A/N: So, I had this chapter 800 words and then was like nah, I am going to write more, so here is what I came up with. Enjoy.

~Rissa

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After we had loaded everything and everyone into the van, we started our way to my uncle's cabin.

I was seated next to Xavier, curled up and with my head on his lap and with him caressing my hair. Behind me was Justin and Bryson, and behind him were the kids, both of them being in car seats. After that, it was Parker and Dr. Trent with Julian sprawled out on the last seat. Sergio was still driving with May next him, probably singing some old song until Sergio stopped her.

I was asleep for most of the way for the trip, only waking when I felt this... small tension in the air as we pulled into some spot. "Where are we?" I grunted, rubbing my eyes. I sat up and looked around to see that we were almost in a parking lot of a familiar rundown building that sold the best burgers. "Oh."

"Don't sound disappointed, Cass," Sergio said, looking at me through the mirror. There was this hard look in his eyes, and I knew that it wasn't directed at me. "He's been wanting to see you. Maybe even complete a couple of challenges while you are here."

I shook my head. "Not this time around," I said, causing Sergio to pout. "But, why is everyone tense?"

"They told me that a Hunter runs this place," Xavier said. "Is it true?"

I nodded my head. "His name is Bill, and he is good," I said. "He's mated to a Werewolf, and they have a daughter that is my age. Do they have any other children yet?" I asked, Sergio. "I know that they had been trying for a couple of years."

"They had twins four years ago," May said. "They are just so cute. I think you might be able to meet them today if not soon."

I nodded my head, staying silent. I turned to look at Xavier and saw that he looked rather stiff. I had a feeling that he had some run-ins with Hunters before, and I could tell that it had not been a pretty sight. I placed my hand in his, causing him to look at me with those blue orbs of his. "I trust him," I said, causing him to set his jaw. "He saved my life once." I pursed my lips and narrowed my eyes as I thought about what had happened. "Well, he only got me out of a bit of a sticky situation that I found myself in before I took over." I shrugged. "He'll say that he saved my life, but it isn't true."

"Well..." Julian said, joining in the conversation. "If he didn't get you out of that thing, then you would still be there even to this day."

"I don't think it'd be to this day," Sergio said, pulling the van into a parking spot. "I mean, we would've had gotten her out eventually, or she could have sweet-talked her way out."

"That was like twice," I said, defending myself. "One of the times was with May because some bozo decided that it would be a good thing to hit on us."

"It was more than twice," May said. She turned towards me and winked. "But, we should do that more often. Do you remember how disgusted he looked when we kissed?"

I chuckled and nodded my head. "Yes, but he left us alone afterward."

"Which was a good thing because you flirting with her was kind of weird," Sergio said.

"You were the one that had wanted to come with me," I pointed out. "So, basically it is your fault."

Sergio shrugged his shoulder and smirked. "Come on, let's get in before Bill sends out a search party. He did that once with you and Simon, didn't he?"

"Hey, there were good songs playing back to back," I replied. "There wasn't a reason for him to send someone out when he had my number." I squeezed Xavier's hand, reassuringly before taking my hand out of his. "But, we should get going. He said that he would kidnap me if I ever come here and spend too much time in a car." I narrowed my eyes and pursed my lips. "Why does everyone want to kidnap me?" I asked, causing Sergio and May to snort.

"Because you are a spitfire," Sergio said. "And because half of the time, you don't put up a fight if you know who is kidnapping you."

I shrugged my shoulder. "For a bit, but then I do," I reminded him. "I do recall kicking you hard in the nether region on more than one occasion." I opened the door, feeling rather excited and nervous. I had no idea if my group would come and I hoped that they would.

It had been too long in me seeing them, and I had no idea what they would think about me. I just hoped that they would still think of me as the same that they had always thought of me.

***

I walked into the restaurant with Xavier behind me, carrying my son. I could feel Xavier's anxiety coming off of him in waves, so I did the only thing that seemed to calm us both down, I placed my hand in his.

Xavier looked down at me, staying silent. His jaw was set, and I could tell that he was going to be a little tense until he trusted Bill himself.

