I stretched from the bed and yawned. "If we don't have to leave for a few hours, I think I'm ready to go help that wolf now."

William sat up from the headboard following me. "I don't want you to go yet. You keep losing your energy every time. We're going to have to take them slowly I think."

"Maybe I just need practice. The more I can do, the better I can get."

"Maybe," he relented. "But you can practice some more when we get back."

"Are the Gammas okay?"

He nodded. "They are in the hospital wing right now. They're both still unconscious. We thought they abandoned ship and went to live at another pack. It makes me wonder about all the other runaways and possible deaths now."

"Maybe they can help tell where the problem comes from?"

He grabbed my hand in his. I was getting used to the feel already. "The Alpine Ridge man can't remember anything. The last thing he remembers is running as a wolf around his pack border two months ago."

"That's horrible."

"He's been given fluids and his Alpha contacted. They are coming for him tomorrow. His Alpha is awaiting the rest of the four that we have of his pack. He says they have three of the wolf creatures in their cellar too."

I bit my lip nervous. "So I guess I have my work cut out for me."

He squeezed my hand. "We need you, but you need to work at a gentler pace. I don't think you should be healing too many a day."

A slight grin lifted my lips. "Okay, two before breakfast. One after lunch. Three after dessert?"

He laughed. "Well, I do think a meal would help." He then started to drift his thoughts. "What time do we need to leave here?"

I made a quick calculation. "Probably by eight would be good."

He looked to me a hesitant question in his eyes.

"What?" I asked a bit uneasy.

He shook his head, "oh nothing." He then turned back more confidently. "Actually, what would you say about meeting my parents for dinner? Is it too soon? My mother is dying to meet you."

"Oh," I startled. You're a mate Caroline, suck it up. "Um yes, I think I can do that. We're mates right? I should be able to be brave enough to meet your family."

"We can wait if you're not ready."

I shrugged. "I faced murderous werewolves today, might as well face an enthusiastic mother." I looked to him nervous. "Do you think she'll like me?"

He pulled my hand to his lips and kissed it. Heat flooded to my stomach. Oh gosh! I started picturing the feel of his hands all over me again.

He chuckled. "Remember to think about what you link people. Not that I'd ever mind knowing anything you thought about."

"Oh no!" I cried, pulling my hand back in humiliation. "I linked that? Sorry!"

He grabbed my hand again. "I already said don't be sorry about things like that. I like knowing that you want to be with me." I tried to make a cautious sound, but he spoke over me. "I know that I need to wait for you to adjust."

I bit my lip, gazing around the room. "Thanks, sorry."

He put our hands down to my lap, keeping them entwined. "And yes, I think my parents will love you very much. But remember I've been without my mate for twelve years now, they may try to embarrass me hoping for grandkids too soon."

My head tilted flirtatiously. "What's too soon?"

It was his turn to let redness sweep up his neck. "Oh, uh, I'm not sure. Whenever is too soon for you."

"So you want kids right away?" I pressed with a smirk.

He shrugged and the nervous way he was acting was incredibly adorable.

I let flirty Kara slide back in my head. "I do want kids. But maybe we should wait at least nine months?"

He laughed and pulled me into a hug. He inhaled down my neck after a minute and then pulled away. "So what do you think? Should I ask my mom to make us dinner?"

"I don't want to be a bother."

He grinned wide and sat back on his arms facing me. "Oh, you would not be a bother. She'd be overjoyed to be able to cook and it would be more private than going to the mess hall."

"Well, if you say so. Then yes. I'd love to meet them and have dinner."

"You sure? I'm going to link them if so?" His handsome eyes swept mine.

He then grinned. Thank you.

You're welcome. Dinner will be okay.

That yes, but I think your eyes are lovely too.

Oh? I thought back to what I was just thinking. Did I say he had handsome eyes right to his face? I said that linked? Not sure how to control it.

Well, I like your walls down and you allowing me in. I don't ever want you to hide things from me. But if you don't want me in, you can imagine it like a door and close the connection.

Okay. I concentrated and imagined a door in front of my brain and grabbed the knob closing me off. And then I knew it worked because I immediately felt like I was in the pure darkness of solitary confinement. I gasped. A blackened empty feeling surrounded me like actual stabbing pain. It was horrible. It was like I shut out all the air from my lungs. Like all my senses had deadened.

"That's it," he commented anxiously, staring into my eyes, brows lowered nervously and eyes speckling with golds.

"I don't like it!" I wheezed in concern and imagined shoving the door back open, letting oxygen whoosh back into my lungs.

