A/N: Thank so much for everyone who reviewed. I really appreciate it. I just wanted to let you know, in order to be consistent, I plan to update one chapter every Friday, and sometimes a chapter on Tuesday as well. This chapter is a bit short, but I can promise that the chapters will get longer as the story progresses. Thank you for reading, and I hope you enjoy.

Maddy

The first thing Maddy noticed were his bright, blue eyes, which stared down at her, with a mixture of hope and apprehension. Then, she began to notice the rest of him. Her eyes scanned him up and down, appraising him as if he were an opponent not a dinner guest.

He was tall, much taller than her, with a lean build. His blonde hair was fixed in messy spikes and he wore a slight smile on his lips. He looked to be about her age, or maybe a bit older.

"Hi," he said, finally breaking the silence between them. "I'm Rhydian."

Maddy didn't reply as she continued to stare at him. She thought he was quite handsome for a boy her age, but it didn't matter. None of it mattered, because she wasn't marrying him.

"Uh," Rhydian muttered, fidgeting awkwardly. "Could I maybe, come inside?"

"You smell like my parents," Maddy blurted out.

She didn't know why she had said it, and if she wasn't still standing in front of him, she would have smacked herself in the head. It was just the first thing that had come to her mind, and it just kind of...spewed out.

"I should think so," Rhydian replied, a small smile now gracing his lips. "After all, we are the same species."

Maddy tried to smile back at him, but it came out as more of a grimace. She stepped to the side allowing Rhydian to enter into her house.

She still couldn't believe how surreal this whole situation was. Before this morning she was just a normal teenage girl (except for the whole wolfblood thing) and now she was betrothed to this guy. Under different circumstances her and Rhydian might have become friends, or even more, but there was no way that was happening now. She wanted this boy out of her life!

"Rhydian!" Maddy's mom called as she exited the kitchen. "It's so good to finally meet you!"

"Yeah, you too Mrs. Smith," Rhydian replied. "Thank you for having me in your home."

She watched as her mom gave Rhydian an appraisal of her own, before shaking his outstretched hand.

"Dinner's on the table," her mom continued. "I'm just very glad you could make it. I think getting to know each other will benefit...everyone in this situation."

"Sure," Rhydian muttered slightly awkwardly.

Both he and Maddy followed her mom into the kitchen. After Rhydian had been introduced to her dad, they sat down and began to eat.

Rhydian ate like it was his last night on earth. He scarfed down his food, with a piece of meat in each hand. When he had noticed the strange looks he was getting, he had explained that his new foster parents were vegetarians and he hadn't had any meat since he arrived.

Throughout dinner, Maddy's parents asked Rhydian boring questions about his interests and his life, and he gave equally dull responses. Maddy noticed that her parents were carefully avoiding any talk about being a wild wolfblood.

Throughout dinner, Maddy remained quiet. She alternated between glaring at her parents and glaring at Rhydian. She knew it wasn't Rhydian's fault, but he seemed almost okay with the idea of their union.

"I think Dan and I can manage the dishes," Maddy's mom said, once dinner was done. "Maddy, why don't you and Rhydian go talk in the family room?"

"I think I should help with the dishes," Maddy replied, standing up quickly. "It's only fair, since you cooked the meal."

"Oh no, you've done enough for today," her dad said. "You cubs can just go relax."

Maddy sighed, and muttered something incomprehensible under her breath, before leading Rhydian to the family room. They sat as far apart as possible, with him on the sofa and her in a chair, and neither of them said anything. Maddy was pleased that now that they were alone, Rhydian seemed just as nervous as she was.

"I-" Rhydian finally said, but he was immediately cut off by Maddy.

"I'm not marrying you," Maddy said furiously. "I don't know what claim you think you have over me, but you're wrong. My parents made that deal, but not me. I never agreed to any of this."

Rhydian looked at her with a shocked expression, his mouth parted as he stared. Maddy wasn't sure what he was thinking, but she didn't soften the glare she was giving him.

