Chapter Two

Aubrey's POV

"You actually agreed to let her go?" I asked curiously as Nic shrugged when I knew without a doubt that this was a big deal for him.

"Aww your getting soft Nic, how cute," I coo'ed poking his sides.

He slapped my hands away and narrowed his gaze as I laughed.

"I'm not getting soft. I was being a mature adult. Something you still need to do."

"Pshh I will grow up when I want to grow up. Not when my age tells me to," I said with a scoff.

He shook his head and chuckled. I felt his gaze run down my figure as a smirk fell on his features.

"Age is being amazingly good to you my little mate. So since the boys are at their grandparents why don't we do something of our own," he drawled slowly as he reached me.

He wrapped his arms around me as I rested my hands on his chest, smiling up at him.

"Jason and Olivia are just in their rooms. Just because the twins are gone doesn't mean our other children are gone too."

I raised a brow when Dominic's eyes greyed out before returning to their original shade.

"What's wrong?" I asked noticing how his muscles tensed up.

He looked down at me and forced a smile causing me to glare at him.

"Don't do that fake shit with me Nic. Tell me what's going on."

He sighed heavily and pulled me in for a hug causing me to frown over his shoulder.

"Nic are you..."

"Claire's back."

I froze.

She's back?

I never knew she would even return after she left years ago. And to be quite honest I didn't think she would survive without her mate. It would have taken a toll on the poor girl.

I pulled away as Dominic intertwined our fingers before leading us out.

As soon as we stepped outside I smelt her scent.

I looked towards my sons voice and heard him ordering her to leave.

In his eyes, she was a rogue. If she was anyone else she would have been killed. She must have told him she knew us.

"Claire," I said.

They all stopped yelling at each other only to look in me and Dominic's direction.

They bowed in respect except for Jason who only smiled at me. He was a mommas boy that one. 

"Luna Aubrey," she replied. Once again nodding her head in acknowledgment.

She looked good if I'm being honest. Her long blonde locks fell down her shoulders and her figure definitely developed filling out her assets. She was still short but she held herself with more maturity than she did when she left.

Even though we didn't have good history I wanted a fresh start with her. She lost her mate and she had no family, so I can only imagine what the last few years have been for her.

Plus I made a promise to Claudia that no harm will come to her mate from us. Dead or not, I plan to keep my promise to her.

"How are you doing?"

She smiled as she looked off towards the hills before meeting my gaze again.

"To be honest with you I feel great. After two whole years of mourning Claudia, I knew I needed to snap out of it. She wouldn't have wanted me to be drowning myself in my own misery. So I cleaned myself up, got an apartment and have been living among the humans for many years. As good as it was I miss the Pack life. I miss hanging around my own kind. I want to come back Aubrey."

I smiled and before I could even voice my agreement, I was interrupted.

"You would have to go through protocol if you were to stay," Dominic said with out an ounce of emotion in his tone.

I knew he didn't like Claire. In a way he blamed her and her father for the people we lost to the rogues on that haunted day.

She reminded Nic of her father and he hated it.

Nic's hatred for the dead man knew no bounds.

I looked at Nic before meeting Claudia's gaze as she spoke.

"Being initiated into a pack doesn't require protocol. It's swearing my loyalty to you as my Alpha and having an initiation..."

"It's new Claudia. We have just been a little cautious with who we invite into the pack now, considering how things went down before." I said cutting her off when I saw the irritated look on Dominic's face.

She raised a brow before nodding her head in acceptance causing me to sign in relief. I did not have the energy to deal with wolves and their anger management problems.

"Okay sure if you say so. Where do I stay till protocol has been completed?"

"You will stay in the bunker till we deem fit. I don't think staying in the cells will be appropriate for someone wishing to join the pack, isn't that right father," Jason said as he came and stood beside me.

Nic's gaze hardened at Jason before he looked at me. I knew he wanted her in the cells during protocol. I shot him a pleading look to get him to agree which made him release an irritated sign. 

