Chapter Three

Not much had changed the trees were full of apples a few houses were to the side that held both the wolves and strays, they were all the same white and two-story houses however the main house it's self was the three floor grand home of betas and alphas and as soon as we stepped out I just knew that they could tell who we were.

My boots crunched the ground below my feet as I stepped out the SUV, I wore my black cowboy boots, bell-bottoms and a jean jacket over my long sleeve black shirt. Now I'm not a model I am a size 14, 5"2 have double D boobs a slight belly because hello? I had twins and though I lost weight after nearly being 300 pounds from pregnancy i was now down to 220 so yeah I was a heavy curvy girl but one thing that's always been a attention grabber was my hair.

It was a deep black, wavy and reached my waist when down but since I had it in a ponytail it reached mid back and the few strands curled in front of my face it showed off my round face and without my meaning to my alpha eyes shifted as I looked at the gawking wolves. Starring was rude in my book; my left brow did a very define arch as i looked around my hands holding the kid's hands.

"You lose something?" I said towards the crowd.

Some looked away while others starred at my pups, Santiago came towards us and lifted Quinn who held onto him tightly once she was up to him.

"You alright?" He asked.

Drake and Eric walked ahead into the house waiting for us, the wolves still staring while the lower females such as pack sluts started eyeing Santy.

"Yeah." I said pulling Alexander inside my eyes looking around cautiously.

Looking to Drake a girl no more then 18 ran towards him hugging him tightly, her arms around his shoulders kissing him deeply his own arms around her as i looked to Eric who simply started back at me.

"His mate?" I asked.

He nodded, I couldn't help but smile and look to him and the small blonde girl he was finally settled down it looked like the bad boy was finally shackled up. Alexander pulled my hand towards him as he would motion towards the upstairs.

"How are there two floors?"

"Well that's because we built them." A familiar voice said, turning to the female voice my eyes widened as I looked to Mary.

Her red hair was now a light silvery copper, her light green eyes looked dull, and she looked so much older than the 45-year-old she should look like, she was thin and boney she looked fragile. Walking towards her letting Alexander stay with Santy I hugged her suddenly as I breathed in her scent the familiar smell of peppermint filling my nose, I would have hugged her tighter, but she winced at my touch.

"Mary what's wrong?" I asked with concern.

"Don't mind me...I heard you were coming so I stayed so I could see you.."

"Are you visiting?"

"No." Drake said. "We are relocating her."

"Relocating?" I asked confused.

"You should tell her." Drake said moving towards us, yet he kept distance which i understood he had a mate now. No she wolf wants another wolves stench on her mate.

"I...she has enough trouble of her own." Mary stated.

Looking between them i would clear my throat and look to Mary. "Don't keep secrets from me."

"It's...after you left your father changed almost everything in the pack, woman is treated more lesser, children have to start fighting at 5, some of the men are abusive towards everyone even if their Beta or Alpha they don't care. If we don't follow rules, we are starved or put in the pit to fight and after I helped you, he started feeding me small dosages of wolfsbane. Your father had me walking around in silver chains up until a few months back so I couldn't turn. I escaped recently a few months back, but it took me a long time to get my wolf out."

"He makes the wolf part sleep?"

"Your father changed everything about the pack mated or not he wants to put another law in the pack that gives him right to sleep with beta females in hopes of having more sons. Beth after you left became his main she wolf. She calls herself Luna...."

I growled without meaning to drawing the attention of every high ranking wolf even my own kids looked my way, i began to pace my eyes glowing vibrantly as i would crack my neck to the side trying to calm myself down.

"Luna!" i spat out angrily.

"Its the reason why i am here...after i refused to call her Luna once i found out she was pregnant with your brother, he had me chained like an animal and was starving me. I only got away because Eric came to visit that week and demanded he take me or he was calling the counsel and since the Blue moon ball is in a few weeks he didn't want any trouble so he let me go."

Looking to Mary i turned to look at Eric and Drake my eyes a furious red as i walked towards Eric calmly my hand outstretched to him.

"give me your phone."

"No, you are not causing trouble we will have to clean up." he replied.

"Give me the phone." i said pushing the alpha on him.

His own eyes responded to mine as he stood his ground, a smirk on his lips as he shook his head in no. "That's not going to work."

Smirking i looked to him as i leaned back slightly and wanted more then anything to push the full force onto him but i knew better so i growled and looked away.

"I need to know what's going on with the pack...it's the last thing my mother left behind Eric."

"Even if you were to find out what can you do? Your giving it up either way.."

He was right. I just wanted a normal life to live a normal life with my kids even if it was as a rogue but at the end of the day both my wolf and i knew that being without a pack wasn't the answer and eventually the kids would too. Looking towards Alexander and Quinn the words i always said kept running in my head. "We do not run from our problems, we face them. It's what being a Luna or Alpha is we protect, fight for what's right, lead wisely and everyone in your pack is family blood or not."

Those words ring in my ears because now looking to Mary all I can think about is how I failed her and let her suffer all because she helped me and got on my father's bad side.

"I will have to think about this...may we please be shown to our rooms? Mary could you please join me?"

