I'm almost certain that everyone froze as soon as the words left Carter's mouth. Even Cayton did, and since he is currently holding on to me so I wouldn't fall, I'm suspended in mid air watching the scene unfold.

I seemed to be the only one who was able to move. Carter and Bethany both stood, just staring at each other, and it was obvious everyone else could be spontaneously exploding and they wouldn't notice. Still, neither of them made a move towards each other. Everyone else is frozen in anticipation, not wanting to miss anything, waiting for one of them to make a move.

Since it seems I'm going to receive no help from Cayton, I push myself upright. Scanning my eyes over the yard, I notice that my graceful slip up pales in comparison to Carter finding his mate. But I'm certainly not complaining.

Then I look to Carter, who is smiling like he just won the lottery. Yet the idiot still won't move.

Bethany, honestly, looks a little bothered by something. Surely it can't be because of Carter? Shouldn't she be overjoyed, at the very least happy? Isn't that what mates are supposed to feel for each other when they first meet?

Granted, it wasn't that way with Cayton and I, but that is a completely different story.

The hopeless romantic in me is urging them to do something, have some type of romantic love-at-first-sight moment, but when it's clear that they're going to stare at each other like morons, I decide I'm going to step in.

"This is what you're supposed to do," I say, putting my hands on Carter's back and giving him a shove in Bethany's direction. Amazingly, I manage to make him stumble forward a few steps, before he gets some sense to actually move on his own.

And that, my friends, is how two mates finally come together.

Carter, not one for wasting time, grabs Bethany by the waist and kisses her. Almost immediately, Bethany has her arms around Carter's neck, and everyone comes out of their permafrost and cheers for the new couple.

Two things pass through my mind: the hoe has found his mate is the quiet, secluded girl. And Trina is going to be very disappointed that Carter is no longer available.

I dust my hands off and walk back to my own mate.

"I honestly didn't see that coming," he says, watching Carter and Bethany. I shrug and lean against him, in a better mood even though I totally face planted the hardwood a minute ago.

"Neither did I. But I guess that explains why he was so antsy earlier," I respond. "Now if only our meeting could have went that quickly."

"Wouldn't have been as much fun though, now would it?"

I don't know what his definition of 'fun' is, but clearly it's a little twisted.

"Yea, 'fun'," I add air quotes around the word fun, while giving him a look that tells him I think he's crazy. He chuckles at my look, then the smile drops immediately and I notice him tense up some. He takes a step towards me and rests one hand on my waist, forcing me to come closer to him even though he's covered in dirt from his football game and I'm in a white dress.

I'm about to question him, when I hear the source of his discomfort behind me, congratulating the new couple who finally decided to come up for some air.

I roll my eyes at Cayton and shove him slightly, not so much minding our closeness, but minding the dirt stains.

"Cayton, you can let me go," I try, not really understanding why he's getting so defensive. It's just his father. Yea, things aren't so great between them, but it's not like he's coming over to bitch slap me.

However, he does decide to come over, which only serves in making Cayton hold me closer. I try turning around so I can see Warren instead of Cayton's chest, but he won't let me budge. I roll my eyes again.

"I can't see you, but hi," I greet, holding up a hand to wave at him. He ignores my greeting—that he didn't deserve from me. I just wasted precious oxygen—and instead gives us his analysis of my epic fail.

"It must be embarrassing for you," he adds, after not-so subtly stating that I made myself look like an idiot. I'm not sure if his last statement is directed to me or Cayton, whose ever-tightening grip is still keeping me from facing Warren.

"No, I kind of had myself mentally prepared for it," I say. "Put me in heels and I have the stability of an elephant running on spilled marbles." I realize I just compared myself to an elephant, but I don't correct it.

"I suppose that's just one of the faults of being a human," he says nonchalantly, and Cayton tenses to the point where he's a stiff as a board. I feel his arm twitch slightly, which I take as a bad sign. I guess whatever his dad is saying is striking a nerve. "I can only imagine how well she would be as Luna if she can't even walk properly."

Ouch. So maybe he did come over to bitch slap me. Verbally, at least.

