::sigh:: Fair warning, I was in an unbelievably sappy mood when I wrote this. I hope you guys like romance.

Adelaide E: Yeah, I'm such a pain, ain't I? Come on, you can't tell me that you weren't dying for a good Monroe. Okay, maybe you can. When I start my original (when I'm finished with this) I'll let you know, so you can read it and hate the beginning male character I'll introduce. You'll hate him for as long as he's in it, I swear.

Blaise: I'm glad you like the wolf-love I express. I hope you like this chapter, I keep it up the whole time!

Emmanuelle: I was totally ready to make this chapter action packed, but unfortunately I got bit by the romance bug. Dammit. Don't worry, I already have the next chapter plotted out, and there will be some major ass kicking going on. =)



*Chapter 13*



The situation was awkward at first, especially for Monroe. When Tala presented him to her family, who happened to be about twenty-five members of a species he just recently became accepting of, she introduced him as her "partner." Nothing about soulmates . . .

Of course, it could have been worse. She could have said he was a wolf-hater.

Vesta was just his niece. For security of the charge, nobody could know about their recent discovery, except those involved with the case. And the way Lupe kept grinning at him knowingly all day, he had a feeling she had been filled in on too much.

He eventually pulled her aside. "What are you grinning about?"

"You love her," she laughed.

"And your point is?" He raised his eyebrows, trying to understand the girl.

"Nothing, I just think this was a really great way of showing it to her."

He shook his head, sighing. "I don't think it actually proved anything to her." He glanced over to the beautiful blond girl dancing expertly with a man that had the same colored hair. Salsa music was beating from the stereo. They really knew how to celebrate.

"Keep in mind, Monroe," Lupe said, grabbing his attention again, "She's still a little hurt from your earlier behavior."

He nodded. "I didn't expect her to love me because of this. I just wanted to prove that I realized what an idiot I've been, and I'm willing to do whatever I can to take it back."

"I think we should hush." She looked over his shoulder. "She's coming over here as we speak." He watched her straighten her blouse as she turned to her cousin. "Speaking of the devil."

Monroe's jaw almost dropped when she said that. Tala replied with a giggle. "I thought someone was talking about me. My ears were burning."

Before he could defend himself, Lupe was doing it for him. "Monroe here was just telling me how beautiful you looked dancing and wanted a shot at it himself." The girl proceeded to walk away, but not without giving him a sly wink behind Tala's back.

"I- um, I can't really . . ." He didn't know how to explain.

"Let me guess, you're not a good dancer?" She smiled. Her face radiated happiness. "Take a look over there." She pointed in the direction of a tan boy shaking himself as if he were having a seizure. "Don't worry, we're all family. Nobody is going to criticize you for how you look out there, as long as you're having a good time."

*Family,* he thought. It warmed him. "I just . . ." He still couldn't find the words. Finally, he shrugged, putting up his hands in defense.

Shaking her head, she grabbed his hand, pulling him out to the center of the living room that was being used as a dance floor. "I'll have them change the song." She looked down at their hands. "Hey, it's not so much of a shock when you extend the length of connection."

It took him a second to realize she meant the soulmate connection. He was still amazed that he was about to make a royal ass out of himself.

He was surprised again when the song changed to a slow dance. This, he was pretty sure, he could do. He let her lean into his chest, hands settling on her waist. He felt her body relax as she wrapped her arms around his neck and let her head fall to his shoulder. Resting his cheek against her hair, it seemed as if nobody else was there, only these two souls dancing in the wind. It was the most wonderful feeling in the world.

*Isn't it?*

He moved his head to look her in the eyes. Had she heard that?

*What? You think you're the only one that can read thoughts here?*

He thought for a moment. He hadn't known she was a telepath.

Her laugh filled his mind in some sort of painful pleasure. *I'm not. It's the soulmate connection. Our souls, minds, and hearts become one together.*

When she said it, he knew it was true. And he'd never be the same without her again.

She was going on. *Thank you so much for doing this. I mean, this must be so hard, being surrounded by us . . . wolves . . .*

He stopped her train of thought. *What you did yesterday showed me how naive I was. Werewolves are people, too. They're beautiful.* He smiled, holding her gaze. He ran his fingertips down her cheek. *You're beautiful.*

She blushed, looking away. Resuming her position on his shoulder, she continued. *I really don't know how to thank you.*

Breathing in her scent, he chuckled. *Seeing you this happy is enough.* He moved his head back slightly, allowing her to look up. He caught her chin with his hand, lifting her lips toward his own.

Just as he was about to make contact, she pulled back. He felt confusion fill her mind before she let go of him, breaking the connection. Her eyes were bright and wild. Shaking her head, she whispered. "I can't." She backed away slowly. "I'm sorry." She turned and walked off of the floor.

