I soothingly drew shapes against my alpha's chest. Skating my fingers along the raised skin from the scars that were beneath his shirt. Callan's nose was nuzzled into my hair, taking in my scent. After a few hours, Callan decided to tell alpha Griffith the news. My gorgeous alpha was nervous, his hand tangling with mine as we left the guest house.

The wind whipped against our bodies, making me shiver. Callan frowned at my being cold, hurrying us along to the pack house where it was warm. I chuckled at his antics, knowing that my alpha would want to go back to the town, sooner rather than later, to talk with Tod and to buy me a coat.

The grass was cold and damp beneath our feet, making goosebumps break out over my skin beneath my clothes. As though my alpha could sense this, he had picked me up promptly so I was pressed into his chest; wrapping my arms around his neck. I smiled sappily against his skin, kissing his neck where my mating bite was. Alpha rumbled low and deep, his lips against my temple. The door was opened by a small omega woman, my alpha setting me back down as the warmth from the pack house slowly seeped into my body. The omega bowed before scurrying away.

"Must get coat for omega," Callan said seriously. I leaned up on my tip toes to kiss him, my alpha hunching down a bit to meet me. The kiss was soft and soothing, knowing that the kiss calmed down some of my alpha's nerves; for the moment. The manilla folder with the results was in my hand, Callan enclosing my other hand in his own. Many of the pack members we passed by were looking at us curiously, some even bowing to my alpha. If Callan thought the behavior was odd, he didn't mention it. I wasn't sure where the alpha's office was, but I knew that Callan was likely just following his nose. Neither one of us were ready to talk to anyone of the pack just yet. Unless it was with the few people we had already met.

Walking down a wide hallway I looked at several of the framed paintings that were hung against the dark wooden walls, able to scent the fresh daisies that were on a stand in the middle of the hallway. The vase was a tall, pearly white, with blue painted flowers.

At the end of the hall was a large wooden door, the doorknob silver and polished. I could smell along with my alpha, that there were several people in the room. Looking at Callan, who was biting the corner of his lip, I lifted my hand to knock on the door.

"Enter."

Once opening the door, a large wooden desk was the main feature of the room. There were a stack of books on one corner with thick manilla folders on the other. A large back chair with maroon cushions sat behind it. Griffith himself was standing in front of a tall, large window that overlooked the pack grounds. He was in a pair of dark jeans and a dark green button down shirt. His hands were tangled with each other behind his back.

Next to the door, Anne was sitting on a maroon love seat with Silas' head on her lap. She was in a pretty pale blue dress with a book in her hand. Her dark hair was curled up in an elegant bun, sitting straight-backed. Her other hand was combing through Silas' dark tresses, the boy doing something on his phone.

Ethan was pacing in front of the large desk, wearing dark jeans and a long sleeve, button down black shirt. He was chewing on one of his nails while his other hand was deep within the front pocket of his jeans.

Everyone stopped what they were doing once noticing that it was Callan and myself who had entered.

"Callan!" Ethan nearly jumping, quickly calming himself so he was leaning against the large desk instead of pacing. Trying to come off as nonchalant I assumed.

"I, we, were hoping you were coming," Griffith said quietly, moving to stand next to his slouching son. Silas had sat up, clasping his hands and shoving them between his legs so he couldn't fiddle with his fingers; he was nearly bouncing in his seat, however. Griffith's eyes darted down to the manilla folder that was in my clutches, looking at me for a moment and then back to Callan.

My love looked down at me with softness, a nervousness in his golden eye. He let go of my hand so his fingers could trace down my spine. I turned back to Griffith, extending out the plain folder to him. He looked just as nervous as my soft alpha, looking at Callan as he walked the few steps to take it from me.

"What'd I miss!? What'd he say? What were the results?"

Everyone turned to see Beckett running into the room with disheveled black hair and warm golden brown eyes, panting. Seeing everyone was looking at him, Beckett cleared his throat, a flush on his cheeks.

Griffith cleared his throat in turn, seeming to take a deep breath, flipping open the manilla folder. His eyes scanned over the words just as quickly as mine had. I could see his Adam's apple bob, his eyes growing red-rimmed. He slowly closed the manilla folder, setting it on the desk behind him.