"Maddy," he finally said softly. "I know this must be a shock to you. I mean, it's still a shock to me and I found out months ago."

"You found out months ago!" Maddy exclaimed. "Why is it that I only learned about it this morning?"

"This morning?" Rhydian asked, with a look of pity and surprise. "I had no idea you hadn't heard before. If I had I would have waited-"

"Yeah, well now you know," Maddy cut him off. "But I would be fine if you left now."

She knew she was being rude, but she couldn't help it! Rhydian was the one who was standing between her and her freedom!

She watched as black veins spread across Rhydian's neck, but he closed his eyes and they soon receded.

So he has a bit of a temper, Maddy thought. Good to know.

"Maddy," Rhydian tried again, his voice calm. "I know you must be angry, but this isn't the worst arrangement ever. You can still be with whoever you want up until your eighteen. That's three years from now. Surely, you'll get used to it by then."

"I'm sorry if I didn't make myself clear, Rhydian," Maddy said in a mocking tone. "I have no intention of ever 'getting used to it' because I have no attention of ever marrying you!"

"This is about more than us!" Rhydian sprang up from the sofa, and he was glaring now to. "Our union could create a bond between tame and wild wolfbloods. We could bring the two together, show that we're not enemies. Wouldn't this marriage be worth it, if that was the result?"

"A bond?" Maddy questioned. "My parents were coerced into making this agreement. They were threatened. There will never be a bond."

"But there could be," Rhydian insisted. "If we just show them."

"So you want us to sacrifice my life for the good of wolfbloods?" Maddy asked. "Well guess what? I already do that everyday, when I lie to my friends!"

Maddy hadn't even noticed when Rhydian had gotten so close, but they were now almost nose to nose, and snarling at each other. Maddy looked up into his flashing yellow eyes, and was almost startled by the passion that showed in them.

"Who wants pudding?" Maddy's dad asked happily as he walked in. He paused when he saw the two teens, still tensed and looking as if they were ready to fight each other. "I see you two are getting along well. Maybe some dessert would help?"

Maddy ignored her dad's presence and continued to glare into Rhydian's eyes, refusing to back down. It was finally Rhydian who broke away, his eyes turning back to blue as he backed away from her.

"Thank you for the offer, Mr. Smith," Rhydian spoke roughly. "But I think I'd better be on my way."

Without another word, he turned and stalked out of the house. Maddy watched as he ran past the window, and into the woods, disappearing between the trees.

"Madeline Smith!" her mother yelled as she walked out of the kitchen. "What on earth were you thinking?"

"I was thinking that I'm fifteen, and I don't want to be eating dinner with me future husband!" Maddy cried. "I don't even want to consider marriage!"

"But Rhydian was right, young lady," he father said gently. "This is about more than just you. It's about all wolfbloods."

"I hate being a wolfblood!" Maddy screamed, her temper finally getting the best of her. "I just wish I was normal!"

Rhydian

Rhydian tried to calm his breathing as he ran away from the Smith's house, but it was no use. He could feel the change happening. His eyes began to turn yellow and his fingers were tingling, but there was nothing he could do to stop it.

He had learned to control his anger over the last few months, but now that brown haired she-wolf of all people had made him lose control. He wasn't sure why he had gotten so angry at her anyway. People argued and yelled at him all the time, yet when she had done it, he just couldn't take it.

He hadn't been expecting her to be happy about their arrangement. The first few months after he had learned, he had been furious. He had just been reunited with his mom and his little brother for about a month, when the pack leader, Alric, had broke the news.

He remembered he had yelled at Alric, and even tried to run away from the pack, but he hadn't been able to leave his mom. Not after he had just found a place where he belonged. And eventually he had come around to the idea. He hoped Maddy would too, once he explained everything to her.

But Maddy hadn't just been angry, she had flat out refused. She didn't want to even try to get to know him.

He knew she didn't understand what was at stake. Even her family didn't truly grasp the depth of the situation, but she should have known enough that she couldn't escape this. Neither of them could.

He just hoped he could change her mind before it was too late. For the sake of her pack, and his own.