* Narrator *

     She was in the lawn. Looking up at the sky as her breath was calm and shallow. Snowflakes sticking to her lashes and hair as she took in the vast blue. She had looked up at that blue for the first 18 years of her life. It was always the same, always vast and calm, never gone. But this time it seemed to pose a question and she was the one to find the answer. A reflection that shook her to her very core as conflicting thoughts filled her head. She closed her eyes, letting a gust of wind run past her as it seemed to clear her mind.
She sighed and let her head fall forward. Black lashes revealing violet eyes before fading back into a rich green. She ran her hand through her short hair, letting her black bangs fall back onto her face as her hand fell to her side. She was nervous, chewing on her bottom lip. She wasn't sure if she really wanted to do this, if she was ready to cross that barrier. But they may not have that much time left and Serena's and Alice's advice was becoming more convincing as time went on.

No, it was time.

Before she knew it, she was already heading to his apartment. Speeding down the road as her ice chains dug into the asphalt. Keeping her journey steady as ice, wind, and snow couldn't get in her way. It didn't take her long before she recognized the hue of his apartment complex. It was getting dark and the lights just turned on. She parked in her usual spot, taking off her helmet before locking her silver motorcycle. She took a breath as she climbed the stairs. Clutching her helmet tight as she tried to calm her rapid beating heart. Why was she so nervous? She had climbed these stairs a thousand times within the last month. Why would it be any different?
But it was different. Before it was simply flirtation, an opening of truth to see if they could actually be compatible. A few dates before concluding that their feelings were mutual. She had loved him for so long. And now, she wanted to know the answer that would change everything. She knocked on the door. A few moments later it was answered by a man with blonde hair and green amber eyes. The boy she had loved the first moment they met.

*Play Song*

"Sakura?" He said surprised, but pleased to see her. "I didn't get your message, usually you tell me-"

"We need to talk Jason." Her voice was soft and yet distant. A distance that made his blood run cold. Was she breaking up with him? "May I come in?" She added, making him break out of his frozen state.

"Oh, of course!" He replied, stepping aside to let her through the door while he regained his composure. It was warm inside, homey as she placed her wet helmet on the table near the door before hanging her leather jacket on the coat rack to dry. Taking off her leather gloves one finger at a time as she felt a familiar hand tuck a strand of her hair behind her ear.

"You must have been freezing out there, is there anything warm I could get you? Coffee? Coco? Tea?" His voice was caring as his eyes held genuine concern for her. Their gazes locked as she felt the warmth radiating from his hand, leaning into it. They stood there for a minute, him stroking her cheek while her hands froze on her gloves. He always smelled so good. Like Christmas on a Sunday morning.

"Coco," she breathed. Turning her head away before shoving her gloves into one of her jacket pockets. Feeling the connection break as his hand remained there in mid-air.

"O-Of course." He sighed, walking to the kitchen as she followed suit. Taking a seat at the island that acted more as a bar as it divided the kitchen and the small tv room behind her. She laid her chin on her hand, watching him closely as he searched the cupboards. Analyzing how every muscle of his back contorted as he put the pot on the stove and grabbed the milk. He was a busy buddy and she always enjoyed watching how he worked. How his body moved and flexed, showing off his physique and strength.

"You seem agitated," she said. Catching him off guard as the spoon he used to stir the milk clanged against the pot. Confirming that it had slipped from his hand. "You are agitated."

He scoffed, "I'm not agitated." Trying to hide his clear agitation. It was silent as he poured the milk into the two mugs that held the coco mix. Thinking that she would wait to say what she needed to say when he sat down. Watching how the coco foamed before he stirred each with a teaspoon. The color changing from white to chocolate brown before dropping a couple of miniature marshmallows into it.

"Thank you" she said as he handed her the mug. Taking a sip as the warm sweet goodness enlightened her taste buds. Catching a few marshmallows between her lips as it acted as a light creaminess to the rich chocolate.

"You said we needed to talk?" His voice was different. It didn't hold his usually playfulness that it always had when she came over. He leaned over the counter as he brought the mug to his lips while the pot that once held the milk laid in the sink.

"Come sit down first," she patted the seat next to her. Giving him a sheepish smile that was suppose to be more inviting than shy.

"I-I rather stand here if you don't mind. This way I can see your face clearly." He was trying to play his fear as cheeky. Leaning on his elbows as their faces were very close. Her hands clutching the mug tightly as the warmth seeped through her fingers.

