Sahara’s POV: 

Gwen was definitely keeping me entertained. She had taken me around the house and introduced me to all of the people who I would need to know. I kept after her always keeping her blond hair in my view while I conversed. She had just decided to introduced me to Stephanie when she ditched me in a small library off from the main den.

“She’s new here. Her mate found her in the woods last night ya’ll should be in the same boat.” Gwen said introducing us, and then flouncing away.

“Hi.” I said awkwardly.

“Hi.”

The silence continued, but soon Chloe walked into the room with a nasty sneer aimed straight at me.

“Look here you nasty human. I will not tolerate you stealing my boyfriend right out from under me. I had him first. You can just go back to your stupid ass father. Like anyone here will ever accept a human as their alpha female; you’re going to cost Ryker his alpha ship.”

Tears were welling in the corners of my eyes. What she was saying made sense. I was going to make Ryker loose something that he had always wanted. Before I could finish my thought Stephanie spoke up for me, “You know what, Chloe,” she said with a slight growl, “That is no way to talk to your future alpha female. The fates would never pair up a human with an alpha if she would not be able to lead besides him. Sahara will be fine. Ryker is surely in love with his mate and from what I have seen today the rest of the pact seems to be willing to accept her.” 

“If Ryker is in love with her so much and has so much faith in her ability to lead why hasn’t he marked her yet?  It looks to me as if he is just about ready to cast her aside. That’s probably why he has been talking to his father so long,” She countered. 

“What hasn’t he done?” I asked my voice slightly weak. I hadn’t realized that I cared this much for Ryker, but it seemed that sometime during the morning my feelings for him had grown tremendously. 

“Marked you. Did he bite you over these two days?”

“He tried but I got out of the way before he could.” 

“See she is still unmarked both of them are fair game until the next claiming moon, and seeing how she has rejected our alpha, thought herself better than them, our pack will certainly not welcome her with open arms.” Chloe told both of us with a proud smirk on her face and promptly walked off. 

“The nerve of that bitch.” Stephanie growled under her breath.

“Well she is actually a bitch if we want to get all technical about it.” I said trying to draw a laugh from the tense atmosphere.

“Oldest joke in the book new bee,” she held out her hand, “You can call me Steph.”

I placed my hand in hers, “Thank you for standing up for me, and,” I added hesitantly, “I was wondering if you could tell me a little bit more about this mating thing. All that Ryker seems to tell me is that he is my soul mate. I really don’t know much else.” 

“Oh, new bee, you’re really new to this aren’t you,” I just nodded, “Come on, if I’m going to tell you all about werewolves I’m going to need some refreshments.”

Ryker POV:

I found Gwen with her new mate Lewis sitting, making out, on the porch at the back of the house. 

“Hey,” I yelled breaking them up, “what did you do with my mate.”

She looked a little scared for a moment, “I dropped her off with one of the new girls from last night. I figured that they would be more comfortable with each other. They’re both kinda in the same boat.” 

“You left my fragile, human mate with a female werewolf that you have hardly met in a home full of werewolves that neither of them know?” I yelled at her.

Lewis spoke up for his mate, growling slightly under his breath, “Ryker I don’t appreciate you taking to my mate like that.” 

“You will not talk to me in that manner, not when my mate is concerned. Even if you are my sisters mate, I will not tolerate that tone.”

He gave me a slight glare, but lowered his head slightly in submission.

“If Sahara has been harmed in any way I will hold you accountable.” 

I stalked off and went in search of my beautiful mate. I entered the house and was immediately greeted with her warm sent of milk, vanilla, and brown sugar. I didn’t need to lift my nose to follow her sent. It pulled me to her like a magnate to a metal. 

There she is. My wolf told me, seeing her in one of the old study / library rooms that were hardly ever used. 

The girl in the room with her had dark hair and light blue eyes. Her skin was a bit pale for a werewolf and her frame a bit too dainty, but still she seemed to have no aggressive intentions towards Sahara. The dark haired girl saw me and gave me a look that told me to stay out of their conversation.

Listen to the girl. She’s what Sahara needs right now, a friend. The girl has Austin’s sent all over her. She will be fine with Sahara. 

Austin was my beta, my best friend and right hand man. How perfect would it me if Sahara and his mate were best friends too. I walked away from the room. I knew that my wolf would tell me when she was done. Until then I decided it might be a good time to do some research. 

Sahara POV:

After Step got her drink she led me back into the room where we had first been talking. We got settled and she gave a weird look over my shoulder. When I turned around to look there was nothing there. I gave her a strange look which she returned, making us both laugh. 

“So let’s get started. Werewolves have had mates sense the beginning of time. They were a gift from the fates after we acted valiantly as the protectors of the humans against the magic of a group of the elves. They had sought to enslave the humans and use them to mine for their precious metals.  Our bite is like a toxin to an elf. We defied them and the fates gave us the ability to know are one true match.   There is no person in the world who can complete you better than your mate. 

When a werewolf finds his mate he has to wait until the mating moon to mark her. It comes once every month right after the full moon. It is the only time that the fates will allow the males to mix their sent with their mate. The bite mark morphs in to a tattoo when the pair has sex for the first time.” 

I interrupted, “Can I see yours?”

“Yeah, but just a word of advice, asking to see someone’s mark is considered ill-mannered.” 

“Sorry you don’t have to show me. It’s fine.”

“No it’s ok. You need to see one so you don’t freak when you get yours.”

She pulled up her shirt sleeve so that I could see her forearm. A thin circle was wrapped around a crescent moon. In all it was about the size of a serving spoon. It was beautiful the color was a light gold, and it shimmered slightly in the light.

“The reasons and attachment to the person dictates the size, color and type of mark. Once you’re marked every male knows. It’s like a warning to stay away. It also doesn’t allow either of the mates to have any physical relationship with another person. Only when their mate dies can a wolf start another relationship.  It also makes the mind connection between the two stronger.” 

“I should have let him bite me.” I muttered to myself.