Chapter 174 Homecoming

Chapter 174 Homecoming
Amelia's POV

Caius's words clung to my mind as I watched his car pull away from the curb. I shivered despite the mild evening air, wrapping my arms around myself.

I climbed the worn concrete steps to our modest house, trying to shake off the lingering sense of disquiet. This mysterious Caius, whoever he was, would have to wait. I had enough complications in my life without adding mysterious werewolves with cryptic warnings.

The porch light flickered as I reached for my keys, casting dancing shadows across the peeling paint of our front door. Mom must have been watching for me—before I could get my key in the lock, the door swung open.

"There you are," Mom said, her eyes immediately darting past me to the street where Caius's car had been minutes before. "Who was that dropping you off? That's not your usual company car."

I stepped inside, the familiar scent of home—lemon cleaner and the faint lingering aroma of Mom's pasta sauce—washing over me. I hung my coat on the rack, buying myself a second to formulate a response.

"Just a colleague from our Azure Lake branch," I said, keeping my voice casual while I slipped off my shoes. "Westbrook Industries has offices there, and he was in town for meetings. He offered me a ride since we were leaving at the same time."

Mom nodded, seeming satisfied with this explanation. "That was nice of him. Those company cars are much nicer than taking the bus."

I silently thanked the Moon that she didn't press further. The last thing I needed was to explain my actual connection to Azure Lake Pack and that mysterious encounter.

Her expression softened as she gestured toward the kitchen. "There's leftover pasta in the fridge if you're hungry. I made your favorite sauce."

"Thanks, but I already ate." I kissed her cheek. "Don't wait up for me tomorrow. I might be home late again."

"Another late night at work?" she asked, following me down the hallway.

"Something like that," I answered vaguely, already heading toward my bedroom.

That night, I slept better than I had in weeks. No tossing and turning, no anxious thoughts about work stress or pack politics. Not even the strange encounter with Caius could disturb my peace. Alexander's promise that Nathan would be home tomorrow had lifted a weight I'd been carrying for months. The thought of having my brother back, even temporarily, filled me with a sense of rightness I hadn't felt since he'd been sent away.

The next morning, I woke up early, feeling refreshed and ready to face another day at Westbrook Industries. I found Mom in the kitchen, already dressed and sipping coffee while reading something on her tablet.

"You're up early," I commented, grabbing a bowl for cereal.

"Meeting an old friend for brunch," she explained. "Her daughter just got accepted to study abroad in Europe. She's leaving next month."

"That's amazing," I said, genuinely impressed. "Where in Europe?"

"Paris. Full scholarship." Mom smiled proudly as if it were her own daughter. "Her mother is worried sick, of course. Keeps saying she'll be all alone with her daughter gone."

I sat down across from her. "Not everyone gets to chase their dreams internationally. Her mom should be proud."

"That's what I told her. Besides, she still has two sons who can take care of her." Mom reached across the table and squeezed my hand. "Children need to live their own lives. Parents who can't see that are just selfish."

I squeezed back, grateful for her understanding. "You've always supported me, even when things got weird."

"Weird doesn't begin to cover it," Mom laughed. "But you're my daughter. Your happiness is what matters."

Our moment was interrupted by a knock at the door. I frowned, checking the time—it was barely 7:30 AM.

"Are you expecting someone?" I asked Mom, who shook her head.

I approached the door cautiously, years of werewolf instincts making me wary of unexpected visitors. When I pulled it open, my heart nearly stopped.

"BROTHER!" The word burst from my lips as I launched myself at Nathan, who stood grinning on our doorstep.

He caught me effortlessly, spinning me around once before setting me back down. "Hey, little sis."

"Nathan?" Mom's voice cracked behind me. She pushed past me and threw her arms around him, her small frame almost disappearing in his muscular embrace. "My boy, my boy..."

I stepped back, watching them with tears in my eyes. As they hugged, a memory flashed through my mind—Alexander's words from the night before: "Nathan's assignment ends. He'll be back home tomorrow."

My heart swelled with gratitude. Alexander had kept his word. He'd brought Nathan home.

Minutes later, we were all crammed onto our worn living room sofa, Nathan at the center as Mom fussed over him.

"It's been too long," he said, looking around our little house with fondness. "Nothing's changed."

But he had. I studied my brother, noting the new weathered quality to his skin, now several shades darker from outdoor exposure. His arms, exposed by his t-shirt, showed several new scars I didn't recognize—long, thin lines that hadn't been there before.

"Are those from...?" I gestured to the marks.

Nathan shrugged. "Border patrol isn't exactly a desk job."

Mom frowned, touching one particularly nasty scar that ran from his wrist to his elbow. "They're working you too hard."

"Mom, it's fine," Nathan assured her. "Head Alpha assigns tasks based on our capabilities. And whenever I've been injured, they've provided immediate treatment."

His eyes met mine. "Actually, Alexander himself treated this one after a particularly rough encounter with a rogue."

"See?" Mom said, looking at me pointedly. "People call him cold-hearted for no reason. He's a good man."

I felt my cheeks flush. "He's...complicated."

Nathan's eyebrows drew together. "Speaking of Alexander, I heard he's been driving you home frequently lately?"

The way he said it—part question, part accusation—made me squirm.

"Just occasionally," I hedged. "When I work late."

Nathan opened his mouth to say more, but I cut him off. "Tell me about your assignment. What's border patrol actually like?"

He accepted the subject change with a knowing look but launched into stories about his daily routines—ten-hour training and patrol shifts, living in temporary quarters with other guards, keeping watch for incursions from neighboring packs.

"You're working so hard, brother," I said softly. "You should be back in your Beta position."

He shrugged, but I could see the longing in his eyes. "I'm where I need to be right now."

"Has Alexander..." I hesitated. "Has he seen how much you've improved?"

Nathan nodded. "He visits the borders regularly. Tests us himself sometimes." A ghost of a smile touched his lips. "He's the most formidable warrior I've ever seen, Amelia. The way he moves... it's like he's not even bound by the same physical laws as the rest of us. He truly is Moon-chosen. No werewolf can beat him in either form."