had some luck then?" He asked.

"Yes, so no peeking," I teased.

"Wouldn't dream of it."

I followed him to our bedroom. I placed the box with the pearls in it in one of the bedside tables and placed the shoe box in the closet as he hung the garment bag up. When I stood, he wrapped his arms around my waist from behind and placed his chin on my shoulder.

"I have a present for you," he whispered into my ear.

I smiled and leaned back into him.

"Santa Claus is really giving out the gifts tonight."

I felt him move a bit and then remove one of his arms from around me. When it returned there was a square velvet box in his hands. My hands started shaking as I moved to take the box. His head remained on my shoulder. I opened the box gingerly and gasped, nearly dropping the box.

Three rings were resting inside. One was a white-gold solitaire engagement ring with a huge black diamond resting in it. The other two were a white-gold his and her matching wedding band set.

"I love them," I said softy, brushing my finger over the man's wedding band.

"I hope that one day we can wear them without fear of repercussion." He whispered. "The bands were my parents. They are engraved on the inside. Yours says 'forever' and mine says 'always'."

Tears sprang to my eyes and I turned in his arms, wrapping my own around his neck.

"I love you," I said to him. "I love you so much and I never want to leave you. I never want to be separated, Jackson. I can't even stand to think about the end of the month."

He tightened his arms around me, holding me closer.

"Then don't think about the end of the month. Don't think about anything other than being here with me."

I reached up and touched his face, rubbing my thumb against the faint stubble on his cheek.

"Okay, I am here with you."

He leaned down and kissed me.

--------------------------

It was the day before Christmas – Christmas Eve – and I was sitting in a honeymoon suite in the Globe preparing for my wedding. Today I was marrying my love, my mate, my Jackson. Jackson had told the pack that we had wanted to spend our first Christmas together by ourselves. The pack had taken that for some sort of code that we wanted to get jiggy with it without them knowing.

They didn't for one second think that we were secretly eloping.

The hotel team that Jackson had hired to help me out and do my hair and make-up were second to none. They had just left, leaving me to stare at myself in the large mirror on the vanity. I looked pretty. I looked like a bride.

My hair had loose curls and fell around my shoulders. It was pushed out of my face by the rhinestone headband. My make-up was done in a natural tone, but it made me glow. My dress was snug on my body and my sandals fit perfectly. My black-diamond engagement ring sparkled in the light. I had a small bouquet of white roses in my right hand.

People say that they get butterflies in their stomachs. Maybe werewolves get elephants, because that is what it felt like. I looked up at the clock on the wall. It was time. I took a deep cleansing breath and stepped out of the room.

The wedding went off without a hitch. Bill kept it short and sweet, which was perfect. He had supplied two of his staff to sit in on the ceremony and sign the marriage certificate as witnesses to the wedding.

Our reception was in a small ballroom in the hotel. We ate a 3 course dinner, ate some of our one-tier wedding cake and danced the night away courtesy of iPod speakers and Jackson's iPhone. It didn't matter that no one was there. We were the only two people in the world and we were in love and that night no one could take it away from us.

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