The next few months passed in a blur, I was so busy getting settled in with school and my new job that I barely had any time to breath let alone socialize like a typical college student. By the time I had taken any time to really stop and appreciate anything around me, there was already snow coating the ground and wreaths were being hung around campus.

Just before Thanksgiving McKenna had given up on the university scene and just opted to do some online business classes, that way she would be able to take on her Luna duties but still get her education. That meant I hardly ever saw her at all and with both of our crazy schedules, even less.

"Hey Nemo!" Tim shouted as I walked into the common room, flopping myself on the worn-out couch, my bag hitting the floor with a thunk.

"Hiya Timmy!" I said, he scowled at me calling him that, it was the one name he really hated. I had told him that as long as he called me Nemo, I was going to call him Timmy. Apparently though he didn't hate being called Timmy enough to give up on the ridiculous nickname he had given me.

"You look exhausted." He said.

"Gee, thanks!" I sarcastically muttered, "Nothing like telling a girl she looks like shit." I knew I looked like a hot mess. Between the doubled class load and working and the Senior home I was running on fumes. I stayed up late, got up early, my life was go, go, go all the time. I knew I had bags under my eyes from not sleeping enough and my hair was frazzled, the curly hair curse from not treating it right. But that didn't mean I wanted to remind him about it.

"I'm going to the pack house for dinner tonight. Want to come? " He asked me, turning in his chair to look at me.

It took a few seconds for me to get the energy to answer, but since it was Friday night and I didn't have to work tomorrow I figured there was no reason why I couldn't go, opening my tired eyes, I nodded my head, "Yeah, I would like that."

"I'm going to be leaving in about an hour, if you want to get ready." He said turning back to his work, "Or as soon as I finish this, whichever comes first."

"So, what you're really saying is, get your ass moving and get ready to leave now, because I'm going to be done with this in 5-minutes." You snarked at him.

Laughing he said, "Yeah, something like that." Mustering as much energy as I could I pulled myself off the couch with a groan, my body rebelling at the fact I was forcing it to move. I walked into my bedroom and fixed my hair, put on a clean shirt, and tried to put some makeup on to hide the dark circles under my eyes. Hoping that McKenna didn't notice.

I walked out of my room to Tim closing his textbook, jumping up he turns to me, "Ready to go?"

"Glad I didn't take you up on the hour." I responded and nodded my head. I grabbed my coat and scarf, put them on, and walked out the door ahead of Tim.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

As soon as I walked into the pack house, McKenna attacked me. "JOLLY !!!!!" She yelled, "I missed you!" Wrapping her arms around me.

"I've missed you too girl." I said, trying to put as much energy into my words as I could. I didn't want McKenna to know how exhausted I truly was. Thinking about it, I should have known better, McKenna could always see right through me.

"You are exhausted! This is not healthy Allison. You need to slow down. " She scolded me, letting me out of her grasp so she could truly inspect me.

"I am fine, don't be such a worry wart. I'll find the balance soon. " I said to her, trying to reassure her. Just then Alpha Andrews... sorry Linc as I have been instructed to call him walked up and wrapped his arms around McKenna.

"Ahh, yes. Yes, you will. " Said Linc. "I actually have a proposition for you, and I hope you take me up on it."

I only gave Linc a shocked look and turned to McKenna, giving her the eyes saying I-know-you-had-something-to-do-with-this. I then turned back to Linc, and he continued "One of our helpers in the clinic has left our pack to join her mate, I need someone who can fill the position. You would be working there Tues / Thurs mornings and one weekend per month. Is this something that you would be interested in? "

I was shocked which was a wonderful deal, I was working almost 40 hours at the Senior home and doing it mostly early mornings and weekends. "I would definitely be interested, what hours exactly? I would need to make sure they work around my class schedule. What is the pay? I need to make sure I'm still making enough to cover expenses. " I said to him, making sure to convey how thankful I was for this opportunity.

