I walked into my pack's house at exactly 11:30pm exhausted. I sighed and moved a hand through my hair, knowing that I was going to have to ask my father what was up with Judah in the morning, since it was so late.

"Ember?" a male voice asked. This made me jump into the direction of him and open up knife, ready to pounce if the person moved towards me. This made the male chuckle, because I had done all of that on instinct.

My whole body relaxed as I caught the familiar scent of aftershave of the Beta Male to my father. "What is it Jack? Don't you see that I'm kind of jumpy here?" I raised an eyebrow while he stepped out of the shadow. I flicked my knife closed before I stuffed it back into my pocket.

Jack smirked his dark brown eyes dancing with laughter, and there was a bit of worry in them. Jack was Cal's father, and he didn't look like her one bit. However, Cal had gotten everything from her mother, so Lucy, Cal's mother, wasn't cheating on Jack.

Anyways, Jack had blonde, wavy hair, that seemed to glow sometimes. He had dark brown eyes that showed pride for his pack and his family. He was muscular build and stood at 6'6. He didn't have a five o'clock shadow, but that was because he usually shaved.

Jack nodded his head, chuckling. "I can see that, Ember."

"How many times do I have to ask you to call me Em, like everyone else on this God forsaken planet?" I huffed and folded my arms across my chest, looking down a bit. "It makes me feel like that I'm in trouble, with my mother."

Jack's smirk deepened, and he nodded his head. "Your father is waiting for you on the top level, of his house."

"So, he's still up?"

He nodded his head before opening the door for me. "Alpha," he said with a slight bow.

"Not until Mom and Dad dies and you and your mate resign from your position, do I become your Alpha." I walked out the door and started the trek towards my father's house, which was a couple of minutes away.

"But you are the Alpha to my daughter." He caught up with me after he had closed the door to my pack house. "And she should be home, since you are home, yes?" There was a bit of worry in his voice, even though he didn't have to worry about his daughter. Cal was a Warrior in my pack.

I bit back a bark of laughter, shaking my head, amused. However, I understood what he was getting at, because my dad was that way with me. "Your daughter is highly prepared. I didn't know that she had a small tranquilizer gun, until she had pulled it out on Judah."

Jack smirked and snorted. "I thought it might be the best thing for her, since she, Michael, Marvis, and Jeffrey had started up a band."

"Marivs and Mike are gay and dating each other," I said, knowing what he was thinking. "And Jeff is crushing on Clove from the Soare Pack, so he won't be doing anything to her. Besides, Mal will kick anyone's ass if they do mess with her. I'm sure that they'll be ending up together."

"Ember," Jack warned, glaring at me. "That is no way for a female to talk. You should not cuss."

I held my hands up in mock defeat. "You know it is true. And they don't think we know it."

Jack nodded his head, opening the door to my father's pack house. He stepped away so that I could get in, before he stepped in behind me. Jack closed the door, silently, letting us to fall into the darkness of the room.

I closed my eyes and lifted my head, letting my body relax as I smelt the familiar scent of freshly baked bread. It was mixed with some spices that I was sure Mom was using to cook with. Mom was a good cook, and she cooked for us on somedays. However, like her, I was a good cook, also, so I cooked the meals.

"Come on, Ember," Jack called from where he was waiting for me on the first floor, which was above the main floor. "We still have two more floors to climb, and we don't want to keep him waiting. Do we?"

I opened my eyes and smirked. "No, we shouldn't keep him waiting." I went up the stairs and started to follow Jack towards my father's office.

***

Jack knocked on the door silently and opened it, gesturing for me to enter first. He smiled at me, showing me the care that he did have for me. Also, he was a gentleman, opening doors for females, even complete strangers.

I nodded my head in thanks and walked into my father's office, taking the scent of the mustiness of the room. My whole body relaxed instantly, because I've been in this room so many times, that I knew the everything in here. I smelt the old books, that gave the sense of home. I also smelt some scents that were more familiar to me than my own office was. It was empty, but it will be full when we get stuff.

I heard a seat being pulled out from behind a desk, and I opened my eyes, not knowing that I had closed them. However, I had done that, and I usually do when I'm smelling something. It was to let my nose take over, I guess.

A male, standing at 6'8 and weighing about 155, stood up and walked from behind his desk to the front. His black hair was ruffled, as if he had just woken up from a nap, maybe a few minutes before I had walked in. His green eyes, looked at me with fondness, that could only be portrayed in that of a close father-daughter relationship.

Fane Contre was his name and, he held himself with a pride for his pack and for his position. He had an easy going smile, that made people want to trust him instantly. His posture also demanded for respect, and respect he had from his pack and many other packs, as well.

I nodded my head respectfully, because he was still my Alpha until this arranged mateship had finished, which would be done the day after I turned 19. "Father," I said in greeting.

"Hello, Em," he said with a smile. "Would you like to play a game of chess?" He gestured to the unfinished game that we had started last game. We usually played chess while we talked, because it was our cover story.

I nodded my head, walking to the table. "Of course. Shall we pick where we left off?"

"Close the door, Jack. I don't want anyone to hear what we discuss." He glanced at his Beta before nodding his head to me. "We usually do."

Jack nodded his head silently and closed the door, standing right in front of it. He glanced at me before he studied the paintings on the wall, giving the bare, white room, some splashes of color and life. There was a bit of pity in them that I had picked up on, but I didn't know why.

"You were blacks of course?" Dad asked, looking at me.

"Yes, Sir," I replied, sitting down where the black pieces were set up.

Dad sat down in front of the white and moved a hand through his hair tiredly, making me frown. He glanced up and studied me, before clearing his throat. "Let's be extra precautionary and keep the level of our voices  to a minimum."

I nodded my head. "Even with the sound proof walls?" I glanced at the walls, knowing the material that was underneath. However, if Dad said to whisper, then we would whisper.

He nodded his head, while I turned to look back at him. "Yes," he said. "Even with those."

I nodded my head, again. "As you wish."

He moved his knight and took out one of my pawns, easily. "Then we shall begin." He smirked, glancing up at me.

And let the battles begin...