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Micah tilts his head back and roars with laughter, his chest shaking with mirth. I can't stop my own body from shaking, so much laughter erupting from me that it almost becomes hard to breathe.

"Hey! Not fair, okay Olive is clearly just not good at interpreting my skills."

"Oh shut up," Olive snaps at James from the couch, Ben nearly falling from his seat as he roars with laughter. So far, Olive and James had two points in a game of charades. Two.

Micah and I were literally killing it with nearly sixty, but two was abnormally bad. Mainly due to James' awful acting abilities. "Okay, okay, laugh all you want," he says, bowing to the crowd before turning to Benny. "I think we should win handicap considering you are all mates."

"Alright, I'm going to tally up the scores!" Kelsey announces, detangling herself from the arms of her giant mate, paper in hand. It takes her a mere moment before she rushes to stand in front of the couches. "So there are two awards tonight. Award one goes to the best performance, this persons perfect impersonation of a chicken was not only incredible but inspirational to all chickens everywhere.  Everyone please put your hands together for Xavier!"

Laughter bounces off the walls of the small room as James just gapes, throwing his hands in the air utterly defeated. Xaviers chicken impersonation was not at all impressive but he gets up anyway and kisses Kelsey straight on the mouth, beaming at her all the same. He remains standing next to her and snakes his arm around her waist, drawing her into his side. Total cuddle bear.

"Okay and for the winners!" She proceeds, and we all lean to the edges of our seats. "With a total of fifty nine points, a new charades record—Athena and Micah!"

Both Micah and I jump from the couch like we have just won the lottery, our cheers not at all humble as the others solemnly clap. Micah's slightly shaggy hair whips to me as his lips stretch into a perfect smile and we crash into a hug, my body singing at the contact.

He leaves one arm slung around my shoulder so that I rest into his side, the action so small, so casual, but so significant all the same. "Thea so deserves all the credit," Ben announces and I smile because he's right—I do. Henry and I are literal masterminds at charades.

When we were younger and had no other games to play outside of a worn deck of cards, we'd write out our own games and charades was a top pick. If he was here, we would have wiped the floor.

"I dunno," I respond, giving Micah a mischievous nod. "This guy has some pretty good acting skills."

James laughs. "Yeah right, I'd like to see that. Where were your skills tonight, big boss?" He teases.

"It's true! He was about to be given a scholarship for his shakespearean performance today." Micah winces but his smile remains.

"Ohhh we don't need to talk about that," he says gently to me, grinning through the embarrassment.

"Wait! Is that why you were in the changing room in the theatre? Did you actually go on stage?" James blurts, his wide gaze piecing it all together. And then he erupts in laughter once more. "Athena. Athena please tell us," he basically begs.

My smile only grows and I join James' laugh. "You are looking at the best Romeo this campus has ever seen."

James loses his mind laughing and the rest of them join in. "Can I be your Juliet?" James asks, closing his eyes to fake kiss the air, getting a rise out of everyone, including me. Just the thought of James in a wig playing Juliet... I would pay good money for that.

"That role has already been taken, isn't that right Thea?" He says smugly, pulling me closer to him with a quick nudge.

"No way! You were Juliet in the play?" Molly gasps before squealing with excitement. "That's so cute!!! Omg, babe, we have to do that. Maybe we should all be in a play for our double date, how cute would that be?"

"Double date? Micah questions.

"Hey, where's our invite Mol?" Kelsey asks, pouting as Xavier pulls her in to give her a kiss on the cheek.

"Don't worry, we can role play anytime you like baby," he says suggestively and she just blushes furiously, leaning closer into him as he lazily glances to Micah. "I didn't think you'd be into that stuff Micah, but it makes sense with all your weird nerd obsessions."

Micah rubbed his neck and let out a deep, nervous laugh. His hand around my waist, the contact—all of it suddenly felt ten times more real. If there was ever a cue to detangle myself, that would be it. "I bet Micah's a real freak in the sheets. They say all Alphas are," James says suggestively with a laugh.