It slowly dawns on me that I may have just discovered the reason Warren strongly dislikes me. And I say slowly, because I don't have too much time to think about it as I have to hold Cayton back from leaping over me and mauling Warren.

Warren acts as if he just had a casual conversation, and walks away, despite the sudden change in atmosphere that even I can sense. I'm sure I can sense it better than anyone else, because I can feel Cayton shaking slightly. He won't say anything, more than likely because it wouldn't be something that needs to be said in hearing range of everyone else.

"Cayton, calm down," I say quietly, running my hand up and down his back slowly in hopes of bringing him down to the point of self-control. I'm sure if I hadn't been right in front of him, he would have done something more violent.

He nuzzles my neck, taking a deep breath as he slowly works at calming down.

Crisis averted, I say in my head. Too bad I'm probably about to piss him off again.

It's funny how we do something, even though we know that it's going to piss someone off. Yet, we do it anyways. But since Cayton's temper isn't something that will be helpful, I'm going to have to do my own dirty work. Which means I'm going to confront Warren about what the hell he meant.

So far, I've pieced it together, he doesn't like humans. Or maybe he just doesn't like that his son has a human mate. Either way, it's because I'm human. I just want to know what he said to Cayton, that's causing him to act like this.

I know Cayton gets defensive over me, but saying a few rude things isn't cause for attacking your father. So I assume there's some hidden message in his words that I'm oblivious to. Prying information out of Cayton didn't work, so I'm going to the source.

What's the worst that could happen?

"Just go back to your football game, pummel the crap out of people until you're all better. I'm going to go...sort some things out," I say, kissing his cheek, and deciding it wouldn't be wise to tell him "Hey, I'm going to go talk to your dad after everything that just happened."

I'm not sure if I'm predictable, or Cayton just knows me really well, because he refuses to let go as I try to step away.

"Macy, do not go talk to him," Cayton says. If that commanding tone he's using isn't enough to tell me that he's serious, than the use of my name instead of the cute pet name he usually calls me is.

"I'm just going to go talk to him," I say, prying his arms off me. Well, trying to. He stubbornly keeps me against him.

"Macy, I'm serious."

"I'm just going to talk to him." I keep repeating it as he keeps arguing with me, and I keep trying to get out of his arms. Any other time, I wouldn't mind being in Cayton's arms, but right now, I'm on a mission and they're only keeping me from it.

After much arguing, I duck down, easily sliding out of his arms.

"I am just going to talk to him," I reiterate. Before I can make a dash for it, Cayton grabs my arm a little more roughly than I would have like. I raise my eyebrow at his hand, then at him, my expression clearly saying 'are you serious?' He loosens his grip at my look, but doesn't let go.

"Macy, I'm not kidding. Don't—as in do not—" he emphasizes his words, "go over there."

"I'm going to sort this shit out, so let me go so I can." I turn to walk away, but he yanks me back, and I groan in annoyance. "If you're going to keep me from asking him what the hell his problem is, then you're going to have to tell me yourself."

I turn to face him, crossing my arms over my chest. If he's so adamant about stopping me from talking to his father, then he had better start spilling. Why is it such a big deal anyways? If nothing else, I can learn enough to help them settle this issue like mature adults instead of the way they are now—ignoring each other and making snide remarks.

"It doesn't matter what his problem is. The point is-"

"The point is that this is ridiculous, Cayton. Why can't I just talk to him?"

"Why do you care? I never took you for someone who gives a shit about other people's opinion," he counters, and I can tell he's starting to get frustrated.

"Because I do!"

Why do I care? On the one hand, I have every right to care. This involves me, I'm the source of conflict, and I'm not the only one being affected. Cayton and Warren are father and son; they shouldn't let something as stupid as species get in between them. Moreover, I certainly hate that I'm the thing between them. On the other hand, I shouldn't care. There's nothing I can do about the way I was born, and I can't control that I'm Cayton's mate. I love him, he loves me. Why can't warren just be happy about that? Moreover, why am I fussing over this?

I feel like my head is about to explode with all the why's.

"Is it so bad to care Cayton? I want everything to be ok. I want to see if I can fix this and make everyone happy," I continue.

