The next day I decide to play hookie, which isn't the easiest thing to do when your best friend is a gypsy healer. I roll my eyes as a disapproving Maggie tries to convince me otherwise.

"I'm just sayin' Mere, you're meeting him sooner or later, may as well get it over with. Or you could do it your way and risk him sniffing you out only to find you laying here eating potato chips in that tragic outfit."

"Their not potato chips, they're cheesy Doritos." I mumble defensively.

"That's not the point. What am I suppose to tell David, I'm the healer but I can't heal my own best friend?" She complains.

I sigh tiredly. "Just tell him I was up all night puking my guts out and you healed me but I need to rest for the day. Problem solved."

"Fine. I hope you starve in here because I'm not bringing you any chicken soup that's for sure." Maggie retorts.

"Gee thanks Mags." I grumble, rolling over on my side.

"You're welcome!" She calls in a singsong voice before storming out of the room. God, she was the queen of sarcasm.

I spend the day alternating between TV, games on my phone, old Romanian movies I don't understand, reading, writing, and I even go so far as to reorganize my drawers. I'm bored out of my mind, until I get a text message notification from Maggie.

Maggie: OMG OMG

Me: What?

Maggie: brian just showed up and GIRL he is yummy

Me: send a pic

I send the last text without thinking it through. If he really is here then I need to be very, very careful.

The picture Maggie sends me has my mouth dropping open, and I'm fairly certain I'm drooling. He is by far the hottest man I've ever seen. The picture she captures manages to showcase his broad shoulders, perfectly straight, white smile, and his two adorable dimples. His light brown hair that swooshes over to the side, sweet baby Jesus he was gorgeous.

Me: are you sure that's my mate

Maggie: well yea he introduced himself as brian

Me: he came to see u?

Maggie: don't worry he's all urs. but yea he stopped by this morning, said his wolf had been acting funny since before he left. I calmed his wolf with my powers but idk how much longer that will hold

Me: oh

Maggie: your fault

Me: it's for the best

I lock my phone and quickly run into Maggie's room through the door that connects our suites. I grab her perfume and spray it all over the my door. There, he won't be able to sniff me out now, I think proudly. Now I just have to get a shower, and then I will be mate free for a while longer.

I take my time in the shower, shaving every inch of my legs and shampooing and conditioning my hair twice. It's not like I'm getting ready to meet him or anything, but if he somehow tracks me down after several doses of Maggie's PINK Angel perfume, then I don't want to look, smell, or feel like a roach.

After drying my hair I change into black leggings, an oversized tshirt, and my white converse sneakers.

"Knock knock." Maggie calls, causing me to jump and throw my phone halfway across the room.

"Don't scare me like that!" I scold her.

She raises her hands in surrender. "My bad. I brought you a sandwich." She says chunking a half eaten turkey wrap at me.

"How thoughtful." I mutter.

"You know me." She replies with a wink.

"Are we in the clear?"

"Are we? I'm not team avoid love of your life Meredith. Now if you are asking if you are in the clear I can say that Brian has gone to bed for the night, so if you want to venture out then you can. Which I'm assuming that's why your not in those tragic sweats anymore and changed into something slightly more presentable. Unless you were planning on going to meet Brian, in which case I can not allow you to do until you fix yourself."

I glare at Maggie, she was really being a pain lately. "I'm not going to meet him." I state.

She doesn't reply so I take that as my cue to go. An angry gypsy healer is one you do not want to mess with.

I walk around the mansion for a bit, careful to stay as far away as possible from the unmated males' rooms. I eventually come across a beautiful balcony, and I step outside. The fresh air calms my nerves, and I savor this. I'll probably have to hide out again tomorrow, so I better enjoy it while I can. There is a nice view out here, a full moon is in sight and shining down on a large pond.

I suddenly feel my wolf start pushing for control, and the wall I had formed between the mate bond starts to crumble. Then I suddenly notice another presence outside, but not just any presence; it is my mate's. Brian is out here.

My wolf practically forces me to turn around and sure enough, on the other side of the balcony Brian stands, staring at me with glowing blue eyes.

He is even more breathtaking in person. I mean honest to goodness his jaw was strong enough to slice a watermelon. He is much taller than me, probably 6'3 if I had to guess. I can't help but love him already, despite the numerous about of time I've tried to tell myself it isn't right.

He begins to take slow steps towards me as if he were approaching a wounded animal. I start to day dream about our bonding ceremony, the blood rites, and the pups we would have. It isn't until he speaks in the same deep, alluring voice that I had heard my first night here that I snap out of it.

"Mate," he breathes, nostrils flaring the tiniest bit.

He reaches out his hand to touch my face and that's when I loose it. "My name is not mate," I seethe, slapping his hand away. "My name is Meredith, and the only person who can call me mate is my mate, which I do not have nor desire to have. Understood?" I don't wait for a response before running away, back to the safety of my room. There is no way this was happening.