Connor POV I make my way through the pack house. A hundred thoughts swirling in my head. I know what’s happened was out of our control, but seeing Oli so hurt is making it hard for me to breathe. It kills me to hear her say I’m no longer her brother. We have always been close. I love her and it breaks my heart to be on the receiving end of her hate. I know her anger at me is because she thinks I don’t care about dad, but I do. I love him just as much as she does. She also thinks I’m not angry at mom and Xavier, but she is wrong. I’ve just had more time to get my anger in check. Oli doesn’t realize the secrets that mom and dad kept from us. That is part of the problem. Dad knew what mom was before they married. From what I was told, he embraced her despite the fact she kept such a huge secret from him. After she was pregnant with me he always knew there was a possibility that Oli and I would have the wolf gene. He was actually excited about the possibility of us having our own wolves from what he told me. He loved mom and her wolf, Jenna, too. He and mom were with me the first time I shifted. Mom and dad took me into the woods behind our home when the pain started. She told me what to expect a few months before my first shift, but nothing can prepare you for the pain. Don’t get me wrong, it was worth every second of it, but to think you’re human and then find out you’re a wolf screws with your head. The best part besides meeting Cosmo was the pride I saw in my dad’s eyes when he saw my wolf for the first time. It is something I’ll never forget. I wanted to tell Oli right away, but they insisted I wait. She was fourteen at the time. I wasn’t told until I was seventeen, but I knew something was always off about how fast and strong I was. My parents didn’t feel she was ready to hear about wolves having grown up among humans. Looking back, that was a huge mistake. We both should have been told when we became teenagers. We should have been given time to adjust to the fact we were different. Oli should have been there when I shifted. I wish I could go back and tell her the moment I found out we were wolves, but I can’t. Dad and I had a long talk when he found out about Xavier and mom. It was funny to think about now but he was the voice of reason. I was so angry, just like Oli. He insisted that he loved me and that I didn’t have to hate my mom on his behalf. It was difficult to listen to what he said until I met Rebecca. Even though I understood the pull of the bond, I hated seeing my father so broken. Despite everything that’s happened, he still loves my mom desperately. My mother and I had a heated discussion about mates and the pain she was causing my father. Flashback “Connor, I know you’re angry, but I never meant to hurt your father.” “Then why did you? You knew there was a chance you could meet your mate and, instead of waiting, you let yourself fall in love with dad.” “It’s not that simple, Connor. My birth pack was filled with misogynistic ba**ards that treated their mates like possessions. Half of them were physically abusive because the Alpha allowed it” she says. Her look is distant as if remembering the past. “It was one of the reasons my father insisted we move far away, even though he was the pack Beta. Most wolves find their mates in their own pack or one that is close by. When we moved clear across the country, I never expected to find my mate,” she says. “My father wasn’t like those wolves, and he didn’t want me to suffer because of the bond. He made arrangements for us to move here and Xavier’s father, who was Alpha at the time, offered for us to carry the pack scent but live among humans because he didn’t trust outsiders.” “I honestly believed that I would never find my mate. You have to believe me, Connor. When I met your father, I felt an instant connection to him. It wasn’t the bond, but I knew that I could love him. I promise you that when I met Xavier I fought the bond with every fiber of my being, but it’s impossible,” she says. “I know you feel it with Becca. You feel empty when you’re apart. You feel like she is a part of you. That’s how I felt the moment I found Xavier. I didn’t want to, Connor. I wanted my love for your father to be enough, but it wasn’t. Everything I felt for him was overshadowed by the instant love I felt for Xavier. I will always love Charles, but it pales in comparison to what I feel for Xavier. I hope you can forgive me,” she says. Flashback Ends I’m still working on it. I’m not as angry as Oli because I understand the bond, but I’m still angry. She should have waited. After our talk, I told my dad that I had found my mate. He was thrilled. Apparently, my mother had explained to him a long time ago what mates were and insisted that even though they weren’t fated they were meant to be. My chest aches when I think about how he must have felt the first time my mother told him about Xavier. When I told my dad about Rebecca, he wasn’t angry at me for leaving. In fact, he insisted that