Kane heard the rustle of bedsheets. He turned from where he was sitting in the chair so that he could see her. Nora, his mate, was just waking up. She stretched her arms up towards the headboard and made a yawning noise, her eyes pointed at the celling.

"Welcome to your first day in Burlington," he told her.

Nora seemed startled by his presence for a moment, her eyes widening. She rolled so that she was facing him, the light from the window made her eyes shine. "Good morning Kane, I hope that you slept."

Kane shrugged.

"I'll take that as a no?"

Kane shrugged again. "I have a lot on my mind," he muttered in explanation.

Nora sat on the edge of the bed, her legs swinging down from under the sheets. She motioned for him to join her. He sat next to her and she instantly threaded her fingers between his. Her hand was warm. "Let's take it day by day, hey?"

Kane nodded. He wondered what other people did on their first day after meeting. He decided that introducing her to the family would be the next logical step, considering she was going to be in their lives too. "You don't have to, but do you want to meet my parents today?"

Nora's eyes lit up. "Yes. I would love that."

Kane smiled softly. "My parents are going to love you."

"Are they expecting me?" Nora asked. Her eyes held a deeper meaning to her words, but Kane didn't understand what it was.

Kane shook his head. "I haven't told them about you yet."

"I meant," Nora clarified with careful words, "are they expecting a girl?"

"Oh," Kane finally understood what she was saying, "no they aren't."

Nora's expression changed. She suddenly looked distant, almost as if the curtains on the other side of the room were the only thing able to hold her attention. "Oh."

"Are you okay?" Kane asked. "I can let them know you're coming, so they are prepared."

Nora let go of his hand gently. His fingers suddenly felt cold.

"I didn't mean to upset you," Kane whispered. Yet again, he felt like a failure as a mate.

Nora slowly walked over towards the window that faced the backyard. She took a few moments before speaking. "It's not your fault."

Kane stood, but didn't make a move towards her. Something held him back. "It is."

Nora turned. Kane didn't expect to see the shine in her eyes. "It's really not."

"You're crying."

Nora tried to smile, but it just looked sad.

"Nora, why are you so upset?"

Nora smiled again, but it came out strange. "It's so stupid."

Kane took a step towards her. "If it's upsetting you then it's not stupid."

Nora shrugged. "I've dreamt of this so many ways. I used to sit in class and daydream about meeting you." Nora faced the window again. Kane wondered if she couldn't say it to his face. "Well, not you per se, but my mate with a blurry face. I made up so many scenarios in my head of how we would meet. We would see each other across the dance floor and run to each other, or maybe I would be walking down the street and you would stop your car and run across the road towards me. However, we met in a diner after I crashed into your friend's car, and then you ran from me." Kane placed his hand on her back. Nora took a deep breath. "I never imagined, not in a single one of those scenarios, that you would run away from me."

Kane stepped to the side so that he could see her face. "I'm sorry, Nora. You deserved to have your perfect story."

Nora shook her head. "It isn't about the story, Kane. It never was."

"What was it about?" he asked. He didn't know what she was talking about.

"You were supposed to fall in love with me, Kane."

Kane's eyes widened. He didn't know what to say. "I-"

Nora put her hand up to stop him. "You don't love me," she said. "I know."

"I only just met you," Kane said slowly. "I need time."

Nora nodded. "I know," she blinked back tears, "I know and I don't want to make you feel bad, but I just had this written in my mind for so long. You were supposed to love me and introduce me to your family, who would love me too. You and my father are supposed to play golf together. I just can't help but imagine what your parents are going to think when they meet me. They aren't going to love me, Kane, just like you don't love me."

Kane's heart broke for her. "Nora, my parents will adjust. Hell, I will adjust! I wish that I could have given you what you wanted last night, but I just couldn't and I don't know why. I can't give you an answer, but I'm here right now, trying."

Nora smiled at him, less sadness this time. She reached for his hand. "I need to adjust as well."

Kane nodded, that comforting warmth returning to his fingers. "One day at a time, right?"

Nora laughed, it was a pretty sound. "Yes. Yes, right."

"I'm sorry, Nora."

Nora shook her head. "Don't be, you're trying. That is all that I can ask of you."

A knock at the door forced them to turn. Kane let go of Nora's hand on instinct. Peyton stood in the doorway, having not waited for them to answer to the knock. She glanced at their hands, but didn't say anything about it. "I'm Peyton," she said with a small wave towards Nora, "Adam's sister. He told me that you were here."

"Oh, hello," Nora said awkwardly.

"Breakfast is ready. Violet made pancakes."

"We will be down in a minute," Nora told her.

Kane looked between Peyton and Nora. "Should I leave?"

Peyton laughed. "We can all smell that you're here, Kane, you might as well join us for breakfast."

Kane wondered what Adam's thoughts were of his presence. "Okay then. Has Adam said anything?"

Peyton shrugged. "He said, I can smell Kane, and that's about it."

"Okay."

Peyton turned and left, leaving the door half open in her wake.

"Your friends don't like me, do they?" Nora asked.

Kane stepped closer to her. "I wouldn't say that. They don't even know you."

