Chapter Ten - The return

***Present day***
Lilith’s hands covered her open mouth, her eyes were wide with surprise and disbelief. This was too much for her brain to decompress at once. Growing up she had known there were other species out there, other supernatural beings like her father and the people she called her family.

She had heard stories about witches and warlocks, and about the humans who were trained to hunt down the monsters who turned against their species sacred law. She had also heard tales of fairies, but never encountered one, at least not that she had known about. Now Adam was sitting here, telling her one of the people she considered to be her best friend was a fae. And not just any kind of fae, a healing kind who could bring people back from the edge of life. It was too much. She was at a loss of words and couldn’t have been more thankful for the buzzing sound who interrupted them both.

Looking down she saw it was her beeper, she had forgotten all about time and space in the presence of Adam. The stories he told, it made sense, but at the same time she struggled to see the bigger picture. So many things were happening, unrelated to the girl and her family, why was he telling her this now?

“I have to go – but before I leave, I have one question” Lilith stood from her chair, locking eyes with Adam. “Why are you telling me this? Why me?” She wondered. “Because someone must know, and I feel like you can be trusted. Talia is coming back, and last I spoke to her she was running from something. You don’t believe in coincident, and neither do I. Talia can create chaos, wreak havoc, end lives. But she can also spread warmth, love, joy, and smiles. She’s a unique being, and I need to protect her from whatever is out there destroying the safe places for her and others like her” Adam explained, and Lilith felt with him.

He cared for this girl, he had helped save her life, and he was willing to do it time and time again. “You can trust me. But, what about Xavier? He should know” Lilith beeper buzzed again, she had to go. “I’ll talk to him, after I talk to her” Adam promised and together they left her office, her to tend to her patients and him to go find out what Talia remembered.
—
After running for what had felt like days it was a relief to be sitting in a bathtub, surrounded by warm water and loads of bubbles. She was finally able to catch a break and relaxed her head back against the edge. Her muscles were sore, her body covered in dirt and scratches, and her hair was full of sand and pebbles. Yet she didn’t care, not now when she was home safe.

Though she hadn’t visited for years, and she now knew this wasn’t her actual home, it felt more like home than any other place. Adam had kept her safe when she needed it the most, taken her in and cared for her like she was his own flesh and blood. And she was forever grateful for that. But she needed more, or so she had thought when she had left to travel the world eight years ago. Adam had been hesitant but allowed it after consulting with one of his trusted friends. Talia had never met this person, but believed them to be a decent person, human or otherwise.

Waking up almost a decade ago she didn’t remember who or where she was. She didn’t remember her childhood, her family, or friends. All she remembered was Adam, or rather, his voice. She couldn’t explain why, it felt like a vivid dream, but she knew that voice meant her no harm. The person behind that voice wanted to keep her safe, and he had. Now it was her turn to return the favor and keep him and his loved ones safe from harms way. But first she needed a bath, and an explanation.

For so many years she hadn’t known much other than what people told her, or rather, didn’t tell her. Then suddenly two years ago on a trip to France something was triggered. A memory of a family trip, grandparents, and a big wine yard. That was all, and it didn’t make much sense then. But now – now she remembered everything. From where she was born, to who her family was, down to the very night she was pulled away from the edge of life by Adam. Adam and Xavier, but she liked to think it was mostly Adam. If he hadn’t showed up when he did who knew what Xavier would have walked in on.

“Talia” The knock on the door dragged her out of her train of thoughts, forcing her back to the present. “Yes?” She answered. “I was just informed Alpha Adam is on his way back” The voice said. “I thought you’d like to know” Knowing Adam would be there made Talia smile like a foolish girl. “Thank you” She called back, listening to the sound of steps carrying the person away from the door before she closed her eyes and let her entire body be covered in water. It was one of the many things she loved about the deep soaker tubs, she could soak her entire body from head to toe without struggle.

She kept her head under water until her lungs begged for air. Once she breached the surface, she took a deep breath and used her hands to wipe the water away from her eyes. Her hair was free of dirt, the water now littered with it. Staying in the water wasn’t an option, not matter how good it made her body feel. Instead, she rose from the bath and headed over to the shower, washing away the soap and lingering dirt.

