Lyn stood outside the small cottage, they were too far to be heard, but she could just barely see her parents standing in the distance over the field. It was the first time her parents had spoken in weeks.

Beside her was Marius, and behind them was their younger siblings, Mathieu and Iyana. All of them were watching intently, hidden slightly from view at the backside of the cottage.

So far, her parents seemed to be speaking civilly. Lyn frowned, she couldn't help but feel anxious about it. Her mother's temper had been so unstable lately, her emotional state so fragile. Marion recently lost two daughters, and Lyn wasn't sure how her mother would take the news of another leaving their pack.

"Maybe this was too soon..." Lyn said nervously.

"When would you prefer he tell her? The ceremony is less than a month away..." Marius said. It was true. Vitor had set a date for August 1st. Just shy of a month from then.

She and Gaius hadn't even come face to face yet aside from Carina's introduction. Oddly, she was more nervous about her mother finding out then actually speaking to the male she was to be mated to for the rest of her life.

Lyn glanced briefly at Marius. She knew he was right... but she didn't like it.

"You should give them some privacy." Julian's voice spoke behind them. Lyn frowned at her uncle's request, but she had no intention of leaving.

None of them did.

Julian sighed after a moment when it was clear none of them would listen, and he moved off to leave them to their spying.

"Besides... Carina is getting irritated about her absence. We all lost them Lyn... mom is stronger than this. She needs to snap out of it." Marius said firmly. Lyndis shot him an irritated glance at his words.

"A mother's grief is different... and I could care less what 'irritates' that fucking femal-" Lyndis started.

"That 'fucking' female is about to be your new mother-in-law and Alpha, I'd be careful what you say about her from now on," Marius said seriously.

Lyndis scowled at him and refocused on their parents.

They stood quietly for a time just watching them talk... until Geoffrey said something that set Marion off. Lyn winced when Marion shoved him hard. Geoffrey just stumbled back a bit, but Marion didn't relent.

Lyndis wasn't worried about her mother. Her father would never touch her in anger for any reason, but she was worried about what her mother might do to him. He wouldn't even defend himself against her. Lyn started to take a step toward the field, but Marius grabbed her shoulder.

"Let them work it out," Marius said seriously.

Lyn grit her teeth in agitation and shot him an angry look, before she glanced back out at them.

Geoffrey had caught Marion's wrists by then, and Lyn watched as he gently pulled her into his arms. She fought the embrace, but he didn't relent, until finally, she saw her mother's body go slack aside from her sobbing. Geoffrey just held her.

"Come on..." Marius said. Lyn glanced back at him.

"Let's leave them alone." He added and nudged their two younger siblings. Lyn looked back once more to her parents embracing in the field and felt her first real sense of relief. She turned and followed the others back into the house.

_

Lyn securely fastened the next article of clothing onto the laundry line. The day was warm and sunny, albeit a bit windy. It blew the clothes along the line now and then with the light gusts and shook the trees of the jungle all around them.

Lyndis let herself get lost in the work. They had no washer and dryer in the cottage, no running water, but it hardly mattered. Keeping busy with chores was better than sitting around doing nothing.

She hadn't seen her parents since that morning, they had gone off together alone, and Lyn hoped this would be the end of their division. They'd always been so loving toward each other, with them not talking it had felt wrong, especially as Alphas.

It was unsettling the whole pack, and in their added emotional state, it made it all the worse.

Lyn glanced briefly to her side. Although Iyana, Aurelia and Sylvie were struggling with the height requirements, they were trying to help her string out all the laundry. Lyn couldn't help but smile a bit, at least they were out in the sun, instead of moping inside a dark room.

Behind her, she heard some crunching of earth and assumed Marius was back to check on them for the hundredth time. His over-protectiveness was getting  annoying. He had been so restless and agitated lately; he couldn't stay still in one place for too long.

They weren't even a hundred feet from the house, and they were surrounded by jungle, a rather harsh one at that. It would be hard for any hunter to sneak up on them out there with the amount of wildlife they'd have to contend with, besides, here in South America there was far less hunter activity. It's why they'd come here in the first place.

He was downwind from her, she couldn't currently smell him, and she didn't bother glancing back.

"Hello." The voice spoke in accented English. Lyn froze for a moment; it was unfamiliar. She quickly glanced back, and immediately felt the flush of her skin at who she saw brushing passed some of the hanging clothes. He ducked down beneath another clothesline to move closer to her. He was dressed a great deal more casually than when she first met him. Lyn stood there, unable to speak.

He shouldn't be there...

