I adjusted my collar, it felt almost too constricting on my throat. I felt like an idiot in the shirt and pants Penelope had shoved me into. I tugged on the sleeve with a small frown of distaste. "What the hell did you do to him, PenPen?" Shiloh's voice held a heavy amount of disgust and I turned my head to look between her and Penelope.

Penelope sniffed, flipping her hair over her shoulder as she looked over me. "He looks nice." I felt very uncomfortable and not like myself. I wondered if this was how Sorrel felt the entire time around me, I knew the thought of seeing Sorrel dressed like this was a stomach sinking feeling. If she felt that then I didn't blame her for being so hesitant and wary.

"He looks like a preppy pretty boy." Shiloh made a heavy sound of disgust as she came over to me. "Look at his hair!" She gestured to me with a horrified look on her face. She went up onto her tippy toes and ruffled my hair, taking it out of the elaborate style that Penelope had spent far too long on.

"Stop!" Penelope made a heavy sound of horror, reaching for Shiloh as if to yank her away but the smaller vampire hissed at her, her many teeth bared. Penelope returned the hiss with one that rumbled her chest, her edges flickering. "I spent a long time on his loo-"

"Yah to make him look like shit!" Shiloh reached up and quickly undid the top four buttons of the shirt with a scrunched look on her face. "You looks so terrible right now." She muttered the words under her breath as she grabbed my arm and undid the buttons of my sleeve. I couldn't argue with her, I felt like I looked terrible. I missed my tshirts and jeans.

"That is high fashion!" Penelope went to grab Shiloh again but the small vampire ducked underneath my arm, pulling it with her as she rolled up my sleeve to my elbow.

"Its gross." She made a disgusted face as she grabbed my other arm, undoing the sleeve. "He's not one of your fancy pants models, PenPen. He's a fine ass bad boy that oozes sexuality. You need to play to his attributes and not shove him in some ridiculous get up." She rolled that sleeve up to my elbow as well. I watched as Penelope narrowed her eyes and leapt for Shiloh but the other female ducked around me before reaching out and yanking my shirt out of my pants. I raised an eyebrow as they proceeded to chase each other around, hurling curses as their forms blurred around the room.

I managed to escape from the fast paced cat fight and moved towards the large mirror that Penelope had in the corner of her room. I adjusted my hair, trying to get it to fall into its natural place with all the gel and products Penelope had placed in it. I ran my fingers through it with narrowed eyes. It wasn't cooperating for me. I looked over my outfit and had to agree that Shiloh's details were definitely a big improvement to the look. It look far less formal and stuffy.

There was a hissing growling curse from one of the girls and I rolled my eyes before I headed out of the room. I did not need to get stuck between the two of them. Especially not before my date with Sorrel. The thought of the event made my heart thud in my chest. I couldn't believe she had agreed to it, I hadn't expected her too. She was so wary about the relationship and bond between us that it seemed to impossible for us to move forward.

True, she was trying, doing her best to push through her anxiety and wariness and whenever she got flustered or shy it was so incredibly endearing. Whenever I saw it I just wanted to pull her close and hold her tight. It made something loosen in my chest when I saw it, it made an overwhelming feeling of tenderness and a need to protect surge through me. Those moments let me see an almost intimate look into Sorrel's mind, they humanized her, made her seem so much more real to me.

She had been this untouchable creature with hard and hateful eyes and now she was showing me the softness she had within her. It was the redness of her cheeks and the slight stutter she had when I caught her off guard with a question. It was in the shy glances she would give me as she would tuck her hair behind her ear. These were moments that allowed me to connect with her, to see her for who she was. She had always been an incredibly strong and beautiful female but now I was seeing the soft and gentle female who blushed over ice cream and would shyly hold out her hand for me to take.

There was a sense of pride and accomplishment to both my wolf and I when it happened. The small feeling of 'we did that' to the fact that we had elicited such a reaction from her. We were the only ones that had brought that reaction out of her. My wolf and I liked that feeling immensely. I started down the stairs and pulled out my phone from my pocket. I scowled at the time. Penelope pushed it far too close with her little dress up session.

Cai appeared at the bottom of the stairs. "She finally let you go?" He looked less dishevelled and like shit then he had for the past few weeks previously.

"Shiloh has her distracted." I pointed upstairs right as there was a screech of anger from the fashion designer followed by a crashing bang.

"I take it she made the changes to your outfit." He gestured to me and I nodded, adjusting the sleeves as I hit the main floor. I appreciated the changes. Despite how I disliked how it wasn't jeans or a t-shirt but I understood that it was a rather formal event.

"You look less like shit." I looked at him and he gave me an unimpressed look. "I take it your visit with Sorrel went well." He was looking less terrible so that meant something went well. I hoped their relationship was better than it was. Sorrel needed that bit of family. I knew she was upset with Mordecai and she had her reasons for feeling like that but I knew their relationship was important for her.

