POV
Stone

Six almost seven years had passed since the morning I rejected my mate since I rejected real happiness.

If you'd told me that morning, that I'd regret that decision, I would've laughed. There's no excuse for what I did, but it wasn't a mistake... Okay, it was and it wasn't.

At the time my logic was wrong, the people I hung around with were wrong, most of'em still are. I hung around, childish and homophobic people.

I allowed their opinions of me to go to my head, they put me on a pedestal, we were a bunch of little fucks and I didn't want anything to ruin it ... So immature.

All these years later, I've surrounded myself with the kids I was too good for growing up.

My Beta is Arthur, he was a nerd growing up, but he went through a sorta change when he found his mate.

The guy I ragged on for years, turned out to be the greatest friend I ever had.

I've grown immensely since then, matured. I'd say my maturity is what kept me from going to find my mate.

I'd broken his heart, I broke him, what could I say, what could I do. Hell, I'm still with Nancy, I'm still lying to my pack, so I guess I'm not as mature as I like to tell myself.

My wolf Falken changed also, he's stronger, more vicious, and at the time, he didn't listen to me as much.

He took control whenever he wanted.

So I secluded myself away, barely coming in contact with my people, my parents were even avoiding me.

The only people who actually still deal with me, are Arthur and Nancy.

Arthur doesn't stop coming around, even on the days where I'm begging to just die.

He forces me to pray, I don't know if Luna listens to me, I don't know why she would, I deserve to suffer.

Like always that day plays back in my mind, the day my parents came back from seeing Lucas's.

I thought he'd snitched, but it was worse, he left, ran away.

I was still smug, thinking it for the best. Then he started haunting my dreams, then his scent kept popping up, I could still smell him.

I remember thinking he hadn't gone far, I thought he was just somewhere in the dense woods, but when I went to check it out.

It was just a lingering scent, a scent that since has disappeared.

My pain didn't start right away, no ... I was fine for weeks, then I woke up one morning and rolled over. I was greeted by Nancy's bed hair.

I was instantly disgusted, I got out of bed, and my legs completely disappeared from under me. Nancy, of course, woke up from the sound of my fall.

She tried to help me, but Falken took over, growling at her, telling her I belonged on the floor.

It got worse, slowly that entire day, my body grew heavy, there's this constant headache. My senses have dulled.

But I told myself, I wouldn't go looking for him. I begged Luna to give me another chance, to bring him back home. I thought she was ignoring.

Until she wasn't.

It was a Sunday night, around dinner time. The pack would be in the dining hall, some would be eating as a family privately in their own homes. Either way.

I felt Lucas as soon as he was in pack territory. I knew he was back, I didn't know where, but he was near me.

I knew from the way my body felt, I felt less heavy, my headache eased up. At first, I believed I was just feeling what I wanted to feel.

But then Steven, who runs the boom gate at the entrance to pack land, he called to tell me that Lucas Kelson the deserter had returned.

I hadn't actually believed Luna would answer my prayers, so I sat there, afraid to face him, afraid to face the same rejection I so easily gave him.

I sat in my office for two hours, staring at my hands, contemplating. Why was he back? What did he look like? Was he healthy? Was he with someone? A boyfriend? A girlfriend?

So many questions swam around my head, but none were as loud as the one that asked, would he ever forgive me.

I knew I couldn't hide from him forever, so I decided to go find him.

My best guess was he went home, to the two story brick house, his mom, dad and sister still shared.
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POV
Lucas

Driving along that old dusty road, a road I'd run on as a child, a road I walked away from.

I looked over at Stone Jr, his eyes were wide as he took in everything. He was from the city, a city of humans, he'd never encountered other wolves.

Driving down that road, we were already on Brickston land. He could see the border wolves patrolling, checking to see who I was, friend or foe.

Use to be close to sixty wolves did patrol, looked to me to be less.

Not that I could count each individual wolf. Little Stone kept making the tiniest sounds of wonder, at every new thing he saw.

I noticed that ache in my chest, it was suddenly gone. I didn't like that, I had come to love that pain, it drove my success, it made me push harder, without it ... I don't know.

"Ma where's your house?" He asked, "We're only on the road, see the houses through the trees? Well, there are hundreds of them for miles around. Mine is closer to the packhouse, your grandpa use to be pack general, so we lived close." I explained.

"Ma this sounds like a cult." He said, a smile broke through my nerves, he was so smart and so funny ... Outgoing, a lot of things he got from his daddy, his eyes are mine though.

"This is the gate, nobody gets in officially without going through this gate," I said slowing down. "What do you mean officially?" He asked.

"That's the thing about pack life, there are wolves who don't have packs, they run around in groups, hurting other packs. Rogues." I said, stopping the car.

"Name and business." A tall dominating guy asked he was standing over my car window.

