Page 23 of When Embers Become Ashes

“You look like my mother. I will have to warn Dad, sometimes he still gets upset at her memory”.

He tells me a little about his dad and brothers. He’s the oldest triplet, and Dominic is the middle. When their dad stood down, Nic took over as Pack Alpha. The youngest, Lucian, is a Beta. They are identical but slightly different in size and style. He then moves on to a harder topic.

“When I met your mother, she already had two boys. Declan is four years older, and Bastille is two years older than you and Brayden. She didn’t know who Declan’s father was, claiming it was a one-night stand. She found out months later that she was pregnant. Bastille’s dad was working at a local community center. He was also a one-night stand, but she found out before he left, and he brought her back with him. He was killed with a few others during a rogue attack.” He looks sad as he explains his mum and 42 others were also casualties of the attack.

“She stayed, and one night, I gave in. Three months later, she disappeared, leaving Declan and Bastille, asking me to look after them, and had a legal document signing them over to my care.

Six months after that, Dominic took a call from a hospital saying twins had been left with my name and number and a note‘can’t do it anymore. The boys are yours.’Nic thought she meant the twins, but only Brayden was there when Mickey G arrived, and we were told the other was a girl. I flew home early from my deployment and started looking for you. Eight months later, we got a call that a body had been found with my card in her bra. I ID'd the body as your mother, but there was no trace of you.” he pauses, watching me closely

“She overdosed on various drugs.” He watches to see how I will react, but she left me to die instead of for him to collect, so I don’t care, so I shrug.

Chapter Eight

Ember

On January 20th, we drive for an 8-hours.

I learn more about Mika, like he can’t sing but has excellent taste in music, Fall out Boy, ACDC, Billy Joel, Cher was a shock but Meatloaf, Queen and Bon Jovi isn’t. He puts mayo and mustard on his beefburger 'Meh ok! ' And he likes half strawberry half banana milkshakes 'Excuse me while I gag.' We arrive at sundown, and a Pack meet is in full swing, I tense a little, worried about past experiences within packs.

“Wait here while I grab yours and my brothers. Dad is away, so he will have to wait.” He smiles and heads off.

I’m standing in an open area, I would say the entrance hall, but it stretches to the back of the Chalet, a floor-to-ceiling window wall that looks out at the lake. I see Trick and Bram messing around and singing. Creed and Paxton are there, too, and a few I don’t recognize. I feel eyes on me and turn to see Ren watching me.

A pretty blonde strokes his arm while talking to him. Something in me hurts to see him with a female, but I smile anyway. Mika speaks to the guy next to Ren. As he turns, all the air leaves my lungs, and blackness starts seeping in, but I don’t hit the floor.

“Emmy, baby, breathe,” is the last thing that breaks through the fog.

Brayden

Trinity is yet again trying to drape herself over my best friend. He’s tried to get them all to back off for years, but none listen. He notices something over my shoulder, and before I have a chance to glance over, Dad walks over,

“Son, can I have a word in my office, please?” I get a sharp pain in my heart as Ren’s eyes go wide, and then he shoots past me, knocking Trinity over in his haste. Dad shoots after him. I stagger after them a little slower, trying to take it easy after I collapsed the other week and still not knowing why, it has happened a few times in my life, but nothing is physically wrong with me; my wolves panic, and then I can barely feel them which is normally when I collapse, now they are not panicking but, I can feel their nerves, and they feel like they are pacing. I reach Dad and Ren at the entrance

“Emmy, baby, breathe,” Ren barks out an Alpha command,

“Come on, Emmy!” He starts CPR on the girl, and I feel my wolves sink as far back as they can. As the girl takes a huge breath, my wolves return feeling relieved and smug.

“Sister,” they say in unison, wait, what? She’s my?… how the fuck does Ren know my sister enough to call her baby?

Trinity Saunters up next to me,

“Renny, leave the trash and come walk with me. You need to say sorry for knocking me down.” My best friend still holds my sister in his arms as he stands up. Her words cause a growl to vibrate through his chest, and he becomes deathly still. He growls out,

“Leave.” Alpha Dominance pushed into it so much that even Dad flinches.

Trinity wails and 'runs' away in fake tears. Run isn’t really the right word, as she’s teetering on hooker heels. Audrey tries to get to Dad; she’s another who has got an idea in her head and won't take no for an answer,

“Who’s the new brat?” My turn to snap,

“Call her a brat again, and I will not be held responsible for my actions.” I shoulder-check her as I plough a road for Ren to Dad's office. Grabbing Miles on my way past, my omega mate’s hand in mine calms me, but Ren still has a growl going, and his nose is in my sister’s hair.

“Dad? Did you find her?” Dad grunts at Bas's question, “Office.” Uncle Nic tells everyone to get out and eat before Alma gets insulted by the amount of leftovers, the door shuts as we settle into chairs.

Miles sits on the arm of mine, stroking the nape of my neck. Ren sits in the chair next to me.

I suck in a breath as I hear her voice, and Ren’s growl becomes a purr. 'What the fuck!!!' I sit staring at my grumpy best friend like he’s been abducted by aliens.

Ember

---