Serenity was fuming. How was he just going to throw her out like that? Especially since he was the one that insisted she stay the night. She wanted nothing to do with him. The first thing she did once leaving his room was to shower.

She needed his smell off of her. After taking a thirty-minute shower she bundles up and prepares to go out to attend the rest of school. She didn't make it far, because as soon as she touched the door handle to the front door, she was stopped.

"What are you still doing here?"

Turning she sees Aston at the top of the stairway, "I overslept. I'm headed that way right now."

"No point in going now. They only have a few periods left. It's also quite cold out there. Isn't worth the bike ride there and back."

He was right. Serenity knew it was cold outside because her room was freezing. "I should still make an appearance at school."

"Or you could help me out instead."

She shook her head, "I Don't know."

"Help me plan for a ball. Come on. I know you like being one step ahead of everyone. This will set you like two."

"Two steps ahead of everyone? Even Julianne," Serenity rolls her eyes.

"Especially her."

Sighing she says, "fine. What do you need help with?"

"We're going to town. To visit a few vendors."

"Human vendors?"

He nods his head, "yup. We only need them to deliver it. They will not be catering or serving."

"Of course that's my job."

"I-" Aston didn't know what to say because he knew it was probably true, "how inconsiderate of me. I'm sorry for asking, I can just go by myself."

Serenity was taken aback by his apology. Was he being sincere or was he tricking her into going with him? Either way, it worked. She watched him as he came down the stairs.

"Wait, I'll go. I haven't visited the town in a while. A breath of fresh air would be nice."

"Glad you've changed your mind. Let's go."

Liam was on edge for the rest of the day. Mateo caught him with serenity. What was he going to do about that? However, Mateo had no right to talk to him like.

In his office, he finished signing the last pieces of paper for renovations. Aston should be back by now with a list of vendors for the ball.

Standing up he went and looked out the window overlooking the backyard. What was he going to do about this mess?

The ball had everyone on edge. He was trying to stay away from the edge and Serenity helped him with that. Serenity was his dosage of dopamine that he severely needed. That the pack needed. He didn't need a depressed pack especially now.

His pack though. Was he really neglecting them? (Authors question: do you think he's neglecting his pack? Could he be a better alpha?)

Needing some guidance he makes his way towards the door. It was about time he finally listens to his father.

His father, Jonathan, lived at the edge of the pack almost isolated. After so many years of being in control, he wanted nothing more than to be left in peace with his wife. For his son's sake, he stayed out of all diplomatic issues. He was after all no longer alpha.

To see his son on his doorstep after all these months of being alpha was a surprise to him, "finally come to visit your old folks?"

Liam shook his head, "I need help."

"Honey who's at the door?" Eva made her way behind her husband.

"Oh, sweetie! You've finally come to visit us!" She welcomes Liam with open arms. Quite literally pushing her husband aside she wraps her arms around her son.

"Hey, mom."

"All I get is a hey mom? Pathetic! Put some back into it! Oh oh oh but come inside. We need to catch up!" Still ignoring her husband she falls back and beckons him inside.

Liam hadn't yet been inside their house. Considering how his parents were gone most of the time-traveling together, they hadn't had the time.

They went to the living. It wasn't a modern-style living room like Liam had it was quite old-fashioned. The only thing modern being was the flat-screen TV.

"What did you need help with?" His father asked as he sat in his chair. Eva left to get snacks for her boys.

"I think I've failed. I don't know how you did it. This whole alpha thing." Liam groans and buries his head in his hands.

"Son failing isn't an option. I wasn't alpha from the very beginning you know. The title was handed down to me. I didn't have the proper training because it wasn't my birthright. I'm sure you're doing just fine, probably even better than me. You were born for this."

Sighing he looks up, "I was born for this, trained for this, and yet my pack is severely depressed. They're sucking up all my emotions. I can't keep up. No matter what I do it isn't good enough!"

"Don't say that." Eva takes this time to walk inside the room holding a tray of iced tea and chocolate muffins, "you are doing great honey!"

