~Alex~

"Was that Wes?"

Dropping the phone away from his ear, Alex turned to see Warren walking toward him. Alex had been so distracted talking to his youngest son, that he hadn't heard his oldest walking into the room. It was near dinner time and he should've been expecting someone to come looking for him. He hadn't even started making anything, being so distracted with speaking to Wesley. Tori and Kyle had retired for a nap a few hours ago, none of them had been sleeping well for weeks. Alex tried to get them to rest as much as possible when they weren't out of the apartment.

Smiling, he nodded his head. "He sounds tired; stressed. But they're doing fine. I think they both like it there, more than they're saying."

Warren chuckled a soft but deep sound that echoed in the large room, "Of course they do. I've only met Maisie once but I know for a fact that if I was staying there, I'd never want to leave her cooking, either. And Ewan isn't so bad. A bit rough around the edges, but that's a Scotsman for you."

"That he is and Maisie sure can cook, that's true. I haven't tasted her food in years." Shaking his head, Alex headed towards the kitchen. "Maybe I'll be able to get some recipes from her this time. I would hazard a guess that she would give them to Abby if she asked."

A soft smile worked its way onto Warren's face at the mention of their newest family member. "Abby could get anything she asked for just by smiling and being herself."

Chuckling, Alex grabbed a glass out of the cabinet, filling it with water from the fridge. "Oh, I am very aware." When he turned around, he smiled sadly at the look that crossed Warren's face. "I miss them too, my boy. We'll get them home soon." He would like nothing more than to have his family back, all of them in the same place. And preferably in their own home in Washington. Not some new apartment in New York City that didn't look or smell at all like their home.

Inclining his head, Warren sat down heavily onto one of the bar stools across from Alex. The kitchen in the flat they were using from the NYC pack was big — far larger than anything they needed. Especially when they barely ate in the apartment as it was.

"I hate this. I know none of us like it but I hate this. I can't pretend that I don't." He rubbed a hand down his face. The years had been showing on Warren's face, recently. Only adding to Alex's need to get his family back together and home where they belong. "When did I become such a protective worry-wart?"

"I think probably when you and Kyle started talking about adopting." Alex looked at him fondly, he couldn't help it. He had always known that Warren wanted children of his own, but of course he had never expected to have any. Who knew that amongst all of the chaos of the last few months, something so pure would come out of it.

A dry laugh left Warren but Alex could see the fondness on his face plain as day. "We didn't exactly talk about it. Mia just sort of appeared out of nowhere and attached herself to Kyle."

It wasn't entirely far from the truth. The three-year-old child's parents had been killed in a vampire raid only a month ago. She was being taken care of by another family inside Ira's pack, the plan was to find her a permanent home. And then Christmas had come around and the pack got together for a break from the war and to have some fun. The little thing had seen Kyle from across the room and immediately attached herself to his leg. The shock had quickly worn off and no one could bare to pry the little girl off him. He barely put her down the rest of the night.

"I don't think Kyle is the only one she attached to."

Warren looked up from where he had studiously been studying the countertop. A small smile grew on his face but it quickly slipped away, again. "I don't—I don't know how to be a father."

The vulnerability in his son's voice surprised Alex; it caused his chest to get strangely tight. Reaching across the island between them, he laid his hand on Warren's broad shoulder and squeezed. "No one knows how to be a father. You just figure it out as you go." Lord knows that he certainly hadn't known how to be a father to Wesley. There had been more than one disastrous outburst in the early days, from both of them. "The most important thing is that you love that little girl like she deserves."

Alex knew that both of his sons were nervous and apprehensive about adopting the girl. But he also knew that they would be exceptional parents. And from what he saw at that Christmas party, they had already fallen for little Mia before the proposition had even been presented to them. And Tori and Abby were beside themselves with excitement over having a little niece. Alex knew that Tori had already been busy shopping online for everything the girl would need. He was almost worried what their front porch would look like when they got home. Or if they'd even be able to find it under the mountain of boxes.

"I just don't want to bring her into an environment that isn't stable."

