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'Need to talk. Will be waiting'

I look at the phone in my hand with disbelief as I furiously typed my reply "You left me hanging yesterday, didn't show up the entire day today. What do you want now?"

'Had I not left at that moment, I would have done something to upset you further. I'll give you your answer, I promise'

I considered it for a while. He did look ready to kill when I told him off yesterday. I was scared he would do something that would immediately put my proposition to an end. But he just stood there clenching his jaws together, his hands fisted painfully as he glared at me. He then abruptly turned to vanish into the forest.

"Can't leave Dan alone at home" I typed back.

His reply took longer than I expected "Can I come?"

Can he?

I never really asked him to not come in my house, but I never invited him either. Will it change anything?

"Okay" I hesitated "Make sure no one's around though" I felt stupid as soon as I pressed the send button.

'Thank you' came his instant reply.

.

"Hi" he said looking around my living room. It's not like he has never seen it. He finalized the place, so of course he knows what it looks like.

"Hi" I replied leading him to the sofa.

"Dan?" he asked, sitting down.

"He's asleep" I took the seat opposite to him "It's late" I pointed out.

"Ah yes" he ran his hand through his hair "Sorry about that"

"So, what do you want to talk about?"

"I'll do that. I'll do all that it takes to keep our bond from becoming public" he said looking straight at me. Maybe it's the habit cultivated at job, but even his compliance looks like intimidation "I'll never let them associate you with me" I was about to thank him "But I can't do it alone"

"What do you mean?" I asked confused.

"You'll have to help me" he said "We can't do it without your help"

I stared at him in disbelief "What can I possibly do to help you?"

"Warn me beforehand if you have things like your love life to discuss" I blushed "I'll leave. Tell me things so that my wolf isn't surprised. Tell me when he plans on visiting. Just go easy on me all right" he sighed.

It took me a while to process what he wanted me to do. I opened and closed my mouth, not finding words to form. So I simply nodded obediently.

I had the urge to correct him about my 'love life' but I gritted my teeth to stop myself. Its better this way.

------

Two weeks passed by without any incident. It kind of felt stupid but I warned him twice when Ray was visiting. He kept away. I kept my end of the deal and he his'.

Its Dan's fourth birthday in two weeks and no surprised here that it's going to be huge. The alphas don't do anything half-hearted, especially if it's their grandson's first birthday with them. It's going to be wedding scale. I didn't get to voice my opinion much here. Every time I opened my mouth to protest, they sent me down on a guilt trip. Suit yourselves *huff*

The only point i could get across was, no extravagant gifts. They looked at me like little pleading puppies. But no, I can't deal with a spoilt kid.

.

It's shopping day. Luna makes the plans. So, here I am, sitting next to Liam in his car with Luna and Emma seated at the back. We are going to the city.

Emma pleaded that they were still not comfortable with sitting in the passenger seat next to Liam. Really? Can someone please teach these people the definition of irony?

We kept a straight face playing our parts really well. I could see the disappointment and confusion in Emma's face as she looked at Liam's expressions or rather the lack of them.

We shopped the afternoon away. After we were done with the basics, Luna turned to me.

"Why don't you and Liam go get your gifts together?" she said ignoring her son.

"Why won't you come along?" I asked

"We are going to have a look at 'that' section" she whispered in my ears. I blushed.

"Do you absolutely have to do this now" I pleaded.

They both nodded in unison.

"Fine" I said dejected.

Sure this wasn't their way of getting us together? Luna has no clue, can't be Emma's plan right? I shrugged the thought off my mind as I walk away with Liam. We both pretend like the perfect stranger that we are.

I bought lots of little things for Dan's everyday use and got them packed together. I know Ray already bought a bike for him. So that finishes off every essential item that Dan might need.

Liam got him a piano. It will get delivered on the morning of the birthday. I protested but he was adamant. He seemed to have put a lot of thoughts into his gift. Dan has of late got special fascination for Liam's piano. Liam is teaching him the basics and is also planning on hiring a piano teacher for him.

"We are done I guess" he looked at me "Did we miss something?"

"Nope. We should call them" I took my phone out "Find out where they are"

"Where are you?" I asked Emma "We are done" I repeated Liam's words.

'Oh! We kind of are in a situation here' she replied hesitantly

"What happened? Are you ok?" I tensed up

'Nothing serious' she instantly replied 'We think we lost our way. It'll take us some time to find you guys'

"Who gets lost in a mall, Emma? Stop lying" I narrowed my eyes at the phone.

'We really are lost. I swear'

"Tell me where you are" I said looking at Liam "We'll find you" he nodded in agreement.

'No don't do that. We are moving from one place to another, if you keep moving too, we'll never find each other. Let's meet at the café in the ground floor' I grudgingly agreed.

I conveyed it to Liam who agreed innocently. Of course he knew nothing of Emma's vicious plans. I found time to roll my eyes before following him into the café.

.

"So" I tried to break the awkward silence "When are you planning to tell your family that you weren't actually going to drag me to the council?"

It has been on my mind for a while. I might as well ask him.

He shrugged "Doesn't matter"

I widened my eyes "Are you kidding me?"

He gave me a smile "I've done worse than lying about the council. Can't complain"

"But" I was exasperated at his indifference "They are misunderstanding you. Aren't you hurt?"

He looked away.

"Why are you like this?" I asked hopelessly "Why can't you express yourself better? You are not above everyone else you know. You too need other people to survive. So, why is your communication skill so lacking?"

