"I've never opened up to anyone. So hard to hold back when I'm holding you in my arms. We don't need to rush this, let's just take it slow."

~Lady Antebellum, 'Just a Kiss'

~~~

*Easton's POV*

Sweat drenches my body as my claws dig into the floor. I'm wracked with shudders as I try to restrain myself from rushing to my mate.

You would think that after three months of dealing with the heat, I would learn how to handle this better.

Well, you'd be wrong.

Snarls rip from my throat. It seems with each passing heat, the desire to mark Landon gets more and more uncontrollable. We found an herb to help quell my heat, but like the dumbass I am, I didn't realize I had run out.

A scent that doesn't belong to my mate hits my nostrils, making me growl lowly. My bedroom door creaks open, and Mateo sticks his head in.

"It's just me," he says cautiously. "Don't attack me, or you know, hump me. I brought the herbs."

"Praise the fucking Moon," I groan with relief. For the past few months, I've been taking an herbal remedy to keep my heat under control. An Elder from a neighboring pack came up with this solution, and it's fucking brilliant.

Not having enough patience to wait for the herbs to be made into tea, I snatch the bag out of Mateo's hand and stuff the dry herbs in my mouth. They're extremely bitter, but it's far preferable to the heat. The effect is almost immediate as I feel my body heat beginning to cool down. I sigh, sitting on the floor and leaning back against my bed.

Mateo whistles lowly, looking around at the destruction I wrought to my room. "Damn, how are you going to survive two years of this?"

I chuckle humorlessly. "Hopefully these herbs don't get less effective over time. Otherwise, I'm fucked."

"And so is Landon," Mateo laughs, and I chuck a pillow at his face.

"Hilarious. Seriously though, thank you for getting these herbs."

"Don't mention it. I'm your Beta, it's what I'm here for."

"To be my errand boy?" I grin, and Mateo wrinkles his nose in distaste.

"Call me that again, and next time you can get your own damn herbs."

"Kidding, kidding!" I raise my hands defensively. "I am grateful. Tomorrow is a big deal, and being in heat would've fucked everything up."

"What's happening tomorrow?"

"Landon's finally introducing me to his family," I say with a smile. "As his mate."

Mateo's jaw drops before he smiles widely. "Dude! That's huge! What brought this on?"

"We've been spending more time together lately. So far, we've told his family that it's just the Alpha getting to know his pack, but since I spend more time with Landon than anyone else, that excuse isn't working anymore. It was Landon's idea to go ahead and tell them the truth."

"I'm happy for you, man. You seem... happier these days."

My smile widens and I nod. "I am. Landon makes me happy."

"Goddess, I can't wait to find my mate," Mateo sighs. "I wonder what they'll be like."

"I'm sure you'll find them soon," I assure him, although that's unfair of me to say. Some wolves wait years before finding their mates, but I don't say that to him.

"Anyway, I'm gonna take off. I'm supervising the warriors tonight. You good?"

"I'm good," I wave him off. "Keep me updated on how it goes. And remember, go easy on anyone who seems to be falling behind. Be encouraging, not demeaning."

Mateo grins while giving me a faux-salute before leaving my room and closing the door behind him. Exhaling, I drag myself onto my bed. The herbs have done their job of calming me down, and now all that's left is exhaustion.

***

I thought the nerves I experienced before my coronation would be the most I was capable of feeling.

Turns out, I was fucking mistaken.

Because telling Landon's parents that we're mates is definitely topping that.

He invited me over for dinner with his family, much to his parents' surprise. I don't blame them. While my dad and I have tried to communicate with each of our wolves, we have a fairly large pack. It's just not realistic that we get to sit down with every family. So having the Alpha over for dinner on a random Wednesday night is surprising to say the least.

"Alpha Easton!" Victor, Landon's father, greets me only seconds after I knocked on the front door. "Welcome! Please, come in!"

I smile at his enthusiasm. "Thank you for having me."

"It's our pleasure! Dinner will be ready soon. Would you like a quick tour of the house? It's not as grand as your house, but—"

"I got it, dad!" Landon shouts as he comes running down the stairs. He's wearing a light blue button-up shirt that makes his sapphire eyes pop, and I feel a blush rising to my cheeks. Landon catches me staring at him and his cheeks turn pink as well.

"Ah, yes," Victor nods. "I suppose that's fitting since you two have developed quite the friendship recently. I'll be helping your mother in the kitchen if you boys need anything."

"Sorry about that," Landon murmurs once his dad is out of earshot. "My parents can be... enthusiastic."

I chuckle. "Don't worry about it. I think it's sweet."

Landon beams at that. "So, how about that tour?"

Nodding my head, I follow Landon up the stairs. He points out his siblings' rooms, the bathroom, and lastly his room. He awkwardly stands in the doorway, his blush deepening.

"Do you... want to come in?" He asks shyly, and my heart skips a beat.

Relax. Nothing is going to happen. His family is right downstairs, for Goddess sake.

"Sure," I manage to say without my voice cracking. Landon steps aside, allowing me to walk into his bedroom. Curiously, I look around his room. It's so... Landon. A soft blue comforter on his full-sized bed, comic books filling the bookshelf. It's clean and the air smells fresh, which makes me frown.

"What is it?" Landon questions when he notices my sour expression.

"It doesn't smell like you," I state, uneasy without his scent of lavender and pine. When I pictured his room, I pictured it being filled to the brim with his sweet scent.

Landon grins sheepishly. "Oh. I might have gone into a cleaning frenzy before you came over. Sorry, it probably smells like bleach and air freshener."

A lightbulb goes off in my head, and I smile mischievously. "I know how we can fix that."

Before Landon has a chance to ask any questions, I push him back onto the bed. He yelps as his back hits the mattress, and I crawl over him, not putting any of my body weight on him. I prop myself up on my arms, leaving several inches between us.

"What are you doing?" Landon whispers with a hiss, squirming beneath me.

"Making your bed smell like you again," I say nonchalantly.

"Okay, okay! It smells like me now. Get off."

"Mmm. Nah."

"Easton."

"Pumpkin."

Landon's face turns bright red, and I chuckle as I rethink his nickname. He resembles more of a tomato, rather than a pumpkin.

"You're so cute," I murmur, and Landon's pink lips twitch up into a small smile.

"You're so cheesy," Landon shoots back.

His smiling lips are so close, so tempting. While I've been able to sneak the occasional kiss to his cheek or forehead, I haven't tasted those pink lips. I can hear Landon's heart pounding as I dip my head down until our lips are only a breath apart. If I puckered my lips, they would touch. And I nearly do it too, until a loud voice ruins the mood.

"Boys! Dinner!" Isabel shouts from downstairs. Landon squeaks in surprise, making me laugh softly. I move my lips to his forehead, placing a brief kiss there before pulling back. I hold my hand out to my mate, helping him off the bed. The feeling of his hand in mine sends sparks up my arm, and it actually hurts to have to let him go.