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"We are coming home" I broke it to the people at the table as casually as I could.

There was a pregnant silence in the room. I fidgeted with the fork in my hand looking at their stunned expressions.

"You guys are making me nervous" I laughed awkwardly.

Sara's loud "Yayyyy" broke everyone's shock.

"Thank you" Luna Alexandra was the first to respond. She smiled gratefully at me.

My mother got up from her chair and hugged me. She smiled through her tears and kissed my head. Tears stung my eyes too threatening to spill out.

Everyone congratulated me. The only person that didn't was Evan. I looked at him but he was glaring at his food. Emma nudged him, he finally looked up. He was still weak from the incident.

"Did....did he do something....bad" he hesitated "Did he blackmail you?" He truly was my twin. Every time I thought of the incident, guilt surrounded me. He was punished because he was trying to protect me and here he was still looking out for me.

I rushed to his side and hugged him. He was holding on to his fork, his knuckles white.

"No, Evan. I'm going back because I want to. I'm going back for Dan, for all of you. I missed you guys so much. I don't think I can live like that again" I tilted my head to look at his face and gave him my best smile "I love you"

"That's what you said the day before you disappeared" he gritted out without a trace of humor.

"That's why I'm saying it now that I'm coming back" I tickled him "I love you. I love you. I love you" he squirmed in his chair. The table erupted in laughter. Evan finally smiled. He got up to attack me but I ran towards the hall. He chased after me.

"Kids finish your food" I heard Luna yell.

**********

The entire process took us four months. Packing; paper works; travelling; tears; some more paper works; new jobs; welcome back parties; house warming parties, both mine and Ray's.

It finally feels like life was back to normal. It's a bright Sunday morning and I have the entire house to myself. I drove Dan to Ray's place yesterday. He is having a sleepover. Ray is still wary of our kind. He gets nervous when he steps into the pack territory, which to his credit, he does pretty often. So, he definitely is brave. Evan's favorite game these days is to jump on Ray when he least expects it. Ray almost had a heart attack the first time. He's getting used to it now.

I lazily walk to my new kitchen to make breakfast. People laugh at me when I tell them that the kitchen is my favorite place to be in the entire house. It has always been, first when I learned to eat and then when I learned to cook.

The music blazing through my earphones came to a halt with an incoming call. It was Luna Alexandra.

'Where are you?' she asked even before I could open my mouth to greet her

"Good morning to you too" I chuckled "Didn't Alpha tell you that Dan is at Ray's?"

'Yes Liam did tell us about Dan but you are here, four houses away, so why do I not see you at my breakfast table?'

"I...I...". What do I tell her? That without your grandson, I really have no connection to you people what-so-ever so I think I shouldn't impose myself on your family. "I really feel like lazing around today. I have the house to myself so I thought I will, you know...."

'The next time you decide to bring out your laziness, inform us, like you obediently inform us all about Dan' she scolded 'you are as important as he is. I have loved you longer than I loved my grandson. So, don't you think I have no idea of what's going in that little head of yours' I bit my tongue, embarrassed.

"I'm sorry" I whispered.

My family and Liam's family both insisted we stay with them. But I stood to my grounds; I had to establish the fact that we were separate people now. My family, however small, was my family, not a part of either of theirs. Ironically, the only person who supported my idea was Liam. So, we ended up living in a house which was exactly at equal distance from both Liam's and my father's house. Which I later found out from one of my neighbors, was also Liam's doing. I didn't confront him because I knew his reply 'it's for my son'. It's like I'm talking to a wall when I talk to him. He has the same reply for most of the things.

We have a breakfast routine at the Alphas and we almost always end up having dinner at my mom's place. Liam usually picks Dan up from kindergarten so he sometimes eats lunch with them. I almost never get to cook anymore. It was a drastic change for us. There are so many hands to help me out here. We had to hire help to look after Dan back then, but now, I kind of miss spending more time with my baby.

