Besides my birth pack, I hadn't really visited many others. It wasn't because I wasn't allowed to; with my father having been the head warrior of our pack, he always tried to take my brothers and me with him when he went on trips to some of our allies' packs. He wanted us to see other places so that our views weren't so narrow. The option was always there, but Tyson and I usually stayed behind with Mom. Tyson because he was painfully shy as a child and I because I never saw a reason to go.

Looking back on it, there was a part of me that wished I had gone on some of those trips. A small part, but a part nonetheless. I remember hearing Kai and Easton boast about it whenever they came home and Jenson would always give Tyson and me a vivid description of what the place was like. Now, I guess I was living out that childhood wish.

"We're almost there," Eli told me with a large grin on his face as he drove. "I think you're going to love it."

"Yeah?"

I hoped so. It would be hard to make a relationship work if I couldn't stand his pack.

"You transferred recently, right? How many packs have you been in?"

"This is my second one," he replied. "I first was at the Silver Night, but decided to transfer with Nixon after..." he hesitated. "After everything with Fen happened. I figured a change could be good."

"Was it?"

He nodded. "I'll always love my first pack, but things at the Howling Night are just...freer. I came from a pack that was big on training, hunting, and all that so to go from a place like that to somewhere more relaxed was nice. At the Silver Night, it always proved how strong you are and it's not like that here."

Not long after, the Howling Night came into view and with it, my nerves grew. I trusted Eli, I did, but I was worried that coming with him would potentially be a mistake. I was worried that it'd harm our already fragile relationship rather than strengthen it.

My eyes drifted down as I felt a hand intertwine with my own. I glanced over at Eli whose eyes were still on the road and though he didn't say anything, the gesture managed to calm me down slightly.

The closer we got, the clearer the three figures became. One of which was familiar, but not in a warm or welcoming way.

The car stopped and I studied the two people standing beside Nixon. One was a green-eyed man and judging by the way they were standing and their tightly linked hands, I figured that they were mates. I wasn't sure who the girl standing with them was though.

"Come on," Eli encouraged. "It'll be okay."

Even though my sense of self-preservation vehemently disagreed, I followed Eli's lead and got out of the car. Immediately, the girl hurried toward Eli and I watched as he caught her in a hug.

"Hi, Willa!" He greeted enthusiastically.

The girl, Willa, stared up at him with a large grin. "H-hi."

Eli seemed to freeze at this, but I wasn't sure why. His head snapped up to the men questioningly and they met his inquisitive gaze with smiles.

"Maia's been trying to help her start talking. It's still a work in progress, but this already is a big step."

Eli's eyes drifted down to Willa and he ruffled her hair. "Soon, you'll be talking up a storm!"

"I didn't know you were bringing him back," Nixon said and I turned to meet his dark eyes.

"He's my mate and I wanted him here. Is that a problem?" Eli questioned.

I watched as both their eyes clouded over, a sign that they were talking through their pack link. For a moment, nobody spoke. It was at this moment, that Nixon's words settled into my mind. Eli didn't tell them?

"Nixon," I heard the green-eyed man call out. Nixon broke the silent staring match he seemed to be having with Eli and glanced over at the man who just shook his head slightly before turning his attention to Eli. "He can stay, Eli."

I could tell there was more to what he said. I don't know if it was because I was there or because of Willa who was staring up at Eli with a curious expression, but nobody seemed to be in any rush to continue the conversation in the moment.

It seemed that upon hearing those words, all seriousness seemed to drain from Eli and he turned to me with a warm smile.

"Come on. I'll take you to my place so you can get settled."

I nodded and climbed back into the car. I expected it to just be the two of us again but was surprised when Eli helped Willa into the back seat. As I watched the pair, I couldn't help but wonder what the relationship between them was.

Eli got into the car after briefly speaking to Nixon and his mate. We started to drive again.

"Eli," I called out. "You didn't tell them that I was coming?"

The serious Eli I'd seen before was long gone and he stared at me with a sheepish expression. "It slipped my mind with the Cronan situation and everything."

"What would you have done if they said no?" I asked.

"They wouldn't have," he replied confidently.

I shook my head. "You're hopeless."

My idiotic mate only laughed in response. I turned my attention away from him and to the window. I studied the area we were passing. Even just from the quick glimpse, I could already see what Eli meant about the pack being smaller than mine. I was used to seeing groups of people wherever I went. That wasn't the case here.

Not long after, the car came to a stop and Eli helped Willa out. I followed the two of them and waited while he unlocked the door. Willa took off inside and Eli just shook his head.

"I didn't think she'd be this excited to see me," he admitted.

"Who is she?" I finally asked.

Eli stared at me with a confused expression. "My sister."

My eyes widened. "Your what?"

"My sister," he repeated. "I thought I told you that."

"No, you did not!" I told him. "The last time I saw you, you told me that you didn't know where your siblings were."

Realization seemed to dawn on him and he winced. "Come on, I'll tell you the full story."

And so he did. As we unpacked our luggage, Eli told me about how he found Willa and Reed, whom I'd yet to meet, and how he believed they were his siblings. As he explained, there was a part of me that felt bad about having missed out on when he first found out. I didn't voice this though, instead, I shot him a smile.

"I'm happy for you, Eli."

And I was. I was happy to see him doing well and to see his circle grow.

"Thanks," he replied. "But, enough about that. I know you haven't seen much so far, but what are your first impressions of the pack?"

"It's quiet; peaceful," I said. "I like it so far."

He seemed pleased with that answer. "I want to take you out later. Maybe on a tour or a run? Maybe even a dinner?"

"Well, that depends. Is this an outing or a date?"

I was mostly teasing, but the look on Eli's face told me he was actually considering it.

"Let's make it a date," Eli finally spoke. "Two days from now. Leave the planning up to me."

"Yeah?" I said. "You sure?"

"I'm sure. Unless you don't want to go—"

"I do," I interrupted and I actually did want to. Eli and I had gone places together before, but I wanted to give him a true date experience and, if I was being perfectly honest, I wanted to experience it as well.

"Then it's decided," he grinned.

I wanted to ask more questions, but the sound of Eli's phone ringing caught both of our attention. He picked it up and before he answered, I briefly managed to see the word "dad" on the screen.

"Hello? Dad?" Eli spoke into the phone. He was silent for a few moments before his eyes seemed to widen. Had it been at another time, I would've found it comical, but I was more curious than amused. "You're where?"

My brows furrowed and I shot him a questioning look and he sighed. "I'm coming. Okay? Just wait there."

With that, he hung up the phone and before he could walk out of reach, I lightly grabbed his wrist.

"Is everything alright?" I asked.

Eli ran his hand through his hair. "I'm not really sure, but I need to go. Stay here with Willa and I'll be right back."

"What? Why?"

He wanted me to stay here with his sister who I didn't know he had until today. That seemed like a problem in the making.

"My parents are here."

His...parents?