Alcide mentally kicked himself as he looked at the clock for the 100th time in the past 10 minutes. He was sitting on his couch waiting for her to finish her date with Sam.

'why didn't I say anything' he asked for again, making it an even 1000. He hadn't objected to her news of Sam asking her out. As much as he wanted to blame Sam for asking his girl out, he knew it was his own fault for not telling her how he felt. Now he hoped he wasn't too late to let her know.

A knock at his door interrupted his thoughts. He jumped to his feet and almost ripped open the door, hoping it was Scarlet, but found Sookie instead.

"Hey Alcide!" He moved to hug him, which he returned.

"Hey Sook. What's up?" He tried to hid his disappointment.

"Not much. I heard Sam was out with your friend Scarlet and was wondering how you felt about it."

"What do you mean?" He asked as he closed the door and walked back into the living room.

"Well that night she drove you home, I could practically hear you growl from inside while they talked. I know you love her."

He signed heavily as he ran a hand through his dark hair. He sat with a flop on the couch.

"She's my mate Sook. The one I'm suppose to be with for the rest of our lives. I mean, when she's with me, everything fits. She makes even the crappiest day better with just a smile. She knows me better then anyone and it's likewise for her."

"Does she know all this?"

"No. I wanna tell her, but now this possible thing with Sam." He tried to a growl as he said the name.

"Alcide, you need to tell her. You're a great guy and she's lucky to have you. Hell she has had you since.. how long have you known each other?"

He couldn't help but grin. "Since we were kids, but as teens I was too stupid to see that she was right in front me. It wasn't till I got drunk that I realized I truly loved her."

"Thanks for tonight Sam. I kinda needed it." Scarlet thanked as the two sat in Sam's truck heading back to her place.

"I really wanted to ask you before but I got the feeling Alcide wouldn't like it if I did."

"Alcide's just a friend Sam." She hated saying the words 'Alcide' and 'friend'

"That wasn't the vibe I was getting that night."

"He's just over protective of me."

"Hmmmmm." That was the last thing Sam said before pulling into the back lot of the store.

Alcide sat at home debating about calling her. He knew she had to open the store tomorrow so he figured he could wait and then go see her. After his talk with Sookie he looked though an old photo album full of pictures of them growing up.

Each on made him wonder how he never realized his feelings for her.

Alcide knocked on the door and was yanked through the door seconds after it opened, Before he could say anything, her lips slammed onto his. She pushed him until the back his knees hit the couch, causing him to fall backwards and land on the cushions. She continued her assault on him as she moved to straddle his hips, her hair felling like curtain around them.

He opened his mouth and their tongues dueled together. He grabbed the back of her head, cradling her skull to him and groaned when she moved her hips against his growing erection.

"I need you!' she whispered huskily.

"Me too." He said back in the same tone and flipped her so he was on top. He moved his mouth down her neck and grabbed the collar of her shirt and moved it so her neck was exposed dropping kisses over the exposed flesh. He playfully bit the nape of her neck when her near breathless voice said "mark me Alcide. Make me your forever."

One thing they learned years ago was when a wolf found his mate, they left bit marks on one another's neck, claiming them as their forever. It was in a sense a wolf form of marriage.

Once the words left her lips, he tugged his shirt off and gently took hold of her neck.

"Only if you make me yours." He swore as he kissed her swollen lips.

They moved their mouths to one another's right shoulder. Then both took a deep breath and sank their teeth in each other's flesh.

Scarlet shot up from her dream drenched in sweat. She jumped out of bed and moved to her dresser to change her pajama top when she passedher calendar and froze at the date.

"Oh shit! This is not good!" she scolded as she pick up her cell dialed his number. She hated calling him so late but she needed to talk to him.

"Ello?" his sleep filled voice made her feel worse.

"Alcide. It's me."

"Letty. What's wrong honey?"

"I'm about to go in heat and I need you to stay with me."

He definitely woke when she said those words. It was something that every female wolf went through when they hit a certain age, they craved sex. Usually their mates take them away for the week and fulfill their needs.

"While, why me?"

"Because you're the only one I trust to make sure I don't go looking for some John and I really need you right now and because..." he heard the phone drop and moan from the other side. He bolted out of bed, completely naked and reached for his jeans.

"Letty? You there?"

"Al. please hurry." She moaned in pain.

"I'm on my way."

He drove like mad man and ran all the way up the stairs, thanking her silently as he found both doors unlocked for him. He heard the shower running in the bathroom and found her fully dressed standing under the freezing cold spray. Her body temp must have shot up in the time they talked. She looked at him with pain in her eyes and fell onto her knees holding her self

He got a towel from the linen closet and wrapped it around her and found that as she shivered in pain, her temp was very high.

"Letty, hon. I need to strip you down then me and try and break your fever ok?"

"I trust you. I love you Alcide." She looked at him and said through clenched teeth as fought the urge to have him take her right on her bathroom floor.

"I love ya too hon." He had though she meant as a friend.

"No. I love love you. Like mate love." She grabbed his head and pulled him down to ravish is lips.

It took everything he had to no let her continue. This was not how he wanted to make love to her for the first time.

"I wanna continue this babe, but not like this. Let's get you through this week." He heaved her up and carried her to her bedroom and prayed he had the strength to keep it in his pants.

Well, we are getting closer and closer. Is he strong enough to wait till she is out of heat or give into temptation.