I'm enjoying this too much to quit writing.  Enjoy :)

Chapter Quote:
"Tell my you'll come back for the pack.  For me.  I don't want to lose you." 
~Renier Laroche, Nightshade
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Chapter 5

Caleb 

It'd been somewhere around three weeks since I'd run away.  I'd kept in wolf form mostly, avoiding civilization.  I depended on the snack bars I'd bought from the grocery store the day I went to town with Ember and the others, and also on hunting small game, like rabbits and voles.  I was exhausted.  I'd barely stopped to rest.  I wanted to get far away from home.  I didn't want them finding me.  And on top of that, I was alone and a pretty easy target for any other predators, like bears or mountain lions.

By the time I finally decided I should find a place to stay, I was in Canada.  The good thing about being a Guardian is if you need to sneak into another country, you just shift forms because who the hell IDs a wolf?  Furthermore, lake and river baths weren't going to suffice anymore.  I needed a real shower because I stank to high-heaven.  You didn't have to be a Guardian to smell me coming.  It was night-time however and no hotel was going to accept me this time of day so I placed my duffel on the ground, shifted into wolf form, and curled up next to it.

I fell asleep pretty quickly but woke up to every little sound.  About the thirtieth time I woke up, it was because there were voices.  My hiding place in a dense copse of trees hid me pretty well but I was still on edge.  Who was out here at midnight in the middle of nowhere?

"Michael, I'm telling you, there was another wolf out here.  I just want to make sure it's not a Guardian," a woman said.

"I smell what you mean.  Good god, this wolf must be filthy," a man answered; he must've been Michael since no one else was around.  The comment slightly offended me, but at the same time I completely understood where he was coming from. "Elaine, in the trees."

Their eyes settled on me.  Instantly I was on my feet, ready to attack, baring my teeth, raising my haunches.  I was in no shape to fight but I couldn't let them know that.  If they were here to kill me, I was going down with a fight.

"Poor wolf looks like it's been through hell and back," the woman said sadly.

"Smells like it too," Michael added.

The woman hit him in the arm.  They were probably in their late forties, early fifties.  They both had piercing blue eyes.  While the man was tall and buff, the woman had a willowy figure.

"Do you think he's a Guardian?" Michael queried.

"Let's find out," the woman said.  I blinked, and in that time, she'd transformed into a wolf herself.  I stopped growling but didn't let down my guard.

Hello there.  Can you understand me?  If so, and you're a Guardian, would you shift so we can talk? The woman's voice entered my head.  After a moment's hesitation, I listened.  She did the same.  Giving me a warm smile, she said, "My name is Elaine Stark.  This is my husband, Michael Stark.  What's yours?"

"Caleb."

"What's your last name?"

"I ran away from home.  I'm not a part of that family anymore.  I don't have a last name," I snapped.  It was a sensitive subject for me, talking about my family.  I missed them, but Hunter and my own guilt, mainly the latter but with a lot of help from the former, was the reason I left.  I missed Elsa the most.  Her and my mom.  I'd been so tempted to call them but I knew they'd trace the phone call and track me down, drag me back home.  I didn't want to go back home.

"Do you have a place to stay tonight, son?" Michael asked.

"No.  I was going to go to a hotel tomorrow, figure out what to do next," I informed.

"Why don't you stay with us for tonight?" Elaine suggested.

"I just met you.  Why on earth should I trust you?" I demanded.

"Were you an alpha in your old pack?"

"No, but I was in the running for it with my older brother.  What does that have anything to do with me staying with you?"

"Nothing, it's just I'd like to see Lily meet her match.  Lily is one of our adopted daughters along with Spencer.  Lily is an alpha, but she's so headstrong she needs someone her own age who will tell her no.  Spencer is her second.  Callie is Spencer's girlfriend and she's also the omega.  Michael and I take in stray Guardians.  If the Searchers need us to watch some, we do so.  We never had kids of our own."

"There's other kids?" I questioned.

