Aidoneus and Persefone were getting close to Maeve's house with the food on the back. Persefone sat quietly and thoughtfully. Aidoneus would glance at his mate occasionally but couldn't help but feel concerned. "Worried about Maeve?"

"You can say that I'm still in shock over the news. I don't know Laoise very well since I only met her a couple of times, but I can't imagine the thought of seeing one's parents suffer such a disease."

Aidoneus nodded, but he was also curious about Edgar. "Hey, Sef, has Edgar been bugging you?"

"No, everything has been quiet. He would usually text me or message me on social media. Maybe he gave up." Persefone noticed Aidoneus's smile. It was not an ordinary smile; her eyes widened. "Dio, please don't tell me you had something to do with it." His smile widened, and Persefone feared the worst. "You didn't hurt him, did you?"

"Well, to an extent, but it's not in the way that you might be thinking. Some friends of mine came along." Aidoneus then explained everything that happened with Edgar.

Persefone listened; her worry became intrigued. She laughed so hard that tears formed. "Y-Y-You're kidding me!? You disguised yourself as Rudolph!? Edgar believed it!?"

Aidoneus couldn't help but feel proud of his work; it warmed him to see his mate smile. "Yup, people like him act tough, but it's a ruse to hide their true insecuurities. I know that he will never bother you again. If he does, I will-" He was interrupted when his phone rang, which was connected to his car's Bluetooth. When looking at the caller ID, he sighed. "Sorry, I got to take this. It's my Ma." Persefone nodded and watched as he answered. "Hey, Ma. How-"

"Aidoneus Bledig! How dare you!?"

The couple tensed. Aidoneus gulped. "What did I do, Ma?"

"Why didn't you tell me that you found your mate!?" A wolffish groan escaped his lips; Persefone giggled. Calista heard Persefone's giggle. "Is she with you?"

The couple looked at one another. "Yeah, but she knows about our kind. Her name is Persefone."

"H-Hello, ma'am."

"Oh my goodness! I'm sorry that you had to hear me in such a way. I'm Calista! I didn't think I would be speaking to you this soon! Still, I'm relieved that Aidoneus found his mate. Are you going on a date this early?"

"No, Ma. Something happened."

Calista noticed her son's ton and knew it wasn't good news. "What happened?"

Aidoneus sighed as he made a right turn, leading to Maeve's house; he parked his car. "Ma, Maeve's mother was taken to the hospital and it was found that she has cancer."

Calista was silent momentarily, grasping the news. "Please give me the address to her house. I will be there as soon as I can."

"Ma, I don't think-"

"Don't argue you with me, young man. Text me the address or I will ask your father for it."

Aidoneus relented and gave his mother the address; both hung up.

Persefone sighed while rubbing her hands together. "Dio, do you think it was a good idea. I mean, isn't it awkward that your mother would want to visit Maeve?"

"It look awkward, but my Ma is full of surprises. Come on, let's take this food inside." The duo got out of the car, got a hold of the food, and walked toward the house.

Aidoneus was about to knock, but the door opened. He was surprised to see who stood on the other end. "T-Trinidad!?"

Trinidad softly smiled. "The one and only."

"Wh-What are you doing here? How did you know where Maeve lived?"

"Treyton texted us what happened. I didn't want to sit around and do nothing. I made Garret drive like a madman to come here." Trinidad motioned the duo to enter, which they did so. Once inside, Patrisha sat on one of the sofas, looking at the floor, while Treyton and Garret talked to one another by the kitchen. The door was closed. "We were shocked when hearing the news. It's terrible to go through something horrendous during the holidays."

Aidoneus nodded as he and Persefone put down the food. "We brought Chinese takeout with different options so all of you can eat."

Trinidad approached the young woman and introduced herself. Persefone was shy initially, but with Trinidad's kindness and sense of humor, she opened up.

Treyton went toward Patrisha and sat beside her. Patrisha looked up and toward Trinidad and Garret. It amazed her that Treyton's friends had arrived to support Maeve. "I'm surprised your friends came even though they don't know Maeve very well."

"They're good friends, and they met Maeve, but only temporarily. When I got divorced from my ex, Garret and Trinidad were always there. When meeting Maeve, they were happy and relieved of us dating. My friends are one of a kind."

"I don't want to sound to emotional, but I'm grateful for you all. I know that Laoise would want her to go to keep her mind off the stress." Patrisha and Treyton decided to wait for Maeve to be well-rested before they tried to convince her to eat.

Two and a half hours passed, and Treyton believed it was more than enough. He was about to go to Maeve's room, but there was a knock on the living room door.

"I'll get it," said Trinidad. She opened the door, but her eyes widened when she saw who was on the other side. "What are you doing here, Calista?"

No one expected Calista's arrival, and Treyton had many questions. Aidoneus went to his father. "Sorry, Pops. Ma called, and I told her about the situation. She insisted on coming here, so I gave her the address."

Treyton finally understood, and he immediately went to see his ex-wife. Calista, Aidoneus told me what happened." He looked at Persefone and Patrisha and then at his ex. "Careful what you say. One of the women here doesn't know about our kind yet."

