Connor’s P.O.V

Father? We need to talk do you have some time? What’s it about son, I’m in the middle of a meeting with the pack elders about what to do with the kids from the wasteland junkyard. Oh well maybe you can throw this one in; Genesis McFarlow wants to join our pack. Ahh yes I remember the McFarlow’s; I will see what I can do. Thanks Dad, that’s all I ask. After that I turned to the kitchen, I was still hungry, and I’m sure Genesis could use something to eat too, seeing as she came in this morning looking worse for wear.  After I threw together some sandwiches and drinks I walked back to the library, where I heard some light laughter; sounds like Farrell, so he lifted her spirits somewhat. That’s good, I like seeing my people happy.

I smile as I walk in, handing Kate the platter with the foods and drinks, which she and Farrell happily dug into. I looked at Genesis; “Are you okay? Do you want to stay here for a while? My dad is going to process your application today with the elders.”  He eyes widened behind her glasses, bowed her head and whispered “Thank you very much, I just didn’t know where else to turn to, and my family doesn’t want me.”  I put my arm around her “Please look at me Genesis, there is nothing wrong with you and it’s your family’s loss.” She finally looked up at me at the end of the sentence, tears gathering in her eyes and sobs into my chest.

Others came in hearing her cry, Farrell hugged her from the other side; making her cry even harder. Even Mike came close to show his support, and of course Kate and Alex and even Jarred. Nobody liked to see a person cry their eyes out at not being wanted, it made our wolves nervous. We are pack animals and we take care of each other, whether they are family or not.

So after a while her sobs became quiet hiccups and finally stopped, she looked up and saw everybody’s worried faces, “Sorry I didn’t mean to freak out like that but it just came crashing down on me that it is final now.” She was still wiping tears from her face and her eyes were a bit puffy, Kate suggested to go to the bathroom to freshen up, before meeting the Alpha.

When they walked out, I flopped on the couch and Farrel snuggled up to me. I graoned when there was a hesitant knock on the door. "Yes?" and Kelley and Natasha walked in looking nervious, which is a first. Kelley looked at Natasha who nodded, Kelley took a deep breath "We would like to talk to you Alpha and to Farrell too."  My god today is the day for confessions or what? Farrell snickered Let's just hear what they have to say, they really look like they need to get whatever it is of their chests.

I groaned again but nodded at them, and they sat down across from us and started their tale; they discovered Missy was acting different a few weeks before Farrell was kidnapped, but they couldn’t put their finger on it. The reason they didn’t come to me directly to me about this was that they owed it to her to give her the benefit of the doubt, since they were friends ever since sixth grade. After that they apologised to Farrell for not acting quicker.

Farrell just smiled at them, he didn’t blame them at all he was happy that they confessed, and he asked them if they might want to look after Genesis, she could really need some more female attention right now. Their faces lit up; they really looked forward to righting their mistake by doing his bidding. Are you sure this is okay? I mean they knew something was wrong with Missy. He looked at me I know, but if I were in their shoes I would have done the same, because I don’t want to be accused of being a bad friend. Besides they don’t seems so bad, they just need to detox from Missy’s brainwashing. This is also a great opportunity for them to show what they are really made of, without Missy bossing them around.

I had to agree on that one, I haven’t really seen or heard anything about them until Missy brought them along. Farrell sighed into my chest, during their tale he crawled on my lap. He snuggled into my body heat, before popping a question “What do you want for Christmas?” which made me look at him in surprise. During this whole thing I nearly forgot that it would be Christmas in less than a week. I had to smile at his adorable face, big questioning eyes and pouty lips. Of course I had to kiss those, “I have everything I could possibly imagine.”

He huffed at me “I still want to give you a Christmas present.” I rolled my eyes “Whatever is fine as long it’s not too expensive.”

Mike's P.O.V

When I saw Connor and Farrell together like that, I felt a painful sting in my heart. It’s your own fault for not telling them and your mate. My wolf sneered at me. When I saw Genesis I hoped that she saw my mate, not the one my wolf suggests.

Seeing as she is out of the room and I can’t stand to see them like that so I leave. Of course I had a run in with the person I didn’t want to run in too. It’s only more annoying that my wolf went nuts about it too. I had too lock every muscle in my body not to make a sound that would betray me. I just glared and went on with my business.

Why won’t you tell? What is so wrong with acknowledging your mate? Your one true soul mate? You know what my father would say if he knew. He would never look at me, not that he looks at me at all. But it will be less than it already is. Thank god my wolf was quiet after that. I don’t think I could deal with his bitching about mates, fathers sneering, and mothers’ indifferentism.

I square my shoulders, took a deep breath and walked into my house. “I’m back” I mumbled, knowing if I shouted nobody would answer me anyway. “Hey brat that you?” there is no quietly going to my room and work on my homework. I feel my wolf stand alert as I walk into the living room, meeting my obviously drunk father. “Hello father” I don’t look him in the eye. “Humph it’s just you, where’s Eric? He should have been home by now.” He sneers at me and turns back to the TV. It’s no use telling him or mom that Eric left our pack and is never coming back since he married the Beta from another pack. They weren’t married for long before they got killed in a rogue attack a few years ago.