"Oh sure, James the expert. How's that college girl you're supposed to be talking too? I don't see her around?" Micah deflects and I take the opportunity to casually sit myself down, his own body following close after.

"Hey! I'm gonna see her tonight I'll have you know."

Tonight at the big party. Xavier and Molly had both already started drinking—where they sourced the booze I don't know but none of what they had was human strength. "When are we going to that anyway? It's already like ten and I'm running out of drinks. Everyone's already posting, if we don't go we won't find anywhere to sit."

I'm personally unaware of the difference in sitting and chatting with alcohol out there and doing the exact same thing here, minus the drunk strangers. But Molly see's value in it and none of the others care to object.

"We could go now?" Olive suggests before James cuts in with another suggestion to stop along the way and then it's a whole ordeal. A conversation I void out as I contemplate even leaving at all.

Micah softly nudges my elbow. "Hey, you still good to go out?" He questions quietly. "We can stay in if you want."

I peer into his soft brown eyes that rest under furrowed brows and it's difficult not to notice how close he is. Too close. "Okay lets gooooo!" James yells, jumping up with a cheer and everyone seems to follow suit.

I turn back to Micah, the action brushing my bare arm against his. "I think I just need a jacket."

Micah smiles and part of me melts with the action. "We can stop on the way."

Everyone files out of the room, following James as he leads the way. "We're just gonna get some stuff, I'll link you and meet you there," Micah says to Benny who nods, focusing his attention back onto his mate.

"We probably could've just slipped off, I don't think they would've noticed," I mummer as he scans us into the room with a laugh.

"Probably, nothing motivates that lot like a party. I think the pack is in for a lot of fun when we all end up running the show." The image of everyone in that room becoming pack officials doesn't settle well. I can't imagine any of them as firm, powerful leaders standing up on those stages looking intimidating as fuck.

Was there a moment when they switched? When adulthood kicked in and kicked all the fun out of them?

"That was some serious acting back there, award winning stuff," Micah comments, sending me a playful smile. "You managed to keep that well under wraps in theatre."

"To be fair, I was playing a dead girl—you don't need much skill for that," I counter and he laughs. I rummage in my own suitcase and pull out a basic auburn sweater that is way too large, fraying at the ends and splattered with odd holes but comfortable as hell.

"Is that yours?" Micah asks, staring at it with obvious confusion but something else too, like his body has a visceral dislike to it.

"It's Henrys. I stole it like two years ago because it is the comfiest thing you will ever wear. But he got it from a good will store for one dollar, so it's not a massive crime," I joke and he manages a smile.

"It looks like it's gonna swallow you whole. Like a three bellied jaggerstone." I laugh at that mental image, truthfully I still haven't even made it to that level of the new Fire and Fury edition thanks to Henry. "But I've already defeated it like five times, so you'll be good."

I raise a brow as I pull the sweater on, and it does indeed swallow me whole. "You play Romeo one time and you're suddenly a valiant protector?" I question and something about the tease makes his eyes glitter, as if my words are a challenge he enjoys.

"I've got Alpha blood, I was born to be a protector." Right, walked straight into that one. His eyes rake over my body shamelessly and his smile grows as he takes a step closer. "I actually think I like the look though. If the party gets boring you can just fall asleep, it's like you're a walking pillow."

He says it like he's looking at something cute, like a little kitten or a teddy bear. I mean he's right, I do look like a pillow and I have used this jumper as a virtual sleeping bag. "I might sleep if we don't leave soon. Do you know if there's going to be human alcohol at the party?" I ask, a diversion from those intoxicating eyes as I pick up my phone.

Honestly I don't trust myself alone with him. Conversation is fine, talking I can do, but anything that reminds me of how damned good that kiss was... I need to shake it fast.

Micah raises a brow and grabs his own phone as we both start moving towards the door. "I'm going to assume there will be, are you planning on drinking?" He questions and I just shrug as we exit, beginning our journey to the others.

