Great. I have a brother my age. Dad sure moved on fast.

"You must be Ella's niece Ava," he says. "I'm Henry, Beta of the Shadow Pack. This is Jacob, our Gamma. Just wanted to say hi."

I eye him, not impressed. His Alpha - my father - must be too busy or just doesn't care enough to check me out himself.

"Yeah, that's me. Mind moving your car so we can leave?" I say through clenched teeth.

Ella shoots me a look. "Ava," she warns.

"Sorry, didn't realize this was your car," Henry says, checking out Ella's Honda. Total lie - Ella's been here for months. "Jake, park it somewhere else?"

Jake nods and moves the Mustang across the lot.

"Better?" Henry asks with this fake smile.

"I guess," I say, not hiding my annoyance. "Ella, can we go? Been up twenty-four hours." I fake a yawn. Ella gets it - this is the last thing I need right now.

"Sure thing. Anything else, Beta? Gamma?" She loads my stuff in her car.

They both stare at me. Jacob's got that distant look - definitely mind-linking someone.

"He's telling the Alpha," Puna says from the back of my mind, clearly entertained. She's watching through my eyes but keeping them from changing color.

Henry turns back to us, all smiles. "Nah, we're good. Oh wait - we'll pick up those ceremony cakes at the cafe tonight."

"They'll be ready. Hope the new Alpha enjoys his welcome home party," Ella says.

"Oh, he will," Henry says with this smug grin. Then surprises me: "You both should come."

Ella looks back at them. "Don't think so. Ava needs rest after her trip." I know why she's dodging - my blood boils thinking about who'll be there.

"Offer's open," Henry says.

Jacob eyes me carefully. "You should come to the pack house-" but I cut him off.

"Yeah, no. You both know my dad's in your pack. I'm never setting foot in your pack house. Now how about you two go do whatever before I puke on those fancy shoes?" I head for the car but turn back to the gamma. "Oh, and tell my dad I said hi - though I bet he won't show his face. Been ten years, why start now? Have fun at your party, but stay away from me."

I jump in the car and slam the door. "Freaking wolves," I mutter.

From the car, I watch them all standing there shocked by my outburst.

Can't stand him. Won't see the man who walked out on us.

"Sorry about Ava," Ella says, heading to the driver's side. "Hope she changes her mind," Henry says, bouncing back with another smile. "We don't want trouble."

All three turn and leave.

Ella and I watch them go. "Freaking wolves," I say again under my breath.

"Ava, watch what you say around here," Ella warns, starting the car. We drive out in total silence.

"Ella, why'd you really want me here?" The quiet's killing me.

She sighs. "Wanted to see you - you're my niece." I look at her - there's more to this. "And?"

"Your father came by the cafe when I moved here. His pack told him I was around. Asked how you were, if you'd move back." She glances at me. "He wants to know you, Ava."

I let out a laugh. "Right. Doesn't care for ten years, now he's interested? Please."

She shrugs. "Look, I get it. You hate him for what he did to your mom and everything else. No excuse for walking out. I hate him too. But he seemed pretty broken up when I said you wouldn't want to see him."

I stay quiet. She'll let me choose, but seriously? The guy ditched us. No way.