The people who lived in their own homes often made and ate breakfast at home, so it was just those who lived in the pack house, or who had been out patrolling, who were looking for breakfast. The dining room had numerous large tables and chairs spread across it like an oversized cafeteria. Breakfast and lunch were more of a serve-yourself event. We were too late to help cook, so we just grabbed a plate and filled it before heading over to a table.

Occasionally, I sensed people looking at me in curiosity while I ate. Samantha and John sat across from us and visited with us. I watched in amusement as Will was somehow managing to eat everything he had loaded onto his plate. I simply could not figure out where he was putting it all.

I turned my head in faint alarm as I felt a flare of powerful emotions to the side of the room. I could feel the person's shock, excitement, and ambition as she focused intently on me. Whatever plan was storming through her mind, it included me, and my Omega senses alerted me to her scrutiny.

Will noticed my sudden distraction and glanced across the room with narrowed eyes before groaning and dropping his face into his hand. I glanced back at the lady as she was making her way swiftly towards us. Her low high heels clicked on the floor, her shirt gently swirled with the speed of her walk, and her tight jeans were some sort of expensive designer type. Her eyes were locked on me.

My senses immediately told me that she was Will's sister. From the mix of excitement, disbelief, and accusation radiating from her, I somehow suspected that Will had not told his family that he had found his mate. And she was not impressed with that fact.

She came to a stop right beside me and took a deep breath. I felt her excitement flare as she confirmed her suspicion. She faced her brother with disbelief and a touch of accusation. "How could you have found your mate and not told us?!"

Will raised his eyebrow slightly. "Mom, Dad, and Brad all know. If you hadn't blocked off your mindlink yesterday, you would also know."

She dropped down on the seat beside me with an exasperated sigh before turning to me. "Brothers. They withhold critical, need-to-know information at the worst possible time. Please tell me that you didn't have to put up with brothers when growing up."

I felt Will stiffen beside me, but I smiled at her. "No, I never had any siblings."

She sighed in relief. "You are so lucky then." I could feel the tension rolling off of Will, Samantha, and John at her unwitting speech. They hadn’t brought up my past in case there were painful or sad memories.

Will's sister somehow remained oblivious to the other three at the table as she replied, "I'm Tiffany, Will's sister. What's your name? When did you get here?"

"I'm Jade. I arrived yesterday in the early afternoon."

She mumbled something incoherent before looking back at me. "Which pack did you come from?"

Will's low growl made all of us glance at him as he eyed up his sister. She blinked at him in shock. I reached out and rubbed Will's arm, trying to relax him, while replying, "I was a rogue living not far from the Delby pack. Sorry about Will’s reaction. The mate bond took us for a ride earlier today, and our control isn't exactly at its best."

Tiffany blinked in shock and remorse, now realizing just how inappropriate her earlier comments had been.

Samantha broke the silence before it became uncomfortable. "I was wondering how the mate bond would affect Will. Even though he comes from a normal family, he has the Enforcer rank, and from what I heard, Enforcers get hit by the mate bond almost as hard as an Alpha since their protective tendencies are amplified."

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John shook his head. "From how you two were speaking at supper, I didn't think you were having any issues. I take it that the mate bond is strengthening?"

Will made a wry face. "I'll say. If it doesn't slow down, I will be behaving worse than you did when you first met Samantha."

Tiffany shuddered and shook her head as she swiftly said, "No, let's not even contemplate that. That was a terrible two weeks."

John grumbled something about how he hadn't been that bad. Tiffany refocused on me. "Those clothes look like they have seen some rough terrain. We will have to expand your wardrobe. Will needs to help train today, so I can take you shopping."

I blinked at the swift topic change. I had never actually gone shopping before; I had only traded for essentials with nearby packs. I did a mental tally of the money in my backpack and nodded slowly. "I wouldn't mind another outfit, and I am almost out of toothpaste."

Tiffany chuckled and rubbed her hands together gleefully. I hoped that her tastes in clothing wasn't too expensive, especially since I only had so much money, and I hadn't lined up a job here yet.

Will pulled out his wallet and handed a shiny plastic card to Tiffany. "Here, make sure that you don't let her pay for anything. There is a limit of five hundred dollars on it, so don't go too crazy. That card is for her purchases, although I will let you spend a hundred of it as long as you keep any guys at a distance."

Tiffany quickly pocketed the card and grinned at me. "I am liking this already. He has never given me money for shopping before."

I shook my head as I protested, "I have my own money, that isn't necessary."

Tiffany quickly overruled me, "Then save it for a rainy day. Don't look a gift horse in the mouth. Honest, you will agree with me one day." She grinned at Will. "For your generosity, I will ensure that she buys at least one pair of lacy undergarments."

Will's eyes darkened as he slowly inhaled. He looked fairly calm, but I felt him quickly suppress an intense emotion before it got strong enough for me to identify it. I didn't extend my senses to determine what was lurking beneath the surface either.

I didn't exactly trust my own reactions to his powerful emotions at this point. I looked down at my plate to try and hide my blush. I had never owned any sort of fancy clothing since I became a rogue. Other than undergarments, I hadn’t ever had any new clothing. It had all been second-hand or used. And I had certainly never owned lacy undergarments.

John found Will’s reaction amusing and said, "That was probably the last image he needed in his head."

Tiffany grinned triumphantly at him. "This is my way of helping everyone. Will gets to exercise his imagination, you might get an easier training session if Will is distracted, and Jade gets new clothing."

She was interrupted by a rather flustered and excited looking Mark as he slid into the last empty spot at the table. His eyes were halfway wild with excitement, and he was radiating quite a few strong positive emotions. His eyes locked onto me in excitement. "You were right! It was her! Thank you!"

The others look baffled although I quickly put his emotional state and his words together. I grinned in excitement, saying, "Congratulations!"

Tiffany gave him a blank look. "Uh, what rogue dragged you backwards through the bramble bush, and what on earth are you talking about?"

Mark turned to her, still excited beyond belief. "When I met Jade yesterday, she asked me if the lady at the library was my mate - and you know I hadn't found my mate yet. So, anyways, on my way here I decided to pop into the library since the name Jade gave me didn't ring a bell. And it was her! Cassie is my mate!"

Jaws around the table dropped before they all started cheering and congratulating him. He grabbed a plate of food and joined us. John gave him a bad time for not catching her scent earlier; although, apparently, Mark wasn’t the type to go near a library – at least, until now.

It didn’t take long before we were all finished eating. Tiffany stood up and nudged me with her toe. "Well, come on, let's go shopping before the stores get busy. Maybe we can see the new stuff they are putting out today before anyone else spots it."

Samantha and John chuckled at her enthusiasm. I glanced at them and inquired, "How scared should I be when it comes to shopping with her?"

John looked at me solemnly. "Be afraid, be very afraid..."

Tiffany rolled her eyes and dismissed him. Will gave me a one-armed hug, and I rested my head against the side of his chest as I murmured, "Your sister doesn't have any grudges against you, right?"

Will chuckled. "Not that I know of."

Tiffany grabbed my hand and dragged me to my feet as she grumbled, "Okay, enough of that lovey dovey stuff. We're going shopping."

I could feel Will's reluctance to let me leave without him as I was pulled out of the room by his sister.