AN: SOOO, I got a review of 4/10 for this book. In all honesty I laughed, not because I disregarded her opinion but because it made me want to write more. It's good to get negative feedback sometimes, it keeps authors humble.

I allow myself a sliver of hope before I effectively demolish it.

'We're all here​ for Jenni's mate, Eric said nothing about mine being here too.' I chastise. That's the problem with hope, even with logic trying to stop the blossom, when it's diminished completely the pain is all too real. 

I see Eric giving me a knowing look but I won't meet his eyes. He shouldn't be able to read me so easily, I've changed from the girl he grew up with. I made sure to numb and harder her to become an impenetrable shell in a constant detached state. I tell myself that this is a healthy way to live.

That illusion has gotten me through many rough nightmares.

I look at Jenni to distract from my inner dilemma and realize what must have happened.

I'm connected directly to Jenni's wolf, a she wolf that knows her mate is nearby. I have to laugh at my foolishness.

"He's not here."

The voice behind us sounds cautious yet I can feel his inexhaustible excitement.

It matches Jenni's.

I turn around and lock eyes with an embodiment of nature itself. If he says that the forest gave birth to him instead of a she wolf, I'd believe him.

His skin reminds me of the redwood trees surrounding this land, not the bark of course but the actual color of the wood. His eyes/hair are the dark brown of ripe soil that's perfect for planting. He's also carrying herbs in a basket with one hand while his other is wrapped around long wood sculptures, and even though we're a good distance apart, he has a thick scent of pine and sandalwood.

Like any good warrior I analyze more than his coloring and scent.

The man stands around my 5'8 and is thin for a typical wolf, but the power he exudes is something no one is stupid enough to underestimate. He moves with the grace of a born runner, which explains his lean frame. This is a wolf that probably grabs snakes just for the fun of surprising them. When it comes to a fight, he won't rely on his strength alone like other males. He'll probably tire out his opponent first then make the kill. Not the most honorable way to fight but no one can really judge him for surviving.

He's definitely in a position of power within this pack, which one is up for debate but he isn't a wolf to roll over for just anyone.

Dad would've been pleased with this male.

The man from the forest knows that I'm not his as we stare each other down but I guess duty comes before anything else, including his mate. Just as I was assessing him, he was doing the same to me.

"Where's Dominic?" I question on edge. Only a fool would go onto enemy territory and not expect a sneak attack. Sure, wolves have some sort of honor code but now I can give them a real fight. Hell I can even challenge wolves for their positions and no one can stop me.

I suddenly feel tension and unlike the first time, I know that this sudden emotion is being projected onto me by Jenni. She just now realizes that her mate is close to the man that killed our dad.

Poor kid, but it could be worse. Her mate could've been dead without her knowing it.

It's a horrible fate to walk the earth looking for a mate who's already with the moon. Wolves believe that it's a punishment for whatever the person did in a past life. I'm sure most would take Jenni's situation with a smile instead of dealing with that.

"As I said before, he's not here. I'm his Beta, Rick, and you all are..?" The male finally shifts his gaze to Jenni and his eyes widen.

I'm not surprised by his reaction. It's one thing to know your mate is near but another thing to see them for the first time.

Jenni's a looker. She's not as endowed as some she wolves in the chest or hips but that doesn't take anything away from her attractiveness. She'll never have the hour glass shape and she's proud of it, I made sure she grew to love herself. And that self love radiates from her being at all times making her a temptation to the opposite sex.

Too bad Jenni is having an internal war with her wolf, otherwise she would've blushed as her mate openly checked her out.

"That's my sister Jenni, my brother Micheal's over there, and I'm Bex. I get the feeling you know the other two." I bluff, something's telling me that I'm right.

Kadira gasps in shock, but Eric doesn't look even slightly fazed by my words. It's almost like he knew, I'd know that they came here before entering Micheal's pack lands.

Surprisingly, I'm not mad at them.

The duo must've warned him about our coming while Jenni was shifting into her wolf. It's curious though that they didn't tell Rick about Jenni being his mate, his surprise right now can't be faked.

Rick walks up to us casually but I can feel his increasing worry.
Jenni doesn't look too happy to see him, I'm not exactly a ray of sunshine, and Micheal is blocking himself so I can't fathom what he's feeling but his face is stone. Impenetrable and unyielding.

I know for certain he's not trying to keep me out, instead I think he's blocking himself from his mate. I might be alright with Eric and Kadira's pit stop here but that doesn't mean Micheal is.

"It's nice to see you again." Eric pipes in taking control of the situation. He greets Rick with a firm shake and a big smile looking like a werewolf poster boy of the ideal Alpha male. I internally roll my eyes.

Rick returns the handshake and greeting with an agreeable grunt before his eyes seek out Jenni again. I can feel his mounting concern as Jenni refuses to look at him.

