***Maria's POV***

"Are we there yet?"

"I swear to the goddess Maria, if you ask me that one more time, I will throw you out of this car," Wolfie growled.

"Uugghhh, but it smells like DOG in here! I feel like passing out from the fumes," I put my hand on my head and started swaying in my spot in the back seat dramatically.

"That would be a mercy," Wolfie grumbled.

I scoffed loudly, "Rude."

  We are on our way to Wolfie's pack, and he is being a douche, as usual.

He's sitting in the passenger seat next to the driver, and has me in the back.

I guess anything other than the front seat is below him.

Which is unfortunate, because his heavenly scent next to me would do just fine in distracting me from the other scents in here that are less than heavenly.

I don't get how he smells so absolutely delicious, while also being one of those dogs.

The power of the mate bond, I suppose.

It's freaking scary.

  . . . I'm hesitant to say more on the subject of our little excursion because, I feel like it would be like excepting or even approving of the situation if I said I was nervous to meet his parents.

So I won't say it.

But crap I'm nervous to meet his parent.

It's so weird, it's like I have this pit of nerves in my stomach that they won't like me. That a couple of STRANGERS won't like me. Like I really really want their approval, and that's not normal for me. You're lucky if I take even a second to think about your opinion, let alone actually care.

Well, when it comes to my supposed-to-be-enemies anyway. My capacity to give a crap what they think automatically goes to about 0.0003% if they're on the other side.

  Right now, it's at about a 102.

  And my resting with normal people, even on my side, is like a 30!

  This is not okay!

I'm freakin out!

Internally, of course.

  But still freakin out!

I don't know how I'm supposed to get the point across that this whole take-over-thing is coming to an end whether it's by their hand or mine, while trying to impress them.

  This is going to be stressful.

  At least Wolfie had a reason to remember to let me shower! That's a win.

  I mean, people like us don't sweat much at all, especially considering I've been sitting on my butt for that last. . . Holy crap how long has it even been?

  How do I not even know?

  I don't know, days usually just blend together for me. People blame it on the no sleep thing.

  And honestly, they're probably right. But who cares? I only care 30%, and I need at least a 50 to actually try and change anything.

Wow, do I usually get off track this easily, or am I just getting high off Wolfie's scent?

Anyway, I haven't sweat, so it wasn't that bad. But my HAIR. My hair was suffering for it. BAD.

  But now I'm all clean, and the colors are clean-shiny, not greasy-shiny.

  Big difference.

  A difference that DEFINITELY matters for an occasion like this.

  I mean. . . No, this isn't an occasion. This is a drag. I don't care what any of the people there think. I wouldn't care if my hair was dirty.

  But thank The Moon Goddess it's not.

Don't ask me why!

Okay, fine, here's a reason why, if you must know, I just don't like dirty hair. Huh? How 'bout that?

Oh my crap, I need to get out of this car. I'm going insane from the fumes.

"ARE WE THERE YET!" I whine, sounding way more annoying than I intended.

Oh well, their fault for messing with an annoying girl's house.

"YES! WE ARE!" Wolfie fumed.

"Oh, cool."

~*~*~*~

  The first room/hall/living room looking thing I walked into(translation: dragged into by Wolfie and Happy) there was a pre-teen looking boy relaxing on the couch. He turned to me, and a sly little smirk appeared on his face, "Well, hello beautiful."

  I held back a snort. This kid is like twelve!

  I smiled back, a little amusement in my eyes, no doubt, "Hi."

  I was about to state the argument above out loud, but Wolfie came up with a better one.

  "That's my mate you're talking about. Keep your eyes to yourself."

  The kid's smirk immediately dropped. "Oh."

A second passed.

  "Well that's depressing," he tacked on, pouting. He shrugged, "Oh well, I'll go tell Alpha and Luna you've arrived," and then he hopped off the couch and ran off.

Apparently not so depressed anymore.

  I've always found it weird that we still call our past leaders alpha or master, or anything like that. But I guess when you think about it, it makes sense. I mean, they almost always have some influence on the house, even after their rule.

  Unless they get overthrown and that's how the new leadership came into power, of course. Not gonna have much say there.

  Wolfie shaking his head made me leave my train of thought. Crap I got distracted, again.

  "That kid, I swear."

  I snorted.

  He looked to me. "He's the gamma's kid, Tony."

I nodded, "So. . . You blew your little cover because you were feeling threatened by a twelve year old?" I tried to hold in my laughter.

He scoffed, "I did not."

A few seconds later, ". . . He's thirteen," he tacked on, trying to hold in his smile.

Oh my goddess, that wasn't even funny, so why did I love it so much?!

Why don't you make more jokes? Uugghhh, You're smile is intoxicating. Smile more!

I get on a high when he does stuff like that.

Then my hot air balloon pops and I come crashing down to the pavement when I remember these addictive moments are only slip ups in his act that he is SO ADAMANT to keep up.

I mean, seriously. I don't understand. WHY DOES HE WANT ME TO BELIEVE HE'S AN @SS HOLE?!

I know he's not. I watched him at the gala. He's SO nice to EVERYONE. And that's not just the mate bond talking. It hasn't gotten me whipped enough to the point of delusion.

Well, long term anyway. I do get sudden bursts from time to time.

But this isn't one of them! I can tell his pack loves him. I can see they do what he says because they respect him, not because they're afraid of him.

And! That! Is! Such! A! Turn! On!

Like ahhhh.

I don't know, that's just a thing for me. I freaking love it when he interacts with his people, it's so adorable.

He smiles around them! Like, all the time!

Why not me?!

Whhyyyyy?!

"Earth to Maria?" Of course, speak of the devil.

"Why?!"

"What?"

"Nothing," I scowled.

"Okay, usually, when girls say that and glare at you, like you are, they just want you to ask them what's wrong," he looked at me.

OH MY GODDESS.

"So what's wrong?"

HE'S SO NAIVE AND ADORABLE.

I looked up to the sky

WHY?!

"Nothing," I repeated again, dropping my glare and taking a deep breath.

I can definitely feel the effects of the marking.

I want him even more now.

He shook his head, "Well okay, but if something is wrong —"

Then you'll help to make it better?

"You better get over it, because my parents want to see us."

. . . D@mn.

Remember how I said I fell to the pavement from my high before? Yeah, I'm six feet under now.

"Oh, I'm definitely over it."

He nodded, "Good, so don't say anything stupid," he told me.

  Oof, bedrock.

  "Because we actually do need to keep this mate thing a secret here, so keep your mouth shut."

I've reached the d@mn planet core.

~~~~~~~~
(A/N)

Another chapter of all dialogue and no action! AND it's short. What an update, am I right?

I actually want feed back on this next question, to all the ghost readers out there(all eight), so if you have an opinion on it, please share, lol.

Was this chapter super boring? Like, I know it's not edge of your seat, what's gonna happen next? Interesting(that comes later), But was it like, hard to read because it was so boring?

I mean, I just think Maria's mind can make even a car ride and a brief interaction with a new character at least a little bearable. But you need to tell me if I'm wrong, so I can try and change it:)!

Congrats, you all made it to 50%.

Thanks for reading!

Also, if you celebrate easter, HAPPY EASTER!! And If you don't, HAPPY SUNDAY! Hope you have a good day.

~ The Awkward Roller Coaster Addict