"Me neither," he nodded, eyes smoothing over to blues. "It's probably part of the absolute submission. We allowed each other stronger access than usual. You cut out Eric pretty good though."

"I did?"

He chuckled. "Yeah. At the wedding line. Every wolf in twenty feet heard you slam the door."

"Really?" I looked away trying to imagine it, then back to him. "Why don't I hear your unguarded thoughts?"

You might be still learning, or re-learning, how to use it. It will probably get tighter as you've used it a while. Just think of it like sending a text. Formulate the words and send them, and don't worry if you butt dial me for a while.

I burst out laughing and leaned forward to rest my head against his shoulder. "Good analogy."

He laughed with me and then palmed down my hair. "Your laugh is so perfect."

I sat back and smiled bashful. "I like yours too."

I'll try to make sure my door is open for you too. I don't mind you knowing when I think you're beautiful. Like right now.

I played with my hands a shy moment, then looked back. "You can call your mom. I'm sure."

His grin widened with a sunny sight. "I'll bring you in, on a group chat so to speak," he winked.

And then I heard as the 'knocking' sounded on another thought.

Mom? Dad?

Yes? Two thoughts answered. This was crazy!

Caroline and I wondered if we could join you for dinner tonight? Would you be interested in guests?

Caroline! Oh my goodness! His mother yelled through my head. I could almost see the words. Yes please, oh! My word... She's here! Hi Pumpkin!

I giggled out loud, a look going to William. Hi Mom. Can we come to dinner?

Yes of course! Oh my Honey, she called me mom. Caroline dear, what do you like to eat! I'll make anything you want.

Even my thoughts smiled. I'm happy with whatever. I'm not too picky but I'm allergic to shrimp, so no local Fish Lake shrimp fry. Like there would ever be shrimp in that lake.

Her thoughts laughed delighted.

William's dad's sounded as well. Clever girl you got there Will.

Okay Miss Caroline. Is six o'clock okay?

Sounds lovely Mom.

William's voice pressed in. We'll see you then.

Bye dears!

Bye.

And just like that, the door closed. And it was easy to imagine a door their way. Maybe William just got a screen door? Maybe a curtain?

Maybe I should just stop caring if he hears.

I took a deep breath. "They sound nice."

"They're great."

I checked the time again. "What do you want to do for a couple hours?"

"Learn everything about you." His hand brushed hair from my face.

I blushed. "We'll take turns."

"Deal."

The Beta families, along with the Alpha, Gammas, Tech and Trackers lived on the top floor, so when six o'clock neared we headed for the stairs hand in hand.

Will had been telling me about him and Eric's embarrassing truth-or-dare skinny dipping episode with some cute girls back in high school.

"Then that snobby prep of a girl, grabs my clothes and throws them in a tree! She was trying to impress Eric. I know she was always hoping to be mates with him. And while I'm holding a frisbee to my junk spread wide eagle climbing the tree trying to get my clothes back, Eric took a picture! He's probably still got it, holding on to it like blackmail."

I burst out in laughter and brightened as it echoed gracefully around the stairwell.

As I suddenly stopped laughing and my steps, he looked back worried. "What is it?" His eyes then skimmed to the large window at the landing, probably worrying I was going to go crashing through it.

But I only smiled and looked up through the corridor of stairs. "Nothing, just..." I yelled, "Echo!" My words echoed around me.

"Oh," he laughed. "Yeah, the sound is good in here." He gave his own yell as he stepped on the landing. "Hello!" His hello reverberated up and down the stairs.

I sang a musical scale and giggled as the music surrounded us.

He smiled and guided me to the landing beside him. "Would you sing for me?"

"Uh," I blushed. "I don't know. I would be too nervous I think?"

He held his hands out. "Please? I'd like to listen."

Anything for that face. "Well, okay then. I guess." I took a calming breath and started to sing a song from Cinderella that had been on my mind.

♪ Ten minutes ago I saw you.

I looked up as you came through the door.

My head started reeling

You gave me the feeling the room had no ceiling or floor ♪

The echoing music made me feel like I was back on stage with a grand audience. I started really getting into it with the arm movements I used when I was performing. Music flowed through me and then I realized that I really did have an audience! I turned to William as I quieted the next line.

"Keep going. They just want to hear too."

I turned back to the stairs as heads started peeking over rails, and just went for it.

♪ We are dancing, we are flying

And he's taking me back to the skies! ♪

William looked on adoringly, so I pressed my hair back away from my neck and continued, letting the song fill me.