"Are you not? I thought the others were going to."

He shakes his head. "Not tonight. And to answer your question, I'd ask Molly—she always has a way of getting these things. Plus its not a great look for me to do anything illegal. If the others get it and its on the down low its fine but in a place like this I have to be more careful."

"Does it matter the same for me?" I ask and he pauses, contemplating.

"Kind of. You aren't officially the luna, and besides a few local news stories you haven't really been announced to the pack. So you could be sneaky, it's just the spotlight that can make that hard. In any case, I'm not going to drink so if you have too much vodka and decide to commit a crime I will be there to help you reconsider."

I laugh, purely because the idea of drunk me doing anything other than dance or cry is insane. Every time Henry and I snuck drinks we ended up crying watching cheesy Christmas movies or laughing our assess off dancing to the worst pop music from our parents time. "Would you report me to pack police?" I ask and he smiles, giving me a questioning look that's full of intrigue.

"No, that would make more trouble for me than it's worth," he says through a smile.

"But what if I burned down the school? Or hijacked a car?"

--------

"What if I murdered someone?" I push, grinning as he laughs. I'd been interrogating him the entire way to the party.

"You don't have it in you."

I gape, fake hurt lining my smile. I think of the most recent Fire and Fury game I played, knowing he'll get the reference. "I could definitely kill a man. I've used swords before, I'd just poison them and then hack at their slow movements until they bled ou—"

"Micah!" Both of us stop short, our attention moving from being utterly engrossed in conversation to land on a large man with short, cropped blond hair and piercing blue eyes. He was big and built, so similar to Micah in his height and absolutely lethal looking. It wasn't just his handsome features that made him appear as if he was carved from stone but the keen, almost predatory glint beneath his blue eyes that unsettled me.

"Ben told me you were going to be here." The guy says, his lips stretching into a broad smile. It takes him one second of looking at Micah before his attention moves to me, his gaze curious and his smile widening, like he knows he comes across far more intimidating to someone like me. "It's great to see you again."

"Elias," Micah says, and I turn to see his grin, watching carefully as he moves forwards and takes his friends hand firmly, both of them embracing before he pulls back.

I try to not appear intimidated by someone that matches Micahs power and status. It's not something I am greatly used to. But my apprehension towards people that look like him is so engrained in me that its almost second nature for nerves to flutter around my stomach in warning.

"It's great to see you too, I thought you'd be back home by now. How are things over in the woods?" He asks, a smile adorning his face. I barely register my own thoughts as my hand moves towards Micahs forearm, wrapping my body close next to his. But Elias catches it, those keen eyes snagging on my movement.

Micah notices it too, and he removes his arm from mine to wrap it around my waist, taking the opportunity my fear presents to nestle me closer into his side.

"Oh you know, same old," he says with an equally infectious grin before turning to me. "As much as I came over to see you, I'll admit when my beta informed me that your mate had accompanied you I had to introduce myself."

I instantly move to stretch out my hand in greeting but as if Micah senses my thoughts, his grip tightens, preventing my movement. "Hi, I'm Athena," I say and he smiles as he nods his head in respect.

"Its lovely to meet you, Athena. The goddess has gifted my friend with a truly beautiful luna," he comments and I note how Micah stills and how Elias does in return. "My sincerest apologies for the incident yesterday, Lucas can be very clumsy."

Lucas. The Beta. The guy I spilled orange juice all over.

I gulp thickly and wave my bandaged hand, the other still tucked at my side. "Oh no, it's fine. It was just a silly accident." His eyes lock on the bandage around my wrist and then move to my neck before he lands his attention on Micah once more.

He nods. "I appreciate your forgiveness. Do you mind if I join you?" He asks Micah who nods we all walk the small distance left, Elias taking the time to tell us how his pack is doing. He's the next in line to be Alpha of our neighbouring territory, a pack known for its brutal takeover tactics and strict regime over humans back before the reforms. Even now, it was one of the less desirable packs to be as a human.

