I stared hard at the phone on the desk.

Bennett had grabbed my hand at the breakfast table and had hastily written something on my palm before he was off with the others to do his tests. It was a phone number and I bit my lip slightly as I looked at the machine. Bailey was currently napping in my chair in the living room and I had snuck off to phone who ever it was that Bennett wanted me to call. I hesitantly picked up the handset and dialed the numbers with a shaky hand.

It rang twice before I heard someone pick up the other end. "Hello?" It was a deep voice that tugged on my memory slightly but I pushed it away quickly out of habit.

"Hi?" It came out in a rather startled squeak that I wanted to groan at. My face flared red with slight embarrassment as a silence fell from the other end of the line.

"Who is this?" There was a faint hint of suspension to the tone and I swallowed hard. "This line is a private line-"

"Emerson! Ge the fuck out of my office and stop answering my phone!" The booming voice in the background was more than familiar and I felt a large smile spread across my face. I could hear the phone being exchanged and I couldn't help but feel happiness radiating out of my chest at the gift Bennett had given me. "This is Alpha Lawrence." His voice was gruff in my ear and I pressed the phone closer to me as if it would bring me closer to him.

"Hi, daddy." I knew I was too old to call him that but I couldn't help it, I had missed so much with him that I felt like I was reverting back to my childhood when i heard him speak.

I could almost hear his shock through the phone but it didn't last long. "Maricella?" There was a sudden softness to his voice and happiness threaded through the words.

"It's me. How are you?" I swallowed quickly before sitting down in Uncle Jace's chair. I settled myself into the well worn chair as i clutched the phone in my hand tightly.

"Hey, little one. I'm hanging in there." His voice immediately softened to the tone I remembered as a child and I felt tears prick at my eyes. We had so many years stolen from us. "All of my favourite people are gone, so I'm not having too much fun." He sounded sad and I winced, thinking of Amber and him. She didn't reject him but she had walked away and that must have hurt just as badly. "I don't want to sound like I don't want to talk to you but how did you get my number?" He sounded genuinely curious and I smiled brightly

"Bennett gave it to me." Pleasure spread through my chest and limbs at the gift he had given me. A way to reach out to my father, a way to talk to him. His gift couldn't be repaid and I swallowed against the sudden lump in my throat. I honestly didn't deserve him or his warmth. He was a male without equal in my eyes.

"Is he treating you alright?" His voice went back to being gruff for a moment, letting his stern, fatherly side show that he still cared about my wellbeing.

Even in those moments when I had been an Omega I could still remember that tone, still remember the faint pleading as he secretly begged me to tell him the truth, to tell him something, anything, he could use to save me. The voice in my head had always drowned him out. He had made some poor decisions but he had been so young and he had trusted the wrong people.

"Yes, he's a gentleman." Nothing but that, he was perfect in every way when it came to his treatment of me. I could sense that it eased his mind and he paused slightly.

"And the Omega, Bailey I think her name was. How is she?" He asked it softly and I could tell he was genuinely curious to know about her and how she was doing and I truly appreciated that he cared enough to ask.

"She's going to get better. She's actually Davin's mate so there is that." A silence fell and I waited for him to speak. I could sense he needed too.

"And how is Amber?" There was a hitch in his voice and I wanted to be there to give him the comfort I knew he needed. I knew how hard it was to be separated from a mate, being away from Bennett for those achingly long minutes had been almost more than I could bear. I couldn't imagine what it would feel like to have him all but reject me before he left me of his own volition.

I swallowed hard, trying to shove those thoughts from my head. "To be honest she is moping in her office. She's not happy." I wanted him to know that he wasn't the only one affected. That her decision hurt her as well. She didn't state it but I could see it in her behaviour, in how she held herself and picked at her food. This was a decision that cut her just as deeply as it must have cut him.

"Oh." There was a pause. "Could... could you tell me about her?" There was a hurt longing in his voice and I felt my heart ache for him. I knew what it felt like to know nothing about a mate, I knew that feeling intimately and I didn't want him to suffer that.

