The sun was high up in the sky, glaring at its very peak in the early afternoon, so bright I had to squint my eyes just to look outside. The window through which I stared at the sky preventing me from feeling the warmth that often accompanied the brightness, goosebumps rose all over my skin as though in protest of the absence of the natural warmth.

Warmth was one of the many things that were taken for granted, the warmth of sunshine, the warmth of a hot meal in your belly after it had been growling for hours, the warmth in the smile of someone you loved, the warmth of their embrace, their gaze. Sitting here alone in his room after having not felt any of those for more days than I could have kept track of, I felt the cold down to my very joints, resonating hollowly in my bones.

The heat running in the house was a poor substitute for the sun. The food he brought to me unwanted when I couldn't remember the last time I had felt even remotely hungry. But not nearly as unwanted as his gaze or the memory of his forceful embrace.

The hunger in his eyes was pushed down beneath the worry at seeing me this way. He spoke to me still, tried to prompt responses but got very few. He had stopped sleeping in this room however and for that I was grateful. The first night I had sat awake in the far corner of the room, waiting for him to come in but he never had. The next morning upon finding me sitting against the wall he had pleaded with me to sleep in the bed, reassuring me he wouldn't try to sleep there with me.

I startled as the door was opened suddenly, my hands spasming a moment as though reaching for a protection that wasn't there before they stilled again. After staring into the brightness of the sun so long I could only just about make out a black silhouette at the door. I watched blankly as it came closer to me, wondering if it was lunch time already.

He stopped at the foot of the bed, and only then did I notice that he was holding something. He placed it down on the foot of the bed, and I had to stare at it a moment while my eyes readjusted to realize that it was clothing. Light blue denim jeans, and what I assumed was a crème coloured knitted sweater though I could only see the material as they were folded.

"Shower and then wear these mate. I bought them for you" He said. I continued staring at the clothing unmoving. It would be nice to not have to wear his clothing anymore, but I didn't feel like moving. My limbs felt as though they weighed a ton each.

"Please Athena, I want to take you somewhere."

My eyes flew up to his face at the words, heart rate picking up. The first possibility that came to mind had to be too good to be true, I hoped with all my being but I couldn't let my hopes get too high or having them diminished would hurt too much. For now I would have to settle for finally being outside, feeling the sun against my skin and the wind in my hair.

"Where?" I asked, my voice coming out hoarse after all the disuse, his tense shoulders relaxing in response to hearing it.

"It's a surprise. I'm waiting downstairs, come out when you're ready."

He turned and left, closing the door after him quietly. I could feel his gaze on me until the door had shut but refused to look up again. Pushing aside the covers that lay over my lap, I swung my legs around, pushing myself out of the bed and making my way over to where the clothing sat. The knitted material of the sweater soft and fluffy, and as I raised it to my nose inhaling deeply it smelled only like cloth and had none of his gingerbread and earthy scent much to my relief.

I grabbed the jeans as well before making my way over to the closet grabbing a pair of underwear, my legs a little wobbly beneath my weight. I placed the clothing down on the counter next to the sink in the bathroom, shutting the door behind me.

My eyes fell to a tan coloured strap that peaked from between the clothing. I tugged it out from beneath the sweater to see a tan coloured bra, a little bit of lace decorating the bottom half of the cups but the rest plain. I turned it over to look at the tag, it was smaller than the size I had worn, but then I had lost weight so it would probably fit better than my own bras now. I had no idea how he had guessed the size, and didn't allow myself to dwell on it, placing the bra back on the counter.

I brushed my teeth mechanically, staring at my reflection in the mirror. Skin more pale than it had ever been even in the dead of the winter, the skin beneath my eyes a faint purple and a little puffy. Lips pale as though I hadn't eaten in hours, cheeks hollowed in. Hair limp and a bit tangled, hanging down to my waist.

I spat out the toothpaste, rinsing my mouth with water before shutting it off. Losing track of my reflection and not bothering to look again once I'd pulled the hoodie I wore off, pushing the pair of leggings down as well. I knew what I'd see if I bothered to look, the healing bruises all over me, some a faint yellow, others blue, the marks of my wrist I saw all too often a very light purple now.

