I slowed down to minimize the dust, gravel crunching under my tires. Before I even had a chance to raise the window and stow away my sunglasses, the trio were right beside my door. I could see the fatigue under her eyes, but that didn't detract from the sparkle of happiness they held.

"Welcome, Allison!" she greeted, shuffling the babies a bit to offer her hand. "Or is it Luna Allison?" she added, her face creasing with worry as I slipped from the car and tossed the strap of a leather messenger bag over my shoulder.

I smiled and gently shook her offered hand. "Just Allison is fine," I smiled, wordlessly offering to take one of the kiddos. The little boy took one look and all but threw himself to me.

"James!" cried Laura as I easily caught the kiddo and settled him on my hip. "I'm so sorry."

"You're fine. I really don't mind at all," I replied, smiling warmly to the little face that was grinning up at me. "Hi buddies," I crooned to little James, earning a happy gurgle in return.

Laura flushed hotly. "This isn't how I pictured the introduction to go," she mumbled to herself. It was clear that everything that had transpired had thrown her off her groove pretty hard.

"My dad used to tell me," I straightened up and imitated a deeper voice, "The best laid schemes o' mice an' men gang aft a-gley." I chuckled and continued in my normal tone, "which is a super fancy quote to say what can go wrong often will." I shrugged. "You just have to understand that sometimes you have to let it roll off your back like water on a duck. He was a big reader, a poetic romantic under the gruff and grime."

"Huh, Robert Burns," she said with a smile. "But please, let's go inside where it's cooler. I know it's still spring but the bugs can be pretty mean if you stand still long enough."

It was a short walk up the stairs and into the front door of the Pack House and immediately I was met with a wave of cool, cookie scented air. It reminded me of my childhood and the cookies we used to bake. Though that was probably why they did it, psychological tricks and all.

The front room was clearly used as a living room of sorts. There was a giant u shaped sectional that looked like it would swallow you in cloud like comfort as soon as you graced it with your bottom. The sectional faced a tv so large, I couldn't help but wonder if it was a retired jumbotron or something. It literally took over three quarters of the wall, the tv was so massive.

Alas, I was escorted past the best looking lounge space in the world to a medium sized conference room. No comfy sitting for me. Whomp whomp.

"My Alpha will be by shortly," smiled Laura, taking James back from my arms and taking a seat. "I'm sorry he wasn't there to greet you, he was finishing up his weekly team meeting."

"Oh not to worry, I know how that feels," I chuckled, lifting the messenger bag to the tabletop and opening it to reveal three identical folders. "I was on team calls and check-ins all the way up."

Laura chuckled and started to reply when the door opened and my heart dropped. I hadn't seen him in a little over twenty years but he looked pretty much the same. The same short hair the color of midnight, though now greying at the temples as if it was stardust. Eyes the color of soil after a summer rain. The smile lines were new, as if his life had been incredibly happy after I broke his heart.

"Roger," I said, stunned. The man dragged his eyes away from his beautiful family and his jaw landed somewhere close to where my heart landed.

"Allison?" he asked incredulously. "Wow... I never expected to see you again."

I gave a smile that didn't meet my eyes. I mean how could it? Roger was my fated mate that I kicked to the curb in favor of Warren. "Yea," I said awkwardly, dropping my eyes and pulling out the folders.

"Am I... missing something?" asked Laura, looking from her mate to me and back. Had the situation not been so awkward, I probably would have found it humorous.

"Umm," I said, stalling.

"Remember I told you about my first mate?" Roger asked, kissing both babies before leaning in to give Laura a sweet kiss.

A tiny, traitorous muscle under my ribs twitched, but it passed quickly. Just a flicker of guilt and something colder. Emptiness, maybe. The kind that creeps in when you realize you walked away from something good, and it turned out better without you.

Her eyebrows shot up, then softened. Surprise giving way to a quiet, searching understanding. "Ooooh."

I gave a small shrug, the diplomatic kind. "Ancient history." I smiled, this time for real—even if it stung a little. "He hit the jackpot when the Moon Goddess gave him you."

Laura and Roger shared a glance that melted into a warm smile - the kind of smile that could melt snow on a cold day.