"I can." I nodded even though i knew he couldn't see me. "Her name is Amber June Blanche. She is, I think, forty some years old. She has been a pack doctor for over twenty years." I frowned slightly, quickly thinking it over in my head, trying to get the details right. "Her favourite colour is mint green, like the ice cream colour and not the plant." My frown deepened as I tried to remember more details for him. "She is very work orientated and very opinionated. Her and Uncle Jace get into a lot of arguments that she usually wins. She is very passionate about everything she puts her heart into." I paused again, the rest of the knowledge escaping me for the moment. It was slightly aggravating to have happen. I wanted to help him more.

"Has..." He paused as well, his voice pained. "Has she said anything about me?" His voice was wary and I hated how I had to tell him the truth.

"Not really. She's hurting but I think she's scared too. She's not a fan of Alphas." I knew she wasn't. She had alluded to that fact numerous times but I had never pried before. I wanted to know why but he sometimes had a haunted look in her eyes that made me never want to ask and I wasn't about to tell her. I knew that sometimes someone else's burdens could negatively affect your own and I knew that she would never tell me based on that in particular.

"Why?" He said it like a defeated sigh.

"I'm not sure. She barely tolerates Uncle Jace but that is only because he lets her speak her mind and doesn't give her trouble for it. I would ask her for you but... I... I-" I wanted to make him happy, I wanted him to be happy. He was my father. The young male who raised me, who cleaned my chocolate covered face and kissed my injuries no matter how minor they were but I couldn't find it in me to say I would pry into Amber's life like that. I didn't want to drudge up any of those memories for her.

"Don't worry about it, little one." He said it quickly as if he could sense my internal dilemma and I felt a wave of relief as it made my shoulder slump. "Can you tell me anything else?" He was making his tone lighter, trying to shake the heaviness that had settled over our conversation.

"Well, she hates onions and cannot cook at all. Last time she tried she literally set the stove on fire. Angie banned her from the kitchen." I listened as he laughed loudly at my words. "She loves reading tedious medical books. The newer the version the better and she has this habit of twirling a chunk of hair around her finger and yanking on it when she is thinking." I tilted my head slightly. "She's a very kind female, she loves helping people. She has been with me since I came here. She would make a great mother one day." I thought about them having kids and I smiled wider. I wanted siblings. Shifters aged differently than humans, our lifespans were much longer so they have children well into their seventies if they wanted.

"She cares about you a lot." He sounded pleased at the thought but a bit hurt as well. I could only imagine him wondering why she couldn't care for him like that.

"She's my therapist. She knows everything that I went through." I could almost hear his wince on the other end of the line and I wanted to hit myself for bringing it up.

There was a tense pause before I heard him let out a heavy sigh. "I am so sorry I wasn't there for you, Maricella. I wanted to bring you with me. I wanted to bring you so badly that it hurt but I listened to John." His voice shoke with his anger and I felt my breath catch in my throat. John had done so many terrible things to so many people. "I listened to him and you paid the price." Shame and regret coated his voice thickly and I felt my heart twist harshly in my chest. "I was so stupid. I knew something was wrong the moment I came back but I let myself be deceived. I should have been there for you. Should have done something, anything, to make sure you were okay."

His voice trembled slightly and I felt a returning burn in my own. "Don't, dad. Don't beat yourself up about it." I made my tone firm so he wouldn't continue. I didn't need to have him listen to me cry into the phone. I didn't want the moment tainted by that. I wanted it to be happy.

"Someone has to, Maricella. I failed you as a father and I failed as an Alpha. I let those things happen." His tone was sharp with anger towards himself and I could practically feel his self-loathing and it hurt my heart. "I didn't question anything and I blindly trusted others. I need to be held accountable for that." His tone was sharp, the same tone I had heard him use before when he signaled the end of a conversation but despite how my stomach twisted at the thought of defying him in his words, I knew my feelings needed to be said.

"You were young." I darted my eyes back and forth despite the nerves in my stomach as he gave a low sound in his throat.

