C3 Welcome Home

-Kate-

"How are you today Kate?" My doctor entered the room and I smiled.

"I feel better, thank you."

He nodded and checked my chart.

"Looks like you've been attending therapy, yesterday was your last session?" He questioned, his eyes raising to meet mine.

"Yes, it's been good." I nodded.

"Your therapist says you've progressed wonderfully, and your nurses have checked for self harm markings and found nothing."

I looked down to my legs and nodded slowly.

"That means we can finally discharge you today, Kate. How does that sound?" He let the clipboard fall to the side of his body.

I was speechless, what could I say? Should I thank him? Laugh maybe?

"That's usually the proper reaction." He chuckled.

"But, Kate, you know I'm going to have to put you on anti-depressants, I will be monitoring you closely. I will have to instruct your parents to give you one pill each morning and you won't be able to take them yourself. They aren't the normal medication, our bodies run differently so we'll need to make sure you don't grow to be unhinged."

I sighed, I knew this would happen but I had to agree to be able to get out of here. I couldn't bear to stay here another moment.

"How long will I have to take them?" I asked.

"That depends on you, we will see how well you integrate into pack life. Don't do anything rash and please don't make another attempt at your life again." He spoke sternly.

I nodded carefully.

"Doc...will I be able to get my pack inking soon? I was due about a few days ago on my birthday but I was here."

He sighed and nodded.

"If your family approves, then I don't see any problems."

I smiled, and thanked him once more before he left the room to get my discharge papers.

I made my way to the bathroom to get undressed from the sweatpants and jacket provided by the hospital.

As I changed out of my baggy clothing, I looked at my body in the mirror. I'd gained weight while I was here.

I was no longer twiggy, instead my body had filled out and along with the weight came my development.

Along with individual counseling, came physical therapy.

They had me up my daily intake, and as a result I gained muscle and fat which I desperately needed.

I examined my newly toned body, my breasts had filled out a little too much for my liking as well as my behind. I could only imagine what my mother would say.

My family had come to visit me only a few times since I had gained consciousness. It wasn't entirely their fault, my doctor thought it would only further my emotional outbursts if they came too often.

The last time it was only my mother who came to visit, she'd brought a dress for my birthday.

"I'll leave it in the bathroom." She'd said, before taking her leave.

I shook those thoughts from my mind as I looked towards the red velvet skater body con dress that hung on the back of the bathroom door.

I sighed and grabbed it before slipping it over my head and onto my body.

The dress fit like a second skin, It was almost a little uncomfortable. Since I'd gained weight, my clothes were fitting tighter over my chest and hips.

I made my way back into my room after brushing my hair and teeth.

As I made my way over to the side of the bed to grab my boots, I heard someone gasp from the corner of the room.

"Dustin..." I cleared my throat, and he pushed himself from the wall and further into the room.

"Kate, um mom and dad wanted me to come pick you up. Dad's arranging a pack meeting and mom is preparing the house for you. Your doctor gave me your prescription and-"

"Dustin, slow down. It's okay, I don't have any objections to going home with you." I shrugged as I tugged on my second boot and laced them up.

He nodded and looked at me in shock.

"Listen, Katie..I-I'm sorry about everything. I haven't been to see you because- I don't know I guess I was just being a coward and I apologize for everything that's happened."

I nodded, and I sighed as I grabbed my sweater from one of the cabinets.

"Dustin, one of the things I've learned while I've been here is forgiveness. I couldn't bring myself to forgive you, or our parents for anything they'd done to me. I took my own life because I experienced being rejected from everyone in our family and I didn't know if I was strong enough to go through that again. I just need you to be my brother before anything Dustin, the torment I went through before broke my heart because my family wasn't there for me. I think it's going to take a while for me to let you call me Katie again, so for now just stop trying so hard and give me some space."

He nodded, tears in his eyes and I watched as he visibly swallowed a lump in his throat.

"I'm really sorry, if you want I won't speak to Blake anymore. I know how much he hurt you and I won't let that happen again."

I stepped closer to him and shook my head.

"Dustin I don't want you to leave your friends, I just need to know that we'll always be family, no matter what. Other than that, you can hang out with your douche friends and leave me be."

He quickly pulled me into his chest and wrapped his arms around me tightly.

"I promise you I won't ever leave you, you're my sister and I will do right by you from now on. Just...please don't leave again Kate, I can't handle that again."

