"You do realize you need to go back in there."

My head whipped to the side, shooting a fierce glare at my Gamma, but the only thing the bastard did in return was smirk. Taking a seat in one of the chairs, Asher propped his right ankle on his left knee before crossing his arms and looking up at me.

"You've been staring at it for thirty minutes now. You may be powerful and all, but I'm pretty sure you weren't blessed with telekinesis."

"Fuck off, Asher," I grumbled, sitting in a seat a couple down from him, placing my elbows on my knees before resting my head in my hands. I heard a soft chuckle before Asher moved down a few seats to sit in the one next to me. He patted my back twice before leaning on his own knees, and I could feel his gaze boring into the side of my head.

"What's going on, man? I've never seen you so bent out of shape," he said. "When I got the call from Seth saying that there was an emergency, I thought maybe there had been an attack or someone was hurt, but now I'm just confused as hell." He paused for just a moment. "Or that Gabi finally killed your ass and was now Alpha."

That made me chuckle - the possibility of my own sister murdering me in cold blood was high, had been since childhood, and it was only growing now that she knew I was hiding my mate away.

"Nope, not yet," I muttered, picking my head back up and looking at the door once again.

It had been hours since I had marched out of Kristin's room with a demand and a slam of the door. I had left the hospital to go for a run, trying to not let that seed of hurt she had planted with those words grow. It hadn't been easy, and I soon found it was debilitating to not only be away from her after just finding her, but to be faced with the realization that she may not want me.

She wants us.

I tried grasping onto Acel's words, but just because our wolves had accepted the bond, doesn't mean she had too. That was the cruel reality with being given a soul mate. And I didn't know if I was ready to face that yet. Not when all I had to do was look at her, and it already felt like my entire life was right in front of me.

"I found my mate," I whispered finally, and when Asher straightened instantly, only then did I turn to look at him.

"Holy shit."

I smirked. It wasn't often that Asher Pierce was speechless.

"You finally found her," he said softly, slowly as a smile crept over his face. Placing a hand on my shoulder, he shook me. "Congrats, man." The smile on his face fell as he looked over my features. "Why don't you look happy?"

Sighing, I ran a hand through my hair for the millionth time in the past forty-two hours. "Well, for starters, I found her nearly frozen and bleeding to death." Asher sucked in a breath. "Then, I found out that there are signs of long term abuse." At that, Asher clenched his fists but didn't say anything, just gestured for me to continue. "But earlier today, when talking with her about discharging from the hospital this evening, she asked what the next step was, and when I told her about moving into the pack house, she said "and if I don't want that?""

Asher let out a noise that sounded a lot like oof. I watched as he gathered the pieces as I continued, explaining to him my response and leaving. When I was done, he looked at me and grimaced just a little.

"I'm sure she's just scared," he tried reassuring me, but even I could tell he wasn't all that confident which didn't ease my worries because if Asher was anything, it was confident. "I mean, you said she was running from something, beaten and bloody, I'm sure that it isn't gonna be an easy transition for her."

I nodded, letting out an exaggerated breath. "I just don't know what to do."

"Grayson Black admitting he doesn't know what to do," Asher teased, "never thought I'd see the day."

I punched him in the shoulder a little harder than I intended, but he didn't so much as flinch. I couldn't help the smile that formed. Whereas Seth was the levelheaded one, my right hand, Asher was the instigator with a permanent shit eating grin that stood on my left.

"Just give her time. Offer her a safe place to settle, let her get comfortable, and then go from there."

"For once, and I'll regret saying this, I agree."

Asher and I's heads popped up, and I found the younger, carbon copy of my mother staring back at me. I groaned, rubbing my hand over my face as I glowered at her.

"Gabi, what are you doing here? How long have you been there?"

My sister grinned, all confidence and mischief that she had absolutely taken from my father. While she had my mother's features and her dark auburn hair, Gabrielle Black had my father's personality along with his signature blue-gray eyes that he had given to both of us. She was trouble, and a pain in my ass just as much as she was my best friend.

She looked at Asher before her gaze landed on me. "Long enough to know that Asher isn't completely incompetent, although it turns out your senses are."