"Enou-"

"Dad... let me say this." I winced as I cut him off but as the silence continued I cleared my throat. "You were young. Only twenty when Jace threw the pack at you. You weren't trained for the position, you didn't have any knowledge about what you needed to do to keep it or to keep the pack running." I took a deep breath. "You relied on who you thought you could trust. John was Jace's Beta, why wouldn't you trust him?" He had no one and nothing to help him. He would have relied on anyone. He was so young. "And then when I came along you were only twenty one, not nearly ready enough to take care of a child but you did your best anyway and the memories I have of you show the kindest and most loving father who just wanted me to be happy." I paused and there was nothing from his end so I pushed on. "You made a mistake, you relied on someone you thought you could trust and I got hurt."

"You deserve to hate me for that. I let them do those things to you, let them hurt you." His voice hitched slightly. "My little girl."

The truth burned me but I knew that the feeling shad to be released or they would fester. "I did resent you. When I was getting the memories back I resented you a lot for letting me stay there." I didn't need to hear him to feel his shame and self-loathing and I hated that I put it there. "But I also remembered that on some level what you were doing was trying to protect me. Not showing me open affection, silently begging me to tell you what was going on. You threw me as many life lines as you could but my mind prohibited me from taking them. You were young and you made a mistake." It was what I held onto. I had made mistakes too. I had done things or said things I regretted. It was part of having humanity.

"I could have done more." His voice was clipped and hard and I bit back a sigh. "I could have taken you from that position."

"No you couldn't have...My mind... it was broken." I knew that now. I had learned so much over the years and where I had been when first came to Oblitus. There had definitely been an aspect of my mental state that had been fractured. "You would have caused me more harm if you did that and didn't have the appropriate tools to fix me." I couldn't even imagine how I would have turned out if I hadn't had the resources I had access too.

"Does Jace know you called me?" His voice was back to being slightly gruff as she changed the subject.

"No." I pinched my lips together as my wolf growled, barring her teeth in anger as the fear churned my stomach.

"Alright, little one. I won't tell if you won't." There was a conspiratorial edge to his tone as he said it that had me smiling but after a moment he let out a sigh. "I am trying my hardest to be able to come there. I am. In a few months hopefully. You can't tell anyone though. I can't risk it getting out." His tone was serious and I tried to hide the hope that soared through me at his words. A few months and he would be with me again. I hated how badly our relationship had been twisted and torn. I just wanted my father. My real father. Victor was my biological father but he was never my dad. It was always apparent when I caught his gaze, his face a blank emotionless slate before he looked away.

"Okay." I nodded, I wanted him to trust me. I wanted that trust back so badly that I hurt with it.

"I can trust you, right? You aren't going to run to Jace and tell on me are you?" His serious tone had faded to lightly teasing. I remembered that tone from when we used to make a mess in the kitchen. Him asking me if I would tell the cook on him and my childish giggles as I vehemently refused turning him over.

"We currently aren't on speaking terms. I can barely stomach being in the same room as him right now. Your secrets are safe with me." The words felt sour on my tongue but they were the truth. I was just too scared. My mind was a strange place and sometimes it showed.

"You put my big, bad brother in the dog house. I wish I could be there to see that." There was a small silence on the other end of the line before he sighed heavily once more. "I have to go, little one. I have some things to do. I am always here if you want someone to talk to. Just pick up the phone and give me a call. I love you and stay safe, okay?" I could hear the hurt in his voice. He didn't want to say goodbye and neither did I. I missed my father. I missed him so much it hurt.

"Okay. I love you too." I felt my heart lurch in my chest. "Can you say it for me? Please?" I was pleading but I needed to hear the stupid nursery rhyme from him. I needed to refresh the comfort the words had always brought me. There was a silence that made my heart jump into my throat but he chuckled faintly.

"Mary, Mary, quite contrary." His comforting voice brought tears to my eyes and I held the phone tightly, pressing it harder to my ear. "How does your garden grow? With silver bells, and cockle shells, and pretty ladies all in a row." I sniffled against the feeling the words brought. It had been too long since I had heard my father say the rhyme to me. I felt like a small child again back when everything was right in my world.

