10.

**Emma**

"Love, let them be. They are probably tired and hungry from their journey," Alpha Angelo said kissing his mate's head.

"Oh my!! I'm sorry. Please sit." She said, gesturing to the kitchen island. My brothers kept me between them at all times. They warily watched the members who were openly watching at us. I slumped lower in my seat as the guys came closer to me. I hated being the center of attention. Their stares always made me feel self-conscious about how I look and what I'm wearing.

I kept my head down to avoid the stares or meeting their eyes. "Everyone. Leave." the alpha shouted. In seconds the only occupants were us the alpha, Luna, and Maxwell.

"Sorry if it was uncomfortable," Anna said bringing over a plate of lasagna and grilled chicken each for us.

The twins nodded and I spoke up, "It’s okay, Luna."

"Call me Anna, oh and this is my youngest son Maxwell." she said, gesturing to him as he stepped forward.

He sent me a silly grin which I couldn't help but smile.

"You're very beautiful. Got a mate yet?" He said, smirking at me.

I couldn't help but laugh aloud as his mother smacked him behind his head along with his father.

"What was that for? That was a legit question." he whined rubbing the back of his head.

Anna rolled her eyes, making her look younger than she was.

"Thank you and no I haven't found him yet," I said, biting my lips.

I do want my mate. I know I will find him soon but I've heard numerous stories about mates. I've heard about mates rejecting each other due to appearances, packs, position. Being rejected is the most painful emotional feeling in the world. Your will to love again dies along with your purpose for living. Maybe my mate would love me as much as Aiden loves me. Maybe more.

At the thought of his name my heart ached as I remembered the dream.

"Whoever he is. He's one lucky guy to have you as his mate" he said sitting in front of me.

I simply smiled politely.

"Moving on from my wannabe smooth son. There's the baby of the family, Madison, and my firstborn, Michael, " Anna said.

Angelo and Maxwell's body became visibly tense. Every family has its secrets, I said to myself.

"Madison is over at a friend's so you will meet her later," she went on, ignoring how quiet her mate and son got.

"And your oldest? Michael?" Noah asked.

"He's... He's away doing some business. I'm sure he will be back soon," She answered distractedly. I noticed how sad her eyes got and a frown slightly played on her lips.

“Seems like a sore spot.” Jonah said to us.

We nodded and continued to eat.

After seconds of the delicious meal, Anna showed us to the guest rooms of the Alpha house. Her bubbly mood came back as she gave us a tour around the house. The twins shared a room while I got a room opposite of them. Anna asked why they wanted to share a room and they simply smiled at her and said it’s a twin thing.

In truth, my brothers are never more than 10 feet away from each other and always within reach of me. I grew used to their protectiveness even more so when they revealed that they were my protectors.

We were given clothes to change into and extras for our stay which we were very grateful for. It felt good to have a nice hot bath and get fresh clothes on.

After changing into jeans and a crop top, I looked around the room I was given. A queen-sized bed in shades of lavender and cream bedclothes. The walls were painted in a beautiful cream which matched the fluffy cocoa brown carpeting. A sofa along with an entertainment system set up in the corner with a few DVDs. I smiled at the few art pieces that hung on the wall, they were very soothing to look at and actually calmed me somewhat.

Looking at the DVD collection, I heard a knock on the door. I went to answer it, thinking it was one of my brothers I swung it open quickly.

"Hi. " a perky voice greeted me. In my doorway was an exact replica of Anna with the brightest smile I've seen on a teenager.

No boy problems yet huh, I thought to myself.

She quickly enveloped me in a hug which by all means this was definitely Anna's daughter.

"You must be Madison." I laughed as she pulled back.

"Yes, I am." she said looking at me with adoration.

"I'm..." I started to say.

"Emma. Maxwell told me how pretty you are and you’re sister to the twin wolves. Your eyes are so beautiful, " She rattled off.

I nodded my head amused at the girl's enthusiastic personality.

"Why don't you come downstairs and watch a movie with Maxie and I. We would love to have you join us," She said.

I felt quite at home with this family which was new since I don't do well in meeting new people.

"Let me tell my brothers where I'm at. I'll be right down."