Dan was taking the change better than I expected him to. We had to tell him about Liam being his father before we meet the pack. I anyways didn't intend to hide it from him forever. It wasn't possible either. He took it well when I explained it to him one night. I don't know what I was expecting him to say, he wasn't even four. How do kids take such life changing information?

He cuddled up to me "Do I call him daddy now?" he asked slowly

"If you want to" I ran my hand through his soft locks

He shrugged "I like him"

I later realized that Dan never really missed his father hence his nonchalant reaction. For him it's just another relation. He has no idea how close that relationship is. Ray has always been there doing what fathers do, so Dan didn't have any particular emotion that he saved up for his dad. I sighed. I hope his two fathers don't end up causing the third world war over him.

Liam's reaction was however not as subtle. Dan was in my arms when Liam walked into our old house. When he saw Liam, he yelled 'Daddy' pointing Liam out. Liam stood rooted in his spot, his pale green eyes wide as he looked on. He slowly walked to us, without taking his eyes off Dan.

I handed Dan over, he snuggled him closer "Say it again" he murmured kissing Dan's cheek. I could see the effort he was putting to control his excitement. Dan squirmed in his arms. "Did you say Daddy?" Liam whispered. Dan pulled away, holding onto Liam's shoulders for support, he quizzically looked at him, his trademark frown in place. He then smiled at Liam's eager eyes "Daddy" he repeated "Mommy said you are my Daddy" Liam nodded fervently, tears sparkling in his eyes "I am."

Dan is being taught about our pack and its history, mostly by Alpha Blake, who doesn't seem to get enough of his grandson. I was flushed to see him at my door one evening with an apologetic Luna behind him. He confessed he was missing Dan and 'had' to see him. I'm used to his uninformed visits now. Evan swears, his father never looked at him with as much love as he looks at Dan.

Dan was by now, familiar with both his families. He is yet to see us shift. He never again spoke about the day Liam changed in front of him so we are kind of worried about his formal introduction to our wolves. When he gets overwhelmed by all the attention, he video calls Ray and talks to him for hours.

Another habit that he has gathered off late is to hang by Liam's neck. He sits on Liam's shoulder and giggles every time he looks down. With Liam's towering height, it must feel like he's looking down from an airplane. Liam also runs miles in that position, Dan loves it when the wind hits his face.

Liam. Sigh. What do I say about him? When I told him that I was ready to go home, he took me in a bone crushing hug. To say that I was shocked would be an understatement. I couldn't breathe. No, it wasn't the fault of my crazily beating heart (thanks to my dear wolf), I really was choking.

"Can't breathe" I tapped his arm.

He sprinted four steps back when he realized what he was doing "I'm sorry" he quickly apologized "I just can't believe...." he looked down grinning in disbelief "I can't believe you agreed"

"Yeah I could see you doing nothing and waiting patiently in a corner while I made the decision" I bit out

"Thank you" he looked up, his eyes filled with gratitude "I promise, this will be the last time you have troubles coming your way from me."

And as surprising as it was, he stuck to his words. He tries his best to not be where I am. We don't interact unless it's about Dan. He didn't even come to any of the parties that were thrown around for me. He's yet to step into my new house. He takes Dan to school after breakfast and then brings him back. The only time we manage to be in the same room is during breakfast. But even there, he makes sure he is at the farthest distance from me. He only talks to Dan at the table because apparently his family was still upset with him. Evan, after coming down from the north, was a lot better now. He could sit in the same table as Liam without frowning. But he still doesn't talk to him unless it's about pack business. I would have been really lonely if I was in his place but its Liam we are talking about. Liam has always been quiet and reserved so the situation doesn't come across as awkward as it should have. They will get over it. I keep myself away from their family issues. Not my place; never will be.

***

"Shopping" Sara yelled as she pushed past me into the house.

"I thought we were just going to hang out here" I yelled back

I gave Emily a huge smile as I engulf her in a hug "Where's your little one?"

"Sara said shopping" Emily pointed out "Had to leave her with her Dad. He's a mess" I grinned at her and nodded in agreement. Tyler and Emily had their first baby, Autumn, a couple of months before we shifted here. She's the cutest thing ever.

