Katrina

I didn't hesitate to leave after Jamie was dragged out and the girls let me go. I went upstairs to my room, not bothering to lock the door when I shut it. I just sank to the floor and leaned against the bed, sitting in the darkness as I try to wrap my head around what just happened. And how I'm feeling.

The biggest thing I suppose is...relief. I had screamed out everything I had wanted to say to him for the past six years, except 'why?'. But I could live without knowing that answer. Just getting all of that anger and hurt off my chest made me feel free...and I felt even more so after finally accepting his rejection. Like floating on water instead of drowning in it.

I had always feared that severing the bond with him would hurt me more then I already had been. But I guess I was wrong...and I wish I had done it sooner. I sigh, dropping my chin to my chest as I close my eyes.

I sit in the dark for what seems like a lifetime, when in reality it was only a few minutes. Just as I feel myself drifting into sleep, the sound of my door opening wakes me up, along with the soft footsteps accompanied by the scent that's been invading my dreams. I keep my eyes closed until I feel him stop, and a hand gently brushes across my knee.

I open my eyes to find Seth directly in front of me, his tall frame crouching to the floor between my legs. His blue depths are full of mixed emotions, complex and swirling as he holds my gaze. I want to ask him to hold me in his arms, to stay with me until the sunrise and after that...but, considering all that's happened tonight... I don't know if he would even want to.

"Katrina..."

That voice. That damn, deep, sexy voice. It always throws me off my game.

"Please talk to me, my love."

"I-I don't know what to say..." I respond in a whisper, my voice barely audible.

"I'm sorry angel, you deserve so much better than that."

"You sound so...certain..."

His eyes seem to glow brighter, easily the brightest thing in the room.

"I am, and I'm willing to prove it to you."

"How..." My voice breaks, and his face softens.

"How do I know you won't reject me as well?" I reply, staring at the handsome Alpha who has somehow made it past my walls. He reaches a hand towards me, gently caressing my cheek and tracing down my neck. I can't help the sigh that escapes from me as the sparks erupt under his touch.

He presses his lips to my ear, his warm breath giving me goosebumps.

"I have waited and searched for you for eight years, Angel. Now that I have you in my arms, I'm never letting you go."

I lean into his touch, his large hand cupping my face as if I am the most fragile thing in the universe.

"You promise...Seth?"

His hand moves to cup the back my head, using it to press my forehead to his, and hold my eyes.

"I promise."

That's it. That's all it takes for what remains of my fears to melt away. I feel the the pull of the mate bond tug me forward, and I turn my head the slightest bit to the left, hesitantly leaning in that last inch. He follows suit, and it isn't long before his lips meld with mine. Warm, gentle, comforting caresses that start to mend my heart a little. A soft rumble emits from his chest as I trail my hands up to his shoulders, my fingers slightly brushing the bit of exposed skin.

I let my mind drift as he holds me, hoping he keeps his promise.

Seth

The last few days have been incredible, and we have made quite a bit of progress.

I stayed in Katrina's room that night. Considering all the crap that went down, we both needed it. We've been dancing around each other for too long, so the sharing of a bed was the perfect remedy.

That lead into me asking her to move into my- no, our room. She was hesitant at first, and I don't blame her, but she agreed and I helped her move upstairs. And upon looking at her minimal wardrobe, I wondered if she would rather go shopping or if it would be better to have stuff ordered. I've decided on the latter.

We still goes to our morning workout, that is after I decide to let her go. I now join her in her trips to see Avery, and it makes me happy to realize the little munchkin is warming up to me. As for her training sessions, I watch whenever I'm not busy, and try to decide which is stronger: Pride in her skills or irritation from the other males putting their hands on her. I'm still undecided.

She joins me on my afternoon runs, and for the last week we have eaten lunch together. After learning of her favorite places, I try to take her to ones she would enjoy, feeling proud of myself for getting them all right so far. I've discovered she and I both share a dislike of okra and spinach, and a love of Italian food. She's convinced me to try Japanese...and it was actually better than I thought it would be.

She's also helped me with the paperwork, though I have a feeling she's doing it both to help me and get out of going shopping with Tiana and Adrienne. I don't complain though, not only does it give us more time to be together as mates, but it also means she's embracing her role as Luna. Which makes me immensely happy and even more proud.

