A frightened squeal that sounded a lot like Kristin had me jumping to my feet, rounding my desk, and nearly running out of my office. However, when my hand met the doorknob, the loud laughter that filled my ears had me frozen. It wasn't Kristin's laugh alone, it mixed between two others that I knew were Gabi's and Addison's, but it was hers that stuck out the most. It was loud and unapologetic and beautiful and I craved to hear it again, without it being muffled by walls.

Slowly, I opened the door, careful to keep my steps light as I made my way down the hall. The voices grew louder, Addison and Gabi's overpowering Kristin's as they talked over one another.

I noticed the lights off as the kitchen came into view, and when I reached the end of the hall, I peaked around the corner to spot the three huddled together on the sofa, tucked under a single blanket with a discarded bowl on the floor and popcorn covering their laps.

Kristin sat between them, her shoulders shaking with silent laughter, her smile bright as she leaned into Gabi who laughed uncontrollably beside her. Addison sat beside them, looking at the mess in their laps with a pout, but with one look at the other two, her own laughter came out in muffles.

My heart swelled as I watched Kristin try to catch her breath. This was the first time I had seen her truly look comfortable here, curled on my sofa with my sister and her best friend, and while it may not have been me making her laugh like that, I couldn't find it in me to be jealous. I wanted her to make a life here, to find her place here, and I could only hope that this was the beginning of many more noisy movie nights between the three of them.

It had been almost four days since Kristin had met my parents, and that day in my office. After my parents had left, I had gone to find her locked in her room with Gabi waiting outside the door looking like a lost puppy. I had knocked twiced, both of which went unanswered, and while Gabi had left, I had sat quietly on the floor all night.

I counted the amount of times I heard her wake with a gasp or soft cry - six nightmares that I wasn't there to comfort her through. Instead, I sat until I could see the rays of the morning sky filtering underneath my office door, and when I finally heard her moving, I rose, knuckles tapping gently on the door frame.

There was a pause before she whispered softly, "I'm gonna take a shower, if that's okay?"

It was then that I knew we had taken more steps back than we ever had forward. Despite my desperation to see her, to hold her after what I know was a night full of haunting memories, I walked away. Acel had fought against me more than I think he ever had before, but I had meant what I said to my parents the night before.

I would be whatever she needed me to be, regardless of her future decisions. Her power had been stripped from her for years, and I'd be damned if it continued to happen. If that made me a submissive bitch, so be it. She'd be the only one I'd ever bow to.

Since then Kristin had become a shell of herself, only leaving her room when I would knock to tell her to come eat. Each night before bed I've walked past her door and knocked only for her to never open it. If I thought I knew sleepless nights before, it was nothing compared to the last week and a half. But seeing her now, I wondered how I was ever strong enough to be away from her.

I had been so wrapped up in my own thoughts that I hadn't noticed I was no longer trying to hide behind the wall. Looking up, I watched as Addison's eyes caught mine and she screamed, rethrowing the popcorn that they had been picking up. Gabi and Kristin jumped, whirling around and letting out screams of their own. When I reached behind me, flipping the switch to turn on the lights, they let out a collective sigh of relief.

"Grayson," Gabi shouted, throwing some popcorn at me. "Don't sneak up on us like that."

I raised a brow, looking around at the mess in my living room and while Kristin's cheeks flushed, Addison and my sister didn't bat an eyelash as they stared at me incredulously.

"It is my living room," I recalled, amused as I shot Kristin a reassuring smile and I tried to mask the surprise as she sent me one back - soft and sweet. She was relaxed, and I wanted nothing more than to kick the girls out and have her all to myself.

I looked towards the screen, finding it paused and I laughed, louder than I intended to, when I saw their choice of movie.

"Really? A horror movie about werewolves?"

From the smile on Kristin's face, she looked like she agreed with me.

"What?" Addison shrugged. "They get it so wrong it's laughable."

"Then why were you three screaming?"

