"PIZZA'S DONE!" Cassia screams, jumping up from her seat and running towards the pizza parlor. I shake my head at the girl. Though I'm glad the pizza is finally done, she's been whining about being hungry for the past ten minutes.

A minute later she comes in with the pizza box open, her nose practically pressed against a slice.

"It's been so long," she says dramatically.

I laugh as she sets the box on the table. When Marissa reaches for a piece, Cassia slaps her hand.

"That's my piece."

Marissa rolls her eyes and grabs the next piece.

I had to get out of the house today. I was afraid I could possibly go insane if had to watch more daytime television. And I forced Bethany along with me. Cassia and Marissa offered to drive, and now we're settled in the food court eating pizza.

Tami is under what I'm calling house arrest. Trenton refuses to let her out of his sight. It makes me think that maybe we should have just told him when Tami got fat. That way she wouldn't be doing anything anyways. He's taking up my skinny, active Tami time.

I grab a piece from the box and take a bite, before turning to Cassia.

"So, Cassia..." I trail off.

"Don't," she stops me, already predicting what I'm about to ask.

"Come on!" I whine. "I didn't awkwardly walk in on yours and Luke's make out session just for you to hold out on all the details!"

"I don't wanna talk about it," she grumbles, crossing her arms over her chest, her half eaten slice of pizza still hanging from her hand.

"The poor guy has been in Romeo mode ever since then, and she's skillfully ignoring him," Marissa informs me. "Seriously. He left a dozen roses on our doorstep, with a completely plagiarized poem. But it was really sweet."

"Aww!" I gush. Cassia cringes.

"It was way too cheesy for me. He lost points for that one."

I roll my eyes. "You're so unromantic it's ridiculous. Be a stereotypical girl, have a freaking The Notebook movie marathon and cry."

"I laughed during that movie," she says indignantly.

"She's heartless, you'll never get through to her," Marissa says, shaking her head at her twin.

"I am not! I just don't like all that cheesy romance shit."

"Heartless."

"I will slap you," Cassia threatens. I notice Bethany's eyes widen a little at the sudden threat, and I have to laugh quietly. I might have been shocked too, if I wasn't already accustomed to the pair.

"Do it," Marissa taunts.

"I will."

"I'm waiting."

"Prepare yourself."

"Bring it."

"Guys-" I start to interject, but Cassia picks up a slice of pizza and slaps Marissa with it before I have the chance. Marissa gasps and returns the slap with one of her own, using her slice.

I rub my temples as they start arguing. And I thought I was immature. Bethany, who had been quietly nibbling at her slice, is staring in horror at the scene, her cheeks red from embarrassment. I notice we've gained some unwanted attention, and my face heats up as well.

"Would you two stop?" I hiss loudly, grabbing Cassia's wrist to stop her from slapping Marissa again. She stops and looks at me, and I fight the urge to smile at the sauce smeared across her cheeks. "Behave while I go get you two some napkins." I point my fingers at them warningly, and after glaring at each other, they nod.

Bethany looks at me as if pleading for me not to leave her alone with them. I would compare leaving her alone with Marissa and Cassia to leaving her in a lion's cage with meat strapped to her.

"Bethany, will you help me carry some drinks?" I ask. She nods in relief. "What do you guys want?"

"Diet Coke," they say simultaneously. I nod and Bethany and I walk over to the stand.

"Those two have done nothing but argue," she says exasperatedly.

"Tell me about it," I mutter, pulling out as many napkins as I can hold from the dispenser. She orders our drinks, before leaning against the counter, looking at me with a mischievous glint in her eyes.

"Those two need some time apart," she says. I cock an eyebrow, curious about where she's going with this.

"Mhmm..."

"And I bet that boy Luke would just love to help us out." I have to give it to her, she may be quiet, but that's just because she's hiding devious thoughts. I literally applaud her idea, to which she laughs.

"And I know just how to get him here," I say, whipping out my phone to call Hunter.

*

"Go on and try this," I say, shoving a pair of jeans into Cassia's hands, before pushing her into the dressing room stall. She looks down at her hands, then back to me with a look that screams 'you're kidding me, right?'. I nod in response, and she groans before shutting the door.

"They're here," Bethany whispers. Luke and Hunter step in, and I push a finger to my lips as a signal to be quiet.

"They fit?" I ask, smiling devilishly.

"Yea," she calls out.

"Keep them on!" I shout, grabbing Luke's arm and preparing to throw him into the stall.

"Why?" Without responding to her question, I throw open the door and ram Luke in there, before slamming the door again and pressing my back against it to keep her in. Hunter, Bethany, and Marissa all join me as Cassia starts yelling and banging on the door.

"How could you do this to me?!" Cassia cries, hitting her fists against the door.

