Running Home

Meet the Parents

POV Kyle

Walking back in to sit with Zander and Alex was probably one of the most uncomfortable things I'd done, its not like it had ever effected my friendship with Alex but knowing that Zander knew now meant I had to keep myself in check in a big way. I gave Alex a quick smile before sitting down and she returned it the same, Zander grumbled under his breath and put his arm on Alex's chair behind her. She looked towards him and smiled gently, you could visibly see Zander relax, I chuckled to myself. I had noticed Tytus was gone but I didn't dare bring it up, I'd much rather move on from this evenings fiasco. I heard Zander clear his throat and I looked up as he was taking something from his pocket.

"Alex the council made a pretty large discovery, that's why I met with them earlier, I had hoped we could all discuss it after dinner but it seems this is as good a time as any since we're all sharing big news" Zander glanced at me before continuing, "Some of the elders knew of your parents, I don't have full details about why they left you, but I do know who they were and who hid your wolf." Alex looked pale, was she going to vomit? I fought myself from reaching out to comfort her, after all I'd known her a lot longer than Zan. Just then he slid a small photograph in front of her. She stared down without moving at first, and then shaking picked up the picture. Her eyes went wide and then glossed over full of tears that never fell, she looked at Zander then down at the photo silently. "I remember these faces" Alex whispered. "I remember hearing my mother humming a tune walking through the woods" Alex mimicked the tune from her memory, it was soft and whimsical. "What else did they tell you?" she asked. "Your mother was from the Silver Springs Pack, your father was from here and apparently friends with mine, but I need to ask my father more about that later" Zander stated. "Well lets go!" Alex jumped up. Zander's eyes moved to meet mine, oh this will be rich, I will definitely be tagging along for this. 

POV Zander

I silently led the way to my parents cottage, it was a cute little house that my mother picked out after my dad had stepped down as Alpha. The flower garden was perfectly manicured and ran up both sides of the entry walk and around the entirety of the home. Three steps up to the porch where four pristine white rocking chairs sat, I was just about to knock on the door when my mother swung it wide open. "Oh my boy has came to visit", she squeezed my face planting a kiss directly on my cheek, "Hi mom" I said picking her up in a hug. Her eyes must have caught sight of the visitors behind me because just then she shrieked, "Zander who is this beautiful woman you've brought with you, I wish I'd known to be expecting guests the house is a wreck" she said with a slap on my chest. I walked in the door and glanced around, I didn't see a pillow out of place this woman was nuts. "Oh Kyle sweetie come give your momma a kiss!" she said wrapping him up in her arms, "You look thin come in and get something to eat." "You don't have to tell me twice" Kyle said with a grin walking straight to the kitchen. "I'm so sorry for my rude son I would've prepared some drinks, I'm Josiphine, Zander's mother, I raised him better than this" she slyly said. "Very nice to meet you ma'am, I'm Alex" Alex said. "Oh don't you dare, call me Josie dear, now let me find something for you to drink, are you hungry?" my mother said as she hurried herself into the kitchen. I mouthed sorry to Alex, but she just skipped past me following my mother. Goddess save me now.