I rolled my eyes - Gabrielle had always been terrifyingly good at being stealthily, which she knew. Therefore, she had used it to her advantage more times than I could count.

Asher leaned back, crossing his arms once again, looking coolly at my sister. "Do you even know what that word means, princess?"

Gabi's smile was gone as soon as the nickname fell from Asher's lips and in its place was an icy glare. "Do you," she snapped, lips pursed as she took a step forward, and I stood - the last thing I needed was for the two of them to have it out in the hallway. They were so hostile towards each other it was insane.

"Knock it off, Gab," I warned.

Gabi rolled her eyes, turning to me with a pointed look. "Why the hell have you been hiding out here? Mom is about to talk my ear off." Her voice went higher as she began to imitate our mother. "Oh Grayson found her. I wonder what she looks like. Do you think she'll like me? I can't wait to be a grandmother." She shot me another glare. "How could you do that to me?"

"Well you two weren't supposed to find out, but Seth snitched."

"I told you they were giving me a headache." I heard Seth from behind me, and watched as Gabi's face lit up. I turned as she rounded me, heading straight for Addison, both of their smiles wide as Addison handed Wyatt to my sister.

"Oh, Addi, Seth, he's perfect."

Seth thanked her with a squeeze of her shoulder. The girls took a seat to my left beside Asher who had taken to leaning over Gabi's shoulder to look down at Wyatt.

"Let me hold him," Asher said with a poke to Gabi's back, and she turned, shooting him a glare.

"In a minute, I just got him."

Seth laughed, and just as Asher went to say something with another poke, the door that I had been staring at ten minutes ago opened and there stood my mate, dressed in light gray scrubs with her arms folded tightly over her chest.

I nearly shut the door just as quickly as I had opened it when I found not one or two, but five pairs of eyes staring back at me. All with curiosity and wonder, and I hugged myself tighter, trying to convince myself to not go cower in the corner.

All of them stood before me, seeming to freeze mid-movement as they all fell silent. A male I had yet to see had his hand up, index finger out as if he were about to poke the woman sitting next to him holding a baby. The same baby I had assumed my mate had been holding when I woke. And my mate - he stood before me, eyes trailing over me as he took a step towards me only for me to take one step back.

Pain seemed to flash across his features before he blinked, schooling them as he took in a deep breath. I hadn't forgotten the way he had acted this morning, and with his absence over the past seven hours, I had given up hope that he would still want anything to do with me. I had cried more tears today than I had in the last two years as I began to accept that harsh reality. I had been prepared to leave his pack grounds, to run and never face him again because maybe, just maybe, not hearing his rejection fall from his lips would keep my wolf alive. Because if I knew one thing, it was that I couldn't live without her.

"What are you doing up?" His words hadn't been as soft or comforting as the previous times he had spoken to me, that ache in my chest began throbbing at that. Suddenly, the nurse that had been helping me dress appeared from behind me, and I watched as his eyes met hers.

"She is all ready to go, Alpha."

He gave her nod with a tilt of his lips as I stepped to the side to let her out. Once she was down the hall, I turned back, my eyes roaming over everyone else, refusing to meet his gaze that had fallen back on me. It felt suffocating, and I shifted my weight from foot to foot.

I watched as the woman with strikingly beautiful features stood, passing the baby to the man sitting beside her before she planted herself right beside Grayson, looking up at him in disapproval. "Stop staring at her like that, you creep." My eyebrows shot up in surprise as she swatted his arm while turning to face me with a sweet smile. She was intimidating as hell before that smile, with a powerful aurora as she stood, only an inch or so shorter than me. "Hi, I'm Gabrielle Black, but you can call me Gabi."

I looked between my mate and the woman at his side, instantly seeing the resemblance, and I knew then that everyone that this man was related to had to be drop dead gorgeous.

"Hi," I replied softly, and her eyes brightened. "I'm Kristin. It's nice to meet you." If possible, her smile got wider as she took another step towards me, seeming to pause for only a moment to gauge my reaction. She reached forward, placing a gentle hand on my forearm, and I immediately felt connected to her.