Gabi and Kristin shared a look, but Addison was staring at the wall, seeming lost in thought but when she blinked, her shoulders raised on a sigh before falling.

"Seth needs me to come save him. Apparently, Wyatt has peed on him three times," Addison claimed, quickly picking up the rest of the popcorn before standing. "I'm sorry." She shot both of them an apologetic look, leaning down to give Gabi a hug, and she hesitated before reaching for Kristin.

"It's okay," Kristin said softly, wrapping her arms around Addison's neck. It was quick, but I could see the relief in Addison's shoulders. For a warrior, Addison wore her heart on her sleeve, and I knew how badly she wanted Kristin's acceptance. If Kristin was to be my Luna, Addison would be her Beta female - Addison's wolf craved her approval just as much as Addison did.

Addison shot me a bright smile in which I returned, squeezing her shoulder as she made her way towards the other end of the house.

"Give Wyatt all the kisses for me," Gabi called out.

Addison shouted something that I didn't catch as I watched Kristin fidget with the blanket in her lap. When she looked up and caught my gaze, the apprehension and guilt that passed through her eyes had me tensing.

Gabi stood, turning towards Kristin as she did. "I'm gonna go pop some more popcorn." Then my sister set her gaze on me. "Grayson, come watch a movie with us." There was no question or suggestion in her voice. It was a command, plain as day, that I didn't have any trouble following.

"Fine, but I'm not watching this shit," I called over my shoulder as I took a seat next to Kristin. It was the closest to her I had been in days, and I balled my twitching hands into fist to keep from reaching out for her. Her gaze returned to the blanket as she traced along one of the many pumpkins printed on it - Gabi had a problem with all things pumpkin this time of year.

Reaching forward, I grabbed the remote from the coffee table and held it out to her. She paused, eyeing it. "Pick," I urged, thrusting the remote towards her once again. Her thin fingers avoided mine as they wrapped around the end furthest from me.

Kristin silently began flipping through movies, pausing every once and a while to read a summary. I watched her unapologetically, and I didn't miss the way her cheeks reddened. She never looked in my direction though.

I needed to get her to talk to me. We needed to find common ground again because I couldn't keep doing this. It was driving me crazy. I had given her as much space as I could give and now, with her relaxed, I was going to push my boundaries.

Oh, fuck me.

While my parents had been giving us space, that still hadn't stopped my mother from pestering me about Thanksgiving in two days. When I had cut off my mind link it had only resorted to my mother blowing up my phone, and when I had failed to answer my phone, she had sent emails.

"If you want her to grow here, she needs to meet the pack, Gray," my mother had said right before she left a handful of nights ago. "She isn't gonna get any better if she doesn't have a community. Besides, the pack is talking, they are curious. You need to address the situation."

Sometimes it felt like my mother was more in charge than my father. My entire career as Alpha, while still influenced by my father, was heavily led with the knowledge that my mother had gifted me over the years.

And while I knew she was right, it didn't mean I wanted her to be. Kristin freaked out meeting my parents, how in the hell was she meant to handle an entire pack right now?

I sighed. Acel had been extra moody this week.

"This okay?" Her voice was soft, so full of question that my chest ached. I hated the uncertainty in her tone. I hated how uncertain she sounded around me. But nonetheless, I turned my attention to the television to see she had landed on another disney movie - Tangled.

I chuckled.

"That works, sweetheart." Her face turned even redder if that were possible. It felt good to see I had an effect on her after three days of her ignoring me. "You really like Disney princesses, huh?"

It was then that I noticed Gabi had disappeared, the popcorn popping away in the microwave.

"Yeah," she whispered with a small smile, back to fiddling with the blanket. "When I was little, my parents would always read me the stories, indulge me in the occasional costume, and watch these movies with me for hours. There were times I would ruin the disks from watching it so much, but my dad would run out and replace it before I noticed."

Her gaze fell to the coffee table, and I watched her throat bob on a swallow.

"I may not dress up any more or have the story books, but," she trailed off in a whisper, and I imagined the comfort that came with these films. The tiny piece of home that she no longer had.

