CAROLINE

When we arrived at a basic oak wooden door along the hall, William stopped. "This is them. This is where I grew up."

"What's your parent's names?"

"Jerry and Nora." He knocked on the door and his dad was there ready.

"Son." He looked to me and grinned, "Caroline."

"Nice to meet you, Mr. Jerry-Dad."

He was a little rounder than you'd expect for a werewolf, but he was later into his years as well. He had William's same eyes and brilliant grin through a full scratchy beard.

"It's Dad," he laughed. Nora stepped up beside him, her blonde curls long around her heart shaped face. She was wiping her hands on a white apron. They were both in clothes fit for church. It made me feel a little underdressed in jeans. "This is my wife, Nora."

"Good to meet you Nora," I set out my hand for her and she instead pulled me into a full tight hug.

"You silly girl, don't start calling me Nora now." She smiled through her words and then placed a loving hand on my cheek. "Oh, you truly are beautiful. And that voice!" She made an appreciative noise. "I feel so light and tingly, like you sang right to my soul!"

"Thanks." I spoke with a shy smile.

She then released me back to William. "Dinner will be ready in just a minute. I just need to finish setting up the table."

"I can help," I offered.

"No, you don't need to do anything Pumpkin. Just give me one sec." She gave my hand a squeeze and then ran around a corner.

"I'll let you two wash up. I'm going to go remind her to breathe," Jerry chuckled and followed.

"The restroom is this way," William started stepping through the living room and before I could even start following I realized I'd seen this room before, or at least the furniture and placement. Maybe the walls were painted different.

There was the same dark blue couch against the wall, pointing at a tv. Sure it was a more updated tv, but unchanged wide bookshelf stand under it. A different armchair but same wooden coffee table beside as the vision. I almost expected to see a little boy in trouble sitting in the corner.

You showed me this room while we were dancing?

He stopped his walking and looked around the room, smiling. Well, not this room specifically. We moved here a few years after, but it does look very similar. He looked at the blue couch. Same couch at least. He laughed. Quite a bit more worn though.

I looked around in wonder, beaming at the family portraits and furniture. I felt like I was walking into a dream and not for the first time.

Nora's voice flowed from the kitchen. "Are you two getting washed up?"

"Yes mother," William grinned, eyes on me.

Sorry. I internally giggled and followed after him to the bathroom to wash.

A few minutes later we were all seated around a family table in a yellow painted kitchen. The white cabinets against the coloring made the room feel cheerful and the spread of crispy pork chops, oven roasted potatoes, fresh garden salad, and homemade rolls made my mouth water. The rolls had just come out of the oven, so the room had that fresh bread scent.

"It smells so lovely mom," I complimented.

"Thanks Pumpkin," she grinned and started passing dishes around.

"You had time to make rolls?" I asked, marveling at the fluffy texture as I grabbed one.

She blushed, "Oh, I got some premade dough from the kitchens when I found out you two were coming."

I worried as I plated a pork chop. "I'm sorry we dumped it on you. I didn't mean for you to make a fuss. We could have had cereal," I grinned.

"Nonsense!" She countered. "I'm not feeding my new daughter in law cereal for dinner!"

"Mom," William chastised. Be nice. Don't scare her off. She needs time to adjust to wolf life, she's lived as a human all this time. You can't call her things like that already.

I took the bowl of salad and tried to bite a smile away.

"Sorry Pumpkin," she spoke back to me. "I probably shouldn't be saying things like that. I'm just so happy for Will, I'm getting ahead of myself."

"It's fine," I said between salad bites. "You can call me things like that."

William's eyes dashed to mine. You heard that?

Was I not supposed to?

He grinned. No.

Guess you butt dialed me then.

He burst into laughter and I followed.

Jerry looked between us, pointing with the piece of pork chop on his fork, "what's so funny you two?"

I tried pressing the smile down, but I couldn't.

William's hand slid across my arm. "We're just both still adjusting to the mateship."

Nora speared some salad and glanced my way. "This must be hard for you, growing up human."

I shrugged, pushing things around my plate. "Yeah, I guess so. It's weird. I lived here a few years so I have all these hazy memories resurfacing about how I should act. But the bigger part of my upbringing was human so it's all conflicting." I turned William's way beside me. "So I'm sorry if I've been kind of hot and cold."

His hand fell to my leg and slid over my thigh like it had at breakfast. The feel brought a smile to my face. "I understand."

"William said you gave the absolute submission. How did you know about that? How did you learn about that ceremony so young?" His father asked eying my neck.

A quick look to their necks, showed no high mark, just shoulder mark. Then a clear picture started to form from Kara's memories. "My Grandmother Ruth. Her and Ralph did the ceremony. I asked her about her extra neck mark and she sat me on the ground and told me about it like some magical princess story. It stuck with me because I wanted to be as happy as she and my grandfather were." I bit my lip and looked down to my plate. "My parents fought a lot."