Kyle was already half through a leftover lasagna he'd discovered and my mom was pouring lemonade for herself and Alex. "Mom when's dad going to be back?" I questioned. "Your father just had to run to the market he should be home any minute" she said without even looking at me. She was smitten by Alex already, good this will make things easier. "Can I have a glass too?" I asked, it wasn't often that my mother wasn't doting all over me, but somehow I felt slighted. "Of course don't be silly" she brushed me off sliding me her glass and taking another to fill for herself. "Tell me you've brought this fine lady home because you've found your mate" she glimmered. I smirked, lady wouldn't be a term I'd use for Alex especially after finding out the extent of her career choice, "now mom there are things you need to know first" I tried to explain. "Oh Zan is she pregnant? Am I going to be a grandmother?" she was almost giddy. "No you'll still have to wait on fulfilling your baby booty dreams, maybe Kyle can help with that, but yes she is my mate" I slowly said. You'd think I had told her the Moon Goddess was visiting her personally, my mother's face lit up and she jumped up and down with a clap. "Oh thank the Goddess! Why haven't you marked her? Can we begin plans for the ceremony? Dear you must give me your mother's number so we can begin planning" at that she must have seen the change in Alex's expression because she quickly quieted herself, "oh honey I am so sorry don't you fret one minute I've always wanted a daughter the Moon Goddess put you with my son knowing I had extra love to go around" mom wrapped Alex in her arms. Alex paused and then returned the embrace, looking up at me with thought filled eyes. "That is actually why I needed to talk to dad-" I was cut off by the sound of my father walking into the entry way. "Me? What do you need your old man to do for you know Zeke?" my father boomed. Alex gave me an inquisitive look, and I saw Kyle chuckling to himself with a mouth full of lasagna. My father still seemed larger than life to me even though I was almost an inch taller, his shoulders filled the doorway, and I still knew better than to correct him on my name even though I did out rank him now. "Dad, this is Alex, we needed to speak with you-" "She's his mate Zeke!" my mother screeched. My father's eyes lit up and he walked in and scooped Alex out of her chair, "Welcome to the family my dear" he said with a kiss on her cheek. He sat her back down before continuing, "I'm Eziekel, you feel free to call me whatever you'd like, might I be so bold to say second to my Josie you are one of the most beautiful women I have had the pleasure to lay my eyes on." Alex's face flushed, "Well I see Zander didn't inherit your charms, but at least he got your good looks." Oh boy, I rolled my eyes. "Thank goodness for that Zeke was cut from the same tree all us Rockwood men are made of" my father continued. "Zeke?" Alex questioned. I knew she wasn't going to let it go. "Oh yes apparently my boy here didn't think his father's name was good enough for him" my father smirked. "Nonsense" my mother started "I've called him Zander since he was in the womb, its this big dope that refuses to believe otherwise, Eziekel Zander Rockwood" my mother said with a grin putting an elbow in my father's side. Alex snickered giving me a look. "Dad there really is a reason other than you embarrassing me that we came by" I said firmly.

We moved into the living room, Kyle peeled himself away from the leftovers to listen in on what was about to happen. Alex sat close to me on the couch, she felt anxious about what she was about to be told and I didn't blame her I was terrified at the added information my dad may have, after all being Miles beta he was bound to know more that the elders. I handed my father the photograph silently, he looked and his eyes shot with fear, "how did you get this?" he demanded. "The Elder council gave it to me this morning, we've had an interesting 24hrs-" my dad cut me off again, "if the elders gave this to you they were mistaken and" he started to stand and I placed my hand on his knee urging him to sit back down. "I already know who's in the photograph dad, I also know you were his Beta, I need to know everything you do about why they left." My dad's eyes scanned the room, I really think this needs to be a more private conversation Zander" he said sternly. My mother must have left the room without me noticing, but Alex grew pale at the tone of my father's voice. "Dad" I looked at him, "Alex is the little girl in the picture." The air must have sucked out of the room at that moment because my father went back in his chair, he ran his hand firmly down his jaw, then looked at Alex studying her every feature. Just then my mother came back carrying a small box, my dad's eyes shot to her his lips pierced together but he said nothing. "I knew there was something different about you the first moment I saw you" my mother sat directly in front of us with the tiny box gently placed on her lap, "Josiphine." my father quietly said. Alex leaned into me and my arm pulled her closer. The box faced my mother as she opened it slowly, a faint glow shone from inside, my father gasped looking at Alex. I looked to see what had caused the reaction only to see her eyes had changed to a piercing silver and a shimmer bouncing off her skin, my jaw dropped. Alex looked startled at the attention but her eyes were drawn as my mother turned the box to hand it to her. Alex took the tiny box staring into it, "it was your mother's" my mom sweetly said "she left it with us for safe keeping before they left but I'm sure she wouldn't mind you having it instead." My father shifted in his seat, "I'm not sure your correct in that thinking dear", and he slowly closed the lid in Alex's hands. The shimmer on Alex's skin dissipated and her eyes returned to their normal green. I glanced from her to Kyle who was awh struck at what he'd just witnessed. "My mother's" Alex whispered. "Yes dear it was" my father gently removed the box from Alex's open hands, "she brought it to me the night they left with you, your father made me swear to protect this with my life and I intend to do so."