We make it to the group, everyone here aside from Ben and Molly and he moves around the crowd effortlessly, greeting all of Micah's friends like they've known each other for years before sitting down opposite us.

"So how's the training coming along?"

"Great, you know how my father is, but I've almost finished my moon studies in time for the next eclipse," Micah responds and Elias laughs, looking at me.

"His father is a tough man, he trained me for the better part of a year and I'm very grateful for his lessons. And if you are already prepared for the eclipse trials I have no doubt the rest will be easy, I didn't finish my studies until I turned twenty."

I try not to let the confusion on my face read too easily but its hard when I know honestly nothing about the discussion. We learnt about the culture of the wolves in school but it wasn't a requirement for humans unless their parents wanted them to learn, just like any other religion. I only know the bare minimum from history.

"Are you still studying international relations and pack jurisdiction?" Micah asks and Elias nods.

"I am, I've got one year left and am lined up to head to the superiors palace once its completed. I hope to get sent on diplomatic missions to the human lands in the south or to the main palace. I still have some time to establish my connections before taking my fathers title," he says and I take in his clean cut hair and his sharp attire once more.

He seems like someone who values jurisdiction and pack life. Micah comes across as formal, but not nearly as formal as Elias.

"Eli!" Benny approaches us and he and Elias engage in a bro hug before he embraces Molly.

Confusion cuts through my features. Why wouldn't Micah let me shake his hand if all his friends were going to hug him? It draws my attention to my palm that still rests engulfed by Micahs between us. I barely noticed the comfort it was in, the softness of his touch but I slowly unclasped myself from his grip.

"Ben, Molly, it's good to see you guys. It's been what? One year now?" He says with a large grin, sitting back down.

Benny lets out a sigh of disbelief as he and Molly sit down with us. "Yeah, gee I guess it has. You need to come around to the pack house more often," he says and Elias laughs.

"I think I am still recovering from my last trip." Laughter erupts in the group and I smile even though I am lost with it all.

"Micah?" We all snap our attention to a tall brunette who might actually be a model as she strolls towards the group with the man — Lucas, that I spilled juice all over.

Micah stands up immediately, his face beaming and they both move forward at the same time, embracing one another like it was second nature. "Sophia," he says and I feel my skin bristle at the joy in which he says her name, at the fact his hand remains on her arm with that wide grin still present.

She beams back, her perfect white teeth gleaming in the night as heat rises to her cheeks. "It is so good to see you!" She exclaims. "How is your mom? Your family, gosh I miss them. And my dad told me you made the team for pack playoffs! Ah, we have so much to catch up on!"

I force the neutral smile back on my face, unaware that it had disappeared just as Micah steps back only slightly. "Speaking of," he says, moving to stand closer to me. "I'd like to introduce my mate, Athena. Athena, this is one of my oldest friends, Sophia—we've known each other since we were pups."

He extends a hand towards me like its show and tell and I don't miss the slight beat of sadness that flashes in her gaze. "Hey," I say and she immediately smiles once more, albeit less enthusiastically.

"Wow," she says, turning back to Micah. "Congratulations, I'm so happy for you. You are so blessed to find your mate so early."

He nods, his grin only widening. "Thank you," he says sincerely, sitting back down next to me before casually dropping an arm over my shoulder, pulling me to his side. I don't reject the advance this time. "So how have you been, how is your family?"

She smiles broadly. "They are great, my little sister has placed in the finals for her skating and as you can imagine my mom is thrilled, its all they ever talk about," Micah laughs like its an inside joke and it only makes her eyes brighten. "And dad is just busy being Gamma, as usual. He actually was planning to come over and pick me up after this trip on his way to visit the pack house. I figured I would tag along and surprise you but I didn't even consider that you might be here too."

"That's great! I'm sure Keira is over the moon, goddess I remember her trying to teach us to skate that one summer," he beams and they both erupt with laughter as he turns to me softly, reading the confusion on my face. "I nearly broke a bone that day. Nearly."

