- Everest -

I watched on as I touched his face and he physically withdrew from me.

I was looking for the tingles.

I was so caught up when we were having sex that I hadn't noticed them...but in that one touch, though brief, I couldn't feel them...but it also didn't stop my wolf from feeling hurt by his pulling away from me.

"So I guess I'll see you around then?" I sounded.

"Sure thing Everest."

His words echoed in my head, and I actually felt a little hurt by the fact that he had simply called me by my name 'Everest.' Call me simple or desperate but I had already fallen in love with him calling me 'babe', the cliche pet name had almost made what had just happened sort of acceptable.

I had walked all the way to the pack house re-playing the entire events of tonight and feeling horrible about it.

I quietly let myself into the pack house and once more internally thanked my father's mystery mate for occupying his time now.

As I let my body fall onto my bed I smiled as I recalled all of the tender moments of tonight, then my smile slowly fell as I realized that tonight hadn't been nearly as sweet or romantic as it should have been.

My mate got me drunk and took me back to his place where he had his way with me and then I had to walk home afterward.

Had I let it happen, of course...but he didn't know I wasn't nearly as drunk as I was letting on.

I had acted like a slut and he jumped at the opportunity.

The grown woman was in complete and utter disapproval , and I wanted so badly to be pissed off at him but I found I was only pissed at myself.

How stupid can one person be? To make things worse, we hadn't used a condom.

Sure he's my mate so I wouldn't care if I got pregnant...but I damn sure cared if I were to catch something from him. Granted I'm a Were and my metabolism is much quicker than a humans that it would burn away most ailments and sicknesses... HIV and AIDS is different, it effects Weres worse in the sense that it takes our healing ability away completely before slowly killing us.

As much as it hurts I know I had to do this, I would just have to hate myself but in the end I know the bond we had begun to create will try and bring him to me the way it brought me to him. Now it's just a waiting game.

I would have to stay close but also keep my distance.

I rolled over with a sigh, I just wanted to talk about this with someone, anyone.

If I told Ash I would ultimately have to admit that I wasn't a virgin and of course being my brother he'd get pissed off. I couldn't tell Brooke, she'd tell dad. Rich would lock me away and then tell dad. Briar would listen to me but then I would get like a four hour scolding before begging dad to let me move out of town with her and her husband, and Vale, well...I only pray that the moon goddess would have mercy on him and give him the sweetest and most caring mate as soon as he shifts and that she would accept him so he wouldn't ever have to go through what I am right at this moment.

"Divine moon goddess, why am I being tested?"

**

I sat up and quickly fixed myself into a more presentable state. "Enter."

I looked on as my father stepped into my bedroom, "going somewhere?" He asked with a slight smile.

"No sir, just trying on outfits for school next week."

He nodded, "personally I think it's a little revealing, wouldn't want people to get the wrong idea would we?"

"No sir, and you're right...I was actually thinking about throwing this dress out, not really me." I admitted. I had known this when I chose it, it really isn't something I would normally wear. It was too short, and gave the illusion of a much bigger bust than I actually have and it had worked just a little too perfectly on Caleb.

"Well I actually did come in here to talk with you Everest."

I nodded and he continued.

"As you know, your birthday is coming up."

"I still don't have a mate yet father." I sighed as the lie seemed to flow from within me so easily. "It's only been a week since we last talked about this."

He held up his hand (and bit his tongue) at my interrupting him. "Unfortunately we will have to have your party a little sooner than anticipated."

"W-what, why?"

"Well the thing is I will also be using the party as an introduction of my new mate as the packs new Luna, so you don't have to be too concerned about all of the attention being on you."

I really did feel a tad better, I had never been one to crave the spotlight.

"Of course that will mean that certain people will be attending this party instead of your usual partygoers."

I understood completely.

When a new Luna is presented the council members have to be in attendance to acknowledge and approve of the new Luna.

"Of course one of these people will be your new father in law."

In an instant all of the sound around me had silenced as my blood began to rush to my head and the only sound was my heart beating too quickly.

I can't meet him, if I do it will become real and then tonight will have just been a wasted effort. In the end I'm just some tramp chasing a guy who wants nothing to do with her.

But I was hoping that somewhere throughout the night the magic would've kicked in and bonded him to me.

But I had been holding onto that thought after we had sex, the thought had also come up as I slowly got redressed, and then once more I walked home all alone in the middle of the night.

Deep down I knew it hadn't worked.

He's a human, and of course he could choose not to be with me because he wouldn't feel one ounce of what it feels like to be pushed away by your mate.

In all reality I knew my attempts wouldn't work, but I also knew I had to try.

"Did you hear me Everest?"

"Yes sir." I replied politely.

"So it goes without saying that I expect you to look more than presentable and be on your best behavior." He said a little more sternly.

"Yes sir."

"Your fiancé will not be able to make it, it's probably for the best, your father in law is a very very traditional man, doesn't believe that a man and woman should meet until they are paired at the commitment ceremony in front of the council, their parents, and the moon goddess."

This time I simply nodded.

I had only heard of the commitment ceremony between two Weres, of course Briar had one and she had told us all about it. But siblings aren't usually permitted to be in attendance as the commitment ceremony always ends in a mating ceremony...one that is awkward enough having your parents in the next room over, wouldn't want the entire family hearing you and a complete stranger mating.

And me being me, well I asked Briar about faking it, and just pretending to have sex with really loud sounds...but from what she told me: "the Alpha Supreme orders the two Weres to mate, and an order is an order...it's weird it's like inside your wolf knows you don't want to do this but it can't refuse an order from a powerful Were and therefore your bodies move of their own accord."

I always assumed it would be different if you had to perform the mating with your actual mate. But in all honesty we've never asked Rich, and Ash was too much of a gentleman (Flora too much of a lady) to comment on it.

"I will leave you alone then." He sounded, pulling me from my thoughts.

"W-what if I find my mate before my party?"

"If that's gonna happen Everest you had better shake a leg hunny." He chuckled. "I'm not a monster, I want you to be happily married but even if you do find your mate, you and I both know he'll have to claim you as his mate and mark you."

"And what if he were to be a human?"

He only shrugged, "then you have to mark him, BUT his mark would have to be received willingly...the mark will show if it is received unwillingly."

"How?"

"When you mark someone and both parties are willing then the bite will heal over and become a light flesh toned scar, clean and simple...if one or both are unwilling then the mark will almost fester in a large bite that remains open sickly, dirty and harsh." He stated knowledgeably, "now rest, the last thing you need is to start getting dark circles under your eyes."

"Good night father."

"Good night Everest."