(Alexis' POV)

I freeze for a second, raking my brains for an excuse as to why I'm standing in my mate's veterinary practice. Why didn't I think of this before hand? Oh, yes, because I was too focused on seeing him that I didn't stop to think what a complete idiot I would look like turning up here out of the blue, without an animal I might add.

"I hope so," I finally say, smiling as I watch the visual affect my voice appears to have on him.

His cheeks are slightly flushed and it appears that he suddenly looks too hot underneath that shirt.

"I'm actually looking for some information on breeds of dogs."

I mentally slap myself. Seriously, Alexis, is that the best you could do?

"Breeds of dogs, sure. Why don't you take a seat," he says nervously, indicating to a chocolate coloured couch in the corner of the room.

I smile at him and make my way over to sit down.

"W-would you like a cup of coffee?"

"I'd love one, thanks."

God, I've never been so excited for a cup of coffee before. I absolutely hate coffee, I can't even stand the smell of it, but it will guarantee me at least fifteen minutes with him. It's not much, but it's better than nothing.

"I can make cappuccino for you if you prefer," Leo said in the same nervous tone while running his hand along the back of his neck. "Or even a latte."

"Coffee is fine," I assure him.

He disappears for several minutes, during which time I do my best to stay rooted to my seat and not follow him. He returns with a tray ladled with two steaming mugs of coffee and cute little cupcakes.

"I, eh, found those cupcakes in the cupboard in there," he tells me as he sets the tray down on the table in front of the couch. "I thought you might like some."

He pulls a chair across the room and sits opposite me.

"They look lovely, thank you." He blushes slightly.

"So, erm, you're thinking of getting a dog?"

"What? Oh, yeah."

He takes a sip of his coffee before replying. I can feel the electricity bubbling between us. "Have you any idea what breed you're interested in? Small, medium or large?"

I try to hold back a smile as I watch him try to subtly shift his chair towards me. I know that the mate bond makes him want to close the distance between us. It's almost painful being this close, yet so far away from each other. I'd love to know what he's thinking right now because I can only imagine how confusing this whole situation must be for him.

"I'd love a large dog, but I'm not really sure which to go for. That's why I need your help."

He smiles shyly at me and it's all I can do not to throw myself into his arms and beg him to mark me.

That's something that has been on my mind since I found out that he was my mate. Only the male wolf can mark his mate, never the other way around. I've heard of male wolves having a human mate but never the other way around.

I'm confused as to how the marking and mating will be between us. Will he be able to mark me and mate me or will I always be unmarked and unmated? It scares me to think that may be the case because I've always wanted to have a relationship with my mate like the relationship my mother and father shared.

"Well," Leo says, pulling me out from my thoughts. "There are quite a few breeds you can choose from; Huskies, Dalmatians, Labradors, Alsatians, St. Bernard's and loads more that I can't seem to think of right now." He chuckles lightly, causing my heart to race.

It's such a heart warming sound.

"Imagine, I'm a vet and I can't even name more than five breeds of dogs!"

I giggle gently at his slightly shocked expression. It seems that he's slowly starting to become comfortable around me. "It's okay," I tell him with a smile. "I won't tell anyone."

"Thanks. Cupcake?" He offers the plate to me.

"Yes, please."

"As I was saying, before I embarrassed myself," he pauses, taking another sip of his drink and picking up one of the delicious icing topped cupcakes off the plate. "There's loads of breeds you can choose from, but because this is your first dog- It is you first one, right?"

"Yeah, I've wanted one for a while but haven't gotten around to getting one yet. These cupcakes are really good by the way. Where did you get them?"

"Thanks. I, eh, I actually made them myself," he replies, rubbing the back of his neck again.

He made them?

"Are you serious? You made these yourself?" He nods his head, blushing slightly. "Wow!"

My mate can bake. That's pretty hot. Hmmm... I wonder what he looks like in an apron...

"Anyway, back to the dog." His words drag me once again from my thoughts.

It's probably a good thing, because who knows what I'd have done if I allowed that train of thought continue.

"I'd recommend you get yourself a Labrador puppy. They're great as a first time dog and well, they're adorable. That's two perfectly good reasons to choose one."

"I agree; they are pretty darn cute."

"You need to make sure you're prepared before you get yourself a dog, particularly a puppy. They can be a handful at the best of times."

He pauses for a second and a deep red blush covers his cheeks. His five o'clock shadow hides it pretty well, but due to my enhanced vision I can see it perfectly clear. Thanks to my excellent hearing, I can also hear the increase in his heartbeat.

"Also, you need to make sure that everyone in the house is aware that there will be a puppy coming into the house. So, that means that you'll have to make sure whoever lives with you; your family, friends..." He clears his throat loudly. "...boyfriend, knows that there will be a puppy living with them as well."

"That's no problem," I tell him. "It's only me and Dad in the house and Dad should be cool with it."

I bite my lip to keep my giggles escaping as I watch him visibly relax when I make no mention of a boyfriend. I'm glad to see that he's even thinking that way. I can see it in his eyes that he's still trying to figure it out whether or not I have a boyfriend.

