A familiar pair of grey eyes was the first thing I saw when I entered Tatum's office. Upon seeing me, Dad immediately pulled me into a tight embrace.

"Hi, Dad," I managed to get out. "What are you guys doing here?"

"Is it a crime to want to see our kids?" He jokingly asked.

"You know that's not what I meant. I just wasn't expecting to see you guys today."

"Nixon let us know a few days ago that you were coming back and after the hard year you've had, we thought it'd be a nice surprise to come visit you."

Of course, Nixon had planned this. He knew how close I was with my parents, so I knew this was likely his way of trying to make me feel better before he knew I was bringing Reuben back. But I did bring Reuben here and knowing that my parents were likely going to meet him made me nervous. They didn't know much about what happened in Oakwood, but they did know about the first time he rejected me and I wasn't sure how they were going to react to him being here.

"We've missed you, E," I heard Papa say as he got out of the chair he was sitting in and ruffled my hair.

"I've missed you guys too," I admitted. "I was hoping to come visit soon, but everything's been...hectic."

Hectic was an understatement, but I didn't want to raise any of their alarms because if there was one thing I'd learned after years of living with them, it was that my parents were the definition of protective.

"I bet you're glad to be back now," Dad said. "Your mission went well, right?"

"It did," I answered and my mind traveled back to Willa who they hadn't met yet. "Actually, I want to talk to you about that."

"About your mission?" Papa questioned and I nodded.

I sat down and I let the words flow. I told them about Willa and Reed, I told them about how I believed they were my siblings, and I told them about how I brought Willa back to the pack.

There was a part of me that hoped they might have some information on what happened after I'd first been separated from my siblings, or that maybe they'd be able to point us in the direction of someone who did know.

"You think they're your siblings?" Papa asked, shock clear in his voice.

"I think so. I mean, you have to see them, Papa. There are too many things that don't add up. If I didn't check, I'd feel like I was missing an opportunity."

"So let's meet her," Dad suggested. "The girl you brought back. You said her name was Willa?"

I nodded. "She's back at my house right now."

"Well then we can go and talk—"

"Actually, I'll ask Maia to bring her," I interrupted him. "Willa doesn't do well with people in her personal space and the house is kind of small."

Part of the statement was true, but I mostly didn't want to run the risk of them seeing Reuben before I could warm them up to the idea.

"Maia, can you bring Willa to Tatum's office for me? My parents want to meet her."

"Your parents?" Her reply came quickly.

"I'm hoping that they'll be able to help us figure out where she came from," I responded.

"And you don't want them to see Reuben?" She guessed.

"I just want to give them a moment to take everything in," I said.

"Alright," she said, but I could practically hear the amusement in her tone. "I'll bring her."

"She's on the way," I said to my parents.

"And what about the boy you were talking about?" Dad asked.

"Reed? He's a part of another pack."

"The three of you haven't done any type of testing to check? That'll probably give you the answers you're looking for."

"Maybe, but I don't just want confirmation that she's my sister. I want to know what happened to her. You guys didn't see Willa when we first found her. She was in bad condition."

"I understand that, but I do think we should get the test done first, Eli. If they really are your siblings, your Dad and I can try reaching out to your old case worker and do some digging—"

A loud knock on the door cut Papa off. Their eyes trailed to it just as it was pulled open, revealing Willa. I moved toward her and offered her my hand, which she easily took. I shot Maia a look of gratitude before closing the door and helping Willa toward one of the chairs in the room. Her eyes immediately found my parents and, while she still looked nervous, it wasn't nearly as bad as when I first met her.

"Dad, Papa, this is Willa," I introduced.

Their eyes were glued to her and Willa hesitantly looked up at me, so I offered her a reassuring smile.

"It's okay. They won't hurt you," I promised her. "They're nice."

I watched as their eyes shot between the two of us, likely trying to spot any and all similarities.

"Do you have any pictures of the other boy? Reed?" Dad spoke first.

I shook my head. "I didn't take any before I left, but he looks a lot like Willa with some small differences."

"I think we should run the test," Papa said. "You do look alike, but it's good to have an expert opinion. Is there any way you can contact the other boy? Do you have his number or anything?"

I thought about it. I didn't have Reed's number since I never asked for it, but I did have Cronan's...

"I think I can reach him," I confirmed with a nod. "It'll take some time though."

"You try and reach him while your Dad and I make some calls. We'll see if we can find out anything about what could have happened to them."

Hearing that filled me with some anticipation and excitement. There was a chance we'd be able to find out not only more about Willa but all of us.

"I'm going to take her back to the house," my parents and they both turned to Willa.

I watched Dad's eyes soften as he stared at her. His expression reminded me of when I first came to stay with them.

"Come on, Willa," I said and offered her my hand.

She easily took it and I helped her out of the room. Her head kept turning backward until we managed to get outside. Immediately her attention seemed to shift from my parents to examining her surroundings. Her eyes flickered around, making sure not to miss anything.

As we walked, there were a few people who passed us, but Willa seemed mostly unaffected by this. That was a large change in comparison to when I first met her.

It was only when a familiar scent entered my nose that I came to a stop. I glanced around until my I managed to catch Nixon in the distance, heading toward me. I waited until he reached me and crossed my arms.

"You're upset," he said. "You've been like this since you returned."

There was no use denying it. "I am. That tends to be the case when you find out that your best friend destroyed your mate's home."

"You know about that?" He said after a pause.

"I saw it Nixon," I told him.

"I went there for—"

"I don't care if you went for Fen," I interrupted. After years of knowing him l, I knew what he was going to say. "The fact of the matter is that you knowingly lied to me, went there, and then proceeded to destroy Reuben's home. What the hell, Nix?"

I moved toward a tree and let Willa take a seat on the floor. Nixon quickly followed after me.

"I wanted to help, Eli," he said.

"I get that," I did. I knew how much Nixon cared about me and I knew that he'd do anything in his power to help me if he thought I needed it. "But, I don't always need you to fight my battles, Nixon. Imagine my surprise when I went to see Reuben and saw his place. I felt like an ass because even though I wasn't the one who wrecked his home, it was my friend who did."

Like a puppy being scolded, he turned away from me and quietly said, "I'm sorry."

I pulled him into an embrace. "I know you meant good and I don't want you to just think I don't appreciate you. The way you care about those close to you is one of the things I love about you. It's part of why we became friends after all."

"Are...are we okay?" He asked hesitantly.

"We're okay," I told him and dropped down beside Willa.

Nixon did the same. "Hi, Willa."

Hearing her name, Willa glanced at Nixon. "H-Hi."

He smiled at her and then looked at me. "I heard your dads were here."

I nodded. "I just introduced them to Willa."

"You told them?"

"Yeah, they want me to get in contact with Reed so we can figure out if we're actually siblings or not."

"Is that what you want?" He asked.

"It is," I said.

I wanted to know for sure. After years of knowing I've had siblings out there, but never truly knowing them, this was the closest I've gotten. I wanted to know for sure.

"Alright," he nodded. "Then I'll be by your side like always."

I grinned and bumped his shoulder. "Thanks, Nix."

Even if the testing didn't go the way I wanted to, I was glad to know that there was one person who'd never leave my side.