"Monkey, where are you headed?" Mom says, catching me before I can make it out the door.

Looking around the room, I see that no one else is here, but I don't want to risk someone overhearing the truth. "Just going to hang out with Beckett."

Mom raises a knowing eyebrow, seeing right through me as he always does. He just sighs, picking up a journal from the counter and handing it to me. "Can you drop this off at the alpha's house on your way to see Beckett. It's the new curriculum for my students next year, and I need it to be approved."

Nodding my head, I go to take the files from Mom, but he holds tight, giving them a small jerk so that I stumble forward. "How is Matty doing?" he asks, voice low. "Liam says that he has really been struggling the past few weeks."

Shrugging my shoulders, I try not to let my worry show through, but it is no use trying to hide something from Mom. He just watches me, clearly not going to let me go until I answer his question.

"He's been having a hard time the last few weeks. Some of the pack members have been picking on him, but the alphas didn't let it continue. But there is still a lot of disdain. Apparently people think that he is seducing me, and they wanted him kicked out at the council meeting. But those are just the traditionalists. Don't even know we let them stay here."

Mom nods, finally letting go of the journal. "Give my love to him."

Not wasting another second, I leave the house, the door closing quietly behind me. No use letting Henry know that I am going out. He and Rosalie have been driving me crazy lately. We are supposed to try and work everything out, but I just get so angry with them every time they talk to me. It isn't healthy, but apparently, I am the only one who can see that.

The walk to Matty's house is awkward. People who are milling about are staring, murmuring to each other as they watch me knock on the front door. I barely manage to keep myself from snapping at them all, so I settle for glaring.

The door opens a moment later, and Gwen is standing there. She is leaning her hip against the door, arms crossed over her chest as she runs her eyes up and down my body. "You aren't supposed to be here."

Raising my own eyebrow, I hand her the journal. "I'm not here to see him. Mom sent me over to give this to your parents."

She doesn't say anything for a moment, before finally taking the journal. She looks behind her, pulling me into the house, closing the door behind me. "Matty refuses to tell you, but I think you should know."

Immediately worry starts to spread through me. "Tell me what?"

She bites her lip, looking like she is hesitating. Eventually, she lets out a long breath. "He hasn't been feeling good lately. He is always sleeping and always eating. Something is different, but I can't figure out what. And he refuses to go see the doctor."

"Can't blame him," I murmur. Taylor is the pack physician, and since he doesn't exactly like Matty anymore, I can see why Matty is putting off seeing him. Letting out a long sigh, I give her a quick hug. "I'll talk to him."

She nods, pulling away from me when someone calls her from the back of the house. "Better go find Matty. He is waiting for you in the treehouse."

"Thanks."

The walk to the tree house is much more peaceful than the walk between the houses. Most people are busy working, but Jesse gave me the day off since we have spent the past two weeks tracking game, trying to bring in enough meat for Winter. Everything is strictly regulated, so we have to track all the animal populations, making sure we never over hunt.

But I appreciate the time off. I haven't seen Matty in over a week. It is the longest I have ever gone without talking to him. Even when we were little, we were by each other's sides. This whole ordeal, being forced to be apart because of old traditions, is so ridiculous. I have never felt so betrayed by my own pack mates.

Shaking my head, I try to clear those thoughts from my head. It seems like I made it all the way to the tree house while my mind wandered. My feet seemed to have carried me without me having to direct them.

A familiar head peeks out of the window of the tree house. A few seconds later, the hatch is opened, and the ladder is thrown down. The swaying of the ladder still gets to me, but I ignore the urge to look down.

Once I am inside, I make sure to close and lock the hatch, ensuring our privacy. Matty pounces on me then, his mouth against mine.

The heat of him feels wonderful, and pulling him up, I carry him to the mattress in the back of the tree house. But, instead of the kissing turning into something else, Matty pulls away, looking up at me.

We lay there in silence for what seems like forever, the breeze from outside bringing in fresh air. It feels wonderful to just lay here with Matty, feeling him in my arms. It is something I have always wished for. But, for now, this is all I can have.

We must have drifted off, because next thing I know, I am waking up, both of us on our sides. Matty's face is buried in my neck, arm slung over my waist. The warmth between us is almost unbearable, but I don't even think about moving.