"I'm sure you know why we're here?" Micheal asks as he walks away from Kadira without a backward glance.

Now I bet Micheal regrets wanting to bring Kadira along.

"I wasn't given the specifics, but I'm sure it's so that my mate and I would meet." Rick's words are confident but his eyes are begging.

"No." Jenni snaps. Rick visibly flinches at her harshness. "We came here because we need to visit the old Alpha's house. Do we have your permission to search it Beta?"

Jenni's eyes are ice. But her wolf is in anguish.

She's taking this a lot harder than I expected, considering that she damn near welcomed Eric into our home with open arms. Jenni shouldn't be this harsh to her mate, Rick was no where near this pack when our parents were killed.

"Yeah, sure, you have my permission." Rick gets out. His voice sounds strangled and I can understand why.

To everyone that doesn't know Jenni, it appears that she's going to reject her mate from her not so warm approach to him. But she won't, because I won't let her do something that stupid.

"Great." Jenni bites out. She doesn't bother glancing around or even acknowledging her mate again before getting back in the car and slamming the door.

"You two should stay here." Micheal growls out to Kadira and Eric. "I'm sure you'd like to catch up with Dominic's Beta on these last couple of days since the last time you saw him."

Then Micheal does the same as Jenni and gets in the car with an attitude.

That just leaves me standing here looking stupid because I'm apparently the only sibling not currently pissed off with someone. Which is strange.

"So......." I trail off with no other words to say.

Everyone looks at me expectantly like they figure I'm going to rage just like Jenni and Micheal. Jokes on them though because I'm perfectly fine.

I clear my throat and try again. "So, we should be back by mid day. Bye."

With a firm nod in Rick's direction I saunter back to the car making sure that I take my time and look carefree. I don't turn to see anyone's shocked faces because that would ruin it.

I also don't look around as I start the vehicle. I can hear Eric's booming laughter following us as I drive towards our childhood home.

"Who wants to bitch first about their mate?" I ask the sulking wolves riding with me. I make sure that my voice holds my complete disapproval of their actions.

Like I figure, no one answers me but I know that i have their full attention.

"Dad loved telling us about mates. Do you guys remember what he'd say?" I rhetorically ask.

Micheal shifts in his seat, I can feel the shame dissolving his petty anger as he recalls the many lessons with Dad about mates. Jenni on the other hand gives me her undivided attention, she remembers some of what Dad said but not all of it stuck.

"He would always start by telling us that mates aren't permanent. That even though they're considered our soul mates, in reality the initial bond we feel for the other person is merely a strong suggestion. No one really has to accept the other, but they do so because they know that the person is their best chance at happiness and fulfillment." I lecture.

"Mom would then pop up and they'd tell the story on how dad felt the mate bond for two women. It's a rare occurrence but we consider it the moon not really knowing which mate would be best so she lets the wolf make the final decision."

I look to Micheal to finish the story we both know so well.

"Both mom and the other female were vastly different. Each had different values so dad had to figure out which she wolf fit better with his envisioned future path." Micheal continued.

"So what did he do?" Jenni asks torn.

We all know she knows that story but she's always wants to hear it aloud. Maybe she likes to pretend that it's our parents telling it instead of Micheal and I.

Neither one of them notice when I pull up beside the house so I slowly put the vehicle in park and let the conversation play out.

"Dad finally decides that he absolutely couldn't have a mate who couldn't fight for herself. He concluded that it would make him look weak, so he gives both females the challenge. Mom being the Alpha female was almost guaranteed to win. And you know what happened?" Micheal inquires.

Jenni answers like a good student ready for an A+. "She wins."

Micheal nods. "She would've won if the other female didn't shift into her wolf. Dad made the mistake of not limiting the fight or really giving them rules so the other she wolf tore into mom and won. Mom cursed dad for his thoughtlessness and left after that not wanting to see his face again. It tore at her heart but she figured that if he was so careless about rules then she was better off without him."

We all know that mom and dad eventually make it together so I slip back into lecture mode.

"Neither of you have the option of  two potential mates, so stop acting like it. They have not wronged either of you. Kadira came here with Eric to stop a potential blood bath and war between packs. Rick had no allegiance to us when he became Dominic's Beta. He. Wasn't. Here. Both of you are acting like children instead of hashing shit out with your mates. Keep acting like this and you won't have to worry about them sticking around." I snap at them before shutting off the car and getting out.

I slam the door shut and walk in front of the house.

"Some of us would kill to have problems with our mates, for the sake of just having a mate." I sharply add knowing that they can hear me.

I decide then to let go of the topic because whatever happens next is up to them.

AN: I know. I know. Hate me if it pleases you because I know I deserve it.

W2050