"Allison, ever the kind wife and Luna," laughed Sammy, "used the perfume Warren bought her on Lovey as a goodbye present."

Theresa's eyes went huge. "He still takes Lovey with him everywhere?" Theresa whispered, scandalized. "Well serves him right then. Honestly, I understand the mate pull but to do that in such a public space and without thinking about you at all..."

"She knew what she was doing too," I sighed, sitting down on the edge of their bed. "She kissed his mate mark. Several times in fact."

Theresa growled angrily. "I'm gonna give that little bitch a what for."

"Don't bother. You know Warren is going to defend her and I don't want a rift to form between you two because of me. I growled at him when I caught them, and he acted as if he was ready to defend her with his life. Imagine after he's mated and marked her?"

"I'm so sorry my brother is a dingbat," sighed Theresa, sitting beside me and pulling me into a hug. Sammy gathered his outfit for the night and tiptoed out, leaving us ladies behind.

"We had an agreement," I replied, my own sigh echoing hers.

"Still." She paused and looked at me, worried. "You'll still stay, right?"

"Sammy asked the same thing," I admitted, getting up and opening my suitcase to grab my hair styling tools and makeup. I pulled my dress out and hung it up beside the vanity so it would be easy to slip on when I was ready. "I told him at least until the transfer of duties and the marking ceremony, but beyond that..." I shrugged. "I'm not sure I can be around them and be happy."

"I hope we can work something out, I'd hate to lose you in the pack. Who knows, maybe you'll find your mate and he'll be happy to stay in the pack too!"

I gave my best convincing smile. "Maybe." Only, I knew that would never happen.

We stood around awkwardly for a moment before Theresa jumped to her feet. "Right, well let's get ready. Nothing helps you get over someone else than finding someone else to be under." She waggled her eyebrows suggestively to me.

"Gross!" I laughed. "I don't need my sister in law telling me to go sleep with someone else. I am technically still married, you know."

"And?" she replied with a snort as she pulled off her top. "From what I heard, you already broke it off. It's just a marriage in name only now."

A sharp stab of pain hit me in the middle of my chest but I did my best to not show it on my face. "Right..." I agreed, pulling out my shoes for the night's festivities.

Thankfully, she dropped that line of conversation for standard gossip as we got ready. Or rather, while she got ready. I was taking my sweet ass time.

"You know, by the time you're done, it's gonna be the end of the ball," she said, watching me curl my hair while standing only in my underwear. I hadn't even made it to makeup yet.

"You know I take my time on this," I replied. Technically it was true, my long brown hair was incredibly thick and didn't curl easily, so it usually took me several hours to achieve a decent updo.

Theresa frowned and opened her mouth to reply when the lock beeped once more and the door opened.

"Are you ladies ready?" asked Sammy from just inside the door.

"Allie isn't," grumped Theresa, crossing her arms.

"I'll be down shortly," I replied, releasing a ringlet gently and pinning it back up with an alligator clip. "You two go ahead and see if there are decent drinks. Deal?"

With a suspicious narrowing of her eyes, Theresa stared at me for several seconds, as if making up her mind. "Ok," she said finally. "But if you suddenly change your mind or need help with anything, please let me know ok?"

I gave her a smile. "You know I will, now go! Have fun!"

Theresa beamed happily and all but skipped to the door. I could hear Sammy say in a low voice, "Goddamn you're smoking hot. I can't wait to bring you back up here and..." Thankfully the door closed before I had to hear the rest of that.