'I'm sorry, I can't,' she said, tears having escaped and running down her cheeks.

'Can't what? What are you talking about?' Curtis asked as he became anxious over Eve's sudden change in demeanour.

Eve just shook her head as more tears flowed freely down her face – Maya's makeup completely ruined as the tears were tinted black with mascara.

'Eve, I can't help you if I don't know what is wrong in the first place,' Curtis said desperately trying to understand what was happening.

'This – us – dancing together, it can't happen,' Eve cried out.

'Its just a dance Eve, there isn't anything to be upset over,' Curtis said once again reaching out.

'Its not just a dance,' Eve said shaking her head.

'No, perhaps not, but if you don't want it to be more than a dance, I okay with that. I just want you to be comfortable and maybe even happy. But I still don't understand why you are so upset all of the sudden,' Curtis said conceding to her point.

'I can not be the person that stands in the way of whoever you are meant to be with. And I don't think I could be tossed to the side again – I don't think I could survive it,' Eve said her voice getting louder with frustration.

'Is that what's got you all upset? That I have a mate out there somewhere and you think that it would end up poorly if I found them if something happened here between us?' Curtis said as the tension on his forehead dissipated.

Eve nodded in affirmation.

'Oh, okay then. I wish you had said something before then I could have told you not to worry,' Curtis said with a smile.

'What?' Eve said sniffing.

'Eve, I met my mate the day I turned eighteen over four years ago. We tried to make it work for a few months, but she couldn't bear the thought of living the rest of her life without a permeant pack – it was just too much for her. So, we decided that it would be best if she went back to her family, I haven't seen her since,' Curtis said simply.

'Oh, I feel kind of silly now,' Eve said trying to wipe away her tears.

'I thought you would have guessed considering what I told you about my parents and how it is difficult for council members to maintain their mate bond,' Curtis said smile and stepping forward to pull Eve into a hug.

'Well clearly not,' Eve said as she buried her face into Curtis' chest trying to hide her embarrassment.

'Do you miss her?' Eve asked him after a few moments of silence.

'Hmmm, yeah sometimes. But I think I just wanted her to be happy and she would never have been happy with me – there was no way I could give her the life she wanted and deserved. Last I heard, she is married to her childhood sweetheart now and they are expecting their first child – so I like to think that everything turned out the way it was meant to,' Curtis said as he tightened his hold around Eve's shoulders, her face fully squished against his chest.

'Oh ... Does it still hurt?' Eve asked almost scared to hear his response.

'It did. It used to hurt so bad. Not anymore though. I moved on, and when I did the pain dulled and eventually, one morning I woke up, that feeling just wasn't there anymore.' Curtis said with a shrug.

'How did you know you had moved on?' Eve asked quietly – what if she never managed to?

'It was only something I saw in retrospect. One day, you will be able to look back and see that you have moved on too,' Curtis said simply.

'I'm scared that I'll be stuck as this shadow of myself – that I'll never be able to crawl out of this hole I seem to be stuck in,' Eve confessed as she tightened her grip around Curtis' waist.

'Eve, from the day met you, I have seen a spark within you grow and grow. I know you are worried – but have no doubt that I have all confidence in you. And if you'll let me, I want to keep supporting you as a coach, as a friend, and maybe... more,' Curtis spoke with rawness audible in his voice.

'Curtis...' Eve breathed out.

'It's okay. I know that now isn't the right time. But... I'd kick myself if didn't tell you that – only if you want of course – I'll be here for you, in whatever capacity you need. And if someday you want this to be more than a dance...' Curtis trailed off with a nod as Eve glanced up at him.

'Thank you. Thank you so much for everything that you have done for me... and thank you for waiting for me. One day, I promise. Just not yet,' Eve whispered as she reached up and gently pecked Curtis' cheek.

She stepped back out of the embrace, and with a small smile she retreated back into the party in search of a bathroom to attempt to salvage her make up.

Curtis remained outside; his feet cemented to the ground. Slowly – as if he was trying to relive the moment – he reached his hand up to trace his cheek. A disbelieving a smile overcame his mouth. He knew in that moment, that even if Eve asked him to wait a lifetime, the time would pass and at the end he would still be there for her.

Somehow – sometime – Eve had become an overwhelming part of his world.