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Acacia/Titan - Age 5
Victor - Age 6
Cypher - Age 9

"H-H-Hi," it comes out jumbled from Edith's mouth, Titan giggling as he raises his brows. Edith glances at him as if she's...confused?

What's her presumption?

Rudeness?!

Jelena shakes her head and says, "Acacia and Titan," she looks at Edith and states, "they are the twins from royalty." She looks to me and exclaims, "We already saw Victor, he's eating lunch."

"I-I don't k-know you..." Edith's voice trails off as she still lingers her gaze on Titan.

Titan looks at her funny, though connects with me.

She's a little...weird.

Yeah, but we gotta be nice. Daddy Marc—

"Edith's big brother is a true born also, Alpha Merle," Jelena grins and asks, "did you meet him yet?"

Titan and I look to each other, our thoughts the same. Edith's a rogue too, don't know what Daddy Marc will think...he said not to go near Alpha Merle...didn't say anything about Edith...so...

I take a few steps forward and hold out my hand, "Hi!" It takes a moment for Edith to snap out of it and she nervously shakes my hand.

Titan tells Jelena, "Yeah...we saw him. Well, Acacia threw a snowball at him."

"Hey!" I whirl around and run at Titan, both of us ending up on the floor as we wrestle. Titan laughs and tries to push me off him, though it only works for a second, though I don't have to worry much because Jelena charges in to help me.

We're all laughing by the time we separate, Edith still standing there completely still. I sit up on the floor and asks, "You don't know how to have fun?"

"She's a rogue, her life must suck," Titan stands to his feet and looks at Edith hard.

Edith's eyes are watery, trying to hide her tears as I sigh and punch Titan in the shoulder where he yelps and I chastise him, "Look, you made her cry!"

"What?!" Titan sighs and throws himself on the bed, grumbling and muttering incoherent thoughts to himself.

Edith seems nice enough, but—

"You don't have to be such an asshole!" Edith suddenly fires off, her hands clenched into fists as she vibrates with anger.

Uh-oh.

Titan pushed her buttons.

"You said a bad word," Titan looks at her from the bed and tilts his head to the side.

Jelena laughs nervously and says, "Let's go, Edith. I-"

"No, that was mean he needs to apologize to me," Edith is worked up and I furrow my brows. She took it too personally, I know Titan was joking, though she obviously doesn't.

Titan rolls his eyes and flips onto his back, staring up at the ceiling as he sighs, "Just go away."

"No-"

"Edith," the voice is harsh as it cuts through, all of us turning to look at the doorway. It's Alpha Merle, his eyes scanning the room until they rest on Edith.

"Merle, he was-"

Edith is cut off as Alpha Merle tells her, "It's time for lunch," he pauses a moment and continues, "the Crusaders Pack is arriving right now."

"Uncle Chris!" Titan bolts off the bed and hangs onto the windowsill, watching as I can hear cars arriving. I'm sure Victor is already out there with Daddy Marc to greet them with Grandpa Keir and Grandma Laura.

Alpha Merle leaves the room with Edith, though he glances back at me before he walks down the hallway. Jelena stands there, smiling at me and asking, "You want to hang out later?"

"Is Edith coming?" I ask, glancing over my shoulder at Titan.

"Nah, I was only showing her around," Jelena shrugs her shoulders, "she's not like us...she doesn't know a lot. I don't know, it was just off."

Titan turns around and asks, "Cause she's a rogue?"

"Nah, I don't think it's that," Jelena furrows her brows.

"Maybe," I return her smile with one of my own, telling her, "stories tonight?"

"Yeah!" Jelena exclaims and nods, "Catcha later!"

I wave goodbye to her, turning around and walking toward the windowsill. Titan looks back out the window, the two of standing side by side. Victor is talking with his arms again, big motions in front of another pup who looks a couple of years older than us. He's got a friend with him too, Victor keen on who he is. One of them has brown hair and brown eyes, while the other has blonde hair and brown eyes.

Titan asks, "Who are they?"

"I guess one's Taron, but I'm not sure about the other," I shrug my shoulders, leaning against the windowsill. Uncle Chris is being greeted by others, though it doesn't look like he's brought his whole pack. There are few too people missing, guess safety to keep his territory in check in his absence?

He's looking at you

Titan brings me from my thoughts as I'd been staring out at Uncle Chris, Grandpa Keir, and Daddy Marc. My gaze flickers down and I see what he's talking about. The one with matching brown hair and brown eyes...he looks like Uncle Chris and Daddy Marc; I'm guessing that's Taron.

Oh, look, it's Edith and Alpha Merle.

Titan giggles when I mention this as Alpha Merle stands alongside Alpha Keir, introductions taking place.

Think he's warning Uncle Chris about them being rogues?

Titan questions me, though I'm not too sure about what's going on. All I know is that pup won't stop staring!

Creepy...

