After spending an hour of sniffing around town I finally found Nate place. It was a small one floor house near the outskirts of town close to the woods. I sniffed around the house where I felt like would be his room because he always smelt strangely of pizza.

I knocked on the window a few times and a moment later the lights turned on. Nate pulled the curtain aside and looked taken back to see me. He slid the window opened and gave me a look, “Are you crazy? It's one in the morning."

“I want the family back together.” I told him. I pushed him in by his head, “Ugh, just let me in.” I lifted myself in his small room and closed the window behind me. I turned to face him, “What?” I asked when his eyebrow arched.

“What made you change your mind?” he asked.

“Because I'm tired of this pack.” I told him. “I want my family back together and I mean everyone. We both can restore our family honor Nate. Redblood's are looked down on and I’m tired of that. What happened to your parents?"

He stared at me for a moment before sighing and sat down on his bed, “My mother wanted to move back to Texas so when we got they the new Alpha didn't want them there and they refused to leave. Seeing them as trouble the Alpha and Beta murder them both. Secretly. You see, Alpha Talaus isn't a good man. Many rumors about him and everyone there fears him. He somehow sneaked his way into our family and killed them but made it look like accidents. He slowly poisoned Carlene and made everyone believe she was sick with cancer. Made every Redblood look like criminals. Anyways, they found me and Alpha Talaus wanted to kill me but his Beta talked him out of and sent me to South Dakota where my mother parents lived until I was seventeen.”

I stared at him for a moment, seeing Nate in a whole new light. I may have not had my parents my whole life but at least I didn't have to watch them die like he had. I walked over and sat down on the bed next to him.

“Our family honor was stolen from us.” he said, sighing heavily. “Armstrongs don't deserve Texas. Our family may have had a temper but that's what made us good leaders. Talaus is just insane.”

“And your uncles?” I asked.

“I have three uncles who apparently ran away and no one knows where they are. They're hiding in Mexico.” he said. “They figure a way to get me letter informing me about what happened to them and how they plan to fight Talaus.”

I looked down at my hands for a moment, “Killian won't do this. He won't side with us.”

“Arkwright's connects with Redblood's is ancient history. They hardly speak for each other and won't ever take each other sides.” he said. “Though I feel bad for you, Killian is a loyal pack guy. His father is Beta and he had a good life. You should know how it feels having to do something risky and the cost is having everything you known be ripped away from you.”

I pushed my hair behind my ears, “Killian is my mate, he should be willing to do anything for me.”

“Everything not about you, Mat.” he said, his words smacking me hard in the face. Ouch. Those words hit me hard and I knew he was right. Killian would have to risk allot of things if he choose to side with my mom side of the family. A family of known rogues.

“So if we do fight Talaus and win—what happens than?” I asked.

“Whoever kills him becomes the new Alpha.” he said.

I lifted my head and looked at him as I arched my eyebrow, “So we're doing this as if it's some game?” I asked, scoffing.

He just shrugged his right shoulder, “We're all aiming for the same prize. I have no hard feelings though if one of us else does it first though because that still means our family will be together again.”

“Do you wanna become Alpha, Nate?” I asked and he shrugged again. I huffed heavily out my nose, “Goodluck with that. I would never dream of becoming Alpha. To much responsibility.”

“Than just help me get to him.” he said, looking at me. “I'll be indebted to you if you help.”

I stared at him for a moment before grinning and held my hand out, “Deal.” He chuckled and put his hand in mine to seal the deal. “So when do we start?”

“Soon. After Alpha Alaric party next week since Talaus will be there. I was able to weasel my way into coming.” he said, grinning. “I wanna see if he recognize me at all. I wanna be able to look in his eyes before I follow him back to Texas and do in front of the whole pack. Revenge for Carlene.”

I grinned at him, “Right.”

He ran his hand across his nose, “So how pissed was Alpha Lincoln about your human friend?”

“He was more worried about the wild rogue.” I said, scoffing. I told him about everything I know about Alpha Lincoln, my father, and the others did to Ramses father. “The past is coming to bite them in their ass's. We argued how he doesn't seem to care about the safety of his pack but his daughter who ran away on her own. He isn't doing anything to protect us.”

“Alpha Lincoln has a strong voice but he isn't the strongest Alpha that ever been.” he said, scoffing. “Alana, his wife father was Alpha before him and tried his best to teach Alpha Lincoln the best he could.”

I looked at him confused, “I didn't know that.”

He scoffed, “Because you don't pay attention when we try to talk about the history of our kind. You space out allot.”

“So Lincoln married his way into becoming Alpha?” I asked and he nodded. I quickly sat up, “But he said he was good friends with my dad who was Beta and they grew up together!”

“Your dad was Beta and Lincoln father was third in command.” he said as he stood up. “Calm down. My grandparents may be old but their hearing is that bad.”

“Alana has cancer.” I said quickly and his eyes widen a little since no one in the pack knew that since Alpha Lincoln was keeping it a secret. “Wolves getting cancer doesn't always happens, Nate. You said Talaus slowly poisoned Carlene and made everyone believe she had cancer so he wouldn't be married to her anymore and he can still be Alpha!”

He stared at me for a moment before shaking his head, “No. No, Alpha Lincoln may be not the strongest Alpha but he loves Alana.”

“Oh come on, Nate.” I said. “Just think about it for a moment. He's killing her.”