I stepped into the shower, turning it on and allowing the hot water to soak me, the heat heightening my anticipation for feeling the rays of the sun against my skin and causing me to hurry through my shower. Quickly washing and conditioning my hair, lathering up my body and then rubbing cleanser into my face. Standing beneath the water until the conditioner was sufficiently out of my hair, and then turning it off.

Grabbing one of the towels from the pile I wrapped my dripping hair up in it, before grabbing another to dry off my body, wrapping it around myself once I was done. I picked up one of the jars on the countertop, twisting it open and applying a bit of the facial moisturizer, wanting to laugh at myself for making an effort for the sun, but not having it in me to conjure even a smile.

I took the towel out of my hair, rubbing it through to dry it a little before grabbing up the hairbrush I had never once used before during my time here and brushing out the tangles of my hair. The pain of the knots coming undone tugging at my scalp but it didn't bother me as much as it used to, though my hands tired quickly.

Undoing the towel around myself I pulled on the underwear I had grabbed, before grabbing the bra and fastening it on. It really did fit well though I perhaps could have used a smaller band size, it was still an alarmingly good guess. I tugged on the jeans, the rough denim unfamiliar against my legs after so long spent wearing either no bottoms, leggings or sweatpants. The sweater was next, the puffy knitted material helping hide how thin I had become.

I ran the discarded towel through my hair once more, letting it be now that it was just slightly damp. I avoided glancing at the mirror as I left. Feeling as though I was forgetting something, but having nothing here of my own so it wasn't quite possible to. Breathing in deeply to steady my racing heart I opened the door, making my way down the hallway and to the stairs, seeing him leant up against the wall near the door as I descended them.

His crossed arms fell from his chest as he straightened up, whisky eyes gazing slowly over me from top to bottom. Dressed in a black button up shirt tucked into black dress pants, the tight outfit only highlighting how monstrous he was.

"You look beautiful." He said.

I turned my head away, looking out the decorative glass on the doors. Letting out a quiet sigh he turned to grab up a pair of white sneakers, walking over to me and placing them before my feet. He pulled out a pair of white socks from his pocket, stooping down and reaching out for one of my feet but I backed away from his reach.

"I can do it." I protested, still refusing to look at him as he glanced up towards my face.

"Just let me." He said, reaching for me again but I took another step back.

"The quicker you get your shoes on, the quicker we can leave."

I stayed still this time as he moved towards me again, allowing him to pick up my foot and roll the sock on, forcing myself to not physically recoil from the warm grip his hand had on my foot. Allowing him to do the same with the other foot while remembering all the times my parents had said those exact words to Nora when she had been a toddler with a distinct hatred for shoes.

As I forced my feet into the sneakers, he finally turned towards the door, stopping with his hand on the lock and turning towards me.

"Just promise me you won't try to run."

I stared back at him blankly, realizing now the thought hadn't even occurred to me. After seeing him chase down a car and rip the metal door clean off trying to run from him while he was right by my side wasn't even an option.

He'd be on me before I could even get more than a meter of space between us and I didn't even want to think about what he would do to me after.

"Do you really think I would try after what you did last time?" I asked, feeling a pang of satisfaction as his gaze flittered down before he gave a short nod, turning back and unlocking the door.

The door was opened and he stepped aside to let me through first. I hurried past him, unable to get out of the house fast enough as I ventured out into the driveway directly beneath the sunlight. That first step out of the shade into the sun was like a step into paradise, the brightness of the natural light and the warm glare of the sun exactly what I had been craving. Seeing as it was fall now the warmth from the sun was a perfect balance between the brisk autumn wind that ruffled my damp hair sending a pleasant chill down my spine.

The sun felt like it was seeping directly into my pores and I could have stood there for an eternity in the quiet of midday, the only noise the wind sweeping the fallen leaves along the floor, and the far off scurrying and noises of small animals preparing for winter.

I took a deep breath, letting the fresh air fill my lungs, feeling as though that was the first breath I had taken in months.

"Mate get in the car. Your hair is still wet, you're gonna catch a cold."

The sound of his voice was a brutal reminder of my captivity, like cold shackles being snapped back onto me. I opened my eyes, not having realized I had closed them to see him standing in front of me. The expression on his face gentler than what I was used to seeing.

I averted my eyes, walking towards the sleek black car in the driveway just to no longer be looked at that way by him. The whisky brown of his eyes softened as they seemed to absolutely melt with the tender expression within them.