My parents never got over the fact that their perfect son was dead, they refused to believe it. So in the very beginning it was shock, nobody thought it was strange. As the years progressed they still thought that Eric was going to walk in the door like he usually did. They completely ignored the fact that he had a child and was married. The parents of his mate claimed custody of the child, since it was obvious that my parents were in no state to take the child in or acknowledge that it was their grandchild.

I felt sad about the fact that I most likely will never meet the child. I will never know the joy of being an uncle or someone to look up to. I never even met my brother’s mate’s parents. It was all hush hush, concerning their marriage. I think it was because my parents never approved of my brothers mate. They made it quite clear from the very beginning that they weren’t happy with them being together. I don’t know if our Alpha even knew about it, but if he did he never said a word to me about it.

Quietly I walk into the kitchen, where I can hear pots and pans rattle. I peek in and see my once beautiful mother, now hunched over scrubbing away at a non-existing spot. Dad likes everything tidy and clean. No matter how hard she tries dad will always find a thing to verbally abuse mom.

Once upstairs I immediately start on my homework. I know if I don’t start now I won’t finish it on time and my grades will drop. They dropped a lot since Eric’s been gone. As I stare out my window I notice it’s starting to rain. Just like my current mood, I skip dinner and stay upstairs for the rest of the day.

 *Time skip a few weeks later*

 Connor’s P.O.V

I can’t believe time flew by as quickly as it did. During the Christmas holidays Farrell moved in with me in the pack house, which is awesome! BEST CHRISTMAS PRESENT EVER!!!!! His parents weren’t very happy with this fact. They said that we were moving too quickly. Whatever, we’re mates it’s not like I’m going to cheat on him or something. Their answer to our question as to why we’re going too quickly they said that feelings could still change, and college could come in between. Seeing as Farrell and I are going to different colleges. We don’t think it’s going to interfere with our relationship. Elsie (Farrell’s mother) still wasn’t convinced about the rightness of our decision. So for her piece of mind we agreed that Farrell will go home every after school, because I will have football practice after school. Then he can have some family time with them and I will pick him up later.

Even with this she was very reluctant to agree to have Farrell stay here. She also demanded that we visit them every other weekend. So this is what it feels like to have to fit your in-laws in your schedule, but if with this I get to keep Farrell with me in the pack house I will visit them every weekend if I have to.

The rest of the holidays we spent with my family and celebrated New Year’s together alone just us. That was nice and it was our best date we had so far. All the other dates were always interrupted by others, it could be quite annoying. But we got a kind of schedule working with certain times we don’t want to be disturbed and I have to say everybody is trying their best to keep to it.

I also have to say ever since the Matt and Missy incident I haven’t seen either of them anywhere. Not that I mind, but I do wonder sometimes what will happen to them. Especially Missy since she’s human, I think they might erase her memory of us and send her and her parents to the other side of the country. Or so I hope.  As for Matt, I try not to think about him. Because if I think of him I remember what he did to Farrell and then I tend to get really angry.

It’s now February and midterm exams are coming up, and I still have to ask Farrell to prom at the end of this year. The problem is I don’t know how, I want it to be original and special. I sigh as I think about asking Farrell to prom and switch books for my next class.

What’s wrong Connor? Usually you don’t sigh like that.

I look to my right side and see Kate a few feet away at her locker switching books.  I debate; should I tell her or not?  Whatever, “Kate what would be the best way to ask Farrell to prom?” I quickly check to see if he’s around. I don’t see him anywhere, I let out a breath of relieve, I don’t want him to know just yet.

Her eyes start to sparkle, “You’re going to ask Farrell to prom?” I shake my head, “Who else who I ask? He’s my mate and I want to go with him.” She lets out a girlish squeal and grabs my elbow and leads me away from my locker talking about what to say and when to say it. Of course we had to walk in to Kelley and Natasha they are part of the big group of people who make sure prom’s going to be the best of all proms. They like Kate squeal when they hear I am going to ask Farrell to prom but don’t know how to ask him. They gush about the latest way of asking your date to prom. Like with a favourite song, on your knees like a frigging proposal. Not with a song because I can’t sing, not on my knees, we’re mates it’s not like we’re not going to stay together forever.

By the time we reach class, they all agree the best way for me to ask Farrell is the old fashion way: a private place with a rose and just ask him. All I can say they agreed on how I can ask him, now they bicker about the colour of the rose. It’s an argument about a red rose and a pale pink rose. Having enough of their bickering I tell them in my Alpha voice that I will go for a pale pink rose, Farrell likes pale colours. After that they are finally quiet, but I do thank them for their assistance.

Alpha Lawson’s P.O.V

We just concluded our meeting concerning what to do with the youngsters from the abandoned junkyard; it was ruled in their favour they could join the pack if they want to. After a short ten minute break we are going to discuss Genesis McFarlow’s application to join the pack. Most people knew her father Jack McFarlow; he was a good guy not very bright but an overall good guy.

The thing that made this decision really hard was that nobody knew anything about the girl’s mother. That was the unknown factor in the equation: are we willing to take the risk of letting her join the pack? Without knowing what she might be like? Or what are we going to do if the mother wants her back? Even though she said her mother didn’t want her, females always change their minds. So it might be that her mother shows up one day and says she wants her back. What do we do? Do we give her back or not? And if not is there going to be a war? So many things depend on the answers to those questions.