We arrived at our new home shortly after dark.     

At first glance the house seemed to be in a deplorable state...unmaintained, broken windows, the front yard looked like a scene from a horror movie...bottles, broken wood, deep holes, and a pile of bones. We all looked horrified at what we saw.

-These are the effects of rejection! You go wild, and your wolf takes complete control of you! said mother with pity, looking long toward our old house.

-Let's hope that Tim will not have the same fate! Ted replied.

-You reap what you sow, Ted! Nick said looking at Ted. You should never betray your mate!

-Anne, your wolf will not ...

- No Ted! She was the one who decided to reject him, not me! She is a stronger she-wolf than you think! You wouldn't want to meet her in battle!

I saw the surprise on their faces, but they didn't dare to ask more questions. My mother exuded so much confidence and strength that you couldn't help but believe her.

-Anne, are you sure you don't want to sleep with us for a few days until we fix... this? Nick asked.

-Thank you but no! answered the mother. I'm sure the inside looks much better than the outside, she said with a big smile.

-Come on guys, let's go in and discover the hidden treasures! she said laughing.

"She's trying to look brave!" Leya said.

"I would also need a little courage!" I grumbled.

"I don't think it can be worse than it seems!" 

But, I couldn't resist saying my opinion:              

-It's a ramshackle, mom! It doesn't even seem habitable!                    

-Honey, never judge a book by its cover! What seems ugly and good to throw away, might be a diamond! my mother said, kissing me on the forehead. Look, even if some windows are broken, we have a door! she said laughing.

Nick grabbed the door handle to open it but, to our surprise, the door fell.

-You had a door! We looked at each other and burst out laughing.

-Are you serious, Nick? You broke my door! said my mother.

- I...honestly, I didn't want to... stammered Nick.

- I'm going to tell Adeline, what a mate she has! If you wanted to enter my humble house, you shouldn't have broken my door! I would have opened it for you alone, lad!

-Anne, I swear to the Goddess that I didn't want to ...

-Stay calm, Nick! I was just kidding! You just didn't expect that door to be good! 

-Well, I sort of wished for!

-Didn't you see that it was taken off the hinges and just put on? It's a good thing it didn't fall on you. I would not have wanted to give the account in front of Adeline! Not now, when you have a few weeks left until your pup is born.

I saw how a big smile appeared on Nick's face upon hearing the birth of his pup. I couldn't help but be envious....I wish my father hadn't behaved so badly. Everything he did was erased in a minute: I couldn't forget the hatred in his eyes and voice.

"He was under a spell, kiddo!" Leya reminded me. 

"I know! But, it still hurts!"              

-Let's see the rooms! my mother said after we entered in the house.

If the outside was in a bad shape, at least the inside wasn't that bad.                        

-Anne! Are you sure you want to stay here? I'm sure that Alpha doesn't even know what this house looks like! It's shattered! Nick said.                  

-Nick, we'll make it! Thank you, but you don't need to worry about us! We will manage!

I heard loud growls and a howl, which made me feel a cold sweat on my spine.

-Mom, who do you think it is? I whispered.

- It's your father, my love! I think that now he saw the house where we will.....

- You can't live here! I will not allow this! I heard my father shouting. This thing is anything but the house! Even my shed is in better condition than this shack! he boomed.

I saw my mother slowly turning towards my father and said with the sweetest tone, smiling:

- Mr. Nomi! Thank you for coming to visit us in our humble home. Do you want to take a seat? Mom asked mockingly.

- Anne! Alexis! You can't live here. This is not a house. I'll take you home now!

- Mr. Nomi! This is our home! And you ... you are not welcome! she spat.

I saw my father's eyes change color and I knew that his wolf came out:

-Selene, I know you are angry with us, but my man, he is weak and...

- I don't want to listen to your excuses! If you want forgiveness, then I want facts! And for now, get the hell out of here!

I saw my father bending his shoulders, looking at us for a long time.

- I will not give up on you, even if it will take my whole life for you to forgive me!

Saying this, he shifted and left the house. 

-Anne, do you think you to are safe with him around? He might get wild, you know!

-I know Nick! But I also know he won't hurt us! He is in such pain....with the rejection and us living the house, and all that happens after! I hope he will make it!

-Anyway will accompany you for the next few weeks, until you settle in and make the house look livable! It's an order from Adeline!

-Anne! I don't know if it's a consolation for you but know that we, some of the children from that time, have not forgotten what you did for us! Ted said                               

-Alpha allowed you to be helped! Tomorrow we will come to help you make this house a home for you guys!                     

-For now, let's get inside what we brought...

-What is all this? asked my mother in amazement when she saw the multitude of things that were in the trunk of the truck.                           

-Regards from Luna! Ted said.                                   

My mother's eyes filled with unshed tears. She realized that some of the pack members had not forgotten her sacrifice and that they were doing everything they could to help her, even though there was a verdict given by the alpha. But as Nick said, nowhere in the verdict was there the prohibition to be helped.  

-Thank you, guys! she said trying to hold back her tears. You should go now!

While we were looking at their car driving away, I asked my mother:

-Mom, do you think dad's wolf will go wild and die?

- I don't know, baby! Really do not know! It depends on him, whether he will overcome the pain or not. I have you, and that gives me strength. I hope he will find strength to overcome the pain.

That night we slept hugging each other. From now on, it will be just the two of us!                            

-Wake up, sleeping beauty! It's a new day, and we have to go to the pack house!

-Why?                                             

-To take on my new duties! said mother smiling.                               

-Mom, if I don't go to school today, is there a problem?                                       

-No. This week you can stay by my side. Until we fix what needs to be fixed and start earning our own money, you can stay with me. Who knows, maybe we'll get some chickens! said mother laughing.                                        

-And a cat too! So that the big and bad wolves run after her! I answered laughing.                           

-Let's go, young lady! Off we go!                                         

-When I opened the door, I saw a package on the porch.                            

-What is this? mom asked                      

-I do not know! Do you think it's dangerous?                        

My mother looked at the package, sniffed it, and said:                             

-No, it's not dangerous!                              

-Can I take it, mom?                        

-Yes, you can!                       

I took the package and ran inside with it, in what seemed to be the living room. When I opened it I was shocked. Inside was food, an iPad, a cake, and a card. I opened the card and read the message: "Happy birthday, child of the Moon. Even if I can't tell you who I am, I'll make sure you don't miss anything, ever! Your secret admirer!"               

-Who do you think it could be?                        

-I don't know mom!                        

-But who do you think it could be?                          

-The only people who were good to me were Rayna and Ryan. And since Rayna wouldn't have written something like that, there's only Ryan left! Should I tell him that I know he is my secret admirer?                          

-I say you better pretend you don't know! Let him feel useful!                   

After a thirty-minute walk through the forest, we finally arrived in town. Some people looked at us with fear, others with indifference, and others with pity and compassion.                                    

-Home sweet home! I murmured when I arrived at the pack's house.                                

-Come on baby! Let's enter and find out what has been prepared for us for the future!                      

-Freak! I heard someone saying to me. You come to see me don't you, freak?                      

-Max? Even if pigs fly, I wouldn't come to see you!                                 

-Mind your language! You are no longer Beta's daughter!                          

-Maxwell Wang , behave nicely if you don't want to be punished!  I raised you better than to be a bully!          

-But mom...                              

-No, but Maxwell! 

-Bye Maxwell! I told him wickedly. See you around, Maxwell!

"Maxwell! Maxwell! Just try and bully us again!" Leya chimed.                                             

-Alpha is waiting for you! Luna told us.