CATRINA

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, Connor. You asking, again and again, won't change my mind," I say, getting angry now. It's been two days now and Connor insisted on dropping me off at my cousin's home. I don't know if I should really intrude in their space but Connor being the caveman he is, wouldn't let me go back to my place.

I had to take a much-needed leave from my job after all that had happened with Connor and me and then with Xan. I also gave away my apartment just because he thinks my step-brother is a psycho-path. I agree that my father was a murderer and deserved to die but remembering my meeting with Xan, I think that he has changed however, I don't understand why he lied to me about bringing our dad back.

Why lie? And how was he going to bring back our father?

"I am asking because I would rather you stay with me and accept me and I can be shameless in saying that I need you," he mutters while fidgeting with the seat belt of the aeroplane seat. I want to swat at his hands which don't look good at all while they are fidgeting as if he's nervous but I don't dare to touch him.

I am afraid I'll beg him to take me back, which he will I am sure but I don't want him to sacrifice his life and his pack along with a chance of having heirs with someone else. For this sole reason, I keep my hands to myself and look out the window even when I can't see a single thing in the night.

I chose to not reply to Connor not wanting to get into a verbal argument where people can easily hear us.

"Damn this place. I am suffocating," mutters Connor and my lips turn up in a smile. He still has such an effect on me. I am completely and hopelessly in love with him. I think he is too but the words were spoken by his father stop me from acting on my feelings.

"Then you shouldn't have come to drop me," I murmur knowing full well that he'll hear me.

"Oh, don't worry I'll be out of your hair the moment you meet Cayden."

I roll my eyes not acknowledging the hurt that I feel at his words. I've brought this upon myself. Even if... no... when he moves on to another relationship, I'll be the one to blame. Hadn't I pushed him to move on, he would've still been with me?