"Yes.  And if you want proof... here." Elaine handed me her phone.  It looked like a family photo.  Michael and Elaine were in the back.  Three kids sat in front of them.  A dark blonde kid sat in front of Elaine.  He had green eyes that instantly told me he was loyal to a fault.  The girl next to him, who sat in the middle, had dark brown hair.  She wore an expression that said 'Mess-with-me-I'll-kill-you' which told me she must be Lily.  The girl next to her, in front of Michael, had flaming red hair.  That must've been Callie.  She had a mischievous gleam in her eyes that could rival Riley and Jake.

"That was at Spencer's football game... or soccer I guess for you Americans.  You two look to be about the same age," Michael observed.

"I'm fourteen but I turn fifteen in a month."

"He's a year younger than you then.  Lily is your age though.  Callie is two years younger than you.  Would you like to meet them?" Elaine asked.  My brain gave me the worst case scenarios about what would happen to me if I went home with them, most of them ending up with me dead.  However, my gut told me they were okay people, so I let them lead the way.  Michael took my duffel bag for me.  They asked me questions about my life beforehand but I didn't tell them much.  I didn't want them knowing who I was.  Everyone knew the Laroches because my parents had helped stopped the war.  I knew they would know my last name and then it'd be bye-bye Canada, hello Colorado.  I was not allowing that to happen.

The trek was short, and when we rounded a bend in the trail, my eyes were greeted with a three-story house.  Lights were on in some of the rooms.  I could smell some type of food that was either currently being cooked or had been cooked earlier.  It smelled delicious.  My stomach growled in anticipation at the prospect of having a home-cooked meal.  When we entered the house, I heard footsteps charging down the stairs.

"What is that wretched smell?!" A girl demanded.  It was Lily.  She was the first one to come into the living room since we'd entered through the back door.  A boy and girl, Spencer and Callie, came skidding to a stop behind her.

"Lily!" Elaine chastised.

"It's what happens when you haven't taken a shower in three weeks," I quipped.

The girl stared at me. "Why the hell haven't you taken a shower in three weeks?"

"Bathrooms, showers, they're a rarity in the middle of nowhere in the Rocky Mountains."

At that, Spencer snorted in amusement.  "I like him.  What's your name?"

"Caleb.  I'm a... a runaway.  Family trouble.  Michael and Elaine told me who you were on the way over here.  You're Spencer, Lily, and Callie, am I right?" I listed their names in respective order.

"You got it.  Where are you from?  You sound American."

"Uh-"

"You can ask him questions later.  For now, I think Caleb here would like to take a shower," Elaine interjected, patting my shoulder.  Gutsy because I seriously smelled so bad that my eyes were watering.

"A much needed shower," Lily said, glaring at me.

"Lily," Michael warned.  The two had a stare-down while Elaine escorted me upstairs.  She opened a door and said, "This is our guest room.  There's shampoo, conditioner, and soap in the shower.  Towels are in the closet in the bathroom.  Can I get you anything?"

"No, thank you though.  For taking me in.  I really appreciate it," I said sincerely.

"You are welcome to stay as long as you like.  I'll leave you be.  When you're done, come downstairs and I'll make you dinner.  I'm sure you're starved.  See you soon Caleb." She shut the door and let me be.

I ended up taking a long shower.  I didn't realize how dirty I was until I saw the dirt going down the drain for ten minutes straight.  I scrubbed away all the dirt and stench from my time outside.  Once my shower was done, I threw on some sweatpants and a tee shirt before heading downstairs.  Elaine was speaking with Michael, Lily, and Callie.  They were all seated at the kitchen bar, watching her cook.

"Smells delicious, Mrs. Stark," I commented as I entered.  It was true.  The smell of ham, sausage, and potatoes wafted through the air.  My mouth watered.  I wanted to eat something other than granola bars and rabbit.

"Sit, sit!  Perfect timing, it's almost ready!" Elaine insisted.  I sat in the bar stool next to Spencer.  Callie and Lily ignored me, but he engaged me in conversation.  Ten minutes later, we were seated at the dining room table.  Lily and Callie dominated the conversation, with Spencer making jokes intermittently throughout.  Half of the time, I was swallowing some of the soup when he'd make the joke, making me forget I was eating and so I'd start laughing and therefore start choking. 