"Thank you, daddy." I whispered the words and willed the tears not to fall.

"You are welcome, Mary Mary. I love you." The line went dead and I set the phone back in its cradle. I felt a bit lighter but saddened that the call couldn't last longer. I let out a heavy sigh and wiped at my eyes. I had hated how little I had been allowed to speak to him on Tacita pack territory. I looked at the number on the palm and I felt panic rise in me as I saw the numbers had smudged slightly. I frantically searched for a pen and a chunk of paper on Uncle Jace's desk.

Are you okay? I can feel your panic. It was Uncle Jace and I winced at the threatening growl my wolf sent through my head even as the fear bloomed in my stomach. I focused on shutting down his connection, barricading it strongly. I didn't like how it made me feel and Amber always told me to avoid what scared me until I was ready to safely deal with it.. I found a pen and paper and quickly jotted down the number and clasped it in my hand tightly before I left the study.

Maricella, dad is freaking out right now. Are you okay? Davin sounded exasperated and I rolled my eyes.

I'm fine. I just... I just can't have him in my head right now. I made my way to the living room and felt relieved to see Bailey sleeping. She needed the sleep and would for the next few weeks. I smiled slightly when I remembered finding Davin sleeping in front of my door after Bennett couldn't keep his mind quiet. I could still feel his whispered murmurings in my head but it was currently comforting rather than irritating.

I can't blame you but the next time he asks you something just send it to one of us so he doesn't blow a gasket. He doesn't like how he doesn't have a way to communicate with you. He sounded amused and I shrugged slightly. I could deal with that even though the entire situation made my feelings go into complete and utter turmoil.

Okay. My wolf doesn't want anything to do with him. I leaned against the door jamb and watched as Bailey snuggled deeper into the chair and the blanket.

What about you? He sounded genuinely curious about how I felt about the situation but I also knew he wouldn't like the answer.

To be honest? I'm terrified of him. I rubbed at my face, I felt guilty for it but I knew I didn't have control over that. I don't know if he's going to flip out again. I don't want to be around him and be focused on every move he makes because I don't trust him not to hurt me again. Its that or have my wolf attack him. I can't do either so its better to avoid him. I could feel a stillness from Davin and I sighed. I didn't want to strain his relationship with his father.

How is Bailey? His change of subject was much appreciated as I looked at his mate.

She's currently sleeping in my chair. She's doing okay though. She can only get better from here. She has you after all. I said it lightly and could feel his sudden relief at my words. He was worried and I wondered for a moment about Bennett.

As if sensing my sudden change of thought Davin let out a sigh along the mind link. He's not saying anything but he keeps glancing towards the house. He's probably worried about you. Especially since dad let it slip Luka was coming down today. At Davin's words I let out a small excited squeal. Alpha Sterling, or Luka as we liked to call him, was a close family friend. Jace and his father had been close friends before everything had gone down with Uncle Jace's mate. He was like a brother to Davin more than anything else. Especially since he had come out every month or so to train with Uncle Jace since he had been forced into the Alpha position five year ago.

He was family to me as well. I loved Luka dearly. He was a soft spoken man and his calm and soothing energy had helped me quite a bit through my transition from being an Omega. I had felt comfortable around him more than the others. He was non-threatening but in a very good way. We were good friends and he was more like a brother to me than anything. It had been a long time since I had seen him. I felt a happy smile cross my face. I needed to see some normality, something normal in the chaos that was now my life.

I wandered around the living room, keeping myself busy tidying up the various messes I found. It was like a compulsion when I saw something out of place. Amber told me I would probably always be like that. I didn't mind it, cleaning was always made me feel better, calmer and more peaceful. I wasn't sure how long I had cleaned for but the living room was completely tidy and in order when I realized what I was doing. I glanced at Bailey before moving over and tucking the blanket around her tighter. It would do her good to nap.

There was a scratching at the front door and high pitched whining that made my heart race and a smile break out on my face. I tore my gaze from Bailey and bolted for the door, my feet making small thuds on the floor as I tore the front door open to see two mangy looking black wolves. Scars cross crossed their bodies and one had a deep scar that went over his left eye and down his cheek. I had always wondered how Ezekiel hadn't gone blind from the wound.