When he looked back up at my alpha, he looked lost. Hurt. He took a step forward, and then another. Everyone was watching him. My alpha's fingers had tightly woven with my own again. Within a moment, Griffith was hugging Callan within an inch of his life. I slowly slid my hand from my alpha's, Callan looking at me before deciding that yes, he would like to hug this man who was his father. Griffith's knuckles were white, holding onto the back of my alpha's shirt.

Ethan, Becket and Silas moved towards the two, hugging the two men as well. I realized then, that it was like a family scenting. To give comfort and reassurance. I looked over to see Anne quickly wiping a tear away from her soft skin, a besotted smile on her face. We shared a look of understanding. We were both happy that the people we loved and cherished the most could finally be together again.

Griffith pulled away from my alpha, only a few inches so that the group were still huddled close together. Ethan was on Callan's right, Beckett on Callan's left, and Silas was half squished between his father and Ethan to hold on to the closest part of Callan that he could reach.

"Will you stay?" Griffith asked. His voice sounded rough, half choked out; the man sounding close to tears. Callan looked towards me, an excitement and spark of hope in his eyes that his brothers and father were being so kind to him. It made my heart ache a little in my chest.

"Not in pack," Callan said, Griffith furrowing his brows in confusion.

"If it is alright with you, alpha Griffith, Callan and I decided that if you were wanting us to be apart of the pack, that we would accept. However, we don't want to live within the pack. Maybe on extra pack land you have a bit further away from the pack house," I said, Griffith sniffing his nose hard, clearing his throat as he backed away from my alpha a bit. He headed over to his desk to open a drawer, pulling out a pile of papers. Silas seemed happy to hug Callan's front in place of where his father just was.

"Of course. I will make such accommodations."

"We have money, but not sure how much new house will cost," Callan said, brows furrowing before smiling down at Silas who was snuffling against his chest like a puppy.

"You won't be paying a dime, Callan," Ethan said seriously, Callan looking confused.

"Since the Elders were from our pack and had destroyed your home initially, our pack should be the ones to pay for your new house," Beckett said, Callan looking at me, unsure. I frowned as well, not sure either.

"Save the money you have to buy the things that you need and or were destroyed in the fire," Anne said quietly, gently placing her delicate hand on my shoulder. Her eyes warm and soft. I thought about it for a moment, flushing slightly since the decision would be mine. Callan wouldn't care either way.

"Then we'll do that," I agreed, everyone smiling.

"On a more serious note, alpha Griffith, did you or Grant get any information out of the women? Did you gain any more clues?" I asked curiously. Griffith's face darkened like a thundercloud, Anne sighing heavily next to me before moving over to her mate to try and calm him down. Beckett looked just as upset, Ethan and Silas having the same puckered expression. Callan moved over to me again to hold me against his body. I reached up to move some of his hair behind his ear, my alpha leaning down to kiss at my temple.

"To know such deceit was going on within the pack," Griffith hissed out angrily. Anne soothingly rubbed his back.

"Grant, myself, and another enforcer interrogated them during the days you had been sick, Theo," Griffith said. I blinked, a bit startled at the man having used my name.

"When you were born," Griffith's eyes turning so sad and dark, turning to look at my alpha. Callan's fingers gripped the bottom of my shirt as he held me against him.

"Your mother wasn't doing well. She had been bleeding a lot. Madam Elder had come in along with Elder Zachariah. The four in the room could feel the power that you had easily. Madam Elder made a choice then. She told the two healers that they were going to lie about who you were. That for the safety of the pack, the two healers had to make sure everyone believed you came from another she-wolf. The lie wouldn't be hard to tell. At the time the pack was accepting a lot of new-comers because of the wars between the packs. The story was, that both you and my mate died during the childbirth. That a she-wolf who recently came to the pack died the same day. When asked about this she-wolf, they said she had been raped but could not bring herself to kill the child within her. The animosity from that alone made the pack hate and resent you more. The power you had only added to frighten them. Who would miss such a child if an Elder were to make you disappear? We are still trying to crack Madam Elder in the holding cells as to why she did not kill you, but I am glad neither Elder decided on such a coarse of action. Even now, I do not know if they even bothered to help my mate, or just let her die."

