Chapter Four

Spending time with everyone the last few days has been both unexpected and suprising. I'm still afraid of werewolves, but since I haven't actually seen one yet, I can pretend that I'm just staying at some random persons house for awhile. Spending time with Alpha Declan, Jenson,

Lauralie and the twins has made me realize that maybe we weren't so different.

"Up you go, sleep-head! I'm bored!" Lauralie chimed, trying to rolling me out of bed.

"Why are you up so early? Aren't werewolves supposed to be nocuturnal or something? Howling at the full moon?" I grumble, pulling a pillow over my face.

"Riley, it's 8 am. It's not early, and Vampires are the nocturnal ones." She says as she pulls away the pillow. "Get up, I'll make you breakfast. I'm sure we can find something that I won't burn."

I jump out of bed at the mention of Lauralie cooking.

"No! It's fine! I can make my own breakfast, thanks." I say hasitily digging through my dressers. One thing I learned by being here these last couple days is that Declan was right about no one else being able to cook. "Wait... Vampires are real too?"

"Yes, just like witches and Fairies. Maybe we can get Dec to cook something for you." She winks.

I was still trying to wrap my head around werewolves, now I have to watch out for vampires, witches and fairies too? Shifting my mind to her other comment I could feel my cheeks instantly go hot at the mention of Declan. Lauralie noticed my face change as my mind flipped through all of the information and she flashed a smile at me.

"It's okay to like him, he's your mate." the voice in my head tells me.

"Are you falling for my grouchy big brother?" She asks, batting her eyelashes.

"Um...I think I am?" I say, making it sound more like a question then an actual answer. The truth is, I actually enjoyed being here. After my initial panic had subsided, I felt more comfortable at each passing day.

"Wait, really?" she asks back, shocked at my answer.

"Yeah, I mean, he can be a total jerk but everytime we're alone he's actually really nice." I chime, playing with my fingers.

"Riley, that makes me really happy to hear. He surely is a grump, but I understand why. It's not easy being an Alpha sometimes. Want me to set you up on a proper date with him?"

"What? No!" I yell back.

She sticks her tongue out at me.

"If you won't let me cook for you, at least hang out with me."

"That, I can do." I reply with a smile.

With a satisfied smile on her lips, Lauralie left the room letting me get dressed.

I decide on a navy maxi dress, with a white cardigan, which actually fit me. As I finish getting dressed, I head down to the kitchen which I have finally learned the way to. I grab a muffin from the counter and join Lauralie and Jenson in the living room for some video games.

"Jenson, you're going to fast! I can hardly keep up to you! It's not fair." I gawk at him.

"That's definitely not it. I'm just a better gamer." he says as if wearing it like a badge of honor.

"Right, that's definitely it. " I said, as I roll my eyes at him.

"You're just a sore loser!" He says, elbowing me in the side.

As we continue playing video games, and me losing constantly I build up the courage to ask them some questions that have been burning heavily on my mind.

"Who was that girl that stormed into my room a couple of days ago?" I ask, as Lauralie and Jenson look at eachother.

"That was Declan's ex, Maxine." Lauralie cringes at the mention of her.

"You mean, his bootycall." Jenson laughs, getting the side eye from Lauralie.

"So they just slept together?" I asked, pressing for more information.

"I guess." Jenson says. "He wasn't in love with her or anything."

Lauralie turned her head to look at me, observing my face as I listened to Jensons answer. I'm not surprised that Declan has had previous partners, I just didn't expect to get jealous over hearing it. My stomach felt like it was twisting in a knot, but I pushed it down hoping that it wasn't all over my face.

"Why do you all keep calling me Declans mate?" I ask, keeping my attention on the video games.

Jenson grabs the controller from my hand, and puts it down.

"In our world of the werewolfs, we have things called mates. This means, that they are the other half of your soul." Jenson starts.

"It means, that you are bound to that person, almost like a marriage but stronger. There's a thing called the mate-bond meaning that it will draw you to your mate even if you don't realize it. Everything about them is perfect for you, like their smell for instance." Lauralie talked and all I could do was think back to being in Declans arms, inhaling his scent. "Since you're the Alphas mate, you will also be a Luna which is-"

"What are you guys talking about?

I let out a startled shreik at Declans sudden appearance in the doorway. Jenson let out a snicker at the sound I made, and poked at me.