He unlocked the car, somehow at the passenger side in time to open the door for me before I got there, closing it shut gently as I got in. Already settling in the driver's side by the time I had my seatbelt on. I hadn't really given much notice to his car the first time I'd been in it and nor did I have much an interest in cars but his just looked over the top expensive, in a sleek luxurious way instead of sporty. The tan leather seats were large and sat high despite it being a sedan, the interior so much more modern than my own car I wouldn't even know how to turn the radio on. My car hadn't even had a backup camera.

I had always intended to upgrade after Ethan and I moved in together, giving my own to Nora, if she would have it. Of course at the time her expectations had been too high and she had refused the mere idea, saying she wanted her own. She was supposed to start learning how to drive in the autumn, I wondered if she had yet. And if she was using my car or our parents'.

"All shades of white look beautiful on you." He said, and I wished I knew how to turn the radio on just to be able to drown his voice out. Instead I opened the window and stared pointedly out of it, leaning out towards the brisk autumn air that filtered in.

"You're gonna catch a cold mate."

The window began to shut on its own, even my car had given the driver the option to open or close the windows as they pleased so surely his did too but that didn't mean he could.

"Don't." I said, pressing the button again so that the window rolled down.

"I don't wanna see you sick, your hair is still wet and it's too cold for a human."

I didn't bother to give him a response, leaning further towards the open window, the damp strands of my hair being blown back and beginning to dry.

"Fine I'll just turn the heat on." He growled, frustrated with me and it hadn't even been five minutes. He blasted the heat to a degree that would be uncomfortable for me had my window not been open, surely with his higher body temperature he would be boiling.

I watched the trees pass as we drove, resting my head against the cold door. I could see him glance at me from time to time in my peripheral vision, half hoping he would crash, that would teach him to stare at me and hopefully land me in the hospital away from him.

I didn't know how long we had been driving for before I saw a sign that had me bolting up straight from my slumped position. I whipped my head around to stare at it, hearing him chuckle huskily making me turn to look at him.

"Are we-" I began, trailing off unable to even say it in case it weren't true.

"We're going to see your family Athena." He answered my unsaid question. A bubbly warmth rose within my chest and I could barely sit still as I gazed out the front windshield now. Waiting with bated breath as we got closer and closer, the streets becoming achingly familiar making a fierce yearning rise up within me.

I couldn't help the soft gasp that escaped me as I laid eyes on my home. It felt like it had been forever since the last time I had turned a car into my own driveway though I had spent mere months away from it and all my years experiencing it.

My window was rolled up again but I didn't care this time, pulling on the door handle, trying it again when the door didn't even budge. I turned to him with a sinking feeling heavy in my stomach, weighing down the butterflies that had erupted.

"I brought you here in the hopes that it would help make you feel better, but please behave in there. I don't want to have a bad relationship with your family, they're my family too now. I want them to like me."

There were so many things wrong with what he had said my head was spinning just thinking about where to begin but seeing my family was much more important than him.

"I will, I promise." I said, turning again to yank on the door handle, freezing when my arm was grabbed gently and used to tug me back around to face him.

I stared down at his large tan hand on my arm, the dread returning.

"I need to scent mark you before we go in. I haven't touched you in so long and you're not wearing my clothing. It's driving my wolf insane, I need you to have my scent, especially in front of other people."

"Don't touch me." I said, my entire body suddenly going cold and numb. I tried pulling my arm out of his grasp but he caught my hand before I could fully escape it.

"I need this Athena, please. I won't be able to focus in there, my wolf is completely on edge."

I looked out at the house, the occupants of it blissfully unaware of what was going on or I'm sure they would have been waiting in the driveway for our arrival. I hated that he was touching me here, in my own home, on our property and no one could stop him, not even me.

It was for the people inside that I steeled my nerves, taking a deep shaky breath before leaning in hesitantly, heart pounding against my ribcage as I gingerly pressed my head into the crook of his neck. A violent shiver wracking through me and my hand spasmed in his grasp as he nuzzled his face against my hair, trailing his nose down along the length of the side of my face. Ending with his face pressed to the skin of my throat, his stubble scratching against the smooth soft skin making me tremble. He pressed a gentle kiss to my neck before pulling away with a small sigh.

"Fuck I missed touching you." He breathed against my temple before I pulled back, yanking my hand out of his hold.

