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Eliane POV

I don't know how we slept through the night but somehow we did, it felt as if the wolves observing the house were guarding us instead. Maya was up first and headed for a long shower so I went to my room. My room is so amazing, way bigger than my old one and even bigger than Maya's but she didn't mind, actually, she insisted that I take it since my in-suite bathroom had a bathtub and she knew how much I love taking baths.

I was already thinking about redecorating the plain gray walls, painting them in pink or purple or just picking a nice themed wallpaper, I had so many ideas running through my head that I started feeling intoxicated.

I went rummaging through my bags for a clean outfit then took all my dirty clothes collected through our road trip and put them apart, I added machine detergent in my list. I always make a list of all the things that we have to buy every time we move from one house to another. At first I didn't dare add my input concerning groceries, since It was Maya's money. She asked me so many time to buy anything I wanted, but at that time I didn't want to add to her burden. But after seeing what the trash she ends up buying, I stepped in. One day I'll pay her back for sure.

While going through my business I never looked from the windows, I could accidentally make eye contact with one of the wolfs watching us from the woods, we're supposed to act clueless. They don't seem to realize that I could feel the presence of every single one of them around us. I finally went for a shower too, taking my time washing my hair and my body. When I was drying myself, I heard Maya coming in my room and jumping on my bed, I smiled and finished putting my clothes on.

I walked out of the bathroom expecting her to be sleeping on the bed but she was standing by a now opened window. She was dressed to go out, black bootcut jeans with her gray converse and a cute XXL gray mid-thigh hoodie. Always dressing to camouflage her curves, Curves I would die to have. While I was a small 5.1 foot girl with no particular trait that could distinguish me from the crowd, she was a 5.5 foot woman with all the needed curves in the needed places. The funny part is, despite the fact that she tries so hard not to attract attention to her self, there is always eyes following her movements.

"Let's go out for breakfast" she was very excited, "You mean brunch right" I said rolling my eyes, "Whatever gorgeous, we could explore town and go shopping, maybe watch a movie too, how about 'Frozen II' it's out", I threw a pillow at her, "I'm not a kid anymore, stop being treating me like one" She dodged it then laughed, "Really, and who's the one who was singing 'let it go' in the shower few minutes ago", she was teasing me hard while they were listening to our conversation, I could feel my face burning from embarrassment, she laughed harder. "Sorry, gorgeous, come on get ready" I playfully pushed her toward the door, "You're not sorry at all, you're a bully", she kept laughing and walked out.

We parked the car and walked around town looking for a place to eat. Me, I wasn't thinking about food at all, being around so many pack members made me very nervous. She held my hand and led me to a small dinner. We walked inside and chose a table by the window, there was a couple of teen werewolves sitting there probably mates, I could tell from the way the boy put a protective arm around the girl and glared my way the moment our eyes met. I looked away feeling hurt from their rejection, I kind of anticipated this kind of reaction but it still hurts to go through it.

"Why don't you go and say Hi?" Maya whispered to me, I looked at her with wild eyes, is she serious, I kept staring at her but she didn't seem to be joking. I looked back at the kids and they were staring at her too, the boy had a frown on and the girl was mirroring my reaction. The boy stood up and dragged his mate out. "I don't think they want to be friends with me" I whispered back, somehow my voice broke at the end, it's been a while since I've been around kids my own age and their reaction threw me back into anxiety.

I felt a presence approaching us but I didn't look up, trying hard to hold the tears threatening to fall. "Hello ladies, what can I get for you?", at the friendly tone, I looked up and I saw a beautiful girl in her twenties, she wore a dark apron with the name of the dinner on it, she was human. "I'll just have a ristretto and water please, What about you gorgeous?" I let out a long sigh, "She'll have Fried Egg and Avocado Toasts with her coffee and I'll have the Tropical Smoothie Bowl, thank you very much" Maya rolled her eyes and didn't complain, the waitress took our order and walked away.

"Don't worry gorgeous you'll make friends, no one can resist your cuteness for too long", I nodded and looked away fighting my tears, "And no matter what, you still got me", she said looking from the window at the busy street. "You and me against the world?", I ask remembering what she promised when she took me in, she looked back at me and took my hands in hers, "You and me against the world, always", the way she said it calmed me instantly.