McKenna chimed in, no doubt feeling very smug with herself, "The hours work perfectly with your class schedule. I already checked. And you would be paid a monthly stipend of $ 2500. "

After some quick mental calculations, a smile came over my face, "Really? That is very generous! I would love it, but I believe you are over paying me. You are the father of generous Linc, McKenna. " I said eyeing her, letting her know that I knew the truth behind the sacrifice.

"Nonsense." Spoke Linc, "You would be doing my pack a favor and since you are family, family always helps family, right? You would start the first Tuesday after the New Year, so give your notice where you are now, though I suspect they won't tell you to worry about it. " He winked, leaving me with the suspicion that I was going to be on a work hiatus for the next couple of weeks.

I profusely thanked Linc, turning to McKenna I wrapped her in another hug, trying to hide the tears in my eyes. "You have no idea how much this means to me."

"Yeah, I do. Plus, this way I will get to see you more. Honestly, it was me being more selfish than anything because I was going to be lending a hand at the clinic. " And there the truth lays, she wanted to see me more so she was doing it under the guise of working and paying me more money than they should. McKenna must have felt she needed to explain more and added, "As Luna that is one of the things I am going to manage once I finish my business classes and all."

Leading me over to the table, we sat down for dinner. A nice family style meal that Linc and McKenna had every Friday, open to any pack member who wanted to come. It was nice to be able to sit and enjoy the company of so many other people without having to worry about anything else.

The pack phone rang, and Patrick went to pick it up, "Alpha," he said, "Alpha Blackwell of Silver Wood Pack is at the gate requesting permission to come speak with you."

I instantly stiffened, looking to McKenna, everyone noticing the change in my demeanor. "Are you alright Nemo?" Tim asked looking concerned.

"Umm..." I was struggling for words, I didn't want to take the chance that Tate was with the Alpha, but who am I kidding he would be, he was training to be Alpha. I knew that everyone around me could sense my panic setting as everyone's eyes had settled on me and my growing anxiety. I had been doing well in moving past Tate, not quite there yet, but better. However, I knew I wasn't going to be able to face our mate bond, yet. I was still not strong enough to resist the pull, even though it would always be there, pulling us toward each other, I knew it was not yet muted enough where I could stand being in close proximity to him.

Patrick again spoke to Linc, "Alpha Blackwell and his son, apologize to the Future Alpha for the inconvenience of their drop in, but they have urgent business." Linc nodded his head to Patrick letting him know to give permission for Tate and his father

Tim furrowed his eye brows at me, questions written all over his face, "I can't stay here. I need to go. " I blurted out. McKenna put her hand on Linc and looked at him, no doubt telling him it was okay, and she would explain to him later about my little outburst. "I ... I'm sorry." I muttered to everyone as I was standing.

She then walked over to me and said, "Take a breath, it's going to be okay." She then looked up at Tim, "Hey, Tim could you take Allison somewhere that isn't here?" If I had not been so caught up in my own emotions, I would have been aware of how McKenna was handling the situation, a true Luna and caring for her pack.

Jumping up Tim nodded his head, "Of course." Walking around the table he grabbed my hand and pulled me out of the house, "Let's go. I've got you. " I gave him a weak smile and left the house knowing that I was now going to have to explain what my little episode was about Tim, because knowing McKenna once she was done, the entire pack would know what had happened between myself and Tate.

Missy jumped up, coming after us, "I am coming too!" I was thankful that Missy was coming. She had quickly become a dear friend to me and deserved to know the truth as well.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

After climbing into Tim's truck, he tore out of the pack house drive way, letting the gravel fly behind him. Shaking my head, I just giggled, it was just a Tim thing to do, he could never quite behave when driving any vehicle. As we made our way down the road toward the guard house at the front gates, three large black SUVs were coming up the road toward us. The closer we got to the SUV's the more uncomfortable I became, which in turn made Tim hit the gas pedal that much harder.

Once we were past the vehicles that carried my mate and Alpha Blackwell, I let out an audible sigh not fully aware that I had really been holding my breath. Tim looked over at me and grabbed my hand and gently squeezed it, letting me know that I wasn't alone and that he was there for me.