My throat ached with emotion.

"I'm really sorry about the other night."

I swallowed, brows furrowed in confusion as I reached forward, desperate to touch her. The warmth at the tip of my finger shot up my arm the moment I touched the underside of her chin, turning her towards me.

"What's there to be sorry for," I asked, tucking a loose piece of hair behind her ear. It was down for the first time since the hospital, nearly falling into her lap in dark waves. "I'm sorry for their behavior."

Her green eyes shimmered before she gave me a little smile. When her bottom lip began to tremble, she wedged it between her teeth. The sight socked me low in the stomach.

"You're their son, their behavior is warranted," she said, her voice slightly deeper, a little rougher as she choked out, "I'm sorry if I gave them the wrong impression. That was never my intention. They just took me by surprise." She sighed shakily. "And, I didn't want to disappoint them."

I shifted closer to her, knee to knee as I grabbed her face with both hands, turning her to face me. A single tear slipped down her left cheek and that same nauseating feeling rolled through me as before.

I had killed without second thought, seen mutilated bodies, but nothing seemed worse than her crying.

"Gah," she laughed softly, "I'm sorry I'm always crying."

"Stop apologizing," I ordered, and when she opened her mouth, no doubt another apology making its way to her lips, I shot her another look that had her closing it. "In no way were you, nor could you have been, disappointing to my parents. They were worried, but not disappointed. They want you to meet them when you are ready." I rubbed gently beneath her eyes. "And, you went through something traumatic, Kristin. Something I'm not sure I'll ever be ready to hear, but if you find yourself wanting to talk about it, I want you to talk to me. Tears and all."

No matter how much they fucking hurt me.

"Thank you, Grayson." As my hands fell, she placed one of her own over mine. It shook, along with her next words. "Gabi told me about your parents wanting me to attend Thanksgiving on Friday."

I glowered, instantly knowing why Gabi had disappeared. Of course, she couldn't keep her mouth shut.

"Don't get mad at her," Kristin soothed, a little smile teasing the corner of her lips. "She mentioned it a few nights ago. She kept badgering me, continuously knocking on my door until I opened it."

Huh, she must have done that when I went for a run. I suppose if I wouldn't push, my sister would do that for me. She had always been incredibly good at that.

"You aren't obligated to attend. I wasn't even sure -."

"I want to."

Her words stopped me dead in my tracks. I stared at her as if she had formed two heads and all she did was tuck her chin. She wanted to attend after everything that had happened with my parents? How was it that she could barely look at me, but was still ready to face the entire pack.

"Your pack is clearly growing curious." I clenched my free fist at her words. I just wanted her to say our pack. It was hers just as much as mine. "You've been entirely too good to me, giving me more time than anyone else would." She swallowed harshly, eyeing me nervously. "I can't keep hiding out up here."

"I just," she sighed, eyes filling with apology. "While I didn't have a plan when escaping, you were the last thing I expected. The last thing I thought was possible." That last sentence rolled off her lips in a whisper I wasn't sure she knew I would catch. "I don't have a home to go back to, I don't have a family." With each word she spoke, my stomach curled tighter and tighter.

I wanted to give her all of those things - if she would just accept me.

Every cell in my body felt like it was on the highest adrenaline rush, waiting to plummet with every word she spoke. This was the most I had heard her speak, and I couldn't even revel in it because it felt like she was about to tell me something I didn't want to hear.

"But, I like it here." Thank fuck. "And while I don't think I'm ready to be introduced as your mate."

And there it was.

"I'd like to try meeting the pack, starting with remeeting your parents."

There weren't many times in my life that I had been left speechless, but I had a feeling that this wouldn't be the first time this woman would do just that. I hadn't realized I had been staring at her, unmoving, until her little hand waved hesitantly in front of my face.

"Grayson?"

I jumped, straightening.

"That's -," I had no idea what to say. This had been the last thing I expected when walking out here. Sitting in front of me, she was different than before, and I wondered what had transpired between her and her own thoughts the past four days. "Of, of course. Whatever you want."

