Zayn pov

"Have you been taking care of my lovely son?" Harry's mother asked me as she engulfed me into a hug. I had to withheld the growl that Cade wanted to let out at the physical contact.

"I try my best ma'am." I respond to her question.

Harry's mother gives me a smile, "How many times do I have to tell you to call me Anne!" she then lets go of me and continues towards Harry. Finally.

Harry hugs his mother and avoids the comments about his slight weight loss. Not eating for nine days shows on his already slim body, but he's been eating healthy since i got him back. I'm making sure of it.

"I'm fine mom! I've just been working out recently." Harry gives his excuse, "I didn't change my diet so I was

starting to lose weight, but I've changed it now, and I'm gaining weight again."

Anne hugs Harry tighter, and I have to withhold a growl once again. "Oh, baby! I'm glad you're trying to be more healthy but please keep an eye on your weight. You have always been skinny!"

Harry reassures her and then moves on to his dad. Des had greeted me with a stiff nod which I returned but Harry gives his dad a big hug, and I can see the happiness in his eyes. Harry will always be his little boy to him, I know that.

After meeting up with his parents once more we all head towards the living room. Today was Christmas Eve, so we were spending the night at Harley and Will's house. Or well,

Anne and Des knew it as just Harley's house. They didn't know that Harley and Will were living together just like they didn't know about Harry and I.

Tomorrow was a family day. Harry was excited to see his aunts and uncles again, and feeling his excitement and happiness automatically made me happy as well.

Harley and Anne made dinner while the rest of us set the table and spent time on the couch. Des gave Will and I an interrogation on how his children were doing while Harry was scolding him for it.

When we were all sat at dinner, Harley spoke up, "Will and I are thinking about moving in together."

All eyes immediately went to her father, who turned white, "What? You haven't even been together for a year!"

Harley rolled her eyes, "Will is 25 years old, and I'm almost 24, I think we can decide when we're ready to live together."

I mean, they've been doing it for the past few months anyway.

"Where are you planning on living?" Anne asked, seemingly not as bothered by the idea, "You moved to this house only a couple of months ago."

Really, Harley hadn't moved to a house on her own, but had moved in with Will once they had mated. To prevent a heart attack from her parents though, they pretended Harley bought the house and Will lived somewhere else.

"That's why we're going to live here. Will's rental contract is ending in February, so he'll fully move in by then." Harley lied flawlessly.

"Have you thought about this? What happens when the two of you possibly break up?" Des asked.

"We have thought about all that," Harley lied straight through her teeth, "Don't worry, dad. I know what I'm doing."

Des let out a sigh and Anne started consoling him.

'I suppose it's better if we wait until we break the news we've been living together for months and are now planning on building a brand new house.' Harry links me.

I can't help but grin. We quickly decided that we weren't going to live in Ray's house. The place reeked of his

stench and I wasn't going to put up with it. Instead, we'd already made plans for building our own house. It would be similar to the house I built before, but it had some tweaks here and there.

We'll tell them once the house is finished.' I linked back.

A bunch of pack members already offered help, and unlike the previous house I built, I wanted it to be a pack effort. That way we could all get to know each other while building the house. It was a good activity for the pack members and their new Alpha couple.

'Weren't you planning on completing it before Summer?' Harry linked me with a raised eyebrow.

I just shrugged. I was hoping the planning phase would be fully complete as soon as the snow melts around March, and with the help of the pack, I'm hoping to build the

house in record time.

Until the house is finished, we were going to have to live at the pack house or at Harry's apartment. To avoid suspicion with her family and friends we have to keep the apartment until the house is finished and it was closer to Harry's work, though he was planning on carpooling with Marcel whenever he stayed at the pack house.

I know the next months will be hectic, with a new pack and confusing living situations, but in the end it will all be

worth it.

When I returned to the conversation Harley was still bickering with her father about being sure living together with Will would be the right decision. Anne was trying to calm down Des and Harry was just watching it all happen.

When the argument finally ended, Will was allowed to move in. Not that there was really any say in that matter. The rest of dinner went smoothly and we ended up spending the evening watching the movie Love Actually.

Harry's parents left around 11PM, and I was grateful to the Goddess I could sleep in the same bed as Harry tonight. Des had warned both Will and I to sleep in different rooms, and we of course nodded like the innocent little wolves we are.

The next day, we headed towards Harley and Harry's grandmother's house again. Surprisingly, we were the last ones to arrive. Harry was blaming me for taking too long

in the shower but he forgets to mention that he was in the shower with me the entire time. I guess I could have just washed us and then got out, but where is the fun in that?

After greeting all of Harry's aunts and uncles again, we sat down at the table and were quickly joined by Michael.

Little pup had been excited to see us again, and he proudly showed us some pictures he made a few weeks

ago.

"It's more difficult to find animals right now, since most are in their hibernation." Michael told us, "But I still managed to find some out there!"

"Good job, pup." I told him with a smile. I remember the cold winters in Maine. It was tough finding food at times, and Cade and I really had to depend on our skills. For a little pup like him to find animals during Winter was quite impressive.

Michael frowned slightly at my words but ended up nodding his head. Anne asked Harley to help her in the kitchen for lunch and Will, Harry and I kept chatting with Michael.

