Nickoli arrived shortly after Mason with Dmitri, Jack, and Lawrence, who arrived about 30 minutes later. I was thankful for the leaders being here to meet with the rest of their people before they showed up, the ones that I had not met and the ones that were not interested in becoming allies to begin with. Lawrence and Jack stood side by side greeting their members as they came, introducing them to the other leader, so far so good.

Shortly after the others started to arrive and just like a grade school dance where the boys took up one side of the gym and the girls on the other; the wolves stayed to the right, and the lions to the left. I laughed at the sight, but decided to give it some more time before I shook things up. I was never one to let things go for too long.

Dmitri and Nickoli stayed close but gave me room and even talked with each other some, which put a smile on my face. Even if it was weird and somewhat uncomfortable seeing the two men I was dating, talking and occasionally glance my way with a goofy smile. Things were going well so far, splitting my time equally between the two. No mention of the sex issue and a part of me was relieved, but was also the very thing that drove crazy. Barriers back in place making sure not to get to sidetracked; kept me alone at night and very horny.

Matt showed up with a few reluctant lions shortly after people began to arrive, giving me a small smile and wave. I hadn't had a chance to talk to him. Since the day at the clearing when Dmitri and Nickoli were going to fight to be my mate and that unexpected kiss he gave me, Matt seemed to be off, he had pulled himself away and I didn't understand why. The few times I had been at Furball's he had stayed behind the bar or left to run some kind of errand and had not come over with Mason at all.

"Mason?" I didn't have to call out loudly; neither of us left each other's side more than a few minutes at a time. "Is Matt alright?" I asked, hoping he would know. They have become very close friends since I introduced them and was happy about that. They were each other's missing piece of the puzzle.

"As far as I know. Why?" he asked.

Looking over in Matt's direction, still the smiling guy I knew, but there was something off. "He doesn't seem himself lately and thought you might know," I said, if Mason didn't think much of it, there probably was not anything to worry about.

"Do you want me to go talk to him?" Now he sounded worried, sensing my unease of the situation, as he too looked over.

"No, it's Ok. I will later," I turned and smiled, "I'm going to go talk to Jack and Lawrence," giving his hand a squeeze before leaving.

* * *
NICKOLI

I kept Sam in my sights at all times while making my rounds. Tension was high, but to be expected. The separation between us and the wolves was slowly closing in as everyone started to relax and the mouth-watering aroma of meat simmered on the open flames. Making his way back toward Dmitri where he too kept his sights on Sam.

"Doesn't it bother you?" I asked Dmitri as we watched Sam and Mason glued to each other.

"What?" Dmitri turned his attention to me.

"Them," jerking my chin toward Mason, "They barely leave each other."

Dmitri laughed, "It did, but you get used to it. A couple days before Mason goes away on a business trip it's like this," he shrugged, "If it makes Sam feel better I'm Ok with it." I could smell the lie and looked at him questioningly. "Ok. It does bug me, but I for one am not going to be the one to get between those two. They are close, really close. Ever since they found...at the clearing. The really bonded that day. You know our Sam, tell her not to do something, and you're asking for a fight that in the long run we would lose anyways.

At that I laughed. I did know Sam. My strong willed, pigheaded amazing woman, "You right there."

"What's up with your boy Matt over there?" Dmitri asked.

Following his gaze, Matt sat with some of his pride brothers. His body language was off as he glanced at Sam enough not to pull attention towards himself but enough that if you were watching you could pick it up. "Nothing, as far as I know," I said. It was true, but the more I thought about it Matt had not been himself, especially when Sam was around.

"He's got the look," Dmitri started, "Every time he looks at her it's there."

I had noticed, but I felt Matt was the least of my worries. "And you think your pack brother doesn't. Hell if you pay attention to half the unmated males have that look to some extent." Sam was a good person and I personally knew she would not use her powers to turn us against each other. She was worried about having sex with him and Dmitri, never mind with anyone else. We didn't have to worry.

"She's up to something," Dmitri brought me back out of my thoughts. "That mischievous glint is in her eye," he shook his head, "That girl will never learn."

"Who and what are you talking about?" Nickoli asked, just as his Pride leader and the Alpha walked up with Sam.

"So far so good," Sam said with a nervous smile.

"This has been long overdue. It may take some time, but I think it will work out," Lawrence said standing a little too close to Sam, for my liking.

"I agree. Things are looking good," Jack added looking over the growing crowd.

From what I at least half the Pack was here and that went the same for his Pride. All of the top members of both sides and the strongest members were all there. Some were even starting to mingle amongst each other.

"Samantha, what are you up to?" Dmitri asked with a playful growl.

Wide-eyed and innocent looking, I could see the opposite in her eyes. "Me? Why would I be up to something? If you gentlemen will excuse me for a minute," Sam left and headed toward Mason, where he was chatting with Matt and a couple of his brothers.

Jack started to chuckle. "Have you met the playful Sam? Never know what's going to come out of her mouth or what she'll do next." Jack was talking to Lawrence but I was paying closer attention to both his words and to Sam.

That bothered me, I knew the caring, generous, and fun loving Sam; what Jack was referring to, I had no clue. Did I really know Samantha after all?

Dmitri must have felt my agitation. "Don't worry about it. Sam is always herself, but I think it depends who she's with on what part of her comes out." I could tell Dmitri didn't mean for it to sound taunting but it felt that way. I knew she had spent more time with the wolves while she lived with Mady, but it bothered me still.

Watching Sam saunter off, jumping on Mason's back, where he caught her with ease and not a bit surprised with her attentions. Sam placed a kiss on his cheek then leaned over to the side and did the same to Matt. Conversation went back and forth before they all started to tense up. He took a step, ready to interfere with Dmitri at his side.

"What a minute boys," The Alpha said, and we listened. Giving Sam a chance to defuse the problem before it went any further.

Sam left the group of men with a give me a minute gesture, and walked over to the closest picnic table, reaching underneath and pulled something out. Walking back, Nickoli caught a glimpse of what she held.

"Oh she's not," I was flabbergasted.

Dmitri and Jack amused and said in unison, "Oh yes she is."