Jen laid back and stretched out her legs, hanging them over the armrest of the loveseat. Her long, blonde hair flowed down over the side of the opposite armrest. This was a familiar pose for the she-wolf when she was in the library hanging with her friends. Tonight, however, it was friend, singular. Jacque occupied the other couch and there was an emptiness to the room without Sally’s presence.

“So is Bethany okay, then?” Jacque asked after Jen brought her up to speed on the evening’s drama.

“I think so. She won’t be scarred for life or anything. Although teaching her what and how to use a tampon was not one of my best moments.”

“Well, it was something practical and non-sexual, so it’s understandable that you wouldn’t give it your best effort,” Jacque quipped.

“Shut up, Red. Like you could have done any better,” Jen glowered. “Speaking of the new she-wolf, I invited her tonight.”

“And I’m sorry I’m late.” A sweet voice came from the doorway. Their heads whipped around as Bethany closed the door behind her and then turned to stare back at them.

“Better late than too early,” Jen sang. “Come in, come in. Join us if you dare.”

“If I dare? Are you two planning a murder or hatching some evil plan to take over the world?” Bethany joked, as she came further in and took the empty chair between the couches.

“Been there, done that.” Jacque waved her off. “We’ve moved on to ways to torment our mates.”

“Well, that is a lesson I’m totally on board with. How can I help?” Bethany asked, rubbing her hands together eagerly.

Jen flung herself up and spun on her butt to face the newcomer. “What did that future rug do?” she growled. She knew her eyes were glowing because Bethany’s brow rose and her mouth dropped open. If Drake had hurt her, Jen was going to castrate him, without anesthesia.

Jacque sat up as well and faced her. “Did he hurt you? I mean, there’s no way he would physically hurt you. It’s engrained in their DNA to be unable to strike their mate, but stupid wasn’t bred out of them, so hurting us emotionally, that, they are totally capable of.”

Jen could tell that Bethany needed to talk about it. There was a burning ache in her eyes and yet she wasn’t sure if she should.

“I don’t want you guys to think I’m stupid.”

Jen rolled her eyes. “Girl, please. You have a vagina. We’d never think you’re stupid.”

“What,” Jacque quickly interjected, “my weird friend is trying to say is—”

Jen interrupted. “Hoes before bros. Chicks before dicks. Sisters before misters. Girls before…” Jen paused. “Well, whatever rhymes with girls, you get the picture.”

“Wow,” Jacque said with wide eyes. “Well, if you weren’t scared before, you probably are now. Jen has no filter. As in nada, zero, completely absent of.”

“Like that needed to be explained,” Jen chastised. “Now, back to the future eunuch werewolf. What did he do?” she asked again.

“We had a fight.”

“About?” Jacque prompted the obviously reluctant girl.

“Touching.”

“Did that ass touch you without your consent? If he so much as laid a fingertip on a body part that you did not authorize, I will—”

“No,” Bethany interrupted Jen quickly. “No, in fact, it’s the exact opposite. He won’t touch me.” A single tear slid down Bethany’s face and it tore at Jen’s heart.

“What do you mean?”

“He thinks of me like a child, a little girl, because I don’t have knowledge of the physical aspects of a relationship. I mean, I know a little. It’s not like the vampires didn’t talk…a little too vividly at times. I understand the mechanics of how babies are made but—”

“You’re unknowledgeable about foreplay,” Jen offered.

“Since I don’t even know what foreplay means, yes, that.”

“Well, my little blossoming flower, you have come to the right place,” Jen grinned.

“Good grief,” Jacque flung herself back on the couch and pinched the bridge of her nose. “This is going to be—”

“Beyond awesome,” Jen interjected. “You are my greatest dream, Bethy-bug. A blank slate. A completely uninfluenced specimen.”

“Dude, she’s not a freaking lab experiment,” Jacque pointed out.

“Red, shut it. You’ve had your moment. You were like practically dead. Everyone worried over you. Blah, blah, blah, Let me have mine.”

Bethany looked at Jacque. “Should I be scared now?”

Jacque nodded. “If I didn’t think she’d chase you, and be totally hot and bothered by it, I’d tell you to run.”

“What?” Bethany laughed.

“Don’t mind her,” Jen said. “She’s just bitter that she can’t be as adventurous as I am in the bedroom. She’s not able to let go of her inhibitions and truly take pleasure in married, mated, whatever, physical bliss.”

“And how would you know?” Jacque challenged. “Have you been watching me and Fane?”

“Yes, you’re totally vanilla.”

“Jen you have better be joking or I swear I’ll dye your skin blue,” Jacque turned to Bethany. “She has an irrational fear of Smurfs all of a sudden.”

“Well, if you had some weird sexual dream about your mate and that female hussie Smurf, then you’d have a hang-up too,” Jen snapped.

Bethany was practically rolling as she held her stomach. Jen was glad they were easing her pain, but she still wanted to get to the bottom of what was going on between her and Drake.

“Enough with the deflection, Jacque. Bethany,” —she snapped her fingers at her— “spill your guts. What happened between you and the berserker?”

Bethany took a deep breath and then dove in. “I really like him. I mean, I know it’s only been a week, but there’s something about him that connects with me.”

“He’s your soul mate. Of course, you connect,” Jacque told her. Jen shushed her and motioned for Bethany to continue.

“Not for a moment have I been scared of him or felt uncomfortable. In fact, it’s sort of weird but up until the whole period thing, I’ve never really even been embarrassed or shy in front of him. I feel like…like he’s an extension of myself, and I trust him like I trust myself. I don’t understand it, but I lived with vampires for eleven years, so I know fear. I lived and breathed it every day. I feel just the opposite around Drake that I felt with the vampires. With Drake, I feel safe, protected. He shelters me. And, well, I mean he’s really good looking and I really like his body.”