They gave her two full pages worth.

If she followed all their rules, she'd never get to know Vallen or spend time with him. She'd like to assume that mates had a different set of rules, but the girls had assured her that in public their mother was hardly ever seen talking to their father. Not out loud, and he wasn't even an alpha.

In private, with just family, they'd never seen their mother have a harsh word for their father or ever disobey him. The man was head of the family, and the alpha was head of the pack.

Nevaeha finished fixing herself a sandwich for dinner. It was all quite depressing. That wasn't the kind of relationship she wanted, but it did kind of make sense.

Look at Sampson and Ann. As close as they are, no one could ever doubt who had the final say.

She couldn't see any of her ancestors being that kind of wife.

On the other hand, Vallen was new to the Bloodstone pack. She'd hate to be the reason his people didn't respect him.

Her being his mate was already a mark against him.

When she felt he was near, she started making him a tomato sandwich too and when he came in the back door; she pushed it towards him.

She was surprised to see him today. She was sure that he'd stay away since he'd shut her out all day.

Nevaeha fixed him a glass of milk and pushed it his way too.

She didn't like not knowing what to say to him and she didn't like not going to him and hugging him.

"Why the sullen mood?"

She finally looked at him. "I don't like it when we fight. Are you still upset with me?"

He grunted and took a bite of his sandwich.

Nevaeha went around the counter and wrapped her arms around his waist. Buried her face in his chest.

After a long moment, he put his cheek on top of her head.

Greedily, she'd accept any peace offering she could get. "Are you embarrassed by me, Vallen?"

"I'd have to care what people think and I don't."

"Then why were you so upset with me?" She looked up at him. "I'm sorry the fates stuck you with me."

"Me too."

Instead of feeling worse, she nodded at him. "There are benefits to you getting me."

"You keep saying that, but all you've come up with is pie."

"There's lots of them. I'll try to do better when other shifters are around. I won't be any good at it, but I'll try."

He grunted again, but after a moment he tilted her face up and kissed her softly, then he pushed her out of his arms and went back to eating his sandwich.

He didn't say it, but she knew he didn't like fighting with her either.

"I talked to Athena's sisters. Their father will be here on Monday for them. Vallen, please tell me you aren't one of those alphas who isn't going to ever let her see her family."

"Cato is her family now."

"True, but that shouldn't mean she'll never see her brother and sisters again. Her mom and her dad. If mine were alive, I'd never stop seeing them just because we are mates."

"You'd do whatever I tell you to do."

She could feel another fight coming on. "That isn't the way it's meant to be. Don't you want a better relationship between us than your mother and father had?"

"Since I didn't beat you in front of those two girls for your insolent then we already have a different relationship, but I refuse to be weak."

"To me, being a good mate doesn't mean you're weak. Doesn't it take a strong man to be his own man? To be a better man when he's only known abuse? Your father is the weak one. You are better than him on your worse days. You couldn't be like him if you tried."

He pushed his plate away. "And you're delusional. To beat him, I'll have to be like him."

"You're wrong. To beat him, we are going to stand together. You have something that he couldn't possibly have."

He rolled his eyes. "A pain in the ass witch who doesn't know boundaries?"

"A pain in the ass witch who isn't going to let anything happen to you. You have the trust and loyalty of your people and the Bloodstone pack. You have a magical town backing you."

"The magical town is undecided as yet, and I don't know how trusting and loyal the Bloodstone pack is. Not yet."

"No one can be loyal to a man like your father."

"No, but he has something better than their loyalty. They fear him."

"You're wrong. Nothing is better than loyalty."

"Nothing is better than a witch who minds her own business and lets me oversee my own affairs."

Nevaeha snorted. "That's not going to happen. That just isn't the type of mate you're getting, so it must not be the type of mate you need." She reached across the table to pat his hand. "I have a list of rules. I'll try to find some I can try to follow. At least while we are around other shifters. Which I'd like to point out you won't let me do right now, anyway."

"Not now, not ever. Even once I'm not hiding you from my father, there's no reason for you to ever be on pack land."

"When we are mated_."

"Who says we will be?"

Her eyes narrowed. "You did. Just the other day."

He gave her a fake, innocent look. "I'm sure you misunderstood."

"When we are mated..." She grounded out the words. "If I'll have you. Then I'll have to be a part of the pack. I'll be the alpha female."

He nearly choked.

"Or are you saying you are too embarrassed to be mated to a witch?"

"To be embarrassed, I'd have to care_."

"Yeah, you said that. Then why?"

Instead of answering her, he crocked his finger at her.

Narrowing her eyes, she went around the counter. If he was thinking about beating her, then they were about to have the biggest of fights.

He got in her face again. "Don't question me." He said, his voice low.

"Or what?"

He sighed at another question from her and picked her up.

Before she could become too worried about it, he sat her on the counter and moved between her legs.

She forgot everything. Even how to breathe.

She knew this had the opposite effect on him than he'd wanted it to. He thought he'd have the upper hand, but instead he forgot everything, too.