Hello!!!! I'm back with another chapter and I think this is some pretty record time/record length hahaha! 

I hope you enjoy, comment and are ready for some dramaaaaa

ps: there will be another a/n at the end of the chapter... see you then! 

I woke up to the door shutting loudly, my body shocking itself into an upright position as I turned towards the loud sound. "Shit, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to wake you," Micah stands in front of the closed door, shirtless with sweat gleaming over his exposed muscles

A wince paints his face.

I rub my eyes, letting out a tired sound before allowing my hands to drop beside me. "Its okay, what time is it?" I ask, yawning as I do.

"Its..." he reaches for his phone in his pocket. "Five thirty."

I shoot him an incredulous look. "Why on earth are you up so early?" Its unholy, and to have been working out? He must've gotten up at like four. I was so exhausted when I came back yesterday that I just went straight to bed.

Micah wasn't even waiting up for me, he was in bed and he simply woke, checked his phone and went to sleep. We weren't cuddling close either, he didn't even attempt to put his arms around me, not even in sleep.

"I had to do some training," he tells me and I thank whatever god or goddess is above for not making me an Alpha. If Luna training involves morning workouts then I will run far and fast. "Elias reached out though, Gia is in the nurses office still with Finn, they were going to move them to a hospital but they recovered and are just there for observation. As of now the two of them are going to come back to the pack house and sort some things out."

His words effectively pull me from my sleep and I swing my legs off the bed. "Can we see them before we go?" I ask, my words hopeful.

"If they are still there, but I doubt Elias got much sleep with the entire incident so he may not be in the best mood." He stood staring at me for a moment, debating his next words. "I called the pack prison as well and your friends have gone home."

It was an olive branch, I knew that. A way for us to move past our argument last night without addressing it and so I nod.

"Thank you," I mummer and he shakes his head.

"Don't mention it, besides Nicholas is too preoccupied with his sister now to care about such events."

I'm glad he took the higher road, that he settled it before it could become a bigger issue despite the fact that it still very much exists. Both of us have our thoughts and I don't think either of them have changed, he doesn't approve of Gabe and I'm not going to let his disapproval ruin my friendship.

He shifts slightly. "I was going to have a shower and then pack. The bus is leaving just after breakfast at seven so maybe we can go down a little earlier, get first in - Ben and Xavier trained with me so they are both going to do the same." Mad, the lot of them.

I nod, what I really want, is to get back in bed and sleep until five minutes before we leave but instead I stretch my arms out. "Yep, okay. I'll start packing I guess."

He nods, moving towards the bathroom. "Cool, I won't be long," he says it like I'd be waiting.

It took both of us all of ten minutes to pack the bags in our room and leave it with stripped beds for the campus cleaners, a habit my mom enforced into me from an early age and something Micah had clearly never had to do. But it meant that we were both sat in the breakfast hall far earlier than anyone else, eating and just scrolling on our phones until the rest of the group filtered in and the hall filled. Though conversation flowed easily, most of it centred around the gossip of Finn and Gia and I didn't add much.

We hadn't even gotten the chance to visit them, by the time we made it to the nurses office she had already discharged them and a phone call later we found that Elias, Gia and Finn were all in his car heading to the pack house.

I just ate my food, answered when spoken too and waited until we were all called onto the bus. It was impossible to not sit with the group again, next to Micah. He didn't even ask to carry my bag, he just did it and I wasn't about to argue. And the moment I was in my seat, I plugged my headphones in and slept against the window.

It was a nudge on my shoulder that pulled me from my slumber and I let out a sound of annoyance, peaceful music still blaring in my ears. I was nudged slightly again and the headphone in my right ear was pulled out, forcing my eyes open.

"Athena we are here," I look towards Micah and realise my body position. I may have fallen asleep facing the window but somehow, I'd ended up nuzzled onto his shoulder and my drool—my fucking drool was on his shoulder. My cheeks felt aflame.

