Big Mistake

It didn't take us long to reach the fair, which was already packed with people. As I sniffed the air, the usual scent of humans filled my nostrils, though I could pick out the faint trace of a few werewolf families mixed in.

"Caleb , I need you to stay close to Mommy or Daddy at all times, okay? I don't want you running off and getting hurt."

"Yes, Momma," he replied eagerly.

I gently grabbed his hand and pulled him between Camden and me as we approached the entrance to pay for our tickets. At the gates, two girls dressed in the shortest skirts I'd ever seen stood chatting. They were so short, you could practically see their underwear.

Quickly, I covered Caleb 's eyes and pulled him into my chest, shielding him from the disturbing sight.

"Can we have three unlimited gold tickets, please?" Cam asked the attendant. I was trying my best to ignore the girls.

"Sure thing, cutie. That'll be $35. Is there anything else I can do for you?" she asked, batting her eyelashes at Camden.

I snapped my head over to her, my irritation bubbling. She wasn't even subtle—batting her eyelashes like some kind of cartoon character.

'"Is there something wrong with your eyes?" Camden asked, his tone sharp. I couldn't help but snicker.

The girls froze, and I caught the death glare they shot me before they turned back to Camden. One of them tried to recover. "You didn't have to be so rude, baby."

"I'm not your baby," Camden replied flatly. "And do you mind pulling down your skirt? s.. there's kids here."

I watched as the girl's face turned bright red, a mix of anger and embarrassment coloring her cheeks. Without another word, she threw our tickets at us and stormed off. Camden's eyes followed her, an amused smirk on his lips.

I grabbed the tickets, quickly placing one on my wrist and snapping Caleb's onto his. We walked inside with him bouncing between us, practically vibrating with excitement.

"Can we go on that one? And that one?" he asked, pointing at every ride in sight every five seconds.

Camden chuckled, and I shook my head. "Hey buddy, calm down. You see this gold ticket?" I held it up, letting him take a good look. "This means you can ride as many rides as you want, whenever you want."

For the rest of the morning we spent going on rides and taking pictures. Camden was currently in line getting us some food since Caleb got hungry. We were sitting under a large tree free from the sun and noisy people.

"Really? Thank you, Daddy!" Caleb squealed, practically leaping into Camden's arms.

The rest of the morning flew by in a blur of rides, pictures, and laughter. Camden was off getting food since Caleb was getting hungry, and I found a quiet spot under a large tree to escape the sun and the noise.

A large pizza, three mango smoothies, and a giant Rice Krispies bar later, we were lounging back, full and content. Caleb had fallen asleep on my stomach, and I was just starting to relax when Camden dropped a bombshell.

"No. Absolutely not," I said, shaking my head as soon as the words left his mouth.

"Please, Avery," Camden pleaded, his voice a little more serious than usual.

"Cam, no." I wasn't having it.

"Come on, it's just my sister and my parents. You don't need to be seen by anyone else if you don't want to. But eventually, the pack needs to meet their future Alpha."

I  wave of tension washed over me. The thought of stepping into a house full of people who despised me made my stomach twist. People who'd passed judgment without understanding the full story. People who had once been my family, my friends.

No, I didn't care about the pack needing their Alpha, but i did say i'd be more open and let and Caleb meet his grandparents.

I sighed, my resolve cracking. "Fine, we'll come to the barbecue. But I'm not ready for either me or the pack to be seen by anyone but family."

"That sounds reasonable," Camden said, his voice filled with relief.

I couldn't shake the feeling that tomorrow would be far from simple. But we'd deal with it when the time came. For now, I focused on Caleb , who was starting to wake up, ready to hit the rides again.

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"Bye, Daddy! See you tomorrow!" Caleb mumbled sleepily, his voice muffled by his pillow.

"Bye, little man. I'll see you when you visit, okay? Get some rest." Camden kissed his forehead before stepping out of the room. I turned off the light and followed him downstairs.

"Avery, thank you for letting me spend the day with you and Caleb ," Camden said softly, his voice tinged with gratitude. "It really meant a lot. And for agreeing to let him meet my parents. I know it's not easy for you."

"Don't mention it," I replied, shrugging as I tried to play off the tightness in my chest.

He sighed heavily, rubbing his eyes in exhaustion. I could see the conflict in his expression. His gaze was filled with regret, a kind of sorrow that he was holding back. He wanted to apologize, I could tell, but he also knew it wasn't the right time.

I wasn't in a forgiving mood... not yet, anyway. Before he could voice whatever was running through his mind, I cut him off.

"It's late, Camden. I think you should go. We need to rest up, then head back to the hotel. We've got a busy day tomorrow with your family and my mom. I need my sleep."

