The salesman was miserable. "Sir, I am extremely sorry. Please, you must forgive me. This is the first time I have seen such kind of shopping in our shop."

Adrianna was pissed by his change in behavior after seeing the money and their power to buy things. She requested the policemen, "He wanted to insult us right from the beginning. Please arrest him and we will lodge a complaint with you now against him."

​​

While the salesman kept pleading guilty, the owner of the shop was seen running around to help pack all the jewelry Dmitri had purchased. He wasn't even bothered to help the salesman. "Sir, would you like us to send the jewelry to your house?"

"No, we will take it from here," answered Dmitri. Then he took the ring out of the box and made Adrianna wear it there and then. "This is how humans get engaged."

Adrianna circled her arms around his neck and kissed him on the lips. "And this is how the deal is sealed."

"Really? In that case I must make you wear all the jewelry at home and see what all can be done," said a bemused Dmitri.

The middle-aged couple who was standing nearby started laughing much to Adrianna's embarrassment. She slapped him on his shoulder as she blushed a deep red.

Dmitri gave his lopsided smile and together they exited the shop with so many packets that the passersby looked at them with wonder. They must have walked a few meters ahead on the pavement that a car came and stopped right next to them.

"Adrianna!" shouted Ookashi and jumped out of the car. She ran and hugged Adrianna who both hands were holding various sized shopping bags. Nate also got out of the driving seat and smiled at the two of them.

Adrianna was surprised to see the two of them together. "What the hell is going on? Have I missed something?" asked Adrianna as she looked at Nate from above Ookashi's shoulders. Nate's smile spread into a grin.

Ookashi was literally jumping with excitement. "See what Nate has given me?" She left Adrianna and showed her the engagement ring.

"What? Oh. My. God. Congratulations!" exclaimed Adrianna. She handed all the bags to Dmitri who was already overloaded and hugged Ookashi tightly. "Ookashiiiii, I am so happy. This is sudden progress. I mean even Dmitri and I took some time."

"Oh! You and Dmitri took forever," replied Ookashi rolling her eyes. "But I can't let my man stray away. Once he loves me, he better gives me that ring or else I will move on!" she said looking at Nate with a raised eyebrow.

"Nate: "…"

Adrianna laughed. "Let's celebrate it because even Dmitri gave me an engagement ring today." Adrianna flaunted her ring and the two of them screamed together. Both the men were just too embarrassed now. They went and sat in the car.

"Yes, let's go and have a good dinner," said Ookashi as she started dragging her out of there.

"Hey, what about us?" asked Nate.

"We will catch up with the two of you in an hour," replied Ookashi and ran away from there holding Adrianna's hand.

Dmitri looked at Nate as if he would rip him apart. "Why did you come here - to spoil my day? You better tame that wild girl of yours or else I am going to keep Adrianna away from her! He communicated him mentally with clenched jaws.

"Dmitri, its not my fault. They are girls and I think all normal girls behave like that. Let's go and have some beer while they have girl-fun," suggested Nate trying to cheer his alpha.

Nate and Ookashi was an extremely odd couple. While Nate had a serious and calm demeanor, Ookashi was extremely flamboyant, chirpy and full of energy. Yet, whatever she did, never ever irritated Nate.

Ookashi led Adrianna to a nearby diner where the two of them settled in a corner. Ookashi was looking so happy that she was radiating.

Adrianna asked her the question that had been troubling her, "What about your parents? Do they know that you are engaged to Nate?"

"Yes, I have informed them." Ookashi answered as she inspected her ruby and diamond ring. It was beautiful. They she picked Adrianna's ring finger to see her ring.

"So how did you guys come to this stage? The last I remember was that you had gone to his place."

Ookashi smiled. "Adri, I don't know how to begin. I was genuinely surprised when I came to know that you guys are werewolves. It was like the most fascinating thing I had ever heard in my life. I asked Nate to tell me everything and he revealed everything about himself, and he also said…" Ookashi hesitated.

"That I go to the wizard kingdom?" Adrianna completed her sentence.

Ookashi bit her lip and nodded. "But Adri, I am… I am okay with all that. Trust me!"

Adrianna smiled at her friend. She knew that Ookashi was speaking the truth.

"I was shocked initially, but after staying with Nate for the past one month, I feel that I am a part of your world. I am a human and often Nate is scared of hurting me. As a matter of fact he is so scared that we haven't had sex as yet!"

"What? Is he mad?" Adrianna shouted. Everyone in the diner started looking at them.

"Please don't say that about him. He is just too concerned about me. He said that sex in wolves is very different and that you people mark the partner. He is scared that if my body accepts the mark, things will become different." Ookashi looked at Adrianna and asked, "What is marking the partner?"

Adrianna understood his apprehension. When Dmitri had marked her, the pain was excruciating. It was natural for Nate to refrain. He didn't want to hurt Ookashi, yet only Adrianna could understand how difficult it must be for him.

Adrianna bared her mark and said, "This is marking. When a wolf marks his mate, a soul bond is created. You will never be able to leave him after that…"

Ookashi's eyes were wide with wonder. She saw two marks of teeth that had pierced Adrianna skin and were now healed completely. "That's savage! Why would you do that to your partner?"

"For a werewolf that is natural. You will understand once you marked. It is something, which will make him your slave for life and you will never think of anyone other than Nate. Your souls will be intertwined," Adrianna replied with a very serious expression. "You must be ready for that kind of life Ookashi. I know that Nate has imprinted on you. So even if you will reject him and marry someone else, he wouldn't be able to do that. He will stay unmarried forever. He won't accept anyone as his partner. You are the center of his universe now and will stay forever."

Ookashi eyes became moist. "What do you mean 'imprinted'?"

"Werewolves imprint on their partners. It's like they lose connection with everything else in the universe and only their mate's attraction exists." Adrianna looked down in her lap. "You won't understand Ookashi…"

"I want to Adri… Do I need to be marked to understand that?"

"Perhaps…"

The food was served and the friends had it in silence.