"I love you Cassia, this is for your own good!" I shout back, laughing. She shouts a few more not-so polite things at me, before her voice becomes muffled. I assume Luke is attempting to shut her up.

"Would you calm down Cassia?" Luke asks. Her muffled voice becomes louder, and after it goes on for a minute, I sigh.

"Just kiss her already, sheesh!"

I guess he heeds my advice because soon she shuts up. We all wait for yelling or something, and when there is none I share a high-five with each of them.

So that's how we sit for the next ten and some odd minutes, against the door listening to the on-again-off-again conversation between Luke and Cassia. Many people pass by and give us peculiar looks, and we just smile like we're not sitting outside a stall holding two people hostage. Those two people are having a heart to heart in the Macy's dressing room. Things are starting to look up for the lovely couple, though Cassia is holding on to the last shred of stubborn pride she has.

Marissa is there to fill in the blanks for us. She tells us that Luke was always picking on them, making fun of them, and once he spread a vicious rumor about Cassia. That's why Cassia wouldn't accept him, no matter how much he apologized.

"I've let it go; it was stupid middle school drama. But I think Cassia was more hurt by the fact that it was her mate that did that to her. She always had a crush on him, makes sense why now, so when he started all that shit it kind of cut her deep," Marissa explains, in a whisper.

I shake my head in disappointment. Men, I swear. You can't live with them, you can't live without them. "Hunter, please tell me you and Luke are complete opposites."

"I don't torment people, if that's what you mean," he says lightly.

"Good. Because I would have to kill you," I say with a sweet smile. He rolls his eyes at my empty threat.

There's a moment of silence, even in the stall, which is only broken by the sound of my ringtone. Cayton's ringtone, to be exact. I pull my phone out of the pocket of my shorts and answer it.

"Hello?"

There's some muffled voices on the other end, before Cayton comes on. "Macy, where are you right now?"

"Macy's, haha, holding Luke and Cassia hostage in a dressing room. We're fixing to leave soon. Why?"

"You're doing what? Wait, never mind. I don't want to know. Who all is with you?"

"Bethany, Marissa, Cassia, Luke, and Hunter," I reply, a little curious because of his tone. To most, it would seem he's talking ordinarily, but I'm able to detect the hint of uneasiness in his voice.

"Hunter's there? Let me talk to him," he demands.

"Cayton, I'm not going to give him the phone if you're just going to yell at or threaten him," I say flatly.

"It's not that, just give him the phone."

Hesitantly, I hold the phone out to Hunter. I'm not entirely convinced Cayton isn't going to threaten him to 'keep his hands off of me' or something, solely because I've had first hand experience how Cayton gets when I'm around Hunter. Or any male for that matter.

Hunter raises an eyebrow, to which I shrug.

"Yea?" he asks. I can't make out what their saying, but by the look on Hunter's face it isn't exactly pleasant. It isn't the look of Cayton threatening him; it's a look that says 'I'm all business right now'. "Got it."

He hands the phone back to me.

"Macy, right now I need you to stay where you are and listen to Hunter, got it?" Cayton says.

"Not really. What's going on?" There's some strident voices in the background, but again, I can't make out what they're saying exactly. It only serves to make me more concerned and desperate to know what's going on at his side of the phone.

"We'll talk later," he says briefly. "Listen to Hunter, ok? I love you."

"Love you t-" I don't get to finish my sentence because he cuts the call. I kind of sit there confound, with the phone still pressed to my ear and everyone staring at me expectantly.

Muttering under my breath, I disconnect and put my phone back in my pocket, before turning on the one person who has answers.

"What's going on?" I ask.

"Nothing..."

"Eye contact," I point out, and he huffs knowing that I can see right through him and I will not let up until he tells me what's happening.

"They think someone who doesn't belong is intruding and I have to keep you guys here until I get the ok," Hunter says.

"And by someone who doesn't belong, you mean..." I have a pretty good idea, but Hunter confirms it when he mumbles Midnight Fire. Well, I thought that was over.

"So, we have to stay here?" Marissa asks.

"You, Cassia, and Luke don't have to," Hunter says.

"No way in hell I'm leaving!" Marissa says, before she flattens out on her stomach and looks under the stall door. "I'm going to tell the love birds." She crawls in from under the door.

"Oh god," Bethany cries suddenly, panic etched all over her face. Before I have a second to blink, she's on her feet and running out of the dressing room. Hunter and I exchange perplexed glances before we're on our feet following her.

What in the world has gotten into her?

"Bethany!" I yell out, dodging around the people. I may not be the fastest runner, but I can sure maneuver.

I don't run fast enough though because it's Hunter who catches Bethany, only a few feet away from the exit of Macy's that leads to the parking lot. He literally picks her off the ground, but she doesn't stop trying to run. In fact, she starts lashing out, trying to get away.

She must be pretty strong, because Hunter looks as if he's struggling to keep her hold.

