Originally I had planned on this being a good week. The winter months were finally over and it was starting to get hot. Plus that meant that the school year would soon be over, meaning I'd graduate.

But then came Vincent.

In less than forty-eight hours, he's managed to rip away from me my freedom, my family, and my future. That stupid mutt has ruined my life beyond repair, and I've known him for only two days! I shakily hung up the phone and walked back into the living room where Danni was cuddled up next to Reed, who had both arms secured around her.

"Everything alright?" she asked. She picked up the remote and lowered the volume on the TV so that she could hear my response.

"Yeah," I lied, not wanting to upset Reed. "Alpha said that it was time I moved in with my mate, so he moved my stuff today." Through my entire explanation, I could feel my hands trembling and my throat get dry. I didn't want to live with Vincent or any werewolf for that matter! What if he sheds on my clothes?

Danni knowingly nodded, giving me a sympathetic look.

Reed grunted. "Good."

I internally gagged at his beliefs that mates should be tied to their werewolves. It's so disgusting.

"Well Nora," Danni chimed in, "me and Reed were going to have a pool party tomorrow since it's supposed to be in the low nineties. You and Vincent are welcome to come if you want."

Reed perked up. "Vincent? As in Vincent Abin?"

Sighing, I nodded.

Reed's eyes were wide as saucers now. "I had no idea you were the mate to the future beta. I-I'm sorry about my cold attitude before." He stumbled over his words, obviously scared of something.

"Huh?"

Danni could sense my confusion. "The beta is like the vice president in the werewolf community. If something happens to Alpha, then the beta will step in."

Well I get stuck with the second-in command wolf? Awesome...not. I didn't care if Vincent were Alpha! He's a dog! An overly-possessive dog who ruined my life in a few short hours!

There was a knock on the door and Reed gently moved away from Danni, giving her a quick peck on the cheek. He then went to answer it. After a few seconds he came walking into the living room followed by none other than Vincent. Just great.

"Nora," Vincent nearly growled, "why aren't you at home?" His fists were clenched and I could see he was grinding his teeth, his canines poking out of his mouth. His ice-blue eyes stabbed in my direction, sending a chill down my spine. He was pissed, there's no doubt about it.

"I was just kicked out of my home," I spat, knowing that he was referring to his house as my home. But that dwelling will never be my home! Ever! I'll leave as soon as I can, even if I don't have the help of Reed's sister! I'll just make a run for it when he's not around.

Vincent pinched the skin in between his eyes. "You know what I mean. Why did you leave?"

I searched my mind for some valid excuse. I wanted someone around me. Danni and I are partners on a school project. I needed to talk to Danni to know how to get used to being a werewolf's mate. Then it hit me: I don't owe this dog anything!

"'Cause I wanted to," I shrugged.

Danni let out a gasp and Reed disapprovingly shook his head. I suppose he'll always think little of me, no matter what Vincent's rank was in the werewolf world.

Vincent, a scowl on his face, walked over to me, snatching my arm in his huge hand. "Let's go home," he growled. He began to leave the house, roughly pulling me behind him. I tried to stop him, planting my feet firmly on the ground, but he was too strong for me. He would just tug every now and then, making me stumbling to keep up with his wide steps. We were outside of the door when I turned back to Danni, who had Reed next to her, most likely to watch.

"Danni!" I called. "I'd love to come to your party tomorrow."

Vincent stopped in his tracks, right at the beginning of the sidewalk. He turned to look at me, a scowl still on his face. "What party?"

"A pool party. It's supposed to be hot tomorrow, so I'd like to keep my body temperature down to avoid overheating and dehydration," I clarified. I figured that adding that it'd be medically-wise for me to go to this party, it would play with Vincent's instincts to protect me.

Vincent looked up at Danni, who had Reed step in front of her. "Will there be males at this pool party?" Vincent demanded to know, tightening his grip on my arm to the point where it started to hurt a little bit.

Reed nodded. "The invitation extended to you as well, Beta," he said in a soft voice full of respect that I never got. Kiss ass.

