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I bring Lily back to the pack house without her protesting or changing her mind halfway, she's mostly silent except when I ask the odd question. But when she doesn't give me much back, I presume that maybe she likes the quiet.

We gathered her things into a bag, the things that were worth keeping. Her damp sleeping bag and dirty clothes were left even though she wanted to bring them, I promised her that we would get her new clothes and she would have a perfectly working bed. Covers and duvet included.

When we are thirty minutes from the house I mindlink Milo to take everyone out for training, that way it gives me some time to show Lily around and help her get settled in without any input from anyone else.

Milo says that they're on their way out to train when we walk down the path to my home. I study Lily's eyes as we walk up to the white beautiful crafted house, the garden was treated only a few days ago. Hedges trimmed and new flowers planted, the house is lit up by hundreds of different colours and shades.

The sun shines down on the house as we approach the gate and are met by security, we're shown inside and Lily still hasn't said a peep but her eyes say everything. She takes in every little detail, looking at everything in her path.

Her lips fall open and she clutches her bag tighter, I can tell that she's overwhelmed. Especially because the house is huge and she's been sleeping on the curb in an alley for three years, adjustment isn't going to happen right now or even overnight. It's going to take a while.

The guard shut the door behind us and Lily whips her head to the sound, her eyes are struck open and she turns to me suddenly. "You said I can leave." Her voice is hesitant.

"You can," I nod. "It's just for precaution, if you wish to leave then the guards will let you. You want to come back in, they'll open the gates. If there is any trouble you can always mindlink me."

Her chest relaxes for a moment. "Okay."

I show her inside and she twists her head in every direction, eyes fixating on every tiny thing. She walks slowly and I let her take her time. If this is going to be her new home then she needs to feel comfortable here.

Lily's expressions don't change but I can see a small glimmer of amazement in her eyes. She's trying to mask it well but I can see it, even if she attempts to blink it away.

"Let's go upstairs," I motion to the hall. "I can show you where you'll sleep."

She doesn't respond but she follows, her footsteps can barely be heard behind as we walk up the stairs. I turn down the hall, away from my bedroom and I locate a spare room that we recently got back after a member of Cleo and Fran's old pack found a long lost family member.

I stop outside the door and gently push it open. All our rooms are plain, ready for decoration by whoever lives in it. That has always been a rule in my pack, express yourself how you want, do whatever makes you happy.

It has always earnt me respect by giving them some individuality rather than conforming them into being the same wolf. They all have different personalities, they deserve to show them off.

Lily steps inside and looks down at the single bed beside the window, a white wardrobe and grey carpet. She turns and turns and then looks up at the lampshade.

"WIll this be alright?" I lean on the door frame.

This earns me a nod. "Yeah."

"The shower is just opposite," I point to the door parallel to her room. "There is shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, everything you need in there. If there is anything else special that you want, let me know and I can get it for you. Help you settle in."

Lily clutches her hands together in front of her and nods. "Okay."

"Is there anything you need right now?" I arch an eyebrow. "I can grab you some spare clothes."

"Aren't your pack going to be baffled by my arrival?" Her head tilts in my direction, blonde hair jabbing her hips.

My shoulders raise and drop. "We've brought in a lot of people over the years, they probably won't be phased."

Her eyes narrow towards me like daggers. "I smell like a rogue."

"Go take a shower then," I say lightly with a smile across my face.

"That doesn't solve the problem," her tone is harsher.

I know it's not the answer but I can't seem to sense how badly her rouge scent smells because all I can sense is what my wolf wants to smell. She smells beautiful and elegant to me but to others, she could definitely be seen in a house full of domesticated wolves opposed to ones who sleep on the street.

"No..." I trail off and continue to smile. "But it could help. I'll give you old clothes that will help mask the scent."

Lily sighs and looks to the wall. She has nothing more to say so I push up from the door hinge and take a step backwards. "There are towels in the bathroom, I can leave some clothes on your bed for when you get out. Then you can find me downstairs, is that alright?"

She holds my stare for a few moments and eventually she nods.

"Okay, see you in a sec."

I venture down the hall and towards the laundry room, my hands sift through the spare clothes people either grew out of or donated for the pack that joined us a few months ago. My hands dig through the material and I pull out some clothes that I believe would fit, better than nothing for the moment.

When I return to her room she's gone and the sound of the shower is echoing into the hall. I place the clothes down onto her fresh bed and make myself scarce because I know that she would want some privacy.

I take myself downstairs and head to the kitchen, praying that Milo gives the pack a long training session so I have longer with Lily by myself.

Without thinking I grab a pot, throw some water in and place it on the hob, I scan the fridge for things I can throw together for a late lunch. Lily is probably hungry and I want her to know that she can find home here, that she is welcome.

A wholesome meal might help with that.

