_ "Ace?" Meredith's father was the first to notice me. He had grown a lot older than my memories could recall. I towered above him, watching his hand move to pat me on the arm. Guilt, visible as day, etched like wrinkles on his face and I could tell he was holding back from engulfing me in a hug. He was an Alpha, after all; such emotions were unnecessary for us. "You grew up so well," his voice fought to not break, but his sight couldn't hide its blur. "It's great to see you again, Odysseus," I kept my expression neutral, refusing the emotions that threatened to reveal themselves. Unlike him, his wife couldn't hold her emotions. She had nothing to protect and within a second, she was flying down to hug me. It was a tight motherly embrace that I hadn't felt in a very long time. It

