I had my seatbelt off before he had even so much as turned into the driveway, hand on the door handle to pull it open the moment he stopped. I'd been looking forward to this opportunity so eagerly, being able to spend time with my family without him present.

"Athena wait." He said, wrapping his hand around my elbow to keep me from getting out.

"I'm not going to run away while you aren't here." I said before he could start on his whole speech about how he would find me and there would be consequences.

"Good, I'm glad you know better. My pack members will be outside the house to make sure you're safe and that no one tries anything they shouldn't. I'm going to go back to my territory but I'll be back on our agreed time to pick you up and if you need anything call me or let those wolves know."

I nodded impatiently, feeling like a kid being sent off to school on their first day of kindergarten instead of a grown woman visiting her own house. He finally released me and I was out the door before he could make it over to open it for me.

I hurried up the stairs of the porch with him unfortunately still by my side as he wanted to give Nora the box of chocolates he had bought for her. I rang the bell, the door being thrown open immediately as though they had been waiting right at the entrance.

I couldn't help the giant smile on my face as I saw my mom and Nora in the doorway my dad just a step behind them. Their eyes eagerly taking me in as though it had been years though it had only been a couple weeks since the last time we met.

I stepped forward into my mom's embrace, burying my face into her hair and clutching her as tightly as she did me. She pressed a kiss to my forehead before letting me go so that I could hug Nora, squeezing her until she yelped in complaint making me laugh and loosen my hold slightly. I kissed the side of her head, unable to resist gently trailing my hand over the side of her jaw. My dad was last and waited patiently for his turn, folding me into his warm embrace the moment he got a chance, patting his hand over my hair before releasing me.

"Hi." I said softly, still grinning and my mom let out a huff of a laugh in response.

"Mr and Mrs.Clarke it's nice to see you both. Nora you look well." The Alpha said by my side reminding us all he was unfortunately also here.

"I brought you these, your sister said you would like them."

He held the box out for Nora whose eyes widened when she caught sight of the logo but she looked extremely hesitant to take anything from him, glancing up at me uncertainly. I nodded towards the box reassuringly, silently telling her to take them.

She grabbed them wordlessly, refusing to so much as look at the Alpha.

"Thank you, this is kind of you." My mom piped up interrupting the awkward silence.

"It's no problem, it's custom for older brothers and sisters to get presents for their younger siblings." The Alpha said making Nora's face contort into a disgusted grimace.

"He's just dropping me off so I'll just see him off." I said, hoping to distract him from seeing the look on my sister's face.

"Yes, have a safe trip." My mom said as they all turned to go into the kitchen, my mom ushering my dad away with a hand on his arm.

"I could stay a little longer, I haven't even gotten a chance to speak to them." The Alpha complained.

"They're not very chatty people." I responded, and though he could probably hear I was lying he didn't pick on it.

"Your sister did not seem pleased with the chocolates."

"She probably doesn't remember the name of the store, I'll remind her and I'm sure she'll be very glad." I said, opening up the door which he seemed to have closed at some point without me noticing.

"I really don't want to leave you here, I'm not used to being away from you for so long." He said taking a step closer so he was crowding into my space.

"You promised." I reminded firmly, staring directly at the button of his white dress shirt that spanned over his broad chest. He took my chin beneath his finger and thumb, tilting my head up so I was looking into his eyes.

"I'm really regretting that now." He murmured, making an effort not to be heard by my parents I was guessing.

"An Alpha's word is his honour."

"I'm not going back on my word. I'm just going to miss you very, very much."

I tried to twist my face out of his grasp but he didn't let me, instead leaning down and pressing his lips to my cheek so close to my mouth he was kissing the corner.

"Fuck, I hate this." He breathed into my cheek, pressing another kiss to my forehead before finally pulling away and taking a step back.

"I'll pick you up in exactly six hours." He reminded, trailing his fingers over the side of my throat to leave his scent there before finally turning to leave.

I locked the door after him quickly so that he wouldn't return, watching him walk to his car through the peephole and get in before I made my way into the kitchen, afraid he would change his mind and come right back in.