finding her was a gift. He insisted I go to the pack to get to know her. He is so excited to meet her, despite his own pain. He always puts us first. It does nothing to quell my guilt about leaving him alone. I wish Oli could have stayed with him. After Oli has her first shift, I plan on taking her and Rebecca to see him. Xavier insists that it isn’t safe for her to be among the humans until she has gained her wolf with all the anger she has about the “situation” as he calls it. I’ve seen him be loving with my mother, but normally he is all growly Alpha wolf. I hope that I never become that. He insists that I will be the next Alpha because of Rebecca, but I’m not really sure if that’s what I want. I didn’t even realize I knocked until the door opening breaks me out of my thoughts. My mother smiles when she sees it’s me. She steps aside to let me in. Xavier is seated behind his large desk. I bear my neck as Cosmo, my wolf, has told me it is necessary to show respect to our Alpha wolf. “Connor, that isn’t necessary. I consider you my son and someday you will be the alpha of the pack” he says. “With all due respect, Xavier, I have a father. I know you are my step-father now that you and mom are bonded, but that doesn’t change that I have a father.” “Connor,” my mother says my name in warning. “No, Evelyn, he’s right. As much as I wish you were my blood, Connor, I know you are Charles’ son. Now it must be important if you have come to speak to us alone. I haven’t seen you without Rebecca by your side since you found each other,” he says. Cosmo whimpers and my chest aches. “She is angry with me. She is actually spending the day with Oli.” “Why is she angry with you,” my mother asks, her voice laced with concern. “It has something to do with Oli, but since Rebecca refuses to talk to me besides to call me an a**, I have no idea exactly why.” Xavier runs his hand down his face frustration clearly evident in his expression. “Have you talked to Oli?” “I wouldn’t exactly say we talked. It was more her telling me that just because I replaced our father doesn’t mean she has to accept the situation. She also said again she has no mother or brother. She is a prisoner here until she is eighteen. She also said she is going to sit her a** in her room and never come out until the day she can leave.” My mother sobs and I pull her into my arms. “This is ridiculous. She is acting like a spoiled child.” Xavier says. I can’t stop the growl that escapes me. His eyes meet mine and I drop my gaze. “With all due respect, she isn’t a spoiled child. She has had her life turned upside down and been taken away from one of the people she loves most in this world. Our father is alone and though I know why, it doesn’t make what’s happening to any of us any easier.” “You never should have told her we got married,” my mother says with her head buried in my chest. “You are mine, Evelyn. I am not going to hide it for the sake of Olivia’s feelings,” Xavier says. “Then you should have kept it quiet for the sake of mine. She is my daughter and as much as I love you, she is my pup. She comes before anyone. You say that Connor and she are your pups, but you’re not treating her like she is. You would kill anyone who caused your pup an ounce of pain and yet you just keep hurting her,” my mother says. “Evelyn” he starts to say, but my mother cuts him off. She ignores him and reaches her hand up to cup my face. “I’m sorry, Connor. I’m sorry that I hurt you and Oli. I know you understand why all of this is happening, but I fear she never will. I fear I have lost her forever” she says as her body shakes and tears rush down her cheeks. “She needs time and understanding mom. I know she is angry but she loves us. She just misses Dad. Maybe you should let me take Oli to see dad. I can bring Rebecca.” “No, you know that can’t happen, Connor. She is too volatile right now. There is no telling when she will shift. If the humans see it happen, it will put our existence at risk,” he says. I nod but I don’t necessarily agree. I shifted and no one was the wiser. I think there is more to his reasoning than he is letting on. I know he doesn’t want my mother around my father, but she wouldn’t even be there. “I’m glad that Rebecca has befriended her. I think that will help her settle in,” Xavier says. “I think that you really should tell her everything. I had a year to prepare myself for what was going to happen. If she does shift sooner because of her emotions, things will be worse.” “I agree Connor. Your mother and I will sit down with her as soon as we can get her to sit in the same room as me,” Xavier says. “Maybe you shouldn’t be there. She might be more receptive if it’s just mom. She sees you as the enemy right now.” Xavier growls but I know I’m right. “Connor, can you excuse us we have some things we need to discuss,” my mother asks. I press a kiss on her forehead and nod to Xavier before I head out of the office. Goddess, I pray that Oli lets us back in. I can’t lose my sister.