It was common for them to be so big, but I hadn't been around wolves in six; almost seven years. "Lucas Kelson... Here visiting family." I said. "Lucas! Little Lucas!" The guy barked.

He bent down, breathing his alcohol breath straight into my nose, mind you, it wasn't anything light, no it wasn't that human shit... It was werewolf made alcohol.

"It's me, Steve." He said, and flashes of him and Stone strutting around, pissing people off, bullying any and everybody. I use to think he was a good person, I knew different.

"Yeah, hey... Can I go?" I asked, gripping the wheel tighter, wanting to lash out, to let loose Jazeth.

"You go ahead, and you better mind your manners in there Omega." The way he said Omega was supposed to hurt, but it just pissed me off.

"Let's go Ma." Little Stone said, and I exhaled. "Yeah," I said, taking off. We drove silently for a few more miles, then we hit the packhouse clearing.

Three houses surrounded it, otherwise, it stood tall and proud. It stood above every house.

Luckily my family's piece of land was a bunch of yards away from the packhouse. I sat in my car for a while, just looking at the old house.

It was beautiful, the same white and brown, with flowers aligning the pavement, the old trees I sat under on really hot days were taller.

The brick chimney, it was all still there, I was starting to forget what it looked like. But I hadn't started crying, so I got out, instructing Stone to do the same.

"Come on Ma, we're just standing here." Stone said I smiled hearing New York City in his voice. He'd lose that by the time I returned for him.

"Let's get our bags first," I said, he sucked his teeth, so desperate to meet the family I went on and on about, even more, desperate for a glimpse of the one man he wanted to know most.

We grabbed our bags and headed towards the door, it was around dinner time, I could smell the different meals, mixing with the fresh-cut grass and the smell of trees.

We walked up to the deck and again I froze, standing scared, nervous, solid. (Knock on the door, don't be afraid) Jazeth said.

So I knocked, twice and I waited. A smiled broke out when I heard Lucy complaining. "Mama I'm getting it gosh!" She shouted, her accent horrible.

I saw her shadow through the door drapes, then the door swings open. Lucy looked straight at me, her eyes taking a moment to register the changes in me.

Then she squealed attacking me, she practically took me to the floor in a bone-crushing hug. Then came our tears, we started crying our wolves scenting each other.

"What's all the commotion ab... Goddess ... Lucas baby is that you?!" Mama cried, racing towards us, Lucy stepped back, and her powerful hug was replaced by a stronger one from my mama.

We too hugged and cried, Lucy stood there her eyes glazed over, she was using the pack link, a link I no longer had. She was calling daddy.

"Who's this cutey?" Lucy asked, staring down at my freckle-faced son. "My name is Stone, nice to meet you, aunt Lucy." He introduced himself.

"Oh my goddess, you are adorable." She said, looking over at me with eyes that asked one question, "Stone?"

"What? I'mma grandma?" My mama asked attacking my child with her hugs and kisses. "

"Lucas." I knew that voice, I spun around to face my father. He was as tall as always, except now he was graying. He was an old man.

"Boy, you finally got some height on you?" He asked laughing that old hearty laugh, I lunged at him, grasping him to me. "I missed you, Luca." He said, sniffing my hair.

#    #    #

A couple of hours later, little Stone and I were sitting at the dinner table, he was about to be in for a treat. I grew up on food nature provided.

Daddy was always a great hunter, he tried to teach me, but I wasn't any good. Mama must have cooked every critter she had.

I saw beaver, it was falling off the bone, like brisket

There was BBQ squirrel, my favorite.

She made venison and quail. And little Stone wasn't squeamish, he tried and enjoyed everything except for the deer meat. He loved the frog legs though.

After the meal, my mom started stuffing my son with cake and punch. She took him to show him my room, and all my old stuff.

I was left with the nosy bunch, my dad and his daughter.

"So, you were in New York the whole time, what did a country wolf like you do in such a big city?" Lucy asked, still eating chunks of beaver meat.

"Nothing really, work and take care of Stone," I said, sparing them the harsher details.

"So our Alpha is the reason you left, he knew all this time and he said nothing. Did he reject you?" My dad asked, getting up and going over to his little bar.

He poured himself a shot of Black Wolf, the thick watery black liquid settling into the glass. "Want one?" He asked.

"Two," I answered. He turned surprised, "I had a friend get me some, taught myself to drink." I said, and he smiled a sad smile.

"Answer his question Lu, did that prick reject you?" Lucy asked again, a bit louder.

"Lower your voice, and yes... It happened, but don't make it a thing, it's old and dead... No need to stir shit up, I'm only here to drop off Stone. His wolf will find him soon." I said.

"What, you're leaving again... When? At least say you'll stay until the Great Gathering." Lucy said, my dad gave me my drinks, I shot one back, enjoying the burn.

The Great Gathering is a special time for the Brickston pack and the packs that descend from it. Every six years we have a Great Gathering.