As soon as they saw me they were immediately pushing me around, weaving around my legs taking in my scent and marking theirs in a friendly greeting. I cooed at them as I touched whatever parts of the large wolves that I could. Michael nipped at my fingers gently before licking my hand. "Hey, how far is Luka?" I smiled as he tilted his head to the left like a puppy. On the rather intimidating looking wolf it was comical. Ezekiel nudged the back of my leg with his snout before licking my other hand. I scratched at the ever itchy spot above his left eye. The right side of the scar always seemed itchy for him.

I can scent something unfamiliar heading to the house. I'm guessing wilds. Angie's voice held warning as she said it through the pack wide link and I rubbed between Ezekiel's eyes. I could feel everyone sudden tension at the words, their presence focusing on me, pushing on the walls of my mind to make sure I was alright.

I know. Michael and Ezekiel are here. Luka shouldn't be too long. I spun around and grabbed Michael's face roughly and shook his head back and forth with a playful growl. With that he leapt backwards and dropped his front end and barked at me. The sound was loud but I didn't care as I lunged at him, intent on trying to best him. I knew I never would. He was a well-trained shifter and a wild as well so his instincts and reflexes were trying for even the best opponents. True to his training he kept out of my reach almost like he was taunting my slower reflexes as he nipped at me gently.

I could hear Ezekiel let out a huffing groan and his heavy body hit the floor as he flopped down. He was always the serious one between the two of them. I let out a small battle cry and changed targets, sprawling on his venerable form. He let out a huff of air but let me straddle his prone form in a pretend victory. "I have bested the warrior! None are as strong as me." I tilted my head back and cheered loudly. Michael nudged me roughly sending me tumbling from Ezekiel. I glowered at him as I wiped some pretend dirt off my pants. "Another challenger? I shall defeat you as well!" He gave me a wolfy grin that make him look even more intimidating before he barked at me rapidly. I jumped at him and let out a growl, resisting the urge to shift and let my wolf have fun with them. Despite being wild, they were as much family as Luka.

Before I knew it Michael had me on my back, pinning me on the floor while growling playfully in my face. As playful as a large, dangerous, scarred wolf could look. I just scrunched my face up at him. He snapped the air in front of my nose playfully and there was a terrified scream from the hallway. Michael and Ezekiel were instantly on the offensive. Their hackles raised almost in perfect synchronization as they eyed the newcomer. I rolled over onto my stomach and could see Bailey's pant legs and I could hear her heart beating frantically.

"Stand down you smelly pups. That's Bailey." I got to my feet and smiled at her brightly. Her face was pale and her eyes were wide as she stared at the two wolves who had sat down at my words, their tongues hanging out, all aggression instantly gone. "Hey, Bailey. Did we wake you?" I rubbed the back of my neck sheepishly. I had forgotten about her in my excitement about seeing them.

"He was attacking you." Her voice was a terrified whisper and I laughed at her words and shook her head. I moved over to her and grasped her hand before gently tugging her forward. She dug her feet in slightly and I smiled at the action.

"No he wasn't. Bailey. This is Ezekiel and Michael." I pointed them out and at their names they bowed their heads, humanity glinting out for just a fraction of a moment. "They are Alpha Sterling's loyal guards. Also, the world's best playmates. Well Michael is. Ezekiel has always been a stick in the mud." I stuck my tongue out at his low growl and Michael bumped his wide shoulder against his companion with a strange huffing sound that reminded me of laughter. Bailey giggled at the movement.

Omegas always took better to wolves than human forms. It was so much easier to deal with wolves than people. I pulled her closer and Michael let out a whine before slowly wiggling onto the floor and rolling onto his back, showing her his belly. Bailey wasted no time in going on her knees and scratching at his chest vigorously. I bit back a laugh as his back foot started kicking frantically. Ezekiel watched them with disinterest before he leaned over and licked Bailey's face gently.

