Chapter 4

He deflates, hope rushing out of him in one big whoosh. It can't be easy accepting I'm leaving, no matter if he knows I'm coming back. But, he's my dad and he's always only wanted what's best for me.

"Okay." He says with forced nonchalance. "But you do understand that it is mandatory to call me and your mother for a progress update daily. And once school starts I expect you to be fully committed to it. One bad grade and I'll drag you back to Oakwood quicker than you can bat those cheeky eyes."

"Yes, Sir." I joke.

"My baby is all growing up." My mum moans beside me, "I thought I'd have at least another year before you decided to move out."

"I know."

She sniffles.

Her full bottom lip begins to quiver, the brown surface wobbling like jelly during an earthquake. When her throat bobs up and down with her unsteady breath I brace myself for the natural disaster of her emotions, fully prepared for an ugly cry to mar mum's otherwise beautiful face.

As her eyes mist my dad's eyes widen in panic; when Mum cries, Dad cries - totally not something he wants to do in front of his alpha and best friend. Wolf pride thing. He turns to me with a forced glare that screams 'fix this so I don't have to'. It's almost comical, his face attempting an angry scowl but failing due to the desperation in his eyes and the twitching of his left lip. If it wasn't for the fact I hate to see my parents hurt, I might not have had mercy so I could study his expression more. But as it is, my conscience and my wolf is pushing at me to stops Mum's tears from spilling over.

Tentatively, I turn to Mum. "Mum, stop crying! You'll make me cry to. I want to experience my last year of school somewhere new but I'll visit every holiday."

The promise works by some miracle. Maybe she just needs a reminder that I'm not abandoning them - even if the longer I stand here saying goodbye the more I feel like I am. "You hear me?" I ask, "Every. Holiday."

I don't know if I'm saying it for her benefit or mine, but the air gets lighter. Or maybe it's just the lessening of my sudden guilt. I shift my weight from one leg to the other hoping my thoughts aren't displayed on my face.

"If you're not too corrupted by those city wolves." Alpha Noah chortles at his own comment, as though the thought of me as anything other than a wholesome Oakwood girl is laughable.

Mums dark complexion pales at the thought of my corruption. Dad growls lowly, eyes flashing from brown to amber - a sure sign that his wolf was about to surface in all of its feral, protective nature. He automatically takes a step towards Alpha Noah, glaring into Uncle Noah's dark eyes. Alpha Noah's eyes flash a deep gold for a split second at my dad's unintentional challenge before he reigns in his wolf with a chortle. When Dad finds only loving amusement in Uncle Noah's expression, his wolf calms down and quickly remembers its place as Alpha Noah's submissive.

Dad grumbles as he lands a friendly punch on his friend's shoulder. Tikka swats Noah on the stomach, mumbling under her breath about him always ruining the moment.

Deciding that Alpha Noah has already disrupted the family moment, Tikka steps forward the gently touch the back of my hand. "Now, you have fun dear. And don't ever worry about wanting to come back. This is your home. This is your pack."

They sound like the words of a brochure or some guide for parents dealing with children resolved to weed out their roots.

I smile, thanking her. But in my head I'm thinking all kinds of traitorous thoughts that twist my loyalties and warp my resolve.

I'm praying that I'll find a new pack.

I wonder when I decided this pack wasn't enough: was it when I was rejected by my own moon-mates, the wolves born under the same moon year as me; when I stood in that room and realised how dull life had been till now; when I walked down those stairs and saw no-one that wasn't related to me by upbringing? When did I decide that I want to move on to something better? Have I always felt this way - beneath the surface?

It's undeniable: I want a pack that's bigger than just four. I want to fully belong. And, as I stand gazing at the faces of the people I love, I promise myself that I will. In the MiddleEast Pack.

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A/N

Soooooo.... Chapter four.

Thoughts? Likes? Dislikes? Suggestions?

Next update will be Wednesday.