I yawned a little, not quite awake yet despite being up for a few hours. Xain watches me in a happy silence from the bed as he rested on his stomach. "Still tired, Love?" I nodded a little as I finished sewing my dress up. "Couldn't sleep well," I mumbled.

Xain frowned before sitting up. "C'mere," he all but whispered, causing me to giggle and put the dress and pin down.

He pulled me close, kissing my lips gently as he said, "So adorable, even when you're sleepy."

I huffed. "Shush. It's not my fault you wanted a night full of sex."

He snorted and grinned. "You can't complain. And besides.." He leaned in close, grazing my lips with his. "When you start, you just can't stop. Especially when your mate loves it." His kissed my neck and I had to bite my lip to keep from provoking him to do more.

"Xain... It's about time for you to go.." I didn't want to make him late. He simply chuckled, nipping my ear. "Stop worrying about me so much."

I shivered, placing my fingers on his lips as I backed up a little. "Then... You'd better give me reason not to."

He kissed my fingers, chuckling. "Fair enough," he muttered, scooting out of bed as he finally put some clothes on.

"Why don't you go visit Katrina today? I know Connor is a worry wart, but little girls like you need to socialize too!" I hit him with a pillow as he put his black long sleeved shirt, earning a laugh in response. "Hey, what gives damnit?!"

I pouted, hitting him again. "I'm not a little girl! So take it back!"

He snorted and grinned at me before fully slipping his shirt on. "Make me."

I frowned.

He then proceeded to dodge the swings I was making with my pillow, causing me to groan in irritation. "Take it back, take it back! I'm not little!"

He laughed dodging most of my attacks and shaking off the few I could make. "Short bean sprout! You're so small, it's surprising even for an Asian! So grown yet you're only sixteen!"

I gasped. "You racist little-!" I yelped, squirming when Xain wrapped his arms around me, pressing his lips up against my skin and blowing hard. I laughed hard, slapping him repeatedly.

"Get off, Xain!" "Never," he playfully growled as his fingers began wiggling up against my sides.

I practically screamed out as I laughed, hitting his back. "Alright, I'll stop hitting you if you stop!! Uncle, uncle!"

Xain was barking in laughter, his hands not wavering as he kept tickling my sides and stomach.

In an attempt to make him stop, I lifted his head, kissing him hard as I mewled in laughter. This got him to stop in an instant and instead pin me to the bed, kissing even harder in return. I impulsively ground up against him, moaning a little when he nipped my lower lip.

When he raised his head, we stared at each other, almost breathless.

I could see the desire in his eyes; sense it even.

My legs rubbed his against him in response, unable to help myself. He and Connor were turning me into a pervert. I wanted him, wanted them more than I probably should have, especially since I could tell when they wanted me.

Before he could scoot his hand down to my inner thigh, the front door opened, causing us to freeze.

My cheeks were as red as rubies when I saw Garry peek in without so much as knocking.

He then grinned and give us thumbs up. "Xain, don't forget to bite the nip- Hey!!" He got a face full of pillow, courtesy of Xain. The wolf guilty of the action sighed and kissed me deeply, pulling me even closer.

I squeaked in response but kissed back regardless. Before I could wrap my arms around him and possibly trap him, Xain pulled away from me, kissing my hands gently.

"I'm late."

"I know."

He chuckled a little, hitting me with a pillow. "Garry, wonderful timing! You can escort my lovely mate to Katrina's!"

Garry flung the pillow that he was hit with back at us. "Hell no! You already know she doesn't like me!"

"But she likes Lyra," Xain countered with a grin. Garry playfully glared at him. "She warned me that if she saw me within the week that my face would be as good as mauled!"

"Then you probably deserve it," Xain said with a grin. Garry playfully snarled before asking, "Why should I? Lyra probably knows where her house is by now anyway." Xain and I exchanged looks. We had agreed to heed to Connor's warning and keep away from Miles as much as possible.

After last night, not even Xain was too sure of our chief.

Garry noticed the exchanged and snorted. "Let me guess. 'We'd better not tell the full story just yet.' Am I right? Do I win?"

Xain sighed and said, "You know as well as I do that Lyra never fully became comfortable walking around here alone. I have guard duty, which is the opposite direction."

Garry grumbled but didn't protest. Xain slid on a jacket before picking up his broadsword. He then pulled me close, kissing my forehead. "Please try and avoid trouble, alright?" I nodded, nuzzling his cheek lovingly.

Xain then reluctantly pulled away from me. "I should be back before sundown this time so I'll come over and pick you up, alright?"

I nodded and smiled. "Go on and go."

The charming werewolf grinned before hesitating. He then said, "I love you." I tried to respond, but he left out before I could. Garry glanced at Xain before looking at me curiously.

I was just as confused as Garry was though. Was he still concerned about last night?

Or was he trying to test me?

~

It didn't take me long to get dressed and brush my hair. I slung my arm around Garry's as we walked through the village, waving to others who'd call out my name.

It seemed like it didn't matter if I was a human; they didn't mind and treated me with the same respect.

At least, that's what I wanted to think.

