Two months later:

(Emily POV)

I've never been happier to see the Sorrentino estate in all of my life. I've spent the last month and a half at Stonehaven training with Elena and Clay. I winced as I felt the bruise forming on my ribs where Clayton had kicked me during our last training session. He was no nonsense, that's for sure. He took his place in the pack seriously and I could tell from the moment I met him he was much more in tune with his wolf than most of the others I'd met.. We'd worked on training every single day for the entire time I had been there. At first I wished he would take it easy on me, until Elena explained that he was doing it for my safety. If a mutt attacked me again, they wouldn't be going easy on me. Before I left I had earned enough of Clays respect to deserve a pat on the back as he told me to take care of myself. Apparently that's a high compliment for him to give someone he doesn't know very well.

The twins were amazingly adorable, Kate was bubbly and girly, while Logan was much more serious and ridiculously smart. They were sad when it was time for me to leave, but I promised them I would return as soon as I could and take them out for ice cream. That seemed to please them enough for them to let go of my legs and let me get into the car. Jeremy had worked hard on getting me back to a healthy weight and I was finally back to normal. Granted, I still feel like an ant compared to all of these huge guys around me every day, but at least my clothes fit again. I was stronger now, and I was confident in my ability to defend myself. I was actually excited to start my training with the guys, I smiled to myself as I imagined the looks on their faces when I took one of them down.

When Jeremy pulled into the garage, Antonio was waiting for us. He wrapped me in a warm hug and welcomed me home. I hugged him back just as eagerly, glad to be back to my new family. Antonio had gone above and beyond for me since I came to stay with him. He'd given me credit cards with ungodly allowances, though I rarely used them for anything other than cheap essentials. He offered me his car whenever I needed or wanted to go somewhere, he even had my room completely redone while I was away. I'll never forget the night he pulled me in for a hug on one of his visits to Stonehaven and told me I was his daughter and that he loved me very much. Of course I started blubbering on like a baby, but I told him that I loved him too. And I do, he's been so kind to me, so patient and understanding. As I grabbed my bags, Jeremy asked me if I'd like to go check out the changes they'd made to my room while he spoke to Antonio in his office. While he said it as a suggestion, I heard the underlying order in his words and immediately submitted to my Alpha before gathering up my things and heading inside.

The house was quiet in the middle of the day on a Tuesday. Nick and Reese were at work in the city, Noah was gone to his classes. I couldn't help the goofy grin that broke out on my face as I walked through the house that now felt like home. I'd missed this place while I was gone. I made my way up to my door and found a big red bow attached. I rolled my eyes and smiled at the gesture, I'm sure the ostentatious bow was Nicks idea. I opened the door and my breath caught in my throat. My new room was literally renovated. They'd had a fireplace installed, painted all of my walls a creamy taupe grey. My bed was a wooden canopy style bed that looked vintage, with beautiful deep purple and cream drapes surrounding the bed. A large fur rug padded the floor in front of the bed, and the once white comforter had been replaced with a cream and purple quilt that perfectly matched the canopy drapes. The windows had sparkly sheer cream curtains flowing from the ceiling to the floor. A huge flatscreen tv had been mounted to the wall, and speakers were hidden all around the room and bathroom. A brand new MacBook laid on my new desk, along with the latest iPhone on the market. I noticed the bathroom and closet doors also had big bows on them. My jaw dropped when I got to the closet. It had been lined with high end shelving units and was overflowing with brand new clothing. Everything I could ever think of from brands that I couldn't even afford to buy second hand was neatly organized on hangers. A seat had been placed in the middle of the room and a full length lighted mirror stood along the far wall. Floor to ceiling shoe shelves line both sides of the mirror. My stomach churned at the thought of the money they'd spent on all of this just for me. Feeling overwhelmed by the closet, I backed out of the room and turned to go to the bathroom. I steadied myself as I opened the door, unsure of what I was going to find. I'm not really sure why they redid the bathroom, it was amazing before. I walked in to see that the bathroom had been completely renovated to match the bedroom. Beautiful taupe grey, cream and deep purple mixed perfectly to create an oasis that was magazine worthy. The soaking tub had been surrounded by shelving, a step was added in front of the tub. I chuckled to myself okay, that was a pretty good idea. I'm pretty short to hike myself into the tub. I was amazed at how thoughtful they'd been. So good to me, more than I deserved.