We took our time eating, and enjoying the view of the busy street. Strangely, except for the human customer, no more werewolves walked in. When we were done, we paid and left for the supermarket, the nice waitress gave us directions. We picked a cart and of course Maya started teasing me and asked me if I wanted to get a ride in it, and like usual I had to remind her that I'm not a kid anymore. I had the list of our necessities so I was in charge. We started going slowly through the different sections. We took our time picking up all the needed items, especially while choosing the vegetable and fruits. As usual I had to keep an eye on Maya so she won't put any junk food in the cart, not that I could really stop her but at least I could limit the quantity.

Of course we had the usual surprised and cautious looks from the pack member present there, but no one made a move. When we were waiting in line at the register, a tall boy stood just behind us. He was so tall compared to me, that I barely reached his elbow. He was staring so hard at me that goosebumps erupted all over my skin, I could feel his body heat hitting me in waves, I couldn't breath. I was getting nervous so I subconsciously reached for Maya's hand and leaned on her shoulder taking in her calming scent . She looked at me then at the intimidating guy behind me but she didn't flinch at his overwhelming aura. She pulled me away from him so he shifted his gaze on her and they kept their staring contest until it was our turn to pay.

I busied myself with organizing our grocery in the bags and back in the cart but I still felt his eyes on me, I didn't dare to look back at him, I wanted to leave as soon as possible. "Let's go gorgeous" Maya lead the way back to the car, unlocked it and started unloading our purchases. With our luck, the guy had his car parked next to ours and he has resumed his intense staring. "She's not allowed to date, so don't waste your time" she said out of the blue, "What???" we said in the same time. She looked at him, "You've been staring like a perv from the moment we walked in, so I'm just informing you" then turned to me not giving him time to reply, "Unless he's your mate". When she mentioned the mate part I locked eyes with the red haired green eyed boy somehow both of us blushing. "No he's not", I said in a whisper. He opened and closed his month a couple of times without making a sound then got in his car and drove away as if he was running away from the devil.

I stared at his disappearing car, I don't remember anything that happened after that. I don't remember how I got in the car, I don't remember the drive back to the house or how I got inside. All I know is that when I snapped out from my daze I was in the kitchen organizing the pantry and Maya was leaning on the counter drinking coffee from a paper cup, 'Where did she buy It? Did we make a stop on our way back?. She was silently observing me, waiting for me to snap out of it, she always gave me space never pushing for answers.

"What?", I asked her, snapped at her would be more accurate, I avoided making eye contact, "You tell me", I didn't answer her, "Is it the dating thing? you know I just said it so he would back off, You're free to date if you feel like it", her voice was low and soft as if she's trying to pacify me. I looked into her worried eyes, somehow I couldn't keep it bottled in me and started crying like a kid. She rushed to me hugging me tenderly, making me cry harder. She kept whispering sweet nothing, telling me that I'm safe and that she'll always be with me.

I cried till I had no tears left, now we're sitting on the floor, me still in her arms hiccuping and her stoking my hair and kissing the top of my head. "Gorgeous, what's wrong?" she asked me when I calmed down, I shook my head, "You won't understand" I told her not wanting to talk about it. She pulled away from me, making me whimper and lifted my shin to make me face her, "I know that there are things that I can't understand or help you get through but, I'll always listen to you", she pulled me back in her arms, "Sometimes, saying things out-loud can help" she said while she rubbed my back.

Should I say it, but if I say it out-loud It would make it real and it would worry her. Maybe she would become cautious when she talks to me or when she tease me. I wouldn't like it, I love how she treats me but if it's her she wouldn't change right? I pondered over it for few minute still not sure. "Not talking and crying it out, is OK too, just don't keep it all in, it's not good for your heart" she hugged me tighter and I went back to sobbing like a kid. No wonder she always treats me like one. I cried more until my head hurt and my whole face was swollen, until I fell asleep.