"Let's go mate." He said, unlocking the doors with an audible click and I was out before he could say another word or god forbid, change his mind.

He was much faster than me however and was by my side, grabbing a hold of my hand after I'd taken only a single step away from the car. I wanted to tug my hand free from his but decided against it, I wasn't going to do anything to upset him, not when I was so close to seeing my family again.

We walked up the porch steps to the door and I reached out ringing the bell before he had a chance to. Unable to help myself and following it with a knock immediately after.

My breath caught in my throat as the door swung open revealing Nora. Her eyes widened as she caught sight of me, her mouth dropping open as though about to say something but before she got the chance I had swooped in and grabbed her up into a hug.

I held her small frame close to my chest, feeling hysteria bubble up within me at the familiar sweet apple scent of her shampoo.

"Nora who's at the door?" I heard my mother's voice ask just before she came into view out of the kitchen. She dropped the salt shaker she had been holding as she ran up to us. Pulling me away from Nora and into her warm embrace. My heart breaking at the little whimper my sister let out.

Being in my mom's embrace made a lump form in my throat, I wanted desperately to wail in her arms about all that had happened to me. Tell her about the dreadful monster that had stolen me away and locked me up. Terrorized me and hurt me. How alone I had felt and how hopeless, but I bit my cheek until I tasted blood instead to contain the welling sadness.

I breathed in her scent deeply, holding her closer to me as her chest wracked with a sob. She pulled away from me before I was ready to let her go, her eyes travelling over me from top to bottom as she cupped my face in her hands.

"Are you okay baby? Are you hurt? Why are you so thin?" She asked hurriedly her hands trembling against my cheeks, looking as though she wanted to pull me back into a hug as much as she wanted to check me over.

"I'm fine mom." I answered, my voice thick.

"God Athena I can't believe it's you. I can't believe you're really here." She said, pulling me back into her embrace.

I peeked over her shoulder to see my little sister standing next to us, tears pouring down her round cheeks as she watched us with anxious eyes. I reached out to her with one arm, dragging her into our hug and pressing a kiss to the side of her head. I felt so sorry for her in that moment. She was far too young to be dealing with something like this. I couldn't imagine all the pain and stress this must have caused her.

"I'm right here." I said, not knowing which one of them I was talking to, both perhaps in the way that they tightened their arms around me at the words.

It felt better than I could have imagined to be embraced by people that loved me, and people that I too loved. People I had missed so dearly. But it also brought every emotion I had been suppressing come welling up, the urge to let it all out amongst people with who I was safe nearly impossible to resist.

"Where's dad?" I asked, pulling away from them and rubbing at my eyes that had begun to sting with unshed tears, knowing if I let a single one fall there would be a thousand more to follow.

"He just went to the store, he should be coming back any moment now. Nora honey call your father and tell him Athena's here."

An arm wrapping around my waist made me jump, but I was pulled securely to the Alpha's side, remembering only now that he had come in with me.

"Mom this is um-"

"I'm Alpha Onyx, Athena's mate, it's very nice to meet you Mrs.Clarke." He thankfully interrupted me before I could say something that would have surely infuriated him like kidnapper.

"Y-you too." My mom answered, the words sounding as though she had only just managed to force them past her teeth.

"It's nice to meet you little Nora, I'm Alpha Onyx." The Alpha said as Nora ventured back out from the kitchen, her phone pressed to her ear.

"Yeah dad get back home, Athena's here." Nora said into the phone, staring wide eyed at the Alpha.

"She didn't tell us either, hurry. I've gotta go." Nora said before hanging up.

"Yeah." She said to the Alpha as he continued to stare at her, my chest growing tight just watching the interaction. Nora had always been a bit too brave for her own good.

"We should sit." I said, eager to distract him and my mom nodded immediately, gesturing for us to enter the house. Her eyes falling to his hand that was curled around my hip.

"Can I get you anything?" My mom asked, staring directly at me.

"No we had breakfast." I answered as we were led into the living room. I sat down on the couch, him sitting down so close our legs were pressed together.

"Eat something, you look like you've been starved for weeks." My mom said, her eyes darting over to the Alpha though she kept her face turned towards me. I could feel him tense up at the obvious jab and pressed my leg closer into his in an effort to silently calm him down and simultaneously plead with him.

"I've been eating mom, we'll have lunch with you though." I said, volunteering us to prolong our stay.

