I brushed my hair violently to get it to settle down. Of course, the brown knots only got worse, resulting in the brush almost getting stuck in my hair.

Sighing in frustration, I threw my brush to the side and tied my hair back with a scrunchy. Like normal, my curls won.

It was the second day of break, and my family had spent the day at home, preparing a dinner. My mother decided that Connell should come, and called him to ask if he'd come over.

To his own demise, he said yes. I tried to tell him it was a bad idea, but he wouldn't listen to me.

We'll see how that turns out.

Looking in my closet, I found loosely fitted white dress that I figured would work for dinner. Naturally I'd be cold, but I figured I could just blast the heat and tell no one.

When I got downstairs, everyone was running into each other, trying to get figured out. I sat on the couch, putting my feet on the coffee table.

My mother came up to me, swatting my feet down.

"Ruby, why don't you go get Mr. Connell," My mother commanded, looking towards the door.

Standing up, I trudged to the door. Leaving the house quickly, I walked across my lawn, then the street, and straight to his door.

Connell had an issue with locking doors, tending to leave his open, so I walked right in. The house was lit, and I knew he had just been in there, but it was quiet.

Heightening my senses, I could hear the sounds of him shuffling around upstairs.

Patting his dog on the head, I walked up the stairs as swiftly as possible, trying to make as little sounds as possible.

When I got to the top floor, I waited, trying to listen to where he was. Walking on my tiptoes, I put my ear to his door to listen for him. I couldn't hear him, so I opened the door slowly.

I surveyed the room, but he was nowhere to be found. His bathroom door was closed, but I could hear him shuffling around.

Creeping to the wall, I tried to figure out how I could scare him. As I looked for a place to hide, a picture caught my attention.

On his dresser was a silver frame, and inside it, was a picture and who I assumed was his family.

I saw his parents, who were brightly smiling. His dad had an arm wrapped around his shoulder, and his mom was hugging his arm.

I tilted my head as I looked at another figure in the corner of the picture. He was tall, and had the same kind of build as Connell. He also had the same facial features, only differing by having blonde hair.

While Connell was smiling, the man seemed to be glaring into the camera. I felt a shiver run down my back as I looked into his eyes.

They were coal black.

I was so entranced by the picture, that I didn't even notice a figure creeping up behind me.

I squealed as I felt arms wrap around me, and a lips press quickly onto my cheek. Connell pulled me away from his dresser, sitting me on his bed.

He kissed me once again, this time tugging on a piece of my hair. Slapping his hands away, I climbed fully onto his bed, sitting so I could look at him.

He seemed to be in high spirits, humming as he buttoned his white shirt. I lifted my eyes from his chest, smiling.

Connell caught my look and shook his head, tsking.

"You seem in far to good of spirits for this," I told him, leaning back on my arms. Connell shrugged, finishing the last button.

"Why, should I be unhappy?" He asked, walking over to his dresser. He pulled out a variety of ties, looking through them.

I let out a hum, my voice becoming quick, "Yes! You should be incredibly nervous."

Connell chose a pitch black tie, and walked over to me, wrapping it around his neck. When he came in front of me, I grabbed the ends of his tie and started wrapping it around.

I'm sure my dad taught me how to tie a tie at some point.

"My aunts are all pushy and rude, and they ask insensitive questions," I worried, looking at the tie.

I tried putting one end of the tie through a hole but it seemed to get caught. Untying it, I tried again.

"My cousins are jackasses, and one of them is down right creepy," I continued. Connell looked at his tie with furrowed brows, watching as I once again knotted it.

"They'll tear you apart," I fretted. Letting go of the tie, I groaned.

"And I don't know how to tie a tie!"

Connell let out a chuckle, untying my mess of work.

Connell grabbed my hands and guided them to grab the tie, before correcting my mistakes.

As he helped me, he started talking. "You shouldn't worry so much, it can't be that bad."

I let out a shaky sigh, looking at him through my loose bangs. Connell gently guided my hands to tighten the tie around his neck.

"It's going to be okay," He told me, calmly putting my hands to my lap. I looked up at him, my heart racing.

Reaching up, I put my hands to his face. His skin was warm, which was normal for a werewolf.

He had taken my advice, and was growing out his beard. I was surprised by how quick his hair grew, considering how long it took my brother to grow out the simplest amount of hair.

It wasn't that thick, but it was even along his face.

I smiled, patting his cheeks.

"I like your beard," I told him, giving him a loving smile. I felt Connell's chest purr in happiness by the compliment. I wasn't sure if it was him, or his wolf.

Keeping my hands on his face, I leaned forward, looking at his lips.

I got halfway there, before jerking away.

"I wonder if my mom is making pasta salad!"

Sliding beneath his arms, I ran to the door, only looking behind me to give him a brief wink.

Connell's eyes followed me out the door. I ran down his stairs, only stopping to rub his dog on the belly.