"Bethany! What has gotten into you?" I gasp, trying to catch my breath after that sprint across the store. She still struggles, and it takes me shaking her shoulders for her to stop.

"I-I- there's-" she stutters, before attempting to compose herself. "I need to find Carter."

That's what she's freaking out about? Carter? I mean, I'm worried about Cayton—I always am during things like this—but I'm not about to run out of the mall like some crazy chick, when he specifically told me to stay put, just to get to him. I know he can handle himself, just like Carter can.

"Bethany, calm down. He's going to be fine."

She shakes her head frantically. "I need him."

"Bethany, they're not even sure anyone is actually here. It's just taking precautions."

"He's blocking me out, I have to know he's ok."

I look to Hunter to explain that to me. "It means he's blocking out his mind so no one can mind-link him," he explains. I nod in understanding, before putting my hands firmly on Bethany's shoulders and looking her straight in the eye.

"He. Will. Be. Fine," I stress each word.

After staring at me for a moment, she hesitantly nods, taking in a deep breath. I smile in assurance, before removing my hands.

"You can put me down," she says shyly to Hunter, who chuckles before putting her back on her feet. She runs her hand through her light blonde hair before sighing. "Sorry about that," she mumbles, looking down at her feet. Ah, the old Bethany is back.

"Don't worry, I needed my weekly exercise," I joke, which gets a laugh from her and Hunter.

"Macy?" Someone calls my name, and all three of us turn to the source. Behind Hunter stands a beaming Lisa, and much to my disappointment, although it's no surprise, Warren.

"Hi Lisa," I greet, going to give her a hug. "What are you doing here?"

"Oh, just shopping. Buying some autumn clothes," she says, before smiling bigger and digging through one of her bags. She pulls out something, and I resist impulse to slap my forehead. "And it's funny that I ran into you, because I bought this for you."

She holds up a tiny pink dress, complete with matching booties and bib.

"Now that you two are mated, I expect a grandchild soon."

"I'm guessing you want a granddaughter," I say a little uncomfortably, accepting the gift from her.

"Of course! The more girls, the better!"

"Right... Well, thank you, it's adorable."

"No need to thank me," she dismisses. "Like my other gift, I expect you to use it soon."

I smile, but I'm almost positive it comes across as a grimace. She is not going to be happy when she realizes it's going to be at least another four years before a baby is even an option. I don't know what it is with werewolves and having kids young. I mean, Tami isn't even old enough to legally drink and she's having a baby. Granted, I guess it doesn't matter when you're with 'the one'.

"Warren, always a pleasure," I say, trying to keep the sarcasm out of my voice. He glares at me, but quickly smothers the look when Lisa glances at him. It's almost disturbing how quickly he switches from a death glare to a look too hospitable for me to be at ease with.

"Good to see you," he greets curtly. His eyes flick over my shoulder and he nods in acknowledgment. "Hunter."

"Sir," Hunter greets respectfully. I watch Warren's eyes narrow just a fraction before it's masked by a friendly façade. If I didn't know his true personality, it would have been completely convincing.

"And who's this?"

He's looking at Bethany. She looks slightly intimidated, and doesn't seem to be replying anytime soon.

"That's Bethany, Carter's mate," I say in the awkward silence that follows. Warren stares so intensely at Bethany that my eyebrows knit together. Bethany's eyes squeeze shut and her fists clench at her sides after a moment, leaving the rest of us staring in incomprehension at the two.

"It's nice to meet you, Bethany," he says after a minute. Something about the way he said her name has my full attention. I can't explain it; it's almost as if he was taunting her. I could be misinterpreting it though, because if I'm honest, I haven't exactly been the most observant person.

Bethany opens her eyes, refusing to meet anyone's eyes as she downcasts hers. "You too," she says meekly.

The air suddenly becomes tense, and I'm not sure if I'm the only one who can sense it or not.

"Well, we're just, um, going to be heading out. Thanks again," I say hastily, giving Lisa one last squeeze before grabbing both Hunter and Bethany's wrists and towing them away.

I can still feel Warren and Lisa's confused eyes on our backs as I drag the two back to the dressing room, where a worried trio awaits us.

"Where the hell did you guys go?!" Marissa exclaims.

"Bathroom?" I try lamely, and before she has time to tell me how obvious a lie that was, I notice Cassia and Luke standing together. Not that he has her arm around her or they're hand in hand, but they're pressed against each other side by side, neither of them is making a move away, so I take that as a mission accomplished.

"Milkshakes, anyone?" I ask, laughing at the idea of making Luke and Cassia do that cheesy 'sharing with two straws' thing.

They all nod, and as we walk to the food court, I'm aware of how Bethany is suddenly so out of kilter. Her expression isn't very happy; in fact, it seems a bit dismal to me.