I waved at Ember as I saw her walking a few feet away, my hand falling down as a blonde woman with short-cropped hair wrapped her arms around her and twirled her around, my stomach twirling along with them at the sight.

The driver from yesterday, who'd also dropped me off this morning, had parked the car right in front of the main entrance. I pulled open the backdoor, getting into the seat, quickly glancing up at the review mirror in which the driver did the same. He gave me a quick nod before turning his eyes back on the road in front of him.

***

My guts turned and twisted, an unsettling clump of darkness nestling in my abdomen at the thought of tonight's event. I hugged the throw pillow closer to my chest and turned over once again, looking at the time displayed at the bottom of the tv screen.

Alpha Allen's parents would be coming for dinner tonight, and I'd have to meet both of them. The murderous man and the woman who married and procreated with said murderous man, and raised the person that's currently keeping me captive.

I threw the pillow onto the armchair that I was pretty sure Alpha Allen had taken a liking to- at least he'd always sit in it when he'd visit my room.

A knock made my head turn. When you speak of the devil...

He poked his head in, a careful smile on his lips. "My mom just texted me, they'll be here in 20, just so you know," he said.  I looked up at the ceiling and nodded, humming.

"Love, can I come in?"

I replied with a 'sure', not taking my eyes off the ceiling. I heard his footsteps come closer before they stopped. He'd taken a seat - in his favorite chair. I couldn't help but smile.

"What is it?"

Shaking my head, I took my eyes off the white-painted ceiling, getting up to a sitting position. "Nothing, just something I thought about," I said while making a useless effort to pat my hair flat. I pursed my lips, before turning my eyes to Alpha Allen.

"I already get that you don't want to meet them, but you seem almost as if you're scared, and I don't understand why. My parents wouldn't hurt a fly,"

I folded my hands, resting my pointed index fingers on my pursed lips. "You said just yesterday that you dad literally murdered your little sister's teacher,"

He tipped his head from side to side, thinking of his answer. "Pedophile flies don't count. Those you're allowed to hurt, actually, it's often applauded to do so. But you still didn't answer my question," he added, sitting up straighter.

Shrugging, I rested back into the couch, running the tips of my fingers in circles on the fabric. "I don't know, might have to do with the fact that I'm still sorta adjusting to forced socialization with one werewolf, I'm not quite ready for another two," I mumble

"My mom is human. Like you. Haven't I told you that already?"

I couldn't help myself, the words flew out of my mouth without me intending them to do so, I didn't even have time to think them over: "And she still had you?! Willingly?"

Alpha Allen rolled his eyes with a snort. "Me, Lila, Sophia, Halley, Emmely, and Austin, yes. And no- Emmely and Austin were both 'oopsie's' as my mom calls them, but besides that, pretty willingly, yes. Most humans end up eventually accepting the love their mate has for them, and I truly hope that you're just like them," he looked at me in a weird way. Like he was sad, but yet still... kinda happy, or hopeful. It made my stomach feel soft- and not in a good way.

"Sure you do," I said, trying to end the uncomfortable silence that had appeared.

He shook his head, running his hand through his hair, my eyes unwillingly following the motion. His hair is great- a bit too great. "Fairly, Love, I'm not in a mood to argue or listen to you listing all of the reasons you hate me. Believe it or not, I'm also a bit nervous- I'm introducing you, my mate, to my parents. That would be the human equivalent of introducing your fiancee to your family for the first time. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go find one of the awful shirts my mom has bought for me- she thinks I wear them all the time," he said getting up from the chair. I crossed my arms as he closed the door behind him. Asshole.

***

When I finally sucked myself up and decided to head downstairs before his parents, I headed down the stairs, to find Allen sitting on the massive couch in the living room, looking down at his phone. His head tipped up as he caught sight of me, a smile spreading on his face before he got up from his seat. I must admit I'm pleasantly surprised, I thought that I'd have to get my dad to help me drag you out of your room later so you could at least get to meet them,"

I snorted, rolling my eyes. "I just want to get this over with,"

He shrugged, before walking up to me, and wrapping his arm around my waist.

"Hands off me," I hissed, my eyes sending daggers his way.