"They fought? Your parents were still mates though, correct?" Jerry asked accusingly.

Nora smacked his arm. "Honey."

I nodded. "They were mates. But while my mom was human, she wanted to be part of the pack. She loved pack life. My dad was excited to be mated to a human. He wanted to be part of human life with her. He loved her, they both loved each other dearly but they hoped for different things. It made them fight."

"So you saw accepted mates fight, but submitted mates in love." Nora smiled fondly. "And that's why you remembered the ceremony signals?"

"I guess so. It was kind of automatic."

"That's romantic."

I blushed.

"What's it like being submitted mates?" Nora questioned in interest.

William let a single breath out like a laugh. "What's it like being basic mates? Would either of us know the difference?"

I scolded, "don't call them basic."

He grinned lovingly and then started on his roasted potatoes. "I didn't mean it impolite. Just that we wouldn't know the difference personally. I never had parents that fought growing up."

"So you would have been okay with the single mark?" I worried I pressured him again.

"I'm okay with whatever you wanted. To be honest, I wasn't expecting to get a mate at all, so when you showed up and submitted my wolf was happy to do anything for you. He knew what the absolute submission signs were at least."

"I'm sorry I didn't know to come back sooner," I frowned.

"Love, no. You came back now because fate wanted you here now. Fate wanted to teach me patience." He stroked tenderly over my back.

I sighed and took another bite of food. "I just wish I would have remembered this place. Maybe things would have been easier. Maybe I would have known to try to come back."

"You can't help that. Your father purposefully tried to get you away from us and we can't blame him for that. You were really hurt. Your whole family died. This is a tough life. Wolves do die every day. Families can get torn apart. He was doing what he thought was best."

"I guess I feel like the last twenty years of my life has been wasted. Like I just woke up here."

Nora cut in. "It just means you were needed other places first Pumpkin. You needed to learn things to bring to us. Like being a vet."

I finally grinned a bit. "No one here has pets. Am I supposed to help the local jackrabbits?"

"That's not true. The Christensen's down on second level have a parrot." She smiled appreciatively.

I let out a soft laugh. "Okay. I can see my services are in dire need. A single parrot. I was supposed to stay away from my mate for a decade because Polly ate a cracker too fast."

The table laughed and William kissed my temple. I really was starting to get used to having his touch. Goodness, Kara was doing her job fast. William's inner wolf rumbled pleased that I had referred to him as my mate.

When William stopped chuckling, his words became somber. "She's here now because of the werecreatures. She's completely healed three of them so far."

Nora and Jerry's eyes widened. Nora's fork hovered in the air with a potato chunk. "Did she?"

I shrugged noncommittally and William nodded. "Yes. Within minutes even. She loses her energy fast though. I've been a little insistent that she not wear herself out doing too many now."

Both eyes set on me. I sunk in my chair under their gaze. "I didn't know what I was doing. It's not that neat."

"Not neat Caroline?" Nora asked amazed, her fork back at her plate. "Will has worried about these things for weeks. Nothing has helped. If you are healing them, you absolutely needed to be here now."

I bit my lip and cut up more pieces of meat. "I didn't even finish the last. He's still hurting."

William gave a reassuring smile. "You'll finish. Maybe we can go down after dinner if there's time."

"Really?" I started a grin.

"Yes. But just him tonight, okay? I don't want you wearing yourself out before the flight."

"How many are there now," Nora asked delicately.

"Twenty or so," William answered with a groan. "But more in other packs. Alpha Elijah has four at least."

"Wow," she breathed in overwhelmed.

A nervous air filled him then. It made me initiate the touch and I placed a cautious hand on his arm. He smiled and tapped my hand. Sorry. Didn't mean to make you anxious through the bond. Just got nervous about seeing you take them all on. I don't want you hurt.

I got hurt about seventy times today. I teased, then held my arm out showing all around. And look, not a scratch.

He grinned, eyes piercing deep blues on mine. I love this girl.

I sat back in my chair in surprise and he backtracked.

Oh! I mean! ....Sorry. You weren't supposed to hear that one.

I moistened my lips and it turned to a full grin. You mean I do hear your uncensored thoughts sometimes too?

He sighed. Sorry. I think we're just going to have to get used to it.

It's okay. I get what you mean about walls being down now. I do like to know what's going on for you too.

I just don't want to scare you off again. I feel like I'm walking a delicate line.

You're not. I grabbed his hand and stared back loving and deep. Caroline may not think it's love yet, but Kara does and she's not going to let me run away.

You promise?

Yeah. And I'm sorry I asked you to give me time. I didn't mean to make you feel afraid, I'm just trying to learn a whole new life in twenty-four hours. It's confusing, but I'm not confused about my feelings for you, just that I have such feelings for you already. Heck, I'm meeting your parents after all of five minutes of courtship. Shouldn't that say that I'm trying?