What kind of evil, ridiculous, narrow-minded person could do such a thing to a baby!? A newborn who had no one but his dying mother to hold him. I looked up at my alpha who looked upset.

"Are you alright my alpha?" I asked gently. Callan's amber eye looked down at me, a frown on his handsome features.

"I am glad to know. It is in the past. Can do nothing now," Callan said slowly. I hummed in agreement, nuzzling against his chest. That was just like my alpha. If it is something he can not change or control, than there is nothing for it. Nothing that would have changed it now.

"I am proud of you, my alpha. You are very strong. Very kind," I smiled up at him, Callan flushing a bit when he stared into my dark green eyes, "my soft alpha."

Callan scowled, promptly pinching my tush. I squeaked, slapping his chest. Callan let out a deep chuckle at me, both of us hearing soft chuckles around us.

"I know I am not the only one but, we would like to get to know you more Callan. And you, Theo, who has loved him," Griffith said gently. Callan nodded slowly, a small smile on his face. I couldn't help the lift to my own lips.

"I have so much to show you!" Silas nearly shouted, grabbing my alpha's hand as he was dragged from the room with me in tow since Callan still had ahold of me.

"Silas!" Ethan and Beckett called after, hearing their footsteps hurrying to catch up to us.

*

The morning was brisk and cold, the clouds a silvery gray. The sun was just on the brink of rising over the horizon, making the chill in the air more sharp.

Sarah had confirmed that my infected throat was all better and I wouldn't have to take the antibiotics anymore. I had still been queasy to my stomach in the mornings and sometimes the afternoons. Very early this morning I had thrown up. I had just sidled back into the sheets when Callan groggily woke up. I whispered I had gone to the bathroom, both of us passing out again. I didn't know why I was feeling so sick, but I wanted to finally be able to go to the Overlook. Especially before the first winter snows came. It would hardly be ideal weather to travel through then.

Callan and I were naked in the guest house, a pouch strapped to each of our thighs. It had a set of extra clothes, some fruit, and dried meat within for our travels. Mine had a few granola bars too. We had just finished a large breakfast at the pack house with the group of people joining us for the journey.

Callan's breath was suddenly on the back of my neck, his lips grazing by his bite mark.

"Smell very sweet. But still sick? Omega, you okay?" Callan's words mumbled into my skin.

"Yes, I'm okay Cal," I smiled, turning to cup my Alpha's cheeks. Callan's golden gaze looked unsure, giving me the urge to kiss such a look away. I didn't feel great, but I didn't think traveling for a total of two days would hurt.

My Alpha's lips were warm against mine, making me sigh against the softness of his mouth. I felt his lips quirk in a smile, his large hand tracing down my spine. Our naked bodies were flushed together, a moan leaving our lips in tandem.

I pulled away slowly, letting our breaths mingle.

"We can't mate right now Alpha," I giggled, Callan full on pouting, "the others are waiting nearby for us so we can leave. The sun is almost above the horizon."

Callan grumbled, his fingers grazing over my ribs and along my sides. Stretching out his fingers, his thumbs traced down my belly on either side of my belly button.

"Come," I giggled, heading for the door, "we can mate when we get back."

Callan was right behind me when we closed the guest house door, both of us shifting into our wolves. The packs were snug and clipped around our thighs so they wouldn't slip off while we ran in our forms.

It was much warmer in my wolf form with the cold weather out. The grass crunched under my paws from the frost that had accumulated on it during the night.

A large muzzle nuzzled against my cheek, a soft croon leaving me as I licked my Alpha along his ears, nibbling on one. Callan growled playfully, a sharp howl snapping our attention to the group of wolves slowly getting closer to us.

The group consisted of Griffith, Ethan, Beckett, Silas, Charlotte, Grant, and two other beta warriors named Tom and Jenny. Anne would be in charge of the pack along with her mother, Bridgette. Anne had wanted Silas to stay, saying he was too young to travel so far, but Silas stubbornly said he wanted to travel with his brothers.

