Walking home, since someone had decided to hit my bike with their car. I stopped at the mail box, getting the mail out wasn't something I normally did. But anything to stall before I had to go inside that building of brick and mortar filled with problems I had to solve.

Walking up the long driveway I stopped short when I saw Ewan outside, he was talking to someone. It was the beta from the night we got engaged. Awkwardly I looked around, to see if there was another way for me to enter the house.

It wasn't that I didn't want to speak to my...my fiancé but right now after living in the moment of being in school, as if nothing had changed. It was hard to see mister change standing in front of my house.

"Argo?"

To late... I was caught, forcing my lips to quirk up to at least look warm I walked over towards them. As if that had been my plan all along, not. "Hi, what are you both doing out here?"

I winced, it sounded like they shouldn't be out here.

Ewan smiled, and pointed at the beta who smiled in greeting, both of them felt like towering warriors. I never had an issue with my height before, but with these males standing in front of me, I couldn't help feel small.

"I was speaking to Roland about the wedding party," He stepped towards me, and reaching out placed his hand on handle of my bag. "That looks heavy, let me take it."

Awkwardly I allowed him to take it, I wasn't sure I would get used to him being so, nice. Turning my mind away from that, I focused on him, "What about the party?" I shifted my footing, "I thought it would be the usual group of over privilege tribe, and pack leaders?"

Roland laughed, his red hair gleamed in the sunlight, and his light blue eyes sparkled with laughter. I realized then that he was actually very handsome, but unlike Ewan he didn't make me nervous, plus observing his handsome visage was like admiring a good styled painting. I didn't have an urge to make it mine.

On instinct I moved closer towards Ewan, who glanced down at me in question, but I decided to ignore his silent question in favor of asking Roland why he was laughing.

Calming down, he placed a hand on his hip. "Your words lass, they sound all too familiar to my ears." He gave a devilish grin in Ewan direction, "The Lass shares your thoughts on those who are a part of the supposed nobility."

Ewan chuckled placing a hand on my shoulder, "Then it means we are a good match then Bruthur."

Roland nodded, "Aye."

I wasn't so sure about that, considering he was going to use me to take over my father's business and pack. Now that I thought on it, we hadn't spoken of our supposed deal.

"Laticia?"

We all turned only to see my mother standing in the doorway, luckily she'd actually put on normal clothes.

Her eyes narrowed on me, and as usual the upturning of the corners of her mouth didn't make me think of a warming smile.

"Dinner hasn't been started."

"Ah."

One thing that had been made perfectly clear was the fact that I would continue my responsibility till after my wedding.

Mentally sighing I went to grab my bag from Ewan, "Sorry, I'll be right there-."

"She will not be making your dinner." Ewan voice coldly interrupted my own reply.

I blinked taken aback. His hand took mine, "She will be dining with my family tonight, so you will have to use the servants in the home to prepare your food."

If looks could kill, Ewan would currently be lying a hundred feet deep in my front yard. I tried to pull my hand from his, "It's okay-."

"No it is not." I froze Ewan glared down at me, his eyes narrowed and face hard. My hackles rose, why did he think it was okay to come and make waves.

I snatched my hand from his, and jerked my bag out of his hold. "Look, I can see your trying to help, but don't!" I slung my bag on my shoulder, and slapped the letters in his hand, "I can prepare their food, and still make this supposed dinning that you've just invented." Feeling a little bad for snapping, I pointed at the letters in his hand, "Can you drop those in my dad's study, that would help me."

I could hear Roland whistle under his breath as I walked away. I just couldn't let Ewan come in and make me think that I would actually have a chance to be accepted by the werewolves. If he led me to think he cared and then like my father did to my mother, drop me after birthing babes wouldn't that make me pathetic twice over.

Sure other girls could fall for the ice eyes, and handsome face but I wasn't one of them. I didn't have the luxury to be proven wrong again, the twitch of my scars reminded me of that.

I barely glanced at my mother, feeling her dark eyes on my skin as I made my way to the kitchen...were I belonged.

**

Ewan watched Argo stomp into the house, he couldn't understand her anger. He jerked his gaze towards Roland when the man laughed.

"Ha-ha she's a feisty one."

"The lass should want me to save her," Ewan voiced aloud in confusion, "But she pulls away from my help, does she like this life?"

Roland shook his head, "I think the lass just doesn't trust in your words yet." He chuckled, "You'll have to use those Mckillian charms to pull down her walls."

Scoffing, Ewan shoved the letters in his back pocket. "Tis no such thing, just Mckillian whoring."

"Aye--, but the Lasses were the ones beggin' fer it."

Shaking his head, Ewan laid a hand on Rolands shoulder, "I would stay here and spar words with you my friend, but there is my bride-to-be I must calm."

