A/N: All cannon characters and settings belong to the brilliant mind of Patricia Briggs. The rest comes solely from my imagination. This is written merely for my own pleasure and the pleasure of others. Also, I tend to get long-winded, so some of my chapters may be long, no, not may be, will be.
P.S. My muse is in overdrive right now and as such I have three fics going at once. I have this one plus another with Asil that will be posted in the Alpha and Omega series section, as well as one over in the Mercy Thompson series called Embracing the Future, which is the continuation of Ben's and my OC, Luna's, story. If updating gets slow, that is the reason why. I am working on each one daily so bear with me.
P.P.S. I am having to alter things, just a little, to incorporate the events from chapter three of Embracing the Future into the story. You will find mention of someone named 'Jules'. Jules, aka Juliana, is a twelve year old girl whom Charles rescued in Embracing the Future, and has been adopted by him and Anna. Since that story line happened prior to New Year's Day, I have to adjust things in this chapter to make it work. Blame my muse, it's all her fault!
You have been warned. Now, without further ado, on with the story!
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The day after she called London Anna and Charles flew to Missoula to meet Winston and Sarah Frost. Anna chewed worriedly on her bottom lip. "God I hope this works," she said as they made their way to baggage claim where they were to meet the London Alpha and his mate. They'd left Jules with Bran because the girl adored her 'grandfather' and liked getting to spend time with him. She'd latched on to the love that Anna, Charles, and Bran all showed her like it was a lifeline. It was the one thing that had been missing in her life since her parents were killed and Anna and Charles intended to make sure she never felt alone or unloved again.
"It will. Your ideas always work," Charles replied.
Anna rolled her eyes at that. "Oh please, hardly, but thanks for the vote of confidence," she countered.
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Winston Frost was grateful for his mate's presence throughout the long flight. She wasn't an Omega, but she was submissive and she helped keep him from snapping at anyone. He'd had no idea fifteen hours on a plane could be so stressful that it would make his wolf want to destroy something. When they finally landed in Missoula he wanted to tear a hole in the side of the plane just to get out and away from so many humans.
Sarah patted her mate's hand. "It's almost over dear. Just a few more minutes," she promised. "My husband hates flying," she said to the woman across the aisle when she glanced their way.
"Ah. My husband is the same way. Men can be such babies sometimes, can't they?" the woman said and they both laughed.
The laughter helped settle Winston's nerves and by the time they were allowed to disembark he felt calmer.
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Anna decided that, since they didn't know what the London Alpha and his mate looked like, and the airport air made it impossible to smell another werewolf until you were almost on top of them and no way was she going to go around getting into people's personal space for that, the easiest way to find them was with a sign that read 'Winston and Sarah Frost'. She stood next to Charles holding the sign as people moved past them to reach their luggage. After several minutes she became acutely aware of a couple heading straight for them. The man was a few inches shy of six feet and stocky with brown hair and eyes. The woman at his side was pixie-like. She was tiny, if she hit five feet it was just barely, with blonde hair so pale it was almost white and vibrant green eyes. It was the woman who spoke first.
"Hello, I'm Sarah and this is my husband, Winston. You must be Anna and Charles," she said and offered her hand with a warm smile.
Anna shook hands with her and smiled back. "We are. It's nice to meet you both," she replied and nudged her mate because he was being a silent sentinel and she didn't want their guests uncomfortable.
"Welcome to Montana," Charles said at Anna's nudging. "I'll help with the bags so you ladies can talk," he added and moved to assist Winston with them. He figured with two bags each, they were planning on staying to visit with Aria for at least a few days.
Anna noticed right away that Sarah was a submissive wolf. She was no doubt the perfect match for her very dominant mate. "I hope you didn't have any trouble on the flight," she said after a moment. "And I really hope you don't mind flying because we have to take a plane back to Aspen Creek. The roads this time of year are really bad. Don't worry, it's a private plane so it will just be the four of us and Charles is the pilot," she added.
"Planes don't bother us, well, no more than they do most of our kind, but we appreciate the concern, Mrs. Cornick," Winston said from behind them. He and Charles walked side by side, with distance between them, indicating they saw each other as equals.
"How is Aria?" Sarah asked once they were on their way to the smaller airport.
"Honestly, I don't know. She's not really talking to anyone, especially me or Thea. I guess there is a downside to being an Omega," Anna replied. "I'm scared she's going to let what happened to her destroy her. I know she's an old wolf, and I know that can cause trouble sometimes, but I'm hoping you two can get through to her."
"That's the plan," Winston said. "Is Aria aware of our visit?"
"Umm... no. I was worried she'd refuse to see you if she knew in advance that you were coming," Anna admitted.