Although I wasn't too fond of the idea of not introducing her as my mate. I would just figure out another way to lay claim to her. I didn't have to introduce her as my mate for the pack to know, there was no way they wouldn't pick up on it. They would wait patiently alongside me until she was ready.

"Thank you for being so patient with me," she whispered, and I think she noticed then that she had been playing with my fingers the entire time. She paused only for a second before continuing, squeezing her index finger between two of hers. "I know I haven't been the easiest mate in the world."

"Kristin, you owe me nothing." I clasped her fingers, intertwining them with mine. "Mate or not, I would've helped you. You would have had a place here." Her eyes filled with tears again but they didn't fall. "You'll always have a place here, no matter what. This is your home now."

Even if she were to reject me. Even if she decided tomorrow that she wanted nothing to do with me, she would have a place here, where I could protect her. Even if she fled, and I let her go, she wouldn't be without a watchful eye.

I would love and care for her until my last breath. Whether she wanted it or not, she would have a piece of me. But what I wouldn't give to have her love in return.

With a shaky hand, she touched her chest and nodded, and as another tear slid down her cheek, I knew in my heart it wasn't from pain, grief, or anger but perhaps the first tear of joy since her life crumbled.

So, with that, I placed a gentle hand on her blanket clad knee, and reached forward to grab the remote and start the movie. And it wasn't until half way in, with Kristin sleeping soundly next to me, my hand still on her knee as she cuddled a throw pillow, that I realized Gabi never came back.

As the morning of Thanksgiving rolled around, I was having a hard time remembering why I agreed to do this. I felt my stomach in my toes - my beautifully painted pink toes that Gabrielle insisted on. I wiggled them as I stared, taking a moment to appreciate the plush carpet between them.

It was little things I had taken for granted, and for as long as I lived, I wouldn't make that mistake again. Each morning I woke up in that soft bed, or stepped under the hot stream of the shower, I took a second to relish in it. Every time Gabrielle shared a laugh with me, or Grayson so much as simply smiled, I thanked my lucky stars to experience this.

No matter what happened, I wouldn't regret this. If Grayson rid of me tomorrow, I would be forever thankful of him, of his easy acceptance and the care he provided me so effortlessly.

I couldn't deny that I found comfort here, potentially love, and that made this morning so much harder. Acceptance wasn't something I ever wanted or needed from anyone until Aiden had stolen that security from me.

Now, as I stood in front of the full length mirror, I felt inadequate in a way that I never had before. Not even in the cellular, because I hadn't been there by choice. Today, I was where I so desperately wanted to be. And I wanted their approval

The reflection before me looked like me. The bruises had vanished along with most of the scarring on my body. I no longer looked starved, instead my face was filling out and my body temperature was regulating normally again. And thanks to Gabi, I supported a new haircut that fell to the tops of my breast, a light face of makeup along with a brand new dress that fell to just above my knees.

I looked the same as I had three Thanksgivings ago, only a little older with a bit more despair settled behind my eyes and more painful memories than good ones.

"Wow. You look beautiful."

I spun, finding Grayson leaning against the door frame, arms crossed over his chest looking far too goodlooking for me to keep my distance. But I did. And I hated myself a little for it. I had every right to walk across the room and kiss him. To wrap my arms around his neck and let him show me just how beautiful he thought I was.

He was mine. I had that right. But he had every right to reject me once he found out the truth.

Kita was right. But I wasn't ready for that pain, and I was entirely too selfish.

"You cut your hair."

He stalked towards me, like a wolf after its prey, and I wasn't sure what I wanted him to do. Equal parts of me were terrified and excited. Two weeks of resisting him was enough to prove that my insecurities spoke louder than my self restraint, but not by much.

He reached forward, touching the ends and I could feel the tips of his fingers through the thin material of my dress. It was slightly curled, and I was well aware of the fact that had I worn it straight, he would've brushed my nipples.

Nope. Nope. Absolutely not going there.