Akela came to consciousness with a sweet and spicy scent surrounding her and a pair of arms carrying her. She opened her eyes to see the underside of a furry jaw.

"It's okay. I've got you. Don't worry. I'm here,"  Zion constantly mumbled in a worried voice.

Akela knew his proximity should not feel this safe, but somehow his masculine energy felt comforting.

His face turned slightly, so their eyes met and Akela saw the unhidden worry.

"You'll be okay," he said with a worried smile.

The weirdly human expression of his wolf face was all Akela could focus on as he carried her into a building and along a short corridor before he entered a light and airy room where he gently placed her on a bed and tucked a fluffy duvet around her.

For some reason he sat down, kneeling by her bedside, refusing to let go of her hand. 

Even when the rest of them sat to eat dinner, Zion refused to leave her.

His eyes were fixed on hers and Akela felt her chest tighten with every breath. The embarrassment over fainting faded with every stroke of his warm thumb across her knuckles.

For a long time, he sat there on the floor, with her small hand, scarred from the silver cage, dwarfed between his and a worried look in his eyes. Neither of them spoke a word. 

The old graying dog limped in, sniffed at Akela's face before he curled up by the wall for a nap.

Zion's fingers gently caressed her scars, seeing how most of them were on the inside of her palm. He dreaded what other injuries she had from her time in captivity.

"So.. That was embarrassing..." Akela mumbled eventually.

Zion looked at her with a small smile.

"You've been through a lot. It's understandable," he smiled.

Akela shook her head.

"I don't know what happened!" she said, trying not to cringe at the fact that she had just collapsed in front of her pack Luna, minutes after joining the pack.

"You've never been in a pack before right?" Zion asked.

Akela shook her head.

"So all those new mind links were kinda unexpected, huh?" he grinned.

"I guess..." Akela frowned.

"And your blood pressure is already kinda low... and you're underweight... And a lot has changed in your life in a short amount of time," Zion smiled, his ears were up in points.

Akela frowned. The wolf face in front of her and the touch of his hand made it feel as if there were two of him.

"I'm the pack medic, remember?" he said and showed her the bracelet he always wore with a red cross on it to show his skills as a paramedic.

Akela nodded.

"It's my job to know these things," he said, but Akela somehow knew she was more than his job.

"Thank you, Zion," She whispered, feeling tearful and overwhelmed by the way he so selflessly cared about her. His tail was slowly waving its own rhythm behind him.

He was about to say something else when the sound of the front door interrupted the silent communication between them. Someone made a trip into the kitchen, placing something on a hard surface before footsteps approached.

"Thank you, Zion. Now let the poor girl rest," a maternal voice was heard after a while and Akela turned to see Grange.

"But... " Zion started, clutching Akela's hand tighter for a few seconds.

"No but. You will go home and you will let her rest and heal before you go giving your heart away," Grange smiled warmly before shooing Zion away.

"But... awwwwweee!" Zion whined when he realized he would not be allowed to stay.

"Fine!" He mumbled at Grange's next raised eyebrow.
But he still turned to look at Akela again.

"You'll be safe here... Uncle Zeke will protect you," he said with a tight smile that made his furry face look like a mask.

"I know," she whispered back.

This woman, Grange, felt like a caring grandma. And her allegiance to Alpha Ezekiel already had her feeling like this was home. In the back of her mind, she felt the curious and caring attention of several pack members focused on her.

"I don't want to leave you," Zion mumbled with the most genuine puppy dog eyes Akela had ever seen. She had to smile.
She wanted him to stay. She already missed his touch.

"But you have to... " Grange said, hiding a gleeful smirk.

Zion reluctantly stood up from the floor and took the hoodie from her hands. He tugged it on and placed a cap over his ears before he pulled the hood up over his face. His hand found a few lengths of leather from a pocket.

"Right. C'mon doggies. Walkies time," he sighed and Akela heard a sharp bark from outside.

"Sorry, dad! What the hell am I supposed to say? I'm about to lead you and Ger on leashes!" He called back.

Akela sat up to see two wolves she recognized as Archer and Gerry walk up to Zion. He clipped the leashes loosely around their necks and adjusted his clothes to hide his dog face and tail so he looked like a human.

"You could run back. I'll wait for nightfall," Zion shrugged at the distaste on his brother's face.

"I know. You're Wolfdogs... Who need a lot of walkies... and if anybody asks they are Uncle Zeke's firedogs..." he mumbled before looking at Akela again with a soft smile.

"I'll see you later," he smiled and pulled the shade of the cap further down his face.

Akela couldn't help the smile. He looked so weird. His wolf face was nearly obscured by the clothing. But anyone who looked too closely would clearly see a dog-nose and a furry jaw connected to a human body. Akela smiled at the glittering brown eyes, shining under the rim of the hat.

"Hey... it's how I get around. A bit like Goofy walking Pluto" he smiled back and turned to leave giving the two wolves dog commands to follow and obviously being told off back if his chuckle was any kind of an indication.

