Ten

After I quickly showered I threw on underclothes, blue jean shorts, which I admit, were a bit short, but I was running out of shorts, and a white shirt with a beautifully coloured feather outlined with a green glow. The shirt was a bit see through, so I wore a nude bra, it was too hot for anything else, it was July and I'm a werewolf.

I jogged down the stairs and my hair was already drying. It fell in beach waves down to the middle of my back, and I wanted to put it up but hated wearing it up wet, so I suffered in silence with it down. I took a deep breath before turning around the corner and tried to sneak into the dining room, but it was eerily quiet and everyone's eyes flew to me.

Caden's eyes roamed over my body and his turned black. I could barely make out his pupils his eyes were so dark. I tucked a piece of hair behind my ear and felt my face go a bit red. I thought by just a group of people he meant like fifteen.

I was wrong.

There were at least thirty people sitting at the two long tables, if not more. I wasn't sure if I was supposed to walk up to Caden but figured it was better for show, since they didn't know this was arranged, to stand beside him. So I did.

When I made it to the front I think I shocked him when I stood right beside him, slightly in front of him and he awkwardly put his hand gently on my hip. I could feel that he was aroused, his eyes not the only thing hardening. I put my hand on top of his trying not to flinch and trying to stay calm, I wanted him to keep his hand there, so it didn't look so weird. We had never been this close.

Ever.

"I would ask for your attention, but I'm pretty sure you all gave it to her when she walked in the room," he paused and some of the guys looked down and away from me as if caught, which I guess they were. His voice shocked me, it was relaxed and calm, more like when he talks to Daniel. "I would like to introduce you all to Blake," I saw him look pointedly at Jarod and I saw Jarod swallow, which made me smile a little, "My beautiful future mate." Jarod's eyes widened a bit and he swallowed again before picking up his fork.

The whole room started clapping and cheering. There was a chorus of 'congratulations!' and the applause seemed never ending.

"Okay, okay." He said with a smile, "We thought we would start off small with the introduction, but I want you all to welcome her, like I'm sure you all will. Thank you, and enjoy the meal." We both sat down. I hadn't realized there was an empty chair for me just beside him at the end of the table.

My wolf was purring in delight ever since he said 'my beautiful mate.' I tried to tell her that it was all for show, like me standing close to him, but she sighed and called me a fool before staying quiet. I forced myself not to move my chair as far away from Caden as possible as I took a bite.

"Have you been here long?" A dark haired girl asked me from a few people down on the other side of the table.

"No, a few days."

"Do you like it here?"

I suck at lying and saying, 'No I wish I could be as far from all of this, and him, as possible', would probably not help, so I gave it my best smile, "Yeah. The woods are gorgeous." I knew my smile wasn't real but tried to hold it there.

"Woods? Why would you go out there?"

"I love the woods, always have."

"Oh."

"What do you do out there?" The man beside her asked and throughout dinner I tried to keep up my smile and answer questions as if this pack was heaven, but I usually tried to return back to the lake, woods, sports, or something I actually liked about this place, that was until I couldn't.

"So how long have you known Caden?" He tensed and I finished taking the bite I was bringing to my mouth and racked my brain for an answer.

"Long enough to be here," I smiled and the man nodded. Caden relaxed a bit.

"Love at first sight?" He raised an eyebrow and I clenched my jaw before plastering on a fake smile again.

"Something like that."

He laughed with his buddies before they started whispering about my looks. God how I hate horny boys.

Caden gave them a glare and they dropped the conversation, instead talking about video games or something.

The rest of dinner was uneventful and I forced myself to stay seated rather than leaping up and running from the table after the first few left. I was asked few other questions about Caden, thank goodness.

I was almost finished eating and was just poking the last noodle on my plate with my fork, over and over again.

I felt eyes on me and looked over to see Caden look away. But I saw sadness in his eyes before he turned and a blank face covered it again.

What was that about? Why can't he just tell me where he stands?

You haven't told him, my wolf defended him.

You're supposed to be on my side.

Not when you're acting childish.

I sighed mentally and took a couple deep breaths, You know how I feel, why are you making this so hard on me?

Because you refuse to see his side. He doesn't get to choose a mate either, he doesn't get to find the woman of his dreams and fall in love, yet he's not blaming us.

He chose when he agreed with my father. I snapped.

That shut her up and she pouted in defeat. It was getting empty and Daniel came and sat beside me.

"So I heard you met Jarod," he said and Caden growled. Ooh, touchy subject.

I nodded and kept poking the last noodle.

"I see. Anyways, we're still on for swimming tomorrow? After training?"

I nodded again and ate the noodle before putting my utensils on my plate and putting my hands on my lap. I had four eyes on me and wanted to run away and never stop.

He's ours.

No, but we are his, and not by choice.

Again she stopped and I noticed they were talking through the pack link again.

I sighed and stood up.

"You alright cupcake?" Daniel asked and I shrugged. I turned to leave the room and paused as he spoke.

"Goodnight Blake." Caden said right before Daniel did.

"Night." It came out with little emotion.

I actually hated how cold I could make my voice, but I also hated how I was a prisoner to the man I was supposed to mate with, so I guess it was appropriate.

I was changed and lying in bed but couldn't fall asleep. I couldn't shut my brain off and I blamed my wolf. We couldn't agree on Caden.