"How would y'all know? You're here for a week each month and then it's off to a different country."

"Is that what this is about? You feel like we abandoned you?" His father interjects.

"No, what this is about is my beta calling me out on neglecting my pack."

"Were you neglecting the pack?" His mom asks.

Liam begins to talk with his hands, "no, of course not! Sure I was late to a few pack meetings, didn't attend a few, and maybe I sleep until noon but that's not neglecting my pack!"

His father gives him a look, "Liam, son, you might want to re-think things."

"I have. Maybe if I just get a wife things will be better."

Eva and Jonathan look at each other, "maybe you should take this one," Jonathan says leaning forward and grabs a glass of tea.

"Is there someone you were thinking of?" Eva interjects.

Liams mind immediately goes to Serenity, but left the subject quite immediately, "no, everyone just wants the title."

"There has to be someone."

He shrugs, "you heard what happened with Zoey I'm sure?"

She nodded her head, "yes, well, she'll make a great crescent!"

"Mom that's not the point. I'm trying to avoid another scandal. The pack needs a Luna, and I need someone who I can rely on."

"And she's out there," Eva squeezes his knee in a comforting manner, "be patient my son. Good things come to those who wait. Who knows you might've already met her."

Liam narrows his eyes in his mom as she grabs her glass of tea, "what do you know?"

She looks up at him with an innocent expression, "whatever do you mean?"

Jonathan chuckles, "did someone just get caught snooping?"

"Mom, what have you heard?"

"Nothing nothing, just that maybe," she lifts her glass to her lips, "you and Kensley have a thing going on." Her voice was muffled by the glass but he heard her quite clearly.

"What?! Who's saying that?!"

Eva rolls her eyes, "we may be gone quite often but that doesn't mean I'm not going to keep up with my son."

"That doesn't answer my question. Also, it's not quite relevant at all."

She sighs, "maybe if you kept up with your pack, and interacted with them you'd know that that's all everyone was talking about for a while."

Liam rubs his hand across his face, "so that's it. I'm neglecting my pack."

"That's not what she was saying, Liam." Jonathan buts in, "it's just that you've isolated yourself from the pack. Not that it's a bad thing, but it is causing a strain on things."

"And what do you suppose I do about that?"

He shrugs, "eat meals with them, train with them, Liam interact with them! You can't just be this authority figure that no one ever sees or hears from."

Liam knew what he needed to do, but he didn't want the pack to see his informal side.

Serenity and Aston got back to the pack just in time for training. The date out to the town was quite uneventful and awkward since Aston knew his sister was mad at him for still pursuing her friend. He knew it was wrong of him to pursue her but he couldn't help himself.

"Training starts soon, you should go up and change."

Serenity nods her head, "yeah, I don't want to freeze now."

Aston watched her as she ascended up the stairs.

"Did you get the venues for the ball?" Mateo walked out of the kitchen.

"Yes," He pulls a folder out of his jacket, "I had to get three different vendors, but it all worked out in the end."

Mateo took the folder and flipped through a few pages, "looks good to me." he looks back up to Aston, "are you doing training today?"

Aston shook his head, "nope not my day."

Mateo sighs, "Meaning it's my day."

"Yes sir," he smirks.

"Well, I guess I'm off to do that then."

Saluting him he walks off.

Up in his room, Liam is getting ready for workouts. Taking his parent's advice he was going to start interacting with his pack. Meaning, not more isolation. He's going to have meals with his people, do workouts, not as an instructor, but as a member of the pack.

Things needed to be better within the next few weeks for his plan to actually work. He needed not only a strong bond with his pack, but he needed them to actually be happy and loyal. On his side. He only had a few weeks to build this bond.

If he failed it would not only be detrimental to him, but to his people.

Took me a week to update but here it is!

So I like the direction we're going in, but is it developing too slow? I want your honest opinions, should I speed it up? Or drag it out to its fullest?

Liams actions, are they selfish or selfless?

Serenity going out with Aston knowing he her friend's brother?

Mercedes being mad about her brother going after her friend?

What are yalls thoughts? I want to know.