Dedicated to Mrsnicholasj because if I didn't post today my poor girl would have to continue re-reading my old chapters for the 100th time. I hope this helps you feel better about your dentist appointment love

Just a heads up, THIS IS MILDLY EDITED. So you may see some errors. I just wanted to post it right away so you guys can read. Enjoy!

Wolf Chase [29]

Massie made herself comfortable in the plush couch, sitting to face Jordan. Said man crossed his arms behind his head and leaned back, the gem on his ear gleaming from the ceiling light that fell on it. He was the perfect picture of a cool, casual wolf.

"To answer your question, we usually bite pups when they're misbehaving."

Massie rolled her eyes. "So you mean to tell me he thinks I'm—"

"Behaving childish, unreasonable, foolish? Yes, all of the above." Jordan finished, laughing at her predicament.

Massie glared. Childish? Her?! How could Sebastian think she was being childish if she was only accepting his mother's wishes! He was totally over-reacting and bringing things out of proportion. "He's the one being unreasonable!"

"Which begs the question of what did you do?"

Massie lifted her hands, feeling as though she were wrongfully framed for a crime. "I didn't do anything! All I did was accept Mia's invitation to join you guys in an assignment. It's to some place called Everglades and Sebastian didn't like it. He wants me to back out."

Comprehension dawned on his features. She had a vague sense she wouldn't like Jordan's response either. "That makes sense. I agree with Sebastian, that pack is not the best one to take you."

Massie smacked his arm. "No Jordan! You're suppose to be on my side! Don't agree with that angry wolf," she thundered. What was the big deal of her going to this specific pack? She heard Sebastian mention they lacked self-control, but he was probably exaggerating to convince his mother to change her mind. All of the werewolves in Dark Falls were appropriate and self-controlled. Aside from the Cult, no one ever approached her or made any kind of move. The only person who lost their rocker was Keisha, and funnily enough she was a girl, not the males Sebastian was so concerned about.

Jordan tugged her hair to placate her rising temper. "Listen, if you end up going I won't be opposed to it. I'm just saying I see his perspective. I'm familiar with the Everglades pack and those men don't follow the usual conventions of proposing to a girl. They usually just mark at their fancy. Its extremely barbaric, yet also one of the reasons they have more members in their pack than most."

Massie blinked, astonished. She assumed every pack behaved the same way they did. Maybe Sebastian's concern wasn't so unfounded after all. "Seriously? Wouldn't the girls leave if they don't want them?"

The shaggy haired wolf shrugged, appearing to be just as perplexed as her. "I would have thought so, but I guess they have their ways on convincing them to stay. They're a wealthy pack, and they certainly don't hide it. I've never marked anyone, but I heard it makes both parties attached. I imagine that plays a part in it too."

Massie supposed she should be more concerned for her well-being going there, but she honestly did not care. Even if the Everglades pack did have a barbaric reputation, she still wanted to go with them and get the experience. Mia was right, she should get a glimpse of what her life would be like if she pursued things further with Sebastian, consequences be damned. "Well, how do you propose I convince him?"

"If you tell him you'll stick by us all the time and not venture alone, he'll eventually come to terms with it. You're very friendly Massie, and I can easily picture you making friends, but these men don't know the difference between a nice girl and a flirting girl. You're better off not talking to any of them."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, whatever." Massie waved off. "I'll tell him that a couple times and it should be fine. Do you have any idea where he went?" The last she saw of him was him stomping off in a puff of anger.

"Probably to his room." Jordan paused, becoming hesitant. "I don't suggest you go there. You should wait until he comes to take you home."

Massie glanced at the clock. "It's almost time to take me home anyway, just show me where his room his."

Jordan shook his head. "Don't say I didn't warn you..."

His tone suggested he disagreed with her going there, but what was the big deal? All she was trying to do is speak with him.