"Don't mind him," she whispered, as if he didn't have werewolf hearing. "He gets grouchy when he hasn't had his nap and bottle."

I tried to stop it, but I couldn't help the giggle that escaped at her words. And when I glanced over at Grayson, he looked torn between chastising her or just ignoring it all together. However, the look from before was now gone, and in its place was a lighthearted smile as he watched the two of us.

"I wanna introduce myself, too." I heard a voice call from behind Gabrielle before the blonde from yesterday was stepping beside her, the grin on her face just as inviting and warm. "I'm Addison, Seth's mate and the mother to the little guy over there, Wyatt."

She was practically bouncing with excitement before me, and I felt the same instantaneous connection towards her that I felt with Gabrielle. Their happiness was contagious, and I slowly felt all the anguish I had been sitting in fade. An overwhelming sense of security and affection filled my chest, so strong and primal, that I almost ripped from their grasp - I had never felt anything like it.

They are accepting you.

My breath caught as Kita's words echoed in my mind, soft and reassuring.

I gave Addison, what I hoped, wasn't a shaky smile. "Congratulations."

Addison beamed and Gabrielle turned to her with a laugh, "are you still high on painkillers?"

Addison lifted one shoulder in a careless shrug, "probably."

Another laugh escaped me, mixing with Gabrielle's as she squeezed my arm gently.

"Alright, alright." Grayson spoke, stepping forward a little. "Let her breathe," he demanded, but there wasn't an ounce of authority in his voice. His eyes found mine, and he was quiet for a heartbeat when I didn't tear my gaze away from his. "Let's go get you settled in so you can rest, okay?"

It may have sounded like a question, but there was no room for argument. However, unlike earlier, I didn't feel as apprehensive about the thought. Plus, the thought of resting somewhere that wasn't a cold cellar or hospital room sounded wonderful.

While Addison took a step back, Gabrielle didn't, instead she linked her arm through mine as she smiled up at her brother. "You two can ride with me," she said, "she gets the front seat." Grayson chuckled with a nod of his head, stepping aside for the two of us, and I let Gabi lead me down the hall.

"I'm riding with you, too, it's fucking cold."

Gabrielle grumbled under her breath as she shot over her shoulder, "you can ride on the top."

I heard the voice of the nameless male once again as he grumbled something under his breath that Gabrielle either didn't hear or chose to ignore as we walked towards the sliding doors of the hospital. And once we hit the threshold, I let out an audible gasp as the icy wind hit me.

It was fucking cold.

I may not know what month or year it is, but I knew for sure that it had to be winter - right?

I felt a hand grasp the elbow that wasn't entangled in Gabrielle's, and before I knew it, I was being turned around to face Grayson. "Here," he said, swiftly removing his hoodie up and over his head. It took more effort than I'd ever admit to not look at his exposed abdomen before his tee shirt fell back down. "Put this on."

"No, I'm fine," I stammered while shaking my head. That would leave him in a thin long sleeve shirt, and the sleeves on my scrubs were much thicker anyway. "You should -," he cut me off with a look that reminded me of my mother.

"Put it on, or I'll put it on for you. You are getting over hypothermia."

I ignored Kita's delight at his dominance as I reached forward with a shaky hand, taking the hoodie from him before pulling my arm from Gabrielle's and sliding it over my head. And I couldn't tell if I loved or hated the comfort I felt the moment it enveloped my body, ending mid-thigh. The warmth and his smell took over my senses, and I could feel the effects of the bond coursing through my body at such a small gesture.

"Thanks," I murmured, and he nodded, eyes seeming to darken slightly before I turned around, letting Gabrielle loop her arm back through mine as we made our way across the parking lot towards her car.

Minutes later, when we were seated in Gabrielle's small vehicle as she began pulling onto the mountain highway, I found myself burrowing deeper into the hoodie as I leaned my head against the glass. I picked at the sleeves, fingers sliding over the dark green fabric as I began to lull myself asleep.

However, I jumped when Gabrielle barked out, "Asher, for the love of Goddess, stop kneeing my seat."

