So many things were happening in the last week or so. I was getting closer to Maddox, trying and failing to avoid my family who seemed insistent on becoming part of my life, trying to schedule time to return to my old pack to distinguish between the guilty and innocent. Along with all of that, I was still healing from my old injuries, I still had two clunky casts attached to my wrist and leg. It was becoming infuriating being restricted. The doctor yelled at me when I shifted, saying it had only made things worse.

Tonight, Maddox told me I was going to meet his mom. Apparently she's been nagging him since before I was taken by Taylor. I had been putting it off, I didn't want the old Luna to see what a miserable replacement I'd be. I was anxious.

Maddox had assured me that she would love me, but I still find it hard to believe that anyone could possibly like me.

My sisters Alexa and Maddie were on my back the last couple of days, today was no exception. I didn't have it in me to tell them off, so they were hanging around me a bunch. Their parents on the other hand, I refused to see besides the occasional unexpected passing in the halls, which consisted of me spotting them, diverting my attention to the ground, and swiftly walking past them, head down.

They were to leave in two days, I think I'm happy about it, but I can't really tell. Despite my sisters being all over me, I enjoyed the feeling of family I got from them. The three of us had all watched a movie last night, Maddie braided my hair during the previews. It was a super stereotypical sister thing, and it was oddly satisfying.

It was Wednesday afternoon. Maddox said he'd take care of work on his own for a while so I would have time to bond with my sisters. He was really encouraging me to get to know my family. He even suggested talking to my parents, but I decided against it without hesitation.

"Where'd you get that shirt from?" Alexa asked, as we all sat around the counter eating lunch. It was a plain black t-shirt, she was just trying to start a conversation. I shrugged, uninterested.

Half of a sandwich sat on my plate untouched. My appetite still hadn't really grown much.

"I'm going to go get ready to meet Maddox's mom. See you guys around," I excused myself avoiding eye contact. I began to exit the room, but I heard a chair scrape back and footsteps lightly following me.

Maddie's high pitched voice filled my ears, "You're going to meet his parents, but not your own?" I stopped dead in my tracks. They hadn't dared to mention our parents the last couple of days after my outburst initially meeting them. My eyes were icy as I stared at the hallway through the open door, they didn't even deserve a response.

I couldn't help myself though.

"His mother- didn't destroy my life."

With that, I walked through the door frame. As luck would have it, I nearly walked straight into my parents. I made brief eye contact with Mom her eyes glistening with tears that had yet to fall. I switched my focus to Dad who just looked disappointed. I didn't care. I pushed through them, leaving them standing there with their only two children.

Making long strides, I ended up in Maddox's office. He smiled upon seeing me, greeting me with a kiss. Our relationship hadn't developed much with my trust issues and all, but he was ok with taking it slow. We at least slept in the same bed now.

Every time I wake up screaming, he is really good about calming me down. I was afraid it would get annoying, but he has assured me he likes helping me, even if it means he's woken up a couple times a night. I suspect he stays up even after I've gone back to bed since I've caught him staring at me on several occasions when I start to wake up.

He returns to his seat, pen in hand to finish up a small stack of papers. I sit besides him. "When am I meeting her?" I whisper. I hate how timid I sound, but I can't help it, I'm horrified to meet her.

"An hour or so. Knowing my mom, she'll probably be here early, she's super eager." I mindlessly scratched at my arm, a nervous habit I seemingly picked up upon entering this pack.

We sat in silence, I was staring straight ahead, getting lost in my head. What if his mom didn't approve of me and he rejected me because of it? She would only have to see my bruised and battered body before she would make up her mind. What would happen to me after I was rejected?

Would I be killed? Banned to be a rogue for the rest of my life? Go pack to my old pack?

I shivered at the thought of going back, I hadn't even noticed a small tear fall down my face. Before Maddox could notice it, I swiped it away with the back of my hand, and tried to take deep breaths to calm myself down. My breaths were a little shaky, but I masked it to the best of my ability. He already thought I was weak.

"Phoenix, you're in your head again," I jump at his voice. "I can feel the pain and fear radiating through the mate bond. You know I care for you and won't ever reject you. For Goddess' sake, as soon as you're ready I will mate you officially. My mother will love you as well, stop worrying."

I blushed and put my head down. He was too good at figuring out what I was thinking, he learned real quick that I spiral inside my head quite frequently. He is able to reel me back in though, I appreciate how frequently he has to do it.

I nod slowly. "That being said, you need to go get ready to meet my mom, there's a beautiful new dress laid out in the bedroom courtesy of Zoe. I don't know how it could possibly compete with your beauty though."

I covered my mouth to hide the giggle escaping me. He leaned over gently, pulling my hand gently away in his own hand, and gave me a quick peck.

At this point I was smiling widely and blushing uncontrollably, so I pulled away from him and ran out the room giggling like a schoolgirl to go get ready.