"Of course, I'll make whatever you want." She responded.

"Don't bother, sit with me. We'll just order something."

"So Nora what grade are you in?" The Alpha asked making me internally wince. I wish he had picked my mom instead for his small talk, she would be much more compliant a participant.

"11." Nora answered, taking a seat on another couch even though I really wished she had sat next to me. I stayed quiet though in consideration of how intimidating the Alpha was. I'd hate for her to be more uncomfortable than she already was.

"How old are you?" He asked, clearly not learning his lesson.

"Not of mating age." Nora answered making me want to hide my face in my hands as much as I wanted to lock her up in a room away from the Alpha's wrath.

To my surprise though he laughed at that, smiling at Nora as though she were his little sister instead of mine.

"Yes I'm quite lucky Athena is the older sister or I would have had to wait for her." He said.

The door opened then, effectively keeping the Alpha from seeing the disgusted look on Nora's face. My dad came barreling in, red in the face and panting as though he'd run home, which he probably had. I jumped up out of my seat, rushing into his chest, feeling his arms come up around me as he hugged me close.

"My baby." My dad whispered into my hair, pressing a kiss to it, his voice thick with emotion making my heart clench. I felt dreadful for all they had gone through because of me.

"Are you okay Theenie?" My dad asked as he pulled back to get a look at me, gripping my shoulders.

"I'm fine dad." I croaked out, sounding anything but, unable to help it at seeing my father who I had only seen cry on a handful of occasions with tears in his eyes.

"I'm so glad you're home." He said, squeezing my shoulders affectionately.

"Mr.Clarke nice to meet you. I'm Alpha Onyx, Athena's mate."

"You-" My dad started but was interrupted by my mom's sharp call of his name. He took a moment to collect himself before trying again

"it's nice to meet you as well Alpha."

My dad glared at him in clear defiance of his civil words, making my stomach feel like it was going to fall out from within me.

"Can we have water dad?" I asked desperate to get him out of sight of the Alpha who was as tense as a rock by my side. I chanced a peek up at the Alpha to see his jaw clenched tightly, whisky eyes darkened.

"Let's sit." I suggested quietly, hoping to distract him. Not making a single sound of protest as the Alpha wrapped his arm around my waist again pulling me in close to his side as we made our way into the living room.

I kept my gaze lowered, cheeks heating up, unable to meet my sister's eyes as she stared at us. How weak she must think her older sister to allow someone to do this to her. How was Nora ever to respect me again? Even so I couldn't bring myself to even remotely regret coming here. I needed this, needed to see them, to speak to them, to come home or I surely would have lost grip on my sanity.

A glass of water was handed to me and I took it, the other my dad held slammed down on the table. I could see the Alpha's chest beginning to rise and fall rapidly at the disrespect shown towards him.

I quickly took his hand, placing my own glass in it and grabbing up the other.

"Thank you mate." The Alpha said, leaning in and pressing a kiss to my head right where my dad had, staring at him over my head.

My mom set a bowl of watermelon before us on the table.

"Please have some." She said, this time clearly speaking to the Alpha as she held out a plate towards him.

"Thank you Mrs.Clarke." He said, grabbing the plate from her. She forced a small smile though a closer look at her hands showed that they were shaking slightly.

He placed a couple pieces of watermelon in the plate before handing it to me. Not wanting to argue, I took it from him. He licked the pads of his thumb and index finger to get off the watermelon juice making Nora grimace and look away.

"How have you all been?" I asked as soon as they were all sitting.

"We've missed you, but we're fine." My dad answered, smiling sadly at me.

"Work going okay?" I asked him.

"Yeah, nothing's changed. I called your work to explain what had happened though, they wanted me to pass on their congratulations." My dad said, his words taking on a bitter tone near the end.

"That was-uh nice of them. What about you mom?" I asked, wanting to change the topic.

"I've been fine honey, just looking forward to getting to see you. Alpha Russel would always say soon but not tell us when."

"Alpha Russel?" I asked confused as to why he had been speaking to them.

"I had Russel speak to your family to help make them understand the mating bond, so that I could take you to see them."

"Yeah Alpha came over a couple times to talk to us, very kind of him." My mom said, and to anybody who knew her it would be apparent she was lying, unfortunately so would a werewolf.

"Some of the stuff he said was right out of my health class, I think he writes those lessons." Nora said making me smile in amusement.