"She's awake!" James yells, the abrupt noise hitting me like he'd tased me.
"We are here?" I ask Micah, rubbing my eyes and he smiles, nodding.

"Yeah, you were out like a light the entire time. Waking up early really isn't your thing huh?" He says and I groan, looking at his shirt again.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to use you as a pillow." Embarrassing. So, so embarrassing.

"Again," he corrects and I just shove my head into my palm. He laughs and pulls my hands down. "Everyone is getting off the bus now, did you want to come with me to the pack house to see Gia? I texted Elias and they are still there."

I nod standing up. "Yeah, that sounds good."

We stand up in the aisle and James turns around from in front of me, a stupid smirk plastered over his face before he holds up a pen. "You know, Thea, I am digging the new look. I never thought I'd see a moustache on your face."

My eyes go wide and I pull my hand to my lips. "What!?" I turn around to Micah. "Is there a moustache on my face?" I ask him, scrubbing at the skin atop my lip.

He laughs like he knows he shouldn't. "No," he says, his face turning more serious as he notes my distress. "No there's not, I wouldn't let that happen. See?" He pulls out his phone and takes a picture of me, showing it to me straight after.

There's no pen marking my skin, just an embarrassing picture that he now possesses. "Please delete that," I say, cringing but he just, grins, pulling the phone back to himself to smile softly.

"I think I have just found my new screen saver. And quit teasing my mate, James." I turn back to James with a scowl and he simply raises his hands in surrender.

"A harmless prank, don't hate the player, hate the game."

He turns back around and we all shuffle off the bus, waiting for the students in front of us until everyone is in the car park. "I'll grab our bags," Micah tells me, his hand touching my waist as he speaks and I nod, moving to stand with the other students.

"Thea!" I twist my head around to follow what sounds like a literal seagull speaking my name only to find Henry, stood next to Gabe and that bright red car.

At least the cold has gotten worse, natures punishment. I smile and walk over to them. "Well hey there jail birds," I muse, sending Henry a look that tells him he is going to get it later.

Gabe just winces. "You heard about that?" And then Henry winces.

My fantastic, incredible, prison-loving best friend decides he's going to cut in but the croaked sound that comes from him is helping no one. He coughs loudly before groaning. "We thought we'd come get you," he says, scratching each syllable out.

"Yikes, dude. You look like shit," I say, noting his red nose and he turns from me, sneezing loudly.

"Funny way to say thank you," he jokes before coughing again and I laugh.

I turn to Gabe. "What are you doing hanging around this walking disease?" I ask. "You are both going to end up horribly sick and then I am going to be the only one left to run the shop."

I can't help the laugh that bubbles from my mouth as he also turns around to sneeze, coughing shortly after. "Too late. I shouldn't have tried his beer," he says and I laugh again.

"Well that's just great," I say and he moves forward, his arms outstretched with a grin on his face. Even sick he is undeniably handsome.

"What do you say we all get sick together, spend the next week with a closed shop, movies and my famous chicken soup?" He says, inching closer and I shake my head. "What? No hug hello? That's no way to treat a friend, Thea."

Henry laughs before coughing again but his smile quickly fades as he looks past me. I follow his attention to find Micah just moments away from me and Gabe drops his arms immediately, giving up on that idea pretty quickly.

"Hey Henry, good to see you are getting better. I heard you had quite the night." Micah says and I am shocked at his light tone, at how friendly he is being. Especially when I look into his eyes and register the lurking annoyance. But he smiles, his smooth, arrogant aura quickly consuming the space. He looks towards Gabe but doesn't even offer him a wave as he stands close enough to me that our sides are brushing.

"I don't think we have had the chance to properly meet." He surprises me, holding his hand out to Gabe who looks like he is going to swat it away. One glance at me however, at the pleading in my eyes and he takes it, shaking firmly. "I'm Micah."

"Gabe." His voice is clipped and if I had some incredibly, incredibly sharp scissors, I could cut the tension. But I don't, so it lingers.

