It has been a long time since I have found myself sitting in this room. It's just as I remember. The old timely clock sits on the top shelf of the grand bookcase, most other shelves are lined with powerful books filled to the brim with knowledge. The old desk is starting to show its age. The chairs seem to be new, the former Luna, Lisa, must have gotten tired of seeing the worn out fabric.

Kirsten files in first. She sits in the farthest seat with her head bowed, her eyes look red-rimmed like she has been crying all night. Sophia's theory of her having a love interest has me curious. I want to know. "Kirsten, I want to ask you something." Trying to start the conversation with a neutral tone. She doesn't respond, she runs her hand over her upper arm instead, teeth bite down hard on her bottom lip. "Kirsten." Getting more stern with her, she is ignoring me on purpose. After everything she caused yesterday and today, the least she can do is acknowledge me. She briefly glances over to me before looking away.

Scott comes in and holds the door open for Cheyenne before walking back out of the office. Leaving the three of us alone. "I shouldn't even be here." Chey glares at me before her eyes shift to Kirsten. She seems like she is about to break down. I shake my head at them, days ago best of friends now trouble comes and they turn away from one another. Scott and I have sat in these seats, tit lipped, unmoving. We will take the punishments together before we turned our backs to the other. Brothers.

The former Alpha strides in shutting the door softly behind him before walking over to his desk chair. He doesn't sit. "I want to know what is going on. I hear things going around the pack, wolves are talking. Some are calling for a change. Some find you to be too juvenile to continue in your current positions." He looks directly at Chey when speaking the last part. His tone is even and calm, much like before a storm. It is the storm I fear. I know what it'll bring. He shifts his gaze towards Kirsten next. "Some want you gone, say you are nothing but a pack harlot looking for a title." A tear escapes from her eye to run to her chin. Her body trembles.

I'm next. I wait for the hit to come.

"Cage. I'm sorry you are caught up in all of this." His sharp eyes have softened, not like the daggers he gave to the females. "What!" Cheyenne wails to interrupt. "After everything he has done, the disrespect he has shown especially to me, and he gets an apology for it? I am this pack's Luna." Her speech is ended with the raise of one finger of the Alpha. Her mouth snaps shut forming a firm line while her eyes narrow down.

Pulling out his chair he takes a seat, folding his hands over the top of the desk. Here comes the storm. "I think it is wonderful you decided to bring that fact up Cheyenne as this has also been something brought up to me in conversation by pack members. I also know you have been spoken to about the matter. As a Luna, there are duties and responsibilities that are expected to be followed. You have been failing for too long to meet those expectations and now your inadequacies are trickling down creating chaos and divide. When Scott completed his Titling Ceremony we were lenient with you. We knew you were struggling with the adjustments." She opens her mouth to interrupt and once again he raises one finger, clamping her mouth shut. "Seems to me and my mate you haven't been trying enough, clearly we were too soft on you with what this pack needs. From here on you will not be the Luna, Lisa will be reclaiming the role until Scott, Lisa and myself feel you have earned it. Just as the Lunas before you have had to. Mating is not and should never have been a means to that title, clearly, we made a mistake with you in this. You may allow that in your former pack but here we all carry the weight of the pack, our leaders should always carry the brunt of the load. You are dismissed." She is fuming. Her lip quivers. "Don't raise your lip to me female, you will regret it, daughter or not. Now get out, Luna Lisa is waiting for you." His eyes blaze with the promise of violence and subordination. She leaves slamming the door hard enough to knock books off the shelves, the old clock stands tall and firm in its position.

He takes a moment to look Kirsten over. Her head still bowed down but her trembling seems to have died down, only small shaking and sniffling comes from her. "My bag is already packed, I'll be gone as soon as you dismiss me." She chokes out of her throat. I feel slightly bad for her but only slightly.

"Is that what you want to do?" Barrett asks her and she raises her head, shaking it yes.

"It's what I need to do, I should of never have come here." Turning to me wiping at her face with the tissue hidden in her hand. "I am so sorry Cage. If I had known from the start I never would have come here to meet you. I stayed because I thought I was doing the right thing, I thought I was helping. I'm such a fool. I am so sorry if I caused you trouble." She weeps.

I don't know what to do or say. I want to hate her. I want to yell and scream out my frustrations that have been building since she came here but I can't. Swallowing hard it feels like I am swallowing a pill. Pride.

"It's fine Kirsten." The words are difficult to get out and I need a moment before speaking again. "I just want to know one thing." Leaning forward I let my elbows rest on my knees and clasp my hands together before me. "Who were you texting? Who is the wolf you like?" She looks at me with wide eyes, her mouth slightly ajar. "H-how did you know?" She licks her lips and her eyes dart between me and Alpha Barrett. Barrett perks with slight interest as he sits waiting patiently for the answer.

Her eyes close and she inhales deeply before letting out a shaky breath. "It's Charles. We bumped into each other my first night here. After you left I went out in the woods, I just needed fresh air and one thing led to another." She trails off while twisting her hair between her fingers.

