It has been so long since she last smelled the thick forest air. She had almost forgotten how liberating it felt to be herself. After the death of someone she cared for, she had moved way; hoping that it would help being away from her past. But she couldn't escape it any longer. She couldn't risk revealing to others what they truly were.

" Mom?" Maddie asked, her head resting on Mason's shoulder.

"Yes, Maddison?" Mom looked at her through the rear view mirror than back at the road.

"Are we there yet?"

" No, we are not. I know you want to get off the road, but we're almost there." Mom sighed.

This wasn't the first time Maddie asked "Are we there yet?". She's upset, and I understood why. For the past nineteen years of my life, sixteen in her case; we've lived in Atlanta, Georgia. Mom was a psychologist, and earned more than enough to maintain our little family. Maddie wasn't causing drama at school for once and Mason, her older twin brother was his usual self. Quite, composed, smart, and very mature for his age.

It was a Saturday night, when mom called a family meeting. Long-story short, she told us that we were moving back to her old hometown to be closer to our grandparents; whom we haven't seen since the twins were two. Upon hearing that we were moving, Maddie became mad and refused to believe that we were moving away. She tried to persuade mom to let her stay with a friend, but she was obviously told no. Next thing we knew we were picked up by our grandparents at the European Airport.

"Maddie you won't have to wait long. Soon we'll get there, and you'll make new friends. You'll love it in our town." Maddie sighed dramatically and replied with a yes grandma, before turning more into Mason's side.

"Raelah how are you feeling about the move? I know Mason doesn't really mind, but how are you feeling?" I smiled at my granddad, returning his smile. But before I could answer, mom already did.

"Oh, you don't have to worry about her dad, she adapts really well to everything around her-"

I went back to reading as my mother kept on talking about me. Don't get me wrong, I find it sweet that she enjoys bragging about her kids, but the book I had in my grasp was amazing. It has a fierce female lead who tries to deny the connection she feels between her and her admirer. The female lead knows that something wasn't making sense, the way she felt the moment she met her admirer, up till now. But when he takes her out, she could not deny the truth any longer. Just as I was getting to the end of their date, I heard my name being called.

"Huh? " I looked up to see my brother looking at me through the car window. When did he get out?

He points behind him and I realized we arrived, and everyone was already standing outside the car. I got out and stood next to my mom after putting my book away.

"It's been too long since I've last been here. It still feels like paradise." Mom spoke as she looked around, tears threatening to fall.

"And nothing has changed, your house is still there. The Knights' family helped us maintain it in hopes that you would return for the family tradition. "

For a moment, I saw mom glare at grandma, then smiled as she directed her gaze back to the busy community in front us. There were multiple houses, stores, shops, mini markets and a couple of schools. But what stood out the most was a house a little farther, well, a mansion to be precise. After unloading all our belongs, we settled in and unpack. The day was going great so far, and I headed back to my room to finish reading.

The room was quite as I went over paper work with my father, Alpha of the Onyx Thunder Pack, Xaiden Knights. The Alpha of Moonstone Pack, Jeremy, has been trying to form an alliance with our Pack for quite some time. We had taken him into consideration, until we heard the rumours of how his Pack members behave towards their omegas.

Omegas are the caregivers, mothers and life-long partners to their Packs, pups and mates. By nature, they are sweet, gentle and compassionate wolves. They mostly take care of everyone and do not involve themselves in any sort or form of fighting. Which for centuries made them get labelled as weak, useless wolves and their only purpose was seen to give birth to pups for Alpha's, or mates. They were perceived as baggage and dead weight.

It repulses me till this day that certain Packs still dwell in the past and still treat omegas as slaves. But that isn't the case in my father's Pack. Omegas are treated with the outmost respect, and are cared for in our Pack. They have freedom to do as they wish, get paid for their services and are very important members to the Pack. They also have options like any other Pack member, which includes learning how to defend themselves and become warriors who help in various parts of the Pack.

The stack of files grows a little taller as I place a reviewed file on top of the rest. It was already afternoon, the sun's rays shone into the office' open curtains. From a far, I could hear the laughter of pups running outside, their parents talking, Pack members walking or jogging outside. I felt a sort of déjà vu, but those days for me were over. I could no longer run around without a care with my friends. Furthermore, I was the next Alpha of Onyx Thunder Pack, and it is my responsibility to learn from my father and one day be the Alpha with my mate by my side.

Knock Knock Knock.

My father gives a vocal permission to enter the office as I smell the scent of his Beta, Aaron. He closed the door behind him, straightening himself after bowing respectfully.

"Good afternoon, Alpha Xaiden, I have some urgent matter to report." His eyes held an uncertainty, his body was somewhat tense, and he seemed worried.

"You don't call me by my title unless it's something serious, Aaron. Out with it." He sighed, walking over to my father's side.

"It concerns the Stormblade family, Alpha." I raised an eyebrow at his words. Aaron himself was a part of the Stormblade family. So what could be so concerning about his family that he came to my father.

"If it's an internal family problem, you do not need to ask for permission to deal with it. Have you suddenly forgotten you are the Beta of this Pack?" Aaron glares at my father for a split second before speaking words that left my father speechless.

"Madelynn Evergreen is back, and she has three human children with her." I had only heard stories about uncle Aaron's sister.

Only good things were ever spoken about her, such as she was a great warrior and a friend that was close to my father's heart. But out of respect and love for my mother, he never delved into their history. Simply putting her as a childhood friend he grew up with whom was a part of the promised family, The Stormblade's.

On the other hand, bringing humans to the Pack was forbidden unless they were your mate; which rarely happens. And a couple of years ago, I overheard uncle say that aunt Madelynn was mated to a wolf, whom she moved to another land, a land inhabited by humans, after the death of one of her best friends. For a split second I could see joy, then disappointment flash in my father's eyes before he was walking out of his office, uncle Aaron and me close behind him.

It didn't take him long to sniff out her location, tracing it to the Stormblade's House. As soon as we were let in, we were greeted by great uncle Matteo and great aunt Amara. Great uncle seemed to know why we were here and escorted us to the living room whilst great aunt Amara went upstairs.