Chapter 4

Lily POV

            The week flew by – Kate and I had spent a girl’s night together just talking about everything.  She had lucked in with her mate Colby.  Although she was missing him immensely; he left shortly after Jared did, she talks to him every day.  She’s been wrapped up in trying to track down a threat to the Golden Moon Pack. 

            I had texted with Jared thru the week, and we talked a couple times.  I admit they were awkward conversations.  I hope things will get easier once I am there.  I wondered if not going when he was left was the right thing to do, but I couldn’t leave everyone in the lurch here.  That wouldn’t have been fair nor right.

            Jared was picking me up in another day.  Katie and I are going out for supper and then to the Club tonight.  The Club is a local bar that caters to both humans and wolves.  We have been there a lot over the past couple years, particularly while we were waiting to find our mates. 

            Heading out to meet Katie in the lobby, I run into my parents.  They both give me hugs and remind me to stop and see them when I get back.  They are concerned for me that my mate had gone so far as to select a chosen mate; however, I told them I had to give it a chance.  If it meant he rejects me or I reject him, then I have to believe it is the will of the Moon Goddess.  But she saw fit to match us in the first place, so I have to trust that.

            Seeing Katie, we head to her jeep to go for supper.  We are going to a favourite in town.  We get there and get our usual table.  Once our drinks arrive, we cheer each other for having found out mates.  “What are you most excited about for tomorrow?” Katie asks me.  “Well, I’m excited to see Jared and have some time alone with him before we get to his Pack.  I’m hoping it will ease my nerves,” I reply.

            “So, he is going to pick you up? What time?” she asks.  “Likely around noon, we are about four hours away, which isn’t too bad.”.  Nodding Katie takes a sip of her drink, we are both drinking our traditional whiskey and ginger ale.  “Have you two talked about the she-wolf at all since you met him last week?” she asks.  “No, we have avoided the conversation.  My concern is we avoided the big stuff and only talked about small stuff.  I’m a little nervous,” I say to Katie.  Seeing her look of skepticism, I answer with a smile, “Okay a lot nervous.”.

            Reaching over to take my hand, Katie gives me a squeeze before releasing it.  “You know you can always come home, right?” she asks quietly.  Nodding, “Yes, I know.  I just hope I don’t have to do that.  But I will if I am not treated well,” I add.  Smiling I look at Katie, “Enough of this gloom, when is your man coming to visit you?” I ask her.  She starts to smile, “Should be next week.  I never thought I’d miss someone so much or get so lucky with my second chance mate,” Katie starts to say and then quiets down realizing the situation I am in.  Shaking my head, “Katie, don’t hide your happiness from me, I’m truly happy for you and I’m confident I am going to get my happy ever after as well.  Whether that is with Jared or not, remains to be seen,” I say to her.

            “Now let’s finish up, so we can get to the Club.  I want to say goodbye to some folks who I know will be there.  I haven’t broadcast having found my mate.  Not knowing what will happen has made me somewhat reserved on the topic where I normally would be a bubbly basket case.  I’m sad that there is a cloud surrounding finding my mate.  I keep reminding myself there is a purpose I am going through this.  I just wish I knew the purpose.

            Paying the bill, we head out to the Club.  As we arrive, we see a bunch of people already gathered from our Pack.  A lot of people I recognize as my good friends, and then I realize they are all here for me.  Turning to look at Katie, she smiles and gently pushes me forward.  Feeling tears spring to my eyes, I quickly dash them away as I move forward hugging everyone there.  Suddenly one of the guy’s grabs me in a dramatic way dipping me and giving me a kiss.  Quickly pushing him away, he laughs as he stands me back up. 

            I realize that even a kiss would give an indication to Jared that I was with someone, and I didn’t want that for him.  I am hoping it was quick enough that he didn’t notice.  That was until I heard a ding on my phone from Jared asking if everything was okay.  I replied yes that I am just at a going away party.  He wished me a nice evening and that was it.  Feeling a little bad, I quickly turned back to the crowd.  He had done that to me a few times this past week and I wasn’t going to let it ruin my evening.

            As the night went on, I was definitely feeling good.  I looked for Katie who was deep in a conversation with one of our warriors.  She had had a lot of positive feedback since she took over as Alpha and she really took to listening to the warriors.  Moving away from him, Kate comes over and grabs my arm so we can get out on the dancefloor. 

            As I look around, I realize how much I am going to miss my friends and family.  Whether it’s the alcohol or just the feeling of leaving tomorrow, but I’m starting to get a little sad about leaving.  I know if I was in a better circumstance, I’d be ecstatic. 

            As we finish dancing with the girls, we move back over to our table.  Looking at the time, I realize I should be getting ready to head home.  I have to still pack a few things, see my parents and Reid wanted to see me as well.  Moving toward Kate I check with her and she’s ready to go as well.  Saying goodbye to everyone, hugging and everything, took me half an hour.  I would miss my people and hoped the next time I see them I am a happily mated and marked she-wolf.