Tim let me sit down silently for a few more minutes before he spoke, giving me the chance to try to organize my thoughts and feelings. He finally broke the silence, "So, Allison," oh, no he used my real name, this must mean he was being serious, he never called me Allison, a sense of dread started to fill me, ".... Mind telling us what that was about? "

"Yeah, you should probably hear it from me. I am sure the pack is going to know shortly any way. McKenna was never one to be able to hold her tongue, I am surprised she hasn't played to anyone about it yet. " I said, trying to stall for some time.

Before I could say anything else we were pulling into a coffee shop, I must have let my confusion show because Tim said, "I figured we could get some coffee or something while we talked." I just nodded my head in agreement and reached for the door handle opening the truck door and climbing out into the chilled air and walking into the coffee shop behind Tim.

Missy and I sat down at one of the tables in the corner, away from prying eyes. I knew that not only was it going to be an emotional conversation for me, but it was also about wolf life, something we kept hidden from the human world.

Tim ordered coffee for the three of us, knowing exactly how we both liked our coffee he didn't have to bother asking us what we wanted. He also came with blueberry muffins, my favorite. Ever since the day he picked me up at the airport he had become a great friend to me and even understood that friendship was all I was looking for. However, I still felt that deep down he wanted more from me than that, which puzzled me because he should be wanting to have that with his mate and not a random, she-wolf. It wasn't something I had ever asked about, not wanting to make him think I wanted more than friendship, it was a bit too personal for me to ask about.

There are definitely days that I wish I could just be over Tate and move on with someone like Tim. He was an amazingly sweet, kind, and caring person. He was very protective of his friends and family. Tim was goofy and could always make me laugh. A genuinely good person that any she-wolf would be lucky to be mated to.

I silently sipped my coffee, ignoring the subtle gazes from Tim and Missy, both of whom were patiently waiting for me to tell them my story. Finally, I looked up at Missy and then to Tim and scrunched my nose. Taking a deep breath, I started my story, every pain staking detail. It took about an hour and a half, to give the cliff notes version, still filled with enough of the painful details. I told them everything, starting with my father's death, my mother's declining mental health and caring for her, my deal with Alpha Blackwell, finding out Tate was my mate, then about Kimber and how he had been with her. Finally finishing up with how I got the new ticket and the deal had been altered, landing me here early with McKenna and my how my heart had been in shambles.

When I finally finished Tim spoke for the first time, shock fully registered in his voice. "Wow! I honestly never would have guessed any of that. You never showed any of it, because that is until today at dinner. " Missy was silent, she laid her head on my shoulder, her way of telling me that she was sorry for what I had gone through, but not that she felt pity for me, which I appreciated.

"I learned at a very young age how to suppress my emotions. Maybe not the healthiest thing to do, but it's how I managed to survive. " I said shrugging my shoulders, "And I'm sorry about dinner tonight. But I am not ready to face him. "

Missy spoke for the first time, "You don't have to be sorry, you have done nothing wrong." Providing me the reassurance that I was in desperate need of the moment.

"Thank you for being so understanding Missy. I don't know what I would do without a friend like you. " I said give her a side hug and smile.

Tim finally softened his gaze, not looking at me with as much intensity as he had before, he had a look in his eyes that told me there was something more that he wanted to tell me but wasn't sure how to go about it. I reached out and placed my hand on his arm, giving it a gentle squeeze, "Thank you for always being a good friend, Tim. Even if I don't feel like I've always been a good one to you. If there is anything you ever need, I hope you know that I will be here for you. "

I think that was the only reassurance he needed because he then began to speak, "Do you remember how when we first met, I told you we all had our secrets?" I simply nodded my head to him, letting his know that I remembered. "I have my own secret. Do you want to hear it? " He looked over at Missy and said, "Missy already knows."

"I want to hear anything that you want to tell me." I spoke with honesty.