When the last note ended, I realized the stairs were crowded with people of all ages now. All there to hear my impromptu song. I gave an embarrassed wave as clapping filled the stairwell.

I took a silly curtsy and laughed. "Thank you."

"Do you know Think of Me? From Phantom of the Opera?" A familiar male voice called. I looked up to see Eric, a beautiful brunette holding a small toddler with him on the next platform up.

I shrugged at him bashful, holding two fingers held out to say a little.

"Sing that," he requested.

"Should I?" I asked William softly. "Will we be late?"

He pointed out an older couple up on the top flight. "That's my parents, so I don't think so."

I waved to them with a nervous giggle, "Hi."

His mother called down, "sing it!"

I looked back to Eric uncertain.

"Come on you chicken," he taunted, an arm tightening around the beautiful lady he had. I supposed that was his Andrea. Maybe it was her favorite song.

I spent a second racing through the lyrics, if I could remember them all. I was pretty sure I could, Phantom was a favorite of mine, though I could never hit some of Christine's high soprano notes to ever actually play her. I think I'd be good with Think of Me in a lower key though.

"Alright," I conceded, and Eric grinned triumphant.

♪ Think of me, think of me fondly

When we've said goodbye

Remember me, once in a while

Please promise me you'll try ♪

I let the music flow and sang through the song. It was so beautiful even to me with the enchanted tones of the stairwell. I even grabbed onto William and made him waltz me around a few lines.

♪ There will never be a day

When I won't think of you ♪

I was going to call that good and take my bows when Eric's singing voice lit up the stairway. He wasn't too bad. He surely could be the leading man at any community theater I've ever played in.

♪ Can it be, can it be Kara? Bravo! ♪

I started laughing as he inserted my name instead of Christine. I then realized why he wanted this song and groaned. He shushed me, "You're ruining the song Kara!" I nodded and let him continue.

♪ Long ago, it seems so long ago

How young and innocent we were

She may not remember me

But I remember her. ♪

I started clapping for him, but he yelled, "It's your line!"

I snickered and continued, "alright!"

I finished up the last verse, trying my hardest at the vocal run at the end and luckily did better than I expected.

William's parents started the cheering and clapping, but then his mother darted away. The lines of faces all gave wide smiles and hollered their thanks as William grabbed my hand and began to guide me up to the highest level.

Eric was now at the top floor when we stepped out. He smiled and motioned to the beautiful brunette. She was tall with full red lips and curvy hips. "This is Andrea." He then cooed at the toddler, tickling her sides, "and this little sweetie is Josephine."

I grinned at his playfulness with the girl, then held a hand out to Andrea. "Nice to meet you Andrea. I'm Caroline, or I guess Kara."

She laughed and shook my hand, balancing the girl. "Eric's talked a lot about you this weekend. Sounds like you two had quite a fun few years."

I shrugged. "Maybe you'll have to remind me all my own stories. My memories are still a bit fuzzy."

Eric's hands rubbed together, "Oh we'll make you remember."

I looked to William with a grin. "Should I be afraid?"

Eric's voice was deep and broad, "definitely."

"Definitely," Andrea echoed. "Well Kara, we'll let you get to dinner, but you have a lovely voice. I'm glad William called us."

I twisted to him incredulous. "Called?"

He shrugged with a smirk. "I wanted everyone to hear my girl. She's amazing."

"That she is," Andrea agreed. "Good to meet you Kara. Hope we can be friends."

"Certainly," I smiled at her. "Sorry you got stuck with this one," I pointed a thumb toward Eric.

"Eh," she spoke, "he's okay."

"Hey," Eric warned to her. "I did the dishes today!"

"Ooh big Alpha," I teased, "knows how to clean a plate!"

He laughed. "Get to dinner you two. That's an order!"

William gestured the door and guided us to it. I started toddling, arms up and balancing on straight legs. My words were slow and spooky. "Alpha orders! Must go to dinner!"

"Kara!" Eric laughed, shaking his head with amusement. "You haven't changed much."

William smirked at Eric. "See you later man."

Eric gave an appreciative breath and patted his shoulder. "See you later. Take care of my childhood crush."

Andrea whacked his arm. "Eric!"

He laughed, rubbing his arm. "Hey! You're it now babe! Don't be jealous."

She rolled her eyes and started through the door into the hallway. "I'm not jealous, you just shouldn't tease the new girl."

He followed after her, "Andrea Love, it's okay. She can take it!"

I giggled at their continued banter and William started guiding us after them. I followed his lead to his parents, still in a silly mood after Eric, no longer nervous about meeting the new in-laws.