Just to warn you, expect a long time skip to happen within the next few chapters! ;)

- Sian

"Welcome to your first training session," Hunter said to his pack as they stood in the sun, hot and tired. "I know it's only 7 in the morning, but there's nothing wrong with an early start."

Hunters family, Scott, Veronica, Meloras, and Jeronah, sat together on blankets. The day was warm already, and the werewolves nursed their tiredness with coffee and a healthy breakfast.

The only people missing were William and Jacota. Hunter had left his mate to sleep so he could rest his head. Yesterday, he wasn't able to cheer Jacota up, and he was always on the verge of breaking down. He hoped that Jacota would feel better today, but he didn't depend on sleep to settle the negative thoughts.

"Don't worry if you can't complete the workout. I just want to see what everyone's strengths and weaknesses are. Take a break if you need it, but keep in mind that determination will impress me." Hunter stood in front of his pack and fiddled with the fitness watch on his wrist. "Right, we're gonna do three laps around the field. Again, don't try to keep up. Go at your own pace." Hunter eyed Phoenix who nodded. "Let's go!"

Sonny and Jason ran together at the back, and Sam tagged along behind them, ready to motivate those who struggle. The Beta wolf missed working out with a pack, though he did enjoy having one on one sessions with Hunter. His Alpha is excellent at lifting peoples spirits and inspiring them to push harder through the pain.

"Sitting here when it's this hot makes me so lazy," Anthony said, checking his watch. His pack is due to arrive at 8, and he wasn't as motivated as his son when it came to working out.

"Do you mind if my pack joins?" Scott asked.

"Not at all, it will be nice for them to meet." Anthony still found it very strange to view Scott as a werewolf. "Are you any closer to finding your wolf?"

"Yes, I just need a few more days of meditation. My senses are coming back, and I'm starting to feel territorial of my room."

"It must have been hard to keep your wolf down for so long," Jeronah said as he played with Meloras' hair. "I imagine the feeling is similar to when my wings hide for a while. They get restless, and I feel jittery when I can't expose them."

"That's how it felt at first." Scott looked up, just as Jacota looked out of his bedroom window. "But then it gets much worse. My wolf feels neglected and it messed with my emotions for years until I learned to control it."

"Impressive," Veronica said, watching Hunter and his pack in the distance. "Do you hunt in your wolf form? If you do, can I come because I'm overdue a killing spree?" Everyone turned to stare at the demon, horrified and shocked, but Veronica smirked and crossed her arms. "I'm joking, relax."

"So," Meloras said, wanting to change the subject, "you think this Phoenix kid is a hybrid of a werewolf and a demon?"

"Definitely," Flora said after rubbing sun cream on her husband's face. "I don't think he's related to the hybrid, I think he is the hybrid, and he didn't say anything about his parents because they are the demon and werewolf couple who caused the Gamma's tale in the first place-"

"Shush," Veronica said, "he's listening." She focused on him for a minute longer. "Wait, I don't think he heard; he was listening to Hunter."

* * * * *

After the gruelling training session, Hunter and his pack went out together for lunch in a cafe run independently by werewolves. The only person who didn't join was Phoenix. He said he had to sort out where he would be living now that England will be his permanent home instead of Scotland. Hunter thought it was a reasonable excuse, but he wasn't sure how much of it was true.

Now, at almost 3 in the afternoon, Phoenix silently walked through the woods, 10 miles from the Rayson's territory.

This part of the woods was thicker, with massive tree canopies, only letting slithers of sunshine through at a time. The moss was abundant in all shades of green, and the roots lapped up the moisture in the dirt.

Phoenix climbed up a big boulder and slid down the other side, reluctantly pushing himself through a huge spider web until he reached an opening to a cave.

"Hey son, how did the training go?" Phoenix's mother stepped into the light to hug him.

"Great ma," he smiled, hugging her back. "Where's dad?"

"By the fire. Come and tell us about your day."

Phoenix followed her deeper into the cave until they turned down a narrow path. He could see the flickering of an orange glow against the moist walls of the cave.

