Chapter One

Quiet is something that I'm not used to, and though it's been very charming in the forest, the feeling of comfort is starting to overwhelm me. Having everything at peace is something I can never get used to. It's been at least six months since I killed Dixon, and luckily the nightmares are starting to fade away into a distant memory. 

Hearing laughter, I know Dev was sitting by the fireplace. His goofy child laugh is easy to recognize out of all the others. I make my way over towards him and notice he is with Smoke. Smoke and my relationship has come a long way. He would have once been somebody I would avoid, but he has really mellowed out after finding Forest.

"Chetan on a run?" Dev asks me. 

I nod.

Chetan and I have been at each other's throats lately. I mean, I'm not going to lie. I believe we are soulmates, but every relationship will have its arguments, and it doesn't matter how close you get to somebody. At this point, I'm just comfortable that he's not going to leave me or want out of this engagement. I guess it's that comfort of security that we have reached after all this time together. He is the one person I trust to never hurt me. 

"Spit it out Dr. Dev." I know Chetan has told him what we've been arguing about, and that he is just trying to keep his nose out of it. I also know that he wants to say something, and it's at the tip of his tongue driving him crazy. 

Smoke burst out laughing. And Dev just slaps him on the shoulder. 

"Look, Chetan really wants to return home to see his mom. Why don't you just go home for a little bit? You know it's rare Alpha gives us permission to leave."

I feel mixed feelings growing up inside me. Freedom is all I ever really wanted. But can I really face my family after I am with the man they think my twin is with? Though he was my mark mate, and I can't control it. What is my family going to think? Yes, they all adored Chetan, but with Kiara. What are they going to think when he's with me? 

"Dev, it's not that simple for me." 

"What's not simple, Zare." I hear that annoyance in his voice, and it's rare that you see him aggravated. I only ever saw him mad a handful of times. I know that he just wants what's best for me, and he thinks going home would be beneficial for me, like my other half and my Alpha. 

"And what is everybody going to think when I show up to Christmas dinner with my twin sister's boyfriend?" The words fly out of my mouth way louder than I planned, and get the stares of many of the pack members; Riya, Froset, and of course Kiara. 

My eyes see Chetan approaching, and he doesn't seem pleased. 

"Dev, I told you to drop it." 

"I know." He puts his hands in the air.

"Zare, let's just go for a walk." I analyzed the face of the person I love more than anyone in the whole entire world. I see nothing but love and understanding there. But honestly, I just want to be alone. 

"I'm going for a walk myself." 

As my feet crunch on the leaves in the forest, my brain wanders to the moment when Ajay told us that we can return home for the holiday.