Mary hesitated but nodded as she followed us upstairs, Santiago was shown away from our room a little jealousy i sensed there because of the way Eric looked at us when Santiago was patting my lower back. Santiago and I both knew this was just a fling for now like many wolves we would eventually one day find our mates, it wasn't like we didn't know the risk but after him helping me the entire year I was running and pregnant it was kind of hard not just having a fling. We were shown to a large room that had wooden cherry floors, a large glass window in the center of the entire room and to the left was a white bunk bed and to the right a simple twin bed. It was enough room for us, the kids even had a small basket of toys at the foot of the bed.

Quinn and Alexander ran towards the toys, ignoring both Mary and I as we put away the things, we were going to be here a while so it was needed that i put the things away plus it helped get my mind off things. Finally able to sit down on the bed i looked to Mary her eyes never seemed to get off of Quinn and Alex.

"She looks like your mom...."

"Which one? I have two remember."

Mary looked to me and smiled brightly her hands holding mine.

"Your always going to be my daughter you know that right?" She asked.

"I do not want you to leave...if i would of known he would of hurt you i wouldn't of asked for your help. You raised me and took care of me and this is how I say thank you."

"It's alright. I helped you get out and i would do it all over again, what happened to me wasn't your fault.'

Looking to her i exhaled deeply. "How bad is the pack?"

"Your father's been scaring most away...warriors turned to bullies, pack whores going after even mated couples and wolves unable to shift for any offense...it's like everything has gone backwards and now with Beth being pregnant..."

"Its only gotten worse right?" i asked angrily.

"Your father is not a true alpha to the pack and you know this, when your mother died yes the pack went to him but its not his and you know this."

I swallowed and looked to the kids as they played ignoring the talk my eyes watched them and I wondered what could drive my father to make innocents try and turn into warriors. It was not right and no need for but if he was looking to defy other packs or break treaties then i would understand.

"Has he taken any other wolves in?

"yes, viscous murderous rouges he automatically makes them warriors and gives them ground to be on pack territory."

"how many if you can remember?"

"Enough?" Mary said curiously.

"hm." I stated.

"What are you thinking Mia?"

"My father is raising warriors and taking in rogues and factoring in that he wants no trouble around the blue moon ball...now i may be wrong but that day all alphas and betas along with there mates show up to this gathering...even the elders. What if he's planning something more?"

Mary's eyes widened slightly as she would shake her head in no. "Your father is not smart to plan something like that...he is happy for his sons birth and is ruling his own pack what could he gain by doing something that day."

"A lot Mary....a lot more then you think. I have a choice before me and for the sake of my kids i don't know what to do. The pack is one thing but if i am right then this would mean all wolves would be in danger not just my kids and my father for whatever reason hates me enough to try and kill his own grand kids."

"If your mother were here..."

"She isn't Mary. I have to decide in what to do because weather I want to admit it or not I am still next in line for succession and so are my children."

She nodded and rested her hand on my shoulder as she looked at me sincerely "You will pick right. I know you and you have grown up to such a fine woman Amelia I couldn't be prouder, look at your kids."

"Looking at them is the reason I am thinking so hard on what to do."

After a few more moments of catching up Mary left the room when a knock not even three minutes later came from outside, walking towards the door I inhaled the scent and froze my palm reaching for the door knob but for whatever reason i couldn't open the door and it wasn't fear that had hold of me but sadness because as I inhaled the scent yes it was Santiago's but it was changed slightly, it was mixed with another scent as if both scents were colliding and becoming one the smell of charred wood and pine was mixed with a more floral smell which to wolves meant one thing.

He had found his mate, I was happy don't get me wrong but it was so soon and sudden, i starred at the door and felt as if my heart was beating so loudly in my ears that i couldn't focus, i couldn't breathe it was as if everything was closing around me. Quinn took hold of my hand and looked up at me a smile on her lips as I felt as sudden calmness pass through my body, an effect she had on me in moments like this breathing calmly I looked to her and smiled as I leaned down and kissed her head before moving her towards her brother and opened the door.

Santiago was looking at me and sighed softly before giving a slight smile.

"You bail on these kids, your nuts are mine got it?"

He laughed and moved towards me as he gave me a hug tightly and kissed the top of my head his arms around my waist. "I promised to help you and be there for you and them, I'm a man of my word Corazon."

Looking to him i nodded and exhaled softly. "Could you watch them for a bit?"

Nodding his head i walked downstairs and out the back doors my eyes glowing there alpha red as i would stare to the wolves that were walking around, ignoring them i went straight for the trees and growled lowly as i began to run my wolf angry and annoyed.

When will it ever be our turn! When will our mate find us!

I could understand her frustration for the last few years we always thought we would get happiness but it was like it wasn't meant to be which was fine at one point but seeing everyone you know even the man your messing around with suddenly get there happy ending before you, you start thinking there is something wrong with you. We skidded to a stop in front of the creek, the sound of the water was more soothing then anything a thing both Grace and I enjoyed even till now. As I watched the water i sighed, love has to wait grace our people need us, tomorrow alpha Eric will take us to the pack house and judging by tomorrow we will see if we should stay or go.

Its our family Amelia you already know the answer, we don't leave family behind.

She had a point regardless of everything and the fear I had of running a pack, I wasn't going to abandon them to a mad man and if my hunch was right I was not going to let them die because of his mistake.