Ruby, Justin's mate is the next one to enter. I'm still a bit awkward around her given that I've known her for only two months. She is a redhead with vigor that sometimes overshadows Sara and that's saying something. She pulled my cheeks with both her perfectly manicured hands "Morning, Barbie doll" she squealed.

"Morning, Ruby" I smiled through my pain. I felt my cheeks turn red. I could already hear her and Sara breaking my couch when I turned to my last guest for the day.

I laced my hand with Emma as I make my way to the other three "So, when did we agree to the shopping?" I cocked a brow at her.

She laughed "An hour ago, apparently. Ruby thinks you need to get laid"

"WHAT" I screeched.

I glare at Ruby who had the audacity to look proud. I sat down next to Emily and pulled Emma along.

"What did I ever do to you?" I asked her

"I'm with her" Sara piped in raising Ruby's hand in victory, like they do in boxing matches. I roll my eyes.

"See" Ruby posed with her hands, I don't know what purpose that's supposed to serve, but I see Sara nod "I'm like an outsider to you. So I can see things ok" she took a dramatic pause "I noticed that when you look at men, you don't even check them out. It's like they are all your brothers. Something's definitely wrong with you" she lowered her voice, like she was explaining the illuminati to us.

"So you think getting laid will solve the brother problem?" I ridiculed her.

"She's not wrong" Emma said

"You too?" I didn't expect that from Emma. She was the mother hen, mature, understanding and level-headed. I thought she understands me.

She shrugs "You are almost 27 and you are single_"

"Even with such a hunk hanging around you" Sara cut her in.

"He looks good" Emily agreed

"Are you guys kidding me? You are ganging against me. Get lost and let me enjoy my solitude" I cried dramatically. Ruby was rubbing off on me.

"Let's go shopping Eva. And for god's sake make some progress with the poor man hanging by your door." Sara said

"He's not hanging by my door" I glared at her "And did you forget? He's not my mate"

"Your mate might not even be_"

"He's not dead" I said frustrated. How many times do I have to do this?

"How do you know that?" Emma questioned

"I....I.... I don't know" I tried to think fast "Am I not supposed to feel empty or something if he dies?"

"I don't think so" Emma wasn't letting it go "if you've never met him, you wouldn't know if he's dead"

"Can we not talk about this" Emily said trying to do the peacekeeping "Let's go shopping anyways. We buy beautiful dresses and look beautiful. Not for the men, but for us"

"What are you talking about? Every time you go shopping you only buy clothes for the baby. Don't drag me to that section ever again" Ruby looked at her, repulsed by the idea. We all burst out laughing. God bless Justin.

I got up for some snacks and drinks. Emma followed me to the kitchen.

"So" she said filling up the glasses "When are you going to tell them?"

"About what?" I poked my face out of the refrigerator to look at her.

"You found your mate" she looked straight at me.

My heart stopped. I held to the counter for support.

"How....... How...... did you know"

"I didn't. You just confirmed it for me" she looked pointedly.

"I...I.... didn't" I shook my head "I don't know what you're talking about" I was glaring holes on the floor.

"It's Alpha Liam" she said with conviction this time.

My eyes quickly rose to meet her in fear. I looked at the door

"They can't hear us" she said folding her hands to her chest.

I took a deep breath "How"

"I've eyes Eva. The first time I felt something amiss was when Evan yelled at him and Luna told him to leave, I saw you wipe your tear. And the way he looks at you at breakfast every day, I've been with my mate for over a decade, I know that look. I needed the confirmation and you just did that for me"

"So, you were testing me outside" I gritted out

"I'm sorry but I had to do that" she said "What were you even thinking? What have you planned for your future?"

"Nothing. We have no future" I said with finality, not meeting her eyes.

"Oh, Eva" she wrapped her arms around me. Tears started flowing down my face and before I realized, I was sobbing in her arms. She patted my head trying to sooth me "Sweetheart, what has he done to you"

*****