Before Tim could continue Missy quietly said, "You know I think I'm going to go to the truck and wait for you there." I never took my eyes off of Tim and he never acknowledged what Missy had said. It was almost like she was trying to give us a moment, something that was going to be just ours. At that time, I didn't understand why, but I was too focused on Tim and what he wanted to tell me.

A few moments later, the bells at the café door chimed, signaling to us that Missy had walked outside, which is when Tim started telling me his story. "Did you know that Linc is actually my younger brother? Younger by five minutes, actually. "

"No, I had no idea. I didn't even realize you were twins. I guess I just assumed he was older, since he's the Alpha. " I said a bit shocked at the revelation. Since he was older, shouldn't he be the Alpha? This brought many questions to the tip of my tongue, but I knew it was his story to tell so I waited for him to continue.

"I was going to be Alpha, it was what I had been raised for. Linc was going to take the Beta position, we were going to run the pack together, with our mates by our side. It was our dream ever since we were young kids, we even used to play Alpha and Beta, much like kids play cops and robbers "Tim spoke with fondness of the memory he had of his childhood, which brought a slight smile to my face.

"When I was 16, I found my mate, Nikki. She was my childhood best friend, it just felt natural. We were ecstatic when our link established. It was almost like we always knew but were just waiting for our wolves to confirm it. " He went silent, linking his fingers together and fidgeting a bit before continuing, "One night we had gone out to dinner with my parents and the Beta's family, Linc rode with the Beta and his Mate, Nikki and I with my parents. On our way home we were hit by a drunk driver, sending our car hurdling down an embankment and rolling several times. " Tim's eyes were now glazed over with unshed tears, but he continued.

"I woke up three weeks later, having been in a coma. I found that my parents and my mate had died in the accident. I thought it was a sick joke that Linc was playing on me, "he frowned at the memory. "Honestly, it wouldn't have been the first time he had tried to pull a horrific prank. But I quickly found out it wasn't a prank because I had also lost my wolf. My injuries had been so bad that my wolf had given all his strength to keep me alive, but at the cost of his existence. " I rogue tear fell down his face and he quickly reached up and wiped it away, showing more weakness than he probably had intended.

With a quick sniff, he continued his life story, "At that moment I never felt so alone. I lost my parents, my mate, my wolf, and my life's dream all in the hands of one reckless human. I was completely devastated. " I could understand how he felt, we had both dealt with some pretty bad hands and were dealing with them the best we could. Looking at Tim, I thought he had handled himself better than I have been. "It took me a year to pull myself out of my depression and find a new path in life, but here I am living my new dream. Trying to forge a new path for myself. Now I am not saying that it is easy, there are still days that I struggle immensely, but it is getting better and better. "

My heart was swelling with a new appreciation for Tim, but also breaking a little bit knowing that someone as genuine as him had been shattered so deeply. I was also truly inspired by how he was able to overcome his harrowing past and was sitting in front of me like he was.

I got up and walked over to Tim, pulling him up, I wrapped my arms around him giving him a hug. "Thank you. Thank you for telling me. "

Tim hugged me back and finished by saying, "I am telling you because I want you to know that you can overcome anything, it is only going to make you stronger, make you better. You are an amazing person, I wish you only saw yourself the way I did, the way the rest of your friends did. " Letting me go, I reached up and placed a sweet kiss on his cheek in thanks, Tim was an amazing person.

A few more minutes went by and I couldn't help but ask the question, "You don't have to answer if you don't want to, but I'm curious. Do you still have any of your abilities? " I looked down at the table, almost a little embarrassed about my question.

"You mean do I still have strength, enhanced hearing and vision?" I just nodded my head yes, sneaking a quick peak at his eyes, finding that he was grinning at me almost mockingly so, "Yeah, I do. I am not sure how, but I have everything minus the ability to shift and the pack link. Honestly it's a bit strange, and none of the doctors were able to figure it out either, but I wasn't going to complain. At least something was able to remain 'normal' for me. "