I was so tired, standing there for so long especially now that Kallie was in my arms. But I wanted to relish the time I was spending with my parents. I wasn't sure when Isa slipped out, but by the time I noticed, the sky was dark outside through the window.

Xavier could tell I was tired. I knew because he had shifted his body so close to mine that I was practically leaning on him for support. We were discussing recent affairs with my home pack in Vernal, and how Mom and Dad would need to be getting back soon — but they would stay as long as I needed them — when Xavier cut in to address my exhaustion.

"April-"

"I'm fine," I insisted, but he definitely knew that was a lie.

"Here," he whispered, reaching his arms out to the child I held. Kallie was nearly asleep on my shoulder, her eyelashes fluttering against my neck as she fought the drowsiness. Xavier pried her off my chest and settled her on his where she barely had to adjust before snuggling into him.

I wasn't sure why we never sat down on the couches behind us. I supposed we were too caught up in our conversation for it to matter. It was starting to matter now, though.

My mother's eyes missed nothing. "Sweetie, maybe we should let you get to bed."

I wanted to say I was fine, but everyone in the room knew I wasn't. But it felt wrong to leave the conversation in open air. "Mom," I started, "you can head back home anytime. I'm okay, I promise."

She opened her mouth to protest, but I rushed to continue. "I'm eternally grateful that you guys came out to look for me when I was missing. And that you're here now that I'm back. I'm so happy I got to see you and talk to you, and that you met Kallie. But I also have Xavier now, a wonderful mate that is here for me as I am for him. My home is here now in Virginia and yours is there in Utah." Her eyes were welling up again, but I knew she knew what I said were only facts. I reached out with my hands. "We'll visit, and you can visit whenever, too, okay? I'll make sure my kids know their grandma."

We all knew this would be inevitable once I had found my mate. I think my mom just secretly wished we would be living closer to home. But Xavier's pack was here. My parents pack was there. There was no changing that, just as there was no changing the fact that I was growing up, and this was me leaving home for good. Throwing my arms around her, I gave her a strong hug. And then I did the same to my father.

"I love you guys. I'm so tired right now that I might pass out, but say goodbye to me before you leave whenever that is. But remember I'm also leaving. My home is Xavier's pack now."

I looked over my shoulder to see the biggest grin Xavier had ever given me. Before I was taken we had been discussing my living arrangements, so I knew how badly he was hoping I'd say something like that soon.

"Of course, Honey," Mom said, stroking my cheek. Dad kissed my other cheek and they both walked out of the room. But not before Dad turned and said:

"Please don't pass out on us, that would be very bad."

I chuckled, turning to duck into Xavier's arm. It was mostly for support; more than I cared to admit to myself. My legs were beginning to shake, barely able to keep myself upright.

He leaned down and kissed my head. "C'mon." And then he guided me out of the room and up the stairs.

The thought of sleeping arrangements for Kallie hadn't crossed my mind until I stood in the middle of my bedroom. "Xavier," I started to say but then I saw he was crouching down next to the bed, lowering a sleeping Kallie to the floor. Walking closer, I saw a blown up air mattress already made with sheets and blankets and a pillow. Gratitude swelled in my heart for Emerald, knowing she had been the one to do this for us and my heart continued to swell for my mate as I watched him tuck the child into the blankets, pulling them up to her chin.

I was smiling at him in adoration when he straightened up.

"What?"

"Nothing." I said, stepping to the other side of the bed and climbing beneath the comforter. But we both knew what my look meant. It was the same expression Xavier had given me after watching me interact with Jade.

There was just something about watching your mate care for a pup that made them so much more attractive. And it brought the baby fever to an all time high.

But I couldn't think about that. Kallie wasn't even ours officially yet, and one child would be a lot for us at the beginning. We were going into this blind, with no experience besides our siblings and such. Besides, I had no idea how long it would even take for me to be comfortable enough to consummate our relationship. Trauma like that isn't something a person recovered from immediately. But I was happy that Xavier knew about it; it made me feel safer about the entire thing.

He joined me in the bed, but stayed on his side of it. His eyes gave away that he was restraining himself, so I closed the distance and curled up against him. Immediately his arms snaked around me, holding me close until we both fell asleep cocooned around each other.

🐾 🐾 🐾

I woke up alone, tangled in the covers after the best sleep I'd had in what felt like years. When I sat up, I realized I actually wasn't alone. Xavier and Kallie sat on the floor at the end of the bed. I couldn't tell what they were doing.

Crawling to the end of the bed, I asked them.

"Morning," Xavier said first, glancing back to give me one of those smirks I loved so much. I wondered if he knew how much I enjoyed them.

"We're packing." Kallie answered my question.

"Packing?"

"Thavier says we don't live here."

"Right." I whispered, laughing to myself at what a hurry he was putting into that. "He's right, this is Emerald and River's pack. I lived here until I met him."

"But all your stuff is still here."

Xavier chuckled, folding a shirt and placing it in a box. "That's why we're moving it."

I leaned over the edge of the bed to whisper against my mate's ear. "Did you pack the clothes Em gave us for Kallie?"

He shook his head and I smiled, overjoyed we had the same thinking. "It's probably better to just take her shopping for her own stuff."

