"Are you excited to see them?" Ivy asked tying off the end of my braid.

I picked a little piece of skin from my lip as I prepared myself mentally for my parents' arrival. The tender skin on my lip turned angry as I tasted metallic faintly on my tongue.

"Here," Ivy pushed Chapstick into my hand before going back to fix up my hair. It wouldn't do much but coat my raw lip in creamy substance. "Do you always bite your lip?"

I shrugged. I couldn't remember a time that I didn't bite my lip. It was a nervous habit I had and at this point, I wouldn't be surprised if my lip ended up scarred forever.

"To answer your question about my parents I am excited. I've wanted to share with them how I'm doing and that I'm living along with wolves that actually like me." I admitted.

I had been antsy since the call with alpha Philip nearly a week ago. Even though Osiris had talked to Philip and appeased whatever it was that he wanted to talk to him about my stomach still coiled whenever I thought about the worst.

Philip could just one day snap like he did numerous times to me but this time I feared that he'd take his punishments further, leaving a lasting mark. I'd blame myself if anything happened to my parents, they were all I had besides Desmond.

"Your pack didn't like you?" I shook my head at her answer. She frowned through the mirror, her sadness genuine in the frowning lines around her mouth. "Was it because you never were able to shift?"

The corner of my mouth twitched as I recalled all the horrible things my pack used to say about me and to me. Nothing about my appearance was off the table nor my intelligence. At any given point throughout the day, I was told I was a mutant, a failure, a mistake, you name it I was called it.

I was surprised they never teased or picked on me about my parents but I think it was solely because of who my father was. They feared my father's retribution if they ever tried to disrespect his loyalty and defensiveness toward his pack.

"Pretty much." I sighed standing up to change. "None of what they'd say we're far off from the truth though. I am a failure to my family. My dad was probably one of the most notorious warriors werewolves have ever seen and he supplied the world with just a single offspring that lacked a wolf."

I tore off my shirt and threw it onto the floor. Pent-up anguish rolled in my stomach. I had never spoken to anyone about how I felt about being called every name under the sun. I never felt the need to confide in anyone seeing the names suitable for me. I was a failed example of a wolf not having even the senses one has as a human.

"You're not a failure Phinny. People project how they feel onto others." Ivy assured me.

"Eh, I don't know about that. Look at me-" I told her zipping my jeans up. "I have no wolf still and I'm twenty-three. Who do you know that had two werewolf parents and still had no wolf?" She opened her mouth but I spoke over her. "No one Ivy, the answer is no one. It'd unheard of."

"Have you spoken to Jensen? I'm sure that he-"

I pursed my lips recalling Osiris's order to decommission or research. "Yup, and Osiris ordered Jensen to stop his research because he wanted him to help prepare for winter."

Ivy's face morphed into confusion as her eyes narrowed and blinked more than usual as if trying to make sense of my words.

She said nothing so I continued. "When I tell you I think that Osiris hates me this is what I meant."

"He doesn't hate you." She grabbed my arm pulling me to sit next to her on the bed. "Though I don't understand why he'd make Jensen stop his research I'm sure he'd let him return to it once everything is set for winter. It's harsh up in these mountains."

My shoulder slumped. "Doubtful. He was so angry at Desmond for introducing me to Jensen. He was yelling about how it's a bad idea. Something about if I discover my wolf I'll cause problems."

She turned away averting her eyes as if to gather her thoughts. I could see the wheels turning in her head as she looked around the room.

"Osiris is complicated..." Ivy paused looked back at me with an emotion I couldn't quite read. "He can come off as an asshole,"

I chuckled humorlessly. "That's putting it lightly."

With a sly smile of agreement she continued. "Alright, he is an asshole but that doesn't mean that he hates you. Osiris doesn't do anything without a good reason. He's a selfless person when it comes to his pack and the way that I see it that includes you now."

My head jerked back in surprise. "But- I don't- he-" I stammered unable to form a compete sentence.

Nothing that Ivy said made sense at least for me. Every time that I was around him he would start off being kind, if I could even it call it that, he was more tolerating me than being nice. He would snap anytime that I made an effort to be friends. It was like he hated the idea of me coming close to him or hanging around him too long.

There was a knock on the bedroom door and both of us looked over at the door was pushed open. Desmon popped his head in with a sheepish grin. There was a dimple in his left cheek that I've grown to like. It was cute and matched his child like personality.

"We ready? Your parents are downstairs."

I nodded me head leaving Ivy behind and following Desmond down the stairs. I reached for his hand finding the building anticipation suffocating. My hands shook as I shyly wove my finger in between his own.

His body went ridged as he stopped abruptly to look down at me. His face told me he was uncomfortable with the action but he made no attempt to pull his hand from mind. I must have caught him off guard.

Slowly, I've been trying to show and prove to him that I'm ready to be claimed. I've tried small things here and there but it was like I would pull an he'd step back a hundred steps. It confused me.

"Sorry, I'm just nervous. I hope you don't mind." I explained to him hoping it'd comfort his discomfort.

Desmond shook his head as he awkwardly touched his throat. "No, no not at all." He assured me with a smile as he started down the stairs. I didn't miss the way he swallowed hard before starting down the stairs.

I mentally slapped myself as I came to realize that I was so wrapped up in being nervous that I didn't even think about how Desmond felt meeting my parents. He was probably more nervous than me. It explained a lot about why he was so unsure of himself.

