The rest of the day flew by uneventful. Ashton introduced me to Max and Nick, the two dark haired twins and Claire, the Gamma of his pack. He even took me to l Elena, his mother. Elena, Luna Diana and Mom were close friends and Elena had often brought along Ashton when they were kids.

"Ki, would you like to come shopping with me? I intend to buy a few clothes for Nora, since she outgrows them so quickly." Bella poked a head through the door.

It had already been three days since I was reunited with the Blood Hounds.

"Sure," I nodded. A few new clothes would do me good since many of the clothes I wore were already torn or worn out. "I'm in."

I followed Bella to the driveway. As the giant metal doors rolled up, I found myself face to face with with the most beautiful array of cars. There were three Jaguars, two Mercedes, three BMWs and a Porsche. Sleek, shiny, they were each a beauty on wheels.

I swallowed. My throat was dry.

"You own this?

She nodded. "We own this." Our pack members own a bunch of stocks in the market. Some of our omegas are very clever and she acts as our advisor. "Of course, that's not our only source of income."

My eyebrows shoot up. "What else?"

She shrugs, oddly cryptic. "A little bit of this and that. Some real estate. Some shares." A pause. "Nothing illegal though. Can't have the FBI come sniffing for us in case we're exposed."

"Which one are we going in?" I asked.

She smirked. "The black Porsche, Ki. That baby's mine."

"Doesn't Ash have a car?"

"He does.That's the Black Mercedes over there. You should see his heart eyes at every car wash." She rolled her eyes dramatically as we made our way to her car.

Unlocking the door, we slid in and I put on the seatbelt while she started the car.

I knew how car crazy boys were. Aden drove a red Porsche and he treated it like his own mate. As much as I hated him, I always felt a pang of envy when I watched him drive by. His Dad had gifted that on his sixteenth birthday.

Spoilt rich kid? Check.

Bella and I drove towards the nearest mall. We nearly bought the half the Pink Panther store for Nora. Next Bella bought me a few pairs of jeans,, rompers, sandals and boots. She splurged on a gown for my upcoming coming-to-age birthday celebration.

Three hours later, we staggered out of the mall carrying a truckload of stuff. "I hope this will last until next year." She told me doubtfully. "I got a few new clothes for our omegas too. Raine had a baby last month and she was quite upset with the way it changed her body. This should cheer her up."

I smiled. Nellie would've love this woman to pieces.

"How about a visit to the salon? You could do with a nice haircut. I haven't cut my hair since ages."

I looked down at my dark hair. My hair looked okay as it is. I couldn't imagine myself having it coloured or cut, without destroying it.

"Do we have to?"

"Don't be silly Kiara! You could get your hair curled. Or even a cute bob. It would definitely look good on you."

"Okay." I said unsurely.

"I've always wanted to colour my hair like a kpop idol. You think I'll look pretty in mint green?"

"You'd be drop dead gorgeous in anything."

She grinned, even as her cheeks turned red. "Damn right I would. My mate would need CPR when I'm done."

However, the trip to the salon wasn't as life changing as I imagined. After a very vociferous discussion Bella settled for blonde for the time being. Dylan was too young for a heart attack anyway. With my own hair trimmed till my waist in simple beach waves, I had to admit I looked far better than I ever did at the Dark Wolf Pack.

We got into the car once more and I prayed our next destination was the pack house. As novel as the experience was, I had enough for day.

"Bella?" I asked once we got in.

"Hmm?"

"Could you teach me how to drive a car?" I asked her hesitantly. I wanted to ask this ever since we left the pack house.

She looked over at me with a funny expression on her face. "You mean you don't know? I thought you knew. Your Dad did have one, didn't he?"

"We sold it off after the...the Rogue War." I said not meeting her eyes. The truth was that it was given away to the new Beta Evan, much to my dismay.

"Oh... alright then. No problem, I'll teach you."

"Would you teach me how to drive your Porsche first?" I asked her hoping with all my heart she wouldn't deny it. I loved the car and always dreamt of driving it since I fell in love with Aden's red Porsche.

Her grip on the steering wheel tightened. "You sure? I'm sure Ashton doesn't mind his car being banged and squeezed in places by a rookie driver."