She cast a quick glance over at the girls. They were staring at the newcomer with uncertain looks. Sylvie and Aurelia turned and started running back toward the cottage, but Iyana stood rooted to her spot, watching him cautiously. Lyn warily met his eyes again. He smiled, clearly unfazed by the hesitant welcome.

Lyn trailed her eyes down to his hand, where he held a white rose with a small purple ribbon tied to it. He offered it to her. Lyn watched him hesitantly and glanced beyond him toward the jungle where he'd emerged from.

"It's just me," Gaius said. Lyn bit her bottom lip a bit. She hated the heated feel of her skin. He continued to offer the rose, and finally, Lyn took it to ease the awkwardness. He smirked at her.

"I didn't expect you to be the first person I came across. I'm sorry if I frightened you." He said in French. Lyndis stared at him in shock at his nearly perfect accent.

"You speak French?" She asked, unable to keep the surprise out of her tone.

"Yes, the only one of my brothers that do. You chose wisely." Gaius continued with a larger grin. Lyn felt her cheeks burn all the more.

"Is this how you'll always react to me? I truly hope so." Gaius continued. Lyn's cheeks turned even redder if that was even possible.

"Not be here," Lyndis said in her broken English. Gaius just smiled warmly.

"I'm comfortable with French if that's what you prefer," Gaius said. Lyndis shifted her feet nervously.

"Understand English," Lyndis said, a bit defensible.

"Whatever you're comfortable with," Gaius said cordially. Lyn frowned but said nothing. She felt incredibly awkward. It went quiet for a moment...

"I came to ask your father permission to see you since we are dropping all the formalities, I thought maybe you and I could talk... or maybe get some dinner. I know a few good places nearby... unless you just prefer to wait for our union." Gaius continued in French, his tone turned serious.

Lyn studied him for a moment, before she glanced to the house again. Marius was heading toward them now, followed close behind by Christophe and Julian. They looked a bit angry. Gaius glanced off toward them too, but he didn't look worried.

"If your father here?" Gaius asked. Lyndis looked back at him, uncertain how she was supposed to respond.

"No, and you shouldn't be here," Marius growled. Gaius looked undisturbed. His eyes fell on Julian. Lyn glanced briefly to Marius. He looked even angrier at being disregarded.

"As I said to my intended... I had not expected she'd be the first I came across. I came to ask permission to take her out, with whatever escorts her father deems appropriate. I assure you, it's quite safe, fully in the public's eye. I meant no disrespect, but since we aren't doing any formalities... I thought maybe we can get to know each other a bit before our union ceremony. My father has approved, but it is entirely up to Geoffrey." Gaius said politely in his slightly accented voice.

Lyn furrowed her brow as she struggled to follow his English, but she got the jist of everything he was saying.

"Zen you should have came to us first," Marius said angrily. Lyndis shot him a look. Now he was being disrespectful. Gaius just offered him a bit of a smile.

"I apologize for that, but when I saw the females here alone. I didn't want to frighten them by sneaking around." Gaius said, his demeanor still relaxed. He glanced over at her, and Lyn couldn't help but meet his eyes.

"Zat's-" Marius began.

"Marius," Julian said firmly. Marius scowled.

"I apologize. I didn't mean to impose or cause any trouble. I'll come back later when your Alpha is present, so we have no misunderstandings." Gaius continued in French, and she got the distinct impression he'd done so for her benefit.

Lyn frowned at his words; she couldn't help but feel the crushing disappointment of her wolf. She felt Julian's eyes on her, and she glanced over at him. The look on her uncle's face was thoughtful.

"Geoffrey is out for a bit. But I don't see why he would object to you two talking. As for taking her anywhere... I'm afraid that's out of the question.." Julian said. Christophe said nothing and kept his expression neutral.

Aldrick was their beta, it wasn't really Julian's or Christophe's place to make decisions for Geoffrey, but Aldrick was in no state to perform his beta-duties yet. Lyn felt uncertain, and glanced back at Gaius. He was watching her carefully.

"I understand fully. Though she hasn't given me an answer yet. Do you want me to go?" Gaius broke in. Lyndis felt all eyes turn to her. She couldn't keep the blush off her skin and Gaius just grinned wider.

"You can stay..." Lyn said, ignoring the slightly annoyed look Marius shot her.

"We'll give you two some space zen," Julian said, and though she didn't glance over, she knew he was giving Marius a hard look. Reluctantly, Marius turned and angrily headed back toward the cottage, followed by all the others. Lyn knew she was going to be watched, closely.

It was quiet for a moment, and Lyndis fiddled with the silky ribbon on her rose as she avoided eye-contact with him. If there was one thing she hadn't done much of in her life, it was conversing with males that weren't her family, especially not her own kind.