When I got outside, I ran back to my house, walking in and slamming the door. My mother looked up in surprise, but her look changed to annoyance as she saw that Connell was not with me.

"Did you forget why you went over there?" She asked when I walked up, inspecting the food on the table.

I shook my head, reaching to pluck a roll from the bread basket.

"He's coming," I told her, taking a bite before she could grab it out of my hands.

Sure enough, a few seconds after, the doorbell rang. Letting out a strangled noise, I ran to the door, sliding on my socks.

Opening it, I chewed on my bread and tried to look as nonchalant as possible.

Connell exhaled when he saw me, giving me a blank look. I leaned against the wall, motioning for him to come in.

As soon as he came in, my family jumped on him with greetings. My Aunt Jessica was first, putting her hand out. My wolf growled in annoyance as she shook his hand far longer than necessary.

"Hi, I'm Jessica! You can call me Jess," She told him, her eyes looking at his face suggestively.

Connell let out an uncomfortable smile, nodding. Jessica took him by the arm, guiding him to our table.

I followed them, putting the last of the roll into my mouth. Connell sat down, and I took the seat next to him before Jessica. Unfortunately there was a seat on the other side that she gladly took.

I put my chin in my hand as I waited for everyone to get seated. Zach gave Connell a irritated look as he sat across from us, his eyes looking between us. I gave him a smile, taking a sip of my sweet tea.

We said grace, before digging into the food. I chose some of everything, ignoring Connells wandering eyes.

Jessica was the first to talk to Connell, her eyes looking him up and down.

"So, what do you do for a living?" She asked. She bit her lip as she looked down towards his muscles.

My mouth nearly fell open as Dottie growled viciously. Connells eyes darted to me, and when he saw my surely pissed expression, he cleared his throat.

"I'm a substitute teacher," Connell told her, inspecting his water glass rather closely. Jessica giggled, her hand touching his arm. She must have found it really amusing.

My parents paid no mind, just like the rest of my family. This behavior was normal for Jessica, and besides, what did they have to be irritated about? To them, Connell was a completely screw-able man.

I took a long drink of my tea, wishing it was alcohol. To my annoyance, my dad poured Connell a glass of wine.

Jessica continued to flirt with Connell, but I tried to ignore. Connell tried as well, trying to divert the conversation whenever he could.

At some points my hand hovered towards his wineglass, and he had to smack it away before my parents could see.

The worst of it hadn't started.

As Jessica got distracted by Jackson and his questions, Aunt Laura decided to take her stab at Connell.

"So, you're a substitute teacher?" Aunt Laura asked, moving her fork around her plate. Connell nodded, tearing a piece of bread apart.

"And you live next door?" She asked. She seemed surprise, and I felt my nerves going berserk, knowing this couldn't possibly go well.

Connell nodded slowly again, unsure of what she was getting at. I shoved some food in my mouth, stressfully eating.

"It's just, that must be an expensive house," She said slowly.

Connell took a sip of his wine, shrugging. "I guess," He said.

"So how do you afford it with that job?" She questioned, almost accusingly. I choked lightly, reaching for my water glass.

Connells eyes were concerned as he looked at me, before he looked back at Aunt Laura. I could feel him get agitated, but I knew he was trying to control it.

"I get by," Connell answered, putting his wine glass down. I exhaled, rubbing my chest so I could breathe better.

I felt Connells hand creepy to my thigh, and he affectionately squeezed it. I reached for his hand, feeling myself calm down.

I wasn't sure who was more uneasy, me or him.

Alexandria was the next to question him. She had this sort of crow like look to her, with steely eyes.

She looked Connell up distastefully, but didn't say anything.

"So, where was your old pack?" She inquired first. Connell seemed taken aback, and I could feel his heart quicken.

Those were the questions he hated answering the most.

"Washington," he hesitated.

Aunt Alexandria squinted at him, tapping her fingers on the table.

Connells hand wrapped around mine, squeezing tightly. I looked towards my plate, nervous of what she would say next.

"Must have been cold up there."

Connell shrugged. His thumb rubbed the back of my hand soothingly, distracting me slightly.

"So why did you leave?"

Connell stopped moving, and he went quiet. No one seemed to notice, all of them talking amongst themselves.

Though I had asked Connell that question before, he seemed a lot less willing to answer her.

Connell gave her a tight smile, swallowing.

"I just had other interests," He said quickly. Releasing his hand from mine, Connell stood, clearing his throat.

"I'm going to go use to restroom," He said. I looked at him as he left the table. He walked up the stairs, and no one seemed to notice that he went to the upstairs bathroom then the downstairs.

I watched as he faded from view, before standing myself.

"I... need to go get a jacket," I explained, taking a few steps away from the table. Zach looked at me briefly, before continuing to talk to Max.

I rushed up the stairs, taking them 2 at a time. I only stopped when I saw the bathroom in view.

I wrapped my hand around the handle, listening for Connell briefly, before opening the door.