As of right now, the announcement that she is the new Luna hasn't been officially made, but word is starting to spread slowly through the pack. So, in all honesty, it won't be necessary to call a pack meeting for it.

Sitting at my desk, I work through the last of the documents that I split with Katrina. She still has a few left, but she had to leave for a moment to get something to drink. I had briefly considered getting her a desk for herself...but I've found that letting her sit on my lap at my desk is much more enjoyable, even if it is a little distracting at times.

Just as I'm about to put my signature on the last page, a knock sounds at the door. Assuming it's Tyron, considering I've told Katrina she doesn't have to knock to enter our office, I call out a greeting before taking in the scent. The second the door swings open, the smell of cheap perfume smacks me in the face, nearly making my eyes water. Damn it, why now?

"Hey Baby!!!"

Oh hell. Caroline.

"Caroline. What a surprise."

This is not going to end well. As much as I try to be respectful of all my pack members, Caroline has always been the most difficult one to be pleasant with. The girl doesn't know how to take a hint, or seem to understand that I don't like it when she tries to throw herself on me.

"Did you miss me, baby?" She asks, curling a strand of her black hair with her finger, a failed attempt at acting cute in my opinion.

Hell. Fucking. No.

Me and Damien think together, him growling at the she wolf in disgust.

"It's...been a while since your last visit." I word carefully, the last thing I need is for her to throw a tantrum, I have enough to deal with already. She starts walking around the desk, her display of skin even less appealing then it was the last time she was here. I grip my chair tightly, my fingernails digging into the leather as I make sure to keep my eyes above the she wolf's neck, even if I don't find this woman attractive, I'm not going to disrespect my mate.

"You look tense, Seth, maybe I can help you with that." She purrs, and I flinch away from her fingers as they attempt to touch my chest. I need to make it clear to this girl that I'm not, and never will be, interested.

"I've explained this to you several times Caroline, I have no romantic interest in you whatsoever. You need to keep your hands off of me."

As if she doesn't hear me, she touches my cheek softly, and I fight the urge to smack it away.

"Don't talk like that, Seth. It's not like you mean it."

"I do mean it. And furthermore, I have found my mate, so do not disrespect that fact by touching what isn't yours. Leave, now."

She pouts, which I am not bothered by. If she keeps this behavior up, I'll be forced to use my Alpha tone to order her to stay away, and as much as I don't want to, it might be the only thing that gets through her thick skull.

"Come on, baby. She doesn't have to know." She coos, beginning to trail her fingers down my neck. That's it, I've had it with this woman. I grab her wrist a little harder than necessary, pulling it away from my skin.

"I just told you I have a mate, how dare you disrespect your Luna this way."

"But, she's-"

"Right here mutt."

Both of our heads snap towards the sound of Katrina's voice, a hostile growl rumbling in her chest. How is it that she looks so beautiful when she's considering murder?

I let go of Caroline's wrist as my mate slowly walks towards us, her eyes glowing and lethal as she stares down the invasive she wolf. Katrina walks behind the desk, placing herself between me and Caroline, the growl in her chest getting louder as she stares her down.

"Keep. Your Hands. Off. My. Mate."

Caroline trembles fearfully, shrinking away from her.

"And don't you ever put your hands on him again, do I make myself clear?"

Caroline whimpers, desperately trying to edge her way out of the office.

"Do I make myself clear!?"

My eyes widen at the double ring to her voice, and I can't stop the smile that spreads across my face.

"Y-yes Luna..." Caroline bears her neck in submission as she answers. Katrina hasn't even been marked, and she can already use the Luna tone. This means her wolf has accepted her rightful place as Luna, and as my mate.

"Good. Now get out of my house."

Caroline scurries out the door, not wasting a second to escape from my mates wrath. Still amazed by her display, I lean forward and rest my hands on her hips, gently trying to pull her back to me. She's still growling and snarling at the the door, and as sexy as it is, she needs to calm back down.

"Come here Angel, come on."

I pull her onto my lap, her growling has stopped but I can still feel the anger rolling off of her. I begin running my hands up and down her arms soothingly as press my lips to her shoulder, noting how that action helps.

"Just who does she think she is?" She grumbles irritably as she stares at the closed door.

"A she wolf that will no longer mess with either of us, my love."

"Good. Because you're mine."

The possessive note to her voice excites me, stirring me and my wolf up. A great idea flickers in my mind, and I lean forward to nibble on her ear.