"Jesus! Put a bell on or something! For someone so big, you sure can sneak!" I yelled, trying to get my heartbeat to slow.

"Such a jumpy human," Jenson points out.

"So, what were you talking about?" Declan repeated.

"It's so nice of you to join us. We were actually just talking about you." I mutter back, now that my heartbeat went back to normal.

"Oh really?" He says as he raises an eyebrow.

'I brought up how much of a jerk you are. Everyone agrees." I said smugly. "They were telling me about your most embarrasing moments actually."

"Uh-huh... and that's why everyone is so uneasy?" He scoffs, noticing the tension in the room.

"Yep! Right, Lauralie?" I look at her, with pleading eyes.

"Totally." She says, nodding. Her voice squeeked at the end, and everyone turned to look at her.

"You sound panicked, sister. Are you sure you weren't explaining what a mate was?"

"Yup," she says, defeated.

"Come on Lauralie! I thought we were friends!" I say, giving her the side-eye.

"I'm sorry. I can't lie to my brother! He sees right through me." She says, putting her head in her hands.

The twins push passed Declan and seat themselves between the three of us grabbing the unused controllers. I clear my throat as I try and avoid eye contact with Declan, but he seems intent on talking with me.

"Riley, before this intersting topic I was actually looking for you. Do you have a moment to speak with me?"

My heart began to pound in my chest, and my palms began to sweat.

"Uh..o..okay," I stammer.

"Ouuuuuuuu," The twins say in unison as I get out of my chair, almost tripping over them in the process.

"Shut up, you two," Declan snaps back.

Declan stretched out his hand and I interlocked my fingers between his, letting him lead me out of the room. The sparks were instant as they danced across my skin, making the butterflies

in my stomach flutter more. Declan led me to his office, where he called someone for lunch and invited me to sit down on one of the couches next to the fire.

"Riley? Can I get you something to drink?" He asked, jestering towards many different colored liquids on the bar.

"That's okay. I don't want to be a hassle," I say shyly, realizing that I am in Declans office.

"You're no hassle. You're probably the easiest person to please in this house," He laughed at his own joke.

"Tell Jenson that!" I scoff, " I don't think he likes me very much."

"I think Jenson would agree, even though you did kick him in the head when you first met him." He said, with a small smirk forming on his lips.

I smile back, remembering how that was my first impression to those two.

"There's a reason why I asked you here, Riley."

I gulp, at the sudden mood shift as his face changed to a hardened expression.

"I've been so busy with being the Alpha of my pack, I thought that we could spend some time together and maybe answer a couple of questions you have."

"Okay Declan, I do have a couple of questions." I start.

"Of course, princess. You can ask me anything." he says, cooly.

My pulse jumped with anxiety, as I muster up the courage to ask him.

"I know what mates are, but I want to know more."

He visibly stiffened, as if he wasn't expecting what I was about to say.

"I want to know what your perspective of it is." I continue, trying not to feel uncomfortable.

"Your siblings also mentioned a mate bond, and Maxine."

Declan lets out a deep sigh.

"Well.." He begins. "To start, The Moon Spirit chooses two people destined to be together, and makes them mates. Two halves of the same soul."

"And you believe that I am you're mate?" I ask

"I know it," he says looking into my eyes.

"How?" I push furthur.

He slowly walked over to me, and traced a finger down my face. As soon as his finger touched my skin, I could feel the sparks ignite all over my body. My heart started beating faster at the closeness of him. The sparks that used to be very light pinpricks, were now full on electricity.

"Do you feel them?" he asks quietly.

With my voice caught in my throat, I nod.

"That's how I know you're my mate," he smiles sweetly, "Oh, and the fact that your scent is so intoxicating."

"Then what about Maxine?" I spat, feeling the jealousy run through my veins again.

Declan let out another sigh.

"Maxine means nothing to me, she never has. Even less now that I have found you." he says. "I didn't wait for my mate, because I lost hope at ever finding her, until you."

I could feel the jealousy dissapate as the words left his lips and for some strange feeling, I actually believed him.

"Riley. I want to be respectful of your feelings and adjustments to this new world we've thrown at you, but if you could give me the chance to convince you, I have a proposal."

"A proposal?" I ask, his hand falling from my cheek.

"Yes. Riley, I believe that if you give me a chance, we could have a beautiful relationship like no other."

"What are you saying?" I ask, shocked at his words.

"I'm asking you to give me a chance to prove to you that we are mates."