"You know, I know your 'baby' is 'vintage' and all but there are these fun little contraptions called wipers." Auggie teased as I drove on.

"I can still see without them." I said. "You're a horrible passenger seat driver by the way." I added as I noticed the way he was clutching to his seatbelt.

"Not normally... but in this case I can't help but find myself a little terrified."

I smiled and rolled my eyes. "The rains letting up already you drama queen...plus, my wipers don't work."

"WHAT?!?!"

"Calm down, I've done fine this long...I know myself and my car, and I know when to go ahead and drive and when to just wait it out."

"Gracie...that's seriously fucking dangerous." He said with genuine concern and slight anger now.

I rolled my eyes again and drove on, the rain had fully stopped as we passed the sign announcing our arrival into Harmond.

I peeked a glance over at him, "So, my shitty driving aside...you okay?"

He looked at me and I looked back at the road ahead while he spoke.

"Nervous..." He admitted with a small chuckle to attempt to downplay his true nervousness. "I mean I've never officially had to meet a girls parents before, much less my Mate's...and your parents happen to be Alpha and Luna of Harmond so there's that."

I smirked, "You forgot My sister Hope...The Alpha to be...and did I mention my Dad is also a Cop"

I could see him shake his head slightly from my peripherals now, "Not helping much Gracie."

"But All of that aside, at the end of the day they are my family...and don't we just want our family's well being and happiness?" I sounded in an attemp tto esae his worry, "And hey...it could be worse."

"How?"

I shrugged, and looked over at him now,  "All of my family could be here."

He shook his head and smirked.

"Uh, do you mind if we stop by my place really quick?" I asked now, "It's not like that or anything..." I laughed nervously, "Just...need to get freshened up before heading to dinner."

"No problem...should I bring anything?"

"Nah...Mom will have everything I assured him before turning left to get to my apartment.

As I pulled into my normal spot and got out I felt different, I began to try and remember if I had left the place a mess before I took off this morning, should I go in first to make sure everything is good before letting him come in?

'Too Obvious.'

I had to agree, it would look like I'm trying too hard. Plus if there is a mess, he's got to find out I'm kinda messy sometime.

'Real You.'

I nodded and unlocked my front door.

"Wow, great place." He sounded impressed.

"Thanks...it use to be my Mom's." I said without thinking...I felt kind of embarrassed, I didn't want him to see me as just some girl who can't earn her own way in life...although technically I suppose it is the truth, my parent's do everything for me.

"That's cool, finding a place with rent control's a bitch." He smiled softly.

"Do you want a water or soda or something?" I asked as I made my way into the kitchen, "I'd offer you a beer but again, my Dad being a cop and all...the smell of beer might not go over too well."

"Oh It's cool...I'm really not much of a drinker." he said.

"Really?" I asked

"Uh, yeah...to be honest I think it has to do with me be a bit of a control freak so I don't like that alcohol take my control away...I mean I do drink occassionally, but it's usually when I'm stressed or mad."

"Well that's cool...I've recently started slowing down myself." I said before I quickly added, "Also before we get there let me just go ahead and apologize to you in advance, My sister Hope will more than likely stare at you like a weirdo before she starts texting...I can confirm she'll be texting everyone she knows about you, My Mother will gush over you because she gushes over anyone new all the time, and my Dad..."

I sighed an shook my head, "The thing about my Dad is for the first few years of my life it was just him and I, then my mom came into the picture."

"The Luna isn't you're mother?" He asked gently.

I grabbed 2 waters and then headed back  into the living room and gestured for him to have a seat on the sofa. I sat down next to him and handed him a water.

"No, She didn't give birth to me, I've honestly never met my birth mother...don't know her name, never wanted to, to be honest...couldn't tell you what she looked like, I mean...I may have passed her in the street and I wouldn't even know." I admitted.

He took a drink of his water and I only played with my unopened bottle.

"So my Mom who raised me is the only mother that I know and have ever known and is the only one in my mind that I'll ever need."

He nodded, "That's beautiful."

I smirked, "But back to my Dad...like I said it was just us 2 for a while so he's a little more overprotective of me...which means he's going to ask you more than his fair share of questions, he will try and analyze you, and maybe even try and intimidate you, but I promise he means well."

