I didn't realise how nervous I was in the car with Andrew until he had to remind me to breathe, I don't know why I was so nervous. Maybe it was because I was in a new pack or maybe it was because I am meeting Lucas's grandmother and I want her to like me, both of my grandparents died before I was born.

And Lucas is now my family, which makes her like my family now, and I need for her to like me and take me in and show me ropes of being a she-wolf.

I saw Andrew look over at me from the corner of his eye, he reached over and gave my shoulder a quick squeeze. "You'll be fine, Loretta likes pretty much everyone!" Andrew tried to reassure me. "It has been a hell of a long time since I have heard of her not liking someone." He smiled at me, and somehow I believed his words.

But what if I am one of the rare ones that she doesn't like? What if I don't know how to act around her? I knew I was going to have a panic attack so I tried the breathing exercise that Alice taught me when I went through my first ever panic attack.

I shut my eyes and took one long deep breath in and held it for a few seconds before exhaling. I didn't that three times, successfully calming myself down.

The car rolled to a stop as I finally managed relax and I saw a petite older woman standing out the front of what looked like a nice and sweet little cottage with rose bushes of all different colours.

The older woman who I assumed to be Loretta looked so happy and warm, she had the biggest smile on her face making her warm chocolate brown eyes even kinder.

"Andrew dear!" She called out walking off of the steps of her front porch as Andrew hopped out of the car. "How are you dear? Is your mother well?" She asked looking him over as if she was his own mother.

"I'm fine Lo, and mum is doing fine." He smiled and rubbed his cheek against hers when she offered it to him. "Oh she appreciated the brownies you sent last week, but you really don't need to." He added.

"Oh I know dear, but that reminds me!" she exclaimed as she ran back into the house.

"She asks the like grandmother of the entire pack, and she loves to bake. She bakes all day long and gives it to all of us." He explained to confused look. "But she bakes waaaay to much and we all end up having throw some of it out since we can't eat it all.

"Oh..." I mumbled. I wonder if she bakes to forget about the pain of losing her family. "I wonder how long Lucas will take to get here?" I questioned, more to myself then Andrew.

"Maybe another five-seven minutes, I doubt they would be rushing this run and Lucas will be a little rusty with his directions." Andrew shrugged turning back to the front door where Loretta was coming out with another pan of what appeared to be brownies.

"Lo, you really didn't need to." He tried to speak before she cut him off.

"Not give some of my famous brownies to the one of the wonderful young wolves who is bringing my favourite grandson back with not only one but two beautiful granddaughter's." She looked over at me when she said that with nothing but love in her eyes. "Now you share them with Miles, he helped as well." She mocked scolded.

"Now you dear, you must be Lucinda. Let me look a you." She smiled as she offered her cheek to me. She rubbed my cheek taking in my scent.

"We will get you feeling better in no time, parents like that don't deserve to have children at all." She was almost shaking with anger. "Don't worry, I will look after you well, Devin called and told me absolutely everything." She looked around after rubbing my check again. "Now where is my favourite grandson?"

And right on cue Lucas stepped out of the tree line over to the left side of her little cottage with Natalie in tow. "Here I am grandmother." He smiled as he walked over and hugged her. "And this is my mate, Natalie." He pulled her forward and let Loretta look her over.

"It is nice to meet you dear." Loretta smiled at her offering her cheek, which I noticed Natalie was a little hesitant in taking it at first, it must be her nerves.

"It is nice to meet you as well." Natalie tried to smile but I could see the fake behind it, or was it fear?

"Andrew, dear. Would you mind helping bring all of the luggage inside, I want to talk to my three grand babies." She smiled.

"I can help Andrew with them." I offered not liking the idea of being in an enclosed space with Natalie, Lucas and there love fest right now.

"Are you sure dear?" Loretta asked me.

"She I'm sure, I cant let Andrew do it on his own, and it will be much quicker with the two of us. I will be inside before you know it." I smiled reassuring her.