Calista nodded as she was motioned to enter. Trinidad and Garrett kept their distance but quietly growled so Patrisha wouldn't hear their displeasure. Patrisha, however, noticed the tension and couldn't help but be curious about who Calista was. Persefone noticed and immediately went to Patrisha before she could ask. "Patrisha, that woman is Calista, Treyton's ex-wife."

Patrisha's eyebrows widened. "Ex-wife!?" Everyone heard her, but Patrisha didn't care. Persefone tried to calm her down, but the older woman wouldn't budge. Patrisha stood from her seat with her hands on her hips. "What are you doing here? You have me to deal with if you're not here to cause trouble."

Persefone couldn't help but feel embarrassed due to her friend's behavior. Patrisha looked, ready to fight. "Patrisha, she-"

Calista raised her right hand, stopping Persefone. "Patrisha. Was it? I am Calista, and I'm sure you figured out that I am Treyton's ex-wife. I understand your concern, but please be at ease that I'm not here to cause trouble. I met Maeve when she and Treyton went to the same Christmas market my husband and I visited. What happened between me and Treyton is in the past. We accepted what happened, and we're moving on forward."

"So why are you here?"

"I wanted to talk to Maeve. Believe it or not, I know what she is going through."

Patrisha was about to object, but Persefone interjected. "Trish, please. Let's not cause a scene. Maeve needs support; trust her."

Calista and Patrisha eyed one another, neither backing down, but Patrisha sighed. "Alright, but if you do something then you won't be seeing Christmas this year."

Everyone gulped at Patrisha's threats. "You have my word. Thank you, Patrisha. Where is her room?"

Calista was motioned to Maeve's room; she knocked on the door. "Maeve?" There was no answer, but Calista sensed that Maeve was still awake. "It's me, Calista. I'm going to come in." She slowly opened the door, and a single lamp dimly lighted the room. Soft whimpers echoed; Maeve lay on her bed with her back facing Calista.

With the door closed, Calista sat on the edge of the bed, ensuring each other's space. "Maeve, I know you may not have the strength to speak, but I know how you feel." Maeve's whimpers slowly quieted down; Calista knew that she was listening. "When I was ten, my pack celebrated were celebrating Christmas. I remember the songs, the happiness, and all the friends and family that were together. However, on that particular Christmas, everything changed."

Maeve slowly turned around, facing Calista. "What happened?" she asked in a whisper-tone voice.

"There was a rogue attack on my pack. Rogues are werewolf criminals who refuse to follow pack laws or commit unthinkable crimes. They tried to steal the pack's belongings, which was not much. My father and the other male werewolves of the pack tried to fight them off while the females took the children to hiding places." Calista closed her eyes as the memory was evident in her mind. She tried to forget it, but it was impossible; the experience was always a part of her. "My mother tried to take me to one of the underground shelters, but a rogue caught up to us. They wanted my mother's necklace that held value."

"Calista..."

"My mother pushed me away, and the rogue killed her instantly; I couldn't do anything."

"Oh my god, that is awful."

The older woman felt tears forming in her eyes but wiped them away. "Eventually, the rogues were cast away or killed. I remember when my father found my mother, he became broken. Christmas for us wasn't the same, and my father refused to celebrate the holiday. I saw him dissipate throughout the years, and he was no longer the man I knew who loved Christmas. I resented Christmas until I met Treyton and had my son. My love for the the holiday came back again. Yet, Treyton and I divorced since I found my true mate, and you know the rest."

Maeve slowly sat up as Calista walked toward her and sat on the edge of the bed. "You went through so much, Calista, and on Christmas day."

Calista nodded. "Yes, it's hard to see someone you love lose their life on Christmas. I know your mother is fighting for her life, but I told you this because no matter what, you will always have loved ones beside you. Never forget that you have all of us now. Understand?"

"Yes...I understand." Maeve suddenly hugged Calista, surprising the older woman. She felt relief that Maeve was regaining her strength. They separated, and Calista left the room and closed the door, leaving Maeve alone.

Once out, everyone looked at her. "So, how is she?" Treyton asked worriedly.

Calista walked into the living room. "She's saddened but okay. Maeve needs time alone and will come out whenever she is ready. We all must be ready for the worst-case scenario, which is why I thought of an idea but will need more information."

"What do you have planned, Ma?" asked Aidoneus.

Calista smiled as she sat on one of the sofas and explained her idea. Everyone looked uncertain at first, but Patrisha agreed. "It's worth the try. Maybe we can use the Irish language; I know the two will appreciate it."

"Wonderful idea, Patrisha." Calista looked at Garret and Trinidad. "I know you two are still angry about what happened between me and Treyton. Please believe me; it was difficult for me to do what I did. Treyton has Maeve now, and she will be a part of the pa-I mean family now. Please allow me to win your trust and respect. I will do so no matter how long it takes. Just this once, help me convince the others to help."

Garret and Trinidad looked at one another and then at Calista. "We're still angry at you, but for Maeve's sake, we'll do it," Trinidad answered.

"Thank you."