"And what about you, I mean obviously your mate—amazing, but how about the fam? The pack? How is all your big mr Alpha stuff coming along?" She teases, smiling and his finger brushes against my arm at mention of me, like he is remembering I sit there.

He sighs through a chuckle. "Oh you know, same-same. Charlie is phasing out of being incredibly adorable and realising the pull he has with my parents and Joey is still pushing all the same buttons. But mom and dad are going great, they all miss you too—my mom would love if you came over with the Gamma, your eighteenth is soon isn't it?"

I feel it then, brewing inside of me and I have to shake my head just slightly to knock myself out of it. I shouldn't be jealous of her, of her closeness to him even if she seems like she just fits on in perfectly to his life. Like my being his mate was all some big screw-up and his real partner is in front of us. Stop. I need to stop thinking like this—what is wrong with me.

She smiles downward, pulling a strand of hair behind her ear. "Yeah, in just a week actually. I have a party planned for me by mom back in the pack, just close family and whatnot."

"Wow, it's all come around so quickly. Soon enough I'll be Alpha of this pack and you'll have a mate of your own—it's so weird to think about how far life has come." Her attention snaps directly to me and if Micah see's her smile falter like I do, he doesn't make note of it. He is oblivious!

"It's crazy," she confirms before smiling at me fully once more, leaning closer. "How are you finding it all? I bet it's exciting learning all the things that come with being a luna, it's such a blessing—truly."

I fight the instinct to knit my brows together and send her a look that reads are you absolutely crazy? I opt for a nervous chuckle instead.

"Yeah it's uh..." I rack my brains but there are still no solutions floating around in my thick skull on how, exactly, I feel about this.

"We are taking things slow, just enjoying the process. There's no rush for all of that anyway and obviously Athena is less accustomed to our ways so it may take longer for her to adjust into the role," he says, to Sophia, Lucas and Elias apparently. All of them now seemingly interested in me.

"It must all be very new to you," Elias comments with a curious gaze, directly engaging with me and I once again feel the featherlight brush of Micahs hand over my bicep. "I hope that the wolf ways haven't scared you off too much."

He grins and I swear I catch a glimpse of his canines as he laughs. "I'm not scared," I announce. But the action did leave a chill running down my spine. I've seen the wolves shift before, but not often.

My family made a point of steering away from the parades and ceremonies unless they were absolutely mandatory and living alongside them in human form... its very easy to forget that they can all transform into deadly animals.

"Of course not, you've got an Alpha for a mate, I am sure you are elated. There have been so many more human wolf matches within the last three decades, a true unity for your people." I don't represent the human population and referring to them as my people seems a little far fetched. Being Luna gives me literally no bearing over their love and adoration, you need to earn that with humans.

"We are all just happy he found her," Benny says with a chuckle, taking a casual sip from his drink. "It was all he'd ever talk about these last two years. The last few months of him being eighteen were a nightmare, I think the goddess sensed his urgency."

Everyone from his friend group agrees in unity, chuckling at the memories. I hate the way it makes me feel, the realisation that he was sat for two years dreaming and wondering about me while I did everything in my power to avoid someone like him.

"How did you meet?" Lucas asks, leaning forward.

"Yes, please tell. I love hearing stories of mates meeting, it's so romantic," Sophia encourages, also now listening from the edge of her seat. I just bristle and try to not look like a deer caught in headlights.

"Funny story, actually. I was just walking out of class one day on my way to training and I heard this huge crash up ahead. There was an end of day crowd and so me and the guys went to see if everything was okay and low and behold, Athena had accidentally tripped and covered herself in blue paint."

Sophia laughs, clapping her hands together. "Oh that's so classic of you. Micah the mighty hero."

Micah laughs but I don't, what should I add? Yeah, ha ha and then I fucking ran for my literal life. "I honestly didn't even scent her from all the paint. So it took helping her up to actually realise that we were mates and then yeah... the rest is history."