Just as I slip the uncooked penne into the pot I hear people come through the backdoor, so much for a long training session. Milo really doesn't know how to listen to hints.

The pack filters through and waves at me on the way past, Fran stops in the kitchen and wipes sweat from her brow. "Oh hey," she smiles. "When did you get back?"

"Like half an hour ago," I grumble under my breath and Milo steps into view.

I stare him down because if he thinks half an hour is a good enough time to train the pack, then I need to reconsider his beta role because he acts like he doesn't give a shit.

"What ya cooking, bro?"

"It's not for you." I snap at him and he holds his hands up in defence.

"Where did you go this morning?" He responds and leans on the kitchen counter.

I turn to him and notice that my sister is also waiting for my response. "So I've got someone staying in the pack house," I start with a clear voice. "Her name is Lily and she's just upstairs getting showered."

Milo grins and raises his hand to high-five me. "Nice," he shouts but I completely ignore his gesture.

Fran on the other hand narrows her eyes at me. "And who is this girl?"

"She's just an old friend I ran into," I lie and avert my gaze elsewhere. "She ran into a little bit of trouble and I told her that she could stay here for a bit, not a problem is it?"

"You do realise that we're not running a fucking day-care here, right?" Her voice is strained. "We've taken in over eighty people in the last couple of months."

"Yeah, and most of them are gone now," I roll my eyes in her direction. "Lily just needs somewhere to sleep, that's all."

Milo shrugs like this doesn't phase him, completely going over his head. "Alright, I'm gonna shower cause I stink."

I watch as Fran pushes his shoulder as he walks by, then her eyes are back on me. Her arms fold across her chest and she tilts her head because she doesn't believe my bullshit but it doesn't matter what she says because she's my mate and she's staying.

"And you just found her today?"

My hand presses into the counter and I nod. "Yeah, bumped into her at the market."

"And you were at the market, why?"

I grunt and shove my fingers through my hair. "Does it matter, Fran?"

"There is something you're not telling me," she pats her lips with a finger. "But I don't care, whatever. Enjoy your 'friend'."

She leaves me alone in the kitchen and I release a breath, hoping that she doesn't come back asking a million other questions. Hopefully she actually doesn't care. She'll be dry humping Jesse in about three seconds so I'm sure she'll forget.

Ten minutes tick by and when I turn to face the kitchen island I see Lily loop around the wall and walk straight towards me. She's put on the oversized green hoodie and some black baggy trousers I found.

Her hair is soaked and dripping onto the floor but she just brushes it over her shoulder like the coldness doesn't bother her. She glances around and then hides her hands underneath the sleeves of her hoodie.

I can't help but notice how she looks lost. Nowhere to place herself.

"Are you hungry?"

There is a slight pause, like she doesn't want to admit she is. So I prepare for the bullshit. Then after a few moments she finally says, "Yeah."

I motion my head to the boiling water on the hob. "Do you want some pasta?" I question as I push myself off of the counter.

She steps closer and takes a look at what I'm cooking. "Are you making some for yourself?" Her voice is quiet.

"Yes."

"Then yes."

"A 'please' doesn't go a miss." My attention is turned back to the food, then I physically can feel her eyes roll in response.

I stir the pasta and then move around the vegetables with a spatula. "I told you I'm not a nice person."

My eyebrow quirks at the wall but I don't face her. "You didn't tell me that, you said something else."

"Oh did I not?" Her tone is dripping with sarcasm. "My mistake, it should have been the first thing I told you."

Now it's time for my eyes to roll. The wall that she has thrown up is starting to irritate me, the lack of self-assurance for herself is sending my wolf crazy and not in a good way.

When my wolf reacts it attacks my own emotions, spiralling me into thinking that I can't make her happy. That this is going to be harder than I thought.

But I choose to ignore it for now because I'll allow her to have her paddy for a few days more. I have to keep telling myself that she's adjusting and it's normal for her to be defensive, even to herself.

When I rotate to face her again she's still standing, when she stares back at me I tilt my head.

"Sit down."

She moves within three seconds and perches herself on the stool at the end of the island, no questions asked or no fight to put up. So I exhale and drain the pasta, knocking up a quick meal and plating it in front of her.

Lily digs in so fast that I thought she might have accidentally inhaled it instead of chewing. She must have been hungry, even though she steals to find herself a source of food and her daily routine must be completely off.

But she finishes it and I can even see the ghost of a smile on her lips.

A fraction of a smile is a success in my eyes. Particularly when I never thought I'd end up getting her here today in the first place.

Slow progress is still progress.

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Author's Note

Hello my huns, what did you guys think of this chapter?🤩🤩🤩

Lily is attempting to settle but who thinks this is going to be harder than expected?🤔

I'd love to know what you think might happen next?

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