"You, you what?" I ask, looking up at him.

He smiles, not repeating himself. "You heard right. I did. I had before, when I was able to touch you before with the whole Megan thing, then I decided I shouldn't because I thought you hated me... I forgot that I un-accepted you, and then I touched you then and... " He trails off, his eyes drifting away from mine.

"But- I thought you were going to leave when I woke up... And we were just going to combine packs while we were seperated..?"

He gives a sad, half smile. "I know that's what you wanted, but, I'm not sure that's what I want anymore."

I bite my lip, trying to figure out how I feel about all of this.

My wolf is thrilled.'Why don't you just say yes and accept him?' She asks, obviously confused as to why I'm hesitating.

'I don't know.' I tell her. 'Something is just off... It feels wrong to me.'

Mark's lips slowly turn down to a frown, and takes his forehead off of mine, his hand still in mine.

"Mark, I-" He shakes his head sadly and gives another half smile.

"It's okay," He says, taking a step back, giving me space. "You don't have to decide right now." He says, then smiles and walks away through the crowd.

As soon as he leaves, Zael and Jase are on either side of me, standing protectively.

"Are you alright?" Zael asks at the same time Jase asks, "What was that about?"

I look at both of them, my mouth half open, and they take me inside to sit me on the couch, Dylan and Lyra following.

"It's alright," Zael says softly, gently pushing me down so I sit.

"I- he said he accepted me... And that he was able to touch me the night I beat Megan's ass... And that he forgot that he had un-accepted me the night I was put out like a light." I say, looking from Jase to Zael.

They exchange a glance as my brother walks in.

"And, he asked me if ... He pretty much told me he wants to be mates but..." I trail off, looking up at my brother through my lashes.

"But that isn't what you want." He finishes for me, then comes to kneel in front of me.

I look down into his honest green eyes. The way he looks up at me makes me want to cry.

I lean forward and bury my face into his shirt, and he holds me close, rubbing my back. "Shh, it's alright," He soothes, smoothing my hair down.

"Do you want to go for a run?" Zael asks, putting a hand on my back gently.

I sit up, and shake my head, smiling and wiping a frustrated tear away. "No. I'm done with running." I say, and stand up.

I go upstairs to fix my make up, and decide to change out of this suffocating dress.

I trade the dress in for a pair of tight shorts and a tank top, leaving my hair down, kicking out my sandals for my cowboy boots. I slip on my leather jacket before heading back downstairs.

The fire is lit when I get back outside, Zael by my side, Jase and my brother goofing off somewhere. Dylan and Lyra wave at us from across the yard, from we're they flirt with someone from my pack.

A couple of people look up and scoot over for Zael and I to sit, and uncle Luke leans over my shoulder, his breath smelling like booze.

I lean over towards Zael, and wave a hand passed my nose. "Ew! Uncle Luke, you stink. Why are you drinking anyways, is something wrong?"

He shrugs and bumps his hip to mine, scooting me over. "It's the good stuff, can't let it go to waste. Besides, if I drink enough, I might be able to get lit tonight!" He says, and looks out at the fire, a stupid smile on his face. What a goof.

My father, Mark and Dylan's alpha move to the front of the fire, their tall, muscular frames darkened by the fire.

My father is the first to speak, and everyone is watching silently, respectful of the alphas, even If they aren't they're own.

"Listen up." His voice booms, his alpha business voice taking over. I'm not even sure if he realizes when he does it. "Your alpha's and I have come to the decision that all three of our packs will start training together, as each pack has something the others could learn from each other, to make us all stronger." My father scans the crowd of werewolves, his eyes burning dangerously in the eery lights and shadows cast upon him by the fire light.

The fire has grown taller than all of them by the time Mark begins to speak.

"Training will start in four days." He informs, making eye contact with nearly everyone. His eyes graze over me and I shiver a bit, and not from the breeze. "And it will continue for two hours everyday, until you are all deemed fit."

Alpha Alexander speaks next, also making eye contact with the packs. "You will be going through different sessions and stages of increased difficulty, each stage being led or taught by either one of the alphas, or one of their betas. Ones everyone has completed their training, you will all go home but continue to train with each other so you do not forget what you've learned here."

Great. More fighting! Good thing I'm up for this challenge.