Micah turns to Henry. "It's a shame you couldn't make it, the debate club had a whole set up for the weekend."

Nothing about Henry's expression suggests that he wants to talk with Micah but like he doesn't know, or care, Micahs smile remains. "Yeah. Well, there's plenty of other universities."

Micah shrugs, nodding. "I guess so," he says before turning to me. "As much as I'd love to stay and chat, we should probably get going. They are expecting us at the pack house."

His words are spoken with kindness but they are not. Though I can't say Gabe and Henry are being much more hospitable, at least Micah thinly veils his dislike. "The pack house?" Henry asks, both of them now looking to me for answers.

"We actually already had plans to go down to the beach. Do you have your bags Thea? I can grab them," Gabe offers and I notice Micahs jaw clench.

"I've actually got to go with him," I tell them. "I totally forgot about the beach, sorry for making you guys come all this way. I was going to text but then I fell asleep on the bus." A lie, this visit was a complete surprise, they just gave me an out.

"Did you need us to pick you up after?" Henry asks.

"Thanks, but I can bring her home," Micah says, still smiling. "Should we go?" He asks and I nod.

"Uh yeah, I'll see you guys later. Promise."

They both say their goodbyes to me and I turn with Micah, walking towards his sleek sports car. "Your friends are a real treat," he mumbles as we slide into the seats and I turn back to where they drive away in the red car.

I'm going to have some explaining to do.

"Yeah, they are." He starts his car and begins driving, turning his music on low.

"Okay, so a little preparation as to what we are heading into," he says to me as we drive onto the main road. "Gia is taking this one a little rough. She and Elias have a history of disliking each other and it seems that even the mate bond hasn't managed to quell that within her."

I knew it. And now she's trapped there. "Finn is fine, he went straight home. But currently the Beta and my father are in talks with Elias as a representative of his own pack on how things should be dealt with. The Solar pack... they haven't got the greatest history when it comes to human rights, they were among the last of packs to sign onto the new treaties and Gia has decided in her stubbornness that she refuses to align with them on those grounds. Elias and his family are... traditional, and their pack is incredibly strong due to the structure that they enforce but..."

"Gia hates structure," I finish and he nods.

"Yeah. So we can go check up on her, see if everything is alright but its best that we allow them to sort this out. We have no place in the discussion and we won't be allowed in even if we want."

"So she's really rejecting the bond? To an Alpha? As a wolf?" I ask and he nods.

"As of now, yes. But she won't be able to resist it forever, she'll go mad. It might take her longer to overcome her defiance but I have no doubt she will accept it." I doubt Elias would allow it, either. Much like Micah would do absolutely anything for me to be with him here, but Elias has less too lose, less chance of it.

"So we can visit her but we can't do anything to help?" I ask and he nods.

"More or less. Look, Thea, I know that you don't fully accept this bond yet but for the sake of appearances please can you not shove that in his face today, it won't help our chances of being alone with her and it definitely won't do much for our future relations with their pack."
I still at his request. He really does assume that I am going to barge in their guns blazing with my human ideals of autonomy and freedom like I'm on a crusade. And maybe he's right, maybe I if the time came I would tell Elias to shove it and leave her alone.

"It's her choice if we see her or not," I say, scrunching my face and his eyes look over to me softly. Is he speaking from experience here? Would he not let anyone with views outside of me loving him come near? I suppose no one I love would be near me if that were the case.

He sighs. "You are right, maybe it should be, but like I said, things aren't great. This is an inter-pack issue now and the Beta is barely allowing anyone to speak to his daughter, something he has authority to do. And if Elias even gets a whiff that we are entertaining the idea of his Luna being separated from him... he's newly mated and I am the future Alpha, if I were to find him doing the same to you it wouldn't go well—and I have a lot of restraint."

Pack politics. Though I can't imagine Elias would ever do such a thing, no one in that entire place would, with the exception of Gia maybe. She was the only one who held a shred of hesitance to this bond.