As we walked, Garry told me about the incident that made Katrina want to harm him.

"See, I didn't think that Katrina would be half naked when it was her birthday, so I brought several of the gang to her house with a cake and everything, and as you know it didn't end well."

I giggled and asked, "What did you do?"

He smiled sheepishly. "We kind of barged in while she was half naked." I blinked. No wonder she threatened to beat him silly. "Maybe you should point me in the right direction..?" He snickered. "Don't worry, I was told to take you to her house, so I'll do just that."

"Then count me in," someone else said, locking arms with my left arm. I looked over and saw Emily, who was grinning ear to ear. "Lovely day for it." Garry made a face at her. "Hey Brother's Pet, don't you have training to do so he can marry you off to a douche?"

Emily smirked. "I skipped out again. Besides, at least I'll get with someone. You'll probably die alone.

Garry growled playfully, causing Emily to respond. I laughed and said, "Please spare me, I'm literally in the middle!!" Emily laughed and said, "Oopsie! So sister, what's on the to-do list today?"

I giggled. "I'm just going to spend time with the big sister."

Emily made a face. "Ugh, she's just going to be boring as always. Maybe I'll get a spar out of her."

I glanced at Emily. "Wait, Katrina can fight? I've never really seen her in action."

Emily giggled. "Katrina is the fastest werewolf I know aside from Xain. She's swift with her movements and normally knocks me down quickly." I frowned a little, biting my lip as my thoughts drifted. If Katrina knew how to fight then... Maybe she could help me!

I smiled wide and said, "I think you just solved my problems."

Garry shook his head. "If you do that, the boys won't be happy."

Emily snorted. "They're going too easy on her because they love her. Katrina will be careful, but she'll probably teach Lyra a different way to fight." I frowned and asked, "A different way?"

The she-wolf grinned. "Katrina, as you've seen, is one of the smallest young adult werewolves we have here. But she's known to be fast and ruthless in a fight. Trust me, you'll want her guidance and the guidance of the brothers."

Garry pouted playfully. "I don't like it, but if Katrina can help, then I say go on and ask her."

I nodded and grinned. "Alright, I'll ask her then. It'll keep me occupied while Xain and Connor are doing their duties."

Garry grinned at me. "Then, maybe you'll knock them on their backs. We all know they need to be doing a little bit of that as well."

I blushed and didn't respond to that, but luckily Emily did for me. "See, this is why Katrina wants to grind you into nothing more than meat. You tease too much and drive away all the girls." Garry chuckled and flipped his hair with a free hand. "It's not my fault no one can handle all this wolf!"

Emily rolled her eyes. "Riiiight. Tell that to someone who would believe you."

"Oh yeah?"

I smiled wide, watching them as we walked. They joked around a lot, but it was Katrina who actually joked around the most. Of course, she'd never say so.

Katrina may have been a closed up person in some cases, but at least when it came to me, there were some things she told me that she wanted no one else to know.

She also warned that Garry knew a bit of information as well, but likewise kept it shut.

Regardless of what Katrina didn't want out in the open, she was a rather funny person, and definitely enjoyed a good laugh.

The laughter soon quieted down when we reached her house. Based on her voice, she was having company. Some unwanted company.

Garry gulped and said, "Aha, ladies first!" Emily shook her head. "No way, guys over girls!"

I huffed and made my way to the door alone. "You two, I'm sure everything's fine." I knocked on the door four times and waited for an answer, although I didn't have to wait long. The door suddenly opened to reveal a rather angry Katrina.

Her face softened as soon as she saw me, however. "Oh. Lyra.." Katrina looked behind me and blinked. "Emily and Garry. What can I do for you?"

I played with the ends of my shirt and said, "Uh, well we were coming over to just relax with you but we heard yelling and.."

She blinked before smiling sheepishly. "Nothing to worry about, just some visitors who were leaving just now." Her voice deepened threateningly, causing me to flinch a little.

I heard another female snort. "I'm not leaving until you agree that this is the right thing to do."

Katrina turned around. "Listen here, I'm not traveling up the mountains for a bunch of berries! We'll be fine with what we have."

A different voice rose. "She has a point. We'll especially need them for those who are pregnant! Unless you just don't care."

"Find. Another. She-wolf," Katrina barked. I exhaled. "Maybe I should just come back?" Those voices belonged to Michelle and Charlie, and the last thing I wanted to do was further cause an argument.

To my surprise, Charlie's head popped up from over Katrina's shoulder. "Lyra? Is that you?"

'Time to go!'

I turned to leave, but I heard her call out to me. "No, wait! I don't mean any harm, I swear!"

My body froze, despite my mind's protests to just go. There was no way Charlie wanted to be peaceful. I sighed and turned around, doing my best to smile without looking hesitant. Charlie had pushed Katrina aside before she approached me.

She then grabbed my hands, holding them in hers as she looked down at me in an almost pleading manner. "I'm so glad you came over today. I was actually planning to come to you much sooner but I was sidetracked."

My eyes widened a little. She was planning to approach me?!

~

DUNDUNDUN!! 

Until the next Update!

~ Nimo