A very nice re-telling of the story, a calculated one for sure but it earns smiles and stares of adoration from the group. "And how did you react? Covered in paint probably wasn't an ideal circumstance." Elias asks me and though Micahs body gives no physical sign of it bothering him I can tell that the question does, that it is weighted differently.

I cough before chuckling. "Oh, you know. Pretty shocked, I guess." I announce but they wait for me to continue and so I gulp, feeling Micah's nerves even though he shows absolutely no visual sign of them. "I didn't really ever expect to have a mate, so yeah it was a bit startling. And I mean we didn't really know each other that much before hand. But it's been an experience."

"I'm sure you've loved getting to know each other," Sophia adds, genuine happiness lining her face as she looks at my mate. "You really have snagged the nicest guy to walk the earth, I haven't met a more considerate, careful male wolf in my existence."

Everyone keep saying that. All I hear from people is how amazing he is, how he doesn't have a single flaw. It honestly scares me more than anything. I don't know if I'm fearful of it being true or him having some demons lurking below the surface more.

"Don't flatter him too much," Olive announces, sipping on her drink. "Male pride is a deadly sin."

Everyone laughs and the feel of Micahs chest vibrating with his laughter, his pure happiness as he smiles fills me with a mixture of joy and dread. I know how badly he wants this to work, I can feel it in the way he stares.

"Oh don't worry, I have so many stories from his childhood that I can fill you in on. Real embarrassing ones." I smile at the eagerness underlying her tone, at the happiness in which she exudes. But a part of me can't help but hate the fact that he's had this history which is utterly ridiculous and stupid and so unlike me. What should it matter? I've made numerous memories with Henry, I'm being stupid.

Maybe I just need a vodka. That might help shake these stupid thoughts. "I'd love to hear them," I tell her, grinning.

"It's good to hear you are both getting along. Human mates aren't always the easiest to deal with." My face pinches with the comment, everyone's attention shifting to Lucas as he takes a sip from his drink. What sort of a thing is that to say?

I expect someone else to step up, say something in my defence by instead I just register sympathy in the eyes of Micah's friends. "We have been having... trouble with some lower pack members who are in similar situations, as I am sure you are aware many packs are," Elias intervenes. "But the will of the goddess is strong, and we must bless her unions."

I turn to Micah, finding his stare pinned on the Beta. "We were lucky and blessed to have a few members on our Gamma committee mated to humans early on. Their insights and perspective is incredibly important." Lucas gives Micah his attention then, a challenging glint in his eyes. "Perhaps you both might benefit from coming to speak to some the ones who hold positions within the pack."

Elias smiles. "That sounds like a wonderful idea. I'm sure you have some great ideas too, Athena."

I don't like the sound of my name on his lips. It unsettles me.

I let out a hasty laugh. "I think I am going to get a drink." A stupid response, one that earns stares, but I have no ideas--surely admitting that isn't smart.

I shift, getting ready to leave from Micah's grip but he stops me, furrowing his brows. "You're thirsty? I can get you something, you don't need to leave. What would you like?" He makes a move to stand up but I put my hand on his thigh and effectively give him enough pause to allow myself to stand.

"It's good, I've got it. Do you want me to bring you something back?" I offer and he shakes his head.

"No I'm fine. Just please come straight back or text me if anything changes, there's a lot of strangers here. And don't take anything not bottled, trust me—"

Sophias laugh cuts him short. "Oh my goddess, relax Micah, I am sure your mate is capable of getting herself a drink," she says to him, a playful grin on her face. "Why did I always expect you to be like this as a mate?"

The joke earns a grin from Micah but it doesn't make my lips stretch with mirth. At all.

"I'll be right back," I assure him once more and he is pulled back into conversation by the actual supermodel next to us before he can stop me from leaving.

I can't make sense of half of what's going on in my head right now, but I do know that I am going to need some sort of sustenance to return and sit through more of that.