We hurried downstairs after we had both changed into clean clothes. I clutched Tyler's hand in my own as I rushed down the steps, the scent of bacon and pancakes already wafting to my nose. When we got down there I saw that everyone was there, even Kian, who was almost fully recovered from his attack with the help of both his mate and his supernatural healing powers.

When we stopped in front of everyone and they all looked up at us I couldn't help the smile that fought it's way through. Holly stood up and walked over to me with her eyes squinted and zero-ed in on something; my neck.

"Shut up," she whispered when she got close before yelling it again," Shut up! No, tell me that's what I think it is!"

"It is," I said while nodding. She moved my head to the side and pulled my hair back to get a better view, causing Tyler to let out a low growl. I guess he thinks of it as his special spot.

"Wow, it's so beautiful," she said. Kian went up behind her to get a better look, he put his chin on her shoulder.

"I think I've seen one more beautiful," he whispered to her.

She smacked his arm and he backed away laughing. Luna Catherine came up to see it as well and Alpha Jack stood behind us all smiling and congratulating us. The loud sound of a chair scraping against the floor made us all look up just in time to see Mike storm out. The Luna gave me an apologetic smile.

"Don't you worry, dear, he'll get used to it."

"I know," I think I muttered. I looked up at Tyler," I think I should go talk to him still."

I could feel it through our bond that he didn't like the idea but he released my waist anyway. I pulled away from our little crowd of fans and went outside, pulling on a pair of boots on my way out.

"Mike!"

He didn't stop when I shouted to him, rather started walking faster.

"Mike, you need to stop! We have to talk about this."

"No, we don't," he whirled around to face me," You've made your choice very clear!

"What choice? Mike, he's my mate."

"You say that like it means something. You could have rejected him, Nova!"

"It's not as cut and clear as you make it sound," I took a deep breath before continuing," There are feelings involved. That makes things messy, you know that."

"Do I? The way you say it, I sound like the most heartless man on the planet."

"You know that's not what I meant," I ran my finger's through my hair in exasperation," God, if you would just listen to me for once with out letting your mammoth ego get in the way-"

"Yeah? Well, me and my 'mammoth ego' are the only things keeping you in this pack," he pointed a threatening finger at so you better start listening to me, Nova, or else things will get ugly, fast."

I stared at him in disbelief for a moment before turning around and going back to the house. He didn't try to follow me, rather just shouted.

"Where the hell are you going?!"

"Anywhere you're not, asshole!"

I stormed back into the house, muttering little cusses and swears under my breath all the while. I stomped the snow off my boots and hung up the coat I had grabbed on the was out before returning to the dining room.

Only Tyler was in there when I got back, he was sitting in a chair on backwards with his legs on either side of it and his arms crossed and resting on top of the back of it. He leaned his chin against it when I came in and smile at me slightly.

"Hey," he whispered quietly. I went over to him and kneeled on the floor in front of his chair, resting my forehead against the back of the chair so that it was an inch of so from his chin.

"Mike's awful," I managed to get out through my anger," Where is everybody?"

"I sensed that you were upset and asked them to leave so you could cool off."

"Thank you."

We sat in this comfortable silence for a while, neither of us daring to break this moment of peace. Just one moment, that's all we asked for and now that we have it I won't waste it. The cracking of burning wood in the fireplace, the soft whispers of his shirt and the chairs fabric clashing as he breathed, the snowflakes hitting the window panes. It was all so peaceful, so perfect. Then I realized something.

"What are we gonna do now," I asked him. He sighed and picked up his chin from the chair before lifting my face with both his hands so that I looked at him.

"Now we're gonna stand up, dust ourselves off and do it all over again," he thought for a minute before smiling and adding," Think of yourself like Gandhi. Not really fighting, but not letting it happen anyway."

"That's actually a really good way to think about it," I replied softly. I really admire Gandhi and I don't know if it's the mate thing but I'm glad that he at least knows of him and his ethics.

"I know it is, I thought of it."

I punch his shoulder lightly and he lets me

We both smile gently at each other before moving over to the living room so that we're not sitting in the dining room anymore at least. I took a seat on the worn out couch first, pulling him down with me after I'd situated myself. His arm encased my shoulder and my head found it's rightful place on his shoulder as we both stared into the flames of the fire place.

The orange flames twisted and danced in the fireplace, their beauty and heat amplified by the pale morning light struggling against the light curtains over the windows. I sighed from the warmth and comfort before hearing a growl so low it could have been the embers breaking. Then I felt a small pull.

Tyler was using our mate connection to get me to look up at him. I squirmed against him and poked him in the ribs.

"That's not what the connection's supposed to be used for," I murmured to him, surprised to hear my own voice.

"But it's so easy," he whispered next to my ear. I felt shivers run up and down my spine and struggled against my wolf to not turn around and look at him, knowing what would happen if I do.

When he put his fingers on my chin and pulled my face to look at him, I found myself powerless to fight it. His eyes were deep, deep red as he looked into my brown ones. He slowly leaned down to kiss me softly. I couldn't find the strength to move so he continued to kiss my gently and softly, adding a little more pressure every time I didn't respond.

I snapped out of my little daze and started to kiss him back, returning his pressure for more pressure. His persistence for more persistence. My hands wandered from their place in my lap to his chest where they grabbed fistfuls of his shirt to pull him closer to me. He growled when I tugged on him and wrapped his arms around me instead, pulling me onto him as he fell back on the couch. I went willingly.

His head rose from the couch a little to make sure that our kiss didn't break as his hands moved to my waist. I pulled away, pecking his lips once before moving to his jaw line. I kissed a line from the meeting place of his jaw and ear down to the base of his neck then to my mark on his neck. His hands tightened on my hips as I slowly licked my mark, my own moving to the hem of his shirt to slide under and onto his chest, enjoying the sparks at our touch.

He groaned lowly as I moved my hands up and down his muscled stomach. My lips returned to his immediately but almost as soon as they did my phone began ringing.

When I tried to pull away to answer it his growled and pulled me closer, slipping his tongue into my mouth. I moaned against his touch and forgot about the phone, my hands going to his cheeks instead.

But my phone kept ringing.

And ringing.

In the end it was Tyler who pulled us apart and grabbed my phone.

"Hello," he said in a very annoyed voice before listening for a second and handing me the phone, mumbling an "it's Faye" as he did. He rubbed his face with his hands as I took the phone in one hand, the other rubbing his back a little.

"Nova, I need you to get here. Now."

I sighed and told her I'd be there soon before hanging up.

And just like that the perfect moment's gone and I'm not longer Nova: Tyler's mate, I'm Nova: The Oracle of Wolves.