As soon as school was over, I was out of the building like a rocket, rushing to the parking lot and quickly setting off at a brisk walk down the road to get home before Kade could catch me. I'd asked Max to distract him, but I wasn't counting on that plan to work.

I just hoped Max wouldn't be bruised when I saw him next.

My legs were working furiously as I scurried down the sidewalk, and I looked over my shoulder occasionally, paranoid that Kade would come around the corner any second. I just really, really needed to get my head together before I saw him again.

I also had something to do, which I was planning on using as an excuse if he questioned me, which he undoubtably would when he next saw me.

Fifteen minutes later I saw the pack house as I rounded the curve and almost sighed in relief, surprised that Max had managed to distract Kade for so long because in a vehicle they'd be home by now.

I got to the pack house driveway...and walked straight past it. I almost ran to my parents house, my heart pounding with actually succeeding in avoiding Kade, and the nervous jitters I was starting to get when I realised that I was going to tell my parents everything right now.

I grabbed there door handle just as I heard a screech, and Kade's truck appeared from around the corner. Slipping inside as quickly as I could, I slammed the door and leant against it, heart pounding straight out of my body. I don't know why I was panicking so much, but it almost felt like I was letting Kade down, and my wolf didn't like that one bit.

But we didn't like him, I reasoned. So, straightening my posture, I shook myself a little then walked into my parents family lounge with a small smile on my face.

“Katie!” My dad beamed, his smile widening my own, and he embraced me, his strong, warm arms making me feel safe and like a small child again.

“Hey dad, hey mum.” I waved at mum who was seated on the loveseat, looking a little disheveled and there was a slight blush on her cheeks.

I frowned. “Mum, are you okay you look a little flustered.”

I glanced at dad, who was grinning sheepishly in her direction while mum sent him a glare and blushed a darker shade of red. I looked at dad, properly this time, and noticed the ruffled hair and slightly askew shirt, before it dawned on me and I paled.

“Oh, god, no. I'm sorry!” I wailed, my face turning from white to a fire truck red within seconds. “But come on guys, in the living room? We watch movies in here!”

“Yeah, but you sit on the lazyboy, not the couch.” Dad pointed out, and mum stood up and slapped him upside the head. I cringed. I just interrupted my parents about to do the dirty. Awkward.

“Honey, don't be embarrassed, when you find your mate you'll experience the need to be with them physically-”

Oh god. “I've already found my mate.” I blurted out, not thinking about anything other than to stop her talking about sex. Mum and dad both frowned, staring at me hard.

“Really? When?” Dad asked, father-mode kicking in. I sighed, indicating for them to sit back down on the couch, and I took the lazyboy I normally sat in.

“Okay, firstly, it's a long story.” I cautioned. “So you have to hear me out before you react, okay?”

Mum looked seriously concerned. “Honey, you're worrying us, what's going on?”

I took a deep breath and bit my bottom lip, debating whether to just jump up and yell 'just kidding!' or tell them the whole story.

They deserved to know, so I swallowed thickly and started to speak.

“Well, first things first, Kade Pelletier is my mate.”

You know when your they say you can't truly surprise your parents because they always have an inkling as to what's going on?

I'd just proven that theory incorrect.

“You what?” Dad leaped up, but mum pulled him back down and beamed at me.

“Honey, that's amazing! And a future alpha, aren't you a lucky thing-”

“No, she's not a lucky thing! Our daughter is mates to a future alpha!”

“Well yes I know honey, that's why it's so amazing.”

“No, this isn't happening. She's seventeen! Her eighteenth isn't for another month yet. How can she-what is, are you pregnant?” Dad spun to me, and my jaw dropped in horror. He looked truly riled, and I would have laughed if this was happening to anyone other than me.

“What? No, dad! For godsake, I'm seventeen!”

“It's twins, isn't it? The gene for twins is strong on my side of the family.”

“Dad I'm not-”

“Is he going to take responsibility for his actions? Will he be-”

“Dad!” I shouted, and mum had to put a hand over her mouth to stop the laughter coming out. Dad was having a full on panic attack in his living room, all because I'd mentioned I had a mate. I wondered how he was going to react to the rest of the story.

“I'm. Not. Pregnant.” I said slowly. “Far from it.”

“Oh.” His face filled with relief, and I shook my head at mum, who was still trying not to laugh at dad's reaction. “That's good. Really good.”

“Are you going to freak out for the rest of the story?”

“No, I think I'm good.” He muttered, sitting back down on the couch next to mum. Silence filled the room, and I pondered on how to say the rest.

“So, you've found your mate.” He stated, processing.

“Well...” I cringed, and dad's head snapped back up, that same crazed look passing over his face again. “It's complicated.”

“How so exactly.”

“Well Kade, he...he kind of maybe rejectedmewhenwemet.” I breathed out, a little ashamed, but I tried to tell myself not to be because they were my parents and we shared everything with each other.

Hence why I was here.

“Katie, he did what?” Mum asked. I sighed, rubbing my temple.

“He rejected me, mum. They were pretty much the first words out of his mouth.”