We make it to the pack faster than I expected and when we enter the pack house I walk silently behind Micah as he leads us through the halls, the path clearly engrained in his memory. We round a corner to find Elias walking sternly alongside Gia's brother, Nicholas, both of them deep in conversation until they see us.

"Micah," Nicholas says before turning his attention to me, slightly shocked before he nods his head in my direction.

"Nicholas, Elias. It's good to see you both. How is she? Recovered?" He asks them and Elias only clenches his jaw as Gia's older brothers broad shoulders drop.

"This isn't the first party that my little sister has recovered from, probably won't be the last," he says and the annoyance only magnifies on Elias' expression. "She's currently in her room, grounded and under guard. It's safe to say that our parents are not exactly impressed with her right now."

"Under guard?" They are implying that she is going to try and run, making this whole things as bad as I thought it was.

"Just a precaution," Elias defends, not liking the conclusion I draw either.

"She's tried to evade being grounded before and she's having another one of her moments. Though personally, I don't think she will try sneak out, her whole argument now seems to be that she wants to stay living here and continue going to school in the pack — something she has been fighting our parents on her whole life. Go figure."

So she wants to stay here? "She's asking to finish her school year in this pack?" Micah questions, full of doubt and Elias nods firmly, rage burning in his eyes.

"It would seem so."

"And you don't want that?" I ask him and his eyes dart to mine, his stare rippling through me.

"Of course not, she should come home with me, back to our pack." Is it really theirs already?

Micah puts his hand on my arm. "I don't mean to be offensive, but aren't you in college in this pack? Surely it would make more sense for her to stay and finish her year with her friends while you complete your degree." I shrug innocently, widening my eyes at Micah when he shoots me a certain look.

"The year has just started and her friend nearly got her killed," he says though I can tell he deliberates over my words. I mean I'm no genius but there is a bit of logic to what I have to say. "We have to go anyway, the Alpha is waiting on us. Are you coming, Micah?"

Not an invitation to us both either. "We are going to get some food and head over to my house, relax after the trip. I don't want to impose myself too much on this family matter," he responds professionally, and the weight of his hand on my waist feels much heavier.

I try to conceal my shock but its near impossible. "Of course. I'll see you later."

He says goodbye to both of them and we part ways, moving again down the hall. "We are going to see Gia, aren't we?" I ask and he looks behind us before nodding.

"Yeah, I just got the vibe that it wouldn't go down well with them knowing," he says, shooting me a mischievous look.

"Micah Holt? Breaking the rules? You must have been put under a spell, it's impossible. Don't tell me just now that you are a warlock in disguise." I tease and he smiles, his hand still resting casually on my waist.

"If I were a warlock, and I'd definitely be in the guild of sorrows, we would have taken a dragon ride home and got here in half the time," he tells me and though it might be the nerdiest thing I have ever heard, he says it with such charisma.

"Why is Gia not attending that meeting?" I ask, a question I wanted to fire at Elias and her brother but refrained from. "Surely she should be there considering the entire thing is about her. I mean why would it be okay for you to be there and not her? It makes no sense."

He pulls his hand back to himself and rubs his neck. "I don't disagree," he says. "And I don't agree with Eli's line of thinking here either. If it were me and your parents came to discuss your future at the pack house with me and my family I would want you in the room. But we don't know what conversations they have had between then and now, I guess we will find out."

His position on the matter is surprising but I am entirely thankful.

"I guess so," I add and we walk through the pack house quickly into a section of private residences. Large apartments that line the top floor.

"This is where the Gamma family and Beta family reside, they both have houses off site but for formal purposes these are here too. Gia stays here mostly, I think to antagonise her father more." I nod as we reach the end of the hall and I note the two guards stationed out front.

They straighten their composure at our arrival and incline their heads to us slightly. "Hey guys," Micah says casually and they both greet him in return, his smile contagious. "We are here to visit Gia, see how she's holding up after her night out. Hope that's okay, we did just have a chat with Nick and Elias and they are fine with it."