My the end of today my mouth is going to hurt from all of these big smiles I have been putting on for everyone.

We watched them all walk inside as we unpacked the trunk of the car and the backseat. It took three trips of us lazily bring bags from the car to just inside the front door.

"Well, I guess I'll see you tomorrow when Zane comes around to show you all around the pack, and another debrief of the rules." Andrew gave a quick hug before he got into the car to take it pack to the pack house before he headed home as I took in the last big suitcase.

The heaviest one, it was of course Natalie's. I have no idea what she could have packed for it to weigh this much. Grunting I let it slightly fall to the ground after I lifted it over the small step up into the door. This was finally the last of it.

I followed the smell of freshly baked cinnamon cake into the dining room where I found them all talking around the old stained oak table that looked handcrafted, with a wood fireplace behind it keeping the room nice and warm.

"Ahh, there you are dear, come sit and have some tea with us." Loretta patted the seat next to her across from Lucas and Natalie.

As I sat down she cut me a piece of cake as I pored myself a nice mug of tea, with two sugars and some milk. Loretta watched me as I took my first bite. It was absolutely mouth watering, I almost moaned out loud from how good it tasted. "This is delicious Loretta." I spoke while covering my mouth.

"Just call me Lo dear, everyone else does. That or grandma, you are one of mine now." She squeezed me as she hugged me from the side.

"Now, as you can see, this house isn't very big and well, I have become accustomed to living by myself." She spoke now turning to look directly at Lucas. "So if after a week, that is how long I would like you all to stay with me while you adjust yourselves to this pack. I will not take offence if you would like to move the three of you over to your old house." She paused to gage the reaction of Lucas.

"Has anyone...?" Lucas couldn't get the words out.

"No, no one felt right living there and I always knew that someday you or your sister would get back to me."

"You never told me you had an actual sister?" Natalie jumped in. I mean I don't think the conversation of a most likely dead sister would be the first thing Lucas would blurt out to someone he just met. Mate or not.

It is a very touchy subject especially when both of his parents are dead. It's something that should come out over time once you've gotten to know each other well enough and feel comfortable to tell the other person.

"She ah, she died when we, Luce and me where able to escape the hunters." He admitted glumly.

"Oh I'm so sorry." Natalie's entire demeanour changed and she became overly caring. "Would you like to talk about it?" She asked in a very soft and sweet voice.

"Not really, but I would like to go and be alone for a bit." He got up and walked down to the hallway before I heard him exited the house.

"Lucas wait for me!" Natalie called out. She did seem like she genuinely cared that she upset him. Maybe she cares for him and not for others very well.

I finished my cake and tea and then decided it was best to get everything out of the way for Lo. "Where would you like me to put all of the bags?" It would be best to have it all sorted out now before it gets to late, night will be upon us in no time.

"I like you dear, you are very helpful, unlike that Natalie, I am unsure about her." Lo looked out at where the other two left. "I wonder if the moon made a mistake putting those two together." She mused.

"If it is, it can't be taken back now, we will have to learn to like her. Or at least put up with her."

"I really like you dear." Lo smiled at me once more. I am starting to think that she is some kind of robot, who smiles this much naturally?

"Now, there are two rooms up the stairs, the one on the left is a bit smaller and that is your one, the one on the is for Lucas. And if you need me, I will be down here. It's the only actual room down here and there is one bathroom for all of us to share just across from my room." She grabbed my hand before she left. "I do hope you feel safe here, and come to me if you need anything at all." Before once again rubbing my cheek and taking her leave.

Once I deposited the bags in each of the rooms I went back down and had another bite of cinnamon cake. I looked around the room, there were vases of roses on the fair side across from the fire. There were those knitted quotes like 'home sweet home' hanging on the walls surrounded by family pictures.

They all look so happy in the photos, large smiles and laughter present in each and every one. It made me sad that my family didn't have picture like this of the whole family. I never knew my grandparents, and our parents didn't do pictures. Once they left Jordan and Conner hung some up, but we were never 100% happy in them.

