Shane

Wendy was sound asleep in my arms, but I was wide awake. My brain was swirling with thoughts. I could've lost her. Because of my jealousy and stupidity, she could've walked right out of my life. I pressed a light kiss to her head before slowly slipping out the bed. She stirred and curled up in the blankets before settling down.

I sighed, lucky that she didn't wake up. Quietly, I walked out the room and downstairs. Tyson was laying on the couch browsing through the channels on T.V. I plopped down on the love seat and he glanced at me for a split second. "Why aren't you sleeping?" he questioned, continuing to find something to watch. "And why aren't you wearing a shirt?" he asked as an afterthought.

I rolled my eyes at him. "Wendy's wearing my shirt. And it's not like I'm shirtless" I pointed out, tugging at my white-beater. Tyson rolled his eyes and lowered the volume on the T.V. until it was at zero. "What did you guys do before you came to the pack house?" I inquired.

Tyson sat up and sighed. "I picked her up, then we had breakfast at Ben's. We just talked, that's all" he assured me. "Did she tell you anything?" he asked.

I shook my head as I became curious. "Was there something that she should've told me?" I questioned. We were both kinda beating around the bush.

He bit his lip before turning his body towards me. "Long story short, I know about the Royal Mark. That's what we talked about, and she wanted to tell you that I knew. But you kinda..." he stated, trailing off.

Nodding, I ran my hand through my hair. "Thanks for not telling anyone" I said genuinely grateful. He shrugged like it was no big deal. "I went to a coven to get some info about it. That's where I was all of yesterday" I informed him.

"Did you find anything helpful?" Tyson asked.

Shaking my head, I sighed. "No. They told me some stories about people actually hunting the ones with Royal Marks. And that it's been over a decade since one has even been given. But I still have no idea how to get rid of it" I stated.

We were both quiet for a few moments. "Why'd you go to a coven? If you want to know about a Royal Mark, ask someone that knows about Royalty. It doesn't have to be a Royal family member. It could just be someone in the Royal pack. Or someone that just studied stuff about them" Tyson suggested.

I jumped off the love seat and plopped down next to Tyson. Our shoulders clashed together, causing him to lean to the opposite side. I reached up to ruffle his hair. "This is why we're best friends" I stated.

He scoffed and shoved my arm away. "You're best friends with me because you need my amazing advice and shit. I'm best friends with you out of pity. I mean, you would be such a lonely person without me" he teased.

Chuckling, I shoved him off the couch. Before he had a chance to retaliate, I jumped over the back of the couch and booked it upstairs. "Sleep with one eye open" Tyson mind-linked me. Luckily he's smart enough not to yell. Clara might wake up.

I ignored him as I returned back to Wendy's room.

***

I woke up to the sound of pots and pans. Wendy was gone, but I could hear the sound of her voice as she talked to someone downstairs. I forced myself out of the bed and stretched my arms out. After quickly fixing the bed, I walked outside. Halfway to the staircase, I heard the soft sound of Clara whimpering.

Turning around, I walked to her nursery. "Hi, sweetheart" I cooed, walking towards the crib. Her bottom lip jutted out and started quivering. "You're okay" I said in a kid voice, which made me sound extremely ridiculous. I carefully picked her up from her crib and held her on my hip.

I softly bounced her up and down to stop her from crying. A small giggle left her lips as she lifted her hand and grabbed onto the strap of my white-beater. She was probably stretching out my shirt, but I could always get a new one. I bounded down the stairs, making weird noises to make Clara laugh. "Do you smell that?" I blurted, still using that silly voice. "Bacon!" I shouted, bursting into the kitchen with Clara still connected to my hip.

Clara giggled loudly with hiccups in between her laughter. "She's awake" Maddi noted. I nodded my head, smiling at Clara. Her little tongue poked out as a smile stretched across her face. "I think she likes you" Maddi stated, before turning back around to focus on cooking.

Hearing her mother, Clara reached out for her and started making noises. "No. Mommy's cooking" I said softly, sitting on a stool at the island. "Let's watch Mommy cook with Aunt Wendy. Yeah?" I continued using that kid voice. Everyone has used that voice at some point in their life. It's nothing to be embarrassed about.

"Tyson and Ralph decided to have a race before breakfast. We didn't want to wake you up, so..." Wendy informed me, trailing off at the end.

Maddi scoffed, bumping her hip into Wendy's. "Little liar. Your mate over here didn't want to wake you up. The rest of us were glad to do it. But she profusely refused" Maddi told me.

I smiled as Wendy quickly turned and flipped a pancake. Both girls turned away from the stove to look at me. "I think she's stretching your shirt" Wendy commented. I shrugged; grabbing Clara's other hand that wasn't playing with my white-beater.

Her little hand clutched onto my index finger. I gently pulled my hand away when she tried to put it in her mouth. I will never understand why babies like putting things in their mouths. It's very unsanitary. Maddi laughed, whilst Wendy smiled. "I think you look even cuter with a baby" she stated. I'm pretty sure it was one of those moments where she didn't mean to say it aloud.

It's adorable at times. "Are you okay finishing up? I should feed Clara" Maddi told my mate. Wendy nodded and waved Maddi off. "Come here, baby" she cooed, grabbing the child from my arms. She continued mumbling things to Clara as she disappeared from the room.