"Please let me hold you close, just this once- otherwise, my mom will freak out because she'll think I'm not nice to you, please," He begged, his eyes surprisingly desperate.

I pursed my lips again, looking straight ahead. "Fine... but I want to see my grandparents, with my parents. We never get to see them, I want to see them,"

"Fine by me- but I don't know why you think that would be something you're getting in return, you know that you only have to tell me that you want to see them, I'll arrange it right away. You can go see them whenever you want," he said in a matter-of-factly tone.

Despite my urge to et pissed about his arrogance, I couldn't help the surprised tone in my voice. "Really?" I asked him, looking up at him, for the first time really realizing how much his 6'2 towered over my 5'6.

He shook his head in disbelief. "Of course. Jeez, how much of a monster do you think I am?"

Before I could come up with an answer, my attention was drawn to the sound of the front door opening, and people walking around in the hallway. Suddenly a woman dressed in a beige knit blouse appeared in the doorway. her hair was wrapped up in a lazy bun, and aside from the grey streaks here and there, her hair color was identical to Alpha Allen. Although, her eyes were a lighter brown than his. She half ran towards as, her arms spreading, seemingly getting ready for a hug. "Oh the perfect Ally-boy I am so happy to see you, and your wonderful-"

She stopped dead in her tracks her eyes narrowing and nose wrinkling in disgust. She powerwalked up to Alpha Allen, ending up face-to-face with him. "LYXANDER ALLEN WILSON PARKER! Get your hands off her right away! Can't you see she looks like she'd rather run for the hills than be next to you? Allen, you complete useless asshole of a jackass, I raised you better than that," she grabbed a hold of my arm and dragged me back along with her, before letting me go and taking a few steps back.

A man almost identical to Alpha Allen, except for a few frown- and age lines and greying roots, appeared in the doorway. "Do as your mother says, Lyxander Allen, hands off,"

The woman turned to me once again, smiling warmly. "I am so sorry for my son being a dumbass- he's too much like his father," the man in the doorway looked incredibly offended, like a kid who'd just been told by another kid that their mac n cheese art sucked.

The woman gently took my hands in hers, shaking it softly. Her hands were warm. They reminded me of my dad's. Warm and safe. "My name is Claudia, I'm Allen's mother - not that I'm proud of it right now,"

"I'm Paige, I'm..." I didn't really know how to finish the sentence. Your son's prisoner? Not that great of an impression. Wait, why do I even care?

She broke my trail of thought. "My son's mate- not that much of a privilege I realize, now. But nonetheless, you are just... beautiful, absolutely stunning. Allen mentioned it quite a few times, but he didn't do you any justice- he's been talking about you non-stop for the past few weeks," she smiled at me with a motherly warmth that made me feel like I was home with my own mom.

A blush forced it's way up to my ears, which were thankfully hidden away by my hair. "Uh... thanks," I croaked out, not knowing any proper way to respond

"I'm Lyxander, Lyxander Allen's father, nice to meet you, Paige," he reached his hand out for me to take. I shook it for less than a second before retreating my hand, making his eyebrows furrow.

"Paige," I mumbled.

He smiled. "I figured as much,"

My ears heated, and I looked down on my hands as an awkward silence filled the room.

Alpha Allen's mother slapped her hand lazily against her husband's chest. "Oh Lyxander, leave the poor girl alone, she's already uncomfortable, and you ain't helping. Go chop me some lumber or something, just leave and do something productive- and it applies to you as well, Ally, get out,"

Alpha Allen shook his head, a skeptical grimace covering his face. "Mom, this is my house,"

Claudia flipped around in less than a second, her eyes lighting up in anger."Did I just hear your talk back? Did I just hear you talk back? I already dealing with 4 teenagers at home, if you think I will deal with that attitude for as much as one second, you're dead wrong. Out, now,"

Alpha Allen's father put his hand on Alpha Allen's shoulder. "Come on, Lyxander Allen, we better leave before your mother has an aneurysm,"

"And... you're sleeping on the couch tonight," Alpha Allen's father's brows furrowed at her word, but he quickly rolled his eyes, leaving the room along with Alpha Allen.

