3

ADRIAN: the middle of both sets of twins.” Adrian introduced me to his mate. “Shh you’re not supposed to tell anyone that.” I shushed him playfully knowing we were being watched by my uncle and aunt. Kina looked confused “I thought they said you didn’t come.” “Yeah, my family, a bunch of jokesters.” I said with a fake chuckle. I then moved on to greet Uncle Asa and Aunt Gina, with a hug to each, and only got it returned halfheartedly. I then moved to greet my grandparents. “Mimi, Papa Sutter” I moved to give both of them hugs, when I felt the sting of a hard slap that whipped my head to the side. “How dare you! Call me that, Mimi is reserved for my grandchildren! You are not my grandchild!” Mimi screamed at me. I was reeling and completely in shock! Was I just rejected by my grandparents? Well, my grandmother anyway. I thought that grandparents were supposed to love you, except you. Guess I was wrong. Mimi’s rejection cut me deeply. Everyone that was within ear shot, and that was a lot considering we were wolves was staring at me. I just hung my head and blinked back the tears that threatened to fall. Hearing the commotion that my grandmother had caused had me angry, I knew she was not fond of Keska but to reject her outright in front of everyone and on this day of all days had me seeing red. I stormed over to where they were standing! “What is the meaning of this” I bellowed, and a bit of my alpha aura slipped through I was so enraged. Everyone near me except other alpha’s bowed their heads and bared their necks to me. My mother and father both tried to calm me to no avail. It was my sweet mate that finally got through to me. “Adrian, darling, calm down” she soothed me. “You need to release the pack dear, ok?” again her soft voice was like soft music, tinkling in my ear. It was enough to calm mine and my wolf’s anger, I pulled back my aura. Turning to Keska to check on her, she was signing to me not to make a fuss over her. I then turned back to my grandmother “Why?!” I asked her between clenched teeth. “She is not one of my grandchildren! She has no right to call me Mimi.” My grandmother said very loudly. “She doesn’t look like any of you, just look at her! No black hair, no blue eyes, she doesn’t even have blond hair like her supposed mother” again she spoke loud enough for others to hear everything. I was livid with her! “So just because she called you Mimi, you have to cause a scene on my day!!” I growled at her. Even my wolf Coros was angry and prowling in my head.

KESKA: I couldn’t let Adrian continue down this path, I knew that if he did, there would be more trouble and I would get the blame, so I did what I needed to do. “Excuse me Alpha Adrian” I said rather quietly I then turned to my grandmother “I am deeply sorry to have caused you such distress Mrs. Sutter.” “I will remember and know my place.” Again, I spoke very quietly. I then turned and walked away. I felt like I was just ripped in half from the deep soul wrenching pain that tore through me, it felt like there was a deep gaping hole inside of me. No, I didn’t look like my siblings, James and Jessie were mirror images of our father, with raven black hair and blue eyes, like the color you get when you shine a bright light through a blue sapphire. Lissa and Liam were mirror images of our mother, Honey gold blond hair and blue eyes, the color of a clear summer sky. Then there is me, I am my mother’s mother, auburn hair, and hazel eyes, that go from a light peridot to a creamy caramel in color depending on what I am wearing. I am a weird throwback in genetics, because two blue eyed parents don’t produce a hazel eyed child, but I think it has something to do with mom’s dad. He had platinum hair and almost silver eyes. There were whispers of him being some sort of hybrid, or possibly a special wolf or something, but he died when I was four, and the only people that would know for sure about Papa don’t talk about him. They always change the subject when he is brought up.

ADRIAN: I cannot believe my grandmother, I knew she always needed to be in the spotlight, but I thought just once she would relent and let someone else be in the fore front, but she couldn’t, not for one day, and not even for me. I leave her standing there with everyone staring and just walk away from her, if she wants to continue with this shit then she can do it without me there to make it a legitimate issue. I go to find Keska, and bring my mate with me so that my grandmother doesn’t poison her against my cousin. I enter the pack house through the front door which opens into the foyer, to the left is the formal dining and ballroom with French doors that open to the outside, where the ceremony will be held, there are stairs just outside the room that go up to the second floor, and an elevator that goes to all the floors, to the right is the pack dining area and a game room, there are another set of stairs just outside the kitchen area that also lead up to the second floor, and another elevator and the kitchen takes up about half of the back of the West wall, the other half is storage and freezer space. Our pack house faces East, we have a pool out the back behind the kitchen for the pack to use. I found Keska in the kitchen helping the omegas with the food prep for after the ceremony. The minute she sees me her tears start. “I am So! So! sorry Adrian, I runed your day, if I knew she was going to do that I wouldn’t have gone up to her!” She speaks so softly that I must use my wolf’s hearing. “Shh, shh, you didn’t rune my day, she did, we both know how grandma is, she isn’t happy unless she’s the one in the spotlight, I just thought that today of all days she would behave.” I tell her. “Now let’s get some ice on your face before it bruises” She just shakes her head no at me. “No, why not?” I ask her. “I will wear it as a badge of honor, and if anyone asks me, I will tell them this is what you get when the former Luna, and elder Mrs. Sutter rejects family.” She says shrugging her shoulders. I just stepped into her and hugged her. I have no words to help soothe her hurt. When I step back from her, I sign to her I love you. She signs it back.