Finishing off my cake, I took the leftovers and placed them in the fridge before cleaning up all of the dishes leaving them on the drying rack. It wasn't late, Lucas and Natalie still weren't home but I couldn't be bothered doing anything so I decided to go to my room.

After unpacking some things into the oak chest of draws I lay down on the small single bed from what I think was made out of the wood of a maple tree, everything in this house appears to be hand crafted, it gives the place a nice snug homey feel. And the mattress, it is so soft! I just sink into it. I piled the woollen blankets on top of me and fell into a nice slumber where I had no issues to deal with.

*

I had a nice long peaceful sleep only to be woken up Lucas's loud banging on the door yelling at me to get up because the Alpha's son would be here soon and he wanted to make a good impression with him.

Groaning I threw the blankets off me and dragged myself out of bed down to the bathroom. "There is a blue towel by the door for you dear." Loretta called out from the kitchen.

I mumbled a tired and half asleep that you out as I stepped into the shower. Hoping that some cold water would wake me up. After showing I got dressed into a comfortable pair of skinny jeans a red t-shirt and threw my messy hair up into a bun just so I didn't have to brush it out. I hopped down the stairs and grabbed a piece of toast from the table feeling in an oddly good mood.

I sat down in the same chair as yesterday as I ate away. "So what time are they coming over?" I asked looking over to Lucas who was rubbing his eyes.

"In about five, so eat quickly." Lucas snapped out at me. He seems to be a bit testy today, he looks like he didn't sleep well last night. I heard them both come back very late last night well after I went up to bed. And they still don't have mate marks yet.

I wonder when that will happen, are they waiting to mate until we get settled and they have some privacy? I know that I sure as hell wouldn't want to complete the mating process in my grandmother's house.

I tapped my fingers on the table while I munched away on the piece of toast I grabbed earlier and poured myself some orange juice. Lucas muttered something under his breath before marching up the stairs to grab Natalie who has apparently been in their room all morning sulking.

Waiting around as Loretta moved around the house cleaning and putting this away, I started to sniff the air while humming. Something smelt nice, it was like fresh rain on an ocean breeze.

It was one of those scents that I could live with for the rest of my life, but it wasn't one that would drop me to my knees and I could happily drown in over and over again. But it was very pleasing to the senses.

I was starting to fidget, either tapping my foot or my fingernails against the table. I couldn't be still. I felt the need to go outside and chase the smell that seemed to be getting closer to me. Until it wasn't, I could smell it getting further and further away from me.

Do I go and chase it? Chase it and leave Lucas alone to face Andrew and the Alpha's son. Leaving nothing but a bad impression of myself and making Lucas both angry and incredibly disappointed in me for making him look bad as well.

I didn't have much time to think as a knock was at the door. Andrew and most likely the Alpha's son was here. I had but a spilt second to choose, I could go out the back door and chase that scent and find out what it means.

"Could you get the door please dear?" Loretta called out. This is it. My chance to make a spilt second decision, go after what was calling to me or make a good impression.

I only have one chance to make a good impression but I will have many chances to follow that scent.

I hope.

"Dear?" Loretta called out again, I could hear the slight worry in her voice. Sucking in a deep breathe I stood up and headed to the front door, I couldn't leave Andrew alone after he told me about how he felt about Lucas and his position yesterday. I needed more friends and abandoning him now wouldn't give me a new friend.

I opened the door with a smile that I hope looked genuine and not fake on my face to Andrew, just Andrew. "Hey there." He smiled to me, a real smile. "Ready for today?" He asked me.

"I guess, what about you?"

Andrew just shrugged as Lucas came down the stairs with Natalie following him. "Where is Zane?" Lucas asked looking around.

"He needed to sort a couple of things out, he will meet us at one of the outposts on the boarder." Things were starting to feel tense, neither of the males knew how to act around each other. Are the friends or will they have to challenge each other in the near future. Does Lucas even want his position in this pack or does he just want to be a regular wolf?

No one knows right now and it is far to soon to tell.

