With the pups and untrained werewolves safely stowed away in the underground bunker, the remaining werewolves gathered in the ballrooom. They exchanged nervous glances and conversed in fearful, hushed tones. Most were not in the most festive of spirits.
The humans stood off to one side of the huge ballroom, the same one where the mate matching ceremonies were held. Ainsley had taken it upon herself to educate the humans about werewolf customs and history, so she stood with the group.
"Fated mates are a very important part of werewolf culture," she explained, when one man asked what a mate matching ceremony was. At first, they seemed to be paying little attention. But as she went on, telling them about her first shift earlier that night, more of them began to turn toward her.
"Does it hurt when you shift?" One man asked.