Grinning, I kissed his cheek before sliding off the bed all the way to join them on the floor. He stilled for a moment at the contact, and then his grin matched mine. Heading to the bathroom to do my morning business, I left them there to continue their packing. When I was done, I joined them, reaching for a shirt to fold and add to the box.

"Nope!" Xavier protested, snatching it from me.

"Hey!"

He stood, scooping Kallie along with him and causing her to drop the shirt she was currently trying her best to fold somewhat neatly. He also pulled me back to my feet. "I think it's time for breakfast!"

"Xavier!" But I let him drag us down the stairs into the dining room nonetheless. I couldn't tell if he really thought I needed to eat right that moment — which would be a valid point considering how much Kallie and I were undernourished — or if he just didn't want me to have to help. But dragging himself away still meant that we'd have to finish later anyway.

The second we plopped ourselves in front of the table, an Omega served us plates of scrambled eggs and sausage links. Kallie dug in instantly, scarfing it down until she was practically licking the platter clean.

"Woah, there!" I laughed through my own bites. "Slow down or you'll make yourself sick!"

"This is the most I've ever gotten to eat for breakfast!" She explained after swallowing her final bite. Xavier tensed at the words, but I knew she didn't mean in her whole life. She just couldn't remember a time she was well fed like this.

At least that's what I told myself. Like Xavier, I couldn't bear the thought of her never having access to enough food, even as a tiny pup — er I guessed she would be called a cub. The only explanation for that being a possibility was if she came from a line of Omegas in a. . . more savage pack environment.

Maybe it was a good thing her memories hadn't returned.

The foyer door swung open, and when I turned to see who was joining us, May already had her arms thrown around me.

"Oh!" I laughed, taken completely off-guard. "Hi, May!"

"We're here to say goodbye. Mom says we've already missed so much school and been gone from the pack too long." May told me, but there were tears in her eyes and I knew she hated she was leaving me after only just getting me back.

I stroked her hair, "you'll visit soon." I promised, "Mom won't be able to stay away!"

Mom sighed as she joined us. "Unfortunately, she's probably right."

May giggled through her tears, the sound piercing my heart to let me know I wouldn't get the privilege of hearing it for quite some time. "You have to come to Utah, too!" She insisted, "the pack will miss you."

Resisting the urge to grimace, I just squeezed her tighter to me. Honestly, I couldn't be sure how often I would truly go home. That seemed unfair to my family to expect them to do the traveling, but I could be sure the members of my home pack weren't missing me that much.

When May finally untangled herself from me, August took her place, reminding me again of how much he had grown since I had been home. His shoulders had filled out, his muscles prominent against my skinny form as he squeezed me tight. It wasn't long before he would shift, and somehow I could sense the tension, as if the entire family were constantly holding their breaths as they waited for it. Everyone wanted to know — were even afraid to know — what he would turn into, if he turned at all.

I hated that for him, the constant pressure and anxiety as he was compared against me like that. The thought urged my arms to tighten more around his back, burying my face to his neck.

"I love you," I told him. His breathing stilled, and then he relaxed as if that was all he needed. "I can't wait to see the Alpha you turn out to be."

His next breath was shakier, almost rippling, as if he were fighting tears. "Thanks, April. I love you, too."

Standing upright, he briefly pressed his lips to my hairline and I closed my eyes, feeling as if our roles reversed for a moment and he were my big brother, not the other way around.

I stood up for Mom, uncomfortable that everyone was hugging me one at a time as if in a schoolyard line. When I embraced her, I said, "I didn't mean I was kicking you out."

She chuckled, "I know. But everything you said was right. You've grown up, you don't need me the same."

"I'll always need my mother." Then I added, "and Kallie needs her grandmother."

Her arms stiffened at the thought, and then relaxed into an even bigger bear hug. I knew the thought of her being a grandmother to Kallie brought her more joy than she cared to let on.

Finally, Dad pulled me into his chest and patted my back. "I'm proud of you, kid." He didn't need to say anything else, or we both might have cried. Those words were enough to portray everything he meant by them, and I appreciated every single one.

"Thanks. I love you guys."

They each quickly hugged Xavier to say goodbye, and Mom made sure to include Kallie in the ordeal. She even teared up when Kallie simply said "bye Grandma" as if the use of the word was an every day occurrence for her. I wrapped my arms around myself, warming at the interaction.

Of course, May had to sneak the last hug in with me, and then they were off, disappearing around the door with a final wave. A shudder racked my body as it sank in. My family were gone, I had my own family now, with Xavier and Kallie. I wasn't a kid any longer.

I had gone through this feeling when they dropped me off here for college, but this time around it felt completely new, and much more heartbreaking. It had been nine months, yet I felt like I had suddenly aged seven years.

My feet stayed rooted to the spot, my body pointed towards the door they disappeared to for who knew how long. I even started a little when Xavier slid an arm around my waist in a side-hug.

He planted a kiss to my temple, "ready to go home?"

I sucked in air to clear my head and focus on what the next bit of our future held. Xavier's pack would become mine, and there it held our home, our territory, our new life together. My eyes glanced at Kallie, who had a glass of juice lifted to her lips — the cup big enough it covered her eyes — and realized with a thud of my heart that she also had new family to meet. Xavier's parents were waiting to welcome us with open arms, and I was sure they — as well as Everlee and Andrew— couldn't wait to see us.

"Let's go."