I jogged to the cave to see Jagger waiting for the different teams to report in.

"How'd it go?"

I shrugged. "As expected, it is the easiest route. Not to mention, the full moon made it hard for anything to hide."

"Keep it up and I'll give you the north side. You won't be coming back so chipper." Jagger gripped my shoulder. "Go get some sleep."

"On my way," I said with a yawn.

"Oh, you're off for a couple of days, so it might be time for you to visit your parents."

My shoulders slumped forward. "My dad called?"

Jagger shrugged. "Maybe, Darius wants you to take some supplies to Bloodhound."

"Yeah, sure," I breathed. "My dad has been bugging him. I'm not stupid."

I trudged down the hall. A few days away might be nice. I'd come back refreshed and maybe Archer would start missing me. I could ask my father about some of the fun places around the cave that I could take him.

Straying a bit past my cave, I peeked into Archer's room. Willow better have not tried to get him to go with them again. The brown werewolf was curled up on top of a pile of blankets in the middle of the floor. The moonlight show through a skylight on him. I slipped inside. Why wasn't he on the bed? Archer was never one to sleep on the floor. It brought the clean freak out.

The werewolf let out a deep sigh and sank into the mound. He looked so beautiful. His fur sparkled in the light. I backed out of the room before I was caught. After sneaking one last peek, I went to my room to get some much-needed sleep.

***

After a long drive, that included stopping at my grandparent's house for lunch, I parked the car in the Bloodhound garage. Stepping out, I took a deep breath. It was weird that this place felt more like home than Northern Ridge. I started carrying the packages to one of the ATVs parked outside. With the last of the boxes tied down in the back, I went to the car and started to undress. I tossed my clothes and shoes inside before shifting. Shutting the door, I grabbed the keys for the ATV and pressed the button to close the garage. My ear flicked to the side, and I spotted my father standing by the ATV.

"What are you doing here?"

Titus smiled. "I thought you might need some help, but it looks like I got here too late."

"There wasn't much."

He nodded and climbed into the passenger side. "How were the Perris?"

With a shrug, I slid behind the wheel. "Grandma wanted me to stay the night."

"I'm sure she did." My father laughed.

I turned on the vehicle. "So, what's the real reason you came to meet me?"

Titus leaned back in his seat. "Darius let me on a rumor going on around the pack."

"That liking dick is hereditary?"

Chuckling, my father squeezed the back of my neck. "Not exactly, but yeah."

"Don't worry about it. I'm not too worried about anyone giving me shit for being bi." I backed up the vehicle and started down the trail.

"Bi?"

"The more the merry, right?"

Titus tried not to smile. "Don't say that around your dad."

"I know about your whoring days." I shot him a smirk. "I overheard Darius giving you crap about it years ago."

"I was not a whore." He held up a finger. "Did I have some fun, yes. But it was your grandpa's fault. I wanted a human mate and he kept saying no."

"So if Darius doesn't let me do what I want, I should start sleeping around?"

My father shook his head. "I know your joking but don't be using that one on your dad, either."

"This is going to make for a quiet visit if I'm not allowed to talk to Dad."

"Knock it off." He smacked my arm. "Just remember if you need to talk, I'm here. I went through it."

I nodded and took a deep breath. "I'll keep that in mind." I drove on down the trail. "Dad is going to be weird about it."

Titus smiled. "He finds it kind of comical that Darius might have to deal with some sub drama."

"Sub drama?"

He shrugged. "We put your grandpa through quite a bit. I don't suggest it."

"Why? I've always wanted to be in my own death-match," I said with a grin.

"I don't suggest that either." He laughed along with me. "My god, how did we survive those first couple of years?" My father peered off into the trees. "It worked out in the end." He let out a sigh and patted my arm. "Don't be afraid to go after the person you like. Male or female, you have our support."

"Thanks." I gripped the steering wheel and swallowed hard. "What if they're a dominant?"

"Do you have a girl in mind already?"

"No, I mean, what if I wanted to be with a dominant male."

He eyed me. "Who are you referring too?"

"No one." I breathed out through my nose. "It was a random thought."

"Dominant men"—he cringed—"I don't know if you want to go that route. I got a sub and he's a little spitfire. Now, imagine your dad in a dominant body."

"True," I muttered.

"Then again"—he rested his head against his fist—"I had an idea what your dad's rank would be before we mated, but I would have still done it even if he outranked me. It would've been hard, though." He took in a deep breath and turned to me. "Whatever you want, we'll be there for you."

***

I undid the straps holding down the packages. "You'd think they'd make a road that went from Northern Ridge to Bloodhound. It would make this trip so much easier."

Titus picked up a box. "One too many mountainsides and cliffs."

Taking an armload, I followed him into the cave. We stacked the supplies for the pack members to look through inside.

"Saigon!" A brown werewolf waved as he jogged toward me. "Hey, I didn't know you were visiting."

"My dad got to the alpha to give me a few days off." I shrugged and went to get another load.

Gage followed. "Do you need some help?"

