Hey peoples, I am EXTREMELY sorry for not posting a long chapter. I know this is short and I wanted to make it longer, but it didn't look right, so I just made the next part a brand new chapter! I hope you like this, I know I do! Finally some happy stuff, huh? Next chapter, things are going to loosen up a lot and not be so serious! More humor and romance (sorta) will be in Chapter Eleven!

Thank you guys soo much for commenting! I appreciate it a lot!

Also, whoever is Islamic/Muslim here (I am), Eid Mubarak/ Happy Ramadan! If you guys don't know what that is, it's the biggest holiday for Muslims. :]

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-Tavita

PS. This is dedicated to ILovePoombah because 1) She is super awesome 2) Her writing (especially Darkest Desires which is also a werewolf story that has an amazing plot) 3) She is super awesome! (or did I already say this?) Hehe. Check out her stories because they deserve checking out! :D Love ya Nezs. :) <3

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Chapter Ten

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I threw a punch at Darren which he narrowly dodged. In a blink, I kicked out my left leg, catching him on the thigh. He stumbled just a bit, but I instantly took the chance; I leapt up, grabbing his shoulder in a painful grip, banging my head against his nose and punching him on the stomach before throwing him over my shoulder. He landed on his back with a thump.

He laid there silently for a while. Then "nice" was the only thing that came out of his mouth which made me smile victoriously.

I'd been here for two months, but in that short amount of time, I'd gotten good. Not only did I train in the mornings with Jebadiah and Darren, but I went out to the track after I helped clean out Delaine to work on my running and strength. I climbed trees (Darren told me it'd work on making me agile – not sure if he was trying to make fun of me or not), worked with weights and punching bags which had done wonders to my strength. Most of the people had slowly warmed up to me by now.

Jebadiah clapped. "Good job, Cade," he praised. He was my biggest obstacle. I wanted to prove to him that I was worthy because I wanted to be in this pack so bad, but he didn't accept random wolves to join one of the best packs in the world. He wasn't much different than he was on my first training session. I had thought he was one of those strict alphas, but I'd seen him with his pack mates. He laughed – those loud, belly laughs – and joked around all the time. From watching him, I realized that he loved to tease his mother a lot and was really good with children; he had a soft spot towards Michael as well. Sometimes, I hardly even believed he was twenty-three because of his childish behavior.

Speaking of Michael, here came the devil. He was an adorable bundle of energy. He had latched onto me instantly and made me read to him before bed every night. I'd also often here late at night knocks on my door – he couldn't open the door because it was metal and too heavy for him – and I'd have to carry him to bed. I knew it was wrong to get attached to him because Jebadiah hadn't actually made the decision to keep me or not, but I couldn't help it. I had already fallen in love with the sweet three-year-old.

"Cady!" he called, running into my legs. His arms went around my knees and then he tilted his head back, giving him a big toothy smile with his eyes sparkling that made my heart instantly melt. Despite the fact I was still really sweaty, I picked him up and kissed his chubby cheeks.

"Hey Mikey," I cooed, holding him up with one arm and touching his soft face with the other.

"Why are you and Darren fighting?" he asked, looking at me with big curious eyes.

I shyly glanced at Darren who was getting up and dusting himself off. He was only wearing a pair of loose cutoff jeans that hung low on his hips and his torso was bare. It was hard to keep my eyes off of his chest because he was so toned and muscular. I was still a girl and Darren no doubt attracted me. My link with Xavier had weakened because of our distance since he was on the other side of the state. Xavier rarely appeared in my mind now that I had accepted his rejection and my feelings for other males had grown. That other male specifically being Darren.

Ridding myself of the inappropriate thoughts in my head, I turned back to Michael and stroked his cheek. "We were just playing, Mikey. We weren't fighting," I assured him.

He gave me a suspicious look, but soon jumped out of my arms to hurl himself at Jebadiah. The Alpha swung Michael up into his arms and gave him an easy grin as the little boy yelled out, "Jeb!"

"Hey buddy," he said to Michael, bouncing him a little before holding him with one arm. Jebadiah ruffled his hair and glanced at Darren who had come to stand by me. "You better watch out, Darren. It took eight rounds for Cade to beat you this time. Last time it was ten," Jebadiah warned.

Darren gave him a glare. "Shut up, Jeb," he scowled. The first time I had heard Darren talk to me like that was a month ago and me being shocked was an understatement. But when Jebadiah wholeheartedly laughed, I had realized that he was just such a carefree Alpha, which had heightened my respect for him considerably. And respect wasn't something I just gave out to people.

I rubbed my hands through my hair. "I'm going to go take a shower and see what Delaine is up to," I murmured and turned to walk into the pack house.

"Cade," Jebadiah called. I turned at the waist to look at him over my shoulder.

"Yes Alpha?" I asked shyly, brushing my black hair out of eyes.

"Don't bother with my mother today. There's going to be a pack meeting today and I want you there." He had gained a mysterious smile on his face.

I blinked. "Pack meeting for what?" I asked, confused.

"You'll see," he told me secretively before turning his eyes back onto Michael who was demanding his attention.