"Alphas do have a say in the curriculum but I'm afraid we're too busy to be writing lectures." The Alpha said.

"Fascinating." Nora responded flatly.

"How's school going Norie?" I asked her.

"Same old, boring, and mom and dad won't let me get a job."

"You're too young." Mom and I said at the same time.

"I could speak to Alpha Russel and have him find a volunteering position for you if you'd like. Maybe helping set up the seasonal meetings, decorating weddings would be fun wouldn't it?"

"I don't like weddings." Nora responded.

"I don't particularly see the point of them myself, but I suppose they're symbolic of the union between two people. I've heard they're very important to humans. Athena and I could get married too if that was what she wanted."

"Over my dead body will I let you marry my daughter. Haven't you hurt her enough?" My dad asked standing up from his seat making my mom gasp. The Alpha was up on his feet before I could even fully process the words, a furious snarl ripping from his chest making me wince.

"Athena is mine, my mate. I don't need your permission to do anything with my mate."

"You very well do, and you sure as hell need her own permission which she would never give to you. But such complicated notions are beyond a beast like you."

The Alpha growled loudly advancing menacingly on my dad and my feet moved before my brain could catch up, planting me directly before him.

"Don't you dare touch him." I said, arms splayed out to cover my dad from view. I wouldn't let the Alpha hurt them, I wouldn't even let him touch them.

"Teach your father some fucking manners. The only reason I've been so tolerant of his disrespect is because he is your father, but if he ever wants to see you again he better start behaving. Now come, we're leaving." The Alpha said, reaching for my wrist but I pulled away from him making his brow arch as though surprised I would dare test his patience at a time like this.

"I don't wanna leave, we only just got here."

"We'll come again once they learn how to act around an Alpha."

"You've kept them from me for months, you can't make me leave now it's not fair."

The Alpha glared at me but I refused to back down, keeping my eyes locked with his even as I felt my legs trembling beneath me and my heart attempting to beat its way out of my chest.

"Fine, but we need to talk." The Alpha said, grabbing my arm and tugging me towards the stairs. Dragging me all the way up the stairs as my family watched with wide frightened eyes. My mom made a move to come after me but seemed to think better of it and stayed down there.

He dragged me into my room, slamming the door shut behind us. The moment the door was closed he was on me, making me yelp. His arm wrapped tight around my waist, the other guiding my face into the crook of his neck. He rested his cheek on my head, nuzzling into my hair and inhaling deeply.

"I need to calm down so I don't snap your father's neck." He said, effectively halting any struggle I was putting up to get him off me. I knew first hand what he was capable of, and I knew all too well how grey his sense of morality could be.

"This room smells like fucking heaven." He mumbled against my hair.

"After so long of not holding you I just want to fucking meld you against me, open up my chest and pull you in. Not even this is close enough, I want you to be a part of me. Just sink my teeth into that pretty little neck and mark you as mine forever."

I gasped at his words, beginning to push against his chest, afraid he would mark me.

"Calm down sweetness, I'm not gonna do it. Just let me hold you so I can calm down and not hurt my mate's father." He said and I stilled at his words, angry tears beginning to well in my eyes. Hating my lack of strength for not being able to do anything as he threatened my family, defenceless against his forced affection.

"If I had known that your room would smell like this I would have brought you here sooner." He said pulling back finally.

"Can we go back now?" I asked, staring pointedly at his chest unwilling to make eye contact with him, forcing myself not to blink so that the tears would dry.

"Yeah, let's go." He acquiesced.

The moment we were down the stairs I had three frantic pairs of eyes on me checking me over. I gave them what I hoped was a reassuring smile even though it still felt as though my insides were trembling.

"Alpha we didn't mean any disrespect." My mom said, her hands clasped together anxiously in front of her.

"No need to apologize Mrs.Clarke, all's forgiven amongst family." The Alpha responded.

"Should we order lunch?" I asked, saving my mom from having to respond to that.

"Yes, what would you like?" My dad asked.

"I'm fine with anything." I answered, going to squeeze in with my sister on her one-seater. The thought of having to sit next to him again making bile rise up my stomach.

"What do you feel like eating Norie?" I asked, unable to help myself and gently brushing my hand through her silky black hair. Normally I'd have been tossed off the couch by now if I tried to be at all affectionate with her but I guess being away so long had increased her tolerance for my antics.