I clasped my hands together in contentment. They liked her and with that came their protection and companionship. I could always count on them when they were around and that had meant a lot to me when I had first started my transition to normalcy. "Hey, Bailey. I bet it has been a very long time since your wolf has come out." I watched as she stiffened slightly before ceasing all movement. "Do you want to play a bit?" I watched as she turned her head to look at me with wide eyes. She nodded vigorously a bright and wide smile on her face before she started stripping. I followed suit as I headed outside. I ignored the nudity as did Ezekiel and Michael as they left out the open front door. I grabbed Bailey's hand and tugged her towards the door. I kicked out of my jeans and once I hit the porch I allowed the shift to happen.

It was almost comforting to hear my bones shifting and rearranging in my body. It was over quickly and I shook my fur out and look over my shoulder to see a smaller black wolf looking around timidly. I barked at her happily before I bounded towards Michael. Ezekiel never wanted to play with us but I never minded because he was always watching. Michael stood still, his head lowered as he looked at Bailey.

I whirled around and pranced towards her. I barked in her face before jumping backwards. I whined and nipped at her until she nipped back at me. I barked before retreating and after a few moments of teasing she jumped at me. Her small form wasn't very heavy but I allowed her to push me over as she yipped excitedly. With another excited yip she started bolting around the yard in wide circles. Michael joined her and as soon as I shook off the grass I followed him.

Despite her previous exhaustion, Bailey's wolf was full of energy as she zipped back and forth, even giving Michael a hard time in trying to catch her. I fell back and laid down watching the two of them run around, burning off Bailey's excessive energy. I glanced at Ezekiel before slowly belly crawling towards him. His eyes were closed but I knew he could sense my approach. I wiggled slightly as I crawled forward more. I wanted to play with him, despite knowing he would never let his guard down enough for that. Michael did but he was always wary and never forgot his instincts.

I paused as Ezekiel's eyes cracked open, the dark green eyes of the wolf focusing on me. I let out a huff of irritation before bounding the rest of the way to him and grabbing the scruff of his neck and shaking it. He suffered the shaking for longer than I thought he would before he had me on the ground, the earth pressing into my ribs. He didn't growl at me but instead flopped on me, pinning me down. My wolf hated the feeling of his heavy weight on us. She wanted to play and I growled at him, squirming under his dead weight. I wanted out of his rather unorthodox pin. I knew he had done it because my wolf wouldn't be able to escape it or retaliate.

I whined pathetically as I tried harder to wiggle free. He was always a wet blanket. A heavy, oppressively warm, wet blanket that didn't like fun. I finally ceased struggling and let out a huff of air, trying to focus on breathing despite his heavy weight trying its hardest to crush me. I wheezed out a breath and struggled to inhale before Ezekiel was torn rather roughly off my frame. Michael nudged me gently while Bailey barked frantically in worry. I huffed out a sigh of irritation before standing up and shaking myself off.

The movement letting them know I was alright before I shifted. I stretched in human form while Bailey and Michael went back to playing. I went back to the porch and my discarded clothes. I pulled them on quickly before sitting down on the porch. I closed my eyes was could hear something approaching and I bit back a smile as a large head gently placed itself in my lap. I kept my eyes closed as I slowly swirled my fingers in Ezekiel's fur. He let out a rumbling groan and relaxed into my touch.

A peaceful feeling filled me as I absently scratched as his head and listened to Michael and Bailey playing in the yard. Her yipping was growing less exuberant and I was pleased to know that Michael had tired her wolf out. Once Bailey would go to sleep she and her wolf would bond closer together and begin to heal. The more time she spent in wolf form, the faster her healing would be.

I had been the same way but I hadn't gone into wolf form until I had been at the house for over six months. It had been hard to reconnect with something Ingrid had nearly beaten out of me. Bailey was lucky to still have the connection with her wolf. It had taken me a long time to find mine hiding in the back of my head. Cowering and fearful of even me but I had learned that was only because she wished to protect me. She had wanted to attack Ingrid but punishment was always swift when one even thought to strike Ingrid back. She hid herself away to protect me from her impulsive actions.

