"Malia? I was wondering something." He trailed off as he pulled up my shirt sleeve. His fingers soon brushed up against the newly exposed skin and curled further into his chest.

"And what are you thinking about now?" I asked, tracing the indents of the muscles of his chest and abdomen.

"I was wondering if you would like to perform the Mating Ceremony." Flipping onto my stomach so I was able to look at him, I stared at him with wide eyes.

"What?"

"I mean, we don't have to if you don't want to, or if your not ready yet. We can always do it later but I was just wondering-"

"No, it's not that. " I quickly rushed out, interrupting him. "I'm just surprised, that's all. I wasn't expecting that at all."

"Would you like to?" He asked again, tucking a piece of hair behind my ear and then cradled my cheek.

"I would but I'm afraid that I have no idea what they are. I've never seen one before."

"Ours are a bit different from other packs. We tend to stick to our tradition and culture while others adapted to the changing times. Though, some things have changed for the better but most of it is the same. My mother has actually invited us over for dinner tonight if you would like to speak to her about it. She'd probably be able to explain it to you better than I can."

"That would be great, actually." I said. When did she invite us over?"

"Right after you came home. She found out about your, uh, incident and was quite worked up about it. I assured her that you were fine but she insisted on seeing you and I couldn't say no to her."

"No I feel horrible." I whispered. "I probably worried her so much."

"It's okay." He soothed me. "If you still feel bad about it, you can apologize to her when we get there, if that makes you feel any better."

"What time do we have to be there?"

"Not for a few hours. Now, come here." He said, pulling me snuggly against his chest. "I want to cuddle before we have to go."

We laid there for hours, doing just that. We didn't talk much, just laid there in the quietness, enjoying the other person's prescience. The hours went by too quickly and to our dismay, we had to get up sooner than what we would have liked.

As I walked through the door, I was once again greeted with the pleasant and warm scent of her chocolate cookies. Pulling me into a hug, I returned it, instantly apologizing to her. She then pulled her son into a hug, which he returned with a smile beaming on his face.

"Are you going to be okay down here awhile I go talk to Dad?" He asked me, to which I nodded. As soon as we heard his footsteps on the stairs, his mom pulled out a plate of cookies.

"I really shouldn't." I told her, picking up a cookie in the process. "It will spoil my dinner."

"A few never hurts." She said, winking. "Would you like anything to drink? I just finished up a pot of tea."

"Tea would be lovey, thank you."

"Pouring us each a cup, she led me to the dining room. Pulling out a chair, she sat me down and laid both mugs and the plate of cookies down.

"I'll be right back, I just have to pop the chicken in the oven. I'll start on the mashed potatoes later." I heard her rummage around in the kitchen for a few minutes before returning. She sat down in the chair across from me, picking up her own cookie.

"I was, I was actually wondering if you could explain somethings to me."

"Well of course, Sweety. What do you need?"

"I was wondering what the Mating Ceremony was."

"Oh my!" She gasped, a smile on her face. "He asked you?" I nodded my head.

"Yeah, yeah, he just did."

"That's amazing!" She clapped her hands together.

"So what happens during the Mating Ceremony?"

"Essentially, he must seek your approval." She tapped the table twice before getting up and checked on her chicken in the oven.

"He already has that though?" It was meant to be a statement but her words confused me.

"No, not like that, Sweetheart." She pulled out a pot and began filling it with water. "He must earn your approval in the eyes of the Moon Goddess."

"Just how exactly will he earn my approval?" I watched as she took out a knife and began to peel a batch of potatoes. I offered to help her but she refused and ushered me to sit back down.

"He will be sent into the forrest, weaponless and alone, for three days to hunt."

"Hunt? Hunt what?"

"Mmm, that's the thing." She said and began dropping the peeled potatoes into the boiling water. "He gets to decide what he will be hunting. He has to go out and kill a prey that will honor you in a way to gain the approval of the Moon Goddess." She refilled my tea before sitting back down. I thanked her and she brushed it off as if her actions didn't need thanking.

"What do the women do?"

"The males must do more for the women, since the women are the whole reason why anyone is here. They have to go through the pain of child birth and most of the time, they move to the male's pack, leaving their families behind. The males must earn their right to their mates for putting them through all of that stress and pain, that's why they have a harder task. The women bathe in scented oils and prepare the dress. Usually, the daughter's mother would make it but-" She cute herself off and looked at me.

"I would be honored for you to do it, only if you want to, though. I don't want to push it on to you or anything."

"I would love to!" She exclaimed, grasping my hands in hers.

"What was it like for you?" I asked, cradling the warm mug between my hands, fumbling with the string attached to the tea bag.

"Oh it was nerve racking! In those three days, no contact can be made between the mates. That includes physical and mental contact, so no mind-linking. Xavier always enjoyed messing with me and stressing me out, annoying me to hell." She grumbled and took a sip of her tea and I laughed.

"Imagine my reaction when I felt his pain through the bond. I had to be locked in my mother's sewing room for the remaining two days."

"What happened to him?"

"The idiot was being cocky and fell off the side of a cliff he was trying to climb. Scared me shitless but I was just mostly glad to see he came back in one piece." She lifted her mug to take another drink but her eyes widened. "Oh my Goddess, ignore my potty mouth!"

"It's quite alright." I grinned at her. "So what did he bring you?"

"The King of the Mountain." She sighed as if she were reliving the memory. "It was a fully grown, male mountain lion."

"Bragging about me again?" Xavier entered the room, Orion closely following.

"Of course not." Janina playfully rolled her eyes as he planted a tender kiss on her cheek.

"So you weren't bragging that I brought you the King of the Mountain?"

"You couldn't have brought me a cougar?"

"Honey, mountain lions and cougars are the same thing." He mused and she turned flustered.

"I need to finish dinner!" She announced and pulled away from the table, Xavier trailing behind her.

"Dinner was great, as always, Mom." I said, pecking her on the cheek as I picked up her empty plate from the table.

"Yes, dinner was lovely." Malia agreed and then thanked my mom.

"It was no problem at all." Mom tried to brush it off but I could tell she enjoyed receiving the complements. Dad and I cleared the table as Mom and Malia washed the dishes. Once we were finished cleaning, we sat hung around in the kitchen and finished off the cookies for dessert.

"So, when is your Ceremony?" Mom asked, the excitement but if behind her eyes.

"I'm not sure. I have only just asked her so we haven't had anytime to really talk about it or plan it."

"I'm just so excited!" She beamed.

"I asked her to make the dress." Malia spoke quietly and I beamed at her.

"Really? That's great!" Mom has always wanted a daughter to help with things like that. Of course, she isn't disappointed that she has me and only me, she has just always wanted a daughter as well. I glanced at the clock and realized how late it was, that we have been here for hours.

"It's getting late." I said, offering Mom a hug goodbye. "I think it's time for Malia and I to head home."

"Oh alright." Mom sighed, returning my hug. "But do tell me when you plan the date!"

"We will." Malia responded, going in for her own hug. "Thank you, Mom." The last part was a whisper but I picked it up easily. By the adorning looks that both Mom and Dad had plastered on their faces, they picked it up too.