He smiled so joyous, so full of love, it warmed my heart. You are trying. And I'm not upset you asked for time. I stand by what I said earlier. I'll give you all the time you need.

Thank you. I squeezed his hand and looked down to our entwined fingers then up to his parents knowing looks and blushed. Oops. Blake said it was impolite to link in front of others. "Sorry!"

Nora and Jerry laughed and I saw they were setting second helpings onto their plates. "It's alright Pumpkin. We won't interrupt link conversations that have you two looking at each other like that."

I stiffened and glanced down, hoping the embarrassed splotches to my chest wouldn't be seen.

"Mom," William warned.

"Will baby, let me have my moment. I haven't gotten to see you like this. Every other lady in book club already has grandkids...."

"Mom!"

"What?" She laughed at his oncoming flush. "I can be excited that my baby boy has finally found himself a mate."

I snickered and his eyes met mine.

"Don't you start," he spoke with a grinning annoyance. I told you they'd talk about grandkids.

I bit my lip with a playful smile. I like you blushing.

His brow came down, but he was still grinning. Men don't blush Kara.

Really? Oh, I guess I must have just imagined liking you then. I winked and then went back to my plate of food.

I could see him shaking his head from my peripheral and heard his under-breath chuckle.

It was quiet for a minute as we all passed around the breadbasket again and Nora looked up with a curious smile. "So Caroline, Jared was your brother correct?"

My stomach immediately dropped at the mention of my middle brother. My very gone middle brother. The memories hurt knowing that I could have helped him. "Yeah. Him and Jonah." What would they be like now? I could barely remember them. Would they have been werewolves? They probably would have been. My heart ached for all the time without my brothers.

William must have sensed my distress and reprimanded, "Mom. Maybe we shouldn't be talking about that right now."

She looked over Will apologetically, "Honey, it'll come up sooner or later."

He took a breath and glanced at the hallway to the back bedrooms. "I know. But maybe we shouldn't talk about the dead tonight."

His mom sighed and looked down to butter her roll. "You're right. Let's not ruin the night. We have Caroline now."

"Sorry," I pressed in. "It's just still fresh right now as my memories have been resurfacing."

Will's hand came to my hair and twirled a strand between his fingers. It almost instantly calmed me. I looked to his loving blues and we gazed intently for a few moments.

Was I really falling for him already?

A wide grin spread over his face. "Maybe you could instead tell them about some of your theater experiences. I particularly loved the story about you accidentally kicking your leading man in the pants during a lift."

"Oh my gosh Will." My face went to my hands as a red brightness flushed and I giggled.

His mom already laughed. "Okay, I've got to hear this story."

I unburied myself and gave a silly warning look to Will and then started a snickering ramble about some of my more interesting moments on stage.

Dinner continued in pleasant and playful conversation and finished with a lovely trifle pudding. And soon it was time for William and I to go.

As I stepped to the door, his mother followed and stared down at me glossy eyed. "You come back any time. Any time at all. Even without William if you want. We'll watch movies, or play card games, or whatever you want."

"Sure Mom. Maybe we can start Musical Mondays once we get back from Seattle."

"Musical Mondays?"

"Catherine and I would always watch a musical on Monday nights. Maybe we could make it a full-on girl's movie night."

She smiled. "That would be delightful, Pumpkin. I'd love to."

"Alright, we'll talk and try for next week."

She pressed a hug around me, and I hugged her back just as tight. She leaned to my ear and whispered. "You take care of my baby okay? I trust you."

"I will. I have to, he's wonderful." I whispered back but knew full well wolf ears could still hear if William heard me in the shower from a room away.

She leaned back and patted my face affectionately. "You got a good one Will," she spoke to him, eyes still on me.

I glanced to him and his smile sent a warm flash through me. He answered her so I could still hear. "I know I do mom. I know I do."

We said our goodbyes, then William closed the front door and put his eyes on me, smirking.

"What?" I asked timidly.

"That went well. She really likes you."

"Does she?" I asked hopeful.

He nodded. "They both do."

"I like them too," I spoke truthfully.

He stared at me a moment and then asked, "may I hug you?"

"Of course," I smiled and made the first move, my arms pulling up to his neck.

He embraced me, nose nuzzling against my hair. "I'm so lucky to have you. Thanks for letting us go."

"You're welcome. Your parents are great. I won't have to worry about a 'monster-in-law'."

He laughed and took a deep inhale at my neck. It brought a shiver up my spine. "She might turn into a grand-monster though."

I smiled against his chest. "That's okay."

We stayed in the embrace for another minute or two before a mother and child walked by through the hall. We separated, smiles gracing both our faces.

"So are you really wanting to go back and finish the last wolf creature? We can still wait for when we get back." He asked.

"I'd like to help still and if we don't do it tonight he is stuck like that for a few days. Besides, I feel powered up and ready to go." I held up my other arm and flexed.

"Very nice," he complimented with a chuckle. "Alright. Let's go."