I never thought it would be Chuck. Maybe one of the unmated males or a nearby pack, but Chuck? Chuck doesn't do socialization, not after everything he lost. He stays near the edge of the pack, always on the outskirts but never close by, just biding his time. I'm shocked. I don't know whether I should be happy or wary. He can be a loose cannon when wolves get too close to him.

"Charles? Kristen, I don't know if you are aware of his situation or not but there is a reason he doesn't partake in pack activities." Barrett voices my same concerns. I wouldn't imagine him intentionally hurting anyone who didn't deserve it but his wolf isn't in the right state of mind.

She clears her throat. "I know, he told me everything. We do get along well together, I understand he needs his space at times. Cheyenne has already spoken to me about him as well." She looks to the door longingly.

So that's why Chey is mad with her. If she pursues Chuck she wouldn't be as involved with the pack as she would be with me, she wouldn't spend time with them at all. The complete opposite of what Cheyenne wants. This whole time she has been getting close with him Cheyenne has been telling her she needs to get close to me. Strained friendship. "You need to do what's best for you Kirsten, not what someone is telling you to do," I tell her. She nods her head "I know." She whispers.

"Then why leave?" I'm confused. California is a far distance from here and Chuck would never want to be there, it is too populated for him. "Staying here is causing too many problems for everyone, Charles won't come with me but I can't live with him either, he isn't ready for that. When he figures it out we will go from there in the meantime we will continue talking how we have been, mostly by phone." She gives a tight lip smile, sounds like they have talked this over.

"I didn't even know he had a phone." He didn't use to. He preferred being alone and unbothered.

Her shade changes to the colour of cinnamon as a blush creeps up her neck and rests on her cheeks. "He didn't."

"Well, I wish you both luck. Goodbye Kirsten." He dismisses her, she nods to us both and quietly leaves.

Looking back to the clock time ticks by slowly. It is already almost noon, I will never make it there in time there would be no point in trying. Sophia is on lunch now, she will be busy by the time I make it there.

She hasn't tried to get in contact with me today or last night. I can't help the building anxiety from this, I shouldn't have told her, I should have waited until we knew each other better. Wayne told me to give her time when we communicated last night. I sent them both a text saying I may not make it there today, he was the only one to respond.

I fucked up.

What will I do? She probably thinks I'm an obsessed creep or a try-too-hard jackass.

Alpha Barrett's voice draws me back to the current reality I am in. "Cage?" He asks, what was he saying. I know he was speaking but I couldn't focus. Blinking and shaking my head I try to rid myself of the swirling thoughts. "I'm sorry Alpha Barrett, what were you saying?" He sits back in his chair tapping his finger on the table before crossing his arms. "Cage you and I need to have a discussion. This is very important I cannot stress that enough. You need to listen and try to understand what I am about to tell you." He leans forward and rests his hands over the surface of the desk. "You have to be in control now, I need you focused. Do you understand?" His tone is stern but not sharp. It really must be important for him to deal with me this way. I normally get an easy going fatherly tone or a sharp punishing one. Never this. It's almost like concern.

"Yes, I understand Alpha." Nodding my head in respect.

"No titles." He waves away the formalities.

"Alright."

He holds his hands in front of himself, rubbing the knuckles with the tips of his fingers. Nervous. taking a moment before speaking. "Cage, as you must know your Grandmother has been visiting with us more often than normal, more specifically with me."

Giving him a quizzical look, "I noticed, but why?" My stomach starts to churn with growing worry. What is happening?

He nods before continuing on with his news. "We have been speaking about you, discussing on what to do next." He pauses a moment to release a breath while I hold one in. "We both have come to an agreement that it is time you learned some things about yourself. More specifically your parents."

My jaw tightens "I rather not." It's aggressive. I buried those issues down long ago, I want to move forward in life not backtrack.

He doesn't return my aggression with his own instead his face holds sadness, pity. I don't need pity. "Cage I understand it's a sore subject but it's time you knew who your father was." He opens his top drawer to take out a small book -a photo album- and places it on the desk before opening it.

"Scott came to me when you gave him that paperwork, it was hard to see you felt you had to leave. I wish you would have come to me first before it ever got to that point. This is your home, it always has been, always will be. I know your situation is hard but you are family Cage, I won't turn you away." He thumbs through the album before stopping on a page. He looks at the picture for a minute before he continues. "I'm sorry you never got to meet your father, he couldn't wait to meet you, none of us could."

Sliding the book towards me the photo is old, its a young Barrett with the former Beta, a visiting Alpha I know to be Dominic, on Barretts right is a wolf I don't recognize. They look happy. Is that him?

"Dustin was my younger brother." He informs me. Looking up at him with shock he holds complete sadness in his eyes as he looks over towards the photo. "Are you telling me you're my uncle?" I can't ask if Dustin is my father, the words won't form that way, they just swallow down my throat to rest in my stomach to join the party with my anxiety, despair and anger. He nods his head " Yes. I'm sorry we didn't tell you sooner. After Dustin was attacked and killed our father thought it best to not tell anyone else. We never did find out who did it but we had our suspension; Nothing we could ever prove. It was better for you or anyone else to not know. When Anna found her mate and left you we seen it as more of a blessing. It may not have seemed that way growing up or even now but it was in your best interest and your safety."