Peeking out the window, I see that the sun is getting close to setting. Despite how much I hate it, I have to head back soon. Somehow, I got roped into having dinner with Henry and Rosalie's family.

Matty looks so peaceful against me, but I slowly start to wake him up, wanting a chance to say goodbye, rather than just slipping away while he sleeps. He murmurs as I brush the hair out of his face, eyes finally fluttering open when I start pressing kisses on his cheeks.

"Hm." He leans up to give me a slow, warm kiss. Everything is content. He nuzzles into me again, taking a deep breath before relaxing back into the mattress.

"I forgot to ask you earlier," I say, rubbing circles on his back. "But are you feeling alright?" He tenses against me, making me pull away slightly, trying to meet his eyes. "You know you can tell me, right?"

He doesn't say anything, just bites his lip. He seems to be seriously contemplating something, and that has me worrying. Leaning down, I press a kiss to his lips, not stopping until he relaxes again.

"I-I." He looks up at me, eyes wide and shiny. "I have been feeling pretty tired lately. But I didn't think it was too bad."

"Maybe you should talk to someone about it?"

He tenses again, shaking his head. "No way. Taylor isn't even speaking to me. There is no way he would see me."

"Doesn't he have to? He is the pack doctor."

He just shakes his head again, turning around and scooting back against me. I can see it for the defensive maneuver that it is, but I don't say anything. Instead, I just wrap my arm around him, hand settling low on his stomach. "I don't want to see him if I don't absolutely have to."

"What about Noah? Isn't he training with Taylor?"

Matty stills, before murmuring, "I hadn't thought of that."

"He's on our side. He'll be just as concerned as the rest of us."

"Rest of us?" Matty peeks over his shoulder at me, clearly curious.

"Well, Gwen did point out to me that you have been acting differently."

"I can't believe-"

"Hey now, don't be getting upset with her. I've been gone for over a week, and I am happy that someone is looking out for you. She loves you. Let her fret."

Matty grumbles but doesn't say anything else on the manner. A light flashes against the wall, and I groan. That means it's time to go. The sun hit a certain spot in the sky, telling me I have twenty minutes until I have to be at that dinner.

"I have to go," I whisper, pressing a few kisses to Matty's shoulder.

Matty turns around, hand resting on my chest as he looks up at me. "When can I see you again?"

Shaking my head, I lean down to give him a kiss, reluctantly pulling away. "I don't know yet. Jesse plans for us to be out for another week starting tomorrow. I'll let you know as soon as I get back.

Matty nods his head, eyes looking glassy. Reaching forward, I rest my hand on his cheek, thumb wiping away some of the wetness that overspills. Matty wraps me tight in his arms, holding me as close as possible. Too soon for my liking, I have to pull away. Matty accepts my kisses, his tears falling freely now.

"Love you," he whispers, darting forwards for one last kiss.

"Love you too, so much."

It physically hurts to push myself up from the mattress, heart aching. My wolf spirit is happy to see me go, trying to get me to seek out my mates. The part of my spirit that is just me, however, dreads the evening to come. I wish I could just lay here with Matty forever, or that we could have our own home in the pack house. Someplace to call our home, instead of having to sneak around just to see each other for a few hours.

The sun is setting as I walk back towards the houses. There is a crisp breeze in the air, and I am thankful for it. The bite of cold is enough to wake me up, to keep me pushing forward.

I make it to my house in just enough time. Mom is waiting for me, as usual. He wraps me in a tight hug, letting me bury my head in his neck as I seek his comforting scent.

"It will be alright," he whispers, pressing a kiss against my hair.

"When?" I choke out, barely suppressing my own tears.

"Soon, monkey, soon."

My wolf lets out a curl of delight when Henry walks into the room. I have to clench my jaw and fists to keep my wolf spirit from throwing myself at him. I can see now what the council members said about my wolf going crazy if I refuse to finish the mating process. But I just can't do that to Matty.

"Time to go," Henry says, handing me a light jacket. Forcing myself forward, I take the jacket from him and follow him out of the house. While my feet carry me towards the house containing my mate, my soul remains back with Matty in the treehouse.