I smiled lightly into his shirt before pulling away, this was going to take time but I knew that if he tried to prove himself, I would learn to trust him again.

"I promise, now can we get out of here please? Seven months of torture was enough."

He smiled and wiped his eyes quickly before slipping on his sunglasses and opening the door for me.

"Let's go little sister."

-------

As we neared the pack property I felt my heart race and my palms started to sweat.

"Kate...you okay?" He asked.

I nodded slowly and attempted to manage my breathing.

"Yeah, I'm just nervous. Can you tell?" I asked.

He nodded, "Your heart rate went up and your energy depleted."

I turned my head to face him.

"You can see all that?"

He nodded.

"It's a thing that Alpha's children can do, we can see energies and emotions. They're kind of like colors."

I cocked my head, I was able to do that?

"Can you teach me?" I questioned.

He nodded excitedly.

"Of course, it might take you a bit though, it took me a few weeks."

"I don't care, I just want to know."

He smiled.

"Well, you need to focus your energy to the center of your body. You kind of go into wolf vision, and when you open your eyes again you can read people more easily. Red, is a threat, blue is neutral, and white is nervous."

I looked at him in awe and smiled to myself.

"Dustin?" I questioned.

He looked to me in acknowledgment.

"Yes?"

"When are you going to take over the pack?" I asked quietly.

He ran a hand through his hair and I waited for the shouting.

"Well," He started, "I was going to wait until dad died, but honestly I've been thinking about this a lot. I'll be going to college soon, and I just don't know if I'm going to be ready for that. Especially if I don't have a mate."

I nodded and sighed in relief.

"Why do you ask?"

I shrugged, "I don't know, I've just always been curious. Mom kept me in the dark about everything related to pack life and I've just never been properly informed. I think it's time I changed that."

He nodded and smiled slightly as he turned the corner to our house.

"We're home." He nodded with his head towards the house.

A banner was covering the balcony on the second floor and I gasped in surprise. It read:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KATE

"It was mom's idea, she invited a bunch of pack members over to celebrate as a surprise. The adults are leaving at seven, so we young folk can have some fun."

"She wants me to find a mate, doesn't she?"

I turned to him.

"Well...I didn't exactly tell her about the whole thing with Blake, I wanted to leave that up to you."

I nodded in thanks.

"Well, let's get this over with." I sighed.

I opened my door and climbed out of the passenger door, immediately the front door swung open and my mother and father stood at the foot of the stairs.

"Katherine!" My mother squealed as she rushed to me with open arms.

"My darling girl you look so wonderful, you're not a baby anymore are you? Come inside, please we have so much to tell you."

My mother continued to ramble on as she led me up the steps to the house.

Wonderful? She didn't think I looked fat? I had put on a bit of weight since she last saw me.

We came to my father and I shifted my eyes to the floor, before I could look in his eyes and see disgust.

"K-Kate..."

I looked up and watched as my father approached me.

"I um...I wanted to welcome you home."

Oh.

"Yeah, thanks dad."

I mumbled.

Mom continued to lead me into the house where everyone was rounded in the foyer.

I was determined to keep my heart beat steady as I was introduced to everyone formally.

"And this is Ralph, he's another perimeter runner..."

Mom's rambling continued to make it's way in and out of my head, and before we knew it seven o'clock came around.

"Alright my lovely children, it's time for us to take our leave. Katherine enjoy your party dear, we will be back tomorrow."

Mom looped her arm through dad's and she turned to leave before dad stopped her and told her to wait by the door.

He turned to me and my body immediately felt cold, what was he going to say to me?

He placed a hand on my shoulder and turned me towards everyone in the house.

"This is my daughter, she has Alpha's blood and no one is above that. Anyone who mistreats her will have to answer to me. My blood is my life, and it has been spared."

He turned to me once again and kissed my forehead, stroking my jaw once before nodding his head and taking his leave.

That was the way my father showed affection, through approval. Although it wasn't much, it was enough for me to see that he was trying. However, it wasn't going to be easy to learn to trust him again. Everybody knew that much.

---

The party had been going on for a couple of hours now and Dustin hadn't left my side.

I told him to go enjoy himself and he kept his distance a few times, but always he gravitated back to me.

Eventually, I felt a piercing sting go through my chest and I immediately turned around to face the doorway.