"Hello," his father greeted him, wrapping an arm around his son to hug him. "How was today?"

Phoenix looked down at his hands, and they knew something had happened.

"They know," he mumbled, "I heard them talking about me. Hunter's grandmother knows I'm a hybrid."

His mother and father watched each other with stern eyes.

"That's okay; we knew they would find out."

"But what if Hunter doesn't want me in his pack now?" Phoenix wanted to feel accepted for once. He has had to hide who he is for a very long time. Having a wolf with red fur indicates to any other wolf that he's a Gamma and a possible hybrid if they believed the story about his mother, who is a demon, and his father, who is a werewolf.

"Honey, they have demons in their home. If we are going to be accepted by anyone, it is by the Rayson's." His mother hugged him from behind and kissed his cheek. "That is why you had to be in Hunter's pack. And if they know now, there's no point in hiding your true self. You have lived for a long time, and you are more of a werewolf than a demon. We don't deserve to run anymore."

His father nodded, rubbing his son's back and watching his mate with glazed eyes.

"I think it's time to stop hiding," he said, feeling his heart thump at the thought.

* * * * *

Jacota had taken a nap after deciding that he didn't want to go out with Hunter and his pack. His mood smudged into the floor and, he wasn't strong enough to scrape it off and put it back together. With every passing hour, his mind was caving in further until he felt completely numb, and he only had the energy to sleep.

Hunter had experienced one of his major meltdowns when he was only a voice in his head. It took Jacota a week to settle down. Hunter had cried himself to sleep some nights, knowing it was his fault.

He stood in the doorway, watching his mate as he lay curled up in a duvet, despite it being 25 degrees outside, which is warm for England. Hunter was determined to pull him out of the pit of depression before it swallowed him whole. As Jacota's boyfriend, he needed to do everything he could to help and support him through tough times.

Silently, he tiptoed to the bed, took off his shoes and slid under the duvet, reaching out to find Jacota. When Hunter's fingers brushed his hips, he wrapped his arms tightly around the God's waist and rested his face into his hair, kissing the top of his head. Jacota stirred when the warmth and smell of Hunter made him feel a little fuzzy in his dreams.

"Afternoon," Hunter whispered, and Jacota turned his head with puffy eyes and messy bed hair. For a moment, he looked a little lost before piecing the day together, realising Hunter had returned from his lunch.

"What time is it?" he asked in a sleepy voice.

"Almost four." Hunter loosened his arms when Jacota turned, and their chests rested together. "Do you feel better after sleeping?"

"A bit." Jacota yawned and covered his face with hands buried in his sleeves.

Hunter tried not to attack him with kisses, but his cuteness throbbed his heart, so he leant closer and pecked his nose.

Jacota stopped and watched him with eyes like deep pools of dark chocolate.

"I'm sorry," he whispered.

"For what?" Hunter frowned.

"For being so down again today."

"Jay, you don't have to apologise for that. We all have days where it feels a bit too much."

"But you're in heat, the last thing you want is to deal with a sad mate. You deserve-"

"Don't you dare say it." Hunter cupped his face and rested their foreheads together. "We're good enough for each other, we always will be, so don't even let the thought cross your mind. Yes, I'm in heat, and it's a little painful, but lying here with you helps a lot, and it's not like I'll have to suffer through it alone every year. You'll eventually feel it too, just like you'll eventually overcome this depressed mood."

Jacota sighed, long and deep.

"We're together for life," Hunter continued. "If I'm not with you through days like this, then what kind of a mate am I?"

Jacota smiled and closed his eyes, trying to remember how lucky he really is. A year ago, he thought he would be alone forever. Never in a million years did he think he would be fortunate enough to have someone like Hunter who will do anything for him in a heartbeat.

"I love you," he whispered with tingling skin when Hunter's affection warmed his chest.

"I love you too."

The boys hugged and laid together for a while, cherishing the comfortable silence and the freedom to do nothing, and not feel guilty for lying in bed for hours because tomorrow will be a fresh start, especially for Phoenix and his parents.