It wasn't easy falling asleep last night. Any day I spend a lot of time with Grayson- which is most days- I struggle falling asleep without him. The self-loathing part of my brain tells me that I'm just a clingy girlfriend, but the more rational part of me recognizes that it may be a side-effect of the mate bond. I don't know the consequences of marking and not mating with werewolves, but maybe we're just more drawn to each other?

I definitely need to ask him because not getting sleep is not okay. After the whole sleeping spell nightmare, I value my sleep so much more. After watching two movies with Mom, I literally crawled up the stairs and rolled myself up in a burrito in my sheets that definitely aren't as soft as the ones at Grayson's.

Looking at the ugly bags under my eyes, I realize that what Grayson offered last night was real. He asked me to move in with him. Live with him full-time. Holy crap. I really freaking want to. The clock reads 7:15 A.M. meaning that I have a lot of time to waste until my 2:00 class with Cooper.

I decide that today's a good day to experiment with make-up. I've never been great at it, but after spending many years with Cassie, I've picked up a few things. Now that I have a boyfriend, I've been paying more attention to her clothing, make-up, and hair talks with me. I'd like to think I've learned from her, but who knows.

After messing up the wing liner twice, I decide that it's just not in the cards for me today. I end up with a lavender and violet smokey eye with some light glitter to make me look more alive. Backing up from the mirror, I grin wide at my reflection. I don't look half bad.

I dress in a pair of mom jeans, a white crop top, and plan to wear a big fluffy jacket over it for when I'm outside. This was one of the items that Cooper insisted I buy when we were at the mall because I apparently have horrible taste. I throw my hair up in a cute messy bun and bound down the stairs to make some coffee- I'm gonna need at least three cups to get through today.

Mom's already downstairs with Evie. I came down just in time for breakfast. I smile and shake my head when I see that Mom made heart and star shaped chocolate chip pancakes with a side of scrambled eggs to "get in our morning protein." She's a sucker for Evie, but I'm not complaining because I also reap the benefits.

"Good morning, honey. How did you sleep?" My mom doesn't even look at me as she automatically grabs my favorite mug from the cabinet and begins brewing coffee for me. She's an angel.

"Fine, I guess," I mumble as I grab a plate and begin serving myself. I compliment Evie on her butterfly hair clips and she giggles out a thank you.

"What do you mean 'I guess'?" Mom looks at me with a slight tilt of her head and some motherly concern. I blow out a big puff of air as I think about how to tread carefully with this topic.

"Well, I got home on the later side last night and we were up watching movies. I kind of had trouble falling asleep, too."

"Oh no, sweetie. Are you having nightmares again?" Her hand is on my forehead in an instant as she checks me for a fever. "You know, I didn't say anything before, but you were up all hours of the night mumbling strange things. You looked really sick, but then after your 'sleepover with Cooper'" she hand quotes, "you were miraculously better. Want to tell me what that was about?"

She doesn't ask the question in an accusatory tone, just a curious one. I honestly don't know what to say to her right now. The entire conversation I had planned out in my head just got derailed when she mentioned the nightmares. I didn't even realize she noticed how sick I was getting from not sleeping, but I guess she noticed and didn't say anything. I have to make something up quickly.

"Okay... Maybe I stayed over at Grayson's place those nights-"

"Obviously," Mom chuckles.

"But!" I raise my hands up. "I found out that being with Grayson... helped. With the nightmares, I mean."

"Aww, honey that's so sweet! So you think that you'll be spending more time over there?"

This is my chance. This is the perfect opening for me to tell her about Grayson's proposal. She'll most likely say no at first, but maybe with some begging and compromising, she'll think about it and say yes. I know that I don't need her permission, but I desperately want it. I don't want to leave her alone like Dad did. It's not like he was ever Father of the Year, but after he verbally abused us and hit me once, Mom had to leave him and move states away. I have no idea where he is now, and I hope I never have to see him again.

I can't help but feel bad about my mom being alone. I wanted to fill that hole that my father left. I know she's still hasn't gotten over him and moved on, but maybe once I leave the house she'll realize how mature I am. I can take care of Evie when she needs me to. Maybe someday soon she'll start dating again.

However, we're not there yet. Maybe by slowly introducing the idea of me not living at home anymore, she'll begin to think about life without me present as much. With a deep breath, I decide it's now or never.

"I was actually thinking about spending a lot of time over there... Like, maybe, all of my time?" I'm pretty sure by the look on my face that I must seem constipated. My eyebrows are furrowed, my teeth are nervously clenched together, and my eyes are wide. My mom rolls her lips and just blinks at me. We both just stare at each other, not sure of what to do or say.

My mom eventually breaks the silence with a question. "Don't you think it's a bit early for you to move in?"

My heart drops as she says this. I'm sure that every little reason she has to doubt the move is one I've already considered. Even though I figured she would be hesitant at first, it's still upsetting to hear.