A huge outdoor celebration that lasts two weeks, there are fights and feast, sacrifices and more feast... karaoke...  It's just fun, most of the sister packs are too intimated to host it.

"When is it?" I asked.

"In two months." She mumbled, I planned to stay until Stone's wolf finding, so I said why not.

"Good, I'm glad you're staying, and if that Alpha of ours bothers you, you tell me... I'll deal with him." My dad said.

"No, daddy, I don't want any of you going against your Alpha for me, I'll deal with Stone. I can handle myself now, I promise." I said.

#   #   #

My parents abandoned me and Lucy to spend time with little Stone, they were going to try and put him to bed, but that wasn't gonna happen easy.

"I'm gonna step outside, I need a smoke," I said, digging in my pocket for my cigarette. "Holy shit, the dork smokes cigarettes now." Lucy grinned, "Eat dirt." I said, and she laughed tagging after me.

We were seated, I was surprisingly calm and collected, Stone was in the far back of my mind. I wondered if he knew I was on pack land, but I wasn't worried about him.

I lit my cigarette and started puffing, "Wow man, I still can't believe you're here." Lucy said, and I smiled telling her I missed her, I apologized again for just leaving.

"Stop apologizing, you were broken-hearted, who wouldn't have left. I know you're sparing us the bad stuff, and I'll wait until you feel comfortable telling me." She said as we sat on our steps.

Our steps were facing the packhouse back doors, sitting there I started to feel on edge, I knew he was coming, but before I could stand up, he was out the back door.

He stood tall yards away from us, he looked straight across at us, I was stuck, I was stuck watching him cross the fields.

Lucy stood up as he came closer, she growled when he was feet away. Stone glared at her but said nothing, his eyes sliding back to me.

"Angel... I mean Lucas, you came home ... finally." He said. "No shit Sherlock and I'd like to keep it that way, so screw off." Lucy spat.

Stone's eyes turned dead black, and his wolf snarled, "Watch it." Lucy stood tall, and fearing for her safety I stood up, flicking my cigarette.

"Lucy, it's cool... Head inside I'll deal with it." I said, and she looked at me trying to gauge my seriousness.

"Fine, I'm right inside. Dickhead." She said, glaring at him as she walked inside. Stone and I stood there in silence until he broke it.

"I'm glad you came back." He said, his eyes that haunting blue. "Yeah... Great. I was actually coming to see you tomorrow." I said.

"You're even more beautiful than before." He said, stepping closer.

"No, we are not doing this. Don't think my being here means we're going to work things out, I've let that bullshit go." I said, and Jaz growled with pride.

"That's exactly what I think, you came back, it's fate." He said, "No! I am not that boy anymore Stone!" I shouted, my body wracked with rage.

"I know that, but broken or not, we still have a bond, and I've been given a chance to fix it. You're not just gonna leave me again." He said, stepping into my personal space.

His aura was intense and hard to withstand, but I wasn't nineteen anymore. "Ma are you okay?" I spun around at the sound of little Stone.

"I'm fine baby, go inside." I said, "Who's he?" He asked, looking at his father.

"I'll tell you later, go inside... Now!" I said, having to shout for him to get moving. "Lu-Lucas is he m-mine?" The dummy asked.

"Sadly yes, no you can't talk to him, not tonight," I said, folding my arms. "Bullshit, you kept my child from me, and now I don't get to see him, move Lucas." He said, trying to go around me.

As he walked forward I lifted my leg, bringing my knee to his gut, with him bent over, I flexed my foot upward hitting him in the nose.

I loved hearing him grunt, I loved watching him fall back down the deck stairs, flat on his ass.

"I'm not gonna debate or fight with you... Respect my conditions or I'll hurt you. Now get up and get out of my sight, I'll come to see you tomorrow. I'm tired of looking at you." I said.

He hopped up and charged me, my back was against the screen door, and our bodies were connected.

"Okay, I'll do things your way, I owe you that, but I can't, no fuck that... I won't let you leave me again." He said kissing me deeply.

"Son of a bitch!" I shouted shoving him off me and punching him in the face. He stumbled back, "Damn... You're strong." He said, holding his jaw.

"Fight it all you want, but you're in my territory. I'm never losing you again. I'll have you, and you, our child and I will be a family." He said, "Drop dead." I responded.

"Yeah sure ... Goodnight Angel, you have a good night too Little guy." He said, looking into the doorway behind me. "Stone!" I shouted and he scurried off.

"You gave him my name? Why?" He asked, "Tomorrow. I'll meet you at around twelve." I said, turning to go.

As I entered the house, I heard Stone release a prideful howl, wolves all over the huge piece of territory howled back.

He was a prick, and he was wrong, I'd stay until my child was comfortable, until the Great Gathering ended, then I was going back to New York. Nothing would stop me.

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