Claudia shook her head with an eye roll, sitting down on the couch, patting the seat next to her, inviting me to sit down. "Those boys- you gotta keep the leash tight, otherwise they'll end up thinking they've got a free will,"

I sat down slowly, a little further away from her than she wanted me, but she didn't say anything, thankfully. I fiddled with my hands in my lap, looking at the doorway. "Weren't you being... a little... harsh?"

She snorted. "Please, sweety, if they get their egos hurt that easy, it ain't my fault. And I still love them- I'm just making sure I won't have to deal with any of their crap. I always have. If a man respects his mother, he's gonna respect every woman he meets, same as a boy who hates his mother ends up serial-killing little girls. You'll find out when you have kids of your own," she smiled warmly, in a creepy you'll-be-making-me-grandkids way. It made my stomach feel queasy.

I stayed quiet, just trying to make sure that the conversation wouldn't keep going in the direction it had already gone. Apparently, she got the message.

"Well, what did my useless Ally-boy do to make you that uncomfortable? He must've made a major fuck up," she smiled cheerfully, nestling back into the couch.

I shooked my head. "He... hasn't really done anything I guess, I just... he's scary," I shrugged.

She threw her head back, laughing, shanking so violently that I was worried that she'd fall off the couch. The minutes passed by as she tried to get over her laughing fit, but every time she seemed to catch her breath she broke into a new fit of laughter. Finally, she caught her breath. "Okay, listen to me very carefully, my son is many things, 'scary' is not one of them. As a kid, he'd cry every time he watched Corpse Bride because he thought it was sad. I mean, the boy cried for an entire week when I was pregnant with the twins because he thought that if my stomach was gonna get any bigger, I'd explode and die. He's blank as a piece of paper and about as terrifying as a wet bunny slipper," she began laughing again, making a smile spread on my face- it's been a while since I'd heard that, completely free, untamed, happy laughter.

I shrugged again, resting back comfortably into the couch- the woman has a way of making people comfortable. "Honestly I'd be a bit afraid if my bunny slippers had yellow glowing eyes,"

She rolled her eyes with a smile. "That's nothing for you to worry about- as a teenager, he'd get yellow eyes evetime he felt... anything. He was happy? Glowing eyes. Sad? Glowing eyes. Pissed off? Glowing eyes- he'd get more Shan Yu eyes than he'd get mood swings," she smiled warmly.

I shook my head. "I honestly can't imagine him like that... my age, I don't know, it just... I can't see it,"

She smiled, looking over her shoulder, out the windows behind us. I looked along with her. Alpha Allen and his father were sitting in each their own fancy-schmancy lawn chair, a beer in hand, talking, seemingly enjoying the view. She looked back at me. "He was like any other teenage boy- energized about life, annoyed with his mother, pissed off by his sisters... and completely obsessed with meeting his mate,"

Swallowing a lump in my throat I looked away from her. Her eyes were so... sweet, hopeful for her ... yeah, her son, which I had a hard time believing Alpha Allen was.

She sighed. "The poor boy, his father- not that I blame him- always told him about how amazing it was to have mate, and how he met me two weeks after his sixteenth birthday, Allen was convinced that he'd meet his mate the day he turned sixteen," she shook her head.

"One of the most painful experiences I've ever had as a mother was listening to my son, crying so loudly that he was screaming the night after he turned seventeen. He was convinced that he'd never find anyone- that he'd spend the rest of his life alone. I'd rather give birth three hundred times than listen to my son's heart breaking. The poor boy..." she pressed her lips together, looking at the floor, before the corners of her mouth turned up, into a smile.

"You should've heard him when he called to tell us. It was before you ended up in the hospital, he was so happy he was sobbing, he thought that he'd spend eternity alone, and then you came around and gave him... you. I've known him since before he was born, and I've never heard him so happy. Talking about how he'd never have to be alone again, how... he'd found the love of his life, his forever person," she shook her head again, the smile still present on her lips.

"He loves you with all his heart, he's dazzled by you. No matter what I do when I talk with him, he'll always end up talking about you, and when I tell him, he'll apologize, and then it'll be 10, maybe 15 minutes and then he'll be back to talking about you, he loves you- his sisters are going slowly insane, and his brother too, for that matter, they're getting really sick of his crap," she chuckled.

