"Come in." Zach was in his office, occupying his mind with his pack's affairs when someone knocked on the door.

"Hey, man." Nick walked inside the office and took his usual seat on the couch. "Megan came by again last night. She wants to speak with you."

Letting out a deep sigh, Zach shook his head. No, he still did not want to see her. Her betrayel was still fresh in his mind. Nick took a deep breath with a shrug. "I don't get it."

Zach could feel himself getting a little pissed off at his best friend. The whole subject was easily getting on his nerves. "What on earth do you not get, Nick? I don't want to see her."

Nick only nodded, "No, I get that. What I don't understand exactly is why? I mean, are you pissed because you loved her and she broke your heart, or are you this mad because you broke your own and Katie's for technically nothing?"

As Nick voiced the thoughts that had been invading Zach's mind for the past couple of weeks, Zach glared at him, his fist automatically clenching. Again, the topic itself was one Zach hated. "What do you want me to say?"

Nick shrugged. He knew he was getting under his best friend's skin, but it had to be done. It had been weeks since Megan found her mate and Zach was still as brooding and pissed off as day one. Nick knew him well enough to know the difference between being hurt and being mad. And in front of him was not a heart broken Alpha, but rather a furious one. "I want you to say the truth. I want you to be honest with yourself, dude."

"You want the truth?" Zach was angry now, but Nick was like a brother to him. He knew he could speak his heart and trust Nick with all he had. "The truth is I loved her for two fucking years and she broke up with me in a goddamn minute. The truth is I gave up so much for her and she couldn't do the same when the roles were reversed. I broke my own fucking heart for her and she didn't even hesitate before breaking up with me." Nick motioned for him to go on.

"I could've been over the clouds with happiness right now with Katie. I could've been so damn happy, having her in my arms and in my bed every night. Instead here I am, as miserable as I can fucking get, because I made the wrong goddamn choice. And the worst of all, is I've got myself to blame the most."

Nick smirked in triumph at his best friend. That was exactly what he wanted to hear. It had been obvious to Nick for a while now, but it needed to be pulled out of Zach sooner or later. "There it is. Your true issue isn't being without Megan, it's not being with Katie. Now that we know what's truly bugging you we can fix it."

Zach frowned at his best friend's conclusion for a few seconds. Yes, he had truly loved Megan and yes he felt her betrayel deep, but how many times had she actually crossed his mind this past week, and how many had Katie? Knowing the answer, Zach asked. "How on earth can we fix that?"

"Isn't it obvious? The only reason why you two couldn't be together was Megan and now that she is living happily ever after with her mate, I don't see a reason why you can't be with Katie?"

Zach gave Nick a blank stare. "Oh really? How about the fact that the mating bond is already broken? Or, I don't know, the fact that Kat will have my balls if I even try anything with her again? She'll think she's my second choice and now that Megan is no longer in the picture, she will do instead."

Nick snorted. "First of all, forget about the bond. Bond or not, you two are into each other, it's too obvious; don't even get me started on that. Second of all, she's not a second choice when you haven't passed a single day without regreting your decision and wishing to go back in time and choose her, even before Megan ever found her mate."

Zach frowned, thinking about his best friend's suggestion. "True, but I rejected her, Nick. I broke her heart, and I'm pretty sure she hates my guts now."

Nick stood up and straightened his shirt. "Don't be so sure then. No one said winning her back would be easy. It most definitely will not be. But it's not impossible." He headed to the door with a smile. "Now get your ass up and start packing, Alpha. The busses leave in two hours."

Zach's eyes remained on the door after his best friend shut it and thought about everything he said. Was it truly possible? Could he truly have a happy ending with Katie after all, or will she hand him his own ass again if he ever tried? Could she ever forgive him and give him a chance to show her how deeply he regreted his decision?

His heart almost stopped at the thought alone, but it came back to life for the first time in a while at the hope his best friend just gave him.

****

"Hey, Kitkat. Are you done packing yet?" Jared asked as he stormed into Katie's dorm with Jessica close behind. Katie groaned in annoyance for the hundredth time since she woke up.

"Unfortunately, I am. And stop calling me that." She sighed.

"Come on, it'll be fun." Jessica threw herself on Katie's bed as she promised.

"You said that the last time." Katie reminded her, her hand playing with the pendant on her neck.

"And it actually was." Jared affirmed when he grabbed Katie's bag. "It's good training for the pack and it gives you time to bond with the other members, your wolf and nature at the same time. And it's truly fun if you just give yourself the chance to enjoy it."

Katie rolled her eyes at their definition of fun. "It's a hide and seek game for adults." Truly, it was, and deep down Katie knew it could be a little fun if her heart was into it. It was a great exercise for the pack, that Katie did agree with.

"You weren't that miserable when we went last time." Jared raised a questioning eyebrow at her. "Or is your sour mood today connected with a certain Alpha who will definitely be there?"

"But why would it be?" Jessica straightened and asked. "Didn't you guys have a good time when you last spoke? You said you two connected."

Katie shook her head as she thought once again of their last encounter. "I did not say that. I said we had a single decent conversation. That doesn't mean I want to be stranded in the woods with him for three days."

