The next day

I was on the edge, unable to help myself as I continually looked out the window towards the main drive way every couple of minutes. The last time I had spoken to my mum she said they would be arriving onto Fortis in about half and hour. That was forty minutes ago and I felt like I was crawling out of my skin as my excitement mixed with worry. Ezekiel watched me pace in the large foyer as he gave a wide yawn and rested his head on his paws.

We had all gone for a run last night. It had been a hefty one too. We had run out to our old pack's grounds and then patrolled the furthest reaches of Fortis territory high on the mountain. It had been... it had been needed. I had felt so settled and comfortable in the familiar motions that I wondered why the hell we had stopped doing it. It had relaxed me and settled my wolf. I could see it had helped Luka as well. He had been in his element as his wolf and him guided us through the motions, giving us subtle orders with his movements as we patrolled. He had been just as relaxed as I had been when we had returned to the pack house.

Shey, Heidi, and Lilith had been waiting for us on the front steps by the time we had come home. Luka had greeted Shey and Heidi with a happy enthusiasm that made me smile deep inside. My wolf had refused to allow me to shift back as he came to Lilith. He pushed against her, rubbing her legs as he paced around and around, rumbling low and happy tones in his chest at her presence as he marked her with his scent. I had allowed him the time with her as she giggled, pressing her face into her fur and stroking his face.

Ezekiel and his wolf had sent me teasing images about me being nothing more than a mooning pup for her but both my wolf and I had ignored them. We had nothing to be ashamed of, my wolf adored his new female and he would show it every chance he could. I would as well, however I just wished that I was more like my wolf and that the guilt would leave me. As it was it got worse every time I thought about it. I did my best to not think about it at all but in the quiet moments between it would strike out at me viciously, tearing into my stomach. She needed a better male than me, one who would give her everything, and I hated myself that she would never get one and that I wasn't strong enough.

"You know, repeatedly checking the window isn't going to get them here faster." At Shey's light teasing I paused in my rather repetitive pacing, a slight flush crawling up my neck.

"Sorry." I glanced at her and she crossed her arms over her chest, her black hair was up in a messy bun and she had one of Luka's old button ups on, the shirt was tied at her waist and she paired with dirty jeans. I could guess that she was out gardening in Lily's garden. That was usually her place she liked to go when she started feeling a bit overwhelmed. She said the gardening calmed her down.

She gave me a faint smirk and gestured to me. "No, keep going. I want to see how much of the marble you can wear away by the time you are done." At the teasing Ezekiel made a noise that sounded suspiciously like he was laughing at me as he shoved images of me being waist deep into the marble floor as I paced.

"It's just they are late." Worry crawled around my spine and dug into me. I didn't do well with people travelling and them being late because of some reason. All I could remember was Catherine never making it to her parents and the devastation of the accident. I didn't want to think so negatively but the accident was at the forefront of my mind.

"And you are worrying about it. I get it, Mike, but making yourself sick over this isn't going to help any." Her voice was slightly sharp but I knew she had nothing but good intentions. Shey had never really gotten the hang of soft comforting and I doubted she ever would. It was part of her charm.

"I can't help it." I was crawling out of my skin with nervous energy and I knew both Shey and Ezekiel could feel it radiating off of me but I couldn't exactly get it to stop. I was worried about my family and it was only getting worse the later they were. I knew it was only fifteen minutes but I couldn't help myself.

"Micheal?" At the soft voice I turned and Lilith peeked out from the hallway to the kitchen. She and Ainsley were having a cooking lesson with Gamgam although I believed it was more of Gamgam and Ainsley were teaching her.

"Yah?" I ran my hand through my hair, bunching it into my fist as I watched her.

"It's okay." She gave me a soft smile, nearly pressed completely against the corner as she looked at me. "They are okay." Her words were soft and nearly timid as she looked at me but I felt my shoulders loosen and relax at her words. She was trying to comfort me in her own strange way and I appreciated it.

"Can I have a hug?" I let go of my hair and held my arms out, palms forward as I watched her. I wanted to hold her because it was the only thing I knew that would ground me, that would make my world seem okay. Even if it was just for a moment I wanted everything to pause.

She gave a rather enthusiastic nod as she let go of the wall and hurried towards me. My too large sweater fell over her hands as she came towards me and I chuckled as her bare feet pattered against the marble. She hit my chest, wrapping me up tightly in her arms. I gave a little oof at how hard she hit my chest but ignored it as I wrapped my own arms around her. "I like hugs." It was muffled against my chest and I cupped the back of her neck, keeping her pressed to me as I brushed a kiss to the top of her head.

"Thanks, Lilith." I meant it because it did help, having her arms wrap around me and her hands grip my shirt as if she were trying to press us as close together as possible, made me feel better. Things felt okay for the brief moment she was in my arms and I appreciated it. I shoved at the guilt that started it's burn in my stomach at the thought I was simply using her. I knew I was and I knew I wasn't strong enough for her but I was still using her for comfort. As if she could hear my thoughts, Lilith nuzzled my chest and her grip tightened. I swallowed hard before I slowly let her go, stepping away from her embrace.