"How are you honey?" My mom asked and I motioned my head over to the outside, pointing to my ear which my parents looked awfully confused about but Nora seemed to get.

"I'm fine mom, how are you guys?" I asked, taking a seat at the table next to Nora where I had always sat. Nora turned on some music on her phone to help drown us out and typed something out to show to my parents who looked at me with wide eyes and nodded.

"He's outside?" My mom mouthed to me.

"No, his wolves." I whispered quietly.

"How can we talk to you?" My mom mouthed and I gestured to Nora's phone. Nodding she picked up her own phone and typed something in, stealing up a glance at me before sending it.

Nora handed me her phone so that I could read it, leaning over my shoulder so that she could too.

"Is he hurting you?"

My heart skipped a beat at the sight of the words, a lump forming at the back of my throat as I remembered all the nights I had wanted to cry to my mom about what he had done to me. Tell her about how scared I was, and have her comfort me. But there was no use, it would only make them worry and increase their suffering needlessly.

"No." I sent as a response to her question, unable to bring myself to look up at her.

It seemed I had taken too long and my moment of deliberation had made my mom suspicious.

"You're lying." She wrote back, my eyes beginning to sting with unshed tears at the sight of the words.

"Please tell me the truth Athena." She added before I could respond.

"He really doesn't, wolves have instincts that keep them from hurting their mates." I sent back, trying to stare unblinking into the bright screen so that my tears would dry up and not fall down my cheek for my family to see.

"Look at me Athena." My mom said softly. I shook my head, waving the phone in my hand but she reached across and tugged it gently out of my grasp.

"Look at me." She repeated, leaving me no choice but to look up at her. Her face grew ashen at the sight of my watery eyes as though it had confirmed her worst fears.

"What did he do?" She asked out loud and I shook my head desperately, glancing back at the door fearful he would come barging in.

"What did he do?" My mom asked again, softer now and I held my hand out for the phone which she placed into my hand, the tremor in her hands unmistakable and filling me with guilt. I should have been prepared for this, if I were in the place of any of them I would want to know too.

"He doesn't hit me, I'm just scared of him." I sent to her, my sister wrapping her arm around my shoulders in comfort as she read the message.

"Has he tried to touch you?" My mom sent back making me tense and Nora let out a horrified gasp. I pushed out of her hold immediately, stricken that my mom would even ask such a thing knowing Nora would be able to read it. She was only a kid, she shouldn't have to even think about any of this let alone be forced to wonder if her sister was being sexually assaulted.

"No." I said, giving my mom a strict look to make her drop the topic. There was no way I wanted to tell them about this since I knew how terrible they would feel. They could try to confront the Alpha and I would hate for any of them to get hurt.

"I have boundaries with him and he knows not to cross the line." I sent to her when it didn't look like she was going to back down.

Nora looked like she was going to cry and it made a lump form at the back of my throat. My parents may not have noticed it but Nora felt me tense, I hoped I could convince her that was out of discomfort about the topic being brought up.

"Look at me Nora." I said to her softly, walking to the other side of her chair so I could kneel down there next to her, waiting until she turned to look at me before taking her hands in mine.

"I'm fine, I promise. It's all going to be okay." I reassured, forcing conviction into my voice.

She nodded her head in response, pulling one of her hands free and swiping the back of it clumsily over her eyes to dry them. I swallowed thickly, my own eyes beginning to sting again at the sight of seeing my sister in tears. I almost wished I hadn't come today, now they would spend every moment I was out of their sight fretting about what was happening to me, assuming the worst.

"I have it under control, you guys have nothing to worry about. They don't do anything that would upset their mates." I said out loud, not caring if the wolves were to hear and report it back.

"Are you lying to us?" My dad asked and I forced myself to look him in the eye and shake my head. He grabbed my mom's phone from her and typed something in. Nora handed me the phone from where I had left it on the table so that I could read what he had sent.

"Even if we are to believe that he doesn't hurt you that doesn't change anything. You need to get away from him."

