Chapter 3 Welcome Back To The Pack

When Serena drove across the border into Night Sky pack territory, a moment of hesitation struck her heart. Her foot itched to press the break and reconsider, but she clenched her hands on the steering wheel and kept going. No! She‘d come too far to turn back now, and all because she had a one night stand with a mysterious man five years ago. Night Sky wasn‘t the pack Serena had been born into, but she was returning from medical school and had been offered a residency position at the new medical building in Night Sky territory. It was a smart move for her to make for her career. Starseeker, the pack she‘d been born into, had always been close allies to Night Sky, so she would still get to see her father, Alpha of Starseeker, her mother who was Luna, and her twin brother Santino. If she was being perfectly honest with herself, Serena was glad for the chance to step out of her brother‘s shadow. He had been selected to be the next Alpha, so her parents were always working with him and training with him. Serena didn‘t mind, he was her twin! But she wanted the chance to prove herself, and it was better to do that in a fresh environment. Sighing, Serena relaxed her hands. She was grateful there was still another pack in the Federation to relocate to. Ever since Moonshine had been taken over by an illegitimate Alpha and separated from the Federation, tensions were high. Serena understood the resistance she’d encountered when she pursued her current career path in another pack. Reason had won out in the end. What better way to keep Night Sky and Starseeker on good terms if the daughter of Alpha Thomas from Ștarseeker was living and working among the Night Sky pack? Inwardly, Serena satisfied herself with the thought that she was helping her father in ways Santino never could! She still had a long drive ahead of her. The border of the pack territory was two hours from the building she was headed to. A long, straight shot with no turns and nothing but forest to look at. Glancing in her rearview mirror, Serena smiled at the two passengers secured in their booster seats. The girl smiled back, kicking her feet back and forth. The boy met her eyes, but then looked at his sister instead. A fateful night it was, Serena thought to herself, bringing her eyes back to the road. “We there yet?” her daughter, Olivia, asked. “Almost, sweetie,” Serena said back. Her daughter clapped her hands while her son, Oliver, smiled shyly. She caught it in the mirror when she glanced back at them again. “I’m thirsty,” Oliver said. “Can you wait another ten minutes?” Serena asked. Oliver shrugged. “I‘m thirsty too, mommy!” Olivia chimed in. “I want a drink now!” Serena shook her head, smiling to herself. “We‘re almost there, then we can have a drink,” she assured. Serena had always.loved having a twin brother growing up. She hadn‘t considered that being a twin was in any way genetic, but now she had a pair of twins sitting in her car. After discovering she was pregnant with them, Serena had had one of the hardest decisions a woman ever has to make when she isn‘t expecting to be pregnant. Seeing their chubby, round faces in the rearview mirror, watching them grow into two entirely different people, she knew every day that the decision she had made had been the right one. They pulled up in front of the main Night Sky pack building. Serena could feel it in her bones. Her life was starting anew, and the lives of her children were about to begin. They‘d never been part of a pack before, and it was a connection she wanted them to have. Serena parked her car outside the house address she was given. There was a woman waiting on the front porch for her. Although Serena hadn‘t had many interactions with her yet, she knew it was Adriana, the woman who had secured her position in the pack medical facility. Adriana waved and stepped off of the porch, heading to the driver‘s side door. When Serena cut the engine, Adriana opened the door for her. “Serena?” she asked. Serena nodded, glancing behind the other woman at the house she was parked in front of. “This is your new home.” “Really?” Serena asked. She hadn‘t been expecting a whole house to herself! “Come on, I‘ll give you the tour,” Adriana said with a soft chuckle. Serena got out of the car. Adriana went back to the porch, but Serena opened the back door of her car to let the twins out. Olivia immediately ran up the front steps, but Oliver hung back and walked next to his mom. “Adriana, these are my children ,Olivia and Oliver,” she said. “They are adorable,” Adriana said, smiling at Olivia. Olivia stuck her tongue out at the chief of medicine. “Olivia!” Serena snapped, grabbing Oliver‘s hand and rushing up the steps, half dragging him behind her. “That is rude. Please apologize to Adriana and say ‘hello,” she instructed. Olivia pouted, looking down at her feet bashfully. “Please, I work with children, I‘m used to it,” Adriana said. Serena sighed. “Come on, Olivia, be a big girl,” Serena said. Slowly, Olivia raised her eyes. “I‘m sorry for making faces,” she said. “It‘s nice to meet you.” She was still looking at the porch, kicking at the boards with the toe of her shoe. “That is quite alright, Olivia,” Adriana said. “It is nice to meet you too, and Oliver.” She leaned down slightly to scrunch up her nose at Oliver. He laughed and hid his face in Serena‘s leg. “Shall we?” Serena asked. Adriana nodded, opening the front door and letting them in. Immediately, Olivia bolted into the house. Oliver ran after her. “The house is move–in ready,” Adriana said, flashing a smile at Serena. “Electric and utilities are hooked up. Three bedrooms upstairs and a full bathroom. Eat-in kitchen, living room, office or den, and a half bathroom on the first floor.” “Thank you, Adriana,” Serena said. “I‘m looking forward to getting to work.” “Yes, of course,” Adriana said. “I am so happy you agreed to complete your residency here.” “Thank you,” she said. “I am eager to get to work.” “Oh, almost forget, here are your keys,” she said handing Serena a key ring. One was clearly a house key. There were a few other keys on the ring too. “The others are for the medical facility,” Adriana clarified. Serena nodded and followed Adriana out to carry her luggage “Alright, well, I will leave you to get settled,” Adriana said and waved a final goodbye. “If you need anything at all, please let me know. I’m around.” Serena waved in return and then began hauling luggage out of her trunk. As Serena pulled the last bags out of her trunk, she stiffened, a distinct scent catching her nose. A scent she hadn‘t smelled in over five years, one that was barely a whisper of a memory from the haze of alcohol that had surrounded it. Swallowing, Serena found that her legs would not obey her to turn around and face the approaching male. She‘d never seen his face, she couldn‘t remember his features behind the mask, but she remembered his smell! Gripping the box in her hands, Serena slowly gained control of her legs again, even as her fingers and knuckles turned white from the strength of her hold. She turned to face him, brow creasing when she saw his friendly smile. No memory could put the face of the male she saw now on the body of the man she‘d spent the night with so long ago. He was handsome, muscular and well–built with greenish– yellow eyes and wavy ash blonde hair. If it wasn‘t for his scent, Serena would have sworn she‘d never seen him before. “You must be Serena,” he said warmly, a deep smooth voice that complimented his height. “Yes, that‘s me,” Serena said, her voice croaking. She swallowed quickly; glad she was holding a box to keep from having to shake his hand. “Welcome to Night Sky, I‘m Logan,” he said. Serena nodded, smiling again as she tried to find her voice. Trying to stay calm, Serena wondered if the man in front of her could be the mysterious man she had a one-night stand with five years ago. Was it just a coincidence? As she was lost in thought, Logan’s voice broke the brief silence. "Haven't we met before?"