*Alexei's POV*

The sun started shining through the window as I blinked my tired eyes open. I then shot up from my bed and looked around. Confused because the last thing I remembered was being outside. I ruffled the blankets with my finger tips as I adjusted myself more comfortably. As I laid in bed I heard a subtle knock on my door and Alexander stuck his head in and smiled.

"Well good morning, how are you feeling?" He asked as he let himself into my room and came to sit on my bed.

I rose an eyebrow at him as I sat up more, adjusting my pillows behind me. "I'm feeling fine?" I said confusingly.

He gave me a smirk "Well thats very good to hear because most of the night you were sleeping outside" He chuckled as he crossed his arms and looked at me.

I ran my hand through my knotted hair. "I knew the last thing i remembered was being outside" I said with a chuckle "So i'm guessing you and Warren found me huh? I never meant to fall asleep" I said a bit sheepishly. I looked to the balcony and smiled. "I was having trouble sleeping and just being out there made everything so peaceful"

Alexander nodded his head "Yeah i get that, just try not to fall asleep outside anymore, we don't know whats lurking in those woods" He said as he stood up from my bed. "Also, Cassius told us where you were, he said you never came back in to his knowledge so we went out to look" He then put his hand on my head and ruffled my hair "your brothers always got ya back, never forget that" He said as he left my room.

A big smile spread across my face as I sighed and flopped down on my bed. 'Hey you awake' Andrews voice popped up in my thoughts. 'Yeah i'm awake, c'mon in' I thought back as Andrew entered through our joint bathroom with a smile.

"Good morning, you seem to be in a great mood this morning" He stated as he looked at me.

I flipped the covers off of me and scooted to the edge of the bed. "Yeah yeah whatever" I replied with a sigh as I stood up. My eyes flickered to the balcony and out into the trees. "This place just feels like home" I said softly as i boke my concentration and went to open my closet door, scanning the clothes that were hung up. "School is going to be starting soon isn't it?"

"Yeah, next Monday is the first day" Andrew said as he followed my every move. "I think you ask cause you feel you need more clothes?" He chuckled at his own question.

I shot him a look from the other side of the door and chuckled along with him. "Well you know me better than anyone so yeah you're right" I said while pulling some tight fitting jeans over my legs and pulling a form fitting black shirt over my head. "I could also need more supplies, pencils, notebooks and whatnot" I stated as i shut my closet door and turned to him. "But first, breakfast" I said as I walked out of my room, Andrew at my heels as we walked down the stairs and into the kitchen. Everything was still and quiet. "Where is everyone?"

Andrew followed right behind me "Well, Dad and Mom went to work, Alexander and Warren are probably outside and Cassius" he paused and listened quietly. "Yup, Cassius is playing his pc games in his room"

I glided across the kitchen and starting pulling things to cook. "Have any of them eaten?" I asked, more to myself. Andrew shrugged his shoulders and i sighed as I starting to cook some eggs and bacon. "Might as well make some for everyone" I stated as i began to fry the eggs. As if the smell of cooked food was the only beckoning call, Cassius popped his head around the corner.

"Ooo eggs and bacon huh?" He stated in a restless tone as he rubbed his eyes. He walked over and sat down at one of the bar chairs next to the island where i was cooking and observed me. "So glad we have a sister who wont let us starve"

Andrew and I laughed out loud. "Of course I wouldn't let you starve" I snorted at him

Alexander and Warren soon came in through the back door and happily walked over to Cassius and took the open seats next to him. "What would we do without you?" Warren said with a smile.

I chuckled at them as i finished up. "Alright guys, dig in" I said as i took a small plate of bacon and eggs and turned to the counter and started making a fresh brew of coffee.

The rest of the morning went by as I read up on some chapters in the novel i was reading, practiced playing piano, and did some light cleaning of the house. As the hours ticked by I found myself unconsciously glancing at the time on my phone. When morning turned to afternoon I could hear the faint familiar sound of James car pulling into the driveway. I listened closely as i could easily hear him shit the door, and make his way up to the front door.

"I'm home from work" James hollered as he walked through the front door, jingling his keys as he sat them on the counter.

"Welcome back" I said as i walked down the stairs to greet him with open arms. "How was work today? Catch any bad guys?" I asked, raising my eyebrow in curiosity.