So smooth, the lie comes effortlessly to him and his calm, suave demeanour helps.

The one to the right nods firmly. "Of course, please go right in. Oh, are you going to be at training tomorrow morning?" He adds casually and Micah nods.

"You bet, ready for that rematch so soon?" The guard lets out a laugh.

"I've been training, Holt." Micah laughs and grips the guards shoulder as we walk past him and into the apartment, the door shutting firmly behind us.

"Impressive," I mummer to him and he sends me a cocky smirk, shrugging.

I look around the apartment and gape. It's gorgeous, not as large as Micahs residence but styled to perfection and fitted into a spacious, modern layout. It makes my home look like a shoe box. "Gia's room is this way," he says and we go to it, the sound of blaring music indication enough.

I raise my fist to the door tentatively, brining my knuckles down softly. There's no response and Micah moves next to me, banging it a bit louder. "GO AWAY!"

Micah winces at the yell from the other side and turns to me with slight fear. "Maybe we should just go," he mumbles lowly. "We could actually get snacks and play Fire and Fury."

He starts sneaking away with an optimistic smile but I pull his arm back and hit him lightly on the shoulder. "Stop, we need to check if she's okay." I knock louder, following Micah's bangs. "Gia?!" I question in a yell. "Its Athena and Micah, we just wanted to see if you are alright?"

There is silence and I debate taking Micahs advice and dropping it but the music turns down a moment later and then the door is unclicking, swinging open to reveal a red-eyed Gia. And it's not from pot. "What?" She asks me. "Here to say your goodbyes? Have my parents finally sealed a deal to ship me off? To get rid of me for good?!" She yells, straight in my face and I dodge Micahs hand that reaches for me and pull her in for a hug.

Her sobs wrack my body and so I just hold her as she cries uncontrollably for a good minute, tears pricking in my own eyes. When she finally pulls back, she wipes her eyes and steps to the side, allowing us in. I glance back at Micah and he shrugs, widening his eyes slightly, silently hulking into the large room.

It's everything I expected it to be. Cartoons and drawings illustrate the wall and everything holds a dark theme, the only contrast is found in the slight colour of her work and the deep green plants that creep from every angle. "Did they give you an update?" She asks us, sitting on her bed before smothering herself in a blanket.

"They haven't been in contact with you?" I ask incredulously, furrowing my brows further as she shakes her head. "That's crazy, they are having a meeting right now about what to do from here, do you not want to be a part of it? Do you want to go with him?"

Conflict crosses in her stare and she glances down to a brush that her fingers move over. "I don't want to be a Luna. I don't want to be an even bigger part in an oppressive system and now my mate..." she can't finish her thoughts and Micah says nothing. I half expected him to add some sage words of wisdom about fate and the goddess but he doesn't. He stays silent out of respect. "He is a tight arse, I'm never going to have another fun day in my life and he doesn't want me to hang out with Finn anymore because he's an enabler and he wants me to go back with him to his pack? Where I know zero people? I can forget my cartoons, the ones with any meaning at least. And goodbye to parties and pot, he's made it clear I can't enjoy myself there anymore. Why would the goddess do this to me?"

Her words are choked and I try to not stare with too much sympathy, I know pity is probably the last thing she wants right now. "Maybe you should go to the meeting and try talk it out with them, sort out a different solution. I mentioned to Elias about you staying here as he is still finishing college and he didn't seem overly opposed. What if you try and cut some kind of deal?"

She scoffs, loudly. "I was at the last one and ended up screaming at my asshat father, which is what wound me up here, so I don't think they will let me back. Not for a while. I'm just so angry at how happy he and my mom are, they are so relieved that they can finally get rid of me and pass me off onto someone else."

Micah inches forward. "Gia, your parents love you, all they want is for you to be safe and happy. And Elias wants the same, he is your mate, he will listen to you if you speak with him."

"If he wanted me to be happy then he would let me stay," she says angrily, her frustration at an all time high.

