Thank you MissFlawless_isnt_me for the picture

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We went into Finn's, surprisingly, empty office. It was by far, the most sound-proof room in the house. Mikko shut the door behind us and locked it.

"Now you're going to explain to me what happened." Mikko stated as he walked to one of the two armchairs in the room.

I was nervous. I knew my reason for going wasn't going to be what he wanted to hear. I knew that he wasn't going to like it no matter which way I told him, so I just had to get it out.

"I went because I thought he might have something I wanted to hear."

Mikko just looked at me, still and non-blinking. He was waiting for me to continue.

I sighed and went to the sofa and sat down.

"I know the way you were probably raised was way different than how I was. I wasn't ever taught to instantly assume the worst in people."

Honestly, I didn't even want to look at him. In hind sight, I was wrong. I shouldn't have trusted JJ.

"He was my best friend, even before Nikki." I sighed, rubbing the frustration that settled behind my eyes. "That meant something to me, and I thought it might have for him too. I thought that he just wanted to get the drama that happened with him and you in the past for peace in the packs."

"After I broke his jaw." Mikko interjected dryly.

"Yes." I gave a huff. "Nikki's always told me that I give people too many tries."

"You do."

I looked over at him. "You shouldn't judge that too hard. That's probably the reason why your latest son was born."

Mikko shook his head. "There was another reason that child was born and it had nothing to do with second chances."

"I really don't know how to explain what happened in a way that would be satisfactory to you Mikko."

He turned his neck, cracking and releasing the tension building up in his neck. "I don't think so either."

"I'm sorry I went."

He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. I knew he was mad, that much was obvious, but he was trying to control it.

"You're not to make rash decisions anymore. Maybe I should keep you away from other packs all together."

I closed my eyes and turned my face away from him. All I've done is implemented more rules into what was probably going to be a really long life. I didn't want to live on egg shells.

"I didn't do a terrible job keeping my shit together Mikko." I looked over at him. "Tell me any wolf you've known that have controlled their first change?" I met his eyes in an obvious challenge. "I'll wait if you need some time."

"That's not the point, Em. The point is that you left pack territory, without letting ANYONE know, without any kind of support or back up, you walked willingly into a trap, almost got our child killed, and almost got yourself killed." He didn't even blink. "You made the pack vulnerable today. You like to think that you're aside from the pack, outside of its rules but still enjoying its protections when you feel like you want them."

I looked away from his stare, unable to hold it. "I didn't mean for this to happen Mikko."

Mikko nodded. "The thinking that led to his is going to have to change Em. Had you been anyone else, there would be severe consequences." He sighed and stood, walking towards the office door. "I don't want to chastise you. You're an adult."

After a couple moments alone, I pulled myself together. I had conflicting emotions and I just wanted to scream in frustration from being scolded, but I wanted to cry from what my actions had caused.

Normally, I would have gone to the kids to spend time with them, but I knew I wasn't allowed to be there right now, so I went down to the kitchen. I hoped food would help soothe whatever was bothering me.

But I didn't make it so far. I heard a car screech to a halt in the front of the house, so I made my way to the front door. The temporary doors flung open, stressing the hinges and Nikki's body hit mine with full force.

"I was so worried when they called me!" She screamed/cried on my shoulder.

Before I could answer, she yanked me an arm's length away, "Why would you go to JJ?" Then she yanked me back into a hug. "I thought I was going to come here and you'd still be gone. Or worse, that you'd me dead! Why Em!"

I just hugged her as her frustrations came out like a tsunami. I felt thoroughly ashamed and overwhelmed. In the open doorway, I saw Mike turn and walk around the house, not bothering to go through the house to get to the back. My dad watched him, then came into the house with glowing amber eyes. Not something common in my father.

"You better have a damned good excuse Emily." He growled before wrapping his arms around both me and Nikki, who still held me in vice grip hug.

Nikki huffed. "You and I both know what the excuse is." She muffled out.

Dad growled. "Which doesn't make me any more comfortable having her here."

"She's protected here."

Dad huffed. "Protected from the outside, not from her own consequences."

Nikki shook her head. "That's a problem for tomorrow."

My dad's head whipped to the side when the sliding glass door opened. When I turned to look, Finn's hand came right at my head.

There was a second where I thought he was going to punch me right in the face and that would be it for me.

But he rested the palm of his hand on my forehead and held it in an uncomfortably tight grip.

My wolf shot to the surface with surprise.

From what I had heard, it was a ceremony to come into the pack because it didn't require a whole lot of energy.

When I felt the white hot tendrils of magic wrapping themselves around me and my wolf, I knew that Finn was bringing me into his pack.

"You, Emily Carter, are now in the Alpha pack, subject to all rules and consequences of your actions."

When he let go of my head, I felt like all the energy had been sapped from my body, and collapsed into darkness.

----

However peaceful the sleep was, waking up was rough. It was 4AM and I knew that everyone in the house was asleep. I felt the structure of the pack, which felt heavy and awkward.

I got out of bed and was instantly his with aches and pains.

I exited the room and walked towards the nursery. Even though there were no lights on in the house, I could see well enough that I was in no risk of tripping and falling. My vision definitely was better now.

I could feel that I was being watched, but I also knew that there was no one around. It was like being on security cameras all the time.

If they really wanted to stop me from walking into the nursery, they would.

I slowly opened the door to see the triplets sleeping soundly and the baby looking around.

I smiled and walked over to him, picking him up from his crib. I knew he knew who I was because he instantly started fusing, wanting to be fed.

Before he woke his brother and sisters, I started nursing him.

I had previously though that the nursery had been sound proof, but I heard when the front door opened and heard footsteps getting closer.

Whoever was coming was going to stop me.

