CHAPTER 93: CHAPTER 93 RETURNING TO MAPLEWOOD

Caroline’s POV

We landed at Maplewood airport Friday afternoon. The moment we got off the plane, I smelled the pine trees and dirt from home. God, I’d been gone way too long.

"You good?" Elle asked while holding my sleeping Liam against her shoulder.

"It’s weird being back," I said.

Blood Moon Pack was in the hills around Maplewood, hidden from regular people but close enough to town. Elle’s driver was waiting for us at arrivals, super easy to spot cause he was so tall.

"Welcome home, Miss Eleanor," he said with a nod before grabbing our bags.

While driving through the woods to pack land, he caught us up on everything.

"Alpha Gerald stepped down last month. Gave leadership to your brother Sebastian. Big ceremony and everything."

Elle nodded like she already knew. "How’s Seb doing as Alpha?"

"Really good. Got new Betas, changed up warrior training. Pack’s doing great under him."

He looked at me in the mirror. "Your dad got offered an Elder position. Alpha Sebastian wanted him as advisor."

"But he said no," I finished. Dad had been talking about retiring to the farm forever.

"Yeah, said he’d done enough for the pack. Wants to chill now."

When we got near my parents’ farm road, the driver asked, "Miss Eleanor, when are you and Alpha Nathaniel announcing the wedding? Both packs keep asking."

Elle blushed. "We’ll announce when it’s right. It’s gonna be a huge party for both packs."

"And Liam’s gonna be the cutest flower boy," I said, looking at my sleeping kid.

"Nate’s still working on his business stuff," Elle explained. "Learning everything before he takes over as Alpha."

I got what she wasn’t saying. Nate wanted his own success before becoming Alpha. Once his company was doing well and he took over, Elle would be Luna. Starlight Pack was right next to Blood Moon, and they’d always been friendly. The marriage would make that even stronger.

We pulled up to my parents’ big white farmhouse with its porch and mom’s flowers everywhere.

"See you tomorrow?" Elle asked while the driver got my bags.

"Yeah, come whenever. Liam will be super excited." I hugged her goodbye and thanked the driver.

Before I could even reach the front steps, the door flew open and my parents rushed out.

"My baby girl!" Dad yelled across the yard, grabbing me in a huge hug that lifted me off the ground.

"Dad," I breathed in his familiar leather and dirt smell. "Missed you so much."

"Where’s my grandson?" Mom was already reaching for Liam, who just woke up all sleepy. "Come here baby."

She took him while I hugged Dad properly. In his strong arms, I felt like a little kid again, all safe and protected.

"So good to have you home, Sweetheart," he said, sounding emotional.

"Let’s get inside," Mom said, already walking to the house with Liam. "Made your favorite dinner, and this little guy needs some real food after that flight."

The house smelled like home, fresh bread and Mom’s herbs everywhere. We sat around the kitchen table talking about the farm, pack stuff, and all the new things Liam could do. My kid was loving all the attention from his grandparents, showing off his new words and being super cute.

After dinner, Mom took Liam up for his bath and bedtime story. Dad poured us some wine in the living room and sat in his chair.

"How’s Harbor Bay treating you, Carrie?" he asked, looking at me carefully.

"Really good, Dad. Better than I thought. Nobody there cares that I’m a single mom without a scent. Storm Valley Pack’s pretty cool about stuff like that."

"You found your place?"

"Think so. Got amazing friends who love Liam like he’s theirs. Job’s good too." I played with my wine glass. "I can just be myself there, you know? Don’t have to explain everything all the time."

Dad nodded. "We miss you both like crazy, but we can tell you’re happier there."

"Miss you too," I said quietly. "Wish Harbor Bay wasn’t so far."

"Family’s family, Sweetheart, no matter how far apart we are." He squeezed my hand.

Mom came back down, said Liam was out cold, and grabbed some wine before sitting with us.

"So," she had that mom look on her face, "tell us about this guy Elle mentioned when she called."

I almost spit out my wine. "Elle told you about Draven?"

"Just a little," Dad laughed. "Said there was someone special and you were being stubborn about it."

"It’s complicated," I sighed, putting my glass down.

"Everything’s complicated with you, Carrie," Dad teased. "You make simple things hard."

"Does he treat you right?" Mom asked.

"Yeah," I said. "He’s amazing with Liam. So patient and sweet. And with me..." I stopped, not knowing how to explain it.

"What about with you?" Dad asked.

"He makes me feel seen," I finally said. "Even without a scent, he sees me. He wants me, not despite who I am, but because of it."

My parents looked at each other like they knew something I didn’t.

"Sounds familiar," Dad smiled. "Your mom and I had a rough start too."

"Really?" I sat up, interested. They never talked about this stuff.

Dad nodded. "I was Beta when I met your mom. She just moved here from Silver Creek Pack. The second I smelled her, I knew she was the one."

"But I wasn’t having it," Mom laughed. "I’d seen too many bad matings, too many unhappy Lunas."

"She turned me down flat," Dad grinned. "Said she didn’t want a Beta who’d always put pack first."

"I was wrong about him," Mom said softly. "But I was young and scared. My sister’s mate was horrible, controlled her while he cheated."

"So what changed?" I asked.

"I didn’t push her," Dad said gently. "Just showed her I’d always put her first."

"He left flowers at my door every morning," Mom smiled. "Never pressured me, just kept showing up until I couldn’t imagine life without him."

"Then the rogues came," Dad said seriously.

Mom grabbed his hand. "They attacked unmated females in our pack. Your dad almost died protecting me. That’s when I realized I was letting fear stop me from being happy."

"Love takes guts, Caroline," Dad said seriously. "You gotta be brave enough to risk getting hurt."

"But what if it all goes wrong?" I said quietly.

"What if it goes right?" Mom shot back. "I almost lost your dad because I was too scared. Don’t do that to yourself."

"Draven asked me to move in with him," I told them. "He wants me and Liam to be part of his pack and his life."

"So what’s stopping you?" Dad asked softly.

I sighed. "I’m scared to rely on someone again after Marcus. Plus I don’t have a scent. What if he finds his true mate later?"

"Has he done anything to make you think he’d leave?"

"No," I had to be honest. "He’s been totally committed."

Dad nodded. "Sometimes love doesn’t follow the rules we expect, Sweetheart."

"Think about it like this," Mom said. "Would you rather spend your life wondering what could have been, or take a chance at being happy?"