Don't forget our Love
|23|

I've never been a nervous flyer. Planes, heights, or falling to my death doesn't scare me. The only thing that terrifies me is meeting a woman whom I've never met and expecting her to welcome me with open arms. Especially when she thought I was dead.

My hand shakes and I go to grab the armrest when Kai's hand grabs mine. He interlocks our fingers and brings my hand up to his mouth pressing a soft kiss. "Everything is going to be fine Avery, no need to be nervous."

I glance at his smiling face. "How can you say that? Hannah, my mom thought I was dead. She gets a mysterious call from Kayla informing her I'm alive and want to see her. It's been two days and we're going to see her in a few hours. What if she's not ready to see me?"

"She wouldn't have invited us if she didn't want to see you. Plus she said she had important information to tell you. I'm curious to know what it is." he says leaning back and relaxing in his seat.

"Your way to calm. Normally I'm the one trying to help you relax."

"What can I say I'm maturing." He winks at me and I roll my eyes.

"Sure, let's go with that."

He narrows his eyes at me and sits up. "I don't like your attitude mate," he growls and I growl right back.

"Get used to it mate, sassy Avery is here to stay."

I stand up to leave when Kai grabs my hips pulling me onto his lap. I'm straddling him and I can feel how hard he is underneath through his jeans. "I'm going to fuck that little attitude out of you Avery," he whispers hoarsely, his eyes flashing telling me Titan is trying to take control.

"Then do it," I reply and Kai growls before his lips are on mine. I moan into his mouth which seems to be his undoing because he stands up and starts walking us to the back of the plane where the bed is.

A fire has been awakened in me and only Kai can put it out.

When the jet finally lands Kai already has a car waiting for us on the tarmac. Thanks to being alpha of the largest pack in the western United States Kai has lots of connections and perks. When the alpha in the area heard of our arrival he sent a rental car for us to use. He even offered for us to stay in his pack but we declined because Hannah my mom wants us to stay with her since we're only here for one night.

Hannah's home is close to the airport. She lives in a large two-story house in the suburbs. It looks like the perfect home for a family with a porch swing, a white picket fence, and kids playing in the neighborhood. It makes me wonder how my life would have been if my dad never took us away.

Kai parks the car along the curb and turns to me. "Are you ready for this? We still have time to run if you're nervous?" he jokes but I can tell by the look in his brown eyes that he's serious. If I want to back out he fully supports my decision.

I swallow hard looking between Kai and the house. A small smile graces my lips. "I can do this, she's my mother. She's going to love me right?"

He smiles back. "Only an idiot wouldn't love you and you didn't get your brains from your dad so I say Hannah's probably pretty smart."

I laugh. "You're right I'm amazing."

We both exit the car holding hands as we approach the bright red door. I ring the doorbell and glance at Kai who wiggles his eyebrows and makes a silly face making me laugh.

"Stop it! This is serious I'm going to hit y-" I threaten him but the door swings open revealing a woman with light brown hair in a black fitted dress and nude lipstick. She has high cheekbones and the same nose as me. "Mom," I whisper.

"Avery! My goodness, you're so beautiful." She engulfs me in a hug and I start crying. Kai ushers us inside while Hannah my mom still hugs me.

Finally, I pull away and wipe my tears with the back of my hand. "I'm sorry for crying. It's just so much. I can't believe how much we look alike. I thought I looked like Dad but I was wrong." I'm a spitting image of my mom. We have the same facial structure and are even the same height.

"Even as a baby you looked like me. Would you like to see some pictures I have?" she asks and I nod eagerly.

"Yes please."

Hannah walks over to the fireplace and grabs a pink book. She then sits on a small white loveseat. I sit beside her and Kai sits across from us on the other couch. She flips the book open and the first picture is Mom in a hospital gown holding a small baby.

"James took this immediately after I gave birth. We were so happy to have a healthy baby girl. You were named after my aunt who died from cancer a year before."

"I didn't know that." I smile at her and she nods.

"We even planned on having more kids one day. James and I had discussed having a large family. After the car crash, I became so depressed. I couldn't eat or sleep knowing my family was gone." she frowns and I grab her hand to comfort her.

"I'm so sorry Dad took me away from you. He shouldn't have faked our death. He should have explained things to you. I had no idea you even existed until recently. Dad led me to believe Patricia was my mom. She was nice but I never felt a connection to her. The moment I saw you I could feel in my heart you were my mother."

"Where's Patricia now?" she asks pulling her hand back and starting to fidget nervously.

"She's gone. After James's despicable acts, she took her belongings and left. We think she's in Europe somewhere laying low." Kai answers for me making the air in the room very tense with his anger. Patricia hasn't been charged with anything but Kai still wants to kill her.

"Was Patricia his mate?" Hannah asks surprising me and Kai. We both face each other immediately and I know we're both wondering the same thing. "Are you two mind-linking?" she interrupts the silence and Kai stands up and begins pacing.

I bite my lip nervously. "Mom you know about werewolves? You knew Dad was one?"

She nods nonchalantly. "Yes James made me swear to keep it a secret but I knew what he was. I thought rogues had attacked you guys because the car was so destroyed and there were claw marks. But yes I know what you both are."