We rounded the stairs and stepped throw the threshold of the living room. Though I could only see the back of the two people that sat on the sofa in front of me I instantly recognized them.

The curly salt and pepper hair of my father was recognizable anywhere and my mom's short straight blond hair was imprinted in my mind since I was a child. See them now overwhelmed me as I rushed free from Desmond hold on my hand and wrapped my arms around them both.

Both of them jolted in their seats surprised before I heard them take a deep inhale recalling the aroma of their daughter.

"I missed you." I crocked burying my face in the shoulder of my father. I felt fingers running through my hair the comforting action reminding me of my childhood whenever my father would play with my curls.

"Oh, Seraphina I was so worried about you." I pulled back at my mother voice finding it essential to check her over for bruises and cuts. I wouldn't put it past Philip to unleash his furry on my mother when he had the chance to.

I began scanning her over but I was halted when my mother place each of her hands on either side of my head stopping me.

She gave me a stressed expression before changing it to one of happiness once again. "I'm okay Seraphina, your father has been taking care of us both. We've missed you dearly but you don't have to worry about us. We should be the ones worried."

She tugged my into another hug whisper a message by my ear. "I'm perfectly okay."

Guilt filled my chest when I came to realize that she was telling me subtly that she had yet to tell my father about alpha Philip. I guess I should be grateful seeing as if my father had heard about it he undoubtably would have gone after. It wouldn't matter that Philip was an alpha, my father was a firm believer that if you came after his family you were coming at him.

My father might have been the best of the best but he wasn't capable of taking one the entire pack if he attacked the alpha. My mother was saving his life without hi even knowing it and that was like a knife stabbing in my abdomen because it all felt like it was my fault. I put her in that position.

"So this is your mate I'm guessing?" My father's voice had my head pop up and releasing my mother.

I nodded overjoyed to finally be able to introduce my mate to my parents. I never thought I'd ever be able to have a mate that wanted me so the thought of telling my

parents never crossed my mind. I was able to now and I was going to indulge in this moment for as long as I could.

"This is Desmond Wraith." I told them a beaming smile on my face as I looked up at my mate.

He held an uneasy smile as his eyes flickered between my parents and then at the adjacent doorway that led to the kitchen. There was a shadow that moved deeper into the kitchen as I looked over but it hastily disappeared as quickly as I noticed it.

Desmond leaving my side brought me back to my parents and I shook off the shadow. It meant nothing I told myself probably just lucky.

My mate circled around the sofa to stand before my parents taking my mother hand and shaking it before turning to my father and doing the same.

"Nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you too" My mother replied with a warm smile. I couldn't say the same about my father as he gave him an inquisitive look over.

I was thankful my father said nothing more sitting down with my mother once again. Desmond and I talked with them for a while sharing little bits about my stay here and how we met. To say my parents were surprised would have been an understatement as my father's lips drew into a thin line.

He was clearly upset about the fact that Philip threatened me but he didn't share much about how he felt instead letting out a low growl.

"Mr.Chap put together lunch for us. Excuse me while I grab it for us." Desmond politely got up and headed toward the kitchen.

"I'll come help you." My mother offered already standing to help.

"No, it's okay Helen, you're my guest. I can't allow you to serve yourself."

She slapped him on the shoulder and walked past him. "Nonsense child, let me help. It's the least I can do since you are letting us stay here for the weekend."

Desmond opened his mouth to object but a warning growl came out of my mother and that was all that was needed for him to shut it and follow after her. I couldn't help the giggle that left my lips as he reminded me of a little child being scolded as he trailed behind the significantly shorter woman.

"So," I said with a grin, turning to my father that sat across the coffee table. "How have the trainings been going?"

"We need to talk Sera." His voice was serious.

I blinked several times before I could speak. My voice was a higher pitch as I became unease. "Uh- about what? I mean I'm sure that you have a ton you want to catch up on. Like, what I do, who I made friends with, how Desmond and I-"

"No, Sera not about that." He hissed annoyance laced in his words. My father moved to the front door opening it. The harsh freezing temperature reminded me of my terrible ide to find Desmond and I shivered at the memory. "Can we talk outside?" He asked but I remained unmoved.

His sudden change of behavior threw me off. He was oddly more quite than I thought he'd be meeting my mate but my father was never one for much talking. He kept to himself that's just how he's always been.

When I remained grounded in my spot he looked around seeming to be following someone behind the wall. He gazed over at me once again. "There is someone else listening and I'd like to keep this conversation private."

My eyes glanced about the room searching for a person I knew I could neither hear nor see. The strain in my father's voice was enough to put me on edge. The hairs on my arms stood on end as I focused back on him forcing myself to stand up and follow him outside.

Once he shut the door he kept quiet as he rounded the cabin. I followed close behind him until he was nearing the end of the cabin that led to the backyard. As I looked around I noticed that no one could see us from this side of the cabin.

He really wanted to be unseen and unheard.

My father ran his hand up the back of his neck and curled his fingers in the curls of his hair. His rich brown eyes stared down at me with worry.

"Sera, you know I love you with all my heart. You are my entire world and I wouldn't know what I'd do if something happened to you." His voice sounded pained. My heart raced awaiting his ominous reason for privacy. "You know I love you right?"

"Yes, dad of course. What's this all about? You're making me nervous." I gulped.

He closed his eyes taking in a deep breath. "Sera, that man in there," He pointed at the side of the house. "-the one that states to be your mate is not your mate."

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