"There's nothing that needs fixing," he says, softer this time. I let him wrap his arms around me, giving me comfort and reassurance. Reassurance that no matter what his dad says, nothing will change between us.

I still care though.

"Why can't I just talk to him?" I ask in a small voice. "If there's anything I can do to-"

"There's nothing that can be done," he says. "Nothing reasonable anyways," he adds under his breath, but I catch it. I pull back just a bit to look up at him, my eyebrows knitted together.

"What do you mean 'nothing reasonable'?" I can tell he wants to change the subject, but I give him a stern look. He sighs, muttering under his breath, before giving in.

"Nothing you can do is going to change his mind. He doesn't like that you're human, because he wants a werewolf as Luna," he starts. I nod, realizing what he meant by his comment about me not being able to walk properly. "He gave me 'options', and is angry that I'm not taking either."

"What are these options?" I question. If there are options, that might ultimately solve everything, why didn't he say so sooner?

"Things I refuse to do," he replies, like I'm going to accept that as an answer. I heave a breath, before getting out of his arms.

"Guess I'll just ask Warren what those options are if you won't tell me..." I trail off, letting the bait sit. I get a total of one step away before Cayton grabs my arm again.

"If I tell you, will you just stay away from him?"

I shrug.

"He wants me to either reject you," he says slowly, waiting for my reaction. I should probably be pissed, but I know Cayton wouldn't do that, so I just wave my hand, signaling for him to continue. "Or change you."

"Change me? Like, as in change, like those girls who hope to change men, or change as in..."

"As in change you into a werewolf," he clarifies.

So those are the options for winning approval from Warren, huh?

"Well, I'm not seeing the issue with the last one," I point out. Simple fix, right? I get super ninja-wolf abilities, Warren gets his werewolf Luna, and Cayton and I can still be together. Why didn't the doofus just say so?

Maybe he thought I would be offended. Maybe I would have been, had it been so bluntly said without explanation.

He suddenly looks a bit angry, which makes me backtrack a little. "The issue is that it's way too risky. There is so much that could go wrong. The chances of you dying are greater than you actually living, and I'm not willing to take that risk just to please that dickhead."

Well, in that case...

So, I see where he's coming from, and I see why changing me isn't an option either. I don't want to put my life on the line just to make Warren happy, when he's the only person who has a problem with me. Besides, I'll never get everyone to like me, and I can't please everyone. It looks like we're going to have to make our own option. And that option is: have Warren suck it. And I tell Cayton just that.

"That's my girl," he laughs, kissing the top of my head. I smile at him, feeling like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. That weight was most curiosity and disappointment in my self. I couldn't have done anything, except been born to different, more supernatural parents, to make him like me.

Of course his only reason to hate is that I'm human. It isn't me, just my species. Besides, who wouldn't love me? I'm freaking adorable.

"Heads up!" I hear Trenton shout, before a football whizzes right above my head. Cayton catches it with ease, while I have to blink a few times at the sudden appearance of the football.

I spin around to find Trenton jogging up the steps. Cayton tosses the football back to him.

"The game isn't over yet. Carter is a little... preoccupied, so he's out," Trenton says.

Yea, Carter and Bethany disappeared. I suspect they're either a) in a car, or b) in some room in the house. Carter isn't one for wasting too much time.

Just over Trenton's shoulder, I spot Tami by the food table, picking at a cheese ball with her cracker, Cassia and Marissa arguing over the last cupcake beside her.

I end up smiling at Trenton. Tami's pregnant, he's adorably clueless. I'm excited for him; Trenton is the type of guy you just know is going to make a great dad. From what Tami has told me, he's going to be completely elated that he has a baby on the way.

So far, Tami and I are working on some elaborate way to tell him. Our research has mostly consisted of YouTube videos, which we always end up getting off track and watching some videos of pranks.

I've learned quite a few things. And I thought the sticky notes were a good prank. People on the internet are masters.

"Uh, are you ok?" Trenton asks, frowning slightly, probably concerned with why I'm grinning him down.

