We pulled up at Lewis’ parents’ sprawling mansion, the backdrop to many of our past memories. I’d practically spent every day of my teenage years there, from basking in the after-school sun on his patio to fumbled stolen kisses in his room when his parents were out.

I swallowed hard as he parked out front. Despite all the years of being a part of the family, nothing filled me with more dread than going in now to show them Penelope.

Lewis turned around and grabbed hold of my clasped hands and squeezed them.

“At the end of the day, Max, they’re my parents. You’ll be okay. Both of you will. I promise. I wouldn’t have brought you guys here if I didn’t think it.”

I nodded and looked at Penny, tiny in her car seat, her lips pursed in a contented sleep. She was beautiful in every way—all of her, even her wolf side—and I wanted nothing but the best for her.

My paternal instinct was screaming at me to jump in the driver’s seat and get as far away from Grayson as I could, but I knew she needed her pack. She needed people around her who understood what she really was.

I didn’t want her to spend her life hiding away what I considered the best part of her.

“Ready?” Lewis asked, forcing a smile at me.

I nodded again and watched as he left the car. I followed and stepped out into the warm sunshine.

He handed Penelope to me and pressed his lips against my cheek.

“We can do this.”

He threw the bag over his shoulder and walked confidently to the door. I hesitated as he pressed the buzzer before I joined him by his side.

The door opened slowly, and his housekeeper Mary peered out.

“Oh, my goodness!”

Her eyes widened when she saw Lewis, but she gripped hold of the doorframe when she saw the baby and me behind him.

Her mouth opened to speak, but Lewis pressed a finger against her lips.

“Is Dad home? Mum?”

She nodded quickly, shock still on her face.

“Yes, yes... Come in. They’re on the veranda.”

We walked through the door and into the hallway. Everything felt so unfamiliar to me now, and I shuddered with a mixture of fear and anticipation, holding Penelope closer to me.

“This way,” Mary said, leading the way, and Lewis followed as though he too were a stranger.

I kept back as he and Mary went out on to the back porch, waiting to gauge their response before I showed myself.

“Mom, Dad?”

“Lewis?” his mother’s voice. “Thank God! Oh, thank God! You’re okay! We didn’t see you after the fight, and we’ve been worried sick!”

“I’m fine, honestly. We had to get to hiding before they came back.”

There was silence, and I strained my ears to listen, juggling Penny in my arms as she stirred.

They already knew I was back in Grayson, and I knew that they’d heard the rumors about my pregnancy. There was only so long that we could keep their granddaughter hidden.

“Answer me this…” I heard the stern voice of Lewis’ father, and my stomach twisted into knots. “The outsiders came for one reason. Is it true?”

More silence.

Mary came up beside me and gave my arm a reassuring squeeze. She knew exactly that I was thinking. If he didn’t accept the baby or me, we had to leave. Fast. Before things turned sour and before his wolf unleashed.

Lewis cleared his throat.

“It’s true. It’s all true…”

“God, Lewis! What were you even thinking?”

“I know. I get that it was the one thing you tried to keep me from doing all those years ago, but we never meant to hurt anyone.”

“It’s not just about you and me, son. It’s bigger than that.”

“I know.”

There was silence for a moment before I heard his father sigh.

“I know separating you was wrong. I get that now. But this world right now isn’t ready for us. The most important thing for our kind is to stick together. One leak, and it could be the end of us. We’re a pack, Lewis.”

He was right, and his dedication for Grayson Falls whilst I’d still been living there never ceased to amaze me. Everything he did was to protect his kind. I knew that now.

“I trust Max,” Lewis whispered. “I trust him with my life… with our lives.”

“Sometimes trust isn’t enough. Fredric still hasn’t been able to identify who in his team might have told the outsiders you were coming. The investigation is still ongoing. You just never know who you can rely on.”

“Oh, Jonathan,” his mother sighed. “They can rely on us, can’t they?”

Silence.

“Can’t they, Jonathan.”

He cleared his throat.

“I don’t want to lose you, son. This place will always be home to you. You’ll have our protection. All of you will.”

“You don’t know how much that means to me Dad. Thank you. You’ll adore her just like we do. She’s beautiful. We’re so much in love with her, and she’s…”

“She?” his mother asked quietly.

“Yes. She. She’s perfect, and I want you to meet her.”

“Is she… here?”

I heard footsteps come towards the door, and Lewis poked his head around it, reaching out for my hand.

I took a deep breath and walked into the room.

Meredith, Lewis’ mother, rushed to my side instantly, her eyes fixed on Penny.

“Her name’s Penelope,” Lewis said looking at her.

“Penelope?” she asked with tears in her eyes. “My mother’s name?”

“That’s right. Would you like to hold her?”

She nodded eagerly, and I passed our sleeping child over.

“Oh, Jonathan, look,” Meredith cooed, tilting her arms so her husband could see.

He nodded curtly and came over to me, holding his hand out.

I took it gingerly under the watchful eye of everyone in the room.

“I hear you’re estranged from your parents now,” he said, his face showing no emotion at all.

“Yes, sir.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.”

“Thank you. It’s been difficult, but it was the right choice.”

More silence as he let go of my hand and gestured towards Lewis.

“I know we’ve had our differences in the past, but I’d like to start again. This child… your child is welcome to stay here, as are you. You have the full protection of our pack. Always.”

I couldn’t hide the happiness from my face at his words, and I threw my arms around him.

He stiffened at first before slowly reciprocating the hug, and before I knew it, we were both laughing.

The happiness in the room was infectious as I let him go, and I stood back to admire the scene.

Meredith handed a waking up Penelope back to me, and she opened her eyes to look into mine.

We still had a long way to go with Fredric’s tests, but everything about her was perfection to me. I knew that staying in Grayson with the rest of her kind was the best decision I could have ever made.

I sat down on one of the wicker chairs as Jonathan went to get some champagne.

Lewis came over, perching himself on the armrest, and wrapped an arm around my shoulders.

“I’m so proud of you,” he whispered, kissing the top of my head. “So, fucking proud.”

His mother looked on fondly at us as the sun shone brightly through the window. I had everything I wanted right there with me, and even though there was so much I still had to find out about their kind and their community, I knew without a doubt that there was nowhere else I would rather be.

Lewis and Penelope were my everything.