The road back to normalcy was not an easy one. It was fraught with problems, pit-falls, and setbacks. No one truly knew how it would go or if I or Bailey would be a hundred percent okay. Things still clung to me tightly and I wondered if the emotional and mental abuse would ever truly let me forget. Some of the most painful wounds were the ones you couldn't see, the ones that would never be visible to the naked eye.

I shivered slightly and Ezekiel shifted his head in my lap slightly with a faint whine as if sensing my mild distress. I patted his head gently before scratching around his scar. I wanted to ask him how he had gotten it but I had never actually met him in human form. He was a wild, more of a wild than Victor. Luka never told me how he had come into contact with the two wilds in the first place and I never pried. Although he did let me know that other than his mother, Michael and Ezekiel were the only people he trusted.

I knew it was hard for him. He wasn't meant to be Alpha. He was the third born son. He never had to worry about Alpha duties or training, he didn't have the power the responsibility would have given him. That was until the car accident that killed his father and his two brothers. It had been a fluke accident, a semi had lost control and in that moment it had ripped everything Luka had known and thrown him into a world he was completely unprepared for. He had been thrust into the Alpha position at the age of twenty-two. His life as he knew it had been over and he had contacted Uncle Jace in a panic pleading for help.

That had been five years ago and I could still see a young male floundering in a world he felt he didn't truly belong to. Luka was like an older brother to me and seeing him struggling so hard and so alone made my heart squeeze unpleasantly in my chest. I let out a heavy sigh and opened my eyes. Bailey was still running back and forth on the lawn and Michael's speed had slowed down significantly and I smirked when I realized Bailey had actually tired him out.

I could hear a car pulling up the lane way and I perked up at the same time as Ezekiel and Michael did. They moved in eerie synchronization and moved to sit beside the parking spot. Bailey bolted for me and her claws skittered on the wooden stairs as she moved to hide behind me. "It's Luka. Its okay. Get dressed." I stood up and could hear her shifting as a beat up looking car pulled into the parking spot. I watched as a tall man got out. His form was lean but it still held strength. He just wasn't bulky like most other Alphas. His face was slightly scruffy and he rubbed at his eyes slightly. His thick framed glasses moving with the action. I could practically see the stress radiating off of him and I bolted. "Luka!" At my shout his face lightened considerably and he smiled at me, holding out his arms. I leapt at him with a laugh, wrapping my arms around him tightly.

"Hey, kiddo." He hugged me tightly and I squeezed him harder before letting go and smiling at him. The stress seemed to fall away for a moment. His soft grey eyes flicked to something at the house before he looked back at me. "Who is the shy creature hiding behind the pillar?" He looked at me expectantly and I smiled once more.

"That's Bailey. She's Davin's mate." I watched as his face went still for a moment before his entire form relaxed into the soft, gentle aura that I had come to know well.

"She was an Omega as well." He didn't ask it but I still nodded. I looked over my shoulder to see Bailey peeking around the pillar.

"Let's get you inside before the others come. Bailey is probably hungry." I didn't want to admit it but I was also hungry. I smiled when I realized there was left over bacon in the fridge. Enough for all of us to have a BLT. I grabbed Luka's hand and practically dragged him to the house. I ignored his chuckles as I went up the stairs. I smiled at Bailey and grabbed her hand. "Bailey, this is Alpha Sterling, better known as Luka. He's like family." I could feel her apprehension but I ignored it as I drug them both into the house and into the kitchen. I pushed Luka to a stool in front of the island and I pulled Bailey around the large island and handed her a knife and cutting board. She would relax better with a task.

I could hear the clicking of claws against the hardwood floor and I moved to the freezer. I pulled out two meaty leg bones. I occasionally went to the nearby meat processing plant and got some bones from their scrap bins. I usually fed them to the wild wolf packs but I kept the better ones for Michael and Ezekiel. I could sense them behind me and I turned around, holding out the bones for them. They didn't hesitate and took them from me gently before moving to the hallways where they could see the door. I could hear their teeth scraping on the frozen bones before I moved to the sink and washed my hands.