Vincent mulled over it for a little bit. "We'll go," he decided, calling him and me a "we". Gross! Plus he had to go and ruin my plan! Since Crystal, Reed's sister, was supposed to be there, I was going to scrape up five-hundred dollars I could tell Vincent I needed for some protection or something. Then I'd give it to her and leave to Florida. Now I'll have to wait even longer!

Vincent continued walking, pulling me all the way to his house. It was really embarrassing! There were people and werewolves outside their homes who would see me getting yanked by an angry wolf. And no one did anything! All the werewolves acted as if this was the right thing, giving me a dirty look while looking at Vincent with admiration. All the humans would look at me with pity or go out of their way to look at something else, ignoring me and Vincent altogether.

Eventually we reached his house and I was ushered inside. Vincent slammed the door shut and even locked it. He then turned to me, the pissed off expression still dominant.

"Now Nora," he growled. He stopped and cleared his throat, followed by a few deep breaths. Then in a controlled voice continued, "I noticed that you aren't warming up to me like what most mates do. So tell me: what can I do to make you happy with me?"

Let me go.

I know I couldn't say that. Ever. There were urban legends that were spread among the humans. The main one centered on this girl named Lacey who lived in a territory in what used to be known as British Columbia. Lacey was a human who was chosen to be the mate of a regular-ranked werewolf. One day Lacey told her werewolf mate that she hated him, and he attacked her. Legend has it that he broke her legs so that she couldn't run away from him. And every time they heal, he breaks them again. But, God willing, that's just a horror story my mom told me to stay away from the werewolves. Why couldn't I have just been home-schooled? Then this whole predicament could have been avoided! Anyway, back to why Lacey is pertinent: I don't want to wind up like her; hence I need to at least behave civilly towards Vincent.

"I just need time," I muttered, looking down at my feet.

I heard Vincent sigh. "You hungry?"

I looked up at him, shrugging again.

Vincent smiled. "I got you mushroom pizza. Your friend Jessie told me it was your favorite food." He turned to walk to what I suppose was the kitchen.

I couldn't believe that Jessie was talking to this creepy werewolf! And worst of all telling him stuff about me! I huffed and went into the living room to sit down on the couch. Vincent's house was rather dull, to tell the truth. It was two-story, had white walls, and all the furniture was either black or white. There was nothing remarkable about it at all, which was odd. I would have figured that a werewolf's house would have piles of dead bodies all over the floor or be like a cave. Instead I got stuck with the contemporary werewolf.

Vincent walked back into the living room with a pizza box. He set it on the coffee table in front of me and sat right next to me. He was so close that his whole side was pressed against mine. He leaned forward and opened up the pizza box, revealing the delectable pizza that made my stomach growl.

He grabbed a slice that had extra mushrooms on it and handed it to me. "Here ya go," he smiled.

"Thanks," I mumbled, immediately starting to eat the delicious slice.

Vincent grabbed himself a slice and turned on the TV. The channel was set on the news, the reporter confirming the heat wave that Danni had mentioned earlier. Vincent cleared his throat. "Jason came and dropped your clothes off earlier. I put the boxes up in our room," he said before filling his mouth with more pizza.

"Jason?"

"Alpha." It was weird to hear Alpha's first name. It then dawned on me that I knew almost nothing about Alpha. I knew he was man and that he had no mate. That was pretty much it. Now I know he's friends with Vincent and his first name is Jason.

Me and Vincent sat watching TV for a couple hours. There was nothing good on at all. Vincent put on some sitcom where the main characters were played by werewolf actors. The jokes were centered on werewolf culture, so I didn't really understand it when Vincent burst out laughing.

When the sun went down and it was close to eleven, Vincent turned off the TV and let out a big yawn. "I think it's time for bed, Mate," he announced. He stood up and waited there. I didn't move and then Vincent rolled his eyes and grabbed my hand, pulling me to my feet.