He hesitated, looking at me like he wanted to say more, but then he seemed to make a decision. He nodded slowly. "You're right. I'll see you tomorrow. And... thank you, Avery. I know it's hard, but I appreciate you trying."

He looked at me then finally gave in and agreed. When he left and I closed the door I made my way towards my room to my sleeping boy and crawled in bed as he snuggled against me.

Without another word, he left. I closed the door behind him, the quiet of the house settling around me like a heavy blanket. I moved toward my room, crawling into bed next to Caleb . He instinctively snuggled closer, his small body a comfort in the midst of my swirling thoughts.

The sound of my phone buzzing at 8:00 a.m. yanked me from my half-sleep. Shit, I thought, blinking at the screen. The BBQ was at noon, and we still had to get ready. I had barely enough time to get both of us presentable and drive back to the hotel. Quietly, I slipped out of bed, trying not to disturb Caleb , and grabbed my clothes for a quick shower.

I opted for comfort over anything fancy. The sweats were practical.

I headed downstairs to make breakfast. A plate for Caleb , one for myself, and one for Dad—who, as expected, came home late last night. I also made him coffee. I grabbed everything and carried it upstairs.

"Caleb , baby, time to wake up," I called softly.

"Mmm," he groaned, burrowing deeper into his pillow.

"Sweetie, breakfast is ready," I said with a smile, knowing that would get him up.

As expected, the mention of food had him bouncing out of bed in an instant. He grabbed his plate of pancakes and bacon like it was his first meal in weeks. I couldn't help but laugh at his enthusiasm. He shot me a mock frown when I teased him about his eagerness.

"So cute," I muttered, watching him eat with such joy.

We finished breakfast, packed our things, and I gave Caleb a quick bath. I left a note for Dad on the kitchen counter, not wanting to disturb his rest. At 10:30, we made it to the hotel. Just enough time to get ready and head to Camden's before the BBQ really got rolling.

I kept it simple but stylish. The grey shirt made my eyes stand out, and the black skirt kept it casual but chic. My leather jacket completed the look. Caleb was dressed in a cute grey t-shirt and jeans, his burgundy letterman jacket completing the outfit. He looked adorable, and I couldn't help but feel proud.

"Ready, baby?" I asked, bending down to tie his shoes. He nodded eagerly, his face lighting up as we headed out the door.

Before going to the BBQ, I made one last stop at the hotel's sweet shop. I couldn't resist grabbing a few boxes of brownies—three boxes, each with thirty pieces. Of course, Caleb had to convince me to let him sample everything in the store. I had to fight him off as he tried to sneak extra treats into our basket. But, in the end, I gave in. I couldn't resist his pleading eyes.

The drive to the pack house was short, but it felt like forever. As we pulled up, my heart was pounding uncontrollably but I couldn't help but admire the massive remodel. The house was made from wood, stone, and glass, a beautiful mixture of modern and rustic. It was huge, like a mansion, and it felt... intimidating.

Camden must have seen us approaching because, before I even had the chance to turn off the engine, he was rushing out the front door. He came around the car, eager to open Caleb door, only to freeze when he realized the child lock was on.

I couldn't help but laugh at the sight. "You're not getting him out that way," I teased.

Camden's expression faltered before he switched to a smile. "Alright, alright." He waved and took a step back, waiting for me to unlock the door. The second I did, he yanked it open and scooped Caleb into his arms. The two of them laughed and giggled together like a couple of kids, and I couldn't help but roll my eyes in amusement.

"Hello, Camden. Nice to see you, too," I said dryly, my voice tinged with sarcasm. I grabbed the treats from the car and made my way toward the door. I didn't feel like playing nice, but I was here for Caleb .

As I walked toward the entrance, I sniffed the air, trying to find the kitchen. But what I didn't expect was that the kitchen led straight to the backyard. The backyard where the BBQ was being held.

And, of course, that was exactly where my former pack was.

The moment I stepped into view, the conversations around the fire stopped. Every single pair of eyes turned toward me. A cold, awkward silence fell over the group. My former pack. My family. The people who had turned their backs on me.

I froze, my body instinctively locking up. Every part of me screamed to turn around, to walk away, to avoid the confrontation I could feel hanging in the air. But I didn't. I kept my face neutral, unwilling to give them the satisfaction of seeing even a flicker of hesitation. My heart pounded, but I didn't let it show. I wasn't here for them, and I had no intention of engaging with people who'd abandoned me without a second thought.

I drew in a slow breath, the cold resolve settling over me like a shield. I wasn't about to justify my choices, not to them, not to anyone. The silence stretched between us, and I didn't move an inch. I had no obligation to speak, and I wasn't about to start now.

There you have it my sweet sweet readers. I'm staring the next chapter now. Love you all. VOTE and COMMENT thank you.