"Maybe it seems early, but... I want this. He makes me laugh. He's so sweet to me, and he's really protective. I know he'll take good care of me and we're not going to break up. I know that may sound crazy to you, but I know we're going to stay together forever. Maybe I'm a romantic, but I love him and I want to be with him all of the time. And I'll still come a lot and take care of Evie when you have work. Grayson even said he can pick her up sometimes! It can work. I just want- No, I need your support on this."

My mom looks conflicted. She looks at Evie, who is oblivious to the seriousness of our conversation as she dips her pancakes in syrup and hums lightly as she eats. Then she looks at me with a sad smile.

"Honey, would this make you happy?"

Not at all what I expected her to say. I had imagined her to say "Wait a few more months" or "you don't know that you two won't break up," but she asks me if this will make me happy. My eyes tear up as I nod my head profusely.

"Yeah, Mom. It would."

Her smile makes the happy tears fall down my face. She hugs me tightly, and I know that I have the best mom ever. She put aside her horrible history of men and let me decide what I want to do. She's supporting me and believing in me, and it means more than she'll ever know.

We stand in the middle of the kitchen hugging each other and crying until Evie interrupts up.

"Why are you crying, Thee?"

I quickly wipe my tears and look at my mom. She reads my mind and takes over explaining to Evie what is going on. Mom crouches down next to Evie's chair and straightens out her pink sparkly skirt.

"Sweetie, Thea is just really happy. They're happy tears." Evie looks to me, almost reassuring that Mom is telling her the truth. I chuckle and nod my head as I get rid of the last of the tears. I really hope my makeup isn't ruined.

"Why are you so happy? Are we getting a pony? Or a doggy?" Evie begins clapping her cute little hands together and bouncing up and down in her seat. I feel the tears coming back, but for an entirely different reason now. I can feel my phone vibrating in my back pocket, and I have no doubt that it's Grayson checking in on me. He probably feels the change in my emotions and wants to help me feel better. It solidifies my decision to move in with him.

"No, E. I've decided that I'm going to live with Grayson now."

Evie stops bouncing around in her seat and makes an adorable thinking face where she slightly pouts her lip and tilts her head to one side.

"But... all of your stuff is here." She looks thoroughly confused, and I hate how I'm going to have to explain that all of my stuff will be moving too.

"Honey," my mom explains. "Thea will be moving in with Grayson, so she'll take all of her things from here and take them to his house. She'll sleep there every night, but she'll still come back to visit and play with you all of the time!" My mom tries to soften the news, but Evie's eyes are already watering. It breaks my heart to see her this upset, but she's too little to understand me and Grayson's relationship.

I quickly bend down next to my mom and wrap Evie up in a hug. Her quiet whimpers make my chest feel like it's sinking. "E, we'll see each other so much! We can still watch movies and color together! We can play dolls any time you want, okay?" She grips the back of my shirt tighter as she clings to me.

"I don't want you to leave!"

I look to the side and see my mom just as upset as I am. I didn't even consider how Evie would feel at the news, I was just so excited that Mom said yes. Evie must feel abandoned and confused and sad. I'm not moving out today, though, so she'll have time to get used to the idea. Once she sees that we'll still spend a lot of time together, I think she'll come around.

I continue to rub Evie's back as she cries on my shoulder. I rock her back and forth and sing one of her favorite Frozen songs until she sings along with me.

By the time we sing "Let the storm rage on!" we're belting out the notes and dancing around the kitchen. She's not crying anymore, but one look at the clock tells me that she has to get to school soon.

"That was so fun, Thee!" Evie continues jumping around the living room pretending she has ice powers just like Elsa. I wonder how she would react if she knew that magic was real and not just in her imagination.

"Alright, munchkin. Time to go to school," my mom smiles as she picks up Evie and places her on her hip. She collects Evie's bag as I place the used dishes in the sink and begin washing them.

"Wait! Are you moving away soon?" Evie look sad again and I take in a big breath and blow it out slowly. Six-year-olds are so high-maintenance. I love her, but she's so young that she doesn't understand the situation fully. Thankfully my mom answers.

"Yes, she'll be home for dinner tonight." My mom looks at me in a tone that tells me that I'm not being given a choice. "And Grayson will be over as well to talk about her moving to his house."

Okay, this is news to me. My palms begin to sweat and become clammy just thinking of the interrogation that will occur tonight. She'll ask "Where do you live, Grayson?", "Tell me more about this 'company' you work at?"

I'm honestly terrified of all of the questions that Grayson will have to make up answers to in order to please her. She'll most likely ask him to show her his house, but what will she say when she sees that others live in the mansion with him? She won't understand pack dynamics and she'll be so confused.

The buzzing of my phone in my back pocket reminds me that Grayson will be able to figure all of this out with me. We're in this together, and he'll know what to do. I quickly nod yes to my mom about dinner as I pull out my phone. There are two missed calls and nine texts. They get progressively worse as he grows more worried.

You okay? I feel your sadness.

Call me

Baby, why are you upset? Should I come over?

Answer me, Thea.

Now you're happy? I'm confused.

I feel your fear. What the fuck is going on?

If you don't call me back, I'm coming over.