My mate and his girlfriend were greeting various people, looping in and out of the crowd as they smiled and accepted drinks from people.

My heart started to race and I looked for an escape, Dustin caught my eyes and he nodded.

He started walking towards me and caught my elbow with his hand, leading me into the kitchen.

"If you don't want to see him, I can lead him towards the pool or the backyard and keep him away from you. I don't know why he was invited, I didn't ask mom for this."

I nodded and looked to him.

"Yes please, um I'm going to get a drink. Then I'll try to make my way upstairs okay?"

I pointed towards the punchbowl and he nodded before making his way towards Blake.

--Blake's POV--

I walked through the doors to Dustin's house, unsure of why I was here in the first place.

"Hey Blake, what's up man?"

Various people greeted me, some from my own pack and some from Dustin's, eventually I made my way into the living room and Macie excused herself to the bathroom.

"Hey Blake, have you seen that blond beaut? She is smoking." I recognized him as one of Dustin's patrol runners.

"No I haven't, where is she?" I questioned.

"I dunno, I saw her going into the kitchen a little while ago. She's wearing a tight little red number, you can't miss her, she's got long legs and assets to kill for man."

This made me curious, a woman I didn't know about?

I started making my way to the kitchen.

"Blake!" I heard Dustin's voice calling from behind me.

I turned around to greet him before I noticed his not so pleased demeanor.

"What are you doing here, man?" He asked.

I narrowed my eyes.

"Your mom called, said you were throwing a party tonight. I um...saw the banner, so she's home?" I asked.

He looked like he was holding something back.

"Yeah she's back, listen man do you wanna step outside it's getting a little crowded."

I shrugged, why not?

"Yeah, I'm just waiting on Macie. She went to the bathroom."

He nodded and scanned the room quickly, what was he looking for?

"I've got to use the restroom, can I use the one upstairs?" I asked.

"Uh no, my mom doesn't want anyone using that one actually-" He was cut off by Macie's shrill voice.

"Ew, I had no idea this was your sister's party Dustin, that's pretty lame. Is she like resting upstairs or crying? Or both?" She smirked and I felt my eyes widen.

"Don't talk about my sister like that, she's Alpha's blood and if you ever make a snide remark like that again you'll have to answer to my father or myself." He growled.

Macie looked shocked, as she looked between Dustin and I clearly wanting me to intervene.

"Alright well now that the bathroom is free, I'm going to use it." I pushed past Macie and walked down the hall.

I got to the door and jiggled the handle.

Locked.

I cursed and looked back down the hall, Dustin didn't appear to be there so I made my way towards the stairs.

Rounding the corner, I felt my pulse jump ten times higher and before I could get to the bathroom I felt something pulling me in the opposite direction.

I reached a door I'd seen before, only in passing and once in a traumatic setting.

What was I doing here? This was wrong, I didn't want Kate.

Still my wolf called to her, and I twisted the door handle.

She sat on her bed, facing the window with headphones in her ears and a book in her hand.

I approached her slowly, and careful not to scare her.

Suddenly she jumped up and the book fell from her lap as she pulled the headphones from her ears.

"W-what are you doing here?" she questioned.

I eyed her carefully, she looked so different.

Her hair cascaded down her shoulders and back in long waves, the red dress which clung to her body in all the right ways accentuating her breasts and butt made her look so delicious.

This was Kate?

"I said, what are you doing here Blake?" She crossed her arms and I cleared my throat.

"I...I don't know-I just, I haven't seen you."

The way she said my name, made me feel complete, as if nothing in the world was wrong and it made it all the more difficult to resist her.

"Well, you made it perfectly clear that you didn't want to see me, Blake. Please, just go enjoy yourself."

What? Enjoy myself? How could I possibly do that?

"I am enjoying myself, Kate. Just let me stay up here, we-we don't even have to talk just let me look at you."

What the fuck was I saying? What was I turning into?

"Blake...just please leave, you made your choice. I'm sure Macie is growing impatient, Dustin won't like you being up here. Just please go away."

Her words cut me, and for a second I could feel the pain in her voice from when I'd rejected her at school.

"I'll...I'll leave you to it then, goodbye Kate."

She looked me in the eyes this time, revealing the scar that ran from her right ear to her left.

"Goodbye, Blake."

I closed the door behind me and breathed, I needed to talk to my father