"That's what you get for making us sit in the back."

"Kristin, is Grayson kneeing your seat?"

I looked between Gabrielle and, who I now knew as Asher, wearily before shaking my head. I didn't think I'd even felt Grayson shift since getting in the car. Her eyes went up to the rearview mirror to pierce Asher with a glare.

"See. If Grayson's big ass can sit still and not knee her, then so can you."

"She has the seat pulled up," Asher shot back, and I heard Grayson huff from behind me, murmuring "for the love of" before he was cut off by Gabrielle.

"It isn't my fault I have long legs."

"She's taller than you," Asher exclaimed, and I shook my head on a silent laugh as they continued to bicker. Looking over my shoulder between the seat and the car window, I found Grayson's gaze, and we each shared a little smile of amusement before I looked forward again, my cheeks flushing.

***

Driving up the mile long driveway to Black River's pack house, I had no idea what I was expecting, but what I had not been expecting was the beautiful three story house full of windows, most of them lit up with warm lights from inside that made it that much more inviting. From what I could see in the dark with my heightened eyesight, I could make out that it was built entirely from wood with a front porch spanning the width of the front. And somewhere, far in the back, I could see the outline of a small lake.

The paved drive went into a circle, and Gabrielle stopped in front of a well lit gravel walkway that led up to the stairs of the porch. Grayson opened his door, and I fiddled with my hands before reaching for my own handle. However, I hadn't been quick enough and Grayson pulled it open, stepping back to give me space as I climbed from the car.

My head turned from side to side, shamelessly taking in the property before tilting back and eyeing the house from top to bottom. Grayson chuckled, and when I turned to look up at him, he was eyeing me with a smile before leaning down and looking at Gabrielle.

"Where are you going?"

"I'm gonna go see mom and dad," she said, "I'll be back a little later."

I turned, giving her a small smile and wave, and she returned it. "Go get some rest," she encouraged, "once my mother finds out about you, I'm not sure if Grayson or I can stop her."

Her words were meant to be teasing, but I felt a lump form in my throat. Grayson's mother wanted to meet me. That feeling of dread returned, and I tried to ward it off with another smile, but Grayson seemed to see right through me.

"Give her a few days, okay?"

Gabrielle nodded, but gave him a sympathetic smile. "I'll try, you know how she is."

Grayson sighed with a nod. "Just hold her off as long as you can, and tell her to call me before she decides to make an appearance. I mean it."

Gabrielle nodded, biding us each a goodbye before Grayson shut the door, and we watched her drive down the driveway.

"I wonder how long it will take her to realize Asher is still in the car," he said, and a second later, the red tail lights lit up as Gabrielle slammed on brakes and the back driver door opened. I was only able to catch a few of Gabrielle's choice words over Asher's laughter before Grayson touched my arm lightly. I turned to him, and he nodded his head towards the house. I eyed it wearily, wavering in my stance and Grayson gave me a reassuring smile.

"Most of the pack is at dinner. So, if you want, I can show you around a bit, or I can show you to your room."

My room? I would have my own room. Nerves I hadn't realized I had, had settled in my stomach. Yet again, I wasn't sure what I was expecting, but I was torn between being grateful and a little disappointed. Some male wolves, especially Alphas who were known to be more territorial and possessive, wanted to immediately jump into the mating process. And while I was thankful that didn't seem to be the case with Grayson, I wasn't sure whether or not I wanted that major tell-all that he wanted me, that he wanted this.

You either want him or you don't.

Kita rang through my head, and I had to force myself not to roll my eyes.

He wants you. He doesn't know if you want him.

You are so sure of that. She paused before she returned, her tone much more somber. He isn't Aiden. He knows what he wants, Aiden didn't.

If you don't stop with the self deprecating crap, I'm gonna ignore you.

I sighed, deciding to drop it for now, and before looking back towards Grayson to find him staring at me, brows raised in curiosity. "You two okay there," he asked, and I knew my conversation with Kita must have left a nasty look on my face. With an apologetic smile, I dropped my head.

"Yes, sorry about that."