"I know but the less you know about it the better." I sent back, looking up at my parents who read the message together and then nodded back at me. I handed the phone back to Nora glancing up at her to see her eyes wet with tears again.

"Can't we come with you?" She whispered, her voice cracking as she spoke and her giant red rimmed eyes glancing up at me with such a heartbreakingly hopeful look in them it made my heart clench.

"No, but I will find a way to see you." I promised, leaning in to whisper it into her ear and pressing a kiss to her hair before pulling away.

"I'm hungry, let's have breakfast." I said, wiping at my tears and getting up from my crouched position to return to my seat. The longer we continued our conversation that was inaudible to the wolves outside, the more suspicious they would become and the less likely that I would ever be able to come here alone again. So although food was the farthest thing from my mind when looking at the haunted look in my family's eyes, we would have to have a normal breakfast and talk about other things.

My parents got up to go make breakfast and though normally I would offer to help I stayed seated, it would be better to give them space right now. I hadn't been prepared for them to ask these things so directly and I had done a terrible job in reassuring them.

"How is school really going?" I asked Nora, remembering the tale she had spun from last time.

"It's fine." Nora answered quickly.

"She got into a fight with a wolf." My dad said making me spin around to look at him in horror before turning back to her. Wolves were much stronger than humans, fighting with them was asking for trouble, not to mention prohibited. More strictly for the wolf considering how much damage they could inflict on a human.

"What happened? Are you okay?" I asked, looking her over for signs of injuries, relieved to find none.

"Dad really?" Nora asked but I didn't take my eyes off her to check what his response was.

"It was not even a fight, he was being an idiot so I hit him and then he pushed me."

"She punched the boy twice in the face and then he pushed her, fortunately there were students around so she fell onto them and only got minor injuries. Then she scratched his face while they were both being escorted to the office by a teacher."

"What did he do? Why did you hit him?" I asked. Nora wasn't a violent person, a little sarcastic and sometimes grumpy but she had never really hit anyone before.

"He was just being an idiot and it made me mad. It's not a big deal, I don't know why dad felt the need to tell you."

"Am I going to have to call the school to find out?" I asked, starting to run out of patience.

"He was talking about how wolves should be able to do whatever they want to their human mates."

I frowned in confusion at this, they basically were allowed to do whatever they wanted with their mates, seeing my confused look she elaborated. 

"He was saying there should be no protection laws for minors or how it's not sexual assault if it's between mates."

My eyes widened at her words and I could understand now why my sister who had never caused trouble at school had gotten into a fight over that.

"I hope you hit him hard." I said making her snort in surprise and my mom whirl around and call my name sharply. We both burst into giggles at the scandalized look on my mom's face, my dad unable to help himself and laughing along silently earning a sharp jab to the side from my mom.

"Do not encourage your sister to become a delinquent. She was suspended for an entire day and she could have been seriously injured if that wolf had really fought back."

"Mom's right, don't pick fights with wolves." I added sobering up at the thought of how terrible that incident could have been.

"I thought your days of terrorizing others were over when you stopped biting the other kids at daycare." I added, not liking the sheepish look on my little sister's face which turned quickly to deeply offended. Nora hated when we brought up her embarrassing childhood stories, thinking it unfair she had not been around to witness mine.

"What did the teacher at daycare used to call you? Oh yeah little Miss Ankle Biter." I recalled with a triumphant grin on my face at seeing the scowl on my sister's.

"Shut up Theenie." Nora grumbled.

"You're lucky you were so cute or you would have been expelled from daycare for making the teachers and other kids bleed at least once a week." I said pinching her chubby cheek and getting my hand slapped away for it.

"You were the only one she didn't bite. She used to follow you around so much." My mom recalled fondly, a soft smile of her face as she set down a plate of steaming waffles in front of us.

"Only if she still loved me half as much as she did when she was little. Sorry younger, you are still little." I teased, getting my arm violently smacked in retaliation. Nora was very sensitive about her height, at 5'4 she was shorter than my mom and I. She hoped fervently that she would grow as tall as us.