Nodding, Alex passed his untouched glass of water to his son. Eyeing him for a moment before the man sighed and began to drink it. "Unfortunately, her environment has already been unstable. This is a war and she's been put in the front lines of it." Alex thought back to another little boy, who had been presented with far too much pain at a very young age. "You can't take back what's already happened to her. All you can do is protect her and try to keep her from any more pain like that."

Alex's phone ringing brought the conversation to an abrupt halt. Glancing at the screen, Alex barely surpassed a sigh before answering. "Yes, Briggs?"

"Sorry to bother you, Alex. But we need you all to come to the compound."

"All of us?" Getting calls at odd hours was becoming the norm, but Ira didn't usually request the whole family if it wasn't necessary.

"You'll understand when you get here. Again, sorry."

"No, no. It's fine. We'll be there soon." Hanging up the phone, Alex's brows pulled tightly together.

Warren shared the expression before rising from his seat. "I'll get them. You head down and get the car, we'll meet you at the front."

Sighing, doing nothing to hold it in this time, Alex snagged the keys off the island and headed for the apartment door. Something was telling him that it was going to be a very long night.

~~~

Upon entering the compound proper, the tension in the building was palpable. It was different than the normal strain that had been present in all of them for weeks. No, this felt different. More unsure and weary than anxious. But until Alex and the pack got upstairs, he couldn't figure out why. There, standing amongst Ira and a few of his wolves, were the reasons why Alex had gotten that call. Faye. There were Faye inside of a werewolf compound.

Only years of experience kept Alex's face clear of the shock he felt inside and kept his feet moving into the room. But he could hear Tori's intake of breath behind him and the brush of Kyle's hand on her arm.

"Alex, thank you for coming so late. I apologize for making you come all the way back here." Ira stood with his hands clasped behind his back and his face blank. But Alex has known him long enough to see the frustration and mistrust behind his friend's eyes. Ira was growing increasingly impatient lately, but Alex couldn't blame him. They'd lost enough wolves to the vampires. No one wanted to lose any more.

Addressing Ira, Alex nodded his head. "It's alright, I see now that it was indeed important, just as I assumed it would be." Turning to the Faye in the room, he bowed his head in respect. Showing manners never hurt anyone. "I apologize for keeping you waiting."

There were three of them, all equally tall and stunningly gorgeous. Alex had met a few Faye in his time but he hadn't seen any other than Elazar is so many years that he almost forgot that they were all equally as perfect. It was almost strange, if he was being honest. No one should look that impeccable.

The woman in the middle, her skin as dark as the sky outside, smiled warmly. It lit up her face and took away any amount of unfriendliness that may have been present. "Do not feel bad, Alpha Alex. It is our own fault for arriving so late but our portal-magic doesn't seem to be working correctly right now, so we had to take the long route. Allow me to introduce myself and my companions." She gestured to the man beside her, his skin equally as dark but instead of deep brown eyes, this man had eyes the color of moss. "This is Caspian," Then, turning to the woman beside her with long brown hair, "And this is Hannelle." Both Faye bowed their heads as they were introduced. Then she turned towards the front of the room again and bowed her head, "And I am Neirdre, Elder to the Faye." She must have seen the look of recognition that passed over Alex's face — on all of their faces, more than likely — because her smile brightened even more. "Yes, I assume dear Abigail told you of me. I see she isn't present here. I hope she hasn't been harmed?"

Tori, the smart girl that she was, broke free of the collective shock first. Stepping out from behind him, she shook her head vehemently. "No! No, she's fine. They both are. They're just in England — Scotland, actually — trying to help over there. They...they got word from a young Faye who said he had fled his home."

Neidre's face shifted then. Gone was the joy and friendly smile; it was replaced with such a sadness that Alex felt it in his bones. "I am glad they are both well. I wish the news I was bringing with me was better than what has transpired in Wyeona."

"But it's not." Kyle spoke up from beside Warren, his brows pulled tight.

"No, it is not."

Alex gestured towards the table on the far side of the room, where enough chairs were placed for all of them to sit. "Well, let's hear what you have to say then." He silently hoped that it wouldn't be as bad as the Faye was making him think it was.