We all watched on as Kennedy and Tilly played in the pack playground. Other wolves and their children occupied the area as the children laughed and screamed as they chased each other around.

It felt strange that I was hanging around Gabriel and the rest of his pack. It was almost normal. We just sat on the grass watching our children while discussing general pack life.

Gabriel didn't seem to mind that they were discussing a few private matters in front of me, although it was nothing serious, I was still not a member of the Black Moon pack.

It was late when I noticed the sun was beginning to settle. Kennedy came rushing over, she was laughing but I could see in her eyes how tired she was. She bundled herself on top of me, throwing her arms around my neck.

"Tired baby?" I laughed, her body moving to sit on mine comfortably holding me close. She yawned, a smile on her face. I could tell she was about to decline, wanting to continue playing with her new friends.

I could feel Gabriel's gaze on us while Kennedy shook her head defiantly. "Yes, you are." I laughed, tickling her as she struggled to get out of my hold, giggling loudly before escaping my grip and running off.

I sat between Gabriel and Charlie; Dan was on the other side of his mate. Eli had left around an hour ago, he had somewhere he needed to be. Two other wolves had joined us, their names were Jessica and Alice.

They were both pack warriors and their mates were currently running border patrol. Jessica's mate was Gabriel's head tracker and apparently the best in West America.

"Me and Kennedy should probably get going now, we still have an hour's drive home and we still need to eat dinner." I said, looking at Gabriel who caught my eye, I found myself feeling quite fatigued.

I caught his body tense slightly; he didn't want us to leave. "Why don't you both stay here tonight, and I'll take you both home tomorrow morning. As you mentioned, it's late and neither of you have eaten yet."

I pondered the idea; it was late and a part of me wanted to stay a little longer. Enjoying being in the same proximity as my mate. "Okay," I began, knowing I needed to notify Grace and Julian, or they would worry. "As long as we leave tomorrow, and we have our own room."

Gabriel agreed immediately, a look of relief flashing across his face. We both stood up, saying our goodbyes to everyone as Kennedy waved to her friends. She was exhausted and began whining that her feet were hurting.

Gabriel looked at me for permission, his suggestion clear before offering to hold her. Kennedy eagerly agreed, holding her arms up as he lent down, pulling her up to his chest, securing her tightly to his side.

We walked the short journey to the pack house and entered the kitchen. Gabriel placed Kennedy down onto a stool before rummaging through the fridge.

"There's chicken pasta in the fridge from lunch today, is that ok?"

"Yeah, that's fine." I confirmed, sitting beside Kennedy as she stared between Gabriel and me. She was quieter than usual, her tiredness getting the best of her.

We all ate quickly, and I put away our plates before carrying Kennedy up the stairs. We went to the top floor; Gabriel had explained that he had a spare bedroom opposite his.

"You and Kennedy can have this room," Gabriel offered as he opened the bedroom door, gesturing for me to walk in.

I do, carrying a sleeping Kennedy into bed and tucking her in as Gabriel watched on.

His body never moving from the doorway, I looked up and gave him a small smile. "You can stay in here or wonder about the pack house, if you like. I've got to make an important phone call, but I'll be back within an hour."

"I'll probably just hang around up here and watch television." I didn't feel like doing much, it had been a long day, but it was too early for me to sleep. It was only 8 o'clock.

Gabriel handed me the TV remote, his hands purposely brushing mine before he headed towards his office. I made myself comfortable on his couch, scanning the channels until I decided on Netflix.

~*~

I keep feeling my mom and dad attempting to contact me through our mind link. I had managed to block them out for the past few hours, but it was beginning to become difficult.

I wasn't sure on their reasons, but I knew it was my twin sister's birthday coming up in two weeks and they had been pestering me about my plans for weeks.

I had just entered my office when the phone began to ring, I walked around my desk and sat down. Composing myself before picking up the phone. "Gabriel Black speaking."

"Gabriel, it's mom." Her tone was unimpressed, she wasn't pleased that I hadn't called her back as promised. I was just too occupied with Lara and Kennedy.

I shuffled in my chair, suddenly nervous and uncomfortable. My eyes went slightly wide as I thought about the grandchild my parent's didn't know they had.

"You still haven't told me whether you are coming to Cleo and Isabelle's birthday party. I need you to confirm if you are or not?" She said, then laughed. "What am I saying, that wasn't a question, it was a demand. You cannot not be at your sisters birthday, so, be there 1 o'clock and don't be late." She ordered and I could hear the smile on her face.