I hate being ignored

I'm outside

That last text has my eyes bulging out of their sockets. Okay, not literally. Still, it's completely ridiculous of him to drive over here. Actually, if he came this quickly, he probably ran. The idea of a huge black wolf sneaking through the suburbs makes a small smile spread on my face.

I quickly text him to hide as my mom and sister come out of the house. I don't get a text back, but I can only assume that he received the text and is watching them exit the house. I say goodbye to Mom and Evie as I stand outside, and as soon as their car disappears around the corner I'm essentially surrounded by Grayson. He hugs me as if he hasn't seen me in years when in reality I just saw him last night.

Clingy werewolf.

"Why were you ignoring me? And why were you upset earlier? I couldn't get a read on you because you kept flipping between happy and upset. You're very confusing." He grumbles out his complaint while breathing in my scent to calm him. I instantly relax in his arms as he speaks to me, his deep rumbling voice a soothing sound to my ears.

"I wasn't ignoring you, Gray. I was talking to my mom and Evie about possibly moving in with you."

He instantly backs up enough so he can look at my face. His blue-gray eyes are fixed on my hazel ones as he attempts to read my mind. He's unsuccessful because he tightens his grip on my sides.

"And?"

He has never reminded me more of a puppy than he does right now. Although he looks like a big bad Alpha right now in his tight black shirt that stretches taut against his biceps and abs and his joggers that allow me to see the outline of a certain something, his demeanor is anything but. He looks so innocent right now with his big hopeful eyes and his halted breathing. I put him out of his misery.

"And, I was explaining to Evie that even though I'm moving in with you, she'll still see me all of the time when we'll play dolls and watch movies and-"

I squeal loudly as Grayson picks me up and spins me around in circles. I wrap my arms and legs around him as I hold on for dear life. My heart is giddy as I feel the complete joy Grayson feels through the bond. I feel sunshine and euphoria and pure happiness. He finally stops spinning me but doesn't put me down. His hands gravitate from my back and rest on my butt. He gives me a light squeeze which draws out a small surprised moan from me. My hips naturally move forward, causing my center to brush up against his length.

Blue eyes dilate immediately and before I know it we're kissing in my front yard. Not kissing- more like making out. I struggle to keep up with him as his lips devour mine. He tilts his head to the side and deepens the kiss. As soon as his tongue slips past my lips the butterflies are filling my entire body. My hands automatically move to grip his hair, and using the strategic placement of his hands he crushes my body even more to his.

I can feel his hardening length rub against my clit, and even with clothes on I can feel this overwhelming warmth spreading through me. I begin rubbing myself against him even more, and Grayson's answering growl tells me he's just as affected as I am. I'm not even concerned about seeming desperate because I know I am. He is, too. We're desperate for each other, and nothing will stop us.

Well, nothing except my nosy neighbor.

"Thea Brooks! What are you doing with this man? Get a room, you two!"

I jump out of Grayson's arms and straighten my shirt as I guiltily look across the street. Standing in her ugly flower nightgown is Ms. Jones, my nosy elderly neighbor from across the street.

I wave my hand quickly in her direction. "Sorry, Ms. Jones." I kind of was humping Grayson in my driveway, but she shouldn't be such a crabby old lady. She was young once, can't she just not be a bitch?

I grab Grayson's hand and grumble under my breath as I curse the woman who made me stop kissing my boyfriend.

"Next time she asks me to water her plants, I'll conveniently forget. See how she likes it."

Grayson cracks up at my bad mood which only makes me more pissed. I let go of his hand once we're inside and cross my arms at my chest. I give him my evil glare, but all he does is try harder to suppress a laugh.

"You still look like a kitten, Kitten." He stalks towards me and I let out a hideous screech as I run in the opposite direction. He instantly catches me and places us on the couch. Somehow I end up straddling his lap.

"Don't be upset, baby." He gives me a short kiss on the lips, and I give him a serious look.

"I feel a little better now. Maybe another kiss?"

He smirks at me as he leans in close and plants another kiss, this one a little longer, on my lips. I sit still on his lap as he playfully searches my eyes for my inner thoughts. "Better?"

"I'm still a little upset," I pout. He chuckles, then finally kisses me for real, not the small pathetic thing he calls a kiss from earlier. I relax into his body as we kiss. When I finally come up for air, I lean my forehead against his. I know we need to stop unless we're going to take this further. Based off of the bulge in his pants, I know he could easily make me feel amazing, but now isn't the time.

With tomorrow's pending coven attack, we need to focus on that. We can't have him getting even more possessive- if that were possible- because we mated. We need to be smart. But sometimes I just want to be reckless.

To get my mind off of the hard thing brushing against my thigh, I bring up a new topic of conversation.

"My mom wants you to come over for dinner tonight."

He raises an eyebrow and clears his throat. "Really? Is this some sort of mom-test that if I fail, she won't approve of you moving in with me?"

"Basically," I smile.

He nods and cuddles me into his side.

"Then I won't fail."

Why do I feel like this dinner will be a complete disaster?