When Jordan led her to Sebastian's door, it was in a hallway she had never ventured to. The area looked completely unfamiliar. She took note of memorizing this route if she ever needed to find Sebastian again. Before leaving Jordan gave her a mock salute and told her good luck. Massie waved at his departing form. He disappeared so quickly that she knew he did not want the angry wereman behind those doors to know who guided her here.

The tall wooden door of Sebastian's room looked ominous, giving advanced warning of the dangerous creature that laid within.

Her hand tentatively clasped the doorknob. Was he still annoyed with her? She really didn't want him to make things extra difficult. It was only when she opened the door that she remembered it was impolite to enter a room without knocking.

Oh well. It was also impolite to steal a girl's tweezers but here she was.

Sebastian lounged on his bed, an opened laptop facing him. A kaleidoscope of colors bounced of the screen, but the moment he noticed her he closed his laptop and sat upright. His posture was strict and erect. He looked very much a dark, brooding prince.

His eyes gleamed dangerously. "What are you doing here."

Massie flinched at the menace that filled his words. She felt as though she trespassed on private property. Was Mia sure Sebastian didn't have any anger issues like his daddy? She mentioned her son had more patience, but Massie sincerely doubted that. Papa Saurus must have been a force to be reckoned with in his youth if he was worse than this.

She closed the door behind her and approached him. "I came to talk to you. I want to convince you to let me go on this trip."

"Not happening, and get out of my room. It's inappropriate for you to be in here with me alone," he scolded.

Massie groaned, exasperated. She could only imagine what kind of father he would grow up to be with his standards. "Relax Sebastian. I'm not going to ravish you." And then, to make him feel uncomfortable, she added, "Yet... But anyway, Jordan explained to me the pack we're going to are very impulsive, so I promise to stay near you at all times." She assured cheekily, giving him her best good-girl smile.

He rolled his eyes at her antic. "Their favorite hobby is preying on women like you, the ones who have matura. About one-third of the females in their pack have it. I have no doubt one of them will fix their eyes on you, and knowing your disposition I wouldn't put it past you to give the wrong impression and have one mark you."

Massie scoffed dismissively at his assumptions. She may be friendly, but she made it obvious when she liked a guy. Didn't she tell him this already? Clearly this werewolf needs to pay more attention.

"It will all be fine."

"We're not talking more about this today. Get out of my room."

Massie pouted. "Sebastian don't be mean. You already hurt my shoulder, don't hurt my feelings too." She whined— which was a lie. His bite had only elicited a temporary mild pain that was by now far gone, so she wasn't truly hurt. However, a girls got to do what a girls got to do, and Massie sure loved making things go in her favor.

It worked just as she thought, his flaming temper immediately doused to concern. "Come here." Sebastian pat his bed to let her know where he wanted her.

Massie had to force down the smile threatening to break across her face and continue her façade of hurt. She knew it was wrong to play him like that but he was so furious and livid that this was the only thing that made him distracted. She climbed his bed and sat in the center, the shoulder he had bitten facing him. To her surprise, large hands gripped her waist and pulled her closer, placing her directly in front of him with his legs on either side. Her back was to him, and his arms stayed around her.

His deft fingers lifted the cuff of her shirt—his shirt—and pulled it over her shoulder to expose the lightly reddened area. It didn't even have a bite mark.

"This hurts?" He questioned. She could feel the skepticism leak off him, making a nervous tingle climb up her spine.

Okay, red alert! Sebastian could not know he was totally being played. "Listen wereman," she started, crossing her arms for extra measure. "This is my body and only I know what pain feels like in this territory."

Sebastian merely grunted but questioned her no more. She sighed in relief, only to tense once again when she felt him lick her in the appointed area. His tongue left a fiery hot trail where it perused, and she couldn't help but think that this was the second time his tongue was on her today.

After going over the area a few times, he said, "that should make it feel better."

Massie leaned back into him. His body around her was a comfortable cocoon, she could stay here forever. "It feels much better."

