I didn't sleep that night. I just lied awake in bed and thought about what happened, every hour or so I glanced in a mirror and saw my mark starting to imprint itself on my skin.

Too soon the sun came up and I realized that I would have to face the pack with my new mark. Even if I did find a way to hide it, they would be able to smell us on each other. When two wolves mate, their scents combine to tell others that they are mated.

I decided to suck it up and put on a turtle neck tank top with a pair of shorts. I braided my hair and pulled it to the side for extra measure and put on more perfume than usual. When I left my room, I saw Kian and Hannah were already in the hall outside their own rooms. His arm was across her shoulders and she was laughing about something, her black hair falling over her face.

When they walked past me, I noted that Kian did everything I did. High collared shirt and extra cologne.

He doesn't want anyone to know either.

___

The breakfast table was quieter than usual. Everyone could sense something was different, but no one could put their fingers on it because of Kian and my precautions. The only one who seemed their usual self was Hannah.

Can't she smell it on Kian? She's sitting closest to him.

My wolf growled at that thought. It should be us sitting next to him. He is our mate, not that slut's.

Calm down. We can talk to Kian later. During patrol.

She grumbled a bit more but eventually rested her case and tucked herself away somewhere. After breakfast, I joined the Luna in the kitchen to clean up as part of my punishment. She seemed a bit less chipper than usual, I'd like to assume that it was because I had to help her.

When the silence got to be too much for me, I asked," Luna?"

"Yes, dear?"

"What do you think of Hannah? Do you think that her and Kian will mate?"

"I'm not sure," she replied, handing me a dish to rinse and dry as she washed another," I'd rather he mated with someone from this pack, I never was a fan of rouges."

"Neither am I, but she seems nice."

"Looks can be deceiving. Rouges are more like coyotes than wolves, they travel in small groups if any and abandon their young when they grow big enough to take care of themselves. How would they ever learn morals?"

"I suppose they wouldn't," another silence broke between us," If you're so against rouges, why allow Hannah into the pack? As Luna you could have commanded her out, couldn't you?"

"By the time I was able to make that call, Kian was already head over heals for the girl. There are somethings a mother has to do for her sons. One day you'll understand."

Would I? Here I was, optionally giving up my mate with out even talking to him about it because that's what I think he wants. My only chance at being with a guy that was literally made for me and I was handing him over to some other girl because she had first dibs? I wasn't even trying and this was my shot at a future, at a family and a happy life. I'm handing it over.

Maybe not, my wolf reminded me, we still need to talk to him. I gave her a sad smile because our chances on succeeding were slim to none.

"I hope I will," I muttered under my breath.

_____

Once the dishes were done and I'd finished the task for the day, I went on my other job in the pack- patrol.

I'm the second fastest runner in the Jade Forest Pack, Kian is the only one faster than me.

When we were little we used to play hide and seek for hours in these woods. We were both great at hiding but Kian was amazing at tracking while I couldn't even remember where I left my clothes before shifting. I can't tell you the amount of times he's had to get me clothes. We played it for as long as I can remember.

Until Hannah came, that is.

That's when things started to go to hell.

Wolf, I warned.

Well, I'm not wrong. She's changed everything for the worse.

I turned while walking and and made my way to the check point for all wolves on partol so we could get our stations and clarifications for the day. When I got there everyone was already talking and Kian was standing in front of a white board with names and stations on it that Mike had already assigned earlier today as part of his training for Alpha. Another glance told me that Hannah was no where to be seen.

This was no surprise for me, Hannah isn't technically part of the pack because she didn't mate with Kian or another pack memeber and doesn't need to have a job. She's considered a guest as of now.

Not for long.

Kian won't kick her out, he'll reject us. You know that.

Have faith, human.

Don't get your hopes up, wolf.

She grumbled a bit before settling down and keeping quiet. Kian called the group to order before handing out the assignments. Mine was near the end.

"Lila, Holly, Evan and I will be patrolling the western boarders. Everyone got their assignments and clarifications?"

"Yes, sir," everyone said in a semi unision.

Lila came up to me and gave me a smile, bumping my hip. She's one of my only friends in the pack, she's also one of the only people who don't see me as the soldier's sister or the oracle's sister. She see's me as a wolf and a friend.

She's really pretty with her dark skin and shining, brown eyes, she was born with black hair but died it a blond color last year to spite her parents when they said she couldn't become a soldier. She never did become one but she loves her hair color.

When we got outside Evan and Kian walked together a few yards in front of us and Lila flashed me a smile, her teeth bright and her eyes sparkling.

"A little birdie tells me that a certain blond wolf was caught swimming in the pond with out a stich on."

"I didn't know you were at the pond lately."

"You're a pain," she stopped talking and sniffed the air," What's that smell?"

"What smell?"

"It- It smells like you but- not quite..."

She elaned over and sniffed me agian, my neck in particular. I stumbled back to get away from her nose. I tripped over a raised root and fell backwards.