Jude drove for a while, at a moderate speed, while Joy stared out the window, watching cars, buildings, trees swoosh by. They stopped in front of a house Joy had been to once before. It had so many trees all around it, and that was what had made her fall in love with it when she had first seen it. The air just seemed a lot fresher there, and she felt herself relax.
"Where are we?" She glanced at Jude who was already staring at her with a soft smile.
"This is my parents house."
"Really?" Her eyebrows rose. "My dad tried to buy this house a long time ago. Before he built the mansion. This was where we wanted to live but he failed because there was a better offer. That was your dad?"
"Coincidence?"
She shrugged.
"He bought it when he was still the Alpha?" She asked as they stepped out of the car and through the gate. Joy linked their elbows, still needing his support but mostly just loving the feel of him close to her.
"Yep. He was visiting the pack members that lived this side and he fell in love with it when he saw it."
"I did too. I really wanted to live here," she smiled. "There's a big tree in the backyard that was going to make the perfect tree house."
"You can still do it. I'm sure dad won't mind."
"You won't know unless you actually come in and ask him." A man stepped out to the veranda. His head was shaved like Jude's, a warm smile that reached his hazel eyes forming on his face. He was barely wrinkled, aging gracefully. Joy could immediately tell he had been the Alpha with his authoritative demeanour that Reid, Jude and Jemima had inherited from him.
"We were about to dad," Jude scratched the back of his head.
"Don't say we, I don't care if you don't come in." He stepped towards Joy, his hands stretched for a double-handed handshake.
"Joy." His smile became even warmer, if that was possible, and Joy's heart fluttered.
"Hello," she smiled back.
"You are much more beautiful in person. Jude didn't do you justice when he was telling me about you." He linked their elbows and led her into the house, Jude trailing behind with a pout.
"Sit my dear," he gestured to a couch in the cosy living room. The inside of the house had an olden day, woodsy aesthetic. As Joy sat herself down, her eyes landed on a painting on the floor next to the fireplace. The painting was of a pup sleeping in a cave, with a blue moon shinning above it. Joy felt her heart ache, and she turned her eyes away from the painting, focusing them on the giant bookshelf instead. It was filled to the top with books of different sizes and colours. Beside the bookshelf was a closed door with a flower pot containing a beautiful, large, fern next to it.
"Iris, come down my love!" Jude's father called out.
Jude stood by the fireplace, looking at the framed photos that were standing over it. Joy noticed as he turned some of the photos to face the wall and she made a mental note to take a look.
A beautiful woman glided down the stairs. She was dressed in a long, light blue dress and white socks. Her jet-black hair was let down, glistening as she stepped towards them. Jude's father was indeed handsome, but his mother was just breath-taking. She and Jemima resembled each other the most, while the boys looked more like their father.
"Hello ma'am," Joy greeted her, but was ignored as the woman sat herself down next to her husband, only giving her a brief glance.
"Why are you touching my pictures?" She spoke, her question directed at Jude though she didn't look at him.
Jude froze for a second, then continued to turn more of the pictures. "I told you to remove these but you won't listen so I'm taking matters into my own hands."
"Sit," she instructed and he immediately obeyed. It was almost comical and Joy would have giggled if she wasn't a nervous wreck. Her terrible experience with mothers made her somewhat afraid of Jude's mother and with the way her greeting had been ignored, she avoided even looking at her.
"How was Jemima when you left?" The woman asked her son. Joy's head rose, her eyes meeting hers for a brief moment before darting around the house.
"The same. She's worried," Jude answered.
"She wouldn't be if she came to visit her mother. My biological daughter is mad at me, my eldest daughter-in-law is too busy for me and my new daughter-in-law won't even look at me."
Joy's wide eyes shot to her, but the woman wasn't looking back. She was staring at the floor.
Joy glanced at Jude's dad who had a small smile playing on his lips, then she looked at Jude who shrugged at her.
"Ummm..." Joy started, looking back at the woman. "I love your dress."
A boisterous laugh escaped the former Alpha's mouth, joined in by his son, then his wife. Soon enough Joy was laughing too, and Jude's mother moved from her place on the couch to sit next Joy, taking her hands in hers.
"You are so adorable." She caressed and kissed her cheek. "I'm sorry for scaring you like that my dear, it was Channing's idea," she pointed at her husband, "and I lost a bet so I had to do it."
"Weakling," Channing chuckled. "You were supposed to pull it off for the whole night."
"No way, I couldn't possibly do that to her, she's so precious. I actually almost gave up on my way down the stairs." She pulled Joy into a side hug. "I'm so sorry my love."
