Almost Four Years Prior…
The sea of deplaning passengers bustled straight to customs without paying any mind to the singular teenager who had slipped out of the crowd. She knelt on the side of the hall, keeping an ear out for any trouble while she sifted through her backpack. The only items in it were two cell phones, a singular charger, and an inconspicuous black, two-pocket folder.
She pulled it out. It was the kind a school child might have to keep their homework in except, when she opened it, there was nothing except official documents in either pocket. Two birth certificates, school transcripts, immunization records, and—most importantly—two passports. The one in front was a deep navy, but she pulled it out and tucked it into the other pocket of the folder.
The teen opted for the maroon instead, taking it, opening it to her name, and reading over it as if to commit it to memory.
She tucked everything else away and stood again, adjusting the little tag on her chest that noted her as a minor. Customs was easy, with a citizen's passport, and she found herself standing finally in the center of arrivals with nothing more than her backpack and the duffel that had now made it off of the conveyer.
His was what she caught first. The young girl turned to the furthest set of doors. He didn't stand out too much in an airport full of people, but he should have.
"How was your flight, little wolf?"
"Where's the car?" She asked instead of answering.
He laughed.
"Present Day"
"Home" was a weird way to refer to this place. She had chosen to fly directly on a chartered plane from LAX to the nearest airport to her parents. Flying was never her favourite thing, but she didn't often fly locally. The last time she had been on a plane, she had been making the opposite trip.
It felt like a lifetime ago.
But, despite her reservations, there were her parents. The moment she made it through to arrivals—she had done customs in Los Angeles after all. Her dad looked like he might cry, which she couldn't say she had ever seen him do.
For almost four of perhaps her most formative years, she had given herself little communication with the two people who had already collected her bags. The most contact she had allowed was in the last few weeks while prepping for this arrival. She had otherwise primarily communicated in a game of telephone between two posturing old men.
There weren't any words, and she was grateful for that. She wasn't sure what to say anymore. The impulsive decision she had made so many years ago to run away had certainly torn them apart. She didn't want to address it, but her father pulled her into a familiar hug anyways.
She wouldn't be here for long, she would be a few hours away at university soon. That was the easiest way to make this transition as safe as possible.
"I missed you." Her father told her and she could feel his tears even if she hadn't seen them before.
They parted and the young woman turned to her mother. Her mother was not in any way less affectionate, nor was she typically less physical about her affection. Her mother was, however, very conscious of why her daughter had been away for so long to begin with.
The girl tried to relax herbed language and make it obvious that maybe this hug was welcome.
It came in the most gentle way. There were no tears, only a mother's embrace.
"I hope it gave you what you needed." She said finally, pulling away. Of anyone in her family, her mother would have understood the most. She always knew that.
It had, but she wasn't sure how to say that. Instead, she just glanced over the luggage they had collected. She had packed significantly heavier coming back than she had leaving.
"You have all of my stuff." She offered a quick smile. "I'm ready whenever you are."
Her parents exchanged glances, but ultimately didn't push for anything further. It wasn't until they had arrived back at the house she had called home for fourteen years that she realized what their glances had actually been about.
"I told him it was a bad idea." Her mother offered, glancing in the rearview as she drove. The young woman wrinkled her nose in distaste. She hadn't wanted coming back to be a big fuss, but she very rarely got what she wanted.
"I've got your bags." Her father told her, "Go make an appearance."
She sighed, pulling her hair into a ponytail behind her. After almost three days of traveling, she just wanted to shower and sleep in a real bed. The last thing she wanted to deal with was people, especially when those people were werewolves.
There was a sign, of course there was a sign. Stretched across the entryway, "WELCOME HOME TALA" slapped anyone over five-eight as they walked into the home.
"Thank you." She smiled, obviously uncomfortable.
"Welcome back stateside," A familiar, grumpy blond broke the silence. He raised a glass of what appeared to be water in acknowledgement of her arrival.
"Thanks, Ben," Finally, a genuine laugh. Everyone who had been holding their breaths descended into happy chatter and banter. A few wolves asked her what it was like. She recognized most of them, but there were a handful of new faces.
Finally making her way into the kitchen for at least a snack, she found herself face-to-face with the only individual she hadn't seen since her entry into the home.
"I hope our friends in the Czech Republic treated you well." Despite looking like he could be her age, his eyes held centuries worth of secrets. "How were your flights?"
"Wish they were shorter." She forced a smile and looked to the table for something salty over sweet. She had just spent almost four years working in a bakery to pay her way and while they did offer some savory items, she was sick of the sweet.
"How long will you be home?"
"My term begins in August." She informed, picking up a piece of cheese and inspecting it before placing it on a cracker. The man across the table laughed, making her look up at him again.
"And you enjoyed your study abroad?"
"You don't want to know the answer to that," She shoved the cracker into her mouth and turned around to reach for the fridge and find something to drink.
Tala knew the man was still behind her and she opted to pretend he wasn't there. It was easier that way. He had been the reason she came home at all and only because he promised she could go to any college in the US that she wanted. She had no limit on distance, she had no need to rejoin her father's pack and he wouldn't force her to join his own.
"Europe is different now, you know?" She closed the door again when it was obvious he wasn't going to leave. "The wolves there understand that women can be a functional part of the pack without forcing them to be mated."
"Is that true?" He didn't sound the least bit surprised.
"You know, as the Marrok, you could stand to change things." Tala crossed her arms. "You should hold another summit and discuss it. Ukraine has a female alpha, so does Ireland. Germany has more than one female in power."
"Did you run with Libor's pack while you were there?" The Marrok changed the subject without even caring to shut her down.
"Yes." Her reply was very matter-of-fact and she went back into the fridge to actually grab a carton of orange juice this time. She probably should have opted for water, she had been drinking nothing but soda and coffee on airplanes, but she wasn't going to let that get to her in this moment.
"Will you run with a pack while you are here?"
"No." The kitchen had been reorganized again while she was away. This happened now and again. Her dad couldn't leave anything alone for long enough for folks to get into the swing of things. She began searching through cabinets, but he beat her to the punch.
It had taken her until this moment to realize the room was growing silent again. The problem with werewolves was that nothing was truly private. What might have begun as a conversation no one was actively listening into had turned into the most interesting thing happening. She should have noticed sooner.
Glass in hand, the Marrok leaned against the countertop. He looked her over, not even hiding the fact that he was assessing her, and tossed the glass.
She caught it in her free hand.
"I won't negotiate with you." She told him. "I can report to Emerald City as a courtesy if it makes Angus feel better about himself, but I won't join a pack again."
His smile made her worry that she had just fallen into his trap.
"That can be arranged."