Sebastian did not push her away immediately as she expected. Instead, she felt his head fall into the curve of her neck, his nose sliding in a most questioning way. "Hn. It is not good for a man to be alone in his room with a woman he has not marked yet. A woman who is not his." His voice was low. Steady. Warning.

Daring, Massie turned her neck, making her nose come in contact with his cheek. "Maybe you should change that...make me your girl-friend..."

Massie almost covered her mouth after saying the last part. It was too forward for her taste, and she felt the idea should come from him not her. Alas, you cannot take back what has already been released, and now she would burn for her mistake.

And burn she did.

Sebastian noticeably stiffened, and before she knew it he was off the bed and out of her reach. She felt like an abandoned survivor stuck in a lonely island. Without him in it, the bed looked much larger. He regarded her harshly. "I would never do something as foolish as to make you my girl-friend." He fired, and Massie felt her heart burn.

She tried to appear unaffected, but her frown could not be hidden. She took a deep, deep breath and scuttled from his bed, purposely avoiding his face. She knew if she saw him she might start to cry and that would not be good.

Go home. That's the first priority. Then she would lick her wounds and figure out where to go from there. But for now go home.

"I'm ready to go home." She told him, surprised at how steady her voice came out.

"You're upset."

She felt his eyes trail over her, analyzing her body language and movement. Massie wrapped her arms around herself, suddenly feeling cold. Or perhaps she just felt vulnerable. Lydia was right, it's dangerous to put your heart on a plate, but she did this willingly and did not regret it. Even though she tried to downplay her emotions, Sebastian still saw through her.

"I am."

"Why?"

"Because...you just said you would never make me your girl-friend, of course I'm upset!" Her sadness gave way to anger, and Massie reveled in this. She preferred to be angry than sad.

He sighed. "Woman, understand. This worldly way of girlfriend-boyfriend relationship is nonsense to me and useless. It sounds like both parties get the privileges of a mate without the responsibility that comes with having a mate. I will not partake in this. Thus, I will never make you, or anyone else my girl-friend." He explained.

His serious tone called her attention, and after digesting the depth of his words her mood shifted considerably. So he wasn't shutting her down!

Massie's frown turned into a hopeful smile. "Wait, does that mean you would only consider me as mate material?"

Sebastian gave her a look. "You wanted to go home, let's go." He said, glazing over her question.

Massie pouted. Why did he always avoid her serious questions? Then again, if he was a man in denial she did need to give him time.

"You know, when you move away from me like that it gives the impression you don't like being close to me," she pointed out, growing rather annoyed at how he left her so abruptly on the bed. It was all going so well until he felt the need to detach himself like that. It didn't feel nice at all.

"Regardless of how it comes off, I meant what I said. It's not right for me to be so close to you when we're not mated. It's inappropriate. Now enough, let's go."

Massie followed him out his room unenthusiastically. She hated the push-back she received the closer she got to him. It felt as though she reeled him in, but then he splat her back out when she got too comfortable.

Great, and this is what she signed up for? Massie knew that even if she did want to back out, she couldn't. At the end of the day, the heart wants what it wants, so until he determinedly stopped her, she would keep going.

[o-o-o]

Massie had to stop herself from jumping up and down in her seat with excitement. She would probably hit her head with the ceiling of the car if she did so. So she bounced instead. Even though Sebastian was driving in the front with Noah, she managed to convince him to switch the radio station from jazz to the popular hits. The catchy song along with the aspect of their activity had her more excited than her body could contain!

Also the tons of candy her and Hailey ate before she left the house.

Beside her, Jayden tugged her hair. "Why are you moving so much," he murmured lightly.

Massie almost laughed. She noticed the twins had a habit of pulling on people's hair when they wanted to complain, call someone to extreme attention, or were displeased about someone's behavior. She found it funny how Sebastian liked to bite and they preferred to pull hair. She saw the twins pull their younger brother's—Micah's—hair the other day, and she was starting to see there was more than one way to express displeasure over a pup's behavior. On the other side, she felt annoyed they sometimes viewed her as a pup. She was no pup, she was a woman for goodness sakes! A lovely, mature, ready-to-marry Sebastian woman.

