Last time on Blind Hope

The next morning, Drake met Hope and fell in love once more. Victoria's parents were terribly furious about the whole ordeal, but Victoria, desperate to keep her mate safe, kicked her parents out of the packlands. A few days later, the two of them mated and Drake became the official Lunar of the pack.

~~~~~~~~~~

Emily sighed as she finished telling Gramm and the others about how Victoria and Drake had met. Gramm looked shocked. "I... I had... another sister?" He closed his eyes and sighed, a pained laugh escaping him. "That would explain why he is acting like he is."

Hope closed her eyes, feeling pained for Gramm. The two of them had always been close, being the closest in age. She looked up at Dorian, following his scent. She wished she could see his face. She how he was reacting to this. Would this affect how he handled the trial to take place on the morrow?

"Momma, what about you?" Karen asked, yawning. "You said Grammy's parents' story beat yours. How did you and Daddy meet?" Gramm smiled at Karen. Emily's children were all like little siblings to him, and he nearly melted every time they called him Grammy. Now that he was Alpha, he would buy them everything.

"Oh, well... that's kinda funny actually." He giggled like a school girl, thinking back on how they met.

~~~~~~~~~~

Emily yawned as she sat up in bed. She shared an apartment with her human friend in the middle of the city. She was a lone wolf - not part of a pack, but not a rogue either. She had voluntarily left her little packland after her parents died. She was attending a community college in order to become a phlebotomist. It was only a one semester certificate and would pay well enough for one person to live on.

She quickly dressed for college, always waking up as late as she could. She never ate breakfast, so that was a hassle she needn't worry about cleaning. Her alarm clock went off as she laced up her tennis shoes. "Yeah, yeah. I hear you." Emily quickly turned her phone off, and grabbed her backpack that she had organized the previous night. She looked in the mirror before leaving and smiled, satisfied. Her wore a light blue nurses shirt and pants, with her light hair pulled up in a tight pony-tail. "Just two more weeks and finals!" It was her daily pep-talk.

Emily didn't have a vehicle, not that she could have afforded to park one or put gas in one, and so she eased into her morning jog. At first, it had concerned the locals to see a nurse jogging down the street, but they quickly became used to seeing her. They were put at ease when they found out she was a student.

As she approached the college, she realized that she was a bit early. There was a coffee shop just across the street, and it seemed to call to her. She dashed across the road, avoiding all the traffic. The little bell above the door jingled annoyingly. There was a strong scent of sandalwood in the coffee shop, and Emily's wolf became excited, genuinely excited, for the first time in years.

"Hello, welcome to Lava Java. Can I help you?" Emily ignored the friendly voice, because her eyes narrowed in on a handsome man in the corner. He was sitting with a beautiful woman and jealously struck through her. She marched over to them, and stood, waiting.

The man raised his head, his eyes widening in shock. He looked at the dark haired woman and child across from, and panic settled in his eyes. "Th-this isn't what is looks like!"

"Then what does it look like?!" Emily's jaw clenched, and her wolf whimpered. Did he already have a child with that stupid were? The bell jingled again and another man walked up to the table.

"Hey, sorry, I'm..." His voice trailed off as he looked at a very angry Emily and a very worried Bruce. "Oh, no."

"Shut up. I hate you too." Emily snapped. Drake's eyes widened in both shock and amusement. Victoria hated it when anyone spoke down to Drake, and she stood up quickly.

"Don't you dare speak to him that way!" The two appraised each other, but Emily didn't back down. She couldn't care less if that woman happened to be an Alpha.

"Why? You got a monopoly on men?" Victoria was incensed. Drake gasped, and Bruce stuttered.

"N-no. We're not... They're... Heavens." Emily spun on her heel and marched away. She didn't know what was happening, but she was going to be late for school. The bell jingled as she left, and she heard it jingle once more as she began walking away.

"Wait!" Bruce called out, running until he was ahead of her. "Hey, hey! We're not mates. The other guy was mated to her."

"But that was your child." Emily grit. Same nose. "I don't know if you have a threesome going, or what. But I'm not going to add to the party, swinger." She tried to leave, but Bruce stepped in front of her.

"Okay, yes. That kid was mine. But, I swear we're not together. It was just a one time thing..."

"I've never had a one time thing. I wonder why... Oh, yeah, because I have a mate out there, and I'm a responsible werewolf." Bruce whimpered as she walked around him, but he didn't give up. He kept up with her pace.

"What can I do? I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry..."

"Well, I can't trust you," Emily whispered harshly, "but you are my mate. Court me slowly, and we'll see what happens, okay?" Bruce nodded, eager to prove himself. "Now leave. I actually go to school here." He watched as she walked away. Emily paused and turned around, hating the blush that spread across her face. "I have a lunch break at noon! Be here!" She took off running, hating being late. Bruce grinned like a wild man.

~~~~~~~~~~

"Awe," Hope said. "That's actually really sweet." She paused. "In a weird way." Gramm laughed, his shoulders shaking.

"Oh my gosh. I'm just going to say it. You've changed so much." Emily laughed weakly, as the others agreed with laughter and tears.

"Children... that'll change a person." Dorian was the only one who heard it, and laughed a loud booming laugh.

They large family continued to talk about various memories as they came, and Dorian soaked up all the ones about Hope. He smiled the whole time the family was together, remembering the times his own family had been this happy.

Now, he threw his father across ceremonial halls.

"Well, I hate to interrupt," Dorian said, "but I wish to dance with my beautiful Queen before we retire." He had noticed Hope's eyes beginning to lap. "Feel free to remain in here as long as you would like." He escorted Hope back out to enjoy her ball.