"You're the one that looks like you haven't eaten, you should choose." Nora responded.

"Watch it, I'm still bigger than you." I said, my heart feeling like it grew to twice it's size at the sight of the little dimple on her cheek as she smiled. The urge to cry quelled completely.

"Choose anything you want Athena." My mom said.

"How about Mexican?" I asked not feeling very hungry but knowing the rest of my family must be. Mexican was one of the few cuisines we all liked.

"I'll give them a call, just decide what you want." My dad said.

"Allow me, I'll have it delivered." The Alpha said, pulling out his phone from his pocket.

"We couldn't, you're a guest." My mom protested.

"It would be my pleasure."

"We don't let guests pay." My dad said.

"Alphas always pay. I pay for the food of my entire pack during pack meetings, this is nothing. What would everyone like?"

"Dad it's fine, just let him pay." I said as my dad opened his mouth to argue.

"Beef tacos?" I asked my sister, getting a nod in response.

"Tacos for both of us, mom will have a chicken burrito and dad a pulled pork burrito."

"Please." I added as an afterthought.

"Of course mate." The Alpha said, submitting the order on his phone.

"Have you started learning to drive yet?" I asked Nora.

"Not yet."

"Why not?"

"I called a few instructors and they're all too busy to take another student so I'll just wait till spring."

"I'll take you." I said unthinkingly, realizing a moment later that I wouldn't be able to. Nora glanced away, crossing her arms across her chest, gripping her own arms so tightly her knuckles were turning white.

I wrapped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her in close to my chest, wishing there was something I could say to make her feel better.

"I could have your Alpha refer you to someone, surely none of them would refuse him." The Alpha said.

"No thank you." Nora mumbled, her voice thick making my heart clench.

"What do you do all day there Theenie?" My mom asked hesitantly.

"Not much, just read or watch television." I said, avoiding her eyes and hoping she wouldn't ask anymore questions about my time in the Alpha's home.

To prevent them from asking any other questions about my time with the Alpha I kept up a steady barrage of questions, stopping only when interrupted by the Alpha announcing the food was here.

We all watched as he opened the door and grabbed the food, the poor food deliverer stuttering his way through the interaction at the sight of the giant Alpha.

Lunch was eaten in awkward silence, I had no more questions to ask and perhaps my family had realized they couldn't ask anything about my situation there though they looked desperate to. All of them ate their food distractedly, alternating between staring at me and each other. Nora looking positively murderous when the Alpha told me to eat more after I had eaten just a little over half of my meal. I subtly shook my head at her, telling the Alpha I was full and luckily he didn't press.

"We should get going soon, let's pack whatever you'd like to take." The Alpha said after we'd eaten our meals and I had helped my dad clear the table.

"I'll do it myself." I protested, not wanting him in my room or to be alone with him again.

"I'll help." He said with finality.

"I'll help her." Nora interjected.

"Yeah, let's go Nora." I said rising from my chair and heading for the stairs with Nora following suit before the Alpha could argue.

I closed the door of my room behind us, seeing Nora open her mouth but shaking my head at her and pointing to my ears hoping she would understand I was referring to his freakish hearing.

My heart broke as she stared up at me with her big hazel eyes beginning to grow glassy with tears. I held my arms out to her in invitation, feeling my own eyes beginning to sting as she flung herself into my arms.

"I miss you." She sobbed into my chest, gripping my shirt tightly in her hands.

"I know baby, I'm sorry."

"You're not the one who should be sorry." She mumbled, her voice muffled as she spoke the words against my shoulder. My sweater growing damp where her tears fell.

"It'll be okay Norie, don't cry. I love you and I-I'm always there for you even if I'm not around."

She pulled away from me, lips pursed and brows knitted, the fierce look misplaced on her still childish face. Displaying an anger I knew wasn't directed at me.

"I have some of your stuff in my room, I'll go bring it." She said and I nodded at her. Turning to pull a suitcase from my closet I had used for travelling and beginning to put some clothes in it. I could only hope that I would find a way out of this situation soon enough to need only this one suitcase of my stuff.

I was folding and putting away a couple pairs of pants when Nora came back in holding some of my sweaters. I held a hand out to take the folded clothing from her but she instead made her way over to my dresser.