Yes, the last time she spoke with Alpha Zach was carved into her brain, making her feel alive for a day then lifeless the other. She was worried at first that Zach might choose to neglect their earlier conversation at the party and keep trying to pull her further into the endless pit of their concealed feelings, now that Megan was no longer his girlfriend. But when weeks passed and he gave her her space like she had asked, a part of her was truly grateful.

It was as if he had finally decided to listen to her and leave her alone, and that was the logical thing for her to want and expect from him. However, she found that a bigger part of her had actually missed him as the days flew into weeks, so much that she thought she was going insane. And even though she dreaded the day ahead, knowing that it will bring them multiple opportunities to talk, Katie was still desperately eager to see Zach again.

"It's not like you'll be alone with him or anything. Half of our pack is going to be there, Katie. Relax. Now let's get going." Jared announced as he headed to the door. With a heavy sigh, Katie grabbed her backpack and followed her friends to the busses.

"You guys get seated. I'll be right back." Jared urged Jessica and Katie once they got on the first bus they spotted, before he made his way to the end of the bus to greet some of his friends.

****

Despite successfully staying away from katie as she had asked for the past few weeks, Zach was now desperate to see her. He was missing her more and more by the minute. He yearned to see her big beautiful eyes looking in his, as if seeing his very soul. He longed to hear her sweet voice enchanting him as she spoke, even better if it was one of the rare moments she blessed him with calling him by his name.

Zach knew she wanted spaced and he honestly tried his best to give it to her, but as he got in that bus and saw her in a beautiful light jeans hot shorts and a black simple Tshirt, getting ready to be seated next to Jessica, he couldn't help but want desperately to sit next to her. To have her scent fill his famished lungs after weeks of starvation. Or better, to have her skin touch his, even by accident for a second. Zach's wolf was howling in excitement at the proximity alone, and although they broke the mating bond, Zach was sure his wolf would be happiest next to Katie's.

As if reading his best friend's thoughts, Nick rushed to where Jessica had just sat and threw himself on the seat next to hers. "Hello, gorgeous."

Blinking rapidly, Jessica frowned at her beta. "Nuh-uh. Not gonna happen. This seat is taken, buddy."

Nick admired how her strawberry blond hair moved around as she shook her head at him and he couldn't help his smirk. It had been a while since a woman made it difficult for Nick. "What's not gonna happen?"

Jessica narrowed her eyes at the handsome man in front of her. Yes, he was a piece of eye candy, that much she could admit. No wonder he'd had it easy with women, as rumor had it. Good thing his charms didn't work on her though. "Whatever sick scenario going through your head that has me in it, that's what. You're a badass beta who has women groveling at his feet, I get it. Good for you. Now up you go, because I won't be one of your conquests."

Nick's smirk slowly turned into a lazy grin as he admired the utter beauty before him. Yes, he saw how hot she was before, but now that he was seated this close to her he could truly enjoy her beauty. The way her gray eyes shone with fire, the way her full lips moved as she spoke, the little freckles glittering upon her nose and cheeks. She was breathtaking. "Is that a challenge, gorgeous?"

Jessica saw the desire in Nick's eyes along with approval, and her heart skipped a beat. So this player in front of her wanted to play then. Well, Jessica was always up for a good game. Her life had been rather dull lately, and a little spice was overdue. She still had four months until her eighteenth birthday so she had the time for some fun, she decided. "Oh, sweetie," she smirked as she inched a little closer, her voice laced with sweet honey. "This isn't a challenge. It's an already lost bet."

Nick's heart jumped in his chest at her playful tone. His eyes followed her as she bit down on her bottom lip with a smirk that made him the one with the weak knees. Blinking rapidly, Nick registered her words. "Well, then. It's game on. By the time we come back here for the next trip, you'll be mine, sweetheart."

So he believed he could turn her into his plaything in three months' time? "We'll see about that." Jessica shook Nick's hand then giggled when he relaxed in the seat next to hers. Moving her eyes to Katie who was still looking at them with wide eyes, Jessica sent her a wink before focusing on what Nick was babbling about.

Katie's eyes met Zach's and they both blinked at what just happened. His best friend and hers were going to give them a hard time, they both knew it. Casting him a smile in understanding, Katie felt her heart flutter when Zach reciprocated it with one of his own.

He watched a cute blush made its way to Kat's cheeks as she took a seat in the row behind Nick and Jess. Having the perfect opportunity before him, Zach took a step forward in order to be seated next to her, only he didn't get the chance.

"Are you ready, Katie?" Katie looked at how widely Jared was grinning as he took the seat next to hers and her wolf groaned. Her eyes darted automatically towards her Alpha. Yes, she knew he wanted to sit next to her and truth be told so did she. But she also knew, just as positively, that it was a bad idea which Jared just saved her from. However, the pained look in Zach's eyes didn't do her heart any favors as he simply just nodded once before turning around and walked away.

Breathing out a heavy sigh, Katie still glared at Jared. "You're welcome." He only whispered in return and she rolled her eyes.

Zach threw himself on the first empty chair he found and decided to brood in silence. This Jared was once again pissing him off and he wanted nothing more than to pull Katie in his arms and show him that she was his and no one else's. But she wasn't, and so he could do nothing but sulk silently for the rest of the way.