Crazy Little Thing Called Mate

\SIXTEEN/

- Everest -

In the last two days I had gotten the lay of the land so to speak.

As my birthday came and went I ignored at all together. there was no real point in celebrating anyways...it was only a reminder of the failure of not being with my mate.

Heidi cheerfully showed me around and introduced me to various people, everyone was more than welcoming and warm in such a cold place like the Northern Stone Pack.

And in all of my time wandering about the land and the snow mansion, not once had I been able to find a picture of Titus Graystone.

_________

"Rise and shine Miss Kirkshaw." Heidi practically sang.

I rolled over and tried to bring the thick comforter with me, but her strong grasp held the opposite end and tugged it right off of me.

"Hey!" I sat up ready to argue with her.

She only smiled as she fought back her signature giggle. "It's time to get out of bed my lady...you've a full day ahead of you and you've already slept in rather late."

I yawned, "I wasn't aware I had anything planned for today."

She gave me a look that suggested otherwise and I began to go through my mental catalogue trying to remember anything at all.

I came up with nothing.

"I thought you'd like to know that Alpha Graystone arrived last night."

At this my heart raced.

'He is here.'

My wolf growled angrily.

"It goes without saying that today we will be performing the union Miss Kirkshaw."

I shook my head. "I'm not ready for this Heidi."

It was the first time that I was showing any kind of protest to anyone other than Ash.

Heidi looked at me as if studying me, then her face grew soft and her eyes became much brighter than I've ever seen. "Alpha Graystone is a good man, I know his name carries a bad reputation but he is extremely devoted to his pack and very headstrong about fairness on his land...and he loves so strongly."

I shook my head in protest as tears threatened to spill over. "He loved HER strongly, and with good reason, she was his mate...but I'm not Maggie."

Once again she smiled. "He might not love you now as you may not have feelings for him...but if you both give things an honest chance, a mutual caring could blossom."

I knew she was right.

But I also knew what everyone said about him, and even though they may be rumors...rumors all have some truth in them somewhere.

And now I was suppose to marry this possibly deranged savage brute of a man who may or may not develop a "mutual caring" for me. A man I've never spoken to or even seen before.

"There's something else." Heidi added.

"And what could possibly be so important that it would trump the fact that my soon to husband is here finally?" I asked sarcasm dripping from every word.

"Well we've got to go over today's itinerary."

I took a seat in one of the stiff high back chairs and waved my hand silently asking her to proceed.