"So how long are you planning on staying here, Caleb?" Lily inquired, her blue eyes settling on me.  I knew she was trying to intimidate me but it wasn't going to work.

"Not long.  Don't worry."

"Damn, I was hoping for another man in the house.  I don't like being outnumbered here," Spencer said.

"I think Michael could count as two men," Lily pointed out.

"I'm going to take that as a compliment," Mr. Stark said.

"Shame you're not going to stay longer."

"Oh yeah?  And why is that?" I questioned.

"I could use someone in this house who can give me some good banter because these two are worthless," she laughed.

"Are they now?  Noted."

"Hey!" Spencer protested.

"For the record, since you're still going to be here until tomorrow so you say, here's the low down: if you haven't figured this out already, Lily is extremely blunt.  Sometimes to the point where it can be offensive," Callie explained.

"Like when I came into the house?" I joked.

"Well you smelled like you'd been rolling around in the mud," Lily argued.

"Don't forget the lack of showers in the wilderness." I grinned. "But in all seriousness, I probably won't be here that long."

"You're welcome to stay as long as you need to get you bearings about where you want to go from here," Elaine said.

"Where do you go to school?" I asked.

"The high school down the road.  Spencer is in the same classes as Lily because he's a damn genius."

"There's nothing wrong with being smart," I said.

"Thank you!" Spencer said.  We'd all finished our soup by now and I was stuffed.  Between the food, the lack of sleep, and actually feeling safe for the first time in three weeks, I was beyond ready to go to bed.

"Okay you four, Caleb looks about ready to pass out.  I think he should get an early night in.  You three help me clean up," Elaine ordered.

"Oh no, let me help.  You've been kind enough to let me stay here," I objected.

"No, you can help tomorrow.  You get some sleep.  Now.  You may be an alpha but you're only fourteen.  Go get some sleep."

"Tomorrow I'm definitely helping out.  Thank you so much for dinner, Mrs. and Mr. Stark."

"Please, call us Elaine and Michael.  And you're very welcome dear.  I'll wake you up for breakfast in the morning.  Have a nice night."  I thanked them once more before heading upstairs.  I plopped down on the bed and stared at the ceiling.  I couldn't believe I'd been so lucky to find such nice people.  It seemed odd that of all people to find me, to take me in, were Guardians themselves.  It was a one in a million chance, but one I gladly welcomed.  Closing my eyes, I allowed myself to completely fall asleep for the first time in four weeks.
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Ember

The house had been pretty solemn.  Elsa, unless she was helping find Caleb, kept to herself in her room.  She and mom were becoming really close over the whole ordeal.  Hunter and dad were closer now too.  They both thought that it was best for us to stop looking for him.  Their explanation was that if he wanted to be found, he would've at least taken his phone but my mother could not be persuaded to stop.  It was causing arguments between them.  I'd heard them argue, but not like this...

It was still difficult for me to wrap my head around the fact Caleb had run away.  He and Hunter were so different, yet they were both alphas in their own right, in their own way.  They both were so strong.

My father had called for a pack meeting.  We met in the formal dining room.  We had a regular one where we ate dinner and breakfast but for formal occasions, like holidays and birthdays, we ate in the formal one.  I was the first to get there besides my father.  He was sitting at the head of the table, looking deep in thought.  The Hess family arrived first, followed by the McKays.  Hunter came with them.  He must've been talking to Josilyn.  I was pretty sure those two were going to end up together at some point when the age difference wasn't so big to them.  Josilyn was just entering seventh grade.  Hunter was going to be a junior in high school.  It was pretty significant for now, but give them a few more years and they'll be a couple.  Elsa sat next to me.  Mom followed her and sat at the other end of the table.  Loren sat next to her.  Even though he was technically my dad's second, he and Shiloh seemed to be switching places.  I always wondered if Loren still had feelings for my mother and I think my dad did too at times.  But then I always reminded myself that mom had chosen dad over Loren, even when they'd both been vying for her.  My dad was the one she chose to have her children with.  That had to say something, right?