James chuckled and shook his head. "No bad guys today, but I would get ready if I were you, The Thomason family should be coming over shortly for dinner and maybe some games" he said as he gently patted my head as he made his way into his own room to change out of his uniform from work.

I watched him as he left my view and I sighed deeply. I made my way back into my room and opened my closet again. 'Getting ready for your boyfriend that's coming over?' I heard Andrew's thoughts come clear in our mind link. 'He's not my boyfriend' I huffed as I looked down at my own clothes.

Andrew soon came through my door and tilted his head at me. "You alright?" He asked, sitting down on my bed as he looked up at me.

I shrugged and sighed deeply, and knowing that Andrew would easily see through a lie. "Im flip flopping through emotions today" I said.

He nodded his head in understanding. "I know, I could feel it very clearly" he stated as he ran his hand through his own red hair. "You can't hide anything from me"

I smiled as i shut my closet door. "I know, and I love and hate that" i said as I walked over to him. "Those tribe members make me a little nervous" and as i spoke those words you could hear vehicles coming into the driveway. "We'll I would assume thats them" I said as i grabbed my hair brush that was lying on the bed beside my twin.

"I'll head down there, you can take your time princess" He teased as I hit him with the brush and he scurried out of my room.

I rolled my eyes at him and started dragging a brush through my rat's nest i called my hair. After there were no more tangles I sat the brush down and walked out of my room. I could hear the voices of everyone downstairs. I began to walk downstairs and looked about all the people. My adopted father James was chatting and greeting Benjamin, who was Augustus's father, and looked almost just like him. Briar was standing next to Alexander and Warren, smiling and laughing. Larkin was chatting up Cassius who looked like he was wishing he was somewhere else, which made me chuckle softly. Then I locked eyes with Augustus who was standing next to my brother and Augustus younger brother Oliver who looked to be about 14 years old. "Glad you all made it safely" I said with a smile as i went to join in the conversation.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

*Augustus POV*

We arrived at the Taylor's house right around 4 o'clock. I drove my own truck with my little brother Oliver.

"I'm excited" Oliver said as he twiddled with his thumbs. "I bet you're excited to see Alexei again" He wiggled his eyebrows at me.

I scoffed at him and rolled my eyes. "You better keep that smart mouth shut you" I said as i roughly rubbed his hair and put the truck in park. "I heard Cassius is the gamer of the family, you'd love to talk to him" I said as I exited the truck and looked to see my sisters and father get out of their car.

We all went in together, and greeted very kindly by an older man, who i assumed was James. He greeted us all with open arms, and my father and him started chatting up a storm. Briar went straight for the older twins, and I couldn't blame her because twins who both can shift into werewolves were quite interesting. Larkin, in her wild nature, chose the most docile one which seemed to be Cassius, but he didn't look like he was having any fun which made me smile. Soon a sweet open fire and roses filled my nose as I looked about the house. My eyes landed at the stairs in which a figure was slowly walking down. Alexei's eyes met mind and i took in a breath. Her vibrant red hair hung low, covering her shoulders and down past to the middle of her chest. Those unique emerald and blue eyes stared into mine and made my heart thump heavily against my chest.

"Glad you made it all safely" She said , her voice soft and gentle as she approached all of us.

I was almost speechless. "Yeah, we know our way around" I said, and immediately wished i could take those words back. I sounded like an idiot.

Alexei laughed, such a sweet laughter I wish i could hear more often. "Yes, I can imagine you do"

~~~~~~~~~

The rest of the evening felt like it went by just in just seconds. I continued to try and got to know Alexei, and even Andrew. The Taylor family seemed to be just a band of misfits. It reminded me of my own family. As we were about to leave I took one last look at Alexei. "So, we friends now that you've met my entire family?" I asked, rubbing the back of my neck as I smiled to her.

Alexei put a finger to her chin as if she was in deep thought. "Yeah, I'd call us friends" she said as she wrote something down on a piece of paper. "Text me when you want" she said as she slipped the paper in my hand, and when our skin briefly touched it felt like when your flame caught wood and because burning slowly, in a comforting bonfire type of way.

I smiled at her and turned to leave. "I'll see you later" I stated and climbed into my truck, waving goodbye to everyone. Starting up my truck and began to follow my father, driving home.