Damn our lives!

~~~~~

"My baby's home," greets my mother, squishing my cheeks and then kissing them. She hugs me hard and I feel her trembling in my arms which automatically calms something in my gut. I realise that it was my mind, scared and nervous for the fear of rejection.

Her accepting me and not able to contain her happiness at the sight of me exiting out of the airport settles that fear inside me. Her acceptance chases away the fear. The feeling of acceptance is incredible even if it only manages to fill one hole in my heart.

The other one, I am not sure if it'll ever heal. Not when I am keeping Connor away from me. Looking at him from the corner of my eyes, I watch him and Cayden engaged in glaring and silently snarling at each other but thankfully they are keeping their hatred on a low key.

We don't want a public brawl where they accidentally shift into their wolves and then risk getting their hides being burnt by Fenris. The image in my mind makes me chuckle and I breathe a little easier.

My mother pulls away at the same time and then kisses my head, wiping off my cheeks which are flooded with my tears.

"I hope you don't mind if I come to stay with you both for some time?" I ask, my voice a faint whisper because of my insecurity.

"You are always welcome to live with us, kotyonok," says Cayden, raising a brow at me as if asking if I've lost my mind.

"You are my blood, my own flesh. Of course, you can stay with us," declares my mother and then putting an arm around my waist, pulls me out of the airport vicinity, Cayden and Connor following behind us.

I sigh in relief as well as disappointment, when Connor walks almost beside me, not once talking about leaving. I am being selfish but I want him to prolong his visit and then leave me once and forever. I am not going to Blue Moon town ever again, that I have promised myself. Yes, I made this decision during our flight where I had time to think things through.

I have decided that I can just resign from my job and then try to find a job in Fenris's town. In a human hospital. Or if they have a werewolf hospital then I am ready to work there as well. I want to learn about my heritage provided that my family supports me emotionally.

Mom directs me towards a car as I am rethinking and standing firm on my decisions. Cayden opens the backseat door for me and mom while Connor puts all of my bags in the bagazhnik before coming and sitting in the front passenger seat.

We have not talked to each other after that short conversation in the aeroplane with Connor studiously ignoring me while pretending to sleep but he used to jerk his eyes open every time someone moved beside him. His werewolf senses not letting him calm down even a little. He was completely on alert during the entire flight.

My mother is filling me up on the details of how Connor's father showed up at their house and Aurora asked them to leave and that she'll join us later.

"Yes, mom. I met Connor's father. I had a small accident before deciding to come live with you," I say, unsure of how to break this news of Xan to them but once again Connor beats me to it by snorting loudly and then shaking his head.

Cayden looks at him quizzically before focusing on driving through the snow while my mother just stares behind Connor's head, silently urging him to speak or maybe trying to make him feel scrutinized which he does.

Connor shifts in his seat and then smiles sheepishly at my mother who raises her brows in question.

Connor looks at me and I shrug before speaking sarcastically, "you tell them since you love to interrupt me and my brother so much." I remember how he interrupted Cayden when they all had come to my place for dinner. That night sounds so long ago now after Xan coming into my life.

I don't know what's wrong with that guy. He portrayed that my mom is the bad guy but Connor tells me that my dad was the bad guy. I believe Connor but I want to hear my mom's side of the story as well.

Cayden chuckles at Connor's dismayed face and then winks back at me. I offer a small smile. My mom and Cayden are clueless about my rejection of Connor's claim.

"Um, Catrina met with her step-brother and then was found unconscious on the border of our territory." Connor drops the bomb and Cayden growls loudly, his rage so palpable that the steering wheel cracks a bit. I gasp at his sudden anger and then glance at mom to see that she's pale, like ghostly pale.

I don't acknowledge the fact that he said "our" pack instead of "his" pack. It will take some time for him to get used to not having everyone bend to his whims.

I put my hands on mom's shoulder which makes her jump in fright and then look at me with terror-filled eyes. The fear in her eyes is so transparent that I shift closer to her and pulls her in my arms. Noticing that she's trembling, I look over my mom's head at Connor whose shocked gaze is locked on my mother's trembling form.

"I am sorry, Christine. I didn't mean to blurt that out. Nothing happened, okay? Catrina is fine. You are safe. Your kids are safe. Calm down," soothes Connor and I watch as my mother stops trembling gradually as she listens to each of Connor's words.

She nods and then taking a deep breath pulls back from me and looks at me, trying to shut out her terror from me but I already saw and it puts new questions in my mind.

"Tell me," says my mother softly. I just look at her not knowing how to reply to her question. To add to it, I don't remember how I left Xan's place or what happened after I finished that hot chocolate or how I was found unconscious. It's all dark in my mind.

I only remember listening to Xan's words of helping our father to bring him back. Back from where I don't know. Everyone says that he's dead but then why did Xan say that we have to bring him back. Trying to recollect about how I left Xan's place and how I reached Connor's place, gives me a very sharp headache making me gasp.

"What is it?" asks Connor, too loud for my ears. He leans back to touch me and I jerk in my seat.

"I don't know," I whisper breathlessly, waiting for the pain to subside and it does eventually but after a long time.

"We have reached. Let's get you warm and settled then you must tell me everything about how you met Xavier's son and what he did to you," my mother orders and that's when I notice that we have reached. I look out of the window to see small cottage-type houses made of wooden logs separated by a small distance between them. Beyond the cottages is a very huge mansion or castle which looks like some medieval-era structure.

I get out of the car when someone holds open the door for me. Only when a hand settles on my lower back pushing me forward do I recognise that Connor's standing beside me with one of my bags in his left hand and his right hand settled on my right hip, pulling me in the shelter of his arms as he guides me forward to the cottage which is in the middle of all the other houses. This cottage looks a little bigger and appears to be a two-storied cottage.

Not wanting to answer my mother's questioning stare when I stop for Connor to let go of me, I just sigh and let him push me into the house. A huge wailing sound greets me as soon as I enter the house and I brighten up at the idea of Fenris's and Sierra's baby girl arriving into this world.

"Is that...?" exclaims Connor who appears to be very shocked at the aspect of meeting the newborn.

"Yes, that's the princess who has a healthy set of lungs. She doesn't hesitate to demand her food by using her voice or rather yelling for it," Cayden says drily.

"That's your niece you are talking about, Cayden. Beware or I'll put you on diaper duty," exclaims a very tired Sierra as she walks out of the house on the porch steps surprisingly empty-handed.

"Oh, Catrina. I am so glad to see you," cries Sierra and immediately engulfs me in a very tight hug which wasn't possible a few days ago when we met. Her emotional welcome somehow amuses me and I laugh while squeezing her.

"Congratulations, Sierra. I hope you and the baby are healthy and well," I greet and smile when she nods, wiping off her tears exclaiming that she's suffering from postpartum mood swings.

"That's okay, Sierra. I can help you baby-sit or any other thing. Whatever you want and need," I say, feeling a bit defensive to intrude on her in such a delicate situation.

"Oh, please. I said I desperately want a sister and you are spouting nonsense like this?" she says while keeping her hands on her hips and glaring at me through her tearful eyes. I laugh loudly finally feeling at ease and comfortable.

"So, if you are both done, can you please call Fenris?" asks Connor making Sierra roll her eyes.

"He's helping to put our baby to sleep," she says sweetly and then ushers us all inside the house.

I walk inside and immediately feel welcomed into a home and not a house. It's homey, roomy and so warm. It makes me realise that I cannot have this for myself ever.

A mate, kids, a home, it's not in my cards.

We all sit on the couch and I wonder why my mom brought me to Fenris's house. My bags and all are here. I don't know what's wrong with me but I am questioning myself again if I did the right thing or not.

I am startled out of my thoughts when Fenris's loud thumping foot-steps echo in the living room and I watch as Connor gets up from beside me and they both hug each other in their manly way before clasping each other's forearms.

Connor congratulates Fenris and my cousin's face broadens in a huge smile. He's truly very happy at the moment. After letting go of each other's forearms, Fenris makes his way to Sierra who expectantly sits forward for Fenris to squeeze in on the loveseat and then snuggles into him.

I smile inwardly at their open display of affection. I can never be that much open in my display of affection. Connor loves to show his love in public but I still feel nervous. Blinking back tears at the latest memory of his affection that springs up to my mind, I turn my attention to Fenris when he calls my name.

"I hope you had a safe journey," he begins and I nod waiting for him to continue.

"I heard you met your step-brother," he begins and I hold up my hand to stop him from continuing. Connor stiffens beside me when Fenris pauses at my signal and then pushes my hand down. I look at him confused about his behaviour.

"Woman, he's the King of wolves. Don't interrupt when he's talking," mutters Connor while I stare at everyone's shocked faces. I only then realise that Connor had told me about Fenris's status. Does that mean that they are living in an archaic kind of rule?

I come into the King's house and interrupt him. Am I going to be punished now?

God, I mess up everywhere I go.

~~~~~~

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