Having my mom and dad stay with us was amazing. It was all I had dreamed it would be and then some. My mom and I spent hours in the garden, getting it ready for the summer. We talked about anything and everything. It was a blessing to have her back in my life now that I was expecting a pup. She told me all about her experiences, and she gave me helpful advice. Some days, Matilda joined us and it was always a treat. My mom insisted on helping in the pack kitchen from time to time.

My dad and I went for walks and talked as well. I wanted to know why I had felt such a distance between him and Uncle Mark. He told me about the first year after I left, and I felt sad that I hadn’t been able to stop the deterioration of their friendship.

“Don’t you put that on your shoulders, pumpkin,” my dad said as we walked over the meadows. It was too early for the wildflowers to bloom, but the creek and forest still made it a lovely path to walk. “We are still friends, just not as close as we used to be. And that is okay. We grow and change,” he added.

“I know,” I told him.

“I was thinking of taking your mate, your Beta, and Gamma to have a drink in the pub in town,” he then said, changing the topic completely.

“Okay. And why are you doing this?” I asked.

“I like Finlay. He is good to you, he loves you the way a mate should love you. But I know he doesn’t have a father, and his older brother isn’t much to brag about. I was thinking we three fathers could have a heart-to-heart with him. Tell him what he is in for and scare him a bit along the way,” my dad told me and chuckled. I giggled.

“I think he would love that. Thanks, Dad,” I said and kissed his cheek. He looked happy. Then I told him about Martin. He always made himself known in my mind when I walked along the creek. My dad listened and hummed.

“Sounds like he was a good Beta and friend,” he said as I had stopped talking and was doing my best not to cry. I nodded.

“He was. I still miss him, but it feels a little better now that his family is here,” I said. We walked back in silence, the nice kind that let me enjoy the spring air and the scent of nature waking up all around us. While my dad took Finlay out with the boys, Mom and I headed over to the pack house. The pack had been amazing towards my parents. We joined a group who was playing board games and soon Cadence and Jon also joined in. It was a fun evening.

A couple of hours later, Finlay and I were getting ready for bed. He had a smile on his face which made him look younger.

“I really like your dad,” he told me as he embraced me from behind and placed his hands on my belly.

“Should I be jealous?” I asked. He chuckled and kissed his mark on my neck.

“No. I just appreciate the way he has included me into your family. I have heard a lot about how some fathers-in-mating can be standoffish and protective of their daughters. But your dad just invited me in and treats me like a second son. Like what he did today. I have been wanting to ask him about all of the pregnancy stuff, but didn’t know how to ask. It meant a lot to me,” he told me, and I could feel the sincerity in our bond, and it touched me. I felt myself tear up and had to wipe away a stray tear.

“Red, sweetheart, why are you crying?” Finlay asked.

“Nothing. Hormones, I think. But I’m happy you and my dad get along.”

“I would like to be like him to our pup,” he said. I turned around so I could face him.

“I can tell you from first-hand experience he is a great role model to have.” I cupped my hand on his cheek. “You will do brilliantly. If it’s one thing I don’t worry about with this pup, it’s if it’s going to be loved. We have that covered.” He bent down and kissed me.

A couple of evenings later, the four of us were looking through some photo albums my mom had brought along. I bravely lived through the embarrassment of some of my pup photos. Finlay and my mom cooed over an array of photos, and my dad took delight in telling every embarrassing story he could think about. When we had looked through all of them and sat back with some tea, I could feel the mood shift. My mom gave my dad a look and I wondered what was up.

“I don’t want this to come across as rude, or nosey, but would you mind sharing what you think about Carol, Finlay?” my dad asked. Finlay looked surprised for a moment, but then nodded.

“She is a kind wolf,” he said. “She has always been a bit shy, but opens up once you get to know her and she relaxes. If I remember correctly, she is a hard worker, and she was generally liked in the pack,” he continued.

“Are you worried?” I asked my parents.

“No. We have about the same opinion, but it never hurts to ask,” my mom said. “She and James seem to be moving toward mating. I think it’s great, they will make a good Alpha pair, and I think they balance each other out in a nice way.”

“But?” I asked. There was a shared look between my parents again.

“She’s not Amie,” Finlay answered in their stead.

“Well no. Not that we would want Amie in that position. No, our daughter is where she should be,” my mom said.

“You make a better mate for her than James or anyone else. But the pack is a little weary of the relationship between them. They knew who you were and what you were like. This is something new,” my dad added. Finlay smiled and kissed my hair. He didn’t seem to take offense, which was good. I knew my parents loved him.

“Well, of course it’s new. I hope no one is trying to compare her to me, especially not the eighteen-year-old me who left the pack. Not even I am that person anymore. It would be unfair to expect her to be like me. She should be judged on her own merits. From what I saw during our brief meeting, she seemed sweet and kind. A little shy, but that isn’t a bad thing,” I told them. Finlay smiled at me.

“My perfect Luna,” he said and kissed my cheek.

“Stop that,” I said with a smile and tried to bat him away. Both my parents laughed.

“No, he is right. It was a very Luna-like answer,” my mom told me.

“And we agree with you. That is why we are asking. We are hoping we can talk to some of the pack members when we get back and set their minds at ease. It’s about time we had a Luna again,” my dad added.

“It makes a big difference,” Finlay agreed. “I had Amie as a stand-in Luna for six years, and still. When it was official, there was a change in the pack.” My dad nodded.

“It always stabilizes the pack. And when the next generation starts to show up, it gives hope,” he said with a grin. Finlay put his hand on my belly.

“I hope James and Carol sort things out. Maybe we will see them at the Alpha meeting this summer,” I said. Finlay froze and looked at me. “What?” I asked.

“You don’t think you are still going, do you?” he asked.

“And that is our cue to head off to bed, right babe?” my dad said, standing up.

“Yes, I’m feeling all worn out. You two have a nice evening,” my mom agreed, and they both left the room before either Finlay or I could respond.

“Why wouldn’t I be going?” I asked.