{Chapter Thirteen}

It takes me almost an hour to get to the airport. It takes my father less than fifteen seconds to make me feel insignificant. The second he spots me behind the wheel of the Aston Martin, he freezes and then sighs. Shaking his head, he immediately pulls out his phone.

"Who did you steal this from?" he asks.

"Wow! It's nice to know you think so highly of me," I say.

"Just tell me who I have to pay off to not press charges against you, Mia."

"No one, so put your phone away. For your information, this car was a gift from two people who don't find me to be a crushing disappointment."

"Do they know you probably lied to them, whomever they are?" he asks.

I shake my head in disbelief. I want to act like I'm surprised that he expects the worse of me, but I'm not.

"Just get in the car, dad.'

Choosing to ignore my tone at the word dad, he loads his bags into the trunk and gets in. Before we even pull out of the pick-up zone, his phone is pressed to his ear and he is ignoring me like always. The only acknowledgment I get is the subtle glances being thrown my way after he hangs up.

"Trouble in paradise?" I ask.

"Nothing that Nancy can't handle while I'm away."

"Oh, right. How is the homewrecking whore?" I ask.

"I do believe we discussed you not calling Nancy names."

"It's not a name. It's a soon to be description of what she is."

"Then I would appreciate it if you didn't describe my secretary in a bad manner."

"At least you would be appreciating something I was doing."

I don't get a response, just the famous Hunter Wolfe sigh that means I've disappointed him somehow, yet again.

"And there it is," I say.

"What?"

"The great Hunter Wolfe sigh of disappointment. I was wondering how long it would take for you to sigh at me like that. What's it been like a half hour since I picked you up?"

"That was not a sigh of disappointment."

"Oh, really? Then what would you call it? Because you only do it when I don't meet your standards, or I've disappointed you and I would know because I've been hearing the sound my entire life."

He's silent as I glance over at him in shock. Have I just rendered him speechless?

"Where are we going?" he asks, changing the subject.

"To Grandma Rose. In case you forgot, you do have family here that would be highly offended if you stayed anywhere else."

"Did Rose buy you this car?" he asks.

"Not that it is any of your business but no, she did not."

"Then who did? Because you certainly didn't buy it yourself?"

I sigh, "Dr. Cullen and his wife bought it."

"Dr. Cullen as in Carlisle Cullen?"

"Yep."

"And how pray tell do you know Carlisle Cullen and his wife? Furthermore, why is he buying you a car?"

"You know as much as I would love to answer your question, I'm not going to. We're here."

I turn off the car and get out without giving him a backward glance. I only stop when I reach Rose's front door and realize that he's not behind me. Backtracking, I find him still sitting in the car.

"Are you coming inside, or do you plan on spending your entire stay in the car? I mean it is a nice car and I'm sure you would be comfortable but..."

"It looks exactly the same," he whispers.

"What? The house?"

He nods as understanding dawns on me. He hasn't been back to La Push or the house in sixteen years. He never came to visit. He didn't call, write, or anything. In fact, whenever Grandma Rose would come to visit for the holidays, mom and I always had to meet her at her hotel. Hunter...Hunter got on a plane and never looked back. He gets out of the car slowly and follows me up the front steps and inside. His eyes never leave the spot in front of him, until we are in the front hallway.

"Rose? Gabe?" I call out.

Rose and Gabriel come from the living room, Rose walking out first. She stops in her tracks the second her eyes meet Hunter's. It's like she doesn't believe he's standing in front of her because she steps forward and grabs his arm.

"Hunter? You're here? You're really here?"

"I am, mom."

Tears form in Rose's eyes as she pulls Hunter into a long-awaited hug.

"My boy, my beautiful baby boy."

"Oh, sure. He gets a hug after disappearing for sixteen years and never contacting you. I leave for a couple of months and get a slap on the head and a lecture," Gabriel says.

Hunter pulls away from Rose, looking Gabriel up and down.

"Gabriel."

"Hunter."

"I believe we have quite a few things to discuss, Gabriel."

"That we do, little brother."

Hunter winces and Gabriel gives a small chuckle before shaking his head.

"You always hated being reminded that you're younger."

"And you never fail to remind me of it the first chance you get. I see nothing has changed."

Hunter looks Gabriel over again, "including the way you carry yourself."

Gabriel crosses his arms over his chest before scoffing, "I'm sorry that I couldn't throw on my three-thousand dollar suit the great you, Hunt. I have bigger priorities than what tailor I should use. As for changes... a lot of things have changed since the last time Hunter. In case you haven't heard, I have a daughter. Maybe you've met her."

Hunter growls, "she may be yours biologically brother but don't forget who raised her for sixteen years."