"Don't you want to try the chocolates? They're from that place we got chocolates from when we all went on that work trip with dad. They opened another location in Alpha Edrie's territory."

"I don't want anything from him." My sister said and my mom sharply called her name, reprimanding her for saying such a thing out loud.

"Mom really took the wolf loving convention Alpha Russel had with us too seriously." Nora told me.

"I can't believe he took time out of his schedule and came here himself." I said. Before all of this nonsense had occurred we had never even really spoken to the Alpha.

"He came four times, with pamphlets we were expected to read and stayed for an hour each time."

"Pamphlets?" I laughed.

"Yes and he asked questions about the material next time like he was quizzing us." She said, clearly very annoyed at having to study them.

"He took a special liking to Nora. He even patted her head before he left." My dad said.

"You didn't bite him did you?" I asked.

"He got away before I could." She answered making me laugh.

"Let's eat our breakfast before we get arrested for talking badly of the Alpha." My mom said as her and dad settled back into their seats at the table.

We had breakfast talking and laughing the way we used to, I could feel myself turning back into the person I used to be before I had met him. But each moment as it passed was a reminder that our time was running out. I tried to keep from glancing at the clock as best as I could, focusing on my family and listening to all their stories of what I had missed in their lives.

"Athena I have something to tell you." My sister said suddenly as we all sat watching a movie together after breakfast.

"There's this girl I met while doing a group project."

I raised my eyebrows at her, surprised she was telling me about this so suddenly. 

"I had left my part till the last minute so she had to help me and then she asked me out." My sister said and I was confused for only a moment before I realized my sister was recounting the story of how Ethan and I had met.

"Are you still talking to this girl?" I asked.

"Yes, her name's Evelyn. She actually gave me a letter recently." My sister said.

"Can I see?" I asked and she nodded as she got up, running up the stairs to her room to retrieve the letter Ethan had sent for me. I couldn't control the racing of my heart at the thought of a letter from him, glancing at the door furtively as my sister returned with the letter in her hand. Afraid wolves would come bursting it at any moment, tearing down the door and snatching the letter from me before I could read it.

My hands shook as I tugged it out of the plain envelope was tucked into, pulling it out and unfolding it to reveal a most familiar handwriting.

Dear Athena,

I miss you more than I can express in words. I've tried to ask about you from your sister but it seems she also doesn't know much about how you are doing and what you've endured at the hands of that animal. I'm sorry I couldn't protect you. I'm so sorry Athena. I don't know what you're going through and the thought that you are enduring it all alone unable to tell even your family because that dog will not leave you alone for even a moment is killing me.

I want to free you but I don't know how. Please tell me how I can help you get away from him. We can run away together, I would go anywhere if it meant I could be with you.  I know you and I know that you will try to do all of this alone so that there is no chance of anyone else getting hurt, but getting away will only be harder if you do it alone. They have so many precautions in place to ensure human mates cannot get away so please let me help you.

Please write back if you can and tell me how you truly are, tell me what you haven't told your family. Has he hurt you? Are you scared? Remember all of us love you and would do anything for you. Remember that I love you and will do anything to make sure you are safe. Please take care of yourself and try to stay safe. I'm waiting to hear back from you.

Yours always,

Ethan

Tears from my eyes landed on the paper and smudged the ink of the pen he had written with. I ran my finger reverently along his name, clearly able to picture how he would have looked while writing this. Bent over his desk, brows furrowed in concentration, elegant hand gripping the pen and tapping it against the paper when he paused to think.

I loved him too much to condemn him to the fate of a runaway. I couldn't be so selfish, not when it came to him.

"Can I help you write a response?" I asked Nora who was sitting between my parents to give me privacy as I read the letter.

"Evelyn's very devoted isn't she?" My sister asked as she passed me a pen and a piece of paper.

"Too much for her own good." I responded.

My heart twisted in my chest at the words I wrote, knowing I was trying to convince the man I love to forget about me and move on with his life. I didn't mean it, as much as I wanted him to be safe I didn't want to live my life without him but I had to at least ask him to think rationally about the decision he seemed so eager to make. Sitting amongst my family only made it clearer how selfish it would be of me to accept his offer. I couldn't expect him to give up his family for me or live the rest of his life in paranoia.