After I took a long hot bath in my new bathroom I walked over to the closet to look through the clothes they'd gotten me. I tried not to look at the prices on any of the tags, it would only add to my guilt. I picked some beautiful distressed jeans and an off the shoulder emerald green top. Slipping on some tan sandals and some simple jewelry I set to work fixing my hair and putting on some light makeup, all of which they'd apparently supplied for me too. I stood in front of the mirror in my closet and smiled to myself. I looked like me again. My skin was tan from being outside in the spring air training everyday while I was at Stonehaven. My body looked lean and healthy under my clothes. The green shirt made my green eyes look like a sea of jade. I'd kept my makeup light, just some simple foundation, mascara, lipgloss and a tiny bit of highlighter. I walked downstairs and found that Jeremy and Antonio were still deep in discussion in Antonio's office, so I walked out the back door. It was getting warmer every day and soon it would be warm enough to use the pool. I made a mental note to check for swimsuits soon so I could be ready. I made my way through the yard to the forest. I walked in silence for a while, just enjoying the sounds of nature and the peace of being alone for a little while. Since I'd come here, I haven't had much time alone. I stopped when I got to a small clearing with a babbling stream coming through it. There was a big rock jutting out over the stream and I carefully made my way over to it. I laid back on my back on the warm rock and listened to the sound of the water rushing through the rocks below me. The warmth and lull of the stream quickly pulled me into a warm and comfortable sleep.

I woke up to the sound of sticks crunching nearby. I sat up onto my elbows and tried to get my bearings. The sun was lower in the sky than it had been when I'd gotten here, so I'm guessing it was at least 4 in the afternoon. I looked over to try to find the sound of the noise when I saw a flash of white coming from between two trees. I sniffed the air tentatively just like Elena had taught me trying to pick up on a scent. Found it. "You know, if you're trying to sneak up on me you're going to have to do a lot better than that baby" I giggled. I heard Reese curse under his breath and step out into the clearing. My god. He looked like a male model walking toward me. I stayed propped up on my elbows watching him stride toward me with a grin on his face. As soon as he was within a close distance I jumped up and ran into his arms. My wolf was purring with contentment at his touch. I'd talked to Elena a lot about mates while I was at Stonehaven, and I think I've finally accepted that my wolf mated me to Reese, even though we aren't considered mates until we.. you know mate. He twirled me around in a circle as I wrapped my legs around his waist. Without wasting a minute I grabbed him by the face and smashed my lips against him, kissing him hungrily. He returned the kiss with no hesitation. We'd seen each other on the weekends while I was gone, but we usually always had someone with us. We were very overdue for alone time.

When we broke off our kiss I wrapped my arms around him and buried my head into his neck, gulping in his scent. I felt him placing feathery light kisses down the side of my neck, making me gasp and shiver as he got to a sensitive spot. He smiled into my neck and kissed it again, making me gasp. We'd talked a lot over the last few weeks and he knew that if he did anything that made me uncomfortable all I had to do was say so. Ever since he came to that realization he's been pushing the limits more and more, not that I mind. I'm ready, I know I am. I love Reese and I know he loves me, even if we've not said it out loud yet. I nipped at his ear as I buried my head back down to his neck. Kissing lightly down his jaw and neckline just as he had me. When I got to his sensitive spot just past the collar of his shirt his grip on me tightened. I smiled at his reaction and nipped his skin with my teeth before I sank my mouth down on the sensitive spot. Nipping and sucking until I was satisfied with my mark. He was mine. Over the last few weeks I've become much more in-tune with my wolf, she needed to let everyone know Reese was our mate. I was more than happy to indulge her request. I smelled his arousal as I bent down to make another mark beside the first, I felt him moving but I had no idea where we were going. We shifted as I was gently placed on my back on the rock I'd napped on earlier. I pulled back to look at my mate, when he met my eyes his were filled with pure unaltered lust. My insides began to burn as he took his hands and ran them up and down the front of my body. He leaned forward toward my neck but paused to look up at me, making sure this was okay. I growled in response and pushed his head toward me. A small moan escaped my lips as his mouth clamped down onto my neck, my wolf was jumping up and down because our mate was marking us too. Electric bolts shot through my stomach as I arched my chest up into him, the smell of my own arousal mixing with his to make an intoxicating aroma. I inched my hands up under his shirt to feel his rippling muscles, he shuddered as I lightly raked my nails along his back. Before I knew what was happening his mouth was crashing down on mine, his tongue exploring my mouth greedily. I grabbed the edges of his shirt and yanked it up, ripping it a little before it went flying into the grass. I felt his hands grabbing the bottom of my own shirt as I lifted my arms to slip it off my body. My legs wrapped around his waist as he sat up with me straddling him. I wriggled my hips into the hard bulge in his pants. Without breaking our kiss I reached for his jeans before his hands shot out to grab mine. "Baby" he said with a husky voice that only kicked my butterflies into overdrive. "Are you sure?" He leaned back to take in my expression with questioning eyes. He's been so patient with me, never pushing me. I knew he had been waiting for this, and now I was more than ready. My heart was pounding out of my chest as I reached out to caress his cheek. "Reese, I- I love you. I'm sure, I know what this means" his eyes grew wide as I spoke. His mouth crashed into mine again as his hands slid their way down my bare back, stopping at my bra hooks and undoing them in a flash. He leaned back to look at my now exposed body, drinking in the sight of me before meeting my eyes. "I love you too Emily. God you're so beautiful" he said. My hands flew down to his pants and I unclasped them as we shifted so he could slide them down his legs. Our breathing ragged as we raced to get the last bits of clothing off.