Gaius was silent for the moment as he patiently watched her, but not in an uncomfortable way. Lyn finally glanced up to meet his eyes, and he smiled a bit.

"Any questions for me? Don't be shy... ask me anything." Gaius asked gently as he tried to break the ice a bit. Lyndis watched him carefully as she tried to think of something, anything... to say.

The conversations she'd had with her brothers and male cousins flashed through her mind then, but nothing was appropriate to this particular situation. Especially not the conversations she had with Ced and Vince.

"How old are you?" Lyndis finally asked, it was the only thing that came to mind.

"Twenty-six. And you?" Gaius responded.

"Eighteen," Lyn responded. Again, silence settled over them. Lyn fiddled again as she felt the nervousness increase. She set the rose down beside the basket to start hanging the wet clothes again. She needed to keep her hands busy; it made her less nervous.

"How do you like it here?" Gaius asked her. He seemed to sense her unease.

"It's warm," Lyn responded. She'd never cared much for the heat before, her wolf had thick fur. They were made for colder climates, unlike the wolves native to there that had thinner coats. But after what they went through in Russian... and she got a taste of what it's like to be cold, truly cold. Now, the heat was growing on her.

She was starting to like it very much.

"Is that a good... or bad thing to you?" Gaius continued.

"It's nice," Lyndis replied and watched him curiously for a moment as she pinned up another shirt. His accent was faultless, and she got a strange inkling he was probably a bit of a perfectionist.

"Why did you choose French?" Lyn asked when that thought occurred to her. She knew most alpha's children got to choose which languages they studied. Before her pack was wiped out, Marius, herself and Arianne, the only three of her parent's children alive at the time, had already been schooled in several, but they got to choose.

"I didn't. My mother chose for us... but I rather like it. It's a beautiful language, especially when spoken by a female." Gaius continued with a slight grin as he leaned down and picked up the basket to give her easier access to it.

Lyn felt her cheeks burn all the more at his comment, but she could think of nothing to say. It went silent again as she continued to hang clothes until the basket was nearly empty. He was watching her with his own curious look now. Finally, Lyn glanced up to meet his eyes.

"Why did you choose me?" Gaius inquired. Lyn couldn't help the deep blush that darkened her cheeks again. She wondered if she would ever be a normal color again. Gaius seemed to have a permanent grin now.

"I... um... I don't know. You just seemed nice." Lyndis continued. His grin widened.

"You seem to like that adjective." Gaius continued. Lyn blushed and glanced away again. She hung up the last of the clothes along the line.

It went silent again.

"Your name... what does it mean?" Gaius asked to break the silence. Lyn suddenly felt a bit shy. He smirked a bit at the look on her face.

"What?" He gently urged.

"Beautiful one." Lyndis finally responded. He regarded her seriously for a moment.

"Well, in that case, it suits you," Gaius said. Lyn's blush deepened. There was a brief silence.

"May I touch you?" Gaius asked. Lyn glanced up at him and studied his green eyes with her blue ones.

His question felt odd to her, considering in less than a few weeks they would be mated. Lyn just gave a slight nod. He reached over, and lightly brushed his fingers back over her cheek to catch a few stray strands of her silky hair between them in the light breeze. She watched him intently and felt a strange stirring from her wolf at the contact. He smiled warmly.

"You are gorgeous. I never thought I'd be so lucky." Gaius said. Lyn again glanced away. She felt as if she'd never lose the flush from her skin. He grinned wider, and gently brushed his thumb over her flushed cheek.

"I'm getting the impression you haven't been around many males outside your family," Gaius said in a slightly teasing manner. She kept her eyes averted as her embarrassment deepened.

"I'm really not trying to make you blush..." Gaius said, his tone again becoming more serious. He sounded a bit apologetic.

"I'm sorry..." Lyndis said as she pulled away from his hand. Gaius chuckled a bit.

"It's nothing to be sorry for... I find it... adorable," Gaius said. Lyndis still kept her eyes averted. Gaius set the basket down and she suddenly felt his fingers beneath her chin as he gently guided her back to look at him. He was watching her with a careful look now.

"I kind of got the impression when we first met that you were a bit.. delicate. I admit... It's a big reason why I came. I know you, and your family have been through a lot. I don't want you feeling nervous. I want you to be comfortable with me. We'll take everything at your pace. I won't touch you until you want me to." Gaius said.

Lyndis watched him strangely; she hadn't expected this. Despite herself, she felt a bit of tears brim in her eyes, and she quickly tried to blink them away. She was still emotional, but she certainly didn't want him seeing that.