Katie POV

            As we move back outside after getting our goodbyes in, I am a little nauseous at the thoughts of Lily leaving tomorrow.  I have always felt like she was a sister to me, and I worry I won’t be able to protect her from whatever happens with Jared.  I hope for the best, of course, but worry she won’t feel she can come home.  I know Lily.  She has a lot of pride, and she strongly believes in the mate bond.  I just hope the Moon Goddess protects her when she leaves tomorrow.

            As we jump into the Jeep and head home, we are singing along to a favourite song on the radio.  As the song ends, Lily turns down the radio and says quietly, “Kate, you are my closet friend and I love you like a sister.   Thank you for always being there for me and helping me through.  I don’t know what I’d have done without you all these years.”.

            Reaching over and squeezing her hand, “Lily, you would have been the strong, powerful woman you are today with or without me.  You know what you want, and you go for it.  I have always envied your carefree attitude and hope I take some of that with me on this journey with Colby,” I say with tears tightening in my throat.

            Seeing tears running down Lily’s face, she nods and just squeezes my hand as we drive in silence back to the Pack house.  Lily has to finish packing, so I offered to help her out, so she doesn’t miss anything.   She also needs to stop and see her parents tonight.  While there is still tomorrow, we all know tomorrow morning will be a whirlwind with Jared arriving and them leaving shortly after. 

            As we walk into the Pack house Lily heads to her parents’ suite, while I head to her room to work on her packing. 

Lily POV

            Heading to my parents’ rooms, I quickly knock on the door.  Hoping they have fallen asleep, I turn to leave, when my brother Reid answers the door.  Damn, now I will have the whole family in on the conversation at once.  This might be a bit more challenging than I expected.

            Smiling at Reid as he shakes his head at me, I walk in to see my parents and Reid’s mate all sitting there waiting.  “We thought maybe you had forgotten about us Lily,” Reid says.  “No there was just a bigger crowd than I expected there to say goodbye.  It was a nice surprise,” I say.

            “That’s nice dear,” my mom says as my dad nods before starting the conversation.  “Lily, I know you are committed to making this work with Jared and I’m proud of you.  You are entering a challenging situation just as you always do with positivity and determination,” my dad says.  “Yes Lily, we are very proud of you.  Of all your accomplishments and especially with this tough decision to go forward and try things with Jared,” my mom adds.

            I forget that my parents have yet to meet Jared and tomorrow will only allow for a brief visit with him.  Our conversations have been so limited that I haven’t felt comfortable having him meeting my parents on the phone.  Truthfully, I wouldn’t say it to anyone, but I would have loved for Jared to have come today and stay over.  I didn’t suggest it to him for fear of him saying no.  Silly but there it is.  This brave woman everyone is proud of was too afraid to ask her mate to come a day early to get her.

            “Lily,” Reid says drawing my attention back to them,” we want you to know, if things don’t go well, you can come back home.  We won’t think less of you and all we care about is your happiness.  If you aren’t treated the way you should be treated, you come home.  Am I clear?” Reid finishes.  Reid has always been my big brother, looking out for me – my protector.  I can’t expect anything less from him now.  I just wish I could ease the worry I see on all their faces.  The truth is I can’t make them promises I don’t know that I can keep.

            Pulling me into her arms sitting me between her and my dad, my mom snuggles with me reminiscing about when I was a little girl, and we would talk about me finding my mate.  She reminds me how much she wants that happily ever after for me.  I can feel tears in my eyes as a tear escapes, my mom wipes it away.  “I promise the Moon Goddess will ensure you find your happy Lily, just go slow and if something isn’t right speak up like we always taught you,” my mom says quietly.

            Hugging my mom tight and then my dad, I hear a ding on my phone.  Taking a quick look, I see it’s from Jared.  Excusing myself for a minute, I go to check the message.  Jared asked me to call him.  It’s late so I’m surprised but in case anything is wrong, I don’t want to keep him waiting.  As I wait for him to pick up, I wonder what it could be.  “Lily?  I’m glad I caught you before you went to bed,” Jared says.  “Yes, I’m just visiting with my parents before I finish packing.  I can’t wait to see you tomorrow.  I’m looking forward to introducing you to my family,” I say excitedly.

            “About that Lily, I can’t pick you up myself tomorrow.  I have another commitment I made a month ago, that I must honor.  I can either have someone come get you and bring you to the Pack or I can come get you Monday,” he says.  As I am sitting there chewing my lip, I fear there will be another reason something will come up that he can’t come Monday so I make my decision.  And I fear the repercussions with my family if I don’t go tomorrow. 

            “Have someone pick me up Jared, I’m looking forward to seeing you and think this would be easier for both of us if we were together,” I say.  “I agree Lily, we need to move forward and can’t do that if we aren’t together,” he says. 

            “Alright I will you tomorrow around supper time?” I ask Jared.  I don’t want to get there and be on my own the first night.  “Yes, I’ll be here and will take you out for supper,” he promises. 

            As we hang up, I ponder what commitment he would have that just came up.  I guess I will find out tomorrow when I get there.