Chapter 36: Meeting My Family*Andrew*I couldn’t believe after everything I’d done to bring her back to the pack I was on the brink of losing her again. My dad and I pulled up to the front door and I immediately walked in to find her. She was with the kids in their suite and they all smiled when they saw him. Their smiles never failed to make me feel like everything would be okay, at least for a second. “Daddy, guess what? I made a water tornado today!” Flora said, running and jumping, expecting me to catch her. I did effortlessly, of course. “Oh my gosh! That’s amazing! Boys, how’d you guys do?”I sat on the couch next to Delilah, setting Flora on her feet. I kissed Delilah on the cheek, draping my arm behind her on the couch. I could smell her shampoo and the scent of her underneath. She always smelled like home. “I made Miss Lenora confused. She forgot what we were even doing,” Kyle said softly.“I had to count leaves on a tree,” Cody said through a huff.
Chapter 37: Not Without a Fight*Andrew*Today was the first day of official negotiations between our council and the council for the Gallaway pack. I wasn’t looking forward to it at all. This had just started to come together for me and Delilah. We were finally together and acting like a family. They were my family, and I didn’t want them to go anywhere. I looked at all of them as we ate breakfast and drank in the sound of their laughs and the smiles on their faces. I knew that Delilah’s time with our pack had been anything but perfect, but it was better now. I was better now.Yes, she was stolen from the Gallaway pack, over twenty years ago. She was my mate now, and she would be the Lluna of the entire pack eventually. She belonged here, with me.The last time another pack was here I’d insisted the kids stay home from school, and they’d almost been kidnapped. I decided this time to just let them continue as normal. I kissed Delilah bye and took the kids to scho
Chapter 38: Going Back*Delilah*I picked the kids up from school, Andrew had come home around lunch but he was in a bad mood. He said negotiations got a little heated but didn’t really go into detail and I didn’t push. I didn’t even know how I felt about all of this. And I knew no matter what anyone decided, ultimately it was up to me what happened. This was all assuming I said yes to anything they talked about.As the kids piled in the backseat and buckled their seatbelts I felt my phone buzz. It was a text from Bethany. “We’d like to see you guys tonight for dinner if you’re up to it. No pressure.”I put my phone back into my purse and pulled out of the school parking lot. “So, my friend Zach said there are some people here from another pack. Who are they?”I sighed. I hadn’t told them much because I didn't really know what to say. It was all so dark and I didn’t want to traumatize them any more than this year already had. But they deserved to know too. “
Chapter 39: Ding Dong, The Witch is Back*Delilah*I pulled up to the house and saw a car I didn’t recognize in the driveway. The kids and I got out, making our way inside.“Andrew?” I called out but didn’t hear a response. I shrugged and the kids were already moving at a trot down the hallway to our wing of the house. I followed behind them and shot Andrew a quick text, asking where he was and who was here. “Delilah, so good to see you.”I came to a halt, and the kids did too. My blood ran cold at the voice and I hardened my gaze as I stared at the person I hated the most.“Kendra, what are you doing here in my house?”I said the last part with a bit of a bite and put my hands on the kids’ shoulders protectively.“I came to talk to you, I was hoping we could discuss some things. Hi kids, how are you guys doing?”She smiled at them but I felt Kyle flinch back against me. “Kids, go ahead and go to your rooms or the suite. I’ll be there soon.”They all no
Chapter 40: Out the Window*Delilah*Flying out the door, I raced down the hall. This couldn’t be happening again. And now, this was someone from my grandparents’ pack, it had to be. I seethed with anger as I approached the room. I heard the grunting and the sounds of my children fighting. I slammed the door open, taking in the scene before me. A man, who looked familiar, was holding Cody off the ground as Flora and Kyle launched themselves at his legs over and over. They were standing in front of the window, the man trying to pull himself that way. The kids held onto his pants as Cody kicked, trying to keep him from getting any closer to the exit. “Drop them!” I screamed and heard my children scream with relief.The man didn’t say a word, but pulled Cody closer to him instead, gritting his teeth at me. I knew I couldn’t shift and fight him with his arms around Cody. I had to figure out a way to get him free before I could even try to fight. But I was going to figh
Chapter 41: Family History*Delilah*I stared at Jamie, the man claiming to be an old friend of my father’s with disbelief. “What do you mean you’re a friend of my father’s? He doesn’t have any friends outside this pack.”Jamie chuckled, leaning back in his chair and crossing his arms over his chest. “We were friends before he brought you to this pack.”I stayed silent and looked at him, hoping he would just continue on his own. I didn’t know my dad well as it was, I had no idea who he was friends with honestly. I didn’t even think he had many friends now. “Before you guys went on the run and became rogues, he was friends with me and the other guys you met tonight as well. Back when he was still part of the Gallaway pack.”Jamie looked at me then, clearly hoping he had piqued my interest. And he had. I wanted to know more and I wouldn’t deny it.“Are you guys part of the Gallaway pack then? Is this some poor attempt to bring me back into the fold?” I glared a
Chapter 42: Confronting the Past*Andrew*It had only been a day since Delilah was kidnapped but already I was wondering how she managed to handle everything. The kids didn’t go to school and they were anxious. Unfortunately, I wasn’t what they wanted to comfort them. They’d always run to Delilah for that and realizing they couldn’t do that only made them more upset. We’d just finished breakfast and I was supposed to meet with Logan and Bethany shortly but I didn’t see how I would do that while watching the kids. And I didn’t want to let them out of my sight. I sent a text to Bethany asking her and Logan to come to my house so I could keep an eye on the kids while we discussed what to do next. I was outside watching the kids play together when my dad walked out.“What’s the plan for today? I know we’re supposed to meet with the Gallaway pack council but it doesn’t seem like that’s going to happen.” He looked out toward the kids, smiling slightly.When I’d call
Chapter 43: Making PlansAndrew*“Daddy, can you make my hair pretty like Mommy did?”My hand shook as I grabbed the brush from Flora’s outstretched hand. I fought the tears that brimmed in my eyes and gave Flora a shaky laugh. “I’ll do my best, baby. But no promises. I’m not magic like she is.”Delilah was still gone, kidnapped by rogue monsters. After talking to Conrad it was clear what their goal was in taking her from us. The rogues had been searching for a powerful shifter like Delilah to breed with, and they would stop at nothing to get her.The boys were already dressed, though they still didn’t look as put together as they did when their mother was there to take care of them.I’d been caring for them by myself since she was taken and every single day without her I marveled at all she’d been able to do without a fuss. Taking care of three children when they weren’t the same age was challenging enough, but triplets were a whole other matter. And she had done