"I just can't believe they kept it like this" I sign to Grayson, still in disbelief.

My bedroom is exactly how I remember it from when I was little. My parents had thought it would be a good idea to let me choose my own wallpaper... which is how I ended up with bright pink flowery wallpaper to complement the white ceiling and off-white carpet. The toys lay untouched next to the dollhouse that stands in the corner while the bed we are sitting on is neatly made and stacked high with the pillows I used to insist on sleeping on every night.

"I think it just shows how much they loved you and wanted you home" he signs back, with a gentle smile before snaking an arm around my waist and pulling me closer.

I rest my head on his shoulder as a sigh escapes my lips.

'It will be okay, I promise,' he mind links quietly. God, I hope he's right. 

We sit in silence for a while before Claire eventually strolls back into the room.

"I'm so sorry" she signs sheepishly. "I had just finished my phone call but then I received another one, but everything is okay and all sorted now."

"Who was calling you at this hour? It seems odd?" I sign back, confused. By the time we had finished dinner, it was just after eight pm so I imagine that it's now quite late.

"Nobody important."

I look up at Grayson for a moment who shakes his head every so slightly, indicating for me not to push the topic. I nod before turning my attention back to Claire.

"So now what?" I sign with a small smile.

"Well, are you guys staying here tonight?" she starts signing, with a grin. I look up at Grayson again and he gives her a nod which causes her to beam.

"Good! I'll show you to your room then."

I nod and proceed to follow her out of the room, Grayson by my side, keeping me close to him. We make it to the guest room quickly and Claire shows us around and provides us with towels for if we choose to shower before heading towards that door.

"W-w-wait!" I stutter, trying to catch her before she leaves. She stops in the doorway and turns around to face us.

"You're not staying? I thought we could see our parents and spend some time together. Make up for some of the lost time?" I sign, confused.

"No? I wasn't planning on it. I figured you would want to talk about more Alpha-related things and it would be more private information," she signs back with an equally confused look.

"Oh... Well, I mean, we might talk about that stuff. I just wanted to hang out really. Besides, why would you not want to listen in if we do talk about that stuff? I'm sure it will be useful stuff to learn, especially because when you come Alpha, you'll-"

"What?! What do you mean 'When I become Alpha'?!" she exclaims aloud, her expression darkening.

Shit.

I forgot she doesn't know yet. Hell, we had only had the initial conversation earlier this afternoon where I suggested she become Alpha in place of me because my Luna title is more important. I knew Dad was going to make some phone calls but I had completely forgotten that he won't have had time to tell Claire our plan yet.

"N-n-noth-thing!" I stutter, panicking, looking at Grayson for help. "Gr-gra-ay-s-son a-and I-I, w-we-"

"No, Acacia. Tell me the truth! What do you mean 'When I become Alpha'?" she growls at me, narrowing her eyes.

"Umm..." I sign, starting to feel sheepish. God, I'm such an idiot.

"Well Dad, Grayson and I were talking about the future of our packs and we came to the decision that I can't be Alpha of this pack because I'm Grayson's Luna and it would be too difficult to merge our packs as we are so far away... So I suggested that you should be the new Alpha when you become of age..."

"You didn't?! And Dad agreed with this insane idea?!" she yells, her anger growing.

"I mean, I don't think it's an insane idea, and yes, he did" I sign back.

She growls and quickly proceeds to storm out of the room.

"Cl-cl-cla-aire" I stutter in a panic as I run out of the room to follow her with Grayson close behind me. We chase her through the house for a few minutes, knowing fully well that we won't be able to catch her before she finds our parents.

"YOU'VE DECIDED THAT I'M GOING TO BECOME ALPHA WITHOUT EVEN ASKING ME FIRST?!" Claire roars at our father as Grayson and I skid to a halt beside her.

"Claire! What-" my father starts, wide-eyed at her outburst.

"You and Acacia! She's only just come back into our lives... She is supposed to be Alpha! Not me! You know I hate the idea of being Alpha!"

"Claire, if you just-"

"No, Dad! I can't believe you! You can't just make this decision and then expect me to go along with it like a chess piece that you can move around at your pleasure. Hell, I'm only fifteen! I'm the second born, it was never my fate!"

"CLAIRE!" he roars, eyes blazing as he shuts her up. "Just listen for a second would you!?"

Grayson, my mother and I watch as Claire glares at all of us before crossing her arms over her chest and staring daggers at our father.

"Look, I know you have never liked the idea of becoming Alpha. You've made that abundantly clear over the years whilst Acacia hasn't been here. But now that she is back, it doesn't fix the situation. She can't be the Alpha of this pack..."