"I'm excited!" she exclaimed, bouncing higher for extra-emphasis.

On the other side of her Jordan rustled, but otherwise remained asleep. Whatever activity he had been doing last night must have had him beat, for not even the music and her movements shook him awake.

Jayden regarded her silently. It appeared he was perplexed by her excitement. "I don't see the allure of shopping for clothes..."

The purple-eyed beauty shook her head. Figures men would not be as animated. It was Saturday morning, and they were on their way to an out-of-town shopping center to shop for the outfit they would wear to the Winter Wonderland dance. Coming here had been Kristen's idea, who was at the moment a car behind them, following them with James as the driver.

Dark Falls had poor fancy clothing options, so apparently everyone went out-of-town to get their things for the dance. The only males who seemed to not mind was Noah and James. Sebastian was unenthused about the whole thing, but it's a good thing Kristen was a convincing sister, and he didn't put up much fight when she requested this.

The drive out-of-town had been over an hour, and they were now finally approaching what looked to be a gigantic shopping center. Massie almost couldn't contain herself. She knew exactly the kind of dress she was looking for. A long, flowing dress that would show off her figure magnificently and have some sexy back action.

When they finally neared the parking lot, Massie began to shake Jordan awake. "Wake up! We're here!"

Jordan blinked drowsily. "Five more minutes." He mumbled, before promptly closing his eyes.

Massie huffed. "No! Come on prom date, we have to look fabulous for the dance!" She pulled on his hair to show her displeasure.

The action seemed to work, for Jordan started stretching to wake up. "We only do this for you girls. All I need is a dress shirt to match your dress." His words blurred in a yawn.

His statement reminded her that she and Kristen were not the only females on the trip. Keisha tagged along as well. She was placed in the other car with James. Their separation was most likely intentionally done have them apart during the long drive. How wonderfully convenient. The gorgeous she-wolf gave her the evil eye when she noticed Massie was invited to the trip. In return Massie gave her the wave she saw royalty give when they passed by their territory. Because that's what she was, a queen.

Massie pushed Jordan out the door when Sebastian parked near the entrance. James parked at the empty slot beside them and before she knew it they were entering the automatic sliding doors. She breathed in the cold, air-conditioned air mixed with the smell of cinnamon pretzels.

"Us ladies first, so third floor!" Kristen declared, moving to the elevator.

Massie was immensely impressed by this mall. It was easily the biggest one she had ever seen. Even the elevator looked humongous. It easily fit twenty people. When it opened, there were already three people there, presumably coming up from the most bottom floor and heading higher like they were. When they all entered, it didn't appear as large anymore, but she knew it was because her friend group was taller and larger than the average people.

Sebastian was beside her, and she looked up at him appreciatively. His beard had grown in from his most recent shave, which made him more roguishly handsome than usual. Feeling her stare, he peered down at her and lifted a questioning brow. Massie winked flirtatiously at him and he grunted noncommittally.

Deciding she wouldn't bother him too much for now, her eyes strayed elsewhere and landed on a male stranger in the far corner on the elevator. He was average sized, but what differentiated him was his bright red-colored hair. Obviously dyed of course. He was eying her, so focused on her that he was not blinking.

Oh, so that's the game he was going to play? He has another thing coming if he thinks she'll back out of this one. She fixed him with a stare of her own, refusing to blink.

She felt movement beside her. "Massie, what are you doing? Stop staring." Sebastian ordered in his usual demanding tone.

The man looked away and Massie smiled, slapping Sebastian in the shoulder. "See that, I won!" She whispered.

"Won what?" He gave her an incredulous look.

"The staring contest. I play this game all the time, I'm the Queen at it." As though hearing her challenge, the man looked back. "Ahh, see that. He wants a rematch."

The elevator dinged and Sebastian grabbed her arm sharply to usher her out. "Or he wants to get in your pants," he said, rolling his eyes.