Silas' wolf was the smallest in the group, but he smelled heavily of alpha like his brothers and father. Only myself and the warriors had brown fur in our small pack. Mine was the darkest shade of brown compared to theirs; not including the small bit of white on my underbelly that signified I was an omega. Charlotte was an off white with bits of faded brown fur here and there in her coat.

Silas had run up to Callan to play, Callan's tail wagging. Beckett promptly came over to pick him up by the scruff, the boy's hind legs dragging on the ground. Ethan bumped his head against Callan's in greeting, Griffith doing the same but a bit more shyly. Callan's tail was still wagging in happiness.

We had agreed to stop by his Grandfather's house on the way up. I just wanted to see what was left of our den. I was sure nothing would have survived, but it hurt my heart not knowing.

A lick to the mark on my neck had me snapping out of my daze, my Alpha scenting me again deeply. With a nudge to his cheek, we both began to trot towards the burned down house.

It didn't take long to get there, though some of the trees had grown more bare due to the cold creeping in. Perhaps forty minutes into our light jog, my steps faltered when the smell of old burned wood filled my nose. Callan's own steps seemed to stutter next to me. Walking through the trees, I couldn't help the hitch in my breath. A soft whine left my throat.

Nothing was salvageable. One post still stood tall where the clothesline had been, but the garden was no more. The foundation of where the house had been was evident, but ash and burned wood made up only a small portion of what was left. My paws mindlessly brought me through where the front door would have been. I could smell blood and burned flesh here and there, but it was almost faded. I couldn't stop the gag from leaving me.

Shifting into my human form, even in the still cool morning, my hands shakily touched the burned remains of the books where the bookcase was.

A plop of water landed on my hand, suddenly realizing tears were leaving me. I sniffled, shifting through the burned books, most of them crumbling in my hands.

"Omega..." Callan's deep, low voice so soft a few feet behind me. So gentle. I suddenly saw the thick book that had the cut out in it; it was half destroyed. I carefully opened it, seeing Callan's, Grandfather's credit card relatively untouched.

I gasped, snatching it and pressing it to my bare chest. I stood, Callan right behind me. His brows were furrowed, his large hands grasping my upper arms gently. I showed him what I had found, Callan looking shocked. A smile burst through, Callan lifting me to spin me around, holding me close against his bare chest. I nuzzled against his chest, Callan's finger tracing over the embossing.

"I'm glad there was something, my alpha," I whispered, Callan's warm lips pressing against my temple.

"I am too."

I slipped the card into the pouch on my thigh. Callan's hand cupped my cheek, his thumb brushing under my eye. I felt my cheeks warm, Callan frowning.

"I don't know why I'm crying," I laughed quietly, my voice still shaky.

"I am here omega. Not hurt. And you are here," Callan said, holding me against him. It nearly made me want to cry again, but I swallowed hard, slipping my hands up to wipe at my face. Callan's large, warm hands rubbed gently against my back as I tried to collect myself. My alpha was right. We were both here and safe now.

We spent a few minutes just scrounging around. Which ended up being me looking around with Callan as my shadow. Not finding anything else that was salvageable, we shifted back into our wolves. I nuzzled under my alpha's jaw. Our home, our den, was gone but we were going to have a new home soon. Where we could still lay in front of a fireplace and cook side by side in a kitchen. Where I read with Callan in my lap and have days where we laze about in a bed that's big enough to hold us.

The others had lain down just a bit further from the burned ruins. Ethan had immediately perked up when he saw us heading over to the group, trotting over. He bumped his head against Callan's, a show of being sorry. My sweet alpha nipped at his brother's ear playfully, Silas suddenly popping up by us. I was surprised when Silas did the same action to me. I nudged him playfully, Silas' tail wagging. Beckett and Griffith were quickly next, giving my alpha little nudges or playful bumps against him with their snouts. I could feel the happiness from my Alpha, knowing to have such affection from so many people was different and surprising. Perhaps even a bit overwhelming.

Charlotte had come over shyly, tilting her head down in respect. Callan nudged her cheek gently, the older she-wolf's tail wagging. We all headed out again as I quietly said my final goodbyes in my head for the home I once had. The singular place I could have ever called a home.