He thought about it for a second, “I do know Alana was suppose to marry you dad.” he said, making my eyes widen because I didn't know that! He was quiet for a moment before looking up at me, “And the reason your mother came here was because she was suppose to marry Lincoln! That's what Joseph met about a switch and why my mother came here! That must be the reason!”

“Whoa!” I said loudly as I grabbed his arm. I laughed nervously, “What are you talking about? My mom wouldn't come here to marry Lincoln. Right?”

“My uncle Joseph wrote to me saying his sister—my mom, your mom cousin—came here with their cousin because this cousin was suppose to marry a Hanigan but she fell for someone else and there was a switch.” he said. All this thinking was giving me a headache down and I brought my hand up as I rubbed my temples as I sat down. He breathed out of his nose heavily as he sat down next to me, “Mat. Your mother was suppose to be paired with Lincoln and your dad was suppose to be paired with Alana. Your parents fell in love and wanted to switch.”

“But why would Lincoln care so much than?” I asked. “If he trying to kill Alana, why? He has his title as Alpha now. Why try to get rid of her?”

“Lincoln doesn't love Alana really. Unless! Key word, Mat.” he said.

“Unless?” I questioned, trying to progress everything. If he was suppose to be with my mom in the first place and got angry when the switch happened—he must have loved her. I quickly sat up as I took in a sharp breath, “Unless he was in love with my mom!”

“Yes!” Nate said as he stood up. “But as a young guy, he chosen power over fighting for her. Must be why he was so willing to switch!”

“And why he hates me!” I said. All this new information was dwelling on me and I felt like I finally understood everything—well, mostly everything. “He says I remind him so much of my mom. My mom didn't want to be with him and it broke his heart.”

“And probably why he was so willing to kick your parents out.” he said and it all smacked me hard in the face quickly.

*

I decided to sleep in since it was Saturday but Devin must not have because I heard the downstairs door close roughly. I groaned and rubbed my eyes as I got up. When I walked downstairs I smelt this new scent I haven't smelled before. It was two wolves but I didn't recognize their scent. I walked into the living room since the staircase is in the kitchen. I saw a familiar face and one I didn't but I knew where Killian got his eyes from.

His mother.

“Oh.” I said awkwardly as I brought my hands up to my messy bedhead of curls. “Mr. and Mrs. Arkwright. How you both doing?” I sounded so awkward and clumsy because I hadn't expected them to be here. Last night I was suppose to meet them but I got in that conversation with Killian and it just didn't happen. I look a hot wreck right now with my wild hair, flannel pajama pants, and baggy t-shirt. And I wasn't much of 'meet my parents' kind of person.

Killian mom Sara looked very nice with her white blouse and pencil skirt. Her dark blonde hair in big loose curls going passed her chest. She had such a good figure even though she given birth to six children—now that's a true female wolf, according to many older wolves in the pack to have that many kids—and she was even taller than me so she didn't need heels but flat.

Killian was just pretty much a spitting image of his father Randolf. Tall, broad shoulders, dark curly hair, and friendly small smile. He was just older with lots of racial hair.

“Matilda, how nice to formally meet each other.” Killian dad said as he walked over and just gave me a hug. Surprised a little, my back stiffen but I forced my arms up and gave him a hug since he was Killian father. Last time we 'meet' was at Killian first transformation and I had ran out to Killian because I was scared of it all and thought I could comfort him somehow.

Speaking of Killian. Where is he?

His father was friendly but his mother wasn't going to be. It's not because she doesn't like—at least I think—it's how most wolf mothers are. She'll want me to prove to her allot I am worthy of being with her son and I could take care of him like a wife shoulder. Female wolves in the pack are taught as little girls to cook, clean, and look pretty. In a way, I'm taking her son and becoming his second mother because I have to feed him and take care of him.

I wanted to roll my eyes so badly but I held back the strong urge because that was not gonna happen. Killian is a grown adult and can take care of himself. He even agrees with me he doesn't need me to wash his own laundry.

Sara walked over towards me and I wasn't very tall. She was five feet eight inches and I was four inches shorter than her. She wasn't smiling but she didn't give me a nasty look. She reached out and took a lose curl in her hand, “You got such big hair—really beautiful.” She crossed her arms over her chest, “Got a pretty face shape and nice round eyes. Killian says you're a strong fierce wolf. Many of the girls aren't like that.”

“I'm one of a kind I guess.” I sarcastically said. I wanted to slap myself than because I'm sure being a smartass wasn't getting me any points with her.

“More like wild.” she said as she stepped back and I narrowed my eyes on her. “You're parents are rogues.”

Randolf sighed heavily, “Sara, come on. Don't be mean to her. You should be nicer since she is Killian mate.”

I held my hand up, “It's okay. She's just being real with me.” I said and a small smirk appeared on her face. “It's better...I raised with humans.”

That didn't make her angry, she actually looked amused. “Well?” she questioned.

Confused, I looked at Randolf giving him a look asking what she means before I looked back at her, “Well what?”

“You're brother and his family went out for breakfast. Show me how well you can cook.” she said and my eyes widen a little. She chuckled, “Not up for the challenge, Matilda?”

It was so hard to hold back my scoff. She shouldn't have challenged me. I may not seem like the kind of girl to cook but I can! Back at Wing's Hope I always helped cook—as a punishment—and I learned allot of things and how to feed myself.