I felt slightly relived when Mikko came into the room and quietly shut the door behind himself. "He still doesn't have a name," Mikko said lower than a whisper.

I nodded and peaked at the baby. "I know. What are we going to name him?"

He checked on each of the triplets, then he came over to me. "What were we down to?"

"Camron and Erik."

He nodded and crouched down next to the rocking chair. "I like Erik."

I smiled at my nursing baby. "Erik Madill it is then."

Mikko rubbed Erik's feet for a moment then stood up. "When you're done in here, we need to talk about what comes next."

I nodded and watched him leave the nursery.

I wanted time to just freeze so I didn't have to face whatever it was that came next.

After I left the nursery, I spotted Mikko down the hall, looking out the huge window.

"I know it's going to make you mad, but I need you to stop going to visit the kids when I'm not around." Mikko still stayed quiet.

Instantly, I felt rage consume me. I looked at Mikko with narrowed eyes. "You can't keep them from me. I am their mother."

Mikko showed no indication that he was affected by my reaction. "I am keeping them safe. You can visit them whenever you're with me or with Finn. I don't want you showing your anger around my children. They are too young to learn fear of werewolves."

"I would never hurt them."

Mikko took a step closer with his hands coming towards me. "It's not about you hurting them on purpose. You're angry right now. I can see it in your eyes and by the way you're shaking."

I brought my hands out in front of me and watched them, they were definitely shaking. I took a deep breath, trying to regain the control over myself. "I don't want them to think that I've left them."

"They won't notice any kind of change. You will still be there; it'll just be different until your control is complete."

I was offended now... immensely offended. I threw my fist at Mikko, just to have it caught. The only thing that would've satisfied me was to hit him successfully. My back was against his chest as he carried me down the stairs.

"I'm going to show you where I will put you if you continue act out, if the wolf becomes uncontrollable."

When he stepped into the main level, I spotted Abigail in a group coming in from outside, along with Mike, I noticed. She froze when she saw me, like a deer in headlights.

I couldn't stop the growl I gave at the sight of her. Mikko jerked me like I was a dog in a leash.

"Knock it off. There's nothing going on between her and I, and you know it."

He brought me outside and opened a metal door that led to the basement. I knew what was down there, but I had never been. It was both exciting and terrifying. These cages could end up being my prison. Mikko kept his grip on me until he had the door shut and sealed behind us. There would be no escaping from here.

He held his hand out for me, which I hesitantly took it. It was very dark in this basement. The air was stale and old; it was probably pumped in by vents that would seal off when not in use. This place really was a prison.

There were seven cages, two of which were occupied. One occupant was in human form and one as a wolf.

"I don't want you to end up in here, but in the event that you do, I don't want you to panic about your surroundings."

I looked around, but kept my grip on Mikko. I didn't want to be left behind just because I growled at Abigail. She had been so mean to me while I was vulnerable, I just couldn't help it.

So much for all those second chances. The wolf's voice echoed in my head.

It hurt, but it was right. For all my excuses, they were just that... excuses.

I looked at all the silver lined cages. "Where would you put me if I ended up here?"

The two werewolves in the cages perked up and looked over.

"Over there." He motioned to a cage farthest in the room. "It's farthest from those two."

"Who are they?"

"Prisoners, until Finn decides their fate."

They're going to die, a voice from within me said. I couldn't help but agree. Finn was too angry now to allow these two to get a lenient punishment for whatever their crimes were.

Mikko led me to the cage he pointed out. "Let's put you in it so you'll understand."

I looked at him in fear. "You won't leave me, right?"

He shook his head. "No, I won't leave you."

I went into the cage and rotated on my heel to get all the views of the cage. This is where I could very well wake up. "Are there clothes somewhere?"

Mikko shook his head. "If you're a wolf when you're placed in here, I will leave clothes just outside the bars."

I nodded and went to the open door. "I don't want to end up here."

He gave me a small, sympathetic smile. "This is something all werewolves have to go through. You will wake up here once or twice."

I looked over at the two werewolves. "I don't want them to see me..." vulnerable...

Mikko ran a hand through my hair. I closed my eyes and took in his warmth. "I won't leave you alone with them. If I'm not here, Philip or Mad will be."

"Get me out of here." I said as I opened my eyes to see him sigh. "What?"

"You should be careful of how you word things. Ordering around dominates is something that will get you in trouble."

I felt a spark of anger. "I wasn't ordering you to do anything."

His brow rose. "Cool it with the anger."

I felt my anger level rise again. "You cool it."

The wolf started growling and pounding in the cage. The werewolf in his human form kept quiet, leaning against the cage, and staring at Mikko with all the hate he could muster.

"Why don't you leave that pretty girl in here with me?" Mikko looked over, his eyes started lightening. "Aw, come on, we deserve a little fun before big daddy Finn comes down for us."

The man knew that his cat calls and unsolicited sexual advances wouldn't do any harm to his situation, so he took the chance to get one on Mikko. I didn't want to be close to these guys. The wolves would have no problem killing me, especially because I was with Mikko.

"You want to mind your own business." Mikko warned, taking my hand and gently ushering me towards the exit.

When we walked past, the man took a deep breath. "She smells just like ripe strawberries. I could eat her right up."

I felt Mikko's hand start to let go of mine, but I gripped on to him. "That's just what he wants." Mikko turned his back to the man and gave me a look that told me to back off. "You don't need to protect my honor, or anything." I told him.

The man snickered behind Mikko, but he didn't look back at the man before going up the stairs. The look in the man's face told me he had accomplished something, but I didn't know what.

Mikko was holding the door open when I got to the top of the stairs. He closed the door and locked it before turning away from me.

Somehow I knew that Mikko would be going back to pay that man a visit for his comments.