"I had to force cuddle her." He looked rather upset at the thought. I was surprised my wolf didn't have an issue with what he was saying but then again he knew they were family. There was nothing to be possessive over with family.

"That well?" I adjusted my shirt. I still didn't care for the button up but I didn't have time to change. I barely had time to talk to Mordecai before I had to leave to go pick up Sorrel.

"She told me she hates me." There was an edge of intense sadness to his words and I didn't like it. I didn't do well with emotions in general.

"Well you did call her a bitch and literally shove her out of the coven. Not to add you kind of abandoned her to deal with a rather serious illness that nearly killed her." I didn't blame Sorrel for how she acted, I truly didn't. That didn't mean I liked it either, it simply meant I understood it.

"She was being a bitch." Mordecai gave a small shrug and I nodded once more.

"She was, not going to lie, but she was angry and there is no rational thought in anger." It was what helped me accept what had been done. Sorrel had been angry, so angry, that rational thought never once entered her mind. She was a wonderful female who had been badly harmed during her lifetime. That wasn't something one could react to in a rational way when they were confronted by the family member who had done such things to her family.

Mordecai crossed his arms over his chest and widened his stance. "You are just saying that because you want to get your cock wet."

I hid a smirk. "Easy, Mordecai. Green isn't your colour."

He made a noise that sounded suspiciously like a gag. "I don't want to have sex with Sorrel. That's fucking disgusting."

I fought really hard to keep my smile from emerging. "I didn't say sex, Mordecai. You are jealous because she prefers me over you." And there was a very large piece of me that was intensely satisfied with that thought. I knew it wouldn't last but for now I was Sorrel's favourite male companion.

"She will give in." He gave a small sneer as I moved towards the door to slip on my shoes.

I rolled my eyes slightly. "Of course. You are ever charming." He was completely full of himself but I believed that to be a standard vampire trait from what I had seen of the coven.

"So where are you taking her?" The shift in subject wasn't lost on me and I pulled my jacket from the hook.

"Not telling you." I wasn't entirely sure myself. I had a few ideas but I wanted Sorrel to be completely comfortable with what ever I was planning to do.

He made a noise of frustration that made me smirk. I glanced at him and he scowled at me. "We are all going out so don't expect us until early." That was surprising for me. Mordecai hadn't been out with the group since he had banned Sorrel from the coven. Things were improving.

"Will one of you pick me up after?" I needed to know if I needed to drive myself home. I really didn't want too because it was like a five hour drive and I didn't want to do that at night.

"Not confident you can seduce her?" Mordecai sounded amused and I raised an eyebrow at it. I didn't mind the thought but I wasn't going to entertain it. We were a long way from that.

"Not trying too." Not until Sorrel showed me she was interested in that type of relationship and not a moment before. No matter how much my wolf's instincts pushed me towards claiming her in that way. He could learn patience.

"Fine. Someone will be there to pick you up and bring you to the coven." Mordecai shifted in his spot. "They won't stay and chat. We need to feed." I grabbed my truck keys and nodded. I didn't need anyone to babysit me, I wasn't a toddler. I just needed a way to get back to the coven after the date was all said and done.

"That's fine. Just need a ride home." I pocketed the keys as Mordecai grabbed the front of my jacket and shoved off into the shadows, dragging me behind him. I held my breath and closed my eyes at the feelings it caused. The shadows grasped at me, clung to me tightly as Mordecai yanked me from them. I shuddered as I inhaled the cool air greedily. I put my hands on my knees and let myself shudder out the feelings.

"You okay or do I need to call for help?" There was an edge of patronization to his voice and I rolled my eyes as I stood up.

"I'll call when I need someone to pick me up." I fished the truck keys back out of my pocket and gave the vampire a mocking salute as I walked backwards down the shadowed alley. I didn't wait for him to disappear before I turned on my heel and moved out of the alley and towards my truck. I knew Mordecai had been sending my truck in for repairs without my consent. It wasn't enough to make the truck look nice but it ran more smoothly. I didn't particularly care, if he wanted to waste his money on the junk heap he could.

I unlocked the door, wincing at the screeching of the hinges. That was one thing that hadn't been repaired and I honestly felt like I didn't want it to be. It reminded me that the truck wasn't entirely a good vehicle and would need to be replaced. I sat in the front seat and started it up before pulling out onto the street.

I was anticipating the date. I knew there were a few shops around town that sold pizza and I wondered which one would be better for her to go to. I knew she would be nervous about the date. I was slightly nervous about it. I turned out on the main road that would lead me to the territory. I needed to do what was best for Sorrel. I didn't want her to be uncomfortable with me, especially now.

