The week goes by pretty quickly. Before I realize, it is Saturday and the day of Demi's birthday. Some prominent members of the neighboring packs will be joining us- allies from the werewolf world as well as partners in the corporate world. It seems like it would be a promising event. Daniel has gone up to see his parents a day early. I will be joining him tomorrow. Getting together with his family is something we both look forward to. He has two older brothers and a younger sister so it really is a lot of fun when we all get together.

I grab my heels but just after taking a final look in the mirror. I'm wearing a long, black, silk dress, with a slit near the thighs. I smooth out my slightly longer than shoulder length, jet black hair and admire my long legs silently. Having long legs was the best part about being 5'7. My hair and my legs have always been my favourite features. I put on my maroon heels, that are the exact shade of my lipstick and bag. Maroon lipstick always makes my dark brown eyes and black hair pop. I put on an ear-piece that is connected with my cell-phone since I am still overseeing the event and flick my hair on top of my ear.

I hear the doorbell go off and know that Zarah is here. I open the door to find my 5'6, drop dead gorgeous bestfriend standing there. Her long brown curly hair cascades down her back, as she stands there in a mid-length olive green dress, with nude heels.

She replies.

We step outside my apartment and head down to the front entrance, as I hear my email ping. Struggling to take out my phone, while Zarah hails a cab, I see an email about last minute additions to the guest list made by the Alpha. I figure I'd check it in the cab. We finally manage to get a cab, and as we plonk ourselves into it, we start gossiping about a recent fight that took place between two members of the pack. I fill Zarah in on my week and tell her about the incident with Yasmeen, to which she responds with surprise,

Zarah replies teasingly.

I look out the window to see a large gate, which we have to pass through to get to the pack grounds. The pack grounds outside the pack house are huge. Then again, many families live there. Zahra and I get out of the cab and I tell her I'll find her later because I need to see some things. Weaving through crowds of people to get to the organization counter was tough and took me about 45 minutes. I met people that I knew and couldn't possibly ignore them. Had to strike up conversations with everyone, since I only really interact with them at a pack event. I probably could have ignored them if I still lived on pack lands because then I'd be running into them more frequently. The power and aura in the room is so draining. Some alphas from neighboring packs are already here and it's almost as if the room is abuzz with power and strength. I think I feel the power in the room more because of the lack of my wolf. I don't have her to navigate this world with me.

From the corner of my eye, I spot Alpha Amor. I immediately panic remembering that I was supposed to go over the guest list. I quickly pull out my phone and scan the amended guest list but my heart skips a beat, when I come across a name: Alpha Zyon from the Midnight pack. I feel myself starting to get dizzy and panicky. A million thoughts race through my head. He's from a rival pack, why is he invited, was he going to come, what do I do, I hadn't taken my pill, he would be able to detect me? With shaky legs, I run across the room, elbowing and practically shoving people out of the way. I scan the outside garden area and my eyes land of Zarah. I practically stomp over to her probably looking like a mixture of a raging bull and a petrified bunny. As she looks up at me, she immediately knows something is wrong. Yasmeen is standing next to her, looking like she is going to pass out, just by looking at me. I grab Zarah's elbow and drag her inside, up the stairs and into one of the spare rooms, as my breathing begins to hitch and my hands shake.

With shaky hands, I pull out my phone and show her the email. Her face pales. Zarah is the only one in my life who knows my entire story, who knows everything that happened, everything I've been through and how I feel about it so she immediately understands the gravity of the situation. "

As she heads towards the door, it opens and Yasmeen pops her head in. In a timid voice, she asks,

My eyes are cast downwards and I'm pacing the room like a maniac. Zarah whispers to her, clearly not quietly enough,

Yasmeen nods, enters and looks at me quietly. I can feel my entire body going warm, as my wolf stirs within me, knowing this has something to do with her mate. I feel a familiar flush and warmth returning, and I begin to freak out more than I already am,

I look at her and nod, while I regulate my breathing, feeling thankful that she's here with me. Zarah slams into the room and both are eyes snap up. She's red in the face clearly having run as fast as possible across the pack lands. Her eyes look crazed and her hair sticks up from everywhere but she pushes the repressant pills into my hands and I, without thinking swallow them both. I feel myself begin to calm down, and a pain take over my body as I hunch over. It's something my wolf deliberately does to me everytime I do this. She does not want to repress her scent. She does not want to repress the bond. I feel guilty everytime I do this, but I have too. For Daniel. For me.

Seeing me hunch over in pain, Yasmeen panics and tries to run out of the room, to get help most likely, but Zarah holds her back.

She yells out.

As my wolf becomes dormant again, I feel the pain beginning to subside. As I stand back up to my full length. I look at Yasmeen:

she rushes out.

" I say hesistantly, before glancing up to Zarah who nods at me, assuring me that we can trust her. If zarah trusts her, I figure I can too.

She nods and quietly says,

Zarah says, as she smooths out her hair and then smooths out mine. She gives me a small, reassuring smile. "

I smile back, the fakest smile I can muster.But I know, just because it's not the first time, doesn't mean it makes it any easier. It's still so destructive to me, but I have Daniel and I have to focus on him.

As we head downstairs, I breathe in and smell that familiar, intoxicating scent, that makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up and my toes curl. I know he's here. We head down the stairs and as much as I try to resist it, I follow the smell to where I know he will be. And then I see him. My tall, sexy, excruciatingly handsome fated mate. Five years later, but he still gives me butterflies. I take in his 6'1 muscular frame, the black stubble that frames his face, his black silky hair cut to perfection. I take in his white, tight fitted shirt that hugs his biceps and I clench my thighs together from what looking at him makes me feel. I'm about to force myself to look away and walk away, when his hazel eyes snap to mine and my heart stops.