"Well, who are you guys?" a female voice interrupts making Kai growl at the intrusion. The blonde throws her hands up dropping her book. "Please don't kill me, that didn't sound normal at all."

Hannah sighs and stands up. "This is another reason I wanted to see you, Avery. This is your sister Charlie."

"Adopted." Charlie clarifies. "Your mom married my dad five years ago." she smiles and looks from me to Kai. "So why is the scary large guy looking at me like he wants to rip my head off?"

Kai's fists are still clenched at his side as he glares at Charlie. His shoulders heave up and down.

"Kai calm down. Charlie is not a threat I'm fine." I assure him. He's still on edge since killing his dad. If anyone even blinks too fast by me Kai and Titan are ready to rip their throat out.

"I'm definitely not a threat. There's not a violent bone in my body I promise. I don't even kill flies I trap them and let them go." she answers and satisfied with her answer Kai grunts and comes over and hugs me. His face is in the crook of my neck as I rub his back.

After I calm Kai down we all go freshen up and head to a local restaurant for dinner. It's a seafood restaurant and the food smells divine. We sit at a table with a red and white tablecloth. Kai is beside me with my mom Hannah and my new sister Charlie across from us.

As we wait for our food I decide to get to know Charlie more. I've always wanted a sibling so I'm eager to know all I can about her. "So Charlie how old are you?" I ask and she looks at me with her big curious brown eyes.

"I'm sixteen. I turn seventeen in about two months." she smiles at me.

"Really? I just turned eighteen, and so did Kai. We have the same birthday."

Charlie squeals nudging Mom who smiles at her sillyness. "The same birthday that's so romantic. I bet you guys always celebrate together doing cute couple stuff together, ahh I'm so jealous." she grins.

I can't help but laugh. "Actually we just reconnected but we used to celebrate each year together yes. Next year I plan on throwing us a huge party, you two should come."

Charlie instantly turns to Mom. "Can we go, please? I can even take pictures for you guys. I have a professional camera I can use."

"So you like photography?" Kai asks her then takes a sip of his water.

She nods very enthusiastically. "I love it. It's my passion to travel the world and take pictures of people and nature, I love it all." she smiles, and the way her face lights up I can tell it's true.

"Do you travel a lot now?" I ask and her smile disappears. She glances at Mom before looking back at me.

"No. Mom travels a lot for work so I've never even left the state of Florida." she sighs.

"What do you do for work?" Kai asks Mom while I pay attention to Charlie who seems lost in her thoughts now. She seems really sad and I take a mental note to ask her about it later.

"I'm a flight attendant." Mom smiles. "I leave out for a flight in two days. It will be back-to-back flights around China before we head to Russia then finally New Zealand. I'll be gone a little over a month." she answers and continues to explain more about her job but I'm too shocked to listen.

Kai immediately mind-links me. "So Hannah is just going to travel the world? Who takes care of Charlie while she's gone?" he asks and squeezes my hand under the table trying to control his temper. I can tell he's instantly bonded with Charlie and wants to protect her.

I mind-link him back still faking a smile. "I'll ask but I have a feeling by how upset Charlie seems I won't like the answer."

"Titan is ready to kill your mom, do something before I do." He warns and I clear my throat interrupting my mom's ramblings.

"I don't mean to intrude but who keeps an eye on Charlie while you're gone?"

Mom's smile drops and she tenses up. "Charlie watches herself. Our neighbors are like family and keep an eye on her."

"Miss Gloria hates me and Mr. Richard's dog bites," Charlie mutters under her breath but I hear her perfectly.

"Why doesn't Charlie come stay with us?" Kai speaks up and Mom frowns looking between us.

"I'm not sure that's such a good idea. It could be dangerous. I would feel terrible if something happened to her. Charlie is my responsibility now."

Kai grips his glass of water cracking it. "It's not for negotiation Hannah. Charlie's coming back with us. She will be safe in our pack, no harm will come to her and I'll feel better knowing she isn't alone."

"Pack? What are you guys like a cult of werewolves?" Charlie laughs and takes a drink of her soda pop.

"Actually we are. Kai and I are werewolves." I answer and Charlie spits out her drink and it flies all over Kai's face. He wipes it off groaning.

"You're not serious?" Charlie asks and lowers her voice to a whisper. "Werewolves are real? I read books about them all the time. Fantasy romance is my favorite genre."

I nod. "They're very real and if it's fine with Mom you can come stay with us. You will be perfectly safe and have your own room and-"

"Yes!" she interrupts me smiling. "I want to go with you. I don't care how dangerous it is. Mom please can I go?" she turns back to Hannah pouting and begging.

My mom Hannah looks from Kai to me. I'm smiling and I know Kai is still frowning showing his distaste for the situation. She shrugs. "I guess you can go, but only for a month."

"Yes!" Charlie grins.

"You will have to follow a few rules the main one being you can't tell anyone about us, understood?" Kai says sternly and Charlie nods in agreement.

The food arrives shortly and as we all talk getting to know each other better I can tell Charlie is in a much happier mood. I'm happy Kai suggested she come with us. I have a sister and I can't wait to get to know her.