We’ve also told them I’m a white wolf and asked if they know anything about my heritage that could help us understand our situation better. One of the things we’ve learned is white wolves are always females. I’m not sure if my mother was a white wolf. I’d seen her change a few times, but when I got older, my parents always shifted together, saying it was their time alone. I know she was light, but the memories seem to fade. Like when I try to remember the sound of her voice, it’s in there, I just can’t recall it.

Caleb also said that white wolves were rumored to have abilities that far exceed the average shifter, anything from premonitions or empathy to superior healing abilities. We’ve shared that we can communicate through our bond in both forms. Masen suspects I may have a type of empathy, telling me sometimes the people close to me can experience my emotions if it’s something I feel deeply. I don’t even want to know who told him this or when someone felt me. They also suspect that our powers will combine and be amplified when we are properly Mated.

Mickey was with me trying on dresses today. She noticed my healed Mark from Masen. She called Caleb, who was our bodyguard while we shopped, over and told him, “Your son needs his ass kicked. Look, he Marked her before they were Mated.”

My hand flies up to cover the raised scar. “Oh no, is that wrong?” I ask, embarrassed.

“It’s not wrong, Sophie. He just knows better. He should have waited until your Mating ceremony,” Mickey says while fussing with the dress I’m trying on. “Caleb, you need to have a talk with that boy,” Mickey spouts.

“I marked him,” I mumble.

“What, Sweets?” Caleb asks. That’s what he calls me, he says I smell like cookies. “I marked him first so don’t yell at him, please,” I say shyly.

I hear one loud gruff before Caleb who attracts almost as much attention as Masen busts out laughing. Every head turns in our direction. Mickey has both her lips rolled in trying to keep from laughing. “You... Marked... him... first...” He wheezes, he can barely stand, let alone speak. He’s still laughing so hard when Mickey finally loses the battle and giggles. He starts roaring all over again.

“Why is that funny?” I ask when they finally calm enough to breathe.

Mickey notices my expression first. “Oh, it’s nothing, really. Usually, the male is the first to Mark is all. Don’t worry about it. Caleb is just crazy,” she says dismissively, waving her hand.

I know there’s more to this. “What if someone finds out I Marked him first? I don’t want to embarrass him,” I say, mortified.

“Hey, sweets, I can guarantee he’s happy as hell you Marked him first. He’ll probably tell everybody he’d think would listen that his little Mate claimed him first. It’s just funny to think of my son, the Alpha, having a female claim him. He has his hands full with you, but I’ve never seen him happier. He loves you.” He hugs me to his large frame, patting the back of my head with his huge hand a little awkwardly. He’s not as big as Masen, and he’s not as gentle, either. But it still feels nice to be comforted by a father figure. Caleb laughs, and I feel it rumble up his chest. “You better believe I’m gonna give him hell about it.” I step back and laugh a little with him.