Leaving Roland, Ewan entered the house only to pause when he heard his name. Turning around he met the cold gaze of Argo's mother.

"You should stop spoiling her so."

Her arms crossed; Ewan could never seem to find Argo in her cold features.

"You are only going to break her later." Her smiled was cruel, "That's how you Alphas are, conquering and tearing apart everything in your path, with no thought about those you harm."

She walked closer towards him, stopping a few feet away. He could see the gold flicks in her eyes, "You're only putting on this show for my husband and as soon as it ends," Her lips twisted, "You'll go acquire yourself a new 'mate' and leave her as broken as you found her."

She stepped back, giving his body a once over, "Or maybe worse. Hope you both enjoy your dinner."

With that dark fair wishing, she left Ewan still looking after her in angry silence.

**

"You are angry at me?"

Pausing in putting my books on my desk, "Why do you think I'm angry?" I asked continuing in my activity.

Ewan walked further in shutting the door behind him, "I am not sure, that is why I've come to find out why."

Giving up on the Idea of possibly studying I turned around. "I wasn't mad at you okay." Rubbing my sweaty hands against my jean pants I turned back to organizing my text books. "I was mad because you spoke for me." Frustrated I turned back around to face Ewan.

"I just-you can't come in here and start forcing them to care about me!" I motioned towards the wall, "They haven't once altered their personalities since I was told to live with them. Ewan, I would prefer it if you just-just let it rest until were married, okay?"

"No," Ewan stepped forward, for once I realized how he made my room seem small, "it isn't okay, Lass. I cannot stand to see you treated so," He stared into my eyes, his brow furrowed, "You are to be my wife, and if I, the Laird and leader of my people cannot protect my wife-to-be's pride, how can I raise my head with my own pride?"

I couldn't take the care in his direct gaze, I dropped my own eyes. And blinked trying to stem the flow of possible tears that I felt were trying to come forth. Dropping my bag, I muttered, "Are you any different? You're going to use me to gain what belongs to my father," I lifted my gaze boldly staring at him, the only thing keeping my back straight was my bravado.

I scoffed when he looked taken aback, "Oh, don't worry I will help you get it, but don't assume I don't know what this is," I moved my hand between us, "You're not in love, or interested in me and if your trying to fool me into believing you're in love with me you can stop."

Walking away from the desk I shoved past him, "I'm not stupid."

Before I could walk out of the room his words stopped me.

"I don't think your stupid, Lass." His voice was heavy, and drew me to turn around. His intent stare met my own wavering one, "I think you've just been hurt too many times, that you can't accept my help, or care."

Furrowing my brows, I lowered my eyes to the floor my vision blurred that's when I realized I was crying.

"Well, I don't appreciate you coming in and making me realize it." I rebutted quietly, before I turned and quickly left the room wiping the tears that trailed my cheeks.

I don't want love, or affection I just want to be left alone. It's better than only getting hurt later, grabbing my shoes from the back door I walked out into the yard and followed the path that led to the woods. I needed to be alone, even if it meant sitting in the woods in my wolf form all night.

Anything to get away from Ewan's all-knowing gaze.

**

"You stayed out?"

Why did the first person I see this morning have to be Chelsey? She stood in the kitchen, seeing a cup in front of her I assumed she'd come to the kitchen to get something to drink.

I ignored her question, and walked over to the fridge, I opened it looking for the bottle of water with sliced lemon inside.

She tsked, before she continued;her cattiness must have been an after effect of bad sleep. "Hmph, already trouble in paradise? Maybe you should give up on getting marrying." She chuckled at her own wit, "It's not like you could get another man any way."

"Well that may be true." I muttered grabbing the bottle, finally finding it behind some lettuce. Closing the door, I turned around, "But either way I'm not marrying Travis.'

"What?!"

She glared at me, her eyes flaring with a golden color and she tightened her grip on the cup in her hand. "I dare you to say that again."

Not saying anything, I sipped from my bottle and strolled out the kitchen. Enjoying immensely the sound of her cup shattering against the wall behind me.

I was in good humor until I opened the door to my room and saw that Ewan hadn't returned to the house of his pack but had stayed.

I opened my mouth to say something, but he reached out and grabbed my arm jerking me inside. Slamming the door behind me in shock I dropped my bottle.

His eyes flared with anger as he stared down at me, "There are three things Lass that my wife will not do," He leaned down, his nose almost touching mine. My eyes widened, "One, she will not allow others to order her around like a maid."

"Ah-!"

He cut me off, "Two; she will no' disappear into the night."

I tried to speak again, and move my hands but he held my wrist tighter moving them high. "uh."

"Three..." His eyes darkened and lowered to my lips, "She will let me kiss her whenever, and how ever I want... like this!"

Before I could say or do anything his lips met mine causing my eyes to widen in shock.