I was led up the stairs and through the dark hall, not being able to see a thing in the darkness. I was blindly led by Vincent into a room and was soon assaulted with a flash of light from the light bulb.

Vincent's bedroom was small. He had a queen sized bed in the center and that was it. There was no more furniture, unless I counted the few boxes in the corner of the room that contained my clothes. Vincent let go of my hand and walked over to the closet doors, throwing them open. Inside the closet was his dresser, which he pulled open, grabbing a pair of pajama bottoms that were black.

He made a move to pull off his shirt and I turned around to give him some privacy. It was supposed to be a polite notion, but at the same time I didn't want to see a naked werewolf.

Vincent chuckled. "You do know, Mate, that one of these days you're going to see me naked. The sooner the better," he laughed.

I didn't move.

He sighed. "Then go to the bathroom and brush your teeth. Use the blue toothbrush."

I left the room and blindly felt my way using the walls until I came to a door that I opened. I felt inside the dark room and flicked on the light switch I found. The bathroom was lighted up and I walked over to the sink, seeing a blue toothbrush resting on the counter. It looked clean.

I picked it up and put some toothpaste on it, brushing my teeth quickly. After two minutes I rinsed out my mouth and put the used toothbrush back on the counter.

"Good, you found it," Vincent said from behind me.

I jumped and turned around. Vincent was only wearing the pajama bottoms. His chest on was on full display, showing off his massive muscles. His abdominals were chiseled and his pecs were powerful. His arms were rippled with muscle and were crossed in front of his mighty chest. This werewolf just reeked of masculinity.

Vincent strutted forward, grabbing the toothbrush I just used and put more toothpaste on it. Then he stuck it in his mouth, brushing his teeth!

"Dude!" I shrieked with disgust.

Vincent jumped in surprise, looking at me with worry, wondering what it was he did to upset me.

"You made me use your toothbrush!" I accused. "That's nasty!"

Vincent smiled. "It's our toothbrush, Mate. We share everything now. Now get to bed."

I groaned and stormed off into his bedroom. I snatched some of the blankets off and threw them to the floor. I then took one of the pillows and threw that on the floor as well, creating a make-shift bed. I then jumped into the real bed, getting under the remaining covers.

I closed my eyes and Vincent walked in, growling.

"I'm not sleeping on the floor, Mate," Vincent growled. "Scoot over." He turned off the light and I was blinded again.

I heard his footsteps approach the bed and soon felt the left side sink under his weight. The covers were lifted a bit as he got under them and I felt the heat in the bed shoot way up as he settled in next to me.

"Goodnight Mate," he whispered, kissing my forehead. He paused for a bit.

I rested my head on the pillow and turned away from him, attempting to sleep on my side.

Vincent cleared his throat. "Um, Mate? Do you know how mates sleep together?" he asked, engulfing my tiny shoulder in his giant hand.

"No," I groaned. In werewolf culture class, we never went over the actual mating part of mates. Bedtime was all foreign to me.

"Well," Vincent started, "there's three different positions." He paused and shifted closer to me. "The first occurs when you are sick or scared. When that happens, the bed will be scooted to touch the wall. You'll be on the side touching the wall, and I'll spoon you on the other side, acting as a shield.

"The second and most common is the default one. In this you rest your head on my chest and my arms are wrapped around you." He stopped for a little bit. "And the third occurs when a mate tries to leave their wolf. The wolf will have his arms wrapped around his mate, lying on top of them. This keeps the mate trapped to the wolf."

"Oh." I knew why he told me this. The last one sounded a little creepy. Plus Vincent had like fifty pounds of muscle on me, so I decided it would be best to cooperate just this once.

I rolled back around, facing Vincent. The moonlight that leaked into the bedroom window glistened off his canines, gleaming. I felt his strong arms wrap around me, pulling me closer to him. He pulled me up and placed my head on his hard chest. The sound of his heartbeat consumed my ears, being all that I could hear.

"I love you Mate," he whispered, his chest vibrating with his words. "'Night."