"That was a smart move because Aria would have been stubborn about letting us in the door if she knew we were coming," Winston replied. "Oh, she wouldn't outright refuse, and her breeding wouldn't allow her to leave us out in the cold if we were just dropped off, but she'd still be stubborn about it if she knew," he added.
"Don't worry dear, we'll get through to her," Sarah said to Anna. She called everyone 'dear'. She was in her late thirties when she'd been changed and as a result she often thought of herself as a mother hen.
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The flight to Aspen Creek was much nicer due to there being just the four of them on the plane. Anna filled Winston and Sarah in about the town, explaining that the people who lived there have known about werewolves long before the rest of the world did, so they didn't have to worry about hiding what they were.
"I find it fascinating that it's always been that way in your little town," Sarah said. "What's it like, not having to hide?"
"Freeing," Anna replied. "Back in Chicago I had to always be careful about what I did. Of course, it wasn't a very healthy pack either, but I didn't realize that until I came to Aspen Creek. Oh, by the way, the Marrok has extended an invitation to use the guest suite he has in his home if you would prefer that over staying at the motel."
"That is a very generous offer," Winston replied. "We would be honored to accept such generosity," he added. Although the offer was a bit surprising, since the visit was of a personal nature and not one that was werewolf related, Winston wouldn't risk insulting Bran Cornick by declining.
"We'll be landing soon," Anna told them and leaned close to look out the window. "I will never stop enjoying that view," she added.
Sarah leaned across her mate to look out as well. "It's beautiful all covered in white," she murmured.
"It is, isn't it?" Anna replied. "The first time I saw Aspen Creek it was like this, covered in a thick blanket of snow, and I remember thinking the same thing. Since making Aspen Creek my home I've come to love it in every season. We do get fall colors. True, they don't last long, but we do get them," she added with a laugh.
They landed and while Charles took care of the plane Anna got their guests into the truck and got it warming up.
"Bloody hell it's cold. How do you stand it?" Winston asked. They'd worn their warmest clothes and had on coats but he still felt chilled. He slipped his arm around his mate and tucked her close to share body heat until the truck warmed up enough.
"You get used to it, after a while. Sort of. Having good heating systems helps though. I can only imagine how rough it is for humans. At least werewolves are naturally warmer, so we like it cooler to an extent," Anna replied.
By the time Charles slid in behind the wheel the inside of the truck was nice and toasty. "We'll take you to Da's first and then over to Aria's. Anna will leave her number with you in case you need anything," he informed them as he headed the truck into Aspen Creek.
"Do we really have to take them to Bran's first?" Anna asked.
"You know we do. I'm worried about her too but this is protocol," Charles replied.
"Your mate is right," Winston said. "Protocol states that any wolf entering the territory of another, or of a pack, must meet with the local Alpha as soon as possible."
Anna huffed at that. "This is a special situation. We should be able to make an exception," she grumbled and settled next to her mate for the short ride into town.
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Bran sat at his desk trying to get some work done. Every now and then he found himself glancing at the clock and after the fifth time he sat back and sighed. If the flight the Frosts were on arrived on time, and he had no reason to think it didn't, they would be on the way to his house now. He knew his son would follow protocol unless told otherwise. 'Charles, I want you to take the Frosts directly to Aria's home. Her well-being takes precedence over protocol.'
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They were halfway to Bran's when Charles heard his voice in his head. "Looks like Da agrees with you," he said to Anna, "He wants us to go right to Aria's," he added.
"How do you know that?" Winston asked with a frown.
"One of Da's many talents is the ability to speak mind to mind with any of his wolves."
"That's... quite unique. I don't think I've ever heard of any other wolf having such an ability," Winston replied.
"It is pretty unique," Anna agreed. "If a little freaky too. The first time he did that to me I thought I was going crazy, hearing voices when no one was talking," she added with a slight laugh.
"I can imagine that was a bit unsettling," Sarah said sympathetically.
When they pulled up in front of Aria's Anna turned to look back at their guests. "Do you want us to wait, just in case?"
"That won't be necessary," Winston replied.
"Okay. If you need anything, just call," Anna said and jotted her phone number down before she handed the slip of paper to him. She watched the Frosts go to Aria's door before she and Charles drove off.
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Aria heard the truck and assumed it was Anna coming to check on her again. She knew in her head that she needed to talk about what happened but she just couldn't get it to come out. She was puzzled when the truck drove off. Maybe Charles dropped her off because Anna figured Aria wouldn't leave her standing outside if she knew Anna didn't have an immediate ride home. She reached the door as the doorbell rang but when she opened the door it wasn't Anna standing there. "Winston? Sarah? What... what are you doing here?" she asked in shock. Her breeding wouldn't allow her to make them stand on the porch in the cold. "Please, come in," she added and stepped back.
