"What the fuck do you think you're doing?" The woman asks me, her tone dripping with fury.

I realize in that moment the woman is Corinne, my friend Jenna's older sister and a class A bitch. It seems the only person in this pack who likes her is my mate.

Great.

Before I lose my shit, I turn to walk away slamming the door behind me. I hear Jude call out "Natalie, wait!" but I don't bother. I try to keep my emotions in check until I can get back to my house, or at least to my car before I let the torrent of tears fall.

I make it to the front door in record time and fling the door open. As soon as I exit I run into a thick wall of firm, slick muscle.

A new scent surrounds me, more like sandalwood and pine. Earthy and comforting, but equally as amazing as Jude's. My wolf howls out 'mate' again and I look up into Eli's blue eyes. The exact same as Jude's

"Natalie?" He asks as he catches me to prevent me from falling.

"Mate." I say again and his eyes widen.

"Hey, sunshine." He says with a killer smile and my heart palpitates.

Sunshine.

The pet name both of them gave me a couple of years ago. They said my presence was like the warmth of basking in the sunshine on a warm summer day. That clicks a realization in my mind.

"How long, Eli?" I ask, narrowing my eyes.

"How long what?" He asks, obviously confused. He rubs his hands up and down my arms and the tingles are incredible, but I push the thought away to focus.

"How long have you known I'm your mate?" I ask and he sighs heavily before tugging on his hair, a signal I know all too well as meaning he's uncomfortable.

"Since our eighteenth birthday." He says.

"Almost two years?" I question and he nods.

"Yes, but you know we couldn't tell you. You know the rules."

He was right of course. All too often an older wolf would tell a younger one that they were mates, for them to give themselves to the older one only to find out that they weren't. It's the most despicable way for someone to take advantage of another so, we were banned from ever saying who our mates were until they were of age.

"Did you wait for me?" I ask him quietly, unable to meet his gaze. He cups my face with his large hands and forces me to meet his blue eyes. His blonde hair is longer than it was when I left last, nearly sweeping down to cover his eyes. He has filled out well, chiseled abs and strong biceps, broad shoulders, high cheekbones and the most gorgeous, pouty lips.

God how had I never noticed how beautiful his lips are before?

"Yes, of course I waited for you, sunshine. Why would you-" He was cut off by thundering footsteps coming down the stairs. I turned to see Jude, Corinne hot on his heels, bounding towards me. Eli let out a loud growl that forced Corinne to stop and lower her eyes in submission.

"I need to go." I whisper to Eli and break from his grasp.

"Natalie, wait! Please let me explain!" I hear Jude call, but ignore him not even sparing him a glance. I get in my car and hear Eli call my name as well just before I slam the door shut. I take off down the gravel road, only looking back once.

Just in time to see Eli punching Jude in the face and Corinne yelling at him to stop.

I can't stop the tears from flowing now and I furiously wipe them away with my jacket sleeve. I think about going home, but decide against it knowing that's the first place they will look for me. I take the half hour drive to the little human town closest to the pack and stop at my favorite coffee shop. I park the car and walk up to the barista. It's the afternoon and there's hardly anyone else in there, but the smell of coffee is still strong and the familiar environment helps soothe my scattered nerves.

"What can I get ya?" The young girl asks.

'A new mate.' I nearly respond.

Her hair is green at the top and transitions elegantly into purple. She has the cutest little nose piercing and I wonder briefly if I could pull one off.

"A large cappuccino please." I attempt to smile and pay quickly before sitting in an arm chair by the cozy fireplace. I watch the flames lick and consume the wood for awhile until my order is delivered.

I almost consider striking up a conversation with the girl, anything to take my mind from my thoughts. I feel my phone buzzing in my pocket and pull it out.

Fifteen missed calls from Eli, the same number from Jude and almost as many texts.

'Natalie, please just answer the phone' -Jude

'Where are you sunshine? I'm worried.' -Eli

'Please just give me a chance. Just one.' -Jude

'You're killing me Nat. Just let me know you're safe.' -Eli

I shoot a text to Eli telling him I'm fine before switching it to silent.

I just need a minute, or an hour, or eight, to ponder on what I'm going to do. Flashes of Jude and Corinne's naked limbs entangled hit me and I nearly cry again. I breathe deeply and take a sip of my hot drink, allowing the warmth to thaw my soul a little bit.

What was he thinking? Mates are sacred to our kind. Almost everyone saves themselves for their mate, even if they don't know who they are. The fact that Jude took another knowing full well that not only am I his mate, but that I would recognize it when I came home is horrific. It's one of the worst atrocities our kind can commit.

So, what the fuck do I do now?

I'm no closer to answering that question when I order my second cappuccino. I notice the sun getting lower in the sky and feel confident at least someone would be home so I head back to the pack. I pull up and park in the garage we never use, hoping Eli and Jude will think I'm not here, and walk into the house. It's still quiet and it looks like no one is home. I head up to my room and go to collapse on the bed when I catch sight of myself in the mirror. The necklace Jude bought me for Christmas last year is still hanging on my neck. I never take it off, but now the thought of wearing it makes my skin crawl. I unclip the thin silver chain with sun pendant and throw it into a drawer on my dresser before flinging myself onto my comforter.

At least the bed is giving me a warm welcome.

I burrow under the sheets and make myself a little cave like I did when I was younger and allow myself a few more tears until I slip into sleep.

I can't tell how much later it is when I'm gently nudged awake

"Natalie, baby. Is that you?" My mom asks.

"Well, who else would be asleep in my bed, mom?" I ask cheekily as I peek an eye open at her. She scoffs and sits on the bed next to me.

"We just weren't expecting you for a few more days but I'm thrilled to see you." She says and I sit up next to her.

"Surprise!" I say trying to smile, but my face crumbles and fresh tears leak from my eyes. My mom gasps and pulls me into a firm hug.

"What's wrong, baby?" She asks, voice full of concern.

"Did you know Eli and Jude are my mates?" I ask through my tears. She gasps and pulls away from me to study my face. She is obviously shocked and shakes her head.

"I honestly had no idea, Nat. But why are you upset? You love Jude and Eli." She says, wiping away my tears.

"I did." I say ominously.

"What does that mean?" She asks.

"I went to see them when no one was home and I walked in on Jude.... with someone else." I say quietly, playing with a strand of my mother's beautiful auburn hair. My shade is a little darker, like my dad's and I've always been a little irritated I didn't get my mom's hair.

"That fucker." My mom seethes and I have to giggle. My prim, proper and polite mother never swears.

"Who was it?" She asks still shaking with anger.

"Corinne Bailey." I answer quietly and my mom growls a little.

"Well, you can't accuse the boy of being smart. To sleep with someone other than your fated is bad enough, but if you're going to do it at least pick someone better than Corinne Bailey. The girls face is almost as ugly as her personality." I giggle at her and shake my head.

"What do I do, Mom?" I ask and she rubs my back in a soothing motion before sighing.

"Only you know that, sweetie. But I can tell you one thing, that boy is going to get one hell of an ass whooping."

"What do you mean?" I ask and she smiles at me with a mischievous glint in her eye.

"Just wait till your father hears about this."