Once the entire pack was there, my father stood up.  He cleared his throat and said, "I've gathered you all here to discuss the disappearance of Caleb."  Immediately my mother was on edge.  Her eyes held a dangerous glint in them, causing me to actually be fearful for my dad.  If he saw her look though, he didn't acknowledge it. "Three weeks ago, our son ran away from home, taking only his laptop and a few clothes.  He left behind his cellphone.  While we have been searching for him during the time he has been missing, I have decided to call it off."

"Excuse me?" My mom demanded.

My father ignored her. "If my son wanted to be found, he would've called or he would've left a note.  The searching for him stops now.  When he wants to come home, he will on his own terms, and we will welcome him back."

"Arya, listen to him," Shiloh insisted gently yet firmly.  She ignored him.

"What if I refuse to follow your orders?  And what happened to the rule of alphas making decisions together?" Mom asked in the deadliest voice I'd ever heard her use.

Dad looked surprised by her tone, but at the same time his expression told me he had expected this reaction from her.  He replied to her in stride. "Then you'll be branded a traitor to your pack.  You cannot be an effective alpha if your head is focused on finding your son rather than protecting your pack."  Gasps went up around the table.  I knew my dad was serious about stopping the search for Caleb but to actually deem someone a traitor for trying to search for him?  That was nuts.  That was unexpected.

"Caleb is our son and you want to leave him alone, to let him defend for himself alone?"

"He did that to himself.  He didn't have to run away."

"How can you think that way?"

"Because I'm thinking that if he wanted us to find him or come after him, he would've said something to us already.  Get your head out of the gutter and focus on our pack Arya or else you're not going to be an alpha, and it'll be my pack!"

My mother snarled. "Your pack?  All the adults at this table knew me long before they knew you.  I grew up with half of them.  The other half I led through a war.  They have always been my pack.  We let you into our lives and you better damn well remember that."

My father flinched but only asked, "What is it going to be Arya?  The pack or Caleb?"

"Caleb is our pack."

"No, he isn't.  He left our pack of his own volition.  Now tell me: the pack or Caleb?"

Mom had a stare-down with dad.  Everyone in the room was holding their breath.  Finally, my mom said, "Next on the agenda is patrols.  Hunter with Ren, Elsa with Riley, Ember with Noah, Jake with Diana, Oliver with Laurel, Gracie with Dmitri, Thea with Sebastian and Akira, Loren and Melinda, Shiloh and Carrie, Rigg and Erin, Frank and Taki, Dean and Reyna, Sam and Casey, and Nancy and Derek.  Barry and Josilyn stay home for obvious reasons."

"And where do you fit into all this?" Dad questioned furiously. "It's not safe for you to be out there by yourself."

"Just like it's not safe for Caleb to be out there by himself," She snapped.

"Do you mean you're leaving?" For the first time, I heard fear in my father's voice.  He was scared of losing my mom, and he wasn't the only one.  The entire atmosphere in the room changed, going from unease to dread.

"No, but you and I are obviously not making decisions together anymore.  I'm going out for a walk.  The pairings are final.  And I can take care of myself."

"Arya, would you like someone to go with you?" Loren asked.  I mentally feared for his safety just then.  My father's glare turned murderous as his eyes settled on his second.

"She doesn't want you going with her," he growled.

"Actually, it would be nice to have a friend to talk to.  Yes, you may come Loren," My mom answered.

"Loren is my second.  He follows my orders, and my orders are for him to stay here."

"Well then let's change that.   Considering you and Shiloh are on the same page with all this, why doesn't he become your second and Loren becomes mine?  Got it?  Good.  Let's go Loren."

"You two are awfully close aren't you?"

Mom whirled around. "What are you implying?"

"Exactly what you think."

"You and I have been married for sixteen years and you seriously think that after all this time, that I would-"

"I don't know, Arya, you tell me!"

"I can't believe you.  But that seems to be the order of the day now doesn't it?  I'm going to go on a walk with my friend.  I will see you later."  My mother stormed out of the room with Loren trailing behind her.

"Meeting dismissed," dad barked.  The pack scurried out of the room, wanting to get away from the tension. "Melinda, stay.  I need to speak with you."