She took a slow breath, and though his words were sweet... something she'd always wanted to hear from her future mate, she couldn't help the slight insult she felt at being considered 'delicate,' but she didn't argue with him. Only time would show him that she certainly wasn't.

"I was horribly embarrassed... I didn't know what I was walking into... your mother is a bit..." Lyndis started to change the subject, but she quickly trailed off when she realized what she was about to say. To her relief, Gaius just chuckled.

"She means well, but I know she can come off as a bit overbearing and insensitive," Gaius said with another grin. Lyn watched him curiously, and she realized she was slowly starting to feel more comfortable with him.

"Besides... I thought you looked adorable... all barefoot and straight from the kitchen... with your charming little blush." Gaius teased. Lyndis quickly looked away again as she desperately tried to keep from blushing. Gaius just chuckled a bit. Lyndis finally glanced back at him with a slightly teasing look herself.

"Are you saying that's how you like your females?" Lyndis asked. Gaius narrowed his eyes on her playfully.

"I feel like that's a trap question." He teased. Lyndis couldn't help but smile, a true smile... not the polite fake ones she was so used to plastering on her face. It had been so long since she had, it felt weirdly foreign. Gaius studied her face for a moment and grinned.

"Didn't think I'd find something I like more than your blushing, but that certainly beats it," Gaius said. Lyndis watched him closely, and she couldn't help but feel a lot of her troubled thoughts start to ease. He was kind; it's what she had seen in his eyes the day they met, and what had drawn her wolf so strongly to him. Well... that and his scent.

She found she liked it a bit too much.

Geoffrey's words of preferring her for him suddenly made sense to her now. She knew her father likely met each of Vitor's sons during his meeting with him to discuss her potential matehood and Gaius's mild nature must have endured him to her father.

Gaius moved closer to her now that she seemed more relaxed with him, and she glanced up to meet his eyes. The wind picked up and tousled her hair. He was at least a head taller than she. He brushed his fingers gently back over her cheek again, and he tucked some of her dark hair behind her ear.

His thumb lightly caressed over a small sensitive spot up near her ear, and Lyndis pulled away suddenly when she realized he was tracing one of her scars. She turned away from him as insecurity washed over her. As petty as it seemed in their current circumstances, she had many scars, and it had not yet occurred to her until that moment what he'd think of them.

"What's wrong?" Gaius asked her with concern. Lyndis shook her head a bit.

"It's nothing," Lyndis said quickly. His fingers brushed her shoulder slightly, and she couldn't help but tense. He immediately pulled back.

"I'm sorry. I've overstepped..." Gaius said. Lyndis turned around and studied his eyes.

"No. It's fine... you just surprised me." Lyndis said quickly as she glanced briefly back to the house. She couldn't see anyone outright, but she knew they were being watched. It made her a bit uneasy. He glanced behind her, and she could see him scanning the cottage as well.

"I don't think your brother likes me much." He said in a slightly teasing manner as he tried to lighten the mood. Lyn forced another slight smile.

"I wouldn't take it personally, he doesn't like anyone," Lyndis said. Gaius grinned.

"Oh believe me I don't. I hardly blame him; I'll likely react the same way when my sisters reach the age to take a mate." He said, a bit teasingly. Lyndis just smirked at him. He probably would. It was in a male wolf's nature to be protective of their families, especially those of Alpha lines.

It went silent again for a moment, and she caught the distant scent of food cooking. Her sister must have started dinner.

"I should get back... and leave you to your own," Gaius said. Lyndis frowned a bit, she didn't want him to go, but having him stay for dinner just felt too awkward right now. There was a brief silence.

"May I see you tomorrow? Of course, I'll be sure to ask your father this time." He asked. Lyndis watched him for a moment, before she gave him a slight nod. He grinned and gently took her hand to bring it up to his lips to brush a light kiss to her knuckles.

"Tomorrow then." He said, and she watched him turn and head back into the trees until she could no longer see him.

Lyndis stood there quietly for a moment more and let her thoughts settle. She glanced down, and slowly leaned over to pick up her rose. Lyndis idly ran her fingers over the soft petals and looked to the jungle again... but he was clearly out of sight.

She turned to start walking slowly back toward the cottage as she fiddled with the little purple ribbon tied to the stem. She paused half-way across the field and looked back again to scan the trees at the spot where he'd disappeared one last time.

Despite all the crushing grief, she had felt for the past few weeks, at that moment, she felt a strange warmth blossoming inside her chest. Lyn quickly turned and hurried back toward the house, unable to help the creeping smile.