I steered clear of my father finding any proximity to him barely bareable. I still struggle to wrap my mind around his claims; they were all preposterous.

He came all this way just to tell me I'm living a delusion. I may not have lived on my own until now and haven't been in a relationship since I was in high school but I want to think that I'd know if someone was lying to me. I would know if someone were lying to me about something as big as being my mate plus everyone seeing mates as sacride.

For me to be played this long and not find out that would mean there were more people that knew about the lie and actively participated. It was doubtful, werewolves didn't dare tarnish the connection between mate let along lie.

Shaking my head I locked eyes with Ivy who held the door out for me to take. Everyone else had filed in already. I was so consumed by my own wandering mind that the bitter cold felt like nothing against my human skin.

"He'll get over it." She muttered closing the door behind us.

I looked over at my parents that spoke to Andy as he picked up a practice staff from the wall. "I don't know I've never seen my father that upset before. At least not that upset with me."

"Oh-" Her voice dropped. "I meant Osiris."

I chuckled. "Why would I care if that Oopma Loopma got over his hissy fit? I mean I am surprised how quickly he came outside to my defense."

"He cares deeply about everyone in his pack regardless how much he may or may not like them. You are no exception I hope you saw that."

I nodded my head as we approached my family; they grew silence when we got closer.

"This facility is much larger than I thought Alpha Osiris would have for his pack." My father chimed gazing about the room.

"Alpha Osiris strives for all his pack members to be able to defend themselves, their family, and the pack. No one is left defensiveless." The statement was stoic as Ivy spoke matter-of-factly.

My father's face sunk at her words. He pinched his lips together clearly put off with her blunt response. I was thankful my mother was here to ease him as I stood watching unwilling say or come any closer.

"He meant that your gym is impressive. You all must be well equip for just about anything up in these mountains." My mother complimented.

"The Reign Mountain range offers a lot of protection from rogues and ruthless packs alike. Osiris picked the location for the fact that there is only way up to this exact spot." She explained picking up dumbbells that were left out away. "We are practically a fortress up here."

"Working with the terrain and using it to your advantage, smart." My father commented.

"Indeed."

"And what about the hidden caves in Reign?" Andy's voice captured everyone's attention. "Aren't there rumors of deep caves that lead up to the highest peaks of the mountains down the valleys?"

I furrowed my brows finding his questions rather random but didn't think much of it. Andy had always been interested in geography and history. I guess it wasn't totally random.

"Uh- I'm not sure." Ivy started a thoughtfully. "I guess there could be a few caves in and around the Reign mountain range but from my understanding this exactly part of the mountains do not. The only way here is through the thin passage over the the river. You can only use the passage when the river is solid ice otherwise you have to wait until fall when it freezes over again." She paused. "I mean I guess you could go through the human town nearby but that's bring attention to us werewolves."

He hummed.

"Anyways," I interjected. "Why don't we show them around the cafe down town? We didn't get a chance to eat lunch, I'm sure we are all hungry. I know I am."

"I know, I'm starving." Andy said rubbing his stomach as he curled his other arm around my neck bringing me closer.

I couldn't help but smile at how the simply gesture made me feel. It felt like home.

"Uh-" Ivy's hesitation cause my head to jerk in her direction. Her eyes narrowed and her nose turned up when she eyed us. "Yea- I'll have Theo and Gabriel take you."

She turned away from us but not before her lip curled up. This time the emotion was clear with the sneer of distaste. Did she smell something I couldn't?

I looked to my parents to see if they too looked disgusted with a linger scent but when I saw them unmoved I was left more puzzled. Maybe someone mind linked Ivy and she openly looked disgusted by the message, but then why didn't her eyes fog over.

"Ivy-" I pushed Andy's arm off me and grabbed a hold of her as she headed for the door.

She jerked her arm away from me as if she were touched by a hot stove.

"Ivy, what's the matter?"

She darted her eyes behind me watching the three other people that came with us. Her eyes fogged over a few moments before returning back the normal.

