Chapter 37
Anna quickly walked forward and put the mugs down on the table. “Sooo??? How is it? Did it hurt?” Anna reaches over and pulls the collar of Amaris’ jump suit aside then the other. “I don’t see the mark. Where is it?”
Amaris pulled the jumpsuit top together and pulled the zipper all the way up. Anna sat in the chair that Lyle had just vacated. “There is no mark. We did not mark each other.” Amaris said quickly. She felt embarassment flush her cheeks. Again she felt an expectation that she do as everyone expects and just simply mate with Lyle and move on. Her worry and weariness must have showed on her face. Anna’s hand went to her mouth. “He didn’t reject you did he?” Anna says making to get up and go toward the door. “No I told him that I needed time to think.” Anna stopped in her tracks. “You found your true mate and you told him no that you need time to think? No wonder he wanted to get out of here. You essentially just rejected him without saying the words.” Anna’s look was pitying.
Amaris fiddled with her sleeve. “Anna, how long have you known about all this?” Amaris looked up at her with a serious expression motioning to them and their surroundings with a wave of her arm. Anna thought for a few minutes, and then said “Since I was 12. I saw my dad change in the backyard one night and thought I was having a nightmare. My parents had to tell me then that he was a werewolf, but they did not tell me anything else until I came of age.”
“”Exactly, You’ve had 5 years to get used to the idea of werewolfs. 5 years to learn about all their ways and customs. I just learned about all this less than 5 hours ago. I have had no time to absorb it, to think about it, to even figure out what it all means or what my place is in it. I know almost nothing about what it is to be a werewolf and had to have Lyle just explain to me what it is to be a mate and what it intails. Yet everyone here thinks that I should just automatically throw my lot in and marry someone who is a mere aquiantance, and I will be not only this pack's leader, but all the packs in the world's leader. I am feeling like i'm the drowning man being asked to captain the ship." Amaris had gotten up and begun to pace. Anna got up now too. She stepped in front of Amaris and reached out and gave her a big hug. "I'm sorry, I guess I should have realized that this would be too much for you." Anna released her and brought Amaris to sit in the chair again.
"So tell me what you think. Ask me all your questions. I am yours to command my lady." Anna says with an over done bow, and served Amaris her cup of cocoa. Amaris cracked a smile and took the cup gratefully. They drank their cocoa in silence for a little while and then Amaris looked over at Anna. "Do you have a true mate?" Anna looked at Amaris and put down her mug while tucking a leg under her to sit on it in the chair. "No, but I want one. They are supposed to be the perfect person out of everyone in the world for you. They not only complete you, but they are supposed to be the one person who can help you find your best self. I sometimes try to imagine what he will be like. Only 1 in 5 wolves finds their true mate. I have met most of the wolves here in the area at one time or another, but you need to see them after you come of age, so I guess I will need to meet them all over again to see if any of them are Mr. Right." Anna seemed a little deflated at this revelation. She hesitated a moment and then peaked over at Amaris with a sly dmile on her face. "I can see you and Mr. Bruce together. I could see it before this. The way you two would talk about the moon, and the way he looked at you especially when you weren't looking. I saw him watch you all the way down the hallway one time. It was a little creepy until I found my wolf and then once I knew he was a wolf too and that you were also a wolf I figured that he was your mate."
Amaris turned to Anna "So wait, you knew he was a wolf, and thought that he was my mate for months and did not say anything?" Amaris was now getting more than annoyed at the fact that everyone she knew, had known that she was a werewolf, that Lyle was a werewolf, and no one said anything. Especially not hearing it from her best friend who had known for quite a while. Amaris could feel the annoyance and anger festering. "This being kept in the dark stuff for my own good is really getting on my nerves." Amaris huffed out while she put her hands down on the table agressively, as if she was looking to start and argument. Anna turned in her chair, " Mari, I know you need time to get through all this, but Lyle loves you. Everyone has seen that for a long time. Hell, my dad says that he gave up leadership of his pack just to protect you." Amaris knew that was true.
"You do know what you are all asking right. I am supposed to marry him and sleep with him tonight." Amaris said incredulously. Anna giggled.
"I'll bet he is great in bed!" Anna blurted out raising her eyebrows like a villian from Vaudeville. Both girls started to laugh and the tension was broken.