I shut the door but hung back to listen.  Apparently I wasn't the only one who had the idea.  Elsa and Hunter joined in along with Riley and Gracie.  We all hid on the stairwell so when Melinda left, we could hurry and make it look like we were never there.

"Yes, Ren?" Melinda's voice piped up.

"I don't want to worry you when I voice this but am I imagining things?  About Arya and Loren?" My dad sighed.  I heard him sit down in the chair.

"I've been wondering too.  They've become extra close recently, over Caleb, and I can't help but think the same thing you are."

"She was getting so defensive... I don't know if it was because she's innocent and was so shocked by my accusation or if she's hiding something."

"I've already talked to Loren about it.  He denied anything was going on.  I listened to his heart and it didn't flutter or give any indication that he was lying but then again, he was always a good liar."

"I'm terrified, Melinda.  I'm terrified that I'm losing my wife.  Our relationship's been stressed ever since Caleb left and we hid that from the kids but after today, they know something's up and they've been through enough.  I don't want them to go through anything else-"

"What are you saying?" Melinda sounded worried.

"I'm saying that while I'm not doing it, I can't help but wonder that after today she's going to want to."

"Want to do what?"

My heart dropped at my father's answer. "I think she wants to divorce me."

Hunter, who had been standing, collapsed onto the stairs.  Riley and Gracie grabbed onto each other's shoulders.  All the color drained out of Elsa's face.  I'd heard enough though.  Forcing my feet to move, I went upstairs to my room.
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Ren 

Arya barely spoke to me for two weeks after the meeting.  She did so only if necessary.  Every day, every time she spoke to me, I feared the worst.  I feared she would utter the sentence 'I want a divorce'.  If she did, I would break.  I'd lost half my pack, I'd lost a daughter, and I'd lost a son.  Arya had helped me get through that.  If I lost her too... I don't know what would happen to me.  I don't know what would happen to my kids.  I don't know what would happen to our pack.

Speaking of my kids, they must've eavesdropped on my conversation with Melinda.  They were silent at dinner; they were silent around me and Arya in general.  Hunter spent most of his time with Josilyn, Ember with Noah.  Elsa stayed in her room unless she was being driven to her dance classes that she just started.

Right now it was midnight.  I was in bed alone mulling over everything that had happened in the past few years and how we'd ended up here, where for the fourteenth night in a row, Arya wasn't in bed with me.  I'd fall asleep for an hour or a two at a time, wake up, roll over, and expect to drape my arm over my wife.  My arm was always greeted with an empty space.  Every time, I'd go downstairs to find her watching TV on the couch, and I'd ask her if she was coming to bed.  She would always tell me later. 

She never did.

I couldn't stand it anymore.  I padded quietly down the stairs, not wanting to alert my children I was awake.  They'd know instantly something was wrong or something was happening.  Between me and my wife, I was the strong and silent one.  She was the fast and clever one.  Elsa and Anna had been the only ones to inherit my stealthiness, Hunter my strength, Ember her mom's speed, Caleb his mom's cleverness.

I found Arya curled up in a blanket on the couch, watching television as usual.  Her eyes flitted over to me. "What are you doing up?"

"I couldn't sleep," I admitted. "What are you doing?"

"Watching some movies."

I leaned against the door frame, staring at my wife.  It was sort of a déjà vu moment.  I'd done this so many times, especially when the kids were little.  She'd be holding them in her arms, smiling and laughing with them.  When Arya would finally realize I was there, her smile would get even bigger.  I'd walk up to her, give her a kiss, and then sit down next to her.  We were so happy, so comfortable.  Now it felt like we were strangers to each other.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" she asked.

"Am I not allowed to look at my wife?" I countered back, coming out as more of a serious question than I wanted it to.  I strode up to her, cupped her face, and kissed her long and hard.  I pulled back to catch my breath.

"What was that for?" she breathed.

"I want you to know how much I love you and since I haven't exactly been one with words with you lately, I wanted to try a different way."

"I love you too," she said.

I stood up straight, finally allowing myself to confess what had been on my mind for the past month. "Do you?"

"Do I what?" Arya stood up as well, still wrapped in her blanket.

