Homecoming

Alphonse: Are you ready?

Helena: As ready as I'll ever be.

Alphonse: If you need an excuse to leave, message me. I know how much you hate parties.

Helena winced at his words but at the same time, she couldn't help but smile at her friend's concern. He was looking out for her even from such a distance.

She hated parties outside of her pack, formal events that she needed to attend representing her stepfather's pack and her uncle's pack.

That was the deal when she was allowed to leave.

Pursue studies to be a better warrior and in exchange, she would represent both packs on diplomatic missions that neither her uncle nor her stepfather or stepbrother could attend.

Helena: Thanks for the concern, but I think I'll survive.

Taking one last look at her phone, Helena shoved it back into her pocket.

"Alphonse again?" Rae asked as she leaned against the door.

Helena couldn't help but roll her eyes at her friend.

"What do you mean again? He's a friend from home," Helena shrugged as they walked out of the room, closing the door behind them.

"This is your home," Rae grumbled. "And what's so special about him anyway?"

Helena chuckled and shook her head. "We both know why you're acting like this," she teased Rae.

"Because I want you home?" Rae asked with a shrug as they made their way to the backyard.

"No," Helena sighed. "You want me and Romeo to—"

"You and me to what?" Romeo asked as he suddenly appeared at the foot of the stairs.

Rae burst out laughing as Helena felt her cheeks heat up. She knew she didn't have anyone to blame but herself for the predicament she was in.

"Yeah, Helena, I want you and Romeo to do what?" Rae asked as she grinned widely at the pair.

Helena glared at Rae, but her friend didn't back down.

"Why don't you want to complete that sentence now, Helena?" Rae egged on.

Helena chose not to respond, rolling her eyes as she walked ahead of the siblings.

She hadn't gone far when Romeo's arm wrapped around her waist and pulled her back.

Just as Helena came crashing onto his chest and she was ready to shove him off and scold him for touching her, a pair of Omegas carrying a roasted pig walked past them.

Helena stared at Romeo in shock. It wasn't like her to miss things out like that. She wasn't a klutz.

"Just say thank you, Helena," Romeo said with a wink.

"Thank you," Helena said as she stared up at Romeo.

"You guys can stop being so sweet and disgusting now," Rae teased.

Helena jumped from Romeo's arms, she hadn't noticed that he still had them wrapped around her waist and she was pressed against his chest.

"Did you really have to ruin the moment?" Romeo told his sister, rolling his eyes at her.

"Hey, don't go around stealing my best friend from me," Rae said, sticking out her tongue like a child.

"Even Becca is more mature than you," Romeo chuckled as he placed his hand around Helena's waist again and guided her toward the backyard.

"Romeo, this is inappropriate," Helena said as she pushed him away.

"Why? Cause we aren't sure we're mated?" Romeo asked.

"No, because we're stepsiblings," Helena huffed as she walked ahead. "And someone else might be my mate."

She'd only managed to take two steps when Romeo grabbed her wrist, making her stop.

"Is there someone else?" Romeo asked, his voice a little deeper and his expression darker.

Both Helena and Rae could feel his Alpha auro radiating off of him, dropping the temperature by a few degrees.

"It's none of your business," Helenna hissed as she pulled her wrist away and walked faster.

"Don't fuck this up," she heard Rae scold her brother before hurrying to Helena's side.

"Are you excited to see everyone?" Rae asked as she diverted the topic.

"Yeah," Helena said in a much calmer tone. "It's been a while."

"Mom and Dad were so happy that you were staying longer than a day!" Rae exclaimed as they walked out the back door.

Helena gasped when she saw how many people were outside.

Soft music filled the air and the chatter among packmates warmed Helena's heart.

This was what she missed the most about being home, the warmth and that feeling that she truly belonged.

"Helena!" Raul called out.

The whole space went quiet as everyone's attention turned to Helena.

She gave everyone a small smile and waved.

"Here, sit," Raul told his stepdaughter as chatter and music filled the air again.

Rae took the seat to her right as the Alpha stood up and called everyone's attention.

"Hey Hel--" one of the Black Moon Pack Warriors began to say before he was nudged aside by a clearly upset Alpha-to-be.

"The alpha is about to make a speech, go back to your seat Trevor," Romeo hissed, making the warrior retreat.

"You aren't Alpha yet," Helena reminded Romeo as he sat down next to her. "And you shouldn't treat your people like that."

Romeo leaned in and whispered, "He was getting too close, love. You of all people should know that I'm not letting any other male get too close to you now that I've had you."