"Why not?" Claire growls, her expression still just as dark.

"Her Luna title overlooks her Alpha status even though she is one of the very few pureblood female Alphas to ever exist. If she took the Alpha position, our pack would have to merge with Grayson's as she would still hold her position as Grayson's Luna. We would all have to move, Claire. We couldn't stay here and I wouldn't ask Acacia to be apart from her mate... Plus, I don't think Grayson would even allow me to ask a question such as that."

"You would be correct" Grayson comments gruffly.

Our father regards Grayson with a quick nod before turning his attention back to Claire.

"Hense why you are the next choice, Claire. You are a pureblood second-born female which is incredible and it means we would be able to stay here and continue the pack we rebuilt so strongly after the war. We would have to appeal our case before the council of course, but I doubt they would turn down a circumstance such as this-"

"We'll see about that" she mumbles under her breath as she rolls her eyes.

"What did you say?" our father questions, eyes narrowing on her.

"I said we'll see about that" she states, the faintest of smirks catching the corner of her lips.

"You don't think the case would pass?"

"No, I don't. At least not if I have anything to do with it."

"What's that supposed to mean?!" my mother asks, swiftly standing up from her seat to join my father at his side.

"It means nothing, darling" my father starts, trying to reassure her as his narrow gaze on Claire turns into a full-blown glare. "Claire is going to become Alpha and everything will continue as planned."

"No, I won't!" Claire whines. She looks at me for a moment, her eyes pleading for help but all I can do is just stand there and watch. I'm in too much shock. I thought that coming back to my family would be something more happy than this. Clearly, I forgot that people change and ten years definitely gives people room to grow up.

"Why don't you just stay Alpha, Dad? You seem to think you've done a pretty good job so far so why don't you just continue?" she jeers after she realises that I'm not going to help her.

"Claire, don't-" my mother starts, trying to defuse the situation.

"CLAIRE, YOU WILL BECOME ALPHA WHEN YOU TURN EIGHTEEN! END OF DISCUSSION!" our father roars at her, his Alpha command coming through. "I WILL NOT HAVE THIS PACK AND BLOODLINE DIE OUT BECAUSE YOU WERE TOO STUBBORN TO SEE THE REALITY OF THE SITUATION!"

Shit. What have I done? I stare at my father and then at my sister. Nobody says anything for a moment, the air so tense I can hardly breathe.

"Thanks for making my decision so much easier," Claire says quietly after a while, the anger dissolving from her face and being replaced by an almost heartbroken sadness. "I'm leaving" she adds before turning to walk out the door.

I quickly snap out of my shock and manage to grab onto her arm before she walks away from us entirely. I turn her to face us and she stares back at me with that same sad expression

"Wh-wh-a-at d-do y-you m-mean-n you-ou-re l-leaving?" I stutter, confused.

"I've been offered a job by the Werewolf Council, they want me to be a hunter" she confesses, a small smile tugging at her lips.

"You have?" our mother gasps.

"Yes, I have. They asked me for the first time about a year ago. Obviously, I turned them down but they have continued to ask and now that I know that I'm not going to be able to live my own life the way I want, I'm going to take them up on that offer."

She shoots our father a glare and he glares back at her.

"Now if you'll excuse me, I have a phone call to make" she adds before storming out of the room.

"Sh-shit" I curse under my breath before turning my attention to my parents. My father still looks furious while my mother looks on the verge of tears.

"I'm sorry, this is all my fault. I'll go try and talk to her. Maybe I can change her mind?" I sign quickly, with a panicked smile.

"Thank you, sweetie. You can try, but as I was telling Grayson yesterday, once she's made up her mind, there's no changing it," she replies, her voice wavering.

My father starts to calm down at my mother's reply and guilt washes over his face.

"You go, Princess," Grayson starts, gently. "Your father might like to discuss a plan B that works for all parties now that your sister has thrown a spanner in the works."

He looks over at my father who nods, collecting himself before looking back at me and ushering for me to go.

I smile and give him a quick kiss before racing out of the room. God, I hope I can change Claire's mind.

_________________________________

Hey Guys,

I hope you enjoyed the chapter. I know it's not the longest of chapters but it is a chapter nonetheless and I promise there will be more coming soon! Thank you all for being so very patient with me. I really appreciate it!

As always, if you've made it this far, thanks for sticking around! It means so much to me! Please vote and comment and please also check out my other books including my new romance novel, Passengers.

If you feel so inclined, go follow my personal Instagram account @amy_duffell for a look into my life outside of writing! I also have a writing and book-related Instagram too (a bookstagram if you will) @amyduffell_author, if you would like to check that out also!

Thanks,

Allamy xx