Once we were completely naked he laid me down on my back as he leaned back. He paused before he got into position. "Damn it, I don't have any protection" he growled as he started to get up. I wrapped my legs around his waist and pulled him back down. "It's okay love, I'm on the pill. I wanted to be ready so that we could enjoy this when the time came." I breathed as his hands explored my body. He dipped his hand down in between my legs as I felt a finger slip inside of me. I gasped at the feeling as I heard Reece let out a soft growl. He started working his fingers slowly, leaving breathy kisses all down my cheeks and neck before stopping to take one of my breasts into his mouth. I squirmed with desire as I watched him inch down lower and lower until I could feel his hot breath on my waiting entrance. As his mouth came down on me I moaned out. He set to work sucking and licking until I felt a hot pressure building up in my lower stomach. Just before I came over the edge he stopped and pulled himself up over my body, grinning when he saw my pout of disapproval. His lips met mine again as I felt him position himself at my waiting entrance. He paused again to give me time to tell him to stop, but I didn't dare, every part of my body was on fire and I needed to feel him inside me. Now. I felt a sharp pain as he slowly slid into me, stretching me more than I'd ever been before. He paused when he felt me grip against him, his hands tight against my hips. He looked down to meet me in the eye and I could see his wolf out in full view, so I let mine out too. The moment I did it was like some piece of the world shifted and locked into place. I felt him slide deeper and deeper into me until he was completely inside me. I moaned as he started gyrating his hips in and out, faster and faster until I had my nails clawing at his back. I couldn't get enough of him as he worked over my body. He shifted us so that I was sitting up on top of him now, taking my hips in his hands and moving me up and down. "Oh god" I heard him breathe out as the fire in my stomach threatened to explode again. He found the spot inside of me that made me cry out with pleasure, hitting it over and over again. I felt my walls clamp down on him as my body shook and I buried my face in his neck to muffle my moans. He quickly flipped me over as I started to come down from my high and I felt his grip tighten on me. With another hard thrust he was buried inside of me, spilling his hot liquid deep inside of me. He collapsed onto the ground beside me as he pulled me over to lay on his chest. We laid together by the stream as he traced circles on my skin, peppering my face with light kisses. "I love you" I murmured into his chest. "I love you too babe" he said into my hair. After a while of laying together in the grass we got up and found our clothes, minus one ripped up shirt. I blushed when he held it up and he chuckled telling me it was no big deal. He grabbed my hand and we walked in content silence back to the house.

Reese ran upstairs for a new shirt when we got back while I walked into the kitchen to see if Nick and Noah needed any help with dinner. I found them snacking on a large tray of cheese and meats at the bar. When they saw me both men smiled warmly and offered for me to come join them. They said we were all going out to dinner tonight so I'd need to start getting ready soon. I went to grab a chair beside Nick as I heard Reese start down the stairs. I sat down and pulled my hair into a ponytail before I grabbed a handful of food when I noticed the boys faces, looking at me comically. "What?" I asked as I plopped a cube of cheese into my mouth. Noah's face was bright red and he was looking anywhere but me as I spoke. I turned to Nick who had a ridiculous grin plastered on his face just staring at me. I heard Noah mutter something about needing a shower as he shot off through the door, almost knocking Reese over as he came through. "What the hells gotten into him?" He muttered as he came to sit beside me and Nick. When he noticed Nick still staring at me he growled lowly and asked him what he was doing. "You know" Nick said shifting his body to face me a little more. "I was just looking at that bruise on your neck, and- did you get a new perfume?" He asked with a wicked smile. My cheeks went flaming hot as I grabbed my hair tugged it out of the ponytail. Nick stood up and gave Reese a manly pat on the shoulder before he made his way out of the room still grinning like a Cheshire Cat. "Wonderful" I said " How long do you think it'll be before everyone knows?" I looked at Reese who looked extremely amused. "Oh knowing Nick I'd say right about…. Now" he grinned at me as he came to stand in between my legs. "I never knew you were the type to get embarrassed" he teased as he bent down to kiss me. The kiss sent a new wave of butterflies coursing down my body as I gasped a little into his mouth. "I need a shower" I said as I hopped off the chair and started for the door. I turned slightly and raised an eyebrow at him. "You coming?" I questioned before turning and starting up the stairs. Reese stood frozen in his spot for a few seconds before he took off out the kitchen doors and scooped me up, taking the rest of the steps two at a time until he had me in the bathroom. Half of our clothing ripped off the second we made it through the bedroom door. Let's just say, this was one shower I'll never forget…