"We're here," Winston said as soon as the door was closed behind them, "because your friend Anna is very worried about you. She thought that since you wouldn't talk to anyone here you might talk to us."
Aria wrapped her arms around herself as if she was cold. "There's nothing to talk about," she said and winced because she knew they knew she was lying.
"You know bloody well that's not going to work with us. Not only can we smell a lie, we've known you far too long," Winston replied. "Anyone can look at you and know there's something wrong. You've lost weight since you left London and you look like you haven't slept well in weeks," he added.
"Winston, love, why don't you go fix us some tea? I'm sure Aria has a lovely selection to choose from in her kitchen," Sarah said and leaned up to kiss her mate's cheek. "Let Aria and I chat a bit," she added. If Winston was bothered by being sent to the kitchen he didn't show it. Sarah turned to Aria and hugged her before she stepped back to study her. "Do you remember when I was changed?" she asked and there was a darkness in her eyes that hadn't been there in a long time.
Aria was caught off guard by the question. It wasn't what she'd been expecting, at all. "Of course I remember. Winston was beside himself until he was sure you were going to make it and he didn't even know you. I, for one, wasn't the least bit surprised when he chose you for his mate."
Sarah smiled a little at that. "Something that no one but Winston and I know is what happened just before I was attacked. The night I was changed, I was on my way home from a visit with my sister when someone grabbed me. I was dragged off into the woods where I was raped and knocked unconscious. When I awoke it was to a beast hovering over me before he savaged me. I don't think he expected me to survive the attack or else he would have made sure I was dead. Submissive wolves are so rare, most submissive people who are attacked don't survive. I just happened to be one of the lucky ones. Winston found me in the woods where the wolf had left me. I don't know how he knew what had happened, beyond being attacked, but he did. And I remember waking up to find this strange man fretting over me and I instantly felt safe with him. I didn't know him, but he felt safe. We found out that I wasn't the rogue's first victim and several years later, when our paths crossed again, Winston killed him. But you see, Aria, that was why Winston was so protective of me. That was why he made sure none of the males in the pack got near me. Because he knew I'd been violated and he wasn't going to let anyone hurt me ever again. He made sure they stayed away until he claimed me as his mate. For the longest time I even flinched when Winston touched me in a way that reminded me of the rape." There were tears in her eyes as she remembered the events from so long ago and a shudder went through her. "I know what you're feeling Aria, I know what you're going through. Every time Winston touched me I wondered how he could want such a weak, ruined thing like me. But I wasn't weak or ruined. Damaged? Yes, a bit, but not ruined. And neither are you. I know it must be even harder for you to not see it, dominant wolves struggle with things like this more than a submissive wolf would. It's in your nature. But you are not weak Aria, you are not ruined." Sarah paused to let what she said sink in before she continued. "Any man of worth, such as Bran Cornick, would know that."
Aria was stunned to learn that Sarah was raped prior to the attack that changed her life so completely. She'd never had even an inkling of it but looking back she realized she should have, with the way Winston had been. She'd just assumed it was because he and his wolf had already decided Sarah was theirs. She stared at Sarah a moment once she stopped talking. "I don't know..."
Sarah cut her off before she could finish the lie. "Aria, dear, I have known you a very long time. Not as long as Winston has but long enough to know where this fear stems from. You fear that the man you desire couldn't possibly want you now."
"It doesn't matter Sarah. The interest isn't mutual. Besides, he deserves a mate who can take care of herself."
Sarah snorted at that. "If you think it isn't mutual, you're blind, Aria. You've been a wolf for a long time, how common is it for an Alpha to ignore protocol that says any werewolf in their territory has to meet with the Alpha as soon as possible or risk being attacked?"
"It's... not. I don't recall any Alpha ever doing that before."
"And yet, your completely uninterested Alpha not only chose to ignore that protocol, he insisted on it because getting us here was more important."
Aria stared at Sarah. "That... doesn't make sense," she murmured.
"Yes, it does. Men can be stubborn sometimes and perhaps he is trying to give you time to heal but you're not going to do that if you hold everything in Aria," Sarah replied gently. "You have to let it out."
"I'm scared," Aria whispered. "I'm scared that if I let myself think about it, if I let myself talk about it, I'll start crying and never stop." Her voice choked up at the end and when Sarah wrapped her arms around her Aria found herself unable to hold it in any longer. She clung to her friend and wept.
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The problem with having a heart to heart talk when werewolves were around was, well, even those not directly part of the conversation heard it. Winston's eyes narrowed. A large part of the issue was that Aria was interested in Bran Cornick and believed that even if he was interested in her as well, she was unworthy of him now? He remembered when Sarah went through that same thought process. He'd had to just hold her and tell her he wanted her, desired her, that she wasn't unworthy of love because some bastard had hurt her.