I shake my head, trying to wipe the grin off my face. I haven't been this excited about someone getting knocked up since my dog had its puppies.

"I'm fine," I answer. "Have fun, tackle Trenton for me. I'll be with Tami and the girls," I say to Cayton, giving him a quick peck, before skipping off the deck and to the food table.

I notice Warren standing off to the side, leaning against the wall of the house and observing everything. I have half a mind to tell him off, but I sort of promised Cayton to stay away from him, so...

When he notices me looking, he gives me a hard glare. Instead of being intimidated like I suppose he's trying to make me feel, I give him a glare of my own, and use two fingers to point to my eyes, then to him. The universal signal for 'I'm watching you Bucko.'

It's the best I'm going to be able to do from afar.

I decide it best to ignore him from then on out, and continue on my trek to the table.

"Look who's upright," Cassia teases, then looks down at my bare feet and laughs.

"Wouldn't be a real party if someone didn't embarrass themselves," I say, picking up a cracker from the plate that Tami is still devouring.

Cassia insisted that the party go out with a bang. Her idea was to pour Kool-Aid on the winning football team. However, when she said it, Marissa quickly explained that by winning team, she means that boy Luke, who is neither playing football, nor winning anything.

She refused to tell me why she hates him so much. Like me, Cassia is freaking adorable, so I wonder what happened between the two.

Anyways, as funny as I thought it would be, I had to play adult and frown upon it.

So I subtly slipped Cassia a cup with Kool-Aid in it. Who am I to stop revenge?

"I had no part in this," I whisper to her, sliding the cup to her like it's some drug deal. She smiles mysteriously, and grabs the cup.

"Deal. But I'll need your backup if he tries to throttle me."

Tami, Marissa and I all stand back, acting as if we don't know what's about to happen.

Cassia casually strolled by Luke, emptied the cup on his shirt, and said "oops," as if it was an accident.

And that's how the chase began.

Cassia takes off like a bat out of hell, Luke hot on her tail. Instead of making a smart decision and running to us, she darts straight into the house. Luke follows, yelling at her while she laughs like a maniac hyped up on sugar.

"What just happened?" Hunter comes up beside us, Rowan and Mason with him.

"What are you talking about? I didn't see anything," I say cluelessly, but this is Hunter, and he sees right through me. He raises an eyebrow, to which I just smile innocently.

"Why did Cassia just dump Kool-Aid all over Luke?" he clarifies.

"She did?" I gasp, feigning shock. "Now why would she do such a thing?" I hear Mason and Rowan chuckle behind Hunter, who rolls his eyes.

"Maybe she had some encouragement?" he accuses. I put a hand over my heart, still playing innocent.

"I would never approve of such a thing. You know me better than that Hunter."

"Exactly."

I laugh. "Ok, I talked her out of dumping the whole container on his head. She needed something to do. But, for the record, I didn't encourage her." I grab the last cracker, making Tami glare a me as she was reaching for it. I just smile and shove it in my mouth. "So what's the deal between those two? It looks like a lover's quarrel to me," I joke.

"It is," Marissa and Hunter both say at the same time. "Like I've said, long story." Hunter adds.

"Long story short, Luke used to pick on us all the time. Then he turned sixteen, bam! Found out they're mates. Cassia rejected him, and it's been going on for a bit now," Marissa explains.

"So they're mates? Psh, I got this," I say. I, sort of, got Carter and Bethany together, so why don't I work my magic and get those two together?

Upon entering the house, I find a few chairs knocked down from where I'm sure there was a bit of a chase. I don't hear anything, so I wander until I come to the living room, where I find Zoey standing in the opening of the hallway, staring wide eyed at something.

"Zoey? What are you doing in here sweetie?" I ask.

"Well, I had to use the potty, but they're blocking the door." She points down the hall, and I stand behind her to see.

"Whoa! Nothing to see here!" I say quickly, covering Zoey's eyes.

I guess Luke and Cassia really didn't need me. Luke has Cassia pinned against the door, and for a lack of better description, is basically trying to suction her face off.

"Let me show you a different bathroom," I say, pulling Zoey along.

Horny teenagers these days. Sheesh.