And so, Emma took Rayna shopping at the mall, and it was like Rayna had been a little kid in a candy store, eyes wide, and in awe. "Come on, Rayna!" Emma whined. "It doesn't always have to be like this for every time you do something new." "But, Emma," Rayna complained. "This is INCREDIBLE. I have never seen anything quite like this before." And so, the girls continued, the mall becoming more and more interesting to Rayna. "Look at all the cute guys here, Emma," Rayna stated, awestruck. Does she have her eye on someone? Emma couldn't help but wonder. She thought she should ask Rayna, but decided not to until they got back, in case Rayna tried to punch her or something. So Emma tried on at least 50 different outfits that she could wear on her date with Galen until Rayna saw something on Emma that she thought her brother would like. On the way home, Emma couldn't help but think about the way Galen rambled when he had asked her out. She couldn't wait to be surrounded by the scent of him-the scent of salt water and boy. She had a longing hope that he would embrace her with his muscular arms. When the time they were going out rolled around, Emma had butterflies in her stomach because she thought that Galen was so attractive. She had decided on taking him bowling. They had ended up having a great time, laughing and joking when Galen didn't bowl properly while Emma tried teaching him. When they had returned to Emma's house, he had hugged her and leaned in for the most intimate kiss that Emma had ever received in her life.

Chloe's birthday rolled around, which depressed Emma. Galen showed up that day and noticed that something was off about her. "What's wrong, angelfish?" Galen had asked her. "It's Chloe's birthday but she's not here to enjoy it," Emma replied. Then, without warning, Emma broke out in uncontrollable sobs. That's when Galen make the snap decision to embrace Emma and cuddle her until she stopped crying and wishing her best friend was there, too. Emma wiped her eyes. "Thanks, Galen," she told him, appreciatively. She kissed Galen ever so intimately so that he knew that he did the right thing. He kissed her back with such fierceness and hunger that he had forgotten about the Syrena Laws until they got upstairs to Emma's room and he had taken both his shirt and Emma's shirt off. "Sorry, Angelfish, but this can't happen. Not until we're mated," Galen had whispered in her ear. "What are you saying, Galen?" Emma asked. "I'm saying, I want you for my mate. I have never felt this way about anyone ever before in my life and I don't ever want this feeling to stop," he answered. That night, Galen had written a poem for Emma. It read: "Emma, my love, you are a shining star in my lightless nights, a blind man can see how bright full of joy our days and how free of fright our nights lay ahead. To know the man that I am is to know… I have been the lonely man, the handsome man, and the broken man, but know my only wish is to be your man. Together we are stronger than apart, we live and one day pass with our love in our hearts. In times of wonder and even woe, we shall be ready for it all. Emma, I love you absolutely, as I always will. You ignite my fires and stir my spirit. You strengthen my will and steel my senses. You and I shall cherish this love forever and ever."