Puzzled, I walked into the house and down to my room in the basement. I picked out a four-inched strap tank top and shorts that were a bit worn and laid them out on the bed before walking into the shower. After I stripped off my clothes, I turned to face the bathroom mirror that was long enough for me to see the top of my thighs.

The change in me was dramatic. Delaine had made me eat a lot more than I usually did in my former pack which had put more meat on my bones. My hair, that used to be really limp, had gotten longer, two inches down my shoulder and had more volume and softness. It had started to also get a little wavy. Then my eyes. My eyes didn't look so dull and lifeless anymore. My eyes that were so pale blue that they looked white with a milky hue to it, now burned with an inner flame. It sparkled with happiness, constant happiness which I had lacked before in my old life.

My body had shaped as well. Even though I was never overweight, I didn't exactly have a great body. But now, the muscles in my arms had strengthened, there was hardly any strain in my legs when I ran the ten miles, my hips had curved some more and I had grown an inch.

I liked these changes in me a lot. I hadn't actually realized that I was much thinner than a werewolf should be and pale. Werewolves were never pale. Considering we were wolves and were always running on energy, we stayed outside which resulted in killer tans. I had finally realized I was not exactly healthy until Delaine pointed it out to me. That's when I had started noticing how all the other girls in Jebadiah's pack were so strong, tan and curvy while I was...not.

With a slight smile on my face, I washed off the dirt and grime on my body with the sweet strawberry scented shampoo and body wash. When I was clean, I dried myself off and stepped into the clothes. I realized it was a little tight on me, but pushing my self-consciousness aside, I walked out into the room, towards the backyard which Delaine had told me was where the pack meetings took place.

Everyone turned to look at me as soon as I stepped out onto the grass. Darren's eyes met mine, but his handsome face looked neutral. Sierra was standing beside him with a bright smile that could light up the world. Her pixie cut black hair was shiny and her big emerald green eyes were sparkling cheerfully. Everyone else were either smiling or giving me sly winks.

Jebadiah stood on top of the tree stump, a wide grin on his face. He waved me forward. I'd never seen him smile like that at me. It did funny things to my stomach like making it do summersaults. I wasn't sure if I liked it or not. It was strange and completely foreign.

I hesitantly walked up to Jebadiah, not understanding what was happening. My body was slightly trembling with self-consciousness. I was nervous about going up to him because I had no idea what he was going to do. Was he going to throw me out? But if he was, why would he be smiling at me like that? Or was he finding humor in this?

"Come on, Cade, there's nothing to be nervous about," Delaine laughed from beside Jebadiah, her warm hazel eyes sparkling green from the sunlight.

Jebadiah grabbed my hand when I neared him and pulled me next to him. Then after giving me a smile, he addressed his pack.

"I know all of you know why you're here," he started, giving his mother a look that made me think that she had given it out and the pack wasn't supposed to find out. She just shrugged in return. Gordon gave a little chuckle from a yard away. "I'm guessing everyone consents to what has been decided since nobody is speaking up, so," he stopped and his gaze landed on me. I tried to look away, but I was captured by the brown of his eyes. His face was turned away from the sunlight which made his eyes darker.

"I want you to join the Shadow Pack, Cade," he said. He then gave a smirk that made the butterflies in my stomach turn to eagles. My heart was pounding fast at his words. He wanted me to join his pack? "I hope we don't disappoint because we don't have any formal ceremony for accepting a wolf," he added.

I let out a little laugh, my face heating noticeably. "This isn't a joke?" I asked shyly, twisting the hem of my tank with my fingers.

"No it isn't. You get along well with the pack and are obviously not a threat to us. We don't take in any stray wolves, but you have potential, Cade, and we want you here," Jebadiah explained.

Gordon gave me a brotherly smile that made me wish it was Parker looking at me like that, with warmth and affection. "Also, I doubt Michael would ever let you leave," he teased.

Tears brimmed my eyes and Delaine playfully slapped the back of Jebadiah's head. He gave her a dark look. "Look what you did, son, you made the poor girl cry," she scolded.

He scowled. "I didn't mean to," he muttered like a child.

That did it. I laughed. I don't think I'd ever laughed so hard in the fours year since my parent's death. All the members of the pack look at me like I was crazy which made me laugh harder. I heard Michael lean over to whisper into Gordon's ear, "What's wrong with her?"

I wiped the tears from my face and beamed up at Jebadiah. I wanted to leap into his arms and hug him tight, but...I wasn't sure if it would be right or not. So I decided to play it safe and not do anything rash. "Thank you so much, Alpha Jebadiah. I would love to join this pack," I answered happily. "I never thought I'd have a home again after my old pack exiled me...," I ducked my head, but then looked back up again, wiping the faintest trace of sadness from my eyes.

Jebadiah smiled, the corners of his eyes crinkling. "We're family now, Cade. Families don't hurt each other and we sure as hell are nothing like the Midnight Pack," he said, the kindest words he has ever said to me.

Happiness lit my eyes. Family...I liked that.

I finally had a home and a family.