"Yeah mom, I'll be there." I replied, it was my twin sister's fifteenths birthday, I couldn't miss it.

I ran my hand through my hair knowing I couldn't leave important information out before the phone hung up. I wanted to invite Kennedy and Lara to the party, but my parents needed to know of their existence for that to happen.

I had admitted to my father two years ago that I had rejected my mate after he took control of my pack when I couldn't concentrate, when my mind was focussed elsewhere. He had promised to keep it a secret which he had but neither him, nor I could have foreseen Kennedy.

I was about to give them a big shock, one I hadn't quite grasped myself yet. "Mom, can you get dad for a moment. I need to discuss something important with you both."

"Give me one moment." She replied warily before screaming my father's name repeatedly. I had to move the phone away from my ear until I heard my father's voice on the other side of the line.

"Yes Lilly." My father Aiden questioned, taking a seat besides my mother as she told me that they were now on loudspeaker.

"Right," I began feeling nerves kick it. "I don't quite know how to say it, but you have a grandchild. I have a four-year-old daughter named Kennedy who I just discovered today."

The line went quiet, hearing their deep breathing through the phone. "We have a grand baby?" My mom screeches through the phone, excited and elated.

It was only a second later that my words acknowledged in her brain properly. "Wait Gabriel, did you say four years old?"

It's my turn to go silent, my face contorting into a grimace only for my father to speak up. "Gabriel?"

"Well, four years ago. I met my mate at my eighteen-birthday party, we slept together, and I rejected her. Yesterday, after my meeting with Daniel, I found her at that cafe in unclaimed territory. She was sitting with a little girl who looked identical to me. Lara explained that she had tried to tell me, but I wasn't interested at the time, so she left it."

"You're a dick Gabriel, how could you be so reckless and to treat your mate that way." My mom scolded through the phone; my enhanced hearing didn't help as she continued to scream down the phone. "I cannot believe you've done that. We didn't raise you to treat your mate in such a way."

My mom was right, and I couldn't argue with her. They had always explained the importance of having a mate, how much value and meaning they had. How they balance, support and complete you, especially when you're an Alpha wolf.

"I'm not surprised she kept it a secret from you, probably frightened that you would reject the baby as you did her. You better claim responsibility Gabriel, you need to sort this out. Not only for your daughter, but for yourself and for your mate." Her tone was harsh and serious, you could hear in her voice how upset she was.

I sighed deeply, my actions four years ago have caused a lot of hurt, more than I could have imagined. It didn't just affect one person, it affected both Lara and me, but also our families.

"You have to correct the wrongs you have made Gabriel. I'm sure Lara will make you work for her forgiveness and you must. If you were serious about what you told me two years ago, when I watched you practically destroy yourself, spending hours upon hours building that property along the lake, that you were adamant was for your mate." My father's stern words echoing through the phone. "If you are as serious as you were then, then you have to fight for her forgiveness, no matter the consequences and the hardships that will follow."

I listened to my father, he was a man of few words, but he was full of knowledge and was never wrong. I remembered the day he spoke about; I had begun to lose my mind; my own actions had brought me into a depressive state.

"I feel devastated for Lara, and how you mated with her only to reject her Gabriel. I cannot begin to tell you how disappointed and saddened I am by this whole situation. You must fix this Gabriel."

My mother's voice had lowered, it was obvious how overwhelmed with emotions she felt. I sighed deeply, it's not easy admitting your faults and accepting them especially when you must take responsibility for hurting everyone around you. "I know mom, I promise to make this right and I won't make the same mistake again." I replied shortly, not wanting to upset my mother further.

The phone call ended soon after that, my mother requesting to meet both Lara and Kennedy next week. I had agreed but explained that I needed to discuss it with Lara first.

I decided to keep myself occupied for a while, before heading back to Lara wanting to keep my mind a little busy.

The phone conversation with my parents had been a stressful one and I didn't want it to affect my overall mood in front of Lara.

I turned on my laptop, scanning through emails and replying to any that needed an instant response. I also completed a few documents that I had filed yesterday, including the alliance arrangement I had made with Daniel, Alpha of the Blood Hounds.

Around half hour had passed when I left the office to find Lara, she was still chilling on the couch, now covered in a comforter. I approached, sitting down on the other side, facing her.