"Do you still love me?  You barely speak to me, you barely look at me, you're barely in the house anymore, and I'm scared.  I'm scared I've lost you, and not only lost you but lost you to Loren.  I've seen you two going on all those walks and so has Melinda.  She's worried just like I am.  If you do love him, okay, I'll back off, but at least tell me what happened between us that caused you to stop loving me."  A knot formed in my throat because the prospect of losing Arya to one of my best friend's was practically unbearable to think about.  She was staring at me in shock but I didn't let her say anything.  I continued, "If you want to talk to me, I'll be upstairs."

"You were right," she said.  I turned around, giving her a defeated look.

"So it's true?  You and Loren are-" I halted.

"What?  No!  You're wrong about me and Loren.  There's nothing more than friendship there.  I'm talking about Caleb.  You were right about him, and that's the reason Loren has been going on the walks with me lately.  He's been trying to convince me that you were right."

"Which he obviously did so why did you listen to him but not to me?"

"He didn't actually.  You did.  He's just convinced me to admit it to you." Arya bit her lip. "It hurts Ren, knowing that Caleb ran off because he couldn't stand being in the family any longer.  It hurts knowing that I should've seen the signs and I didn't, I should've helped him or talked to him but I didn't.  I mean what kind of mother let's her son suffer like he has?" I pulled my wife into a hug.  Tears were starting to trickle down her cheeks. "And then you and me... after what I said to you at the meeting, about our pack actually being mine, it's not.  It's yours too.  I was in such denial that I took it out on you and I thought after what I said that you'd want a divorce and every time we talked, I dreaded it because I thought you were going to bring it up and-"

"You thought I wanted to divorce you?  I thought you wanted to divorce me!  That's why I hardly talked to you.  You were so mad at me... And honey, Caleb chose not to tell us.  You and I asked, multiple times, if he was okay.  Hunter yelling at him all the time pushed him over the edge but you know he was never the same after Anna's death.  It wasn't his fault and in time maybe he'll come to see that.  He just needs space.  Caleb will come home one day.  But I don't think it'll be soon.  So for now, we have three children who need us.  We have a pack who needs us.  So let's focus on them, okay?"

Arya wiped the tears off her face. "You're right.  I'm sorry I haven't been the alpha I've needed to be."

"You've been under a lot of stress.  And you were so close to Caleb.  Do you want to go upstairs?"

"I- no.  Not yet.  I just have a few more videos to watch."

"What videos?"

"... Home videos.  Of our family.  Just you, me, Hunter, Caleb, Ember, Elsa, and Anna."

"Is that what you've been watching the past two weeks?"

"Yeah.  I just wanted to remember the good times because everything's been going to hell recently."

At that, I gave a small laugh. "You're right.  Would you mind if I watched them with you?"

"No, I'd love for you to."

We sat down on the couch, cuddling as I hit the 'play' button.  It was an older video.  Arya must've been watching the videos backwards in timeline because Anna was still alive in this one.  It was Christmas.  Elsa and Anna were play-fighting with Hunter in the background, tag-teaming against him.  The twins looked to be about three years old, which meant Hunter must've been seven, Caleb six, and Ember four.  My youngest son popped up in front of the camera, so close all you could see was his nose.

"How does this thing work mommy?" Caleb inquired, jabbing his finger at the lens.  Arya jerked the camera away just in time.

"Come around and I'll show you.  Caleb disappeared from view, but Ember took his place.  It was nice to see a time when my family was whole, before we'd been ripped and torn apart.

"Mom?  Dad?" Ember's voice drifted from the doorway.  Hunter and Elsa stood behind her. "Are you two okay now?"

"Yeah, we're okay," Arya said sleepily. "You want to join?"

My kids nodded, sitting on the couch with us.  Elsa curled up next to me.  Ember rested her head on her mom's shoulder, Hunter did the same to Ember.  The kids fell asleep around two in the morning, but Arya and I stayed up until four, finishing all the videos.  She fell asleep soon after though.  I stayed up, enjoying having what was left of my family with me.
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Hope you enjoyed the long chapter :)