Wendy turned back around and started cooking again. I got up and stood behind her. My arms were on either side of her body and I put my hands down. Due to the part of my brain that's supposed to have common sense being inoperable, I placed my hands on the stove. Cursing, I pulled my hands back. Wendy laughed and flipped another pancake. "Smooth, babe. Real smooth" Wendy said sarcastically, turning around to look at me.

"Don't make fun of me. You're supposed to kiss it better" I stated, holding my hands up. She rolled her eyes at me and shook her head. "But I have an ouchie" I said in a child's voice.

She chuckled and shook her head again. "I'm not kissing your hands. Clara was slobbering all over them" she reminded me. I frowned and faked sniffles. Wendy sighed as she shut off the stove. She turned back around and kissed my cheek. "Better?" she asked. I shook my head, causing her to kiss my other cheek.

Shaking my head again, I pulled her body closer to mine. "It still hurts" I mumbled, leaning forward. She laughed, before pressing her lips to mine. After a few moments, Wendy pulled away. I pouted at her.

Wendy went back on her tippy-toes to kiss me again. This one lasted longer, but she was the one to pull away again. "My toes hurt" she complained in a breathy voice. Laughing, I lifted her up and placed her on the countertop.

I stood between her legs and leaned down so our lips were centimeters away. "Better?" I asked. She nodded before reaching up and pulling my head to hers.

"Really guys?! Next to the food?" We both ignored the voice and continued. It only lasted a few more seconds until someone flicked my ear. I scowled, turning to face Ralph. He shrugged and grabbed a piece of bacon. "You guys are ruining bacon for me" he stated.

I grabbed the tray of bacon and handed it to Ralph. Reaching over the stove, I grabbed the platter of pancakes and gave it to Tyson. "Make yourselves scarce" I demanded.

They nodded and began walking out. "Hey! Don't make a baby in my kitchen!" Ralph yelled before the kitchen door closed.

Laughing, I turned my attention to Wendy. "Who's pants are you wearing?" I questioned, looking at her covered legs.

She pulled at the fabric, allowing me to see how baggy it is. "It's Ralph's. Remember, I have no clothes here" she reminded me.

I nodded and played with the hem of my shirt which she was wearing. "I forgot to tell you that I picked up your clothes. They're in my closet. I was gonna bring them to my grandma's house" I told her.

She didn't respond; instead, she pulled me back to her again. "Are you okay?" I asked, pulling away. Wendy nodded, quickly stretching her neck to kiss me. "You sure?" I inquired, interrupting the kiss.

"Shane!" Tyson shouted, coming into the kitchen. "I think Wendy should go upstairs" he stated. I turned around and shot him a questioning look. "You'll understand in a few minutes. I'll be outside" he told us, quickly leaving from the back door.

I looked at Wendy, puzzled expressions on both our faces. "What is-" I froze, inhaling through my nose. "I get it now" I said, in a strained voice. "Ralph! Get in here!" I shouted.

I backed away from Wendy, causing her lips to curve down into a frown. "What? What's happening?" Wendy asked, dropping her hands on her lap.

Digging my teeth into my lip, I forced my feet to move me further away. Ralph came in and moved to Wendy's side as she hopped off the countertop. "Shane?" she said quietly, her voice sounding saddened. "What'd I do?" she asked.

Shaking my head, my body moved on it's own accord. I stood in front of her and cradled her face in my palm of my hands. The logical part of me took over and I lightly pressed my lips to her forehead. "I'll be back. I promise" I mumbled. She slowly nodded, before I dropped my hands and slipped out the back door. Tyson was standing relatively far from the house.

Once I was standing by him, I turned and faced the house. "She doesn't know yet. Does she?" Tyson asked, also staring at the house. I shook my head. "Her wolf was holding it back" he stated. I had guessed that. It's impossible for Wendy to not feel her heat starting. I could smell it, Tyson could smell it. But she just couldn't feel the pain. Her wolf is probably blocking it from her. Wendy just felt lust. Which explains what happened in the kitchen.

"We should get out of here. She's gonna feel it soon" I suggested. There is no way that her wolf can hold off the pain until Wendy's heat is over. But I'll give it to her, that wolf is stronger than the smell of vinegar.

Tyson nodded and we started walking further away from the house and closer to the forest. "Thanks. I knew something was wrong, but I didn't even think about that happening" I told him.

He shrugged and pushed me away from him. "That's what best friends are for. I'll tell you the mysterious reason why your mate is horny" he smirked at me. Chuckling, I shoved him back. "So what are we gonna do today?" Tyson asked.

Shrugging, I ran a hand through my hair. "We can-" I was cut off by the unmistakable sound of my screaming mate. We both stopped walking. I glanced back in the direction of the house that was no longer in sight. I could easily go back there and stop the pain. But it would further complicate things. Tyson gave me a sympathetic look, knowing what I was thinking. "I'll race you around the perimeter" I changed the subject.

He wasted no time and shifted. I also shifted, ripping up my clothes. We sprinted off, head to head. However, my mind was drifting to my mate.

I just hoped she would be okay at Ralph's house.  

__________________________________________________________________________________

"And then something invisible snapped inside her, and that which had come together commenced to fall apart."

-John Green (Looking for Alaska)

It's been over 2 weeks; and I'm sorry for the long wait. Things have been rough lately. And yeah...

Kayyyzzz Byeeezzzz

~A.J.