=Eloise=

He stared at me and I stared right back at him, it seemed like a stare-off but I could tell he was trying to get a read on me.

His tight posture seemed to change, suddenly he looked more easygoing as he remained leaning against his desk casually.

"I thought this would be harder...I know a guy who's mate is a human and when she found out she flipped, wouldn't talk to him for weeks, cried, basically hated him for keeping this from her..."

"So are you telling me this is all true, werewolves actually exist?"

"Yes." He replied softly.

"How come my sister didn't tell me?" I asked a little hurt, but it was more to myself than anything else.

He shrugged, "people keep it a secret from humans for various reasons Hart...to be honest I wasn't planning on telling you anytime soon just because I selfishly wanted to get to know you before I had to break the news and eventually scare you off."

"Why does everyone think I'm some weak ass girl who's going to just run away scared by something like this?"

He chuckled slightly, "most girls react that way, it's kind of the logical response when you're told that the monsters are real."

"I'm not like most girls, and I've always been sort of fond of monsters." I smirked. "Now tell me more about this mate business."

He smiled one of those rare full smiles. "Mates are special...you see every Were has a Mate, but every Mate relationship is special in the fact that no two couplings are exactly the same." He said. "First off mates are drawn to each other, I know you tried to avoid me that first night but I'd bet anything you couldn't help but keep trying to look for me that night."

Once again I felt my cheeks blush with embarrassment.

"It's okay, I did the same thing...but try as we might we can't stay away from our mates."

"My friend told me Mates can't hurt each other without hurting themselves." I added.

He nodded, "that's true, if I made you cry i'd feel like shit to the point were I'd do anything and everything to take away your sadness, and there's no way I'd ever physically harm you, if I ever hurt you I would have to hurt myself out of shame and the pain of my own heartache for doing such a thing to my mate."

I was speechless.

"But that's not all Hart, some mates are super protective, some are extremely passionate, some are deeply connected emotionally, some are polar opposites while others are two peas in a pod...like I said no two mates relationships are the same."

I contemplated his words.

"Sounds serious, do you know if my sister and her boyfriend are mates?"

"Well if your sister is a human, which I'm assuming she is since you are and her boyfriend is a werewolf then yes because the thing about us Weres...we don't really date just to date." He said a little knowingly.

His words echoed Juliette's from the night before we arrived in Harmond "dating is serious there so don't expect to find some guy for a causal hook up."

So seems like in her own uncertain way, she was slowly trying to tell me.

"...Don't get me wrong some of us do date to be real with you, most dating done before Mates is simply to mess around out of need for sexual release, but I don't know any Were who'd just date a townie for no reason."

I nodded understandingly, "I watched them today, my sisters boyfriend seems more protective than anything."

He shrugged, "I'm not gonna lie to you Hart, Weres are protective by nature, and me...well I'd hurt just about anyone who tried to hurt you."

I smiled.

I couldn't help but wonder just what kind of mates Rocco and I would be.

"How's this gonna work Rocco, we don't live in the same town...not to mention you aren't exactly welcome in the town I'm staying in?"

He stepped forward and this time placed his hands on my hips.

Instantly a jolt of new and unfamiliar currents flooded through me.

"I'll be damned if I'm gonna let anyone keep you away from me."

"Breaking the rules could get you hurt." I said.

"I'm strong." He offered.

I looked at him, "so's my sisters boyfriend."

This time he smirked, "I know you don't really know the hierarchy Hart, but I'm an Alpha."

I gave him a flat sort of look. "So's my sisters boyfriend."

And with that his smirk was gone as he looked at me once more. "Your sister's Juliette?"

I nodded as if it was obvious, "yeah Jules is my older sister...Juliette Hart."

He shook his head almost in disbelief..."of course she is, Hart the only thing that matters to me is that you are my mate and that means I need to know you are safe and happy." He said as he cupped my face now.

If I though him holding my hips felt good, it was nothing compared to when his hands touched my face.

It was in that moment that I needed him to kiss me, but I knew that we were already moving really really quick.

I mean he had only just confirmed that werewolves exist and that I'm his mystical life partner.

But when he leaned forward and touched my lips with his I threw all logical reasoning out of the window...I mean I'm a werewolf's mate, where the hell is the logic in any of that?

Kissing Rocco was the only thing in the entire world that mattered at the moment, point blank.

It was the most wonderful experience of sentiment and thrilling compassion backed entirely by lust.

His arms were around my middle tightly, like if he loosened his hold at any moment I would disappear, and I felt the exact same.

He ended the kiss before I wanted it to be over.

He must've felt my want for more lip action, but instead of kissing me further he took hold of my hand and led us to the only chair in his room. He took a seat and gently pulled me into his lap.

"Hart, Hart Hart" he sounded as he lovingly caressed my face, "...My Heart, what are we gonna do?" He asked.

I smiled at him, "well I did notice you could use a receptionist...and I do need a job."

He nodded, "the job's yours if you really want it, but you don't have to work just to spend time with me."

"It's a legitimate reason to travel through both towns, my sister is hell bent against me finding out about wolves and the pack...what excuse can she possibly use?"

"Fine, then let's do this properly in case she decides to try digging into our company to find the legitimacy behind this."

He turned us to the computer, got up and then asked me to sit down and fill out the online application, he stood over me as I answered each question.

"You're only seventeen?" He asked.

"Yeah, sorry."

I felt bad, I know I should've told him I am younger than I look, and I know he could also get into a lot of trouble if anyone found out about our age difference.

He sighed heavily "age isn't exactly relevant in packs...but as you're a human we're gonna have to be even more careful than I thought."

"I'll be eighteen in a couple of months." I filled him in hopeful.

"No I'm not too concerned with your age, it just makes things that much more difficult." He sighed. "I'm gonna need you to lay low, try and stay out of trouble as much as possible...I know Dorian and the minute he finds out you're working for me he's going to want you to quit, I mean he'll try some shady shit too I can almost guarantee it, but My Heart... this is going to be the one and only time I'm ever going to give you an order."

I rolled my eyes, "I don't need you to order me to be on my best behavior."

He shook his head no, "No My Heart, I'm going to order you not to join his pack under any circumstances...even though you're a human, if you join a pack that pack alpha has a slight command over you from then on out and My Heart, I can't even begin to think what I'd do if someone actually kept us apart."

Now I understood.

"Now I'm not your alpha but I am your mate so you'll feel that order I just gave you, so if you try to go against me you will find it almost impossible to disobey me...it'd be stronger if I had marked you."

"What is marking?"

His smirk was back and this time he simply pushed my hair to the side, revealing my neck...he didn't do anything extravagant, he only touched the side of my neck, to be more specific the part of the neck that dips and touches your shoulder...but boy did it feel amazing being touched by him!

"This area My Heart, is where I will give you a love bite essentially, it'll be beautifully displayed for all to see that we are eternally connected to one another making you you are off limits."

Now it was my turn to smirk, "jealous much?" I teased.

"Ah, I don't think I've ever known a jealousy quite like the one I'm sure to have with you My Heart." He smiled, "come on, I'm starving...let's grab something to eat and then I'll show you around town."

I looked up at him, this guy was a far cry from the dangerous rebel that Clem and the girls had mentioned my first night here.