He looked amused "You noticed"

"Of course I did. A blind man would notice your awkwardness"

"I'm fine" he said

"No you're not. You should sometimes explain yourself to people. You live in a society with people having different ways of perceiving things. You can't always blame them and give up on them. That applies to your family as well. How would they know how you feel and why you do certain things if you don't explain it to them?"

"Does it affect you that much?" he asked "When people get me wrong"

"My wolf doesn't like it when people misunderstand you" I snapped.

"What about you" he looked intently "What kind of a person do you think I am?"

"Me?" I know exactly what I have to say "I don't try to understand you. I don't want to"

He looked on silently for a while before letting out a sigh "Yet you seem to be the only one who understands me these days. We wouldn't be having this conversation otherwise"

I quickly averted my gaze "I understand everyone" I shrugged nonchalantly "I think I chose the wrong profession. I should have been a counselor"

His soft laughter forced me to look back. I have never seen him laugh like this. My stomach felt giddy as I stared at him in awe. Why did he have to have this effect on me? Why can't I for once feel what I want to feel? My wolf poked its sleepy head out and reminded me that we brought this happiness on his face and that she was proud. That in turn extracted a glare out of me.

He stopped laughing but a smile lingered around the corner of his mouth "It would have suited you. You would have been a veteran by now" he said "You started when you were four, after all"

"What....how would you know that?" I asked confused.

"I happened to stumble into one of your very first sessions" he seemed to be reminiscing something, his eyes looked distant.

I raised a brow in question so he continued "You were sitting on our kitchen slab, watching my mother cook I think. She was as usual fawning over you and crying over the absence of a daughter in her life. You obviously had a solution"

I tried to remember, but nothing came "So what was my solution?" I was way too curious to question the direction our conversation was moving.

"You told her that you once overheard your grandmother telling your mother that she was so happy to gain a daughter after your father married your mother" I could see the effort he was putting to stop the laughter bubbling in his throat " So you wanted to get my father married"

"Noooo" I could feel my face heat up "You're lying"

He finally gave up and laughed, shaking his head along "I'm not" he composed himself "My mother told you that my father was already married so that wasn't possible. Then.....th-"

I could feel heads turn towards us as Liam continued to try and compose himself "You should be glad we aren't in the pack territory" I scowled at him "What would the pack people think if they saw their big bad alpha attract all the attention by laughing like a lunatic?"

He seemed to be pulled out of a trance. He looked around composing himself like someone poured a bucket of ice cold water on him. He looked confused and shocked at what he was doing. My heart tugged; maybe I shouldn't have given him the reality check.

"So what happened next?" I asked impatiently.

He looked back at me. I can't describe the emotion in his eyes. It was almost like he was looking at me for the first time, like he couldn't believe his eyes.

I snapped my fingers in front of him, not giving him time to think "Can you please finish what you started"

"Ah yes" he said, shaking his head "Where was I?"

"I wanted to get your father married. Although I don't believe you"

He smiled "My mother explained that it was impossible" he leaned over the table "So you decided to make me your next victim"

I choked on my now cold coffee. He chuckled and passed me tissues.

"There is no way you remember that" I said after I composed myself "How can you remember something that I don't remember"

"Even I didn't know that I had it in my memory. But I can assure you that I remember a lot more than you can imagine" he said

"Of course. How can I doubt your memory power" I rolled my eyes "I still don't believe you"

He shook his head in defeat.

"So, are you going to sit down with your mother and talk to her?" I asked.

"I'll think about it" he offered,

"Stop thinking and do something already. She is so anxious around you. You know she loves you, don't you? Don't push her further away from you. Tell her how you feel. Tell her that you're ok. She'll be happy to know that yo-"

One moment I was talking and the next, I felt the warmest pair of lips on me. My breath hitched. My eyes widened as I continued to stare up at his face so close to me. He was leaning over the table with his entire weight on the soft arms of my chair.

Moments ticked by before he pulled away slightly to look at my face. He was so close that I could hear his heart hammering in his chest. I sat there agape as heat rushed up my face. His eyes swept over my face before meeting my wide ones.

"Beautiful" he whispered before dipping his head once again to take my lower lip between his'. I found myself leaning into him, my ears ringing with the pounding of our hearts. His hand rose to hold my head in place as he deepened the kiss.

A loud hoot broke my trance. I pushed him away. The unexpected push made him stumble as he missed his chair and landed on the floor with a thud. We looked at each other half dazed but equally shocked.

The silent café erupted in laughter and claps.

I quickly grabbed my purse and rushed out. My legs quivered but I kept on walking. I stopped to compose myself only when Luna and Emma came to view.

The journey back home was the most painful and awkward drive I ever endured. I was ready this time. I quickly grabbed the back seat once we got to the car. A dejected Emma sat next to me as Luna took the passenger seat.

I could feel Liam's gaze on me throughout the ride. I didn't have the courage to look up but I made sure that he knew how I felt every time he looked at that darn mirror to steal a glance.

"I'm sorry we kept you waiting" Emma broke the silence, not looking sorry at all.

I gave her my most frightening glare.

"Yes" Luna joined her "We got lost"

"Its fine" was all I could muster up.

They both soon started chatting excitedly about the party and the things they bought, pulling me into their conversation occasionally. I replied in monosyllables.

Liam dropped us at my door. I didn't acknowledge him. We decided to dump all that we bought in one of the guest rooms and lock it up before Dan comes back.

.

Sleep wasn't anywhere close to me when my phone beeped close to midnight.

It was him 'I'm sorry I embarrassed you in public' I sighed as I put it away.

I didn't have to guess who it was when it buzzed the second time.

'I wasn't thinking' it read.

Neither was I.

*****