"Yeah-yeah! You're still Alphas and I'm your humble servant," Akela heard him dismiss on their way out

"I wish they just asked Ameer to drive them part of the way... at least across the human road," Grange tutted before seating herself on the edge of the bed to study Akela.

"He does give his heart much too freely that boy," she smiled.

Akela frowned.

"He wouldn't have left you if we hadn't made him," Grange smiled.

"He seems like a good man," Akela said quietly.

"Oh. Zion is a treasure. With him, you will never feel unloved," Grange chatted while fussing with Akela's pillows.

"And Abel?" Akela asked out of curiosity.

Grange stopped her motions for a moment before smiling softly.

"Abel is a beautiful child. He will never let anyone harm those he loves," Grange nodded.

Akela shook her head.

"It will come to you, sweetheart. Both are good men. Your heart will tell you what's right," Grange fussed.

Akela studied the older woman.

"You think you know don't you?" Akela observed.

Grange sighed and sat on her bedside.

"I don't pretend to know anything, sweetheart. I just know that looks are only skin deep. Granted, I was given my handsome Hunter, but even unconventional looks can be handsome to the mated heart," Grange advised.

"You worry I'll choose Abel over Zion because of looks?" Akela smiled.

Grange lifted an eyebrow.

"Zion is the most adorable wolf I have ever seen. And I like his energy. Abel is more forceful," Akela smiled.

Grange stayed quiet but nodded.

"But I can't see myself mated to any of them. I mean... I'd have to let one of them claim me and... I can't... I don't..." Akela tried to explain on a shudder, her eyes filling at the thought.

"I mean. My body.... and my heart... I'm scared, Grange!" She whispered.

"Don't worry, child. You'll stay here for as long as you want. No one is going to force you to do anything. You can choose a mate, or you can reject both," Grange smiled.

Akela's eyes widened. Reject her mate? The thought had never crossed her mind.

"I can't... reject..." she stuttered.

Grange smiled motherly and nodded at Akela's total befuddlement.

"I've dreamt of my mate since I was little..." Akela mumbled.

Grange stayed still as Akela's face slowly lifted.

"I can reject my mate? I'm allowed to reject..." she asked.

"Yes. If your mate turns out to be someone not suited to you. Or someone with a violent past. Or for any reason, you decide. You can reject him, and the bond will break," Grange smiled.

Akela stared wide-eyed as the realization hit.

"Kira can reject Preston? And the claim will break?" she asked.

"If that was never a true claim, your sister only has to tell him she rejects him, and the claim is broken," Grange nodded.

"And... I can reject Abel... and Zion?" Akela said and felt her face scrunch in distaste.

"You can, but I can see by your face you will not," Grange smiled.

Akela drew a shaky breath and stared at Grange.

"It's all in your hands, child. Once your injuries are healed, and your mind is less fractured, your heart will give itself to the man you are made for. And you can choose to take your heart back," Grange nodded.

"And they will wait?" Akela asked.

"Those two boys will protect you and wait for you," Grange nodded.

Akela nodded with a faint smile stirring her lips.

"I kinda miss them... both... I mean... Zion was just here, but... His hand felt so good in mine" Akela admitted.

"It's your bond, darling," Grange smiled and stood.

"Now try to sleep. I'll be at the main house helping Blossom with her homework. Treat this house like yours. There is a plate of food in the kitchen for you. Next door is where Ameer and Emily live, this smaller home was originally set up for Ameer, but once he married, Hunter and I moved here so he could have the larger home next door," Grange smiled.

Akela nodded trying to link all the names to the bonds she felt in her pack-link.

"If two dark haired boys come in here, they are Kahn and Gill. They are Beta Ameer's boys and curious little monkeys," Grange smiled in true grandmother fashion.

"They will want to see you. Especially now that Blossom has boasted that a rescued princess has moved into my house..." Grange continued on a chuckle.

"Thank you," Akela smiled.

"It's a true joy having you here, sweetheart," Grange said and leaned over to give her a soft, maternal kiss, like Akela's mum used to. The scent of home cooking and clean linen engulfed her for a moment and tears sprang to her eyes.

"I'm sorry... I just... miss my mum... and my dad... and Kira," Akela sniffed, trying to not sound ungrateful.

Grange patted her cheek.

"I know, sweetheart. I know," Grange sighed as Akela yet again succumbed to the grief.

Over in the doorway, a tall, formerly red-haired Hunter looked at the stranger in his home, shaking his head. Her sorrow woke his mate's nurturing instincts and he knew that whatever else was happening, Grange was ready to add another person to her family.

He sighed, hoping his mate wouldn't get too attached, but knowing Grange was already deeply invested in this girl. Her arms were holding the skinny, crying girl as Akela's tears wet Grange's jumper in uncontrollable sobs.

Silently he left the little cottage on the edge of the large pack garden. Ezekiel was over by the dogs, feeding them before the evening training session. Hunter would have to make a plan with the Alpha before his mate could insist on immediate action.

All Hunter knew, was that something would have to be done to help the girl.