I shrugged, looking back out of the window. "He's got one hell of a weird way of showing it,"

She nodded picking up the cup of tea that I hadn't even noticed being placed on the coffee table by a maid, who was currently leaving the livingroom. "That's quite true, and trust me, I'll rip his ears off if I find out he's forcing you to do anything you're uncomfortable with, no matter how minor. Is he?"

My mind went blank at her words, and I searched through my brain to find any examples of it... and came up empty. He had asked for another goodbye kiss this morning but... had I said no, he probably wouldn't have done it, he might've been disappointed, but he wouldn't have done it without my consent... I guess.

I shook my head slowly. "Not that I can think off right now," my brows furrowed at my own words. I could've sworn... I pursed my lips. He hasn't really touched me without my permission since... the hospital, except for yesterday, but he only did it because he worried. How the hell didn't I notice?

A knock on the doorway made us both look in that direction. Alpha Allen was there, smiling. "Dinner's ready if the two of you would like to join us? Or are you full on tea and chit chatter?"

Claudia rolled her eyes, getting up from the couch. "Please, you don't get hips like this from leaf-juice and conversations. What's for dinner?"

***

I smiled and waved through the open door as Alpha Allen's parents got into their car and drove out of the ridiculously long driveway.

"They loved you. Especially my mom," he said, and although I wasn't looking at him, I could hear the smile in his voice.

Wrapping my cardigan just a little closer around my body, I smiled and looked up at him. "I liked your mom, she's nice," I furrowed my brows at our pre-dinner conversation. He's not really done anything to hurt me, I swear he has, but... he hasn't. I shook my head to myself.

"Is anything wrong?"

"No, nothing," I mumbled, looking at the driveway their car had driven out of not long ago.

Alpha Allen cleared his throat behind me. "Uhm, Love, I know we just ate an hour ago but could I... talk you into drinking a cup of coffee with me? I didn't even get a chance to ask you about your first full day at school. But only if you want to, of course,"

I had to stop myself from blurting out a 'no thank you', but stayed silent, biting my lip, before I nodded. "Yeah, although... could I get a cup of cocoa instead?"

His eyes widened in surprise, but his surprised expression quickly got replaced by a happy one. "Yeah, of course, Love, whatever you want. And thank you. it means the world to me that you met my parents and talked to them, I can't even express how happy I am,"

Shrugging, I turned around and walked in direction of the kitchen. "Don't mention it," I whispered, a blush infesting my ears at his gratitude.

"I'll make sure you and your parents go see your grandparent this weekend. Would that count for on of your parent's weekly visits or is that a seperate thing?" he asked, the smile still evident in his voice.

"Would it be alright if it was... seperate? Like... maybe my parent's visit Saturday, and we go see my grandparents Sunday or something?" my voice grew weaker at each word I spoke.

He smiled as he walked up to the coffe machines and turned it on, along with the teakettle next to it. "If that's what you wanna do, that's how it'll be. I'll clear my schedule for the weekend, then. You want marshmellows, whipped cream, or a scoop of ice cream?"

I chocked on my spit. "What?"

"For your cocoa?"

I shrugged. "I usually just drink it plain but... it all sound good. Can I get all three?"

He nodded, a smile spreading on his face, a chuckle passing his lips. "I'll find a way to squeeze it all in there, but only because it's you,"

Sitting quietly in the barstool by the kitchen island, I watched him as he pulled the stuff he needed out of the cuppboards and the freezer. He was surprusinlgy well known in his kitchen, given the fact that he had people who cooked all of his meals for him.

He placed a mug, brimming to the top with whipped cream, so much that I had to scoop it off the side with my finger, in front of me. I took a sip, being careful not to burn my toungue- fortunately, the vanilla ice cream made that oppertunity dissapear.

he sat down next to me with his coffee. "So, how was your day?"

A/N

Once again a chapter I can't really whether I like or not. I'm leaning towards not- we're all our own greatest critics, right?

Did you guys like Allen's mother? Personally, I'm a little torn about that.

Well, a question for you guys (or 2, actually)

What princess(es) was your favorite as a kid?

Mine were Belle, because she had a yellow dress, and Cinderella, because she had yellow hair.

Yeah, you got one guess about my favorite color as a kid.

And: What are your favorite Disney song(s)?

Mine are: