=Eloise=

"I hope you don't mind my Alpha, but I won't be able to have lunch with you today."

Rocco came over and snaked his arms around my waist. "I feel like every since I've marked you, you've had to be away from me more and more."

It had been a couple of weeks since Rocco officially marked me, making me Luna Hart.

I reached up and brought his face down to mine, I kissed him gently. "I have to meet with both Jules and your mom."

At this he kissed me again, "how're lessons going?"

I shook my head, and let out a heavy sigh... "neither your mom or I can understand how Dorian kept my sister so ignorant to everything around her...basically all she knew was that Weres exist and that she was someone mate...that's it."

Rocco grew visibly angry and I touched his cheek, he closed his eyes as he strained to keep control over his wolf. "I hate that he is an Alpha, he keeps his people living in fear to maintain control over them, he even manipulated his own mate."

"It's over baby, Juliette won't ever let herself be in that position again, and with her gone Clementine and Meg have both told me that the pack are starting to question everything."

"I fear for his people." He sounded sadly.

I nodded my understanding, I was worried that there would be a civil uprising...if that happened I wondered how it would effect the surrounding packs, namely ours.

"Well I won't keep you, tell the ladies I said hello." He said with a final kiss before I began clearing the table from our breakfast together.

I didn't have to wait long for Juliette to arrive.

"Ready to go?" I asked.

I wasn't surprised to see her chatting in the foyer with Dylan. For this past week Juliette had come over every single day (and every single day, Dylan just so happened to also be conveniently around the pack house), I would drive us over to see Diane's, and she would teach the both of us the ins and outs of their history.

Now to be honest I'd already learned most of this but I wanted to be there with my sister, and make sure I hadn't missed anything the first time around, maybe even ask questions I was too nervous or embarrassed to ask before.

And neither Rocco or Diane seemed to mind at all.

"Hey Juliette...Dylan, haven't seen you since yesterday." I commented playfully.

Anyone could see that Dylan had taken a liking to my sister.

But I knew my sister well, and I knew her heart was still with her mate. And of course I respect that.

Right now those two are simply taking time apart from one another...but, eventually they needed to sit down and really talk about everything and where their relationship would go from there.

Of course, it really wasn't my place to pry, and I knew Juliette would act of her own will now...so she'd do what she has to, in her own time.

"Luna...I was just coming by to have a word with Alpha Roc." He lied.

I smirked, "sorry you just missed him, you should come by for dinner though Dylan...I'm sure you can catch him then."

"It would be an honor My Luna." He said as he bowed his head and then turned to Juliette, "see you around duchess."

I kept my eyes on him as I left but from the corner of my eye I could see the crimson glow alighting Juliette's cheeks.

"So duchess huh?" I teased as I grabbed my purse now.

"Shut up!" She snapped.

"I think it suits you." I said honestly.

She ignored me and let herself into my car.

We drove on in silence as the radio played lightly in the background.

"How's work?" I asked.

She shrugged, "I quit...how's school?"

"I'm not going."

We drove on and finally arrived at the Wylde's house, Diane greeted us warmly.

"So girls, what are we discussing today?" She asked enthusiastically.

I knew Juliette wouldn't speak up so I took the opportunity. "Can we talk about mates?"

"Mates, I suppose you already know the basics, but there are more in depth parts to mates I think everyone should know.

We followed her into their small library and took a seat on the long leather sofa.

"Mates my lovlies, are two beings." She started. "Many of us believe the moon goddess herself designs mates...some may be exactly the same while some may be complete opposites...and while we don't know exactly why two people are mates, we do know that our mates are essentially our other halves."

Both Juliette and I listened on with bated breath as Diane's lessons always seemed more like an interesting story time instead of an educational lesson.

"Now when two mates meet their bond is created, imagine if you will a thin piece of jute cord...and with time you begin to interact, be it through talking or touching so then more cords are added to that initial cord, you open up emotionally, you love each other intimately...even more cords...lastly is the mark...a male will mark his female to signify to other males that this female is off limits, but also to finally add that last cord creating a strong rope as their bond is now fully formed and sealed for eternity."

With Diane explaining things, it was so easy to understand opposed to the bits and pieces I've heard here and there.

"Now I don't mean to be insensitive but I will use you two as an example...Juliette my dear you and your mate met and initiated that bond, over the years you've begun to strengthen that bond but until your mate marks you, your bond can never be fully formed and sealed, and that has its downfalls but more on that momentarily." She said matter of factly.

"Now you my sweet Eloise, you and my son met, strengthened your bond and he has marked you meaning your bond is fully formed and you two are now one."

"What do you mean?" Juliette asked.

"When a bond is fully formed and sealed mates can feel each others emotions, if Rocco is upset then Eloise will also be upset, is Eloise is happy then Rocco will find himself happy, but with that if Rocco ever hurts Eloise for any reason, he will hurt ten times more than her...more so, if for some reason she were to reject him now, he'd die of heartache...and while she won't die she'd be depressed in the worst way possible, it would literally drive her insane, to the point that she would become suicidal."

My heart hurt just thinking of my Rocco dying.

"But with you Juliette, your bond was never fully formed and sealed, and with others like yourself you are capable of rejecting your mate and living a normal life...your mate would be sad but he too would be able to move on as the effect of losing an unmarked mate is extremely less than one that is marked."

"So if Juliette didn't want to be with her mate anymore all she has to do is reject him?"

While I'm sure Dorian has some redeemable qualities, I hated him fully for what he had put my sister through for the past two years.

But I also knew this was something only she could do.

"Well It's never so easy Eloise my lovely, of course it's as simple as saying those words, but you have to take into consideration the time put into the relationship and the memories made, just like with any breakup comes heartache and patience...but anybody at anytime can reject their mate...it's just a lot less painful for those unmarked and something I only advise if given a great deal of consideration because just like s rope once that bond is broken the rope frays and can never be mended...so once rejected, you can NEVER un-reject someone."

I knew she was talking specifically to Juliette now.

"Can a rejected being ever move on...or what about those Weres who's mates are unknown or have passed away for that matter?" Juliette asked.

Diane nodded as she took in the question, "of course they can move on, they may even love another...but of course there is no love stronger than the love you'll experience with your mate...not to say that those who are not mates are looked down on for being with each other...everything happens for a reason my dear, and sometimes we have to face some pretty tough stuff before we can ever see the light at the end of the tunnel."

The talk had given both myself and Juliette a lot to think about and as we moved on to lighter topics about upcoming holidays and plans for various parties we stayed for lunch and then went on our way.

"Hey I really would love it if you could come to dinner tonight." I said as we pulled up to the pack house. "And of it's too much for you, I'll ask Dylan not to attend."

"While he does have a tendency to get under my skin from time to time, I have to admit that I don't really mind him coming to dinner tonight."

I was glad to hear it and smiled, "so I know it got a little heavy back there with Diane...you okay?"

She nodded. "I'm fine, just have a lot to think about."