"She spoils you two rotten." Luka's voice was amused as he watched his two guardians as they enjoyed their bones, keeping an ever watchful eye on the kitchen and the front door. I pulled out the ingredients for the sandwiches and Bailey seemed to understand what we were doing and started to slice the tomatoes. "I take it you are from Tacita as well, Bailey?" Luka's tone was soft and Bailey stiffened slightly before nodding. Her entire attention on getting the tomatoes sliced into perfectly even portions.

"It makes sense. Tacita has a certain knack for Omegas. They have a certain smell. Maricella smelled strongly of it when she came here. She still smells like it slightly. Its almost a sour smell. Its repugnant." His tone never wavered in its soft and even tone and I focused on putting the bread in the toaster. "Not you, though. The scent of an Omega is. Its repugnant because the entire practice is repulsive. Wolves lording above others seems wrong." I pulled the toast from the toaster and spread a thin layer of mayo over it, listening to Luka's words carefully.

"But you are an Alpha." Bailey's voice shook as she moved to the lettuce, carefully pulling leaves off, making sure they were the right size. She was becoming bolder, becoming relaxed as she did the task. Just like I knew she would. I placed more bread in the toaster and started to construct the sandwiches.

"Not by choice, tiny, just like you I was forced into my position. You, however, were able to escape your prison. I'm still trapped." His tone was soothing but I could feel his caginess about the subject. He wouldn't tell her to leave it alone but he didn't like discussing it. He never did. "But you are an Alpha." Bailey's confusion was apparent, it hung heavily in the air.

"A gilded cage is still a cage, tiny." Luka's tone was softer than before and I glanced over my shoulder to look at him but his eyes were on Bailey, his expression unreadable.

"My name is Bailey." Her reprimand was quiet but firm and I smiled brightly at her. She would make a good Alpha Female. She was already coming out of her shell, despite how shaky her voice had been she had put her foot down.

Luka looked amused and he shifted on the chair, the tension leaving the room with his smile. "I know that but you are also tiny."

He had a point and I turned back to the toaster and pulled the toast out. "He gives everyone a nickname, Bailey. He calls me kiddo." I put some more bread in it and moved to the fridge, pulling out the plate of bacon. I spread some mayo over the bread and finished two sandwiches before starting on another two.

"That I do." He was smiling, I didn't have to see his face to know he was. When he first met me that was the first word that came out of his mouth. He didn't give anyone a chance to introduce us, I was simply kiddo and that was all he cared about and now it seemed like Bailey was tiny. The toaster popped and before I could move over to it Bailey was already switching it out and spreading the mayo on the toast.

I started to put together more sandwiches. "How is everything with Fortis?" I placed the sandwich I just finished making onto the plate with the others and a stillness filled the air.

"Not good." He didn't elaborate and I didn't push the question. He didn't want me burdened down with his pack's problems. At least that is what he had told me.

"Packs are named after the traits the first members had." Bailey's voice was quiet as she pulled the toast out of the toaster and replaced it with more bread. "But as the years go by, the pack members start to emulate the name. Tacita means silence. We keep quiet, we do not speak of ourselves to others. Oblitus means forgotten because the people here are the ones that the world forgot. Fortis means brave and steadfast. You are a very brave man, Alpha Sterling." Her small speech surprised me and I tilted my head at her.

"You are very perceptive, tiny, and correct. The pack name has power, it does influence those it is tied to." He let out a long sigh. "But with bravery comes stupidity and rashness, with silence comes secrets and divisions and with the forgotten comes pain and misery. The name influences the behaviours. Which is why a pack is supposed to change the name with each new Alpha." Luka gave lazy gesture as he spoke. "A new Alpha, a new start but we are entrenched in the Old Ways as a society so we leave our packs to fight against the compulsion of their pack name. The longer the name is there, the stronger that compulsion becomes." A silence fell and I finished a sandwich and placed it on a plate before turning and giving it to Luka.

"You are a good Alpha, Luka. Don't forget it." I winked at him and he just shook his head with a small smile but took a bite out of the sandwich anyway.