She felt fresh, clean, better than she had in days. “I’ll be okay” She said to herself in the mirror, smiling wide. It was a habit she had picked up long ago, to look in the mirror and tell herself it was going to be okay when it felt like everything was falling apart. Sometimes it worked, other times it didn’t. Today was one of the times it worked, cause she could feel her smile grow bigger as she heard the familiar sound of a car coming to a halt outside the house.

Grabbing a towel, she wrapped it around herself and bolted out the bathroom door and out into the room she had been gifted a decade ago. The wardrobe was filled with clothes, but she didn’t take time to get dressed. Being around a pack of wolves who spend half of their time in nudity made her less aware of how little the towel was covering when she bolted down the two flights of stairs.

Adam had barely stepped inside the foyer when she reached the stairs. The sight of him made her freeze, her memory had done him no justice. His golden hair was longer than last she saw him, pulled back into a ponytail she for unknown reasons had the desire to pull out. He was tall as a giant and had the muscles to match. Had he always been this bulky?

She wanted to run down the last of the steps and throw herself in his arms, feel the safety of his hugs, but her legs refused to move. Her breath caught in her throat when he turned to look at her, his warm amber eyes lighting up and his frown exploding into a huge grin. “I see you’ve made yourself comfortable already” He smiled, poking fun at the towel she was wearing. “I like the breeze, it’s liberating” She quipped back, earning herself an even bigger smile.

“I’ll leave you to it” Devan, who had been speaking with Adam when she came bolting down the stairs, turned around to busy himself with something somewhere else on the property. “Thank you!” Talia shouted after him, who just waved it off as he walked off. Without Devan she wouldn’t have made it her as quickly as she had, he was a good beta and even better friend.

“How are you feeling?” Adam came to stand at the bottom of the stairs. His smile made way for that worried look she had seen him sport for a few people over the year. A worried look of someone who cared for those he held dear to his heart. Talia was one of the lucky few who earned a spot smack in the middle of it. Adam cared about everyone in his pack but had a special place for those he considered to be family.

“Beat up. But good. I feel safe” She descended the last couple of stairs, stopping when their eyes were on the same level. She could see worry in his eyes, worry, and love, and something else. A glint of yellow gave away Damir, the one wolf she held dear to her heart. “You are safe” His deep voice made her shudder, and when he wrapped his arms around her the world was lost to her.

She closed her eyes as her arms tried and failed at wrapping around his torsp, relishing the warm feeling of love and home, a feeling she had missed for so long. “You’re always safe with me” Adam rested his chin upon her head, and she smiled in content. “I know I am” She whispered into his neck; head rested against his shoulder. ‘This is what peace feels like’ She thought to herself as her smile grew inn size.

“Ahem” The sound of someone clearing their throat made Adam release Talia. She immediately missed the warm feeling, forcing herself to look up from the shoulder. “Dearest, you might get sick just wearing that wet towel” Housekeeper and omega Monica had only smiles for them both, a hint of pink still touched Talia’s cheeks.

“Right yes” She said slowly. “Also, lunch will be ready in half an hour. You might want to change so you don’t become the center of attention for the unmated young men among us” The older woman snickered lightly as she made her way back to the kitchen. In response Talia’s stomach growled, she hadn’t had a decent, homecooked meal for days, and nothing beat Monica’s cooking. “I’m gonna go change now” Talia smiled at Adam, kissing his cheek lightly before going back up the stairs, her arms wrapped around herself to keep her towel from falling off.

Back in the comforts of her own room Talia let the towel fall to the ground, kicking it over to a corner while she rummaged through the wardrobe for something to wear. Underwear, check. She could have sworn she had seen socks in the same drawer, or maybe it was in the other?

The scent of lunch crept up the stairs and filled her nostrils while she was trying to find a matching pair of socks. Somehow, she only had single socks, all with either color or patterns. When she heard the bell signaling lunchtime, she sighed out loud and opted for two similar looking socks, no one but her would care about the mismatching socks. With one last look in the mirror, she made sure her curls weren’t too much a mess before joining the rest of the pack for lunch.