"Sorry I took so long" He said as he moved to open the passenger side door to his car.

Auggie didn't have time to go back to his pack for a fresh outfit so instead he made a trip into town and picked one up.

"You're fine, I got some homework finished up my parents don't start dinner until 7." I tried to assure him.

"Alright, let me just get dressed really quick and then maybe we should take off...I don't want to show up late."

"Hey...relax." I smiled.

He nodded and left me in the living room while he went back into my bedroom and got changed.

He really didn't take very long as he'd stated and once done we took off.

Riding in the car next to him I could tell he was nervous.

I reached over and grabbed his hand, he looked at me and smiled a soft smile now...he seemed to deflate almost as he relaxed a bit more, "Sorry...but this my second shot to get his right."

I understood his concern but shook my head, "Just be yourself Auggie and don't worry about trying to impress them."

We reached the house and just like Dad said, there was no one else there, I walked us in and called out to them. "Mom...Dad?"

My Mom poked her head out of the kitchen and smiled before she made her way over to us. She lovingly gave me a tight hug and kissed my hair before she surprised both Auggie and myself by also pulling him into a motherly embrace.

"It's so good to see you again Augustine."

"The pleasure is always mine Luna Wylde."

Mom actually blushed and shook his words away, "It's Juliette..." She said to him before turning her gaze to me now. "Your father's went to meet with the guard as they have patrols tonight...and with these rogues running rampant patrols are essential for all surrounding packs right now."

"Have there been more attacks?" Auggie asked with full concern now.

Mom nodded, "Unfortunately Alpha Leeman's pack was hit just last night, sadly a girl was taken...fortunately for them though The Leeman's have a larger pack or the damages could've been much worse."

A pit in my stomach grew and Auggie picked up on it as he rubbed my back, "I didn't realize the threats were as severe as they truly are...I mean you and Dad have talked about rogues before, but it's always sorta been like a drill or something." I admitted.

Mom offered me a kindhearted smile, "I know baby...and we've been lucky that the rogues have never had the gall to come to our pack before...but these new rogues are different...more calculated, organized...-"

"We think they may be banding together with a specific plan of action in mind." My father suddenly sounded as he enter the pack house. He greeted Auggie with a firm handshake and a fatherly pat on the shoulder before he hugged me, "Glad you two made it...I wanted a redo of our first dinner, I know we all sort of left that dinner with more than a little uncertainty."

_____

As we all sat down to the meal mom had prepared for all of us Auggie and Dad fell into an easy conversation about these rogue attacks so mom and I caught up for a minute.

"How's school?"

I smiled, "I'm liking it more than I expected to...I guess it helps when you're actually in school for something you want to do, opposed to something you have to do."

"You were always brilliant, but I agree...and you're right, going for something you love is always a good driving force to keep with it." Then she smiled, "And how's everything else going..." She asked as shelet her eyes trail over to Auggie, in an attempt to keep our conversation a little private as he and Dad were still talking.

I nodded, and couldn't keep the blush from my cheeks now. "Better than I could've ever expected...it's kind of scary to be honest."

She smiled and nodded, "but a good kind of scary right?"

"Absolutely...fear of the unknown I suspect...but a new adventure I'm willing to take, even if blindly."

"What adventure are we talking about over here?" Dad cut in.

"Gracie and I were discussing her first semester of school." Mom lied and I was thankful for it.

Not that I'm exactly ashamed of my mate or anything...but my dad doesn't need to know everything.

"Hey Dad." I said now, "I was wondering if you knew a certain Alpha?"

"Who's that Princess?"

"Alpha Holmwood." I replied.

We all watched as all the color seemed to drain from his face, "Holmwood?"

I nodded, "Yeah."

"W-why do you want to know about the Holmwoods?" He asked nervous, this time I noticed he looked at mom and she too seemed to suddenly be on edge.

I couldn't tell what was going on between my parents right now, but for whatever reason the surname had definitely unsettled them. I looked to Auggie for help now.

"My betrothed is the Granddaughter of the current Alpha Holmwood...Corinne De La Garza."

Dad seemed to relax a little, "D-do you happen to know her parents names?"

He nodded "Heather and Anthony De La Garza...but her mother Heather's maiden name is Holmwood."

"Dylan...-" Mom sounded.

"I know." He said as if to silence her.

They looked at each other before I finally just asked, "What the hell is going on with you two?"

Mom looked at Dad and nodded.

He put his fork down and wiped his mouth before he turned in his chair slightly so as to give me his full attention.

"To answer your first question Gracie, I do not know Alpha Holmwood personally...honestly I've never met the guy before nor do I know much of their pack than what everyone else knows."

I could tell something was seriously bothering him as he seemed to struggle to even speak right now.

I wondered, oh Goddess, is Dad have a stroke?

'Dad isn't having a stroke.'

"Dad?"

"J-Just...give me a moment please Grace, this isn't easy for me...I mean, I knew I'd have to tell you someday, I just didn't expect it'd be like this..."

"Maybe I should give you all a moment." Auggie offered.

Mom shook her head, "No Augustine dear...I think you need to hear this as well."

I looked back at Dad. He looked at me with apologetic eyes now, "Gracie...I was young, and rejected by my mate...I met a girl one night...one thing led to another, a couple of weeks later she told me she was pregnant..."

My heart raced.

This couldn't be true...yes I knew I was adopted, but I'd never known all of the details.

I looked to Mom but she simply offered me an almost awkward smile.

Auggie looked like he wanted to help me but didn't know quite how.

"Dad..."

"Heather Holwood is your biological Mother Gracie...and if what your Mate says is true, then he is betrothed is your half-sister."

"So this girl gets to have my mother and now my mate?!"

As I said the words  I snapped back to reality

"Mom I didn't mean that..."

She shook her head, her eyes misted with tears now, "It's okay Gracie."

But it wasn't okay...here was a woman who had loved me from the moment she met me, never made me feel like a stepdaughter, always made me feel equal to my sister and here I am ranting about a woman who wanted nothing to do with me, someone who basically discarded me without so much as a second thought.

"Now might not be the best time and meaning no offense, truly...but this information is a good thing." Auggie offered.

"How in the hell is any of this good news?!" I snapped.

"Your mate is right Princess...the circumstances aren't ideal but as Heather Holmwood's oldest daughter you have claim to her pack when she and her mate step down..."

"I don't want her pack...I don't want anything to do with her." I replied sadly.

"You don't have to really do it Gracie." Auggie offered sweetly, "But we can use that information to bargain with."

Dad nodded, "We'll go over there, your mate and I will go together...Together we'll present the Alpha and Heather with the ultimatum..."

"An Ultimatum?" Mom asked.

"Break off the marriage contract between Augustine and her daughter or we will go to the council and inform them of Gracie being related to her."

I was listening to everything they all said but I was still reeling over the fact that the fates had a messed up way of bring us all together

"...this will immediately reinstate Grace into their packs hierarchy line being placed before Heather's own daughter with her mate...no challenge needed." Auggie said.

"And what if they call our bluff?" I said.

"There is no bluff Grace." Dad said. "They either do this or you will become the next in line to take over their pack...then as the pack's new Luna you'd have the power to break the contract made between your mate and your half-sister."

"Don't call her that." I growled, "I only have one sister and that's Hope."

He nodded, "Even still...it's the only card we can play right now if you want your mate."

I looked at Auggie now, his expression was unreadable, but I knew what I had to do..."When are we doing this?"