I pouted. "I can't be that bad, Bella. Have some faith."

She turned to look at me.

One moment. Two, three—

"You swear on your life you won't crash it?"

"I promise not to!" I squealed in excitement. "I promise on pepperoni pizza and garlic bread!"

Bella chuckled at my excitement. "You have to bring food up here too, don't you?"

"Meh," I shrugged, "What can I say? Food is the love of my life. I'd swear on the mate bond, but I'd be lying if I said I cared about it more than food."

She chuckled. "I suppose you're right."

Once at the pack house, I went to have tea with the rest of the pack. Ashton smiled as I entered and offered me the chair next to him. Nora, on the other hand, gave me an adorable grin from the table while she munched on her bun. I would have swooned over her cuteness, except I knew she was a devious little mischief maker behind those big brown innocent looking eyes.

"So, Kiara, tell what happened since we left." Elena asked me once I was seated. "We've only heard bits and pieces so far."

The room fell silent at once, all eyes on me.

I swallowed nervously. They were oblivious of all the torture I had undergone. Must I really tell them? "Nothing much. Aden turned eighteen about a month ago and took over the position as Alpha. Mom is better now." I told them evasively.

Elena shrewd eyes narrowed as she tried to decipher me. I averted my gaze and focused on the steaming coffee. "Nope. That's not the entire truth." she stated, her face void of all enotion.

I nearly lost hold of the cup, but quickly covered up the momentary loss of control. "I don't understand what you mean. I told..."

"Cut it out, Ki. Mom can read anybody like a book. It is one of her gifts. So tell us the truth. What is it that you hiding from us?" Ashton told me.

My eyes widened at Elena's gift.

"I assume, you didn't travel a month's journey just to meet us." Elena continued when I remained silent.

I gulped. I knew Elena bore me no ill will. She always had my best interests at heart.

"No. . . I ran away because. . ." I couldn't go on for fear of their reactions. What if they kicked me out once they knew the truth?

Ashton squeezed my hand "Go on, Ki. You have nothing to be afraid of."

"I ran away because my mate rejected me."

Gasps arose all across the table. I could feel Ashton's disbelief and anger rise.

"You?" Bella asked. "He rejected you? Why, is he blind?"

"Who was it?" He asked me and I could sense the fury rolling off him.

I took a deep breath to steady myself. "You wouldn't want to know." I told him.

The pressure of his hand on mine just increased. "Tell me."

"Aden Jason Carter."

If people were shocked then, it was nothing compared to now.

Ashton growled and I could see his wolf fighting for control.

"Why?" He asked, with barely suppressed rage.

I remained silent.

"It's okay, Kiara. You can tell us everything. Even if he rejected you, you will always be welcomed into our pack." Elena told me softly. "This is a safe space."

My chest felt tight. "Honestly, I don't know."

"Tell me everything what happened to you since we left." Ashton prompted.

"They considered me responsible for Dad's death and Arie's kidnap. In my attempt to save her life, I endangered Aden's life as well, and Alpha Jason didn't take kindly to that. So I was demoted to an Omega. I wasn't allowed to train with the others. And my mom... well, she's a husk of her past self. I couldn't possibly expect her to help when she's barely living."

Life has been terrible since the past three years." I said truthfully my eyes brimming with unshed tears.

Ashton's eyes darkened as he growled. "You were only fourteen then. And we all know you tried your best to save her!"

I shook my head. "That wasn't enough. I shouldn't have lost hope so easily. I should have tried. I was already training then, it was my duty to save her; which I couldn't."

"You blame yourself too much, Kiara. None of it was your fault."

Ashton stood up and the murmur immediately subsided. I couldn't help wonder at the power that radiated off him. Since he turned eighteen three months ago and received his gifts, he had a powerful aura around him.

"I have decided on the matter at hand. Kiara has been ill-treated , tortured and abused for no fault of her own. So, I have decided to accept Kiara Evergreen into the Blood Hound pack." He looked over at me and his eyes softened. "Ki, do you wish to be member of our pack?"

The official ceremony would probably happen later, but at this moment, this little token of recognition was enough.

The tears I had been holding all this time flowed freely and happiness and gratitude flooded within me. Zara purred with content sensing her human happy again.

"Yes, Ash, I do."