"Can I meet them? Some of the girls said they were so cute. Do they have mates? Are they really identical? Do they talk at the same time like on TV?"

Wow.

That's all I had to say as she plastered a pleading look at me. "Come on," I said going across the hall.

Before I delivered the knock, I heard Jonah said in a loud voice, "Yes Emma."

Rolling my eyes, it never fails to surprise me when they do that.

Going in, I ran straight into Jonah's arms as he sat upon the bed. Holding me close and sniffing my scent, he said "Much better".

Brothers.

"Who is this, beauty?" I heard Noah said coming to give me a kiss on my head.

"Oh. This is Madison," I said forgetting her presence for a moment.

Noah walked up to her with a smile on his face about to introduce himself to her when she blurted out. "Blessed moon goddess you're freaking hot."

Noah laughed and said ‘thank you’. I brought Jonah next to Noah who was wearing an amused smile as Madison's eyes drank up every feature of my brothers. It surely was her own viewing session as they both were shirtless.

"Madison these are my brothers. Noah and Jonah." I said motioning to them respectively.

"Hello!" They said simultaneously and tilted their heads to the right.

"Wow. You two .... Wow..... " she started to say.

“I think we broke the alpha's daughter.” Noah said playfully to me.

“Stop. I'm going to watch a movie with her and Maxwell. Is that okay?” I asked.

"It's okay," he said aloud which brought Madison out of her trance.

Shaking her head, a blush appeared on her cheeks as reality came back to her.

"You guys ... Can join ... If you like?" She said blushing more.

"Thank you but we're gonna take a nap...." Noah said. "It has been a long trip" Jonah finished.

She nodded and turned to leave.

They gave me a look saying 'watch your words' as I followed Madison out of their room.



The movie room in which Madison calls it screamed out 'teenagers paradise'. A high def 80' flat screen, blue ray disc player and sound system set up to rival any popular rave party. Leather couches and an actual soda and popcorn machine. On one side of the wall was the movie collection from black and white movies to the latest blockbuster.

"You guys really know how to live," I said plopping down on the couch. Maxwell came and sat next to me handing me some popcorn.

"It's cool. Keeps us out of trouble as dad says" he said throwing popcorn at his sister. I had to hold back my laughter as she seems not to notice him doing that but focused on choosing a movie.

"She picks her movies like she's choosing a gift from the moon goddess," he said in my ear. Madison was muttering to herself and pointing at random titles.

"Maddie, how bout we let Emma choose. I wanna watch a movie not watch you get an aneurysm." He said to her.

She shot him a glare and huffed over to me. "Fine," she said grabbing her brother's popcorn. I bit back a laugh and went over to the collection. They sorted everything by genre which was easy for me to select. I went to the thriller section and pulled out my choice.

"Now, was that so hard to do? My dear Madison." Maxwell teased his little sister as he put in the movie for us.

"Dracula Untold?" She questioned as the intro began. "Yup. I love how humans depict the story." I said sitting back next to her.

"Great choice Emma. I haven't watched this in four days." Maxwell said already focused on the movie as they began with the back story.

Maxwell didn't share any likeness with his mother beside the dark hair but had brown soft eyes which were welcoming and showed mischievousness. I noticed how laid back he was and, outspoken but didn't let his title as the alpha's son get to his head.

I felt a nudge to my side and realized it was Madison. She was looking at me intently, "Do you have a boyfriend?" She asked.

Unconsciously I passed my finger across my tattoo and smiled. "Yes, I do. He's my best friend" I answered softly.

"So why isn't he here with you?" I heard Maxwell said next to me but he was still watching the movie.

I cleared my throat, hoping that they don't hear how sad my voice became. I didn't mind talking about Aiden, having him in my life was great and still is. Not knowing if he's alive or not was the reason for my sadness.

"He's the alpha's son." was all I said.

There was no need to explain. Being pups of an Alpha, they understood clearly.

Being with an alpha's son as a girlfriend and not his mate was mainly looked down upon in most packs. Aiden and I knew the risks but we went ahead even though.

Madison gave me a sympathetic smile and continued to watch the movie.

I brushed it off and enjoyed the rest of our night. We watched two more movies, had a minor popcorn fight then bed.

Never have I felt so welcomed in my life and I was liking it even if it's temporary.