Chapter Four

"If she doesn't wake up soon, I think we should call her parents," Elsbeth said softly, kneeling in the grass next to Giavanna's body. She reached out to tuck the suit jacket one of the men had laid over her best friend tighter and looked at the small circle of people surrounding them questioningly. One moment she had been making out with her mate in a dark corner; the next, Grant was dragging her and Dwayne through the back garden, babbling about some argument and Giavanna passing out. "How did this start again?"

"Beta Jared here thought we were laughing at him and started calling her slut and several other insulting terms," Grant explained, pointing his thumb at his brother. "They ended up fighting, and when Sebastian distrupted them, Giavanna collapsed."

Elsbeth's eyes widened in shock, her mind processing the fact that her friend had attacked the Blood Lake Beta. He could have Giavanna banished from their pack, declare a fight to the death, imprisoned - the only thing worse than this was if Giavanna had threatened an Alpha.

"Ok...." Elsbeth huffed slowly, trying to calm her panicked brain. She bowed her head in submission. "Beta Jared, on behalf of the Oak Valley pack, please accept my most sincere apologies. I know you must preserve the honor of your station and your pack by enacting punishment, but I beg you to make your retribution swift and not allow Giavanna to suffer in pain long."

"No need for any of that," a calm, authoritative voice interrupted. Sebastian stepped forward and knelt across from Elsbeth, stroking one of Giavanna's cheeks with the back of his index finger before addressing Elsbeth. "Being the Beta's best friend has some perks, and I've asked for a favor."

"Oh, thank the Moon Goddess," Elsbeth exhaled loudly and smiled at Sebastian. "I'm Elsbeth. Elsbeth Lange."

"Sebastian Thatcher of the Blood Lake pack. I believe that I'm the reason for our current predicament. I suspect Giavanna maybe my soulmate."

Elsbeth froze in shock for a moment, then she squealed excitedly and looked behind her to grin up at Dwayne. "I can't believe she and I both found our mates tonight. Oh my gosh, maybe we can plan a double bonding ceremony!"

Giavanna began to stir, a low groan emanating from her throat. Sebastian curled his palm around her cheek, and she leaned into his hand before mumbling, "Do you have to be so loud, Els?"

The enticing aroma Giavanna had smelled earlier enveloped her body, making her feel safe and warm. Her eyes fluttered open, and she found herself gazing into those striking cornflower blue eyes again. She unconsciously sucked in a gulp of air, both shocked and pleased to see him smile. Sebastian's thumb stroked back and forth along her face before asking, "May I help you sit up?"

"No, thank you. I can do it myself." Grimacing, Giavanna raised herself into a sitting position, resting her face in her hands.

A warm hand began to rub circles on her lower back while she massaged her temples. Her heartbeat was pounding through her skull, though every inhale of her mate's scent helped to dull the pain.

"Grant, why don't you and Dwayne get us some water and maybe a little something to eat for Giavanna?" Sebastian suggested, carefully monitoring Giavanna.

"You got it." Dwayne nodded and set off towards the ballroom, Grant following closely behind.

Giavanna lowered her hands to her lap and took a closer look at her new mate. His dark brown hair was shaggy and rather unkempt, reaching his shoulders. A pair of oversized ears charmingly stuck out from the sides of his head, at odds with his prominent hook nose. It was hard to tell from his current position, though he looked to be about her height, maybe a few inches taller. Giavanna noted he had the complete opposite build of other males his age, but she didn't care. He was her mate.

"Now, let us get a good look at that gouge on your cheek," Sebastian murmured. His fingers delicately tilted her chin, and his eyes narrowed at the injury. "Jared, please hand me a tin of healing ointment. After you apologize, of course."

The large man slunk forward, and his head bowed in contrition before announcing somberly, "I apologize. I have disgraced myself and the Blood Lake pack by speaking in such a disrespectful way to a female. I also apologize for attacking you after you were merely defending your honor." He reached into his suit jacket and drew forth a small metal container. After handing it to Sebastian, Jared retreated backward quickly.

Giavanna was taken aback by how passive Jared was behaving. She was certain she'd at least be thrown in a jail cell for her defiance. Elsbeth leaned over and whispered in her ear, "You're safe this time. Sebastian pulled the best friend card."

"Thank you," Giavanna said softly, offering Sebastian a shy smile. "My pleasure," he grinned back.

Unscrewing the lid of the tin, Sebastian dipped a ring finger in the light green ointment, softly dabbing it into her wound. Giavanna hissed as the salve stung her face. "Sorry, it'll only hurt for a moment and then heal up straight away," he explained. "Don't want that beautiful face to have a scar now."

"Ooooh, where did you get this stuff?" Elsbeth asked, reaching for the tin. He passed it over, ignoring Jared's low growl.

"Secret pack recipe. You can keep that batch, but my lips are sealed about the contents," Sebastian winked. He took a red handkerchief from his black jacket pocket and gingerly wiped the excess medicine from Giavanna's face. "All better. Now no one will be the wiser about what happened here tonight."

"What about him?" Giavanna tilted her head towards Jared. His face had already begun to slowly heal, thanks to his werewolf capabilities, though her nails had done worse damage than she initially thought.

"I'll be fine. I deserve it for my behavior," the Beta insisted.

Giavanna was about to start arguing with the man when she heard Grant call, "Hope you guys are hungry. We got a little bit of everything."

Attempting to stand on her own, a pair of hands cupped Giavanna's elbows from behind and easily lifted her into a standing position. She blushed at the chivalrous gesture and quietly whispered another "thank you" to her mate. Sebastian merely smiled again and guided her towards the pavilion, the others following closely behind.