"Hey...I get it." He said as he reached out and  covered my hand with his own, "You are his daughter first and foremost and I obviously respect that...but nothing any of your family members say or do is going to scare me away from you."

I smiled and nodded before getting up. "I'm gonna go and get dressed, make yourself at home."

He nodded and sat back as I disappeared into my bedroom.

_____

"Hey can you stop up here?" Auggie said as we were on our way to my parent's finally.

I scrunched my eyebrows together curiously now, "Why?" I asked as I did in fact pull the car into a park spot.

There were a strip of storefronts and I didn't know where he was going or why.

"Wait here okay?" I sounded.

I nodded and pulled out my phone, I needed to text my girls and let them know what was going on in case I needed some emotional support throughout the evening.

[Grace: So I acknowledged Augustine.]

[Grace: Calling him Auggie.]

[Gigi: That's adorable.]

[Kelly: Aww Aggie and Gracie...I'm in love.]

I rolled my eyes but smiled.

[Grace: Actually we're both here in town.]

[Kelly: At school together?]

I mentally slapped myself, of course I hadn't told him that he's a professor.

[Grace: Okay...small storytime.]

[Gigi: Dish]

[Kelly *grabs popcorn*]

[Grace: Been thinking about joining photography class]

[Grace: ...so went to see about sitting in on a lesson, see if I'll like it...

[Grace: ANNNND...who's the damn professor? ]

[Gigi: Okay first, good for you on considering photography, you're amazing at it.]

[Gigi: But also... Okay...Kinda Hot]

[Kelly: THE]

[Kelly: FUCKING]

[Kelly: KINKERY!!!]

I laughed and shook my head.

[Grace: LMAO]

[Grace:Slow your roll...both of you...we talked, and we are taking things slow.]

[Kelly: That's what they all say, then it all "come on, we're mates...give into the pull babe."]

[Gigi: Everything good with you and Bobby?]

[Kelly: Oh...we're totally fine, just we said we'd take things slow but then urges and pulls take over and it's hard to resist them.]

I sighed, I knew they needed the whole truth but I honestly didn't have time for the full story now.

[Grace: Well there's a certain roadblock preventing us from going further than just friends... so going slow is kind of our only choice for the time being.]

I sighed as I'm not usually the girl who texts a whole fucking book in the group chat.

[Grace: I'll explain everything later I promise...right now we're headed to my parents to talk to my dad.]

[Kelly: Meeting your Parents...DEAD ]

[Gigi: Good Luck Gracie, hit us up if you need something.]

[Kelly: Yeah, Like back-up.]

Just then I noticed Auggie making his way back to the car...with flowers.

I couldn't help but smile.

[Grace: Gotta jet, but I'll text if I need you guys to storm my parent's house and save my mate from my dad.]

He got to the car and tried letting himself into the car just as I was putting my phone away. But of course the door got stuck.

Clear agitation on his face with a hint of humor.

After messing with it for a minute he finally got door to open, "and her doors don't work, anything else about your vintage baby I should know?"

I shrugged and started the car up, "Well I'm pretty sure there's no airbags but hey who needs em right?" I attempted to joke.

But he only shook his head and sighed.

"Pretty flowers." I sounded.

"Yeah...I might not be able to win over your dad, but maybe I can win over your mom."

I rolled my eyes as I pulled away from the parking spot, "Suck-up..."

He laughed and buckled up.

"Meanwhile I've been calling in reinforcements just incase we need to make a quick exit."

He smiled and looked at me, "You're friends."

I nodded, "We've always had each others backs so they wouldn't hesitate to come right over if I asked them to."

After that I took a deep breath and drove onward.

"Relax Gracie...I'm here with you." he offered sweetly.

I nodded and before too long we were pulling up to the pack house and I gasped.

"What's wrong?" He asked.

I unbuckled and looked at him, "things just got a little worse."

He looked at me and thought about what I was trying to tell him, "Your whole family is here?"

"Well...not my whole family." I tried to calm him down now. "Just my Uncle Roc and Aunt Lou."

"As in Alpha Roc...The Moon Goddess is really testing our limits here." He smirked. "But I think I'll survive."

After that we both got off the car and carefully made our way inside. "Mom, Dad?" I said as we entered.