"But you have to communicate that with him, Gia." Gia shoots a menacing stare to Micah and throws the paint brush in her hands to the floor.

"You think I haven't tried?" She snaps. "What would you care anyway, you are just as bad as him." She looks at me pointedly but he just shuts his mouth, tightening his jaw.

"I care because you are my friend," he says. "And I can understand his position, he is scared Gia. He finds his mate and she nearly dies from overdose within the first five minutes? Not to mention your history with him—he probably isn't dealing well with it and you have to understand what is at stake for him here. The more you react how he expects you to the more messy it is going to get."

She jerks her chin up, shaking her head. "The more I act like myself? I'm finishing my year here. He's... he just went straight to my parents and ratted me out about everything the moment I met him—how can I trust that? Why would I want to go and live with him?"

"Because I am your mate." Our collective focus turned to the doorway where Elias stood. At one direct stare from him I instantly found the comics on the wall incredibly capturing. Maybe Micah was right, maybe we shouldn't have poked around in their business.

Gia's face blanches as she stares at him, her eyes sparkling in awe despite her clear disdain. "You here to let me out?" She clenches her fists and walks straight up to where his large frame blocks the exit. She has the nerve to stand close to him, so close that their chests nearly touch as she looks up. All I can see is her black locks of hair cascading over her shoulders like waves of death.

He straightens out the cuff on his clean white shirt before folding his arms. "Oh? So I am to stay locked in this room? I guess I shouldn't be surprised, your pack has treated people plenty worse before. If I were a human would you just sink your teeth in my neck and be done with it? Or would the shame of someone inferior make you repulsed?"

Okay, I definitely shouldn't be here for this conversation. I have to focus on the dark swirls of paint that cover her dresser to keep from acknowledging the shift of attention onto me. But I hear the words, I understand her insinuation that he holds prejudice or has in the past towards my kind.

"That is in the past, it holds no bearing on our future. You are my mate and you will be my luna. You are mine just as I am yours, just as is intended by the goddess herself. I can't honestly see how you are angered at me over that, take it out on the goddess in your prayers and while you are there, try asking for some redemption for your crimes—maybe it will do you some good." The words pour from him like molten honey, soft and full of sickly sweetness.

Her silence is loud, glaringly loud and so Micah takes the chance to step forward. "We should probably go, it is good to see you recovered Gia." Elias shoots daggers to Micah and then glances at me, his frustration growing. I know what probably plagues his mind, that Micah should be the one in this situation, that I am stood next to my mate while his wolf mate screams at him.

Micah and I are a far cry from a happily mated couple—far. But we haven't really blown up like this in front of people, not to the extent of locking up and intervening negotiations.

"Will you not vouch for me?" Gia asks Micah, neither of them moving from the doorway. Honestly the window looks like a good option right about now.
"I will say," I pipe up, clearing my throat after the long silence. "Uh, look maybe its not my place and out of everyone here I really have limited knowledge on the bond. But maybe you should look at this from a different lens? Objectively speaking, if mates are so 'be all, end all' then you should both probably compromise a little more. Elias, forcing the matter will make your problems worse and Gia resisting to even have a conversation won't help you much either. Maybe like, I dunno, have some tea or go for a walk in nature and just chill. If your bond is eternal you have a long time to figure it out, there's no need to rush around and make rash decisions."

No one speaks after I have made my confession. Not for a long enough time that it is noted. "Your advice is appreciated, Athena." Elias clenches his jaw, exhaling through his nose. "I have spoken with your family Gia and they too believe that it is in our best interest to sort this out on our own without their interference. I had support the we could achieve that from our own pack but if it makes you more comfortable I am sure I can take up residency here for a while. As Athena pointed out, my studies are closer to here anyway."

Gia's rigid spine loosens ever-so-slightly and she twists the crimson ring on her finger around. "So I am staying?" She confirms and he nods.

"We are staying, if that is what you desire but if you shut me out, slam the door in my face..." Something about the way his muscles twitch tell me that's been done. "We might have to reconsider our approach. Micah, Athena, I thank you for checking on the wellbeing of my mate but if you could please give us some privacy to go through our matters."

