Here We Go Again.

Xander.

"I suggest you leave, crawl back into the hole you came from." Jude harshly asserts and no one dared speak up, not even me. "Why, I have a right to be here, my father is the alpha of this pack, what are you really besides being the son of the beta, you were allowed to be alpha by his grace, don't let that get to your head Jude." Valentino sneered back and I could have sworn I heard a hiss escapes Jude's lips. "So that's your endgame?" In the blink of an eye everything changed, the tension was there, aswell as something else, something I knew from experience, Jude reading someone's intentions. "You son of alpha Cornell Winter, after everything you've done, you expect to come back into the pack, being a lone wolf was hard-." He paused looking to me as I walked up to them.

"So you decided to force your way back, asking was never really your style, asking for forgiveness beneath you, so why try when you can just walk onto pack territory and claim your right, am I getting cold?" I finished for Jude who smirked, I couldn't believe it, but his face, it betrayed him, the mask had been ripped off. "You're right, I am no longer the alpha, but I still have my authority, the current alpha will decide what to do with you." Jude finally concluded as the kids huddled around him as he walked past Valentino and the duffle bag next to him, the rest of my family followed but not before plotting, murdering and burying Val with their eyes, I could see the fear in his eyes as they walked past, he could act tough and cold, but the Niles still were fierce.

"Xander." Alpha Cornell's mate mutters my name softly, Val had been gone for so long, I couldn't tear her away from her son, I couldn't survive if dad or pops was cut off from me, he had hurt me, hurt us tremendously but I was no monster. "Alpha Cornell, I respect you a lot, and I appreciate everything you do for me." I asserted and the man nodded. "I can't kick out your son from the pack, that's not my choice, and he is right, he has every right to be here, it's his home, I just hope he doesn't disrupt our harmony, we've put a lot of work into it-" I spoke looking at the Winter family, I could see the conflict in their eyes over Valentino, he hadn't just hurt me, them too. "Welcome back home Valentino, please enjoy." I finally concluded nodding to the family and him before leaving.

I had other problems to deal with, they had more importance than Val. As I passed him, he grabbed my shoulder and an electric shock went through my body, it couldn't be, we couldn't, he recoiled as did I but his words still reached me. "You and I have matters to discuss, you've held up the place well, but it's time the reigns are -." I ignored the last part, my wolf and I were lost and I had to say goodbye to my best friend tonight, I wasn't in the mood to entertain him, so I shoved everything aside and focused on spending as much time as I could with my family, before I had to say it, say those words. "Papa come sit!" Kaya yells and I make my way to my son's side, I sit next to him just as Marquis offers me food, being surrounded by the people I loved, everything blurred away, I was happy.

"So what's your plan?" Dad asks Jude who hums whilst swallowing. "So this may be not what we talked about, but I think the twins need to come with me." He announced and I wasn't shocked, none of us needed an explanation as to why he wanted the twins to go with him, with Val coming back, there was something behind it, his sudden appearance, I couldn't place it but I just knew, there was something going on. "Are you sure, they could be a handful sweetheart." Pops argues but I knew the issue was settled already. "I can handle challenges, plus if I take the twins, you and dad can finally go on that holiday, I'm sure Lexi and Marquis can take care of the wolfscout." He explains and being given that option our parents would jump for it, they haven't been on a couple's holiday for a long while, they had been taking care of us and the business.

Now it self runs, plus I help Jude, along with Lexi and Marquis meaning they can take a holiday. "I'm not arguing or refusing that offer!" Dad announces and we all burst out laughing. "Pops, we are going to Europe, then cuba, then north africa to see the pyramids, maybe back to Europe and get inspiration in Italy for my architecture." He explains and I was envious. "We wanna go too." Marquis, Lexi and I all whine and beg at the same time, it was normal at this point, we were conceived together and have always done things together since we were in diapers. "Nope, your asses ain't going anywhere, the pack needs you, plus you'll get your holiday when its time." Pops interjects and like drowned puppies we whine all over again and try pull out our cutest puppy faces but they have stone hearts and are used to it, they don't bend.

"Oya no!" Jude scolds but it was too late, the pretty little girl who resembled her beautiful dad threw sauce at one of the twins, she laughed whilst running away and all hell broke loose between the kids as a food fight ensured. "Anyone with strength for this, please, intervene." Jude announces as he flops down onto pop's lap as we all laugh, they would be a mess to clean up later but taking advantage of playtime was every parent's dream. I definitely knew that more than anything. So we continued bonding, talking about the future, teasing our parents on how they shouldn't have more kids, it gave me peace, and it gave me the clarity I needed, because I knew, I knew with Val back it was only a matter of time before chaos erupted.

Once upon a time I loved him, cherished him, he was my world, my entire being but he betrayed me, he couldn't handle another being more dominant than him, so he ripped out my heart emotionally and left me to feel the pain, him being back, was already opening old wounds.

After the picnic, we headed to our slightly separated homes, Jude and I lived in dad's first house before they remodeled the one they live in now, it was the two of us and the kids, our siblings visit often but they prefer staying at home with our parents, I'm sure its dad's breakfast and pop's constant fussing that keeps them there, pampered and spoiling at it finest. Now I was about to live in here all on my own, I didn't know if I could handle it. "Please don't burn my house down." Jude asserts as he stood by the main door that led outside, it was time to go. "I wouldn't dream of it, besides, dad would castrate me before you even got the chance." I retorted making both of us laugh. "I am going to miss this master piece but I will miss you most little brother, and our family." He finally confesses sadly.

"I will be a call away, and besides, this goodbye isn't forever, it never is." I assure him as we hug again. "If you need me, I promise, I will be on the jet and coming back home." He states and I knew he was telling the truth, Jude would drop everything for us, and it was my job to step up and make sure he didn't need to, I had to be better. "I know." I whisper as he lets go, the drive to the airport was even more lively than I thought it would be, besides dad bawling his eyes out and fussing over us, it was all good. "Dad your eyes are puffy now, you're gonna look old." Lexi teases the man and he glares at him. "I don't care, my babies are leaving." He cries again and pops rolls his eyes before moving to comfort his mate. "They will be back soon, besides, we are leaving too, it's gonna be okay, imagine making three more babies." He soothes him and all our jaws drop.

"Papa!" We all protest as he shrugs but his mate was comforted, they will never stop. "Be good to your sister Kaya, Oya take care of your little brother, Trent you're the oldest, take care of them." I tell my son, niece and sibling just as they almost topple me over in a hug then run off to board. Jude is actually toppled over as we hug him goodbye. "Alright, alright, let us in there." Papa shoves us away as they crush their first born in a hug. "I promise I will call regularly." Jude promises just as he takes off after the kids. "Jude!" Durant yells as he takes off toward Jude, he opens his arms for him and holds on and doesn't let go.

I didn't need to be told, we knew he was going with them. "He's always been more like him, always striving to be with him even when he felt intimidated by him." I spoke with my family waving toward Durant and Jude, he wasn't staying, he would go with them, we all wanted to follow him or our parents but we had to make him proud. Now to deal with whatever horror Val was bringing.

++++

Saint_Jay