He was going to have to have a chat with Bran Cornick. Oh, he would be respectful, and not just because he was in another Alpha's territory. Any wolf that could keep roughly two thousand wolves firmly under his paw was sure to be a force to be reckoned with but when it came to the people he cared about, so could Winston. And Aria was very dear to him.
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When Aria's sobs began to subside Sarah leaned back to look at her. "I have an idea. What do you say we banish Winston to your Alpha's home and you invite your friend, Anna, and whoever else you like, over for a girl's night in?"
Aria smiled a little. "That.. sounds good. I know Anna, Sage, and Thea have all been worried about me."
"Anna seems very sweet but I can understand why you would be reluctant to have an Omega around when you were in such a state."
"Anna and Thea are both Omegas. The double whammy can be rough if you're not expecting it," Aria replied.
"Why don't you give them a call and let Anna know that Winston needs an escort to your Alpha's home," Sarah suggested.
Aria took a deep breath before she made the first call.
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Anna saw that Aria was calling and wondered if it was to yell at her. Well, if so, Anna would let her because that was better than Aria hiding from everyone. "Hey, Aria," she said when she answered.
"Hi, Anna." Why was this so hard? "Would you... like to come for a girl's night in? I'm going to call Sage and Thea too, and Winston will need an escort to Bran's, but if you're not free..."
Before Aria could say anything else Anna cut her off. "As if I would say no to a girl's night in? I'm just glad you're going to let me in the door," she teased.
Aria blinked. "I know you were teasing but I deserve that. And Anna? Thank you for not giving up."
"You don't give up om the people you care about. That's something I've learned since coming to Aspen Creek. I'll get Charles to bring me over so he can take Winston to Bran's. See you in a bit." When she hung up she actually cheered. "YES! It worked!"
Charles had heard the conversation and smirked. "You knew it would."
Anna stuck her tongue out at him. "I'm going to go pack an overnight bag. Do I need to ride with you to take Winston to Bran's?" They were both dominant males but it wasn't that far to Bran's from Aria's.
"I'm sure we can control ourselves," Charles said and chuckled at the way his mate bounced off to go pack a bag. "Looks like its just you and me tonight little one," he said to their newly adopted daughter. In the few months since finding Jules after taking care of the rogue who'd attacked Luna a decade before, the girl had started to blossom. She'd been a scared, fragile thing who thought she was unlovable but she was beginning to realize she was wrong about that.
"S'okay," Jules replied with a little shrug and a grin. "Can we watch more of Doctor Who?" She'd come across it on Netflix and after watching the first few episodes she'd gotten hooked on it. She'd not been allowed to watch tv when she was in foster care.
"We can make a night of it by watching as many episodes as you want while munching on popcorn," Charles promised and when Anna was ready to go the trio got in the truck to drop Anna off and pick Winston up.
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Aria ended the call and stared at the phone. That was easier than she'd expected it to be. Now for Sage and Thea. She called Thea next and again it was an easy conversation. "Hi, Thea, would you like to come for a girl's night in? You can meet one of my oldest friends in the world and let me make it up to you for being so stubborn."
"I will be there with bells on. Okay, maybe not really with bells on, but you know what I mean. I hope. See you in a few," Thea replied before they both hung up.
Sage was the one Aria was worried about. Would she be offended that it had taken Sarah coming there to get her to finally open up? Only one way to find out.
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Sage saw Aria's number pop up on her phone and she snatched it up. She'd been cuddling with Cyrus when it rang. "Aria? Everything okay girl?" she asked.
"Define 'okay'," Aria replied. "I don't think it really will be for a while but... a little better, yes. I'm sorry I've been so... difficult. I know you and Anna and Thea have been so worried about me and I know I've not been very grateful to the three of you but... I want to make up for that. Would you like to come over for a girl's night in, tonight?"
"They got you to talk? Thank god. We were so worried we were going to lose you," Sage said and the relief she felt was apparent in her voice. "You know I'll be there."
"You're not offended it took Anna bringing Sarah and Winston into this to finally get me to open up?" Aria asked.
"No! I thought it was a brilliant idea. It didn't matter who you talked to just as long as you talked about it. I'll be there in a bit. I'm glad we're not going to lose you," Sage said and hung up.
"Go, you've been so stressed about her, go. I'm not going anywhere babe," Cyrus said. He was just as crazy about her as she was about him but because of her past he was taking it slow.
"I love when you call me that," Sage admitted before she gave him a quick kiss and left.
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Anna was the first one to arrive and Winston was ready and waiting, bags in hand, when she got there. "You ladies have fun, and don't worry, there won't be any issues," he said before he kissed his mate and left. He hoped his mate's assessment of Bran Cornick's feelings for Aria was correct or this could prove to be a fruitless endeavor on his part.