We continue to chat, Leo explaining the ins and outs of rearing a puppy, and before either of us notice, it starts to turn dark outside. I glance at the clock hanging above the fire. It's almost a quarter to six.

"Oh, my God, I didn't realise the time. I'm sorry, but I'll have to go," I reluctantly tell him, knowing very well that Dad will be home shortly and if I'm not there before he is, there'll be hell to pay.

Leo does his best not to look too disappointed. "I understand. I'm sorry if I kept you for so long. I didn't realise the time either."

"It's no problem, it happens to all of us."

I brush the crumbs off my lap and smile at him. I reach out and shake his hand, doing my best not to shiver at the sparks that ignite when our skins touch.

"Thank you so much for all your help. I really appreciate it."

"It was my pleasure," he replies warmly, another blush spreads across his cheeks, indicating that he feels the sparks as well.

I pull my hand away, making sure the small piece of paper remains in his palm. I smile knowingly, before turning and making my way towards the door.

"Wait," he calls after me. I spin around to face him once more. "What's your name?"

"Alexis," I smile.

"Alexis," I hear him murmur, before I close the door behind me.

***

I was out in front of the pack house along with Mommy playing football. She kicked the ball towards me, but I wasn't fast enough to catch it before it bounced into the forest.

"Sweetheart, don't go into the forest," Mommy told me, her brown curls bouncing as she jogged towards me. "Stay here. I'll get it."

She kissed my forehead before making her way into the forest. I sat down on the grass, picking up daisies watching her go. I decided to make her a daisy chain while I waited.

I loved making people daisy chains, especially Mommy. I always loved how the white of the petals stood out beautifully against her warm coloured skin and her chocolate brown hair.

I dropped my flowers in fright when I heard a blood-curdling scream echoing from the forest.

"Mommy!" I screamed in pure terror.

She screamed again, but this time her scream was cut short.

"Mommy!" I screamed as tears streamed down my face, my heart beating faster than ever before.

Something was wrong with Mommy and I couldn't do anything. Daddy and Mommy always told me I wasn't allowed to go into the forest, unless I was with them. Only big wolves like Mommy, Daddy and Alpha Kent were allowed to go into the forest by themselves.

Daddy came running out of the pack house and picked me up into his arms when he heard my screaming.

"Baby, what's wrong?" he asked, his eyes filled with worry.

I cried harder and whimpered for Mommy.

"Where's Mommy?" he asked, his voice cracking.

"She went into the trees," I told him, lifting a shaking hand and pointing towards the forest in the direction of Mommy screams.

"Beth!" he yelled as he placed me down on the grass and raced towards the trees. "Beth!" He called her name again as he disappeared further into the forest.

I sat watching in fear as the darkness swallowed Daddy. I didn't want him to go without me. I stood up and ran after Daddy; determined not to be left alone.

I stumbled through the grass and the ferns after him. I watched as he fell to the ground, his body shaking.

"Daddy," I called out, thinking something was wrong with him.

When I reached his side I came face to face with Mommy's lifeless body.

Her eyes that only minutes before were filled with happiness and laughter were now empty and cold. Her left arm lay in an awkward angle along with her neck, which was battered and bruised. A small pool of blood was slowly inching its way through her once shiny hair while more blood seeped through from her chest onto her clothes.

"Mommy," I whimpered as I reached out to tug on her clothes, letting her know that this game was now over.

"Alexis," Daddy said, wrapping his arms around my waist and pulling me into his chest. "Baby, Mommy can't hear you."

I looked at him with big, sad, tear filled eyes. "Why did this happen to Mommy?"

"I don't know, baby."

A tear trickles down my cheek as I remember that horrible day. Her broken, lifeless body will forever be engraved in my mind. I'll never ever forgive those monsters that took her from me.

How could someone take another person's life? How could they take a mother away from her mate and her four-year-old daughter?

"Yeah," I say when I hear a faint knock on my door.

"Alexis," Dad answers. "Can I come in?"

"Yeah." I wipe the tears from my face, hoping Dad won't notice I've been crying. Unfortunately, luck isn't on my side right now.

"Sweetheart, what's wrong?" He closes the door and rushes over to me. He kneels down on the floor in front of me, at the edge of the bed.

"I just miss her so much," I sob, my walls breaking, knowing that I can't hide the pain I feel for Mom from Dad.

"I know," he tells me. He moves to sit beside me and wraps his arms around me. "I know exactly how you feel. I thought it would have gotten better with time, but it hasn't and it probably won't."

I sniffle and nod my head. I understand exactly what he's saying to me. It gets harder year after year, knowing that he is still out there, and Mom isn't here anymore.

We sit in silence for several minutes, Dad's arms still wrapped around me, my head resting on his shoulder. We sit, remembering the woman that we lost all those years ago; I lost my mother, Dad lost his soul mate.

"Alexis," Dad finally says, breaking the silence between us. "I need to tell you something."

"Okay."

"Why don't you sit up?"

I sit up and face Dad, searching his face for a hint as to what he's about to tell me.

He pauses for a few seconds and takes a deep breath, obviously preparing himself for what he's about to tell me. 

"Alexis, your mother wasn't my mate."