"Two vehicles have pulled to the front of the house." Luka said it as he started down the stairs with Heidi in his arms and I jumped and whirled towards the door with wide eyes as my heart lurched in my chest. "I would have told you they were on the territory but it was more fun watching you pace." I knew Luka was smirking at me but I couldn't bring myself to look as I felt a sudden bout of crippling nervousness and I couldn't move my feet.

"Who's here, daddy?" At Heidi's little chirp Luka chuckled.

"Uncle Mike's family has come for a visit. He just needs to go and greet them." His voice seemed a little far away and my heart pounded like a heavy drum in my chest as my lungs burned. Lilith grasped my hand, giving it a comforting squeezed and I exhaled suddenly and the burning in my lungs stopped, the anxiety receding to allow me to breathe. I felt better as she held my hand and I looked down at her. She nodded at me, looking at the door. I gave another exhale, trying to calm my nerves as Lilith let my hand go. I moved towards the door and pulled it open, stepping out onto the front steps.

The two large SUVs looked a little beat up and the top racks were filled with what looked to be suitcases. My heart thudded hard in my chest as I slowly came down the steps. Each step seemed to resonate in me as my heart beat a tempo against my ribs. The passenger side door opened and my mum stepped out.

I froze, staring at her like I knew she was doing to me before she gave a sobbing laugh. "You got so big, Gelo." I trembled as her eyes watered and she pressed her fingers to her mouth. Another short sob escaped her before she dashed around the door and she had her arms wrapped around me. "My boy!" My breath escaped me in a burst as wrapped my arms around her, lifting her up and holding her tight to my chest.

"Mum." I pressed my face into her shoulder as she wrapped her arms around my neck, pressing kisses to my cheek. My eyes burned and tears blurred my vision but I continued to hold her tightly, unable to let her go.

"She's right, Micheal. You got big." At my dad's voice I blinked rapidly, trying to see him. I loosened my grip on my mum and he was there. He grasped the back of my head, pulling me down so that our foreheads pressed together. "I've missed you." I grasped the back of his head and pressed our foreheads together harder, bunching my hand in his hair before I pulled him into a hug. He thumped on my back, holding me tight in his arms as he rocked me back and forth.

I pressed my head to his shoulder like I had done to my mum and he bunched his hand in my hair, holding me there. I could feel his heartbeat thumping in his chest as we pressed together and it was thumping as hard and wild as my own. "I missed you too." I swallowed down the sob that wanted to escape as I wiped at my eyes.

"Let me in here, Alex." My mum shoved at our arms and my dad let me go slightly only to pull my mum into the embrace as well. "I've got my boys. It's all I need." She kissed my cheek again and I gave a choking laugh as I looked down at her. She wiped at the stickiness in my chest and gave a watery chuckle. "Your hair is a mess. You need a cut." She lifted a hank of my shaggy hair and I bent down, kissing her cheek.

"Probably." Lilith said it enough that I knew I needed a hair cut but I just didn't feel like it.

"Do we get a turn with him?" At my Uncle's voice I looked over to where him and my Aunty stood.

My mum shook her head. "You can have a turn when we are done." She hugged me again, her arms wrapped around me tightly.

My dad chuckled and wiped at his eyes. "So never then, Natalia." She gave a small nod and he rubbed her back gently. He bent down closer to her ear. "It's okay to let him go. He will still be here when you do." He pulled her away and she burst into tears, clinging to him. I swallowed hard and reached out, rubbing the top of her back and my dad held her tightly. He looked at me and gestured to with his chin. "It's okay, Micheal. Go say hi." I nodded and moved towards my aunt and uncle.

Aunt Jane gave me a watery smile as she held out her arms for me. I hugged her tightly before letting go with one arm. My uncle stepped closer and I wrapped him with my free arm and he hugged us both. "It's good to see you." His voice was gruff as he thumped my back like my dad had done before pushing me away. "Fuck you are big." He wiped at his eyes and my aunty kissed my cheek before patting my face with a watery smile.

"It's really good to see you. We missed you a lot." She reached out, grasping my uncle's hand in her own and I nodded, pressing my lips together. From the corner of my eye I watched as Walt stepped out of the other SUV, he was closely followed by Vince and I swallowed hard as I watched the two males who had been like my brothers. They had aged, their forms growing broader and their muscling thicker. Vince was no longer gangly and his face was no longer as youthful.

I swallowed hard again and nodded at the two of them before I made my way towards them. Walt met me in the middle and hugged me tight. "You are a right fucking prick." I held him tight, holding him close as I gripped him tightly. "I fucking missed you, Mike." His words were low and I nodded.

"Missed you too." My chest ached and hurt as I held him. They were here, I was able to touch them but it just made me realize just how much time had been lost between us. "I'm sorry." I looked at Vince as I said it and Walt thumped my back before he pushed me away.

"I know." He shook his head before heading to the SUV. Vince came over and hugged me sharply and tightly, letting out a shuddering breath that shook him. I said nothing as I hugged him back, letting him cling to me. He gripped the back of my shirt as his breathing came out in shudders.