His clipped words hold no friendly undertones, they are strictly professional. And so Micah simply nods, inclining his head in a show of respect. Elias walks forward then, forcing Gia to move back to avoid touching him and creates a gap for us to exit the room.

Micah takes my hand in his before I can object, sparks simmering on my skin at the action more than the contact itself and he pulls us from the situation. Leaving past the guards lining the hall was a little more awkward but they still showed their respect.

It was only once we were far enough down the hall that they could not see that I pulled my hand from Micahs, feeling the immediate absence. "That was..."

His face pulls into a wince. "Yeah we were probably not meant to be at that conversation. Awkward."

Even the air is tense between us. "Do you think Elias is mad at us?" We rove over the hardwood floors, down another white walled corridor.

"I don't think he is happy but I doubt he'll hold onto it. It was likely bad enough for us to witness him and his future Luna in a situation like that." My mind relays over all the times I have brought shame to him, probably many, but none so explosive. "I really think that they will come around."

Just like he thinks that we will.

"I just hope they are both happy." Micah holds his watch out in front of him.

"Are you hungry? Its past lunch, we could go get something to eat from the pack kitchens if you want. The chef makes a mean grilled cheese. Or we could head over to mine, there's always food there." The thought of going back to his house, hanging in his space comfortably makes me uneasy. Has it come to this so quickly?

I pull my phone out and check the time. "I... I should probably get home. I promised Henry that we would spend today watching movies and playing games after the beach." The lie forms so easily on my mouth but I don't think about my words until their impact hits Micahs face in a dejected look.

"Oh, right." I probably shouldn't have rejected his offer to hang out with my excuse being that I am going to do it with another person. "What movies are you planning to watch?"

His hurt vanishes as quickly as it appears as we continue our journey through the pack house. "I don't know yet, we might just watch cartoons — that's how it usually ends up anyway."

"That sounds fun." His fingers find the wrist of his watch and he fastens it. "I was thinking as well, there is a chance of rain tomorrow morning so maybe I could give you and Henry a lift to school."

I try not to reject the idea with my reaction alone and control myself. "That's probably alright, I mean I can bring an umbrella."

"Are you sure? I mean it's truly no trouble, it's practically on the way for me and besides, maybe it could be a good opportunity for him and I to get along."

It is so not on the way. My apartment is on the complete opposite side of the city. "I really don't expect it. And walks to school are like a tradition for us. It's our daily debrief time to catch up on all the gossip."

He grins slightly. "I see," he says, his smile widening. "I'll let you have your moments to gossip. I get how it could be awkward if I'm there while you boast about what a gorgeous hunk of a mate you have, I need to protect my ego."

I gape and playfully shove him on the shoulder. "Your ego seems inflated already," I remark and he laughs, his eyes glittering.

"Is it not true? Do you not find me undeniably attractive?" He questions and my cheeks flame, images of his bare torso flashing in my mind, of his soft lips on my own. Of course I find him attractive, I'm not blind. "I'll take your silence as a yes. Anyway, I do really want to get to know him better. There might be something going on this weekend actually, you could bring your friends along."

Friends, as in pleural? "So Gabe can come?" I question.

His muscles still slightly but he remains cool as he shrugs. "Sure, why not? Maybe I judged him too quickly." His words are tight despite his attempts to remain casual about it.

I try not to look to sceptical but it's difficult. "Is it a night time thing? We have work most of the day but we could probably come after."

He smiles. "I actually don't know the full details yet but I'll find out from Molly and fill you in. I'm guessing it will be in the day considering the dinner we have with the Superiors. But I'd love it if you came." Right, the Superiors. I gulp, wiping my clammy hands on my jeans.

"I'll see what I can do, these last few days have been really fun." Maybe aside from our end to yesterday night. "Thank you for inviting me along and organising it all, I appreciate it."