Eventually the aunts and uncles joined us at the table as lunch was served. I readied a plate for both Harry and I and placed it in front of him.

"Zayn, I don't eat this much." Harry pointed out but I just gave him a look and told him he needed to gain weight.

Harry was about to say something when more food dropped on my plate.

I looked up to see harry's grandmother smile at me, "You still need to grow."

"Uh... thank you, but I think I'm fully grown." I tried to politely decline when I saw the woman reach for another serving.

Grandmother Mae narrowed her eyes, "If you're fully grown it's time for you to start having children. So you

either eat or give me great grandkids."

A wave of embarrassment rushed through the bond and I glanced at harry, whose face was redder than a tomato. I looked back at the grandmother, "I guess I'm still growing then."

Mae huffed and placed more food on my plate before moving towards Will, who already looked at the woman

with a panicked expression.

"You men eat like wolves anyway." Mae muttered, making Will, Harley, Harry and my eyes widen like saucers.

'Do you think she...?" Harry linked.

To which I shook my head, 'Probably just an expression.'

After lunch I felt like my stomach could explode, so harry led me to the couch and left me there to recover as he cleaned up the kitchen. I hated the fact that he was in another room, but I can't be a possessive asshole in front

of his family.

My possessiveness has reached an all new height. Us mating and him being kidnapped has wired every protective instinct I have and I know it's showing.

I'm grateful for my mate though. He hasn't pointed it out and i know from his emotions that he's not bothered by it that much. I hope it will lessen in the coming weeks. I know I'm being extreme.

Michael sat down next to me, "I was hoping you'd help me with pictures again, but I see you're recovering from grandma."

"How have you survived her so far?" I asked teasingly,pointing out that the pup hadn't suffered her wrath.

Michael shrugged, "I think she's just messing with you guys. She never feeds us that much. I think she wants

those grandkids."

I chuckled, "She should be asking Harry, then. I wouldn't mind some pups, Harry is still young though."

Michael frowned, "Why do you call kids pups?"

"Because that's what they are. Pups." I simply point out.

Michael raises an eyebrow, "I mean, I guess. But it's kind of weird referring to children as dogs."

I shrug. I guess for humans it would sound strange. I grew up with my parents calling me their pup. It's completely normal for wolves. Harry doesn't seem to mind either.

"I've called them pups for as long as I can remember."

Michael rolls his eyes, "You're weird." He then pauses, "Why do you call me pup?"

"Because you are." I once again explain.

Michael pouts, "I'm not a puppy."

I can't help but grin. I guess I'm hurting the pups pride here.

"Whether you like it or not. You are a pup."

Michael just groans, "When will I be upgraded to man?"

I glance at him, an amused expression on my face.

At my expression, Michael scowl deepens "we will see"

---

As soon as we got back to Harley and Will's house cade shifted and got into bed. Harry chuckles and joins him, hugging him and holding him

close.

Cade purrs in satisfaction. Harry giggles, "You're adorable, Alpha."

Cade doesn't respond. Right now, he's focused on the sparks between us, and rightly so. Harry sighs in content and scratches Cade behind his ears. Cade in return rolls over so his stomach is in the air,.asking for belly rubs.

"You know," harry starts as he complies with Cade's wishes, making us both groan in satisfaction, "Never in a million years would I think I'd end up here when I bought you."

'Were we worth the 125 dollars?' Cade links.

Harry giggles, "I think you should have been worth much more."

'I'm glad. That damn shelter didn't respect us at all.' Cade links angrily.

Harry rolls his eyes, "They didn't know they were dealing with an Alpha."

Cade grumbles, ' They should have.'

Harry just shakes his head and cuddles up with Cade again. "I love you, Cade, zayn." He whispers.

His love spreads through our body, and Cade and I link back at the same time, 'I love you too."

"We have a lot ahead of us." Harry says. It sounds like he's talking more to himself than to us.

'We'll be fine.' I reassure her through the link.

"I know. Just thinking about it all. I'm not worried about anything. I know that you'll be here if I mess up. " he

says and his emotions hold true to his statement.

I smile inside the back of my mind. ' I know you won't mess up.' Cade links.

Harry smiles down at us, "Everyone makes mistakes."

'Making a mistake and messing up are two different things.' I link.

Harry chuckles, "Whatever. I trust that you'll keep me out of trouble."

I smirk, 'Have you seen us? We're trouble magnets.'

"No we're not! We haven't ran into too much trouble so far." Harry defends us.

'We nearly died.' Cade points out.

"Minor detail." Harry says with a laugh.

Cade lets out a snort which makes Harry look at us in question.

"How do you even do that? Wolves don't snort." Harry asks.

'We're a werewolf.' Cade explains.

Harry doesn't seem convinced. "That doesn't change anything!"

Cade then shrugs, something I know he did just to annoy Harry further.

"Wolves don't shrug either." Harry grabs the bait.

Cade lets out an amused grumble and Harry scowls at us as soon as he feels our amusement through the bond.

"You should be happy you're cute."

Cade groans, 'We're not cute.'

"You are." Harry says with another giggle.

'We're not.'

"I love you."

Just like earlier, our voices mix together as we respond at the exact same time, 'I love you too.'