Monroe hadn't noticed that the music had picked back up. He saw a few dancers had stopped to watch. One being Lupe. He met her stare. *What did I do wrong?*

The girl shook her head, biting her lip. She walked up to him, pulling apart from the crowd. "She's probably just flustered. Remember, yesterday you treated her like dirt, and now suddenly you're mister nice guy. She needs time. And a friend." That was her way of hinting that she'd go talk to her.

He nodded solemnly. "You get it, don't you?"

"Yeah, I do." She looked in the direction Tala had gone. "But I wasn't the one that was hurt, either."

He left her in search of Vesta. That little girl always knew how to cheer him up. Even if it involved being insulted.



Tala sat on the swing set, watching her little cousins run around in their half-forms. She laughed lightly, remembering what it was like to be that carefree.

She turned to smile as Lupe sat in the swing beside her. "You ever miss that?" Tala asked, pointing over to the children.

"Being a pup? Or being in between stages? Because I do that every night." Lupe began to sway back and forth, picking up momentum.

"Just not caring about anything." She started to swing herself. "Going out and not having to worry about whether you could trust someone. Didn't have to worry about love."

Lupe slowed. "I hate to point this out to you, but you don't have to do that either, honey. Love? You have your soulmate. You never have to worry about that again. Trust? You can read it in his mind if you wanted."

Tala shook her head. "Everyday that I've known him, he's been a different person. Upon meeting he loathed me. Then he just was mean, even though he didn't want to be. Now he is a person that I had no clue existed. Caring, charming . . . what happened?"

Lupe leaned her head to the side, as if the situation was right in front of her to analyze. "He was hit with reality, Tala. He brought you here not just to make you happy, but to show you that he wants to be the person you need. He loves you. If you don't want to accept that, then I don't know what to tell you."

After a few seconds of silence, Lupe got up. "You sit here and think. I'm going to go help your mom with dinner."

Tala nodded, swinging a little. She sat, thinking of Monroe. Her mind was no where near the mission anymore. They had discovered what the Night World would want with a twelve year old half-witch. She imagined Thierry was letting them have the holiday, and then Vesta would be taken to Vegas to be trained on her powers at the Wild Power safe house. It seemed the most logical.

And of course she'd go with Vesta. She didn't want to leave her, especially to a place filled with strangers. Maybe she could take some time from doing missions, seeing as how stressful this one had been so far. A nice semester off in Vegas did sound interesting . . . especially if Monroe was going to stay with Vesta . . .

She was startled when someone stopped her swing, then pushed it lightly. She turned to see Monroe out of the corner of her eye. She smiled, knowing suddenly what she wanted.

"What are you thinking about?" he asked, not missing a stride of her swing.

She spoke honestly. "You."

"What about me?" His voice was filled with curiosity.

She stopped herself, moving to look at him. "What I'm going to do about you."

He kneeled at her side, looking her in the eyes. "And what exactly would that be?" His expression was one of worry.

Reaching out, she ran a hand through his chestnut curls. "Oh, I don't know. Maybe this?" Slowly, she brought her face close to his. Taking the hint, he moved in, putting his lips on hers.

*Magic.* That was the only word she could think to explain it. The feeling of his soft mouth, the gentle way he held her, his hand running through her hair. It was undescribable.

The soulmate bond grew deeper than she had felt it before. A pink haze filled her mind's vision, giving a complete sense of *him.* She felt how much he had wanted this, to take her in his arms and kiss her. He had hurt when she had been crying the day before. All he had wanted was to make it better, to prove to her how much she meant to him, and how he'd go to the ends of the earth to bring her one second of happiness. He wanted to show her how much he cared.

*Not just care,* he sent her. *I want to show you how much I love you.*

A wave of warmth drenched her whole entire body. She tingled from head to toe, his love and concern wrapping around her mind, protecting her from the world and anyone that didn't approve of her.

*I'm sorry I ever hurt you, Tala. Had I opened my eyes and seen how wonderful wolves were, how wonderful you are, I would have never done those things. I was just so proud and defensive-*

*It's okay, Monroe. You know now. You're trying to make it up. You don't know how much that means to me.*

His physical body held hers tighter. *I'd do anything for you. I love you.*

She smiled mentally, relaxing. *And I love you.*

She just sat, basking in his warmth, until a giggle interrupted their interlude. Snapping back to reality , Tala turned to see Vesta grinning beside them.

The girl put her hands on her hips. "It's about time."

Monroe reached out and grabbed Vesta, bringing her into a bear hug. "I don't want to hear it, brat."

"Hey, let go!" She stepped back, fixing her hair. "I was told to bring you guys in for dinner."

Tala smiled. "We'll be right in, sweetie."

As the little girl walked away, she stood, only to be pulled into his arms. "What are you doing now, hot shot?"

He kissed her again quickly, passionately. Pulling away, he whispered, "That."

She couldn't keep the grin off of her face. "Come on, let's join the family at the trough." She took his hand and walked inside, dizzy from her new revelation of love.