Plastering a fake smile on her face she opened the door. "You can all wait here. Theo and Gabriel will be here in a few minutes." She grabbed my hand. "Feel free to occupy your time with the weight equipment in the meantime."

Without waiting for a response Ivy tugged me outside slamming the door shut behind us. I quickly wrapped my arms around my waist as the freezing wind shot through the fabric of my jacket.

Standing the the frigid winter air made my patients thin when she didn't move to speak. She instead stared blankly at me clenching and unclenching her jaw.

"What is it?" I started.

"Seraphina, please tell me that, that boy in there is nothing more than a friend."

My mouth fell open. She was made because she thought Andy was some sort of boyfriend to me? The thought alone had me laughing.

"Ivy, do you think that Andy is my boyfriend?"

"No- yes." She panicked to correct herself. "He was just too friendly for my liking."

"He's not my boyfriend and never has been."

"What about in the past?" She paused licking her bottom lip. "Have you two- been together?"

I was never one to share much about myself and the sudden question felt so private. Being a hermit didn't leave me with many opportunities to share much about myself.

The only two people I shared such information to were Mara and Andy. Mara knew about Andy and I sleeping together years ago but it never grew into anything. I didn't want it to. I feared that sleeping with him would ruin the friendship and I was grateful when it didn't.

I blame myself nearly everyday when I think about how I had thrown myself at him all those years ago. It was now part of our history and I cringed when I thought back to the morning after and woke up in his bed. What the hell was I thinking? I wasn't thinking.

There was nothing I could change now and as I gazed up at Ivy debating on telling her the truth, I realized I didn't have much to lose. I could trust her with this information and if it got out who cares it's not like I'm the Virgin Mary.

"Years ago we slept together. It's been years since that happened last. Why do you ask?"

She looked relieved by my answer. "I just wanted to know the bare minimum that I need to have your back. Os- Desmond is my best friend after all."

It dawned on me then that she was simply looking after Desmond.

"I appreciate it, but if we could, could we keep this between us?"

She nodded her head as her head peeled up at the footsteps approaching. Looking around her for the source of the noise but found none.

"She said to meet her here." A male voice muttered.

I moved my eyes around looking for the person but couldn't find one. This couldn't all be a figment of my imagination as watched crane her neck in the same direction the voice projected from.

A few seconds passed and two tall men rounded the side of the gym building. Confused as to how I heard them I was too stunned to greet who I knew now were Gabriel and Theo.

"Oh, there she is." Theo grinned his perfect teeth on display. A deep scar on his neck that I had noticed at the mall weeks ago looked deeper than I last imagined.

Last time I couldn't get a good enough look to bashful to stare long enough to get any real detail. Having him stand a foot taller than me and I front of me I could get a better look.

"Where's the guests?" Gabriel wondered looking around.

Theo stuck his nose up in the air sniffing the scents around us in. His nose scrunched up when he exhaled looking to Ivy in confusion.

"Why is Dark Titan here?" He asked.

"Phinny's family came to visit for a few days." Ivy explained ignoring the slight annoyance he exuded. "I want to take them downtown, besides none of us had lunch."

"Alpha Osiris approved of this?" Theo question rising his eyebrow.

"Does it matter?"

"He wouldn't want members of another pack wandering around the Reign. You should get an okay from him first."

Ivy rolled her eyes crossing her arms. "He's busy."

Gabriel laughed. I waited to see if Theo would too but his face remained unreadable.

"You're wasting my time Ivy. Then we aren't taking them anywhere." Theo declared turning around. Gabriel followed close behind a snicker still heard under his breath.

"Fine." I blurted out. The constant back and forth wasn't doing anything but waste everyone's time. If they didn't want to help then they didn't have to, but I would be damned if I didn't make them feel stupid for not.

"I'll let Osiris know that you two decline to protect their beta female."

There heels dug deep in the frosty snow as their weight crushed the white flakes. A smile spread across my face as Theo looked over his shoulder at me with wide and fearful eyes.

Gotcha.