Not to mention what could happen to him if we were caught. It was too big a risk to ask him to take. Few were foolish enough to run off with the mate of a wolf, but those that were suffered terribly. There were laws in place to keep anyone from inflicting bodily harm on another but when such an offense was committed by a wolf on the lover of their mate, the consequences were pathetically minor. If that wolf were an Alpha surely everyone would simply turn a blind eye even if Onyx were to kill Ethan.

I folded the letter I had written into the plain envelope he had sent his in and held it out for Nora, biting the inside of my cheek viciously to keep from sobbing out the way I desperately wanted to. Tears from my unblinking eyes dropped straight down to the carpet as I kept my face lowered while Nora gently tugged the letter from my grasp.

"Do you know what you're doing Athena?" My mom asked quietly, having easily guessed what my response must have been to put me in such a state.

"I'm doing what's right." I answered, my voice hoarse and small even though I tried to speak with the conviction I didn't feel.

"Think of what you would have done if you were in Evelyn's position."

"I know she would do the same." I responded. I could bet my life that if Ethan were the one who turned out to be the mate of a wolf he would never allow me to put myself at risk or leave my life behind to run away with him.

"Take some time honey, Nora can hold off on the response for now."

"No, don't give me more time." I pleaded to my sister. The tears that had gathered in my eyes streaming down my cheeks as I looked up. I was afraid of how selfish I could become if given the chance.

"Leave it alone, I'm sure Evelyn is not going to simply go along with this. They'll figure it out amongst themselves." My dad said and reluctantly my mom relented.

She came to sit by me, wrapping her arm around my shoulder and pulling me into her side. I buried myself into her, hiding my face into her shoulder and allowing the tears to pour freely for just that moment. Her hand rubbed soothingly up and down my back as I sobbed quietly into the material of her sweater.

"I'm so sorry we can't save you." My mom whispered, her voice thick and eyes shining with tears when I glanced up at her.

"No mom please don't think like that. It's all gonna be okay." I promised, wrapping her into a proper hug and squeezing her tightly. Everyone I loved most was suffering because of that one man. I hated him so much in that instant I wanted to break the promises I had made him just last night and run off, but if I ever wanted to be successful in escaping him I had to be patient and plan my escape carefully.

"You can always come to us Athena, we would do anything for you. You're not alone." My dad said.

"I know." I responded. I knew they would be willing to do anything for me but I would never risk them being harmed. They were more precious to me than my own safety or wellbeing.

"Let's not waste our time together." I said after a moment of heavy silence. All I did in that prison was feel remorseful over my fate and what I had suffered, I didn't want to spend the few hours I got with my family doing that too.

We spent the rest of our time pointedly avoiding talking about anything that had to do with him. By the time the six hours were over I felt better than I had since the day I met the Alpha. Any sadness from my conversation with my parents before breakfast or the letter I had received had disappeared, replaced by the peace that could only be felt while surrounded by your loved ones in a place you felt safe.

When the bell rang indicating the Alpha was here I got up from the living room couch where we were all sitting eating some fruits my dad had cut up with the resolve to not be sad it was over. This visit with my family would give me the strength to get through the days between the next time I could see them again. 

Unlocking the front door I pulled it open to see the towering figure of the Alpha, not even able to take a proper look at him before he had leaned down and wound his arm around my waist, tugging me up into his chest. Immediately I planted my hands on his upper arms, trying to push away from the sudden embrace.

"Do you think I'm stupid little mate?" He whispered into my ear making my blood run cold and any efforts I had been making to get away seize.

Author's Note

Hello my lovelies! I'm so sorry for the wait again and the cruel ending of this chapter. I will try to hurry with the next update because of how I left off this one. I posted this yesterday but some of you were unable to see it so I took it down and reposted it and am really hoping that will help.

I wish you all a very happy holiday season. I hope you get the chance to relax and enjoy some time with your loved ones. Have a great night!