Nora's eyes stayed on the half open door. "I want them to like me."

Kane placed his arm around her shoulders. "They will."

They made their way downstairs and were greeted with the smell of freshly cooked pancakes and the sweet smell of syrup. Peyton was already sitting at the head of the table, plates of food in front of her and five table settings on the table. She beckoned them closer.

"Where is everyone?" Kane asked.

Peyton pointed towards doors that led to the kitchen. "Adam and Violet are in there. It's just us this morning, our parents have gone to some meeting."

"On a Sunday morning?" he asked.

Peyton shrugged.

Kane unravelled his arm from Nora's shoulders. "Sit down, I'll go get them."

Kane walked through the doors. He smiled at the view he saw. Adam had his arms wrapped around Violet's waist, his lips on her neck. She was laughing silently, a huge smile on her lips. Kane pretended to cover his eyes. "Woah," Kane laughed out.

Violet pulled away, but Adam gave her one last kiss on the lips before letting her go.

"Isn't it a surprise to see you here," Violet said sarcastically.

"What?" Kane asked.

Adam smiled broadly. "We smelt you the second you came into the house last night."

"Oh," Kane muttered. He had assumed they wouldn't have noticed him if they had been asleep. Apparently that wasn't how it worked. "Sorry about that."

Adam shrugged. "So, what happened?"

Kane took a deep breath. "We talked, I explained everything. We are figuring things out."

Adam stepped forward and slapped him on the shoulder. "Way to go! That's what I was talking about!"

"I'm happy for you, Kane," Violet told him. "I'm sure in a few days' time we will be joking about how you didn't think she was really your mate."

"You're probably right." Kane said the words, but he wasn't totally convinced. "She's a really nice girl," of that he was sure, "but she's quite insecure about people not liking her. Can you guys be nice to her this morning?"

Violet nodded quickly. "I will make sure she knows that we love that she's here. Heck, I'm hoping that we become best friends!" Violet grabbed the bowl of berries off the counter and headed towards the dining room. "Don't stress Kane, she will fit right in," she said softly as she passed him. Her eyes held certainty. Kane didn't question for a second if she was right.

"Are you going to introduce her to everyone today?" Adam asked. "I'm sure word will get out quick about her. You might want your parents to know sooner rather than later."

"I'll take her to my house after breakfast. The family should be home."

Adam looked proudly at his best friend. "You're almost like a different person today. Not that I love the fact that you snuck into my house in the middle of the night, but you guys talking must have really proven that you are meant to be. Otherwise, you wouldn't be so calm. Last night you were a mess."

Kane shrugged. He wanted to tell Adam that he still wasn't completely sure about her, but the words wouldn't form in his mouth. He felt the bond, that was for sure, but where was the love? Where was the deep within your bones love that everyone else seemed to have from the second they locked eyes? Where was the drive for him to kiss Nora like Adam kissed Violet? That was what sent shivers down his spine. He just had to hope the feeling would come. Perhaps, for him, it wouldn't hit like a lightning bolt, but more so roll like waves bringing the tide back into shore. He had to hope.

Adam clapped him on the shoulder again. "I'm proud of you, cousin."

They joined everyone for breakfast. Kane sat next to Nora, opposite Adam and Violet. Peyton, who was sitting at the head of the table, started passing food around.

"Have you told your parents about Kane?" Violet asked, her eyes directed at Nora.

Nora shook her head. "I told them that I was staying with friends. I wanted to wait until I knew Kane a little more before telling them."

Kane knew what she really meant. She had been worried last night that he was going to reject her, and so she didn't mention him to her parents out of fear.

"You should tell them," Kane told her. He hoped that she understood the meaning behind his words. He was in this for the long run.

Nora's eyes brightened. "Okay," she replied, "I'll call them this morning."

"They are going to be so excited for you!" Violet said. She had real excitement in her voice. "I can help you plan your mate ceremony if you wish! I had so much fun planning ours!"

Nora smiled brightly. "That would be fantastic."

The talk of mate ceremonies was enough to make Kane feel queasy. He stopped picking at his pancakes. Kane reprimanded himself. He was trying to make an effort with Nora. He wasn't allowed to feel sick when he thought of mate ceremonies! He tried to imagine he and Nora up on that stage, but suddenly an image of he and Wyatt popped into his head and he had to blink it away. He didn't want to think of Wyatt right now.

Nora seemed to be getting along with everyone throughout breakfast. She and Violet talked almost nonstop and it made Kane feel good that Nora had made a friend. He hoped that Violet would make Nora feel a little less worried about everything, and even more so, less lonely. They hadn't spoken about it, but Kane was more than hoping they would stay with his pack once they were mated, and to have no friends and a mate that kind of didn't love you (yet) would probably be a very lonely experience.

As the breakfast came to an end, Kane suddenly felt worried about introducing Nora to his family. He hoped that he was being silly, but he didn't want his family to freak out the way that he had. Hell, his little sister was expecting him to bring home a prince. He wondered how the family would react when he brought home a princess. Would they accept that or would they have questions? If they had questions, Kane was sure they would be questions that he couldn't answer.