I offered him a smile and squeezed his hand, causing him to instantly squeeze my hand. "Come on," I said, wanting to take him to one part of this restaurant that I liked. "I want to show you the challenge wall."

"The challenge wall?" Xavier asked, causing me to nod my head. He followed me to the back of the store, looking around and the almost deserted building with most of the seats empty. "What challenge wall?"

"This," I said, stopping in front of a wall with a lot of photos of me and other people, but mostly me. "This is a challenge wall. Bill makes up different challenges for his customers to compete in, and either give them free food for a year or more food."

"How many have you won?" Xavier asked.

I shrugged. "Over a hundred, I think," I said. "We stop here a lot, and most of the time I hear the wo-"

"'Hey, Hoss, do you want to compete in a new challenge?' I got a new one just for ya," someone said behind us. Bill smiled at us, his dark brown eyes filled with tears. He cleared his throat and looked me up and down. "Good to see ya, Hoss," he said, his voice cracking.

My throat closed, causing me to clear my throat. "You're going soft," I said, my voice cracking. I took my hand out of Xavier's and gave him a hug. "Good to see you, too, Bill. Heard you finally had a couple more kids."

Bill chuckled and pulled me into a hug. He let go of me when Xavier growl softly, causing me to go back over to him and placed my hand in his. "Both of them are four years," he said. He nodded to my son. "Name?"

"Bryson Ridge," I said, causing him to nod his head. "And, this is Xavier." I lifted my hand that was clasped in his.

Bill nodded his head. "Nice to meet you, Alpha," he said. "I've been hearing that you've been keeping her safe." He winked at me. "Or is it the other way around?"

"Shut up," I said, shaking my head at him. "How's your mate?"

"Missing you and wondering when you'll show up again," he replied. "Other than that, she's doing good."

I nodded. "Got any new challenges?" I asked, causing him to smirk and nod his head. "I'm still kind of... getting used to eating again," I said, choosing my words carefully. "But, when I do come back, then I guess I'll compete in anything."

"You guess?" Bill asked, raising an eyebrow. He understood that I didn't want to talk about what had happened to me and knew better than to press. However, that didn't stop him from setting his jaw and a look of anger appear in his eyes. "I can't believe you said that you 'guess.'"

"Well, she did," Xavier said, coldly, causing the both of us to look at him before looking at each other.

Bill nodded his head, having this knowing smirk on his face. "I know," he said. He nodded to where everyone else was seated. "Go and sit down," he said, changing the subject. "I'll have Alessandra wait on you all. She is excited to see you again and had been asking about you."

I nodded my head and started to walk towards my group, nudging Bill and causing him to chuckle. "I want my usual," I said, "but I do want only one of them, though. I'll order everything later on."

"Understood," Bill said, patting my back. "I'll go over there in a bit and see your cousins. It's been a while since I'd seen them. My kids aren't here today. They're spending time with their grandmother."

I nodded my head, again. I liked his mother-in-law just as much as I liked him and his mate, Lucy. I respected them a lot and was happy that they considered me part of their family. "How is she?" I asked.

"She's doing good," he replied. "She loves being a grandmother to two little ones."

I nodded my head. "I'm glad that she has two of them," I said, still walking over to my small group. "She has her hands full."

"And, it'll keep her young," he said. "Hey, Alpha," he said, causing Xavier to stop and look at him. He had this serious look in his eyes, something that I hadn't seen in a while. His whole body was tense, and he looked like the Hunter he was. "Don't keep her away from us like that asshole did. Don't hurt her either. If I hear you do, then I will kill you. I don't care if she cares about you now or not. I've heard stories about what had happened to her and don't want to see her like this again. Is that understood?"

Xavier set his jaw and nodded his head. He squeezed my hand tighter, and I could tell that he was having a hard time with being threatened.

"Bug off," I said, causing Bill to grin and look at me. I rolled my eyes and smiled when he winked.

His whole demeanor changed into the goofy male that loved to challenge me in food competitions. He looked at Xavier. "On another note," he said. "Welcome to the family. I hope to be seeing you here often, with or without Cass."