"V-Very well then," she replied, trying to not get lost in his eyes. Looking down at her mug to make sure she wouldn't be persuaded. She took a breath, closing her eyes as she feared the worst. "I want to know if we're mates or not."

And there was the land mine, the question that the sky wanted her to answer. The subject that they purposely ignored. Waited to discover the truth until after the fighting had stopped. It was silent and dense, as if the air had just been sucked out of the room. She couldn't look at him, opening her eyes as she just stared into her mug. Watching how the marshmallows teetered between life and death, to stay afloat or drown. It took him a moment to cough.

"I'm sorry, what was that?" He was trying to play it off as if he didn't hear. Thinking that she would change the subject after using all of her courage to say the question the first time.

She knew what he was playing at. Taking a swig of the hot chocolate before placing it back on the bar. "I said," she started, looking at him as violet met his silver. "I want to know if we are mates or not."

"I thought we agreed not to find out until after the war," his voice was stern now. Standing up straight as his arms folded against his firm chest. The coco sitting on the kitchen counter, standing next to hers.

"No, YOU said that we should wait until after the fighting had ended." She was challenging him, their eyes blazing.

"But you were so eager to agree."

"Yeah, because I didn't want to miss my chance, AGAIN!" Her fists slammed on the table.

"Then you should of had said something earlier. Why now? We are so close!" His palms were on the counter. Both in a stance that was ready to fight.

"Because if I die I would rather know than not know." Everything seemed to stop when he finally noticed the tears in her eyes. In the way she held herself with her hands in fists and trembling shoulders. How she was a concoction of strength and fear. All thoughts of disagreement dissipated as eyes faded back to their natural color. "If we die in this war, I would rather know. I would rather spend as much time with my mate as I could than die without knowing I had one. I would take every chance I could and risk all the odds. I would rather know."
She paused, licking her lips nervously to see if he would say something. Anything. But to much of her dismay he said nothing, cowering into himself as he seem conflicted. She sighed, biting her bottom lip as she just shook her head. Well...at least she took her chance.

"And..." she continued, grabbing his attention before she delivered the final blow. "If you're too coward to know with me, then I think I can't be with you anymore."

     She wiped her eyes with her sleeve, walking away as he just stood there frozen. Lifeless as he listened to her walk out the door. She didn't even stop to put on her jacket, letting the cold pierce her skin as she balled her jacket in one hand and held her helmet in the other. She was angry, stomping her feet on the steps so hard that snow shook from the stair case. Huffing and puffing as she muttered profound things down the stairs. She stopped midway between the staircase and her motorcycle and...looked up at the sky.
     It was still snowing. She cried, letting her body wail as tears fell from her chin. Crying an ugly, heartbreaking cry. She felt so stupid and even more stupid when she hoped for the best.

"Sakura!" A familiar voice yelled after her. She growled, it was him again. Hadn't he done enough? She ceased her crying as best as she could. Wiping her eyes furiously as she could hear him coming up behind her.

"Urgh," she turned to him to speak. "What the Hell do you-"

He silenced her with a kiss. His gentle hands firm on her face as he held it, kissing her hungrily as his lips were soft. She melted into him, the enticing electricity that signified mates dancing between them. Devouring them as her helmet fell into the snow before she wrapped her arms around his neck. He kissed her as if it would be his last dying breath. A sensation that made the dragons in her stomach do flips. Everywhere he touched was on fire, his hands gripping her waist before he pulled away. Catching their breaths as it mixed with the cold, a cloud of mist forming between swollen lips. Their eyes locked as they danced and switched in color.

"Mine," he growled, watching her tremble from the word. Giving a little laugh before his eyes landed on her lips, darkening in seconds. "Mine," he said softer. Leaning in as he kissed her gentler this time. Letting her take the lead every now and then as they kissed in the snow. They were like two flames within the cold, hot and passionate. As if this had to happened outside in fear that they would overheat. He had no idea how long she had waited for this. How long she had wanted him to hold her like this. To look at her like that.
She yearned for every inch of him since the day they met. How she wanted to devour his body with her lips and her tongue. To go on romantic dates and spend holidays together. To start a family, with kids to play with the other beta's kids. To grow old together. Now she had it all, everything she ever wanted wrapped in this one moment. And she wouldn't let anything take it away from her.

The two mugs of hot coco were on the counter the next morning.

