Calli

I was sitting in our living room reading a book during a rare moment of free time when my phone started ringing. I frowned at it, trying to remember the last time it rang. It seemed like with mind linking the thing was almost obsolete. I picked it up and looked at the screen. ‘Mom’ flashed across it.

“Oh shit!” I scream and Finn runs into the room.

“What’s wrong?” He asks, concerned.

How the fuck did I forget to tell my parents that not only do I have a new boyfriend, but I moved in with said boyfriend and got a new job?

They are going to be so pissed.

Someone please pray for me.

“Hey Mom!” I yell excitedly into the phone. I can see the color drain from Finn’s face as he sits down across from me.

“Hey, Sweetie just calling to check in. Anything new?” She asks and I can tell by the sounds in the background that she is cooking something. I sigh and prepare myself for this conversation.

“Yeah, actually I’ve been meaning to call you. I have a new boyfriend.” I say and Finn frowns at me.

‘I’m more than a boyfriend, sweetheart.’ He mind links me and I scowl at him.

I do not need to be distracted during this conversation.

“That’s great, sweetie. What’s his name?”

“Finn. He’s wonderful, Mom. He’s really sweet and caring.” I say wistfully and Finn puffs up with pride.

“Well, bring him by. Your dad and I want to meet him.” Finn’s smile droops and he seems a bit anxious.

‘Nervous?’ I mind link him with a smug smile. All he does is nod and swallow hard.

“Sure, Mom. We’ll come see you tomorrow.”

“Oh good. I’ll make your favorite for dinner. And bring Penny. We miss that girl.” I smile thinking about how my parents practically treat Penny like family.

“Penny has a new boyfriend too. Camden is actually Finn’s brother. Can we bring him as well?” I ask.

“Of course! The more the merrier. I’ll have to get a big pot roast.” My mother says happily. There are few things in this world she loves more than feeding people.

“Well, Cam and Finn could probably eat a whole cow.” I say giggling and my mother laughs with me.

“They’re growing boys, sweetie. Don’t worry we’ll have plenty.” We exchange pleasantries and I hang up and look over at Finn who has turned a little green.

“What’s wrong?” I ask him, concerned. I cross the living room to his chair and plop on his lap.

“What if they don’t like me?” He asks me with wide, frightened eyes. I giggle and nuzzle his nose with mine.

“They will love you as much as I do.” I smile at him and lean forward to kiss him. He pulls away from me and gives me a hard look.

“We are not having sex tonight.” My eyebrows raise in surprise while a grunt of disapproval escapes me.

“And why the hell not?” I ask.

“Because I’m not going to meet your parents after spending the night fucking their only daughter.” He says standing and placing me back on the chair while putting some distance between us. I laugh and shake my head at him.

“They’re not werewolves, honey. They won’t be able to smell the sex on us.” He starts to pace the living room, running his fingers through his hair.

“That’s not the point, Calli. It’s the principle of the matter.”

“Ok, Ok. I had planned to let you tie me to the bed and do whatever you wanted to with me tonight, but I guess we’ll save that for another day.” I shrug and walk out of the room, adding a little extra sashay to my hips.

Finn’s head pops up and he eyes me speculatively before I hear him chasing after me.

“Really? Whatever I want?”

The next morning Penny and Cam are loading into our car when Finn comes up to smell me for the tenth time.

“Did you soap up twice like I told you to?” He asks nervously.

“Yes, Finn! Now stop! The only way my parents will know we had sex last night is if you tell them.” I say, my tone dripping with exasperation.

“Or if I tell them.” Cam pipes up with a wicked grin on his face.

“Do it.” Penny warns. “See what happens.” Cam immediately shrinks down into his seat and averts his eyes.

Penny is fucking scary.

“Hey where you guys going?” Ian calls. He and Layla are walking down the sidewalk hand in hand.

“To see my parents.” I say happily.

“I love your sweater, Luna. Where’d you get it?” Penny asks from the backseat. Layla’s face lights up and she smiles at me.

“Thank you! Calli knitted it for me.” Finn gasps and grabs his chest in dramatic mortification.

“You made Layla a sweater and not me!” He exclaims and I shrug.

“You’re like three times bigger than Layla. It’ll take me forever to make you a sweater.” I explain.

“I want a sweater too!” Ian says and I scoff.

“Ugh, my hands hurt just thinking about this.” I mutter and they all laugh. I hug Layla tight while Finn climbs in the car.

“We should do lunch this week.” Layla says to Penny and I. We agree and I get in the car with everyone else. Finn has barely pulled out of the driveway before Cam digs in to the snacks.

“Don’t you dare get chip crumbs all over my car.” Finn says while glaring at Cam through the rear-view mirror.

Cam grabs a handful of chips, crunches them in his hand and spreads them all over the floor. Finn gasps and narrows his eyes.

‘Tell Penny to put her seatbelt on.’ Finn links me. I do and she slips it on discreetly.

All of a sudden, Finn hits the brakes making Cam fly forward, hitting his face on the back of Finn’s seat.

“Ah, what the fuck!” He cries out while we all laugh at him as he cradles his nose in his hands.

“Now don’t get your blood all over my car.” Finn warns again and I giggle as he reaches over to hold my hand.

Cam sits and mutters profanities under his breath for most of the ride while Penny and I talk about my parents and all of the good memories in our small town. It’s only about an hour drive from the pack and we arrive quickly. I can barely contain my excitement as I climb the stairs to my parents two story colonial home. The brick is always so welcoming, and the soft glow of the porch light reminds me of so many evenings as a kid coming home.

“Mom! We’re here!” I yell out as we all file in. I hear her and my dad walking towards the door and turn to look at Finn, who is trying to hide behind me despite being nearly a foot taller and having fifty more pounds of muscle than I do. He reaches out to grab my hand and holds it so tightly it almost hurts.

‘Relax. You’ll be fine.’ I link him and send him a reassuring smile. He smiles back and visibly relaxes.

“Calli! Penny!” My mom cries as we take turns hugging both her and my dad. We introduce them to the boys and I nearly laugh as my dad tries to intimidate Finn with a firm handshake. Finn doesn’t even flinch while my dad tries to break his hand.

“Come on, kids. Dinner’s almost ready.” My mom says as she herds us towards the dining room.

“Calli, can you help me with the food?” She asks quietly and I nod while following her into the kitchen. Once we’re alone she turns and whispers to me.

“Good Lord those boys are huge.” I smirk at her and whisper back.

“Yeah. All of him is huge.” I wink at her and she scoffs.

“Gross Calli I don’t want to hear about that shit. Well, actually…” She trails off making me laugh and I reach out to hug her. She’s always so sweet and proper, but she can string curses together like a pro.

“He’s handsome though. They both are. You’d have such beautiful babies.” She sighs wistfully.

‘Tell her how many kids you want.’ I hear Finn’s amused voice in my head. I forget his werewolf hearing and realize he probably overheard our entire conversation.

“Yeah, I’m thinking eight kids.” I say and my mom nearly drops the plate of vegetables.

“Jesus, Calli. Warn a person before you drop a bomb like that on them. We’ll get to that later. Are you saying you think he’s the one?” She watches me and I can’t stop the warm smile that spreads across my face before I nod.

“Yeah, Mom. He’s the one. I’ve never been this happy.” Her eyes nearly cloud with tears as she hugs me.

“I’m so happy for you, sweetie.” She pulls away from me and starts to bustle out of the kitchen quickly. “But we need to get this stuff out there quickly so I can warn your dad before he pulls his shotgun out.”