CONVERSATION

“Grace, you can't just leave everything you know behind," Dad says with the bang of his fist against the table.

Mom does nothing but sits quietly by him with her hands placed in her lap and head hung low. I can see that she has different ideas than my dad, but she wouldn't dare speak against her mate. She is too old fashioned.

"Can't you understand why I'm doing this?" My voice is a low whisper. I don't like having arguments with my father. However, sometimes it can't be prevented; like now.

Since I have told him about my plans to leave the pack and mate another wolf he has been less than thrilled. He sends Samuel a few glares throughout our discussion, but Samuel isn't at all affected like I am. Here I am, supposed to be Luna of a pack and I'm sitting, scared of what my Dad thinks.

It's not like he can actually stop me since I am of age to make my own decisions, but that doesn't mean he won't try. "I understand that you are hurt Grace, believe me I do. But leaving your pack and everything behind is a little drastic, don't you think?"

He is desperately trying to get the message across to me that I am making a mistake with his tone and gestures. He isn't making this easy on me.

"Daddy, I just lost my mate. He chose someone else!" I am speaking a little louder now. It takes him by surprise.

"He doesn't want to do that, but the circumstances called for it."

I shake my head refusing to hear anymore about it. It still hurts too much to speak of Logan. The hole in my soul is still very much there. I feel the tears forming in my ducts.

"This is what I want. I'm going with Samuel tonight and I'd love to have the support of my parents. However, if I have to go without it, I will. Please don't make me." Dad stares back at me wearily. He looks like he has aged at least ten years since this conversation started. It makes me feel guilty.

"We don't want you to leave us Grace. Who knows when we'll see you again."

"I asked you to come," I remind him. "You chose not to."

"My home is here. My pack is here. Your mother and I are too old to start over in another pack."

"You won't have to worry about that," Samuel says. "You'll be taken care of. We don't expect you to prove your place in the pack. These are unusual circumstances after all," he points out.

"But I wouldn't feel right if I didn't," father explains.

I can see his dilemma. I know this puts him in an impossible spot and it isn't fair to him; or anyone for that matter. Unfortunately, this can not be helped, though. He has to make a choice, for him and my mom.

"Please, dad. Come with us. I don't want to leave you anymore than you want me gone."

He sighs heavily and rubs his face with a calloused hand before turning to look at my mom. Her eyes hold worry and debate. She is torn.

"Why do you think honey?" he asks her.

"I just want everyone to be happy," she answers vaguely.

"I know you do," he agrees. "But right now I need you to be outspoken about this. I'm at a loss."

As if he has commanded her, my passive mother does something I have not heard her do in years. She takes charge and speaks her mind. It is liberating for me to hear. I rarely ever saw this side of her. I imagined it is her wolf complying with my father's request.

"I think Grace should do what she thinks is best for her. She lost her mate to another wolf and it crushed her soul. She is broken and weak from the pain of what this has done. We have no idea what she's going through. We have never experienced losing a mate before. I don't think we have a right to judge her for her choices. If she wants to try to move on from this then I say we stand behind her one hundred percent."

Everyone at the table is speechless. Even my dad and that is even more surprising than my mother's speech. She has taken us all by surprise.

"I didn't know you felt this way," he says finally.

She rubs my Dad's hand showing her guilt for thinking differently than him and gives him an apologetic look. "We have to let her go. It's the right thing to do. We'll survive, just like we always have."

"Does this mean you're not coming with me?" I ask, a little saddened.

Mom looks away from my dad and back at me. "I agree with your father on this one. Like he said, this is our home. We know everyone here. Our family is still part of this pack. You may have your prejudices against the pack, but for us this is our entire life."

I nod in understanding, but just because I understand something doesn't make it easy.

"We're not deserting you. So please don't misunderstand us. We'll be here as long as you need us. We're only a phone call and a few towns away."

Samuel places his hand on my back and rubs soothing circles to calm me. It feels odd to have him comforting me, but it isn't terrible. In fact, it felt nice to know he actually cares. That's a plus to have in a mate I suppose.

"Are you sure we can't change your mind?" Samuel pleads.

He is going through a lot to give me what I want. It is something I had not expected in this deal. I like seeing him care so much. It makes me see the more human side of him, than animal. I know Alpha's are all business and no play, but he seems different somehow.

My father gives me an apologetic look and shakes his head. His eyes then meet Samuel's. "No, I'm sorry."

It hurts me that they are willing to be so far away from me, but on the other hand, I can understand where he is coming from. I know what he wants to stay. My aunts and uncles, cousins and grandparents are here. He doesn't want to leave them, and it would be asking too much for them to leave with us.

He sighs and rubs his tired face. It is then that I notice how aged my father really is. Being in the pack all these years has worn him down and now with the added stress of the past week on top of that, he looks like a walking zombie. This is too much on him.

Maybe it would be better for him if he stayed. With me gone he might finally have some peace. Maybe with some time, and when things settle down, he can come visit us in our new pack. It isn't like I will never see him or my mom again.

"If this is really what you want then I guess I have to accept it," I say.

"It is," he confirms. "Both your mother and I are comfortable and happy here, and you deserve that as well." His face is saddened, but serious. "If leaving here gives you happiness and comfort, then you should go. We will be there for you no matter what you choose to do."