"I'm sorry." I said it low to him and he nodded, pressing his face to my shoulder. "Can I meet your females?" He gave another nod as I rubbed his back. He let me go and headed to the SUV as Walt lead a red haired female towards me.

"Micheal, this is Charlotte, my mate." He introduced her, his arm wrapped around her back and I gave her a small smile, wiping at my face.

She gave me a smile of her own, her eyes crinkling at the corners. "It's good to meet you, Micheal." She extended her hand and I took it, giving it a squeeze.

"Thank you for taking the trip to come meet me." I knew it was a rather hard trip to take for someone you had never met before.

"I wouldn't have missed it for the world." She gave me another soft smile and I returned it right as Vince came over with a little girl in his arms who was rubbing her eyes as if she just woke up.

"This is Janie, Mike." He jostled her slightly and my heart flipped in my chest as I took in her cherub cheeks and her blonde curls.

"Hey, little one." I reached out and chucked her chin lightly. She made a slight face at me as if I were the one who had woken her up from her sleep. She wrapped her arms around her dad's neck and gave a small noise of discontent. He rubbed her back and a small brown haired female moved out from behind him.

"My name is Mia." She held out her hand for me, a bright smile on her face. I took it with a smile, giving it a small shake before she let it go. "I'm mates with this goofball." She ruffled Vince's hair with a warm smile that he returned.

"Micheal?" At the rather timid call I looked over my shoulder. Lilith was looking around the door towards me. She looked uncertain and wary. I knew it took a lot for her to even open the door and look out for me and my heart flipped in my chest. I turned away from everyone and headed back to her.

I couldn't help how quickly my stride ate up the distance between us. "It's alright, Lilith." I came up the front steps and held out my hand for her. She tentatively reached out, her eyes flicking to my family before looking at me. She looked distressed and I grasped her hand giving it a comforting squeeze. I wanted her to meet my family but I knew that too many new faces overwhelmed her and she could be very shy at times. "Do you want to meet my family?" I pulled her out onto the step and wrapped my arm around her back and she gave a small nod.

"It would make you happy." She looked at my shirt and used her free hand to pick at the fabric almost in a nervous tick. I honestly preferred the shirt to her nails, it made me less concerned that she would hurt herself.

However I still grasped that hand and brought it up as I kissed her fingertips. "It needs to make you happy too." I wouldn't let her think she needed to force something simply because she believed it would make me happy. Her meeting my family would make me happy but not at the expense of her own feelings.

"You being happy makes me happy." She gave a small nod before pressing her forehead to my chest. "I'm scared. What if they don't like me?" There was a little hiccup in her voice that had my heart turning over in my chest once more. "I'm not myself. I'm... different." I rubbed at her back, trying to comfort her. I hated it when she became so self-reflective.

"They will if they want to be in my life, Lilith. Mene put my in your life to protect and care for you. That comes first." I ignored the twisting of guilt in my stomach but I pushed it away as I rubbed her back. "They will like you, Lilith, because I like you." I knew that was true, my family wasn't so judgmental as to dislike her for being so strange.

Lilith shifted her head on my chest and looked up at me. "I like you too." She gave me a happy smile and I brushed some of her hair back from her face.

"Do you want to meet them or go back inside?" I would let her go if that is what she wanted, we could do it later if she wasn't comfortable right now.

"Meet them." She gave a firm nod despite how she clung to my hand. I nodded and brought up our clasped hand, kissing the back of hers. I wanted to give her a bit more comfort as I turned and lead her down the stairs to my waiting family. All eight of them stood in front of the SUVs and I tucked Lilith close to my side and she clung to my shirt as I let her hand go.

"Guys, this is Lilith." I rubbed her back, giving them all a small smile as they immediately looked towards her as if trying to study the female I now had. "She's my new female. Been together for a few months now." It was new but it didn't stop what she was to me and what I was to her. It was simply a little strange to realize just how fresh our relationship was because it seemed like she had always been there.

"You are the one who called us." My dad stepped forward and Lilith nodded.

"I wanted him to be happy. You make him happy." She was looking up at me and I gave her a small smile of thanks as I grasped her arm, giving it a small rub.

"Thank you, Lilith, you gave me my son back." My mum smiled at her brightly, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "Can I possibly get a hug? I'm not a scary person, really. Alex is the troll here." She glanced at my dad and I watched with surprise as Lilith pulled herself away from my side.

She looked a little timid but moved forward regardless. "I like hugs." With that she was descended upon. My eyes went wide as my mum yanked her close, holding her tight as my dad joined in on the hug. My mum smothered her face in kisses and she was passed to my aunt and uncle and my two cousins as they showered her in affection, giving her their thanks and their love. My eyes burned and I swallowed hard as they accepted her into the family, trading scents with her and bringing her into the fold without question. I had hoped for that but it didn't compare to seeing it happen. Lilith was being brought in and loved by my family as if she had always been there, as if they were embracing her like they had embraced me.

They embraced her as if she had come home.