*

It's cold tonight, he thought as he sat on the balcony. Slumped in a straw chair as the spark from the lighter illuminated his face for just a second. Flicking it again as it became a flame. He dipped the end of his cigarette into the heat, ignited it as he held it between his teeth. He took a breath and closed the lighter shut. He sighed, watching it come out as a puff of white smoke.
His eyes scanned the vast woods while his feet were propped on the balcony wall. It was clear tonight. Not a cloud in the sky as the blue moon covered everything in her light. Making it almost seem like day with how clear he could see everything. He took another puff, exhaling the smoke with closed eyes. Smoking calmed his nerves, he had so much on his mind.

And she was one of them.

"Sebastian?" Her voice was soft, almost like the pitter patter of cat's feet.

     Speak of the devil. His name always sounded so sweet on her tongue. Turning his gaze to meet hers as she stood in the door way. To him, she was just breathtaking. Almost god like as her blonde almost wavy hair danced in the wind. Her golden eyes filled with speckles contrasted so vividly with the blue atmosphere. She felt shy under his gaze and gave him a small smile with cherry red lips. He loved her so much.

But did she love him? He wondered.

"Yes Amber?" He replied, feeling the lightness of his heart fade as he remembered that question of love or to be loved.

"May I come out and enjoy the night with you?" She was always careful around him. Never knowing the right way to act or the correct things to say.

"The night is not mine to give or take and neither is this balcony. You may do as you like." Sebastian looked away with his response. Feeling the distance grow once more as he drew the cigarette to his lips. He didn't see the falling of her face...nor the way she looked at him. She chuckled to herself, as if she had just assured an internal debate that had started long ago. Her hand tighten on the patterned tan shawl that wrapped around her shoulders before she stepped out into the night air. Closing the door behind her with a soft swoosh.
     He watched her as she walked to the balcony wall, standing before it as she looked up at the night sky. Before her eyes fell like a shooting star to the earth. She didn't look at him, but he stared at her for an eternity. They remained silent, easing into each other's presence as the world just seemed to weigh their differences. While they just wanted to see the similarities. She was the first to break the silence.

"You know, smoking is really bad for you." She was never really the best at small talk. He was surprised by the way she took initiative to speak first. Something that never happened. It took him a moment to respond. Taking another hit as his eyes focused on a tree in the distance.

"Hyacinth," he could feel her eyes on him. "It's hyacinth, not nicotine. The flower has special purifying qualities that can only be useful for werewolves. So our scientist found a way to extract the qualities and deliver them in a way that could be easily consumed by the user without the suspicion of humans. Hence this cigarette. So instead of killing myself, I'm actually trying to make myself live longer. A purification if you will, and besides..." he paused, taking another hit before releasing the smoke. "We werewolves have an extra lobe in each one of our lungs. So even if I did smoke cigarettes with nicotine, it would take me two life times to die from it."

She chuckled at his overt explanation, finding him cute as he blushed like a tomato. Realizing that he may of said more than he needed too. "You werewolves sure have come a long way in your technology."

"Well, we are a special breed you and I."

     There was the silence again. Him with his cigarette and her with her eyes that scanned every inch of the night. There were so many things they needed to say. So many questions that needed to be answered. But how do they ask them when they didn't know how they should act? What was suppose to be a serious question and what was suppose to be a joke. She chewed on her bottom lip, something was eating at her. And it had consumed her long enough.

"Sebastian..."

"Hm?" He answered, letting her know that she had his attention.

"We're mates right?" She asked while turning to look at him. Their eyes connected as he froze, staring at her as the cigarette burned in his hand. Letting the smoke rise from the embers disinterested.

"We are," he took another hit. Gaining his composure as he relaxed with the exhale, blowing out a smoke ring. Was this what she wanted to talk about? Was it time to have this conversation?

"B-But you haven't claimed me yet?" She was getting nervous, balling up the ends of her shawl with shaking hands. Was she doing this right? Was she talking about this in the right way?

He swallowed, he would have to choose his next words carefully. Sitting up as his elbows laid on his knees. "Do you know what that means?"

"Y-Yes," she tucked her hair behind her ear. A blush kissing her porcelain cheeks. "I heard some female werewolves talking about it. A little eavesdropping on my way to training." She didn't know when he got up as he now towered before her. She looked so small compared to him, so fragile. His eyes burned like fire in the moonlight as he revealed his red.

"Then you should know what a mark is, right?" Without breaking eye contact, he dropped the cigarette to the floor. Stomping on it with his shoe as he put it out. Only dead embers remaining.