Any thoughts I had juggling in my mind have dropped. I feel like a mute. My mouth and tongue are unable to move to form anything I can release from my teeth or lips.

"You have no idea how alike you are to him. Not just in features but your personality." His voice is low, just above a whispered octave. Looking back at the picture I can see the similarities. My hair matches the light brown Barrett also has, Scott always got his dirty blonde from his mom. I can see the light stubble of a beard on Dustin, mine is thicker but still trimmed down. Our eyes are identical. The dark brown of a walnut tree that spreads out like roots to mix with the green of grass.

"Is this why you were always there? Taking care of me? Why Scott and I are so close?" I feel betrayed. Did he know about this before now? Why didn't he ever tell me? "Yes and no." He tells me "It's not that simple Cage. You and Scott are friends because you both put in the effort and care that friendships need to thrive, no one pushed you two together you did that on your own. He isn't aware of any of this it is up to you if you want Scott to know. As for the rest of your questions, yes, I did favour you more because you are my nephew. It is why I agreed to train you, why I was more lenient with you and not others, why you got gifts growing up. It may seem unfair but honestly, I don't care. My brother missed out on everything, I wasn't going to as well, you deserved to have someone, be part of a family. You are a part of this family." He sounds proud. His shoulders raise higher like a weight has been lifted off of them. How many times did he want to tell me but couldn't?

I don't know how to feel, what to do. Where do I go from here?

"Why tell me all this now?"

"I have always wanted to tell you. I don't want you to leave here Cage, not for anyone. This is your birthright just as much as it is Scott's, you are exactly where you are meant to be. If you must leave, I want you to leave with knowing the truth, I don't want my brothers legacy ending with me." His eyes plead with me, he means what he tells me. Growing up he was the next thing to a father figure I had. When Pops couldn't do something or I needed more Barrett was always there, never hesitating.

My teeth crunch together. There are too many emotions building up in me, I need to go. "Can I have this?" I ask pointing at the album. "Take it. I have something else for you as well." Bending over he reaches down taking a cardboard box from the floor and placing it on the desk between us. He stands and I follow his movements as he takes the album and puts it in the box before closing it up. "These were his things, what we kept after he passed." Sliding the box towards me.

I hesitate. Do I want to know? I need to know.

Taking the box I thank him and leave. Putting it in my passenger side seat I'm still feeling so lost. I'm not ready to go see Scott yet, we have things to talk about between us. He has been trying to be there for me but he didn't help when it came to Cheyenne. I may understand it but I don't like it, it still hurts to have my best friend take a female's side over mine. Grams obviously is aware of everything, she agreed to let me know but I wish she would have told me sooner. She may be able to tell me more about him but I don't know what I want to know right now.

Starting the truck up and driving towards the cabin I don't feel like I want to be there. I don't think I want to be alone. Continuing past my own driveway I come to Grams before skipping past it as well to take the path that leads past the pack lands.

Tapping the steering wheel before scratching my jawline my skin feels like it's crawling. I can't stop the urge surfacing up. Parking before picking up my phone and pushing Sophia's contact information I see there are still no messages from her. Calling the phone goes straight to voicemail. Damn it.

Blowing out my breath I go over to Wayne's contact. He has sent me a message earlier while I was still in the office with Alpha Barrett. Opening the conversation it only reads :

Wayne: guess you won't be making it.

He sent it around noon it is now two in the afternoon. Sending him a quick text message maybe he can tell me why I can't reach Sophia.

Cage: sorry I just now got out of my meeting. I won't be there today.

My phone chirps back immediately.

Wayne: sure 'meeting'. You know I can take a hint, just wish one of you would have told me so I wasn't stuck here alone all day.

Cage: what? What do you mean alone?

Wayne: Sophia didn't come here either and her phone isn't on. Figured she was with you

Cage: I thought she was with you, mainly why I texted you, her phone went to voicemail.

Wayne: I see how it is, use and abuse me. Not cool my man.

Wayne: swing by her house and see if her car is there. I'm stuck here until 330.

Cage: ya, alright. And it's not like that, I just know you two are with each other or know where the other is.

Driving by I don't see her red Chevy, her house looks dark like no one is home. Where could she be?

Panic starts to set in and I pull in her driveway before parking next to the garage. Maybe I can pick up her scent or something to see how long ago she left.

Walking out front I find nothing. She had to of left hours ago. What if she never made it to work? What if she had an accident? Checking the local news on my phone I find no indications of a report for an accident lately. What now.

Walking up to the front door I decide to peek through the window. I see a small orange tail sticking out from under the coffee table, must be her cat, Finn. I don't see the other cats, I also don't see or hear Keno. Odd. He would have heard my truck or smelled me on the steps. Where is he?

Maybe something happened and she had an emergency. Do I wait or leave? Opening up my conversation with Wayne I write a message before deleting it. I need to calm down. This is overbearing and clingy, she needs her space and I cannot continue to annoy Wayne with my problems. She should be back soon. Hopefully.

Getting back in the truck I look to the box. Should I open it? Do I dare? Maybe I can just go through a few things and stop when I need to.