When I woke up, Maya was still holding me. It was dark now and a bit chilly. I shifted in her arm not wanting to leave the warmth of her embrace. "What time is it?", my voice was so hoarse that it startled me. Maya picked her phone from her pocket, "5:30 gorgeous", I shouted up, "5:30!!! How long was I out?", She laughed at my reaction and stood up while wincing, "Almost 3 hours, sleepy head". She walked to the sofa to lay down on her back. I followed her and sat on the rag carpet laying my head next to her stomach, waiting for her to stroke my hair, and she did it. She unlocked her phone with the other hand and started her play list on full volume then put down on her other side and closed her eyes.

I stared at her for a couple of minutes, I knew she wasn't sleeping, she was just giving me time to collect my thoughts. I moved closer to her head. "I don't want to meet my Mate" I whispered lowly. "She opened her eyes, turned on her side facing me, "And why is that?", "He'll reject me". She sighted, "Again why?". I gulped trying to find the right words to explain, "Look at me" I expected her to understand what I meant but the look in her eyes was puzzled. "Gorgeous, I'm looking at you, I've been looking at you for years, why would he reject you". A single tear fell against my will, "because I'm.....not......pretty", she sat uprightly the moment those words left my lips, "Who said that? When? Eliane, who told you you're not pretty?".

She was angry, she called me by name, she only do it when she gets angry. During our years of cohabitation she got angry in front of me twice, only twice, three times now. Cool, easygoing people are the scariest when they are angry. My lips were trembling, my throat was dry, I know her anger is not directed at me but still I'm scared. "Was it at the dinner? the stupid couple there? the supermarket? IT WAS THAT SHITTY TALL BRAT? HE'S DEAD", She stood up took her car keys and went for the door mumbling something about finding the piece of shit and castrating him. I bolted to the door and blocked it with my body, startling her with my superhuman speed. "No, No, No, no one told me, I always thought so myself, beside I'm a rogue making me disgusting as a mate and let's not forget how suspicious and dangerous I am for any pack, and with all the looks they gave me today, It's just a... fact now" I said it all in a single breath, more tears were falling now.

The room was blasting with music and my loud breathing, did I reach her?, she didn't move, she was just staring at me, her face was blank, making her scarier. After few minutes, she sighed and walked back to the sofa, sitting down and sighing again. "Are you sure no one said anything to you? here or anywhere we've been?", I was sitting next to her now. "No one, I promise". I leaned my head on her shoulder, 'I can't believe it she was about to chase a werewolf to castrate him, just to avenge me', I giggled at her unexpected reaction. All my sad and bad thoughts were long gone now. "You do remember that you're human, a slow and fragile one compared to any werewolf", she snorted, "Thanks for the trust Gorgeous", she leaned her head on mine and I smiled, she's back to calling me Gorgeous".

"Your hair is like sunlight, different shiny shades beaming with energy, so soft that once I start touching it I can't stop anymore", I pulled my head away looking at her, not understanding what she was talking about, "Your eyes, oh God your eyes have the most beautiful color, when you're inside they are a beautiful hazel color with a green ring but when you're outside they become a lovely honey color and whenever I look at you I feel like lost in them", She wiped away tears I didn't know I was shedding, "You're skin is so perfect and glowing, that it makes me jealous", I giggled, "All put together, we have this Gorgeous girl, a Gorgeous one no matter what she's wearing, even when she's crying and her face is puffy, she's somehow the cutest girl I've ever seen", I went back to being a sobbing mess. "Let's not forget that you are a MASTER CHEF, tell me now, what king of man would reject a beautiful cook?", she hugged me for tenth time today, " and you know what, You're not a rogue, you have me, I'm your pack, you and me against the world, remember?", my pack? We are a pack? we are a pack, "And if anyone gives you shit, tell me, I'am good at burying corpse", Oh my! What did I do to have her in my life? She convinced me, I'll give it a chance, I'll give this new start a fair chance, even if doesn't work out, I still got Maya, My Pack!!.

I stayed in her arms enjoying my new found confidence, I was so lost in my happy thoughts that I failed to notice the strong and powerful auras approaching the house until they rang the doorbell.