"The safety bunker is at your disposal. We will talk tomorrow when we begin protocol. You are not free to roam the pack lands till it has been completed, understood."

"Understood Alpha," she said bowing her head in respect.

Satisfied with her answer Dominic grabbed my hand and told Jason to follow us. I sent a comforting smile Claudia's way before the doors closed behind me and I was dragged to Dominic's office.

As soon as the doors closed Dominic demanded answers from our son.

"Why the bunker Jason. That has supplies we need in emergencies. If she decides to go against us again, do you think there will be anywhere safe that the women and children can go that she doesn't know of."

"I'm sorry dad but your decisions would have been biased. You know the girl, therefore you judge according to her past with the pack. You never know, she might have had an epiphany and changed herself for the greater good."

I smiled proud of my sons words.

Yep, he is most definitely like me. Dominic is way too impulsive kind of like Olivia, I thought with a chuckle.

Where is that girl anyway?

"Whatever," Dominic grumbled under his breath causing me to laugh as I pulled him in for a hug.

He buried his nose in my neck as his arms tightened around me.

I looked over his shoulder and smiled at Jason before gesturing for him to go.

He nodded his head and chuckled at his fathers childish pout before leaving the room.

"Is he gone?"

"Dominic why can't you just agree with our son when he makes decisions. He will be Alpha soon and you disagreeing with every decision he makes is going to confuse the boy. He needs reassurance that he's doing the right thing."

Dominic pulled away and smiled down at me.

"I know he's right. I was just mad at seeing Claire again. Just having her here brings back memories I would rather not revisit."

Before I could say anything our not so quiet daughter burst into the room with a squeal of excitement.

"Oh my god mum is that Claire that I just saw with the guards heading to the bunkers?"

"What makes you think it's Claire? It could be anyone."

She gave me a deadpan look before rolling her eyes.

"The pack talks and plus I know every face and name in this pack by memory and hers is the only one I haven't seen before."

"Fair point," I said with a shrug.

I stared at my daughter as she stared at me with her arms crossed.

"Well..."

She drawled out before gesturing for me to continue talking.

"What?" I asked with a raised brow.

She groaned in annoyance before looking at Nic.

"She's ridiculous," she said face palming herself.

"I think she wants you to give her some information about Claire," Nic said with a chuckle.

I rolled my eyes when Olivia's gaze widened and a grin overtook her features.

"Yes please. Come on mom it's like walking in history. The tales about what happened with the rogues and the near falling of the pack. Even though I am quite curious as to why she wants to come back here when she can go back to her original pack. I'm sure Uncle Asher will let her be initiated back in. But frick I still can't believe she's here! Claire was there, it's like walking with the dinosaurs!" She exclaimed excitedly.

"What the fuck? We're not that old," I said offended running my fingers through my hair.

"I didn't mean it like that," Olivia said sheepishly.

I grumbled under my breath and turned my back on my daughter while crossing my arms. The only annoying thing about giving my daughter my back was that I was now facing Nic's amused gaze.

"What," I said annoyed.

He laughed as he looked at Olivia.

"See now you made your mother upset sweetheart. Tell her she's not as old as dinosaurs," he teased.

"Fuck off," I grumbled as I walked around Nics form to his desk giving them both my back.

"Mom don't be dramatic your still rocking that body of yours."

I rolled my eyes at my daughters teasing tone.

"Sexy can't even compare to what your..."

"Okay okay geez Olivia are you trying to make me puke? Go use those lines on your future mate."

I turned around to face her and laughed when she wiggled her brows at me before winking and leaving the room.

"She's such a dork," I said with a small smile.

"She hangs around Jake too much. His humour is rubbing off on her," Nic said shaking his head.

"I wouldn't want to change her for the world."

I can only hope that she stays so optimistic and happy.

My beautiful daughter.