My thought trails off, releasing a sigh and backing away from the window. Titan bursts out laughing, and I question him, "What?!"

"I think he wanted you to back down and look away," Titan is still laughing and poking the glass.

Whatever.

Shrugging my shoulders, I ask, "Wanna get some lunch?"

"Sure!" Titan nods and turns around, the two of us heading down the hallway and to the main level of the pack house. It is soooooooooooooooo loud and noisy.

I regret this!

Titan smirks and holds back a snicker at my proposal of getting lunch turning into a mob circus. This is insane! How are this many people supposed to be here?!

"Acacia," I squeal when I'm lifted from the floor, though I happily give Grandpa Keir a big hug back. He smiles at me, kissing each of my cheeks before my nose, my giggles uncontrollable.

"Grandpa," I smile.

Grandpa Keir looks down at Titan, a devilish look crossing his features as he says, "You're not getting away so easily."

"Run, Titan!" I squeal when Grandpa Keir puts me down, Titan taking off toward the front door...

...though, he slams into what I assume is Taron and the other pup. Victor is also caught in the fray, all of them sprawled out on the floor only seconds later.

Daddy Marc shakes his head and laughs, Uncle Chris also joining in as he says, "It's good to see you, Titan." He's at Uncle Chris' feet, looking with embarrassment as his feet are over his head. I can't stop laughing, everyone getting a kick out of it...except for...

"Taron," Uncle Chris says as he helps everyone from the floor, along with Daddy Marc, "Ridge," he smiles and nods at Titan and myself, "I'd like for you to meet Acacia and Titan. They're Victor's younger siblings."

"By a whole year!" I cross my arms and stick my tongue out at Uncle Chris.

"Every one of those second of that year helps against you two," Cypher rolls his eyes from the table, eating a sandwich.

"Ah, yes," Uncle Chris chuckles, "this is Cypher, Cormac's eldest." Cypher gives a big smile before going back to eating. Uncle Chris then states, "Acacia, Titan, I'd like for you to meet your...well, I guess cousin?" He furrows his brows as he looks to Daddy Marc.

Daddy Marc shakes his head, "Technically, though not by blood."

Victor smiles, slowly turning into a grin, "See, we're closer," he nudges Taron and I see Taron crack a smile for the first time since seeing him. It quickly fades though, Ridge walking forward and shaking Titan's hand.

"Well...yes," Uncle Chris shakes his head, "these hybrid bonds and family ties...hard to keep up sometimes, brother," he pats Daddy Marc on the back, "you have a handful."

"They're good pups," Daddy Marc praises us...though, that praise dwindles away a second later, "just watch out for the twins in you get on their bad side."

Uncle Chris chuckles, "Oh, I'm aware of that," he pauses and glances at Titan, "was it you...or..." he glances to me next, "...Acacia that put glue on my chair the last visit?"

Titan and I glance at one another, our silence holding.

"It doesn't matter," Uncle Chris smiles, "pups will be pups...even the jokesters."

I stick my tongue out again.

Grandma Laura comes up beside me, touching my upper back gently and saying, "Stick your tongue out one more time and you're going to lose it."

I gasp and quickly pull it back, closing my lips shut tight.

We disperse, Titan and I sitting next to one another at the table while eating sandwiches. Taron and Ridge sit at the other end, talking quietly with one another. Victor's finished his lunch, playing in the fun room with Jelena, Dexter, Holden, and Sophia. Cypher finishes up his plate and cleans up, heading to the next floor level to study as Daddy gave him homework to do to prepare for when he starts school. He won't go to the high school that Dante helps with for a while, but Daddy wants to make sure he's well prepared and keeps his mind sharp!

Daddy keeps us all on our toes.

I look around, checking for Edith and Alpha Merle, though they don't seem to be around. Wonder if they got bored, or if it is too chaotic for them?

Titan finishes up before me, though I'm a second behind him. We both leave the table, dropping out plates onto the table in the kitchen. As we turn around, Grandma Laura has her hands on her hips and wags a finger, "Plates go in the sink."

"Grandma..." I release a sigh.

"Manners," she chastises me. Titan grabs both our plates and nearly breaks them when he drops them in the sink. Grandma Laura sighs and says, "Careful, Titan."

"Sorry..." he's genuine.

Grandma Laura kneels, hugging us both and stating, "I know. It'll take time to learn your strength as it comes in. You're both very special, and—"

"No, I'm not," I grow rather cold, silencing us all.

Grandma Laura pulls away slightly, looking me over. It's her wolf looking at me though, those golden irises almost piercing through me. I don't look away though, the bridge of my nose stinging.

Titan reaches out and holds my hand, my grip becoming firm as I hold his back. I breathe out calmly, pushing back the pain of what I'll never have...they've never felt it in me...

...how can a true born come into existence with no wolf?

⊰♥⊱To Be Continued⊰♥⊱