"Well, should we get going on this grand tour?" I asked trying to diffuse the tension and get us moving. And I knew if we just continued to stand here I would go off chasing that alluring scent. And I don't think running around all crazy like in a pack where no one knows me is a good idea.

"We will be back later grandma!" Lucas called into the house quickly shutting the door.

We followed Andrew around showing us the pack house, which we already knew about. He showed us the meat house, training grounds, the pack hospital. Even the school and where a lot of the pack lives. Most build there own cabins here, many like living close by one another and others like to live further away, keeping their privacy.

Soon enough it was time for us to run the boarder, for Andrew to show us where we could and couldn't go, where was safe and where was not.

My wolf was now itching to get out, know having imprinted the scent to her memory she smelt it everywhere and wanted to go after it, I was going to have a told onto her tightly when we shifted so that she didn't run off.

Andrew directed Natalie and myself over to some trees so we could shift in private. Neither of us saying a word to the other as we did so. I folded my clothes up and put them in a small hole in the tree while Natalie just left hers as a mess on the ground. I so hope that someone comes and steals her clothing, just to teach her a lesson.

Lucas barked at us to hurry up while Natalie and I shifted. We looked at each other for a moment, this was the first time our wolves really got the chance to meet each other. Natalie was a dusty brown coloured wolf, with a white muzzle.

She raised her hackles towards me with a low growl. Posturing her intent to do me harm. I growled louder towards her pawing at the ground. If she wanted to fight we would make sure she felt it. My wolf didn't like her, but she wanted to try with her.

I stood up, cutting off the growl that was coming from deep down in my chest. I bent my neck, to show her that I meant no harm towards her. She just kept growling and pawing at the ground.

So I just left her there. If she wanted to play a game, I could play my own. I would be the bigger person and treat her as if she did not exist to me.

I trotted up to where the boys where and rubbed my cheek against both of there's waiting for Natalie to get over herself and come and join us.

I felt a pressure in my head again, I knew it was Andrew trying to communicate with me. I gave a low growl to him, telling him to stop it, until I left another pressure in my mind. This time I knew it to be Lucas.

I refused him, causing him to snap at me. He snapped his jaw in my face annoyed at me.

I let out a sigh and accepted Lucas into my mind.

"We have to." Lucas spoke into my mine. "We need to communicate to be safe, we need to open all of our links."

I knew he was right but I still didn't like the idea of having someone in my mind.

"Hey there girl!" Andrew spoke as I let him into my mind. "Stick close to me and try to keep up!" He joked as Natalie finally walked over to us.

He barked at us before he turned and ran off, we ran straight to the outpost where we were meant to meet Zane. The closer we got the more I could smell the scent. A wolf wanted to chase it but I held her back, I used Andrew to distract myself, we chased and nipped at each other, trying to win this little race that we had somehow started.

I saw a little cabin out in the distance that must be the outpost. The four of us slowed down to a trot as Andrew and I bumped into each other, still trying to trip the other.

I was doing a great job at distracting myself that I didn't even notice the other wolf here with us until I heard a loud and threatening growl.

A growl that made my wolf want to whimper but at the same time go over to this wolf.

This wolf that was made of muscle and midnight black fur, there was no other colour to him, just as black as the night sky without a moon. With these dark hazel eyes that held something in them, something I couldn't read into.

I was confused I didn't know what was happening. Andrew stood in front of me, protecting me from this wolf as I tried to figure out what my wolf was trying to tell me.

- - - - - - - - -- - - - - -

Here we are guys! finally another Chapter after a bit of a long wait! I wanted to publish this a hell of a lot sooner but I have been back and forth from hospitals and doctors and I haven't really had any me time.

Don't worry, I am fine just a bit sick.

But well here is the chapter and I hope that you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed trying to write it. Which did include deleting massive sections over and over again resolution in me just staring at a blank screen.

Anyways, let me know your thoughts on this one! and thank you all so much for sticking with me!

Happy readings! love you all.