"If you call what you did raising her? Because as I recall, little brother, you were fairly absent from Mia's childhood. Do you even know how many soccer championships she won or were you too busy screwing your secretary? No, wait, my bad. You were busy kissing the Italian Mafia's ass to be screwing anybody."

Hunter laughs, "that's the best you got? Jealous of my success, brother? Perhaps, you're jealous that all you amounted to be some biker boy with half pipe dream and a pack of dogs? And now you think you can step up and be a father? You could barely control your pack of mutts, you think you can handle a teenager? You might like to believe that you have a right to my daughter, but you don't. You didn't when Lily picked me sixteen years ago and you sure as hell don't now. I knew...I knew letting Mia come here was a mistake. Lily convinced me though, said it might be good for Mia to get in touch with her roots. If I had known that she was going to be within fifteen feet of you, I never would have let her out of my sight."

"Are you saying the reservation isn't good enough for her?" Gabriel asks.

"No, brother. I'm saying that you aren't good enough for her. You weren't good enough for Lily and you sure as hell aren't good enough to raise my daughter!" Hunter yells.

"You son of a bi-"

Gabriel lunges forward, grabbing Hunter by the collar of his jacket. He shoves Hunter into the wall behind him and Hunter smirks.

"Do it! I dare you. Give me another reason to get the judge to rule you unfit."

Gabriel is shaking uncontrollably, and I know it's only a matter of time before he snaps. Stepping forward, I place a hand on Gabriel's arm.

"Gabe."

He looks over at me, before looking back at Hunter. I can hear the growl at the back of his throat.

"Gabriel Alexander Wolfe, you let your brother go this instant. You boys haven't been in the same house let alone the same room in sixteen years and I'll be damned if this ends in bloodshed. Now, let. Him. Go." Rose says.

Gabriel looks at me and a nod. He sighs before jerking away from Hunter and running his hand through his hair.

"Sorry, mom. Sorry, little wolf."

Hunter is straightening out his suit but freezes at the sound of my nickname.

"What did you just call her?"

"Little Wolf. It's what she is. Or would you like her to deny that part of herself too?" Gabriel growls.

"I have never told Mia to deny anything," Hunter says.

"Oh, bullshit! Mia wouldn't know half of who she is if mom and I hadn't of told her. Did you even tell her she was a wolf or were you just hoping she never found out?" Gabriel says.

"You have no right to critique my parenting..."

"Enough! I already told you two boys that I will not tolerate this. Gabriel, you know better. You say you're an alpha then damn well act like it. Hunter, I will not have you coming into my house and calling your brother a terrible father. He has been more a father to Mia then you have the past couple of months. I have heard the phone conversations you have with her and I know I raised you better than that. Now, the two of you seem to be forgetting that the most important thing in all of this is Mia and what or who is best for her. So, until you can both get your heads out of your asses and focus on her, then this discussion is over."

Rose turns towards me and pulls me into a hug.

"Mia, I apologize for these two and using such foul language in front of you. I am sure that Dr. Cullen and Esme are getting worried, so I think it's time for you to head back."

I nod, giving her an extra squeeze.

"Nothing to apologize for on your part, but are you sure you can handle those two?"

She laughs, "I've been handling them for years. They know how this goes."

I laugh before taking one last look at everyone and heading out the door.

A Half Hour Later...

I swerve out of the road as a massive shadow crosses the road in front of me. Careening to a stop, I have to force myself not to immediately slam on my brakes due to the road being wet.

"What the hell?"

The shadow moves behind the car as a long growl vibrates the air around me. It sounds like the beginning of an avalanche, rumbling before the snow crashes down the mountain. I turn around in my seat, seeing if I can spot it and freeze when I giant amber colored eye fills my window. The chill that fills the air threatens to suffocate me as I try to take a breath. The only thing I can hear is the sound of my heart beating in my chest.

"Are you afraid, sweet?"

"Asher."

It would be almost indistinguishable from a real wolf if it wasn't for its massive size. The shadow that fills the headlights reveals itself to be a wolf unlike any I had ever seen before. It was as big as a mountain, with fur as dark as midnight.

"Did you miss me, sweet? Did you think that you had stopped me with that little stunt you pulled?"

He laughs, but instead of a laugh, it sounds like the earth is about to split open.

"I admit that you almost had me. I truly thought that it was the end to our little game, but then...then I came across this delicious little snack that was all too willing to help me."

I'm silent as he continues, trying to figure out if I can outdrive a wolf his size.

"Now, don't be jealous. I promise that she didn't mean anything to me. In fact, let me show you just how little she meant..."

"No, no, no. Not now."

I am suddenly plunged into all too familiar darkness as Asher's memories once again invade my own.

Author's Note: Hey guys! So, first off if you are reading this...Merry Christmas! I totally thought that I had uploaded this chapter already, but I guess I dreamed it or something. Anyway, here's the next chapter. I hope you guys enjoy it! -Jess