His lips stretch into a beaming smile. "It's really no worries, it was a fun few days for me too. I've really enjoyed getting to know you a bit better, I know we aren't super close and there's still a lot to work out but I like hanging out with you. I'm serious that we need to get together to play fire and fury at some point—I don't care if we ditch the Superior thing early and head to my place to battle it out."

I laugh, the idea of sneaking off from that function honestly appealing. "I think I'd like to see you break the rules."

He laughs with me, his hand rubbing the back of his neck as we continue walking. "Well you don't want to see me get caught, trust me."

"Why?" I pry, eliciting a nervous chuckle from him.

"Wolves have very strict parents—"

"Micah." We both snap our heads forward, I hadn't even realised we'd ventured into the foyer but here we were, with the Alpha and Beta right in front of us.
I'd seen the two on television and twice at mandatory announcements when I was a small child but the sight still struck fear to my core.

"Athena, I wasn't expecting to see you here. I was told the two of you visited Gia," he says curtly, sending his son a stare I never want to be on the receiving end of.

Micah turns to the Beta, placing a hand over his heart. "I apologise for my infringement into your family matters, Beta Samuels, truly."

The Beta just grunts, a his face twisted with frustration and bitter disappointment as he waves a hand. "There's no need. The goddess is testing me with my child. Every day."

And he seemed to be failing that test, miserably. "If it's any help, the two were talking when we left. I understand they've come to some form of arrangement regarding him residing closer so she can finish her studies."

Micah's father nods. "That could suit us well. I'll arrange a meeting with all three of us and his father, perhaps you can both use the time to complete some training together. This mating will bring our packs closer together and a strong relationship with neighbouring packs is highly important." I'd imagine Elias would like to spend his time up from campus with his mate, but I'm hardly going to put my two cents where it doesn't belong.

"Agreed. We will host a family gathering to honour their union and host their whole family here to do so. It could be a good time to review some of those reforms. Gia will begin her initiation into their packs soon enough so we must use the time they are here well."

The Alpha and Beta already switched into strategy mode, planning and plotting while his daughter sits up in a room probably either screaming her head off or bawling at her new fate. It's like she's a chess piece on a board, not a person with thoughts and feelings.

It makes it blaringly obvious what they think of me. If I were a chess piece they'd sign me up with a strategy to bear children and sit idly by like a good little human.

Micah's hand finds the small of my back. "I'm sure everything will work out between them. Gia has always managed to find a way to get what she wants, I'm certain she will make this into a future that she deserves," Micah says, cutting the conversation off before it grows further. "If you'll excuse us, I'm going to take Athena home, we've had a long trip."

"Of course," the Beta says, nodding his head with respect to us both. "Nicholas wishes to speak with you at some point as well, maybe visit him when you return."

The Alpha holds a hand out. "Come to my office when you return. I'll inform Nicholas when he can meet with you afterwards." There was some type of a threat underlying those words but Micah didn't balk.

"Yes, father."

"I'll see you then." He turns, the beta following as he starts talking again but in that old language of the wolves.

Micah moves his hand from me. "Sorry about them, they can become very intense when discussing pack politics." I wonder what intense things they've said about me. "So, fire and fury, let's lock in a date." 

wow, firstly congrats for reading all 7075 words of that you absolute rockstar. 

Secondlyyyyy this is a big shoutout and thanks to all of you readers who are still on the journey of this book! Whether you comment, vote, ghost read through each word, I love that I am able to share this fun hobby of mine with others who enjoy it too. 

It's also been so fun engaging with you guys on my instagram!! I am going to make a mission to post more on there, maybe like sneak peaks, chapter hints that sort of thing! If you feel inclined, answer some of the questions below to help me out :) 

Is there something you'd like to see more of on socials?  comment here <333

should I make updates on a specific day weekly (where I can post) or just as I write? 

favourite moment in the story so far?? 

Anyway, my rambling aside, have a fabulous weekend and I will see you next time!!!!

~ khalesi ~