Dinner that night was awkward. Lia watched her kids eat with no ongoing discussion which was unusual - the dining table was always their conversation hub - it was strange to not hear them bicker.

Today, Ashton was picking at his food, Hailey seemed bored while Hazel was the only one swallowing the food as quickly as possible - she probably wanted to escape from here.

"Is something wrong with the food?" Lia dropped her spoon, leaning back into her seat, "Is the meat too tender for you?" She asked out of concern.

Unlike her, Lia had trained her children's vampire and werewolf side from birth so one side couldn't overwhelm the other and cause troubles for them as it did to her. The same case was applied in their diet too - vampire blood and human food.

It seems no matter what, her progeny would be vampire blood drinkers which was evidenced in her children. Ashton was the avid drinker since he was more attuned to his vampiric side than his sisters who were disgusted by the sight of sinking their fangs in a vampire's neck thanks to their stronger werewolf side.

Hence meat becomes the normal diet since wolves were carnivorous creatures. Left alone for them alone they would hunt and eat their meat by themselves - it was more thrilling and appetizing that way - but if they were going to live in human society, they had to adapt to their ways.

"Nothing," Hailey and Ashton replied in unison.

"Are you going to tell me willingly or should I rip it out of your mouth," Lia gave them a condition.

Ashton and Hailey looked at each other, "You go first," the older triplet mouthed and though the youngest Ashton wanted to protest, he received a warning gaze from her.

"Fine," He growled and then turned to his mother exposing the gold embers hiding in the depths of green eyes, "Davi is restless,"

"And why is that?" Lia was confused, "Did you do anything to upset him lately? That shouldn't unless...." it dawned on her, " You found your mate, didn't you?"

His silence answered her.

"What is she like?" she inquired.

"Eatable," Hailey chimed in, with an insinuating smirk.

Ashton growled at her.

Lia gave her a warning stare, her daughter's sexual orientation was questionable. She didn't know which side she stood yet.

Hailey chuckled, "You found your mate and you're this possessive? I can't wait to see the drama that ensues when you find the second one," she teased him. Everyone knew her brother had inherited their mother's demon side.

"That's one last warning for tonight young lady," was Lia's reminder. She sighed internally, the kids behaved with Asher around - she wondered what magic he used on them.

Amongst the three of them, Hailey has the most taxing. She was adventurous, feisty, blunt, crass - she was a copy of Daniel in his bad behavior - and a total opposite of her sister Hazel who was calm, understanding, refined but not delicate - none of her kids were weaklings. Hazel might look gentle on the surface, but do not be fooled, she's a sleeping Lioness.

"Fine," She rolled her eyes while Lia refocused her attention on her son.

"Have you guys worked out yet? What creature is she?"

"She's a human, why do you think brother is so cranky," Hazel answered with a giggle.

"She doesn't feel the bond yet. That's normal for humans, they don't understand it. For sure it would take time but as far as she's your mate, she ain't going anywhere," Lia attempted to coax him but Ashton didn't accept that.

"She's fighting the bond, I can feel it!" he grew agitated again which left Lia thinking, he wasn't supposed to be this unsettled yet unless...

Her eyes widened," How long have you known she's your mate?"

"Uh oh! " Hazel exclaimed then lowered her head, choosing to busy herself with the food. Things were about to get heated soon.

"Answer me!" Lia commanded when he kept mum, again. Her eyes darkened and one could feel her power reeking off her, it was suffocating.

"For over a month now," Ashton answered without meeting her eye, feeling guilty.

Lia's eyes blazed, "You've known your mate for this long now and you couldn't even tell me? Moreover, a human and you kept silent? How have you been reeling in your wolf? What if you did a stupid mistake out of jealousy?! "

"I have Davi under control!" he yelled, his eyes a fiery amber.

"Yeah," Lia scoffed, "You're obviously doing a good job after the weather stunt you pulled today," she then declared, "There would be no school for you until you learn to collaborate with your wolf. You're a walking time bomb and I can't have you around a school full of humans,"

"This is exactly why I never told you, you're so controlling!" He shouted at his mother, standing up to his feet.

"I would have found out anyway even without you telling me and you would do what I said," she shot up to her foot.

Hazel and Hailey looked at each other yet didn't say anything before the aggression got transferred to them.

"No way in hell!" Ashton growled, a rebelling grumble coming from the depth of his throat.

But Lia snapped at him before he could even move a muscle, her sharp canines inches away from his face as she pinned him against the table, her hot breath skimming across his face," I am your mother and alpha and you would obey me,"

Ashton snarled, fangs descending in a show of power but his mother's low powerful growl overpowered his and he lowered his head in submission; he was not strong enough to defeat her.

Lia released him but she could see the hurt in his eyes," Ashton, I -" the boy walked away before she could even talk of apologizing.

"Well, that went well," Hailey said, reminding her mother of her grave mistake. Ashton might look big, strong, and powerful on the surface but on the inside, he was just like every normal teenager out there who wanted freedom from the vise of their parents - the teenage rebellion phase.

Lia shut her eyes, took a deep breath, and said to the others, "Go to bed once you're done with dinner," and went into her room.

Closing the door, Lia leaned against it with a sigh then went to her fridge to bring out a bottle of whisky and grabbed the glass cup from on top of her desk, disposed of the water in it, and poured herself a drink.

She plopped down on the couch, sipping her drink while lost in thought. It has been twelve years already and still no sign of Daniel. Lia had tried everything possible to bring him back: She killed herself with every holy relic she could get her hands on but nothing happened. All she did was suffer the excruciating pain and resurrect afterward.

With so much research done over the years, they've concluded that the hell portal was a one-time thing. Demons in the human realm when killed, lose their human skin and return to their realm never to return except for vengeance. They've concluded that since she couldn't die yet, she'd lost the chance of going back in there.

They've considered using Ashton, her son since his one-time-use free ticket to hell was still intact. But what mother would have the heart to sacrifice her kid? Moreover, they didn't know if he'd return as the same old Ashton. She had brought catastrophe when she went to hell years ago.

Tears slipped down Lia's face, she missed Daniel badly. Not a day had gone by without her thinking about him and she knew the kids missed him too even though they couldn't remember what he looked like.

The girls knew he loved them too, supernatural kids were highly sensitive to touches and aura at birth and they felt the undying love he had for them then. Lia remembered how excited and happy he was when the kids came into this world. If only he could see them now... If only he could see they've turned into strong, beautiful women.

Lia was startled when she felt a pair of warm hands wrap around her from behind. She had been so immersed in her thoughts she didn't notice Hazel come in.

"It's okay, mom." She pecked her on the forehead and rested her head against hers affectionately, "Don't cry anymore. Asher has gone to find a solution, we'd bring back papa home soon,"

But it seems the more Hazel comforted her, the more her mother cried.

"Crying doesn't suit you," Hazel was startled upon hearing her sister's voice.

Hailey walked over to their mother, took the drink from her grasp, and kept it aside, sitting on the free space on the couch, she pulled her into a hug.

"It's okay," Hailey smoothed her back, "We are going to find father soon," she comforted Lia who cried on her shoulder, unable to contain the pain anymore. She was not alright and she knew that deep down.

"Mom," Hazel's heart broke and she came to hug both mother and sister together.

Lia clamped a hand over her mouth to stop the tears from falling but it was a futile effort. She cried until she was too tired to cry more and drifted into a vision, reliving the moments she spent with Daniel.

That night, the mood in the pack was melancholy; everyone had felt the Luna's pain through the pack link - including Ashton who stood behind her door but couldn't come in.