"Yeah, there's a couple more boxes from Northern Ridge."

"Great." He walked beside me down the trail. "How was human life?"

I shrugged. "Boring compared to dominant life."

"Very true," he laughed. "Are you staying in Northern Ridge?"

I nodded. "Yeah, everyone thinks I'll be the beta so it's best to get to know the werewolves that live there."

Gage picked up a couple boxes, and I took the rest.

"How's it been here?"

"It's been alright." He walked on ahead of me. "I'm leading one of the teams."

"I had to do that the other night. Jagger gave me an easy one, though."

"You'll get used to it soon enough." He shot me a smirk.

We placed the boxes with the others and by then, the pack had gathered to welcome me home. I simply smiled as the older members made comments about my height and potential rank. I noticed Gage off in the corner with a golden brown werewolf. Ivy smiled at me and waved.

"It's good to see everyone, but I better go and check-in with my dad," I said to the gathering.

They all gave a knowing smile and dispersed. My eyes traveled down Gage's arm to see he was holding Ivy's hand.

I went over to them. "Did something happen since last summer?"

Gage grinned at me. "A few things." He moved his arm around Ivy's waist. "I want to ask Darius for permission so we can be mates."

"Do you think the alpha will approve of us?" asked Ivy.

I shrugged. "Why wouldn't he? I think you'll be a great match."

Ivy's face lit up.

"See, I told you," said Gage. "We should ask."

"What if I'm not high enough rank?"

"It doesn't matter to me." He kissed her cheek. "Let me deal with Darius."

"I'll have your back." I gave Gage's neck a squeeze. "If my uncle gives you trouble, let me know, and I'll wear him down for you."

Ivy was a mixture of scared and excited. "Hopefully, he'll just say yes and you won't need to." She smiled at me. "Welcome home." Ivy gave me a quick hug. "We missed having you here."

"Oh, really?" I chuckled. "I would've gotten in the way, by the looks of it."

"Still, welcome home."

I was hit from behind and turned around to see a white ball stuck to my leg. "Cricket, how have you been, little buddy?"

The boy grinned up at me. "Welcome back. Why did you leave for so long?"

"Cricket, you can't run into people like that." Ivy reached for her brother. "Sorry, Saigon."

"It's fine." I picked up the pup. "Did you keep my dad company?"

He nodded. "Yeah, he said you were coming home today."

My ear flicked to the side to the sound of someone clearing their throat. The older sub looked just as excited as the pup in my arm. I held out my hand to him.

Aden hugged my side. "How was the drive?"

"Fine, grandma and grandpa say hi."

"Oh, is Auntie Karen coming?" asked Cricket.

"Not this time." I set him down and Ivy pulled the boy in front of her.

"Congrats." I waved to the couple before turning to leave with my dad. "He'll say yes, so stop worrying."

Ivy bowed her head and hugged the sub to her.

"Who will say yes?" asked my dad as we walked toward my parents' room.

"Darius. Gage wants to mate with Ivy."

"He'll say yes," stated Aden. "I'll see to it. Those two are meant to be together. Gage has really stepped up to help Ivy raise Cricket."

"How's the pack doing?"

Aden shrugged. "It's hard to lose a member. The Bloodhound-born werewolves are still struggling. There are so few of them left. I think the pack has been secretly pushing those Gage and Ivy together for years now since their parents were Bloodhound-born. The majority of the pups are half Northern Ridge."

"We're all one pack." I put my arm around his shoulders. "Jagger and Raven are proof of that."

"Still, Cricket isn't the only pup without parents. Most have grown up and can take care of themselves but it's sad to see." He looped arms with me.

"Why are they worried Darius is going to say no?"

My dad let out a sigh. "Gage was meant to be the beta with Jagger here in Bloodhound. So he'll take over when Titus retires and we go back to Northern Ridge." He hugged my arm. "Ivy is a great girl. She's so sweet and I adore Cricket, but she a middle rank and Cricket... he's like me."

I squeezed him to my side. "Darius will say yes. I think someone's happiness should come before rank."

"Bloodhound doesn't have an alpha," whispered my dad. "Even branch-packs have alphas that are below the main. Gage will have to do it all by himself."

"No offense, Dad, Ivy is ranked higher than you."

He frowned. "So?"

"You are Father's biggest support and he's done a great job leading Bloodhound. It'll be hard and there will be plenty of sleepless nights, but"—I gave him a grin—"I think Ivy can fill your shoes."

My dad nodded. "You'll back me up if Darius says no, for some reason."

"The alpha is not going to say no," I stated. "He'll have you and grandma come after him. Grandma adores Cricket. I'm surprised she hasn't tried to set me up with Ivy."

"Because she was too busy setting her up with Gage."

I thought for a minute about past visits. "Hmm... Makes sense."

He bumped into me. "So, you talked with Titus?"

"Yep."

"And?"

"I'm not interested in anyone. So you and grandma can hold off on the big wedding you're both planning."

My dad eyed me. "According to her, it's going to be bigger than mine."