"All yours Angel. Would you like me to prove it to you?"

She flips around in the chair so that she straddles my lap, and I begin growling myself as I take in the view.

"I'm listening." She murmurs, her eyes starting to turn black as she thinks about what I'm implying.

"I know you may not be ready for me to mark you...but how would you like to mark me?"

Marking is a intimate process, and it's one of the things I have no intention of rushing with her. I, on the other hand, am more than willing to bare her mark. For mates, marking each other means a lot of things, and it isn't just males who mark their mates, she wolves do it too.

The best way to explain it, is that as long as one of the two mates are marked, the link will work. However, both wolves being marked makes sure that the claim on each other is complete. It's more about making sure everyone knows that their mate is off limits, and a indication of who they will be messing with if they don't heed the warning.

Having Katrina's mark will let every she wolf know that I have a mate, for her scent will be permanently attached to it. Our personal mind link will be established, and not to forget that the mark itself will become a sensitive spot just for us.

"Are you sure?" She hesitates slightly. I can see she wants to do it, she's just making sure I do. I grin and pull her face to mine, loving the look of her black irises on me.

"Absolutely."

I feel her close the distance and press her lips to mine in a feverish kiss, tangling her fingers in my hair as she goes. I kiss back just as heatedly, noting how different this is compared to our previous kisses, not that I'm complaining.

She growls as I run my hands down her sides, stopping at her hips to grab them and pull her closer. Her position on my lap only intensifies the heat between us.

A surprised rumble escapes my chest as she pulls on my bottom lip with her teeth, sliding her tongue over my mouth afterwards. I grip her hips a little tighter as she makes her way down my throat, taking her time to kiss and suck on my skin, leaving hickies as she slowly reaches my shoulder. At this point the anticipation is driving me crazy.

I groan as she finds my sweet spot, and attacks the place where my neck and shoulder meet, dragging her tongue over the spot slowly before she nips at it teasingly.

"Don't tease, Angel."

She chuckles before flicking her tongue over the spot, and both of us can feel how painfully hard I've become as she rolls her hips against me, making me growl in response.

"I was under the impression that you liked it." She murmurs against my skin, continuing her assault on the sensitive area.

"Too much, my love. So if you keep up this teasing, you and I will both be in trouble."

At that, she grins, and presses one more kiss to the spot before I feel her canines descend. Grabbing my other shoulder, she quickly sinks her teeth into the spot, the sharp teeth sinking deeply.

The first few seconds of pain are quickly drowned out by intense pleasure, her scent intensifying as she continues, and I can't stop my own canines from descending in response. I bite back my desire to mark her in return, knowing she isn't quite ready yet. Marking is like mating, it requires consent on both sides.

The sudden connection to her wolf Ziva lets me know that it's finished, and Katrina retracts her teeth to begin licking the mark clean of my blood. For now, it will be just a bite wound, but after an hour the bite itself will heal over and a permanent mark will appear on my skin. I look forward to seeing my mates practical signature on me.

Pulling her gaze up to meet mine, I notice her eyes are still black and that her canines are still descended. She looks almost feral, but still sexy as hell.

"Mine." She growls, and I smirk, showing my canines.

"Yours."

Just as we get caught up in another heated kiss, a knock on the door sounds right before it opens. We both turn to see Tyron staring at us in shock, whatever he came in here for temporarily forgotten.

"Yes, Tyron?" Katrina asks pointedly, obviously less than pleased to be interrupted.

"Um, yes, well. The Alpha and Luna from the neighboring pack will be arriving in less than an hour for the meeting."

I almost forgot about that. Sighing, I turn my gaze back to Katrina.

"Looks like we'll have to put this on hold, Angel."

~I don't think they need to walk in on us like this.~ I finish by using the mind link. She smirks before promptly getting up.

"Thank you, Tyron." She replies in a much more pleasant voice, and he quickly leaves while muttering something about finding his mate. Katrina catches the door, turning to face me.

"Aren't you gonna join me for the meeting?" I ask, and she smirks knowingly.

"I am, I just think you need to take care of something before our guests arrive."

She struts out the door, her hips swaying as she walks. Her words remind me of my too tight pants, and I groan. Werewolves can smell arousal, which is pretty uncomfortable at times...especially when you have a meeting with pack leaders.

Looks like another cold shower for me.