There was a lot riding on this date. I didn't want to ruin what was growing between Sorrel and I. We were getting to be closer and I didn't want to scare her off. She was a potential mate, a potential female I could spend the rest of my life with but more importantly I didn't want another female. I wanted Sorrel to be that female. I had placed everything on her because she was everything that I had wanted in my life. She was brave and courageous, she was sweet and steadfast, and she was strong, so strong. There would be no other female that could match up to her and I knew that.

I pulled off onto the drive of the territory and I swallowed. I felt a bit more nervous the closer I got to the house. There were several other vehicles that pulled in after me. It made sense, it was closing time for most businesses and the pack members were returning home. Once the house came into view and I pulled up in front of it, shutting my truck off.

I sat in the truck and exhaled heavily, trying to calm myself down. I was nervous, more nervous than I had been in a long time. If I wasn't holding myself so rigid I knew my hands would be shaking. It was a strange thing for me. I hadn't been this nervous since I had been a child and terrified of disappointing my parents. I knew I couldn't stay in the truck forever but I was honestly looking for a quick moment of courage to actually open the door.

I adjusted my grip on the steering wheel and looked out the windshield. The house looked rather still and I swallowed and pulled together all the courage I had. Without giving myself a chance to back out, I opened the truck door and stepped out into the cool air. I stared at the house as I slowly closed the truck door.

I pulled my phone out of my pocket and looked at the time. I was just a few minutes passed six and I hated that I was slightly late. I moved up to the door and knocked quickly. I stepped back, my heart pounding heavily in my chest. The door was pulled open and Sorrel stepped out.

I couldn't really think as I saw her. She was pure perfection. The clothes hugged her generous curves and highlighted her figure to the point she looked like something out of a fantasy. If I hadn't been clenching my teeth to shove my wolf back I knew my mouth would have dropped open in awe at the sight of her. She was pure magnificence. I didn't know how I could have ever believed another female was beautiful now that I had seen her like this.

"I look stupid don't I?" Her face pinkened and she lowered her gaze, her graceful hand reaching up and tucking some curls behind her ear. Stupid? She looked... she looked.... I was at a loss for words at just how utterly enthralling and ravishing she looked.

"Far from it. I think I am the one who looks stupid. I can't even think of what to say but wow." I swallowed thickly and adjusted my jacket. I felt a bit underwhelming after seeing her. Her blush deepened and she did that adorable little faint stutter as if she couldn't figure out how to reply to the compliment.

"Linnette dressed me up. I feel weird." She tugged on the lapels of the brown leather jacket she was wearing and knocked the heels of her boots together as if nervous.

"You think you feel weird? I haven't been in a button up shirt since I was twelve and I haven't had this much gel in my hair since I was fourteen." Those were both not good years to think about. Childhood and teen fashion sense was always atrocious. I felt my face heat up slightly. I didn't understand why I was so nervous. I was supposed to be confident and I currently felt like a juvenile on his first date.

She glanced at me, her gaze trailing over my form. "Penelope work you over?" Her eyes flicked to my face and away quickly.

"How did you guess?" I nervously pushed at my sleeve and shifted on my feet.

"She always goes formal." She gestured to me before she looked at me. "How did she let out out with your shirt like that?" I glanced down at the shirt. Penelope definitely wouldn't have let me out of the house like this is if she had her way.

"Shiloh made some adjustments." She improved it in my opinion but I still couldn't get over the uncomfortableness of being stuck in this outfit. It made me feel like I was wearing a costume.

"Makes sense." She gave a slow nod and stuck her hands into her pocket. "She's banned from the room when Penelope dresses me up." She looked up at me again and I raised an eyebrow.

"That good?" I could only imagine what Shiloh would do with an outfit that Penelope put Sorrel into. I couldn't even really think of what Penelope would put Sorrel into. I didn't doubt she would look incredible in whatever the outfit was.

"Body con dresses in all the colours of the rainbow and Shiloh knows I don't particularly like dresses." She shrugged and I coughed heavily at the image that it inspired in my mind. Her body wrapped up in skin tight fabric with her hair pulled up exposing her slim neck. I gave a grunt as my wolf thrashed inside me, his thrashing caused my joints to ache and my skin to feel tight. "Are you okay?" I closed my eyes and pressed my hand to my forehead, doing my best to calm down my wolf. He wanted out to mark her with his scent thickly.

"I am... just give me a second." I gritted the words out as I focused on trying to get my wolf to stop his shoving at me.

"Why?" At the question I looked at her right as my should popped from my wolf's shoving. I barred my teeth slightly as I scolded the beast for his improper behaviour. Her eyes went wide as I rolled my shoulder, forcing the slightly popped shoulder back into place.