Asher left a while back after I stomped into my room again and shut the door. He had slammed the apartment door on his way out, making it clear he was unhappy and leaving. When that sound shivered through the halls of the apartment and filled my ears. Agony filled my stomach and made its way to my heart. Pounding through its door and breaking it away. I was missing him even though he had only been gone a few seconds and it was hurting me. I laid in bed not crying but just staring out the window at the sky wishing I knew what to do next. Wishing that he wasn’t my mate. Wishing I had a different opportunity. A second chance. A new start.

Suddenly, a sound from the door filled the apartment again, but this time it wasn’t a door being banged, not the door moving in any direction at all. It was a knock. I sniffed the air to try and smell their scent. When I did, I rushed to the door and ripped it open. My mom’s eyes widened at the sight of me. I bashed my body into hers, just throwing her off balance ever so slightly, and wrapped my arms around her in a tight hug. I buried my head in her chest and just started sobbing. I didn’t even know why. “Oh Scarlet” she said in a heartbroken voice, as if she was feeling my pain along with me. She rubbed my back and we just stood there for a while. When I could no longer cry, she pushed me a bit back and lifted my face to look her in the eyes. When I did, I could see worry filling her beautiful ocean blue eyes.

It ripped my heart into more pieces. I never liked being the reason for her worry, but she always told me when I one day have my own pups I would understand that worry never truly leaves. “Come Scarlet, how bout we go inside and I’ll make us some hot coco” She said, rubbing the wetness on my cheek away that was the footprints of my tears that just ran a marathon on my cheeks a few minutes prior. When I showed her into the place, I realized the apartment didn’t look so dark and gloomy as it did at night. The walls were a lighter shade of grey with some accent walls being darker grey and the apartment had very off-white, almost grey wooden floors and it just seemed to have more life. Like it was still dark and gloomy, just more inviting. When I showed my mom to the kitchen and helped her on the hunt for some hot coco, we went and sat in the living room.

We both took a sip from our hot coco, which was a little ritual for us. When I needed her the most, we would have a hot coco and sit to think for a bit and then start talking about what worried us. The room fell quiet for a while with only the slurps we made while taking some sips of our drinks filled the room to chase away any awkward tension that might want to fill the air around us. “So Ash called me and said you wanted to see me” She said glaring over her mug whilst taking a sip to see my reaction and wait for my reply. “I would never order you here like that!” “So you didn’t want to see me” She said placing her mug on the counter. “No, no I didn’t say that .i just felt he could’ve asked you instead of order you” “Scarlet he is going to be alpha soon and that’s how alphas talk don’t let it bother you or hurt you. Plus, you could learn a thing or two from him, since you’ll be Luna soon, you will have to have more of a …… dominant aura over the rest of the pack but yet nurturing too.” “I guess your right” I said, trying to avoid eye contact with my mom so she doesn’t see my shame.

“So what’s really bothering you, Scarlet? I thought we shouldn’t beat around the bush. Be straight forward as you normally are.” She got me there. My mom knew how I thought about things. Although requesting to see my mom, I didn’t really think it through. “Or don’t tell me. I just thought something had to be wrong since the two of you should actually be …. Enjoying your privacy” she said with a look in her eyes like she was remembering when she met my dad and found out he was her mate. I knew what she meant about the privacy thing but I just didn’t feel ready. “And judging by his tone, over the call, I’m guessing he didn’t get any” my eyes grew to the size of saucers at her words. How my mom could be talking about my sex life so easily baffled me.

I was gulping air like a fish out of water trying to say something, but no words could escape my mouth. It’s like she knocked the breath out of me with those few words. “Oh Scarlet, don’t be so proper”, She said with her head shaking and her face filled with annoyance. “Well don’t be so crude” I replied back defending my actions. “It’s kind of weird having this discussion with you” “Well isn’t that why you wanted me to come instead of spending time with Ash and his bed” She got me there she was right in every aspect of her words. I needed to talk to my mom about this and I just didn’t know how. “Mom I’m a Virgin” “Oh I know Scarlet, u kind of make it obvious”. I was again baffled and hurt by her comment. I couldnt help but wonder. Did Ash catch onto that too?

“How’d you know?” “Well, for starters, you are far too proper.” “Never thought that would be a complaint from my mom” “No it wouldn’t be if we weren’t talking about your mate who will be marking you in 6 days.” “What's that got to do with it” “Honey marking ceremony doesn’t stop or start when he marks you in front of everyone else. It starts in the bedroom and ends… well, never.” “Well then he has already started marking Saige”, I said with a hateful taste in my mouth at her name.

My mom’s facial expression changed to that of disappointment, but not to me, but to Saige. There was also a hint of sadness about missing her. “I guess she’s still not home?” “No… but she’s not here either, which is a relief.” We fell quiet for a while because I didn’t know what to say to her and it was like she almost expected me to say something. After a while of silence, she suddenly spoke again.

“So that is what’s truly bothering you. Your sister got him first and you are a virgin, thinking you won’t be better than her in bed.” My heart ached as those words left her mouth. I didn’t even know that’s what bothered me until she said it. And she was right. “Yes"” I said hesitantly, looking down at my empty cup swirling around a little drop that stood so lonely at the bottom. She came and hugged me. “Scarlet talk to him. Communication is key. I’m sure he will understand.” “He will laugh at me for being a virgin.” My mom ripped her head back and looked at me in the eyes to see if I really just said that.

“Hun, being a virgin is your upper hand in this relationship. It will make him want you more and make him feel guilty for his past actions that he couldn’t do the same. It will make you even more attractive, but that’s a power that disappears after the first time. Remember that?” I sat on the couch thinking about what she said. She left a while back already, but here I am still sitting in the same place contemplating my next move.

I decided to order a snack buffet and when it arrived I placed the platter on the lounge counter. It was a cheese and cracker platter as well as a desert platter with some tiny sweet bites perfect for tonight. It was an apology for last night. I got some candles. I pulled the curtains closed. They were heavy black velvet curtains which did an amazing job at blocking the sun out and caging the apartment in darkness. I lit the candles and they brought a romantic air to the room. Perfect for sorting out our issues. I then decided to dial his number on my phone, my first call to him. The phone rang for a short while and then he picked up. “Asher speaking…”