I watched in confusion as she struggled to undo the spray topper from my perfume bottle. Gasping as it went sprawling all over my dresser and floor.

"Nora what are you doing?" I asked hurrying forward to grab the box of tissues from my desk.

"It was an accident, I'll clean it later." She said grabbing the tissue box from my hands and setting it aside.

She handed me her phone and I took it despite being terribly confused. She had it opened to a note. 'I have something for you, the perfume should mask the scent of your emotions but just in case I'll be talking to you all the while, just ignore me.'

Nora dropped the sweaters she was holding down into my suitcase. She grabbed her phone back from me and I let her.

"I'm gay, please just listen to me without interrupting." Nora said, making my eyes widen before remembering what she had written. I watched as she did something on her phone while she began to prattle off a story that sounded remarkably like Love, Simon.

My breath caught in my throat as she turned her phone towards me and I saw a face I wasn't sure I'd ever be able to see again on the screen. I reached out with shaky hands, grasping her phone from her and bringing it closer to my face, staring in disbelief into coffee brown eyes beginning to grow shiny with tears.

Lips I had kissed a thousand times stretched in a wide smile showcasing the straight set of teeth besides that one top right tooth that was slightly crooked and unbearably cute. Those lips formed my name and a hot tear dropped down my cheek, only realizing I was crying when I reached up to wipe it.

I watched as he signed "I love you" my face crumpling entirely and a sob shaking through my chest. We had both once tried to learn sign language and I love you was one of the few things we remembered.

"I love you." I mouthed back to him, tracing his face in the screen with trembling fingertips. Still in disbelief that it was really him. He pressed his index finger to meet mine, yearning to be able to feel his touch growing so strongly in my chest it made my very being ache.

"I'm so sorry Athena." Came in a text at the top of the screen, my eyes darting up to it quickly before I shook my head at him frantically. He had nothing to be sorry about.

I pointed to my nose before pointing towards him in the screen thankful he was able to understand as he gave me a thumbs up in response to my query after his nose.

"Has he hurt you?" Came another text.

I shook my head, rolling my lips to keep in the words desperate to escape.

"You're lying."

His face crumpled as that text appeared on Nora's screen, his hand coming up to cover his mouth as his shoulders shook with sobs.

I wanted so desperately to call out to him, every fiber of my being wishing to comfort him.

"It's okay." I said aloud, unable to resist, and hoping that would blend in with Nora's cover. His eyes widened at the sound of my voice, my heart clenching as he shook his head in the negative.

"I can't stop thinking about that day and how I did nothing as that monster took you away. It's all my fault. I'm so sorry Athena."

My heart broke as I read over his words, shaking my head repeatedly. I wanted desperately to send a message back but was too afraid the Alpha would hear the sound of my texting.

"No." I mouthed to him, hoping he would understand I didn't blame him.

"I miss you so much." He mouthed, a shaky sigh escaping me at the words.

"I miss you too."

"Athena are you almost done up there? We have to get going." Came the Alpha's voice making me startle violently and almost drop Nora's phone. My heart beat frantically as I watched the door, listening for his footsteps, chest rising and falling rapidly.

"I love you." I mouthed to Ethan who looked as panicked as I felt, about to hang up but he shook his head frantically, gesturing for me to wait a moment.

"I'm gonna get you out of there Athena, I promise. We'll run away together." Came another text. My heart swelled, and I nodded, smiling at him as I wiped the tears from my face. I leaned in to press a kiss to his face in the screen, hanging up as I pulled away cutting him from view.

"I was only bullied for a couple years." I heard Nora say, her voice shaky as she grabbed her phone from me, sliding it back into her pocket. Having been tuning her out I was a little disoriented at her mention bullying, but she shook her head at the concerned look I gave her, letting me know it wasn't true.

"It'll all be okay." She said, squeezing my arm gently.

"Yeah, yeah it will be." I said, unsure if it really would for me, but confident that for her and everyone else I loved I would make sure it would be.

Author's Note-----------

Hello my lovelies! I am so sorry for how long it's been, I wrote an extra long chapter in attempt to make up for how long I disappeared for. I honestly had not realized it had been so long, time is just passing by so quickly, everyday just blends into the next. I only realized when I got a few messages from readers about how it's been months since my last update.

I hope you all are doing well, and that your summer is going well. Please stay safe, take care of yourselves, and let me know what you thought about the chapter.