A heavy silence fell in the living room, and I was mildly surprised dad didn't leap off the couch and threaten to go and rip his balls off for hurting me.

Instead, I looked up and he turned to mum, and said with a calm, even voice, “Honey, I think I still own that shotgun I brought in Pittsburg a few years back. Where do I keep the bullets?”

“Dad, I-”

“Bottom drawer in your office.” Mum said, the same calm look on her face. Dad stood, walking out of the room and leaving mum and I staring after him.

“Mum, he's not really going to shoot Kade, is he?”

“You didn't get your temper from me, sweety.” Mum said. “Your dad's the fire wolf, remember?”

Oh shit.

Dad walked back into the living room a few minutes later and I pounced on him, almost knocking him to the ground. “Dad you can't go and shoot him you'd get killed yourself and I know you want to for my sake but let me finish the story first and-”

“I'm not going to shoot him.” Dad said, and I let go of him, relieved.

“Oh, okay good.”

“I would have, but I'm out of bullets.” He shrugged, then took a seat next to mum again. I could see the anger boiling just under the surface in him, though, and I was hoping I'd be gone for if and when that erupted.

“I'm fine with his rejection now, though. I get it, and I'm getting over it.” I said, trying to lie. Mum looked a little teary and she leaned forward, looking at me deeply.

“Honey, why didn't you tell us? Kade and his pack got here a few months ago. You must have met him quite early on.”

I nodded, letting out a shaky breath. “I know, I'm sorry I didn't tell you. I was just trying to move on from it, so bringing it up didn't sound very appealing at the time.” I shrugged, then decided to tell them the rest of the news.

“I found out my bloodline, too.” The nervous butterflies came back when mum and dad sat up, excitement on both of their faces.

“Really? What is it?” Mum asked, and I breathed out through my nose. It was now or never.

“It's the Ether bloodline. I'm an Ether.”

Shock had never registered faster on their faces.

“No Katie, you're mistaken, Ether's are extinct-”

“Not anymore, dad.” I said, and started to tell them everything. I told them about Violet, about the woods, the strange woman in my dreams, Levi, Noah and Lydia, the men chasing me, the danger I could be in, everything.

After I'd finished, the weight on my shoulders lifted and I felt so much better for it. Until I took a look at my parents faces.

“You're getting hunted?” Mum said in a panicky voice. “Katie we need to tell the Alpha's and let them know what's going on!”

“I can't mum, not yet.”

“Why not?” Dad growled, his wolf pacing behind his eyes. I stared at them imploringly, hoping they'd understand where I was coming from.

“Because they're is someone sniffing around in the pack who's involved with the people trying to hurt me, and if we alert the Alpha's right now, word will get out, and that wouldn't be good.”

Dad's jaw clenched, but he contained his words, knowing I was right. Mum looked about ready to faint, her skin slightly pale, her lips quivering a little.

“My baby's an Ether wolf. An Ether.” She whispered, and dad pulled her under his arm in a one shouldered hug.

I went to tell mum it wasn't fully a bad thing, when she piped up. “Take that Hanah, you bitch.”

I guffawed, staring at mum with humour. “Mum!”

“What? You don't like her and neither do I. We can call her a bitch.”

“So what are you going to do?” Dad asked, and I was so grateful he wasn't trying to take over the situation, like I thought he might. I knew he wanted to, I could see it in his face, but he trusted me, and that warmed me up inside.

“I'm going to go back to the pack house and talk to Max and Emeli, then I think I need to talk to Kade too.”

Dad glared in my direction, his stare locking me in place. “If you talk to that kid, tell him that when I see him next, he will no longer be classified as a male.”

I nodded, trying to ignore the threat of dad ripping off his genitals and I stood up, hugging mum and dad tightly for a few seconds.

“I love you both.” I whispered, and they repeated it before I pulled away. “Keep us posted.” Mum said, and I nodded, dad walking me to the door.

“I'm serious, by the way, Katie.” Dad said when I opened the door. Frowning, I turned to look at him and tilted my head to the side in confusion.

“About what?”

“About Kade. When I see him, he better start running.”

“You know you're the only man for me, dad.” I cooed, pinching his cheek, and he shrugged me off, smiling slightly.

“Get out of here, kiddo. Dinner's at our house tomorrow night, too. I want to discuss this bloodline in more detail, okay?” He said, and I nodded, glad I'd finally told them what I needed to so badly get off my chest.

“Okay, dad, see you soon.”

“Bye, love.” Dad replied, waiting until I was back onto the sidewalk before shutting the door.

When I got back to the pack house, I walked straight inside and headed up to my room, thankful not to bump into anyone I knew. I needed to change and go find my friends, before maybe showing my face to Kade.

He wasn't going to be happy, I could tell.

I swung my door open and stepped inside, barely registering the other scent in my room before the door swung shut behind me and I was suddenly thrust up against it.

“You better have a good explain for running away from me.” Kade growled, and I gulped hard.

Crap.

* * * *

Done done done! Sorry if this chapters a little boring, but I wanted you to meet her dad and it was time Katie told them what was going on, don't you think? The next few chapters might be more explosive... ;)

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