She insisted that he would protect us and wanted us. I kept telling her not to get her hopes up. I heard him coming and curled in a ball.

He got up to the door and knocked lightly, I didn't respond so he slowly opened the door.

I saw him come into my line of vision as he came closer. He was completely silent and the door being closed stopped most light from coming into the room. I sat up. I was never going to be able to sleep here.

I sat up and looked pointedly at him.

"Sorry, I was trying to be quiet."

"What are you doing here?" Again my voice was cold.

He was standing there awkwardly.

"Why are you in my room?"

"Because I want you to use our room."

"We don't have a room. You have a room, and I have a room. Which you are currently in."

"I don't use it anyways, just sleep there."

I hate arguing, I thought. We were both quiet as he waited for my response.

"You'll get a better sleep."

"I doubt it." Everything would smell like him. The problem is, he actually had a great smell.

"You don't know for sure until you try it."

"I don't want to know. Now can you let me sleep?"

"Why won't you call it your room?" It came out demanding and almost spooked me. Earlier he was almost, like just about sounded as if he wasn't all business. He actually had a bit of amusement in it. But this question didn't. It was more anger than anything.

"Because its not."

"That's not an answer."

I shrugged and stood up, "It was my answer."

"Blake, use our room."

"Your room."

"Fine, if that's what it takes. Then use my room."

"Why can't you use your room? Me being here doesn't change anything."

His jaw dropped a bit and he laughed. I was so shocked my jaw dropped a little. I had no idea what was so funny.

His laugh really was great though. I almost laughed with him. It was almost too contagious.

"You being here doesn't change anything? I hope you don't believe that," when I didn't respond he took several slow steps towards me and looked right at me, "You being here changes everything."

Like what? Changes the fact that he got another pack member? Or the fact that his pack has a Luna without a say in anything? Or maybe it's the fact that now he has a prisoner running through the woods in the day.

"It does not. All it changes is that you have one new pack member who just so happens to ally your pack to mine."

"Your old one."

"Whatever, you get my point."

"You're wrong. It changed everything, you change everything." When I didn't say anything, he held up a finger, "One, I can't get you out of my head, although I don't really mind. Two," he held up more fingers as he counted, "You're my mate and my wolf is constantly whining to mark you. Three, I haven't slept since you came here because my wolf is tense knowing you're close but not close enough. Four, as much as I am tense, I'm relaxed because my wolf is ecstatic to have you as a mate. Five, my emotions are all over the place because I don't know how to act or what to say to you. I've never had to think about how to treat anyone before, yet I have to restrain myself constantly around you. You just being here makes me not want to be in my office but actually do things. I don't tell people how I feel or what I'm thinking. But ever since you came..." He trailed off quietly.

"Sorry for messing things up for you. I had no intention of ruining your life like mine was," I said sarcastically and rolled over hoping he would leave.

What he said slowly sank in and my wolf purred in delight. He's always thinking about me? Can't sleep? He actually wants to mark me? His wolf wants me as his mate? Why?

"Blake, I didn't say it was a bad thing," I looked up to him shocked. His voice was quiet and desperate, as if he didn't know how to make me understand. He's never talked to me in any way other than a business tone, so this was new for me.

"You didn't have to." I said emotionless.

"No Blake, I didn't-"

"Just leave. I won't apologize because if I had my way, I wouldn't be here. You agreed to the deal. You brought me here. Which makes it your fault things have changed." His eyes flashed in pain and sadness before he looked down.

"Please, just listen-"

"Just leave," I said quietly, "I need to sleep."

He stared me down but I just rolled over and pulled the blankets up.

I sat up scared as hell when he suddenly shouted, "No! I'm not leaving because you won't listen to a damn word I'm trying to say!" I sat there frozen and he rubbed his hands over his face as he calmed down.

He looked almost torn between guilt, anger, sadness and hurt. "Blake, you've changed everything, but I don't want it to change back." He said desperately.

Was he saying that those things weren't bad? That he actually wanted to be my mate? How can he when he doesn't care about me at all?

Is that him telling me he wants me to stay?

I had so many thoughts racing in my head, but I denied all of them. This is business for him. Don't pretend otherwise, I told myself. "Well it won't," I said completely stone cold, "I'm stuck here with you." I held back the emotion and kept my face blank.

The pain that flashed across his face almost made me cave and regret what I said. But I wouldn't cave, it was the truth. I wouldn't feel bad for him. He treated me as property and I would treat him as my prison warden. Definitely not the typical mated couple, but then again, we weren't going to be. I wouldn't show him any emotion since he wouldn't either.

But he looked so vulnerable and the word 'shattered' came to mind before he looked down, clenched his jaw and fists before he met my eye once again. He gave a small nod as his face and voice were business again, "I guess I can't argue with that. I'll leave you alone now." I heard a bit of sadness and felt so guilty for what I said. He basically just told me he liked having me here and I rejected him coldly.

I laid down in my bed and a tear ran down my cheek as he opened the door. He paused and turned his head to the side slightly but then sighed, "Goodnight Blake," and he left.

******

AUTHOR: Hey! Ten chapters so far! Let me know what you think and if I should continue posting! I have thrirty some odd chapters written and know where I want to go, but not sure if there's interest! I love hearing from you! Here's to at least twenty more chapters!!