"I-It's a bite on the neck," she took a step back. He felt dangerous to her, almost like a beast about to pounce. He laughed at her naive answer, walking towards her as she walked backwards in retaliation. Her heel soon feeling the balcony wall.

"Oh Amber," his voice was dark. His hands slamming on the top of the balcony wall as he pinned her there. Holding her eyes as he was extra careful not to touch her. "It's so much more than that."

She swallowed hard, standing up straight. She was not afraid of him, in fact...quite the opposite. "What is it then?"

     He tilted his head to the side, analyzing her carefully. How was he going to tell her in a way that she would understand. And then...he glided his finger from her earlobe all the way down to her collarbone. Watching how she just melted into him. "You see," he began, infatuated with her neck. Her soft skin. "Unlike vampires, werewolves are incredibly possessive. We mate with one partner for the eternity of our lives, only letting death separate us. And even then, we would rather die then live one more day without our mate."
     He grabbed her chin with a forceful gentleness. Forcing her to look at him directly in the eye before he continued. Making sure that she will hear him loud and clear. "The mark is more than just a symbol of ownership. It's an agreement, a bond that connects two consenting parties. If the two don't have strong feelings for each other the mark will falter. And then they would be in a bigger mess than they were before."
He paused as his hand fell to his side. There was so many conflicting emotions within him. And he was about to take them all out on her. He shook his head, refraining himself as he took a step back. Giving her space as his hands curled into tight fists. She didn't like the way he removed himself from her. Holding herself as she also restrained the need to reach out to him. He had more to say.
"Which is why I refuse to mark a person who doesn't love me."

Her eyes widened as it felt like a silver dagger just went through her heart. He doesn't know does he? How could he know. How could he know about the feelings that boiled so deep inside of her. Of the things she so desperately wanted to say, wanted to confirm. She had wanted to try so many times, but was always afraid of the outcome. Afraid that he wouldn't accept her because she was different. She was a vampire and he, a werewolf. She looked at him, catching his gaze involuntarily as she looked away. Hiding as she closed her eyes, preparing for the risks.

"Am I allowed to love you?"

He was taken aback from her question. Feeling his heart stop as he couldn't believe his own ears. Does that mean what he thinks it means? Without a second thought he grabbed her face. Holding it gently between his rough hands as he was met with crying eyes. She tried to look away, to escape but he wouldn't let her. He held her there, watching her cry as she finally gave into him. Her hands clutching his wrists as his thumbs wiped away her tears gently. Unfortunately for her, the tears wouldn't stop.

"What...what did you just say? Are...are you trying to say what I think you are saying?" His voice was desperate. He didn't want to be wrong. He didn't want to have hope and have it be wrong.

"I...I..." she couldn't calm down. She didn't know what his reaction meant.

"Amber," he cooed, bringing her closer to him as her hands were now on his chest. Being closed to him always calmed her down. He kissed away her tears, his soft lips taking the saltiness from her skin. Kisses that made her catch her breath and overcome the fear of immediate rejection. Once relaxed she held her head up high as his eyes bore into hers.

"Amber," he repeated. "Are..." he was about to burst if he didn't get the words out. "Are you saying that you love me?"

She bit her bottom lip nervously and with the last of her courage nodded her head. Yes.

"Oh thank god," he exhaled. Holding her against his chest as he buried his face into her shoulder. Clutching her tightly as he never wanted to let go. She was finally his.

"Seba-"

"I love you," his grip on her tightened. "I love you too Amber."

Her face contorted with a cry, a happy one this time as she wrapped her arms around him. Crying into his shoulder as he held her fragile form. Loving the way she relaxed into him when he confessed. They stayed like that for a while, enjoying each other's embrace as Amber's crying slowly stopped. Hearing her sniffle as Sebastian moved to look at her, holding her loosely.

"You sure cry a lot," he said with a warm chuckle. Feeling the rumble of his chest beneath her hand.

"I'm just so happy!" She said with a smile. Hitting his chest playfully with one hand and wiping away the tears with the other. "And you're such a teaser!"

"So you're a happy cryer huh?" He continued his teasing.

"Yep, and you better deal with it mister! Cause you're stuck with me!" She announced, poking his chest with her slim finger. Her eyes completely dry.

He laughed, making her laugh. "Hey Amber!"

"Yeah?" She said looking up at him. Giving him the opportunity to sneak a kiss as the electricity of mates danced between them. Melting under the moonlight as they drowned in their own passionate love for each other. A kiss that would be remembered for centuries.

I love you.

________________________________
"Tell Me That You Love Me" by James Smith