"It's okay," Joy giggled, hugging her back as relief washed over her.
"I've been waiting to meet you forever, my darling." She took her hand and led her to the kitchen. "Come, well chat and get lunch ready together."
***
Lunch was good food and laughter, something Joy hadn't experienced in a long time. The four of them talked about everything, from what happened when Joy first arrived at the village, to their meeting in that moment. They also talked about Channing's days as the Alpha, and how he fell in love with his beautiful Luna. Their story warmed Joy's heart, that though they suffered hardships, mistrust and even almost fell out of love, they only became stronger, and their love grew.
"Channing didn't wait for me and slept with someone else," Iris said as she and Joy wiped the dishes. "And it broke my heart. I thought, if he couldn't be patient and wait for me, how could I possibly trust him?"
Joy paused her task, gazing at the woman, waiting for her to say what she really wanted to say.
"I know my son broke your heart. What happened isn't how you were supposed to find out. I know that you may not be able to trust him just yet, but trust his love for you."
Joy nodded, proceeding with wiping the plate in her hand.
"Then, though she may seem mean, Jemima is gentle. She has a kind heart, and I know for a fact that she was against the whole thing." She pressed her lips together. "Reid and Jude have the same mind. They may be half-brothers but you'd swear they came from the same womb. Reid would have done the same to his own mate if he had to. Though their thinking is absurd, the Zabala men mean well."
Joy had paused again, staring at the woman with raised eyebrows.
"What is it?" Iris mirrored her eyebrows.
"Half-brothers?"
"Oh, you didn't know," she tapped her mouth with her fingers, "I'm sorry."
"You don't have to apologise. It's okay, it's just as you said. They look alike and they seem to love each other so much."
"They do. All three of them," she smiled. "Jude and Jem don't even think of the term half-brother. Sometimes I used to feel like I forgot to tell them. I expected them to hate each other."
"Mom," Jude poked his head into the kitchen. "We're going to go for a drive. Do you need anything from the store?"
"Bring us some fresh fruit," Iris answered.
"Sure," his eyes moved to Joy. "I'll be back just now, okay?"
She gave a brief nod, looking back at the dishes to hide a shy smile.
"How cute," Iris smiled. "You can go, she's in safe hands." She shooed her son and he jogged out to his father, a content smile on his face, his heart even fluttering a little.
"Have you told her about her mother?" Channing asked as Jude stepped into the driver's seat, his smile disappeared almost immediately.
"She knows who her mom is if that's what you're asking." Jude reversed the car and almost collided with a passing truck. The truck driver honked his horn and Channing waved in apology.
"You know that's not what I'm asking," Channing said. "Does she know that her mother was initially a member of the Blood Moon pack?"
"No," he gritted. "I didn't tell her because it doesn't matter."
"You know damn well that it matters," Channings voice rose. "The two of you won;t shift to Protector if there are lies between you."
"I'm not lying-"
"Not telling her this is the same as lying, have you learnt nothing Jude?" He slammed his hand on the dashboard. "You want to take chances even after you deceived her?"
"Dad, she won't like the idea of her mother being a former Blood Moon pack member. She already hates her as it is and this information will only make things worse."
"Why do you feel the need to decide for her?" Channing growled. "You're making the same mistake I did with your mother."
"But dad, if I tell her then I'd have to tell her everything. Including..." He licked his lips, shaking his head. "No, I can't tell her. I won't tell her."
"She has every right to know Jude. And trust me, it will be easier if she finds out from you." Channing focused his eyes out the window. "When you get to the village, make sure you tell her. You have to be the one to tell her. Everything."
***
"You two are sleeping over, right?" Iris blinked her hopeful eyes at Joy who glanced at Jude.
"If it's okay with you, it's okay with me," Jude said to Joy.
"It's okay with me." She smiled at Iris who clapped her hands in delight.
"I'll prepare a room for the two of you, then we can start dinner." Iris took Joys hand, leading her outside. "You can hangout with the boys."
"Okay." Joy failed to contain her smile. Feeling herself ease with each passing moment. Feeling herself belong in their home. Jude took her arm and led her to one of the chairs in the garden. The sun was lowering, though its rays still shined bright enough to sting their skin.
"Joy," Channing started, leaning forward in his chair. "Jude tells me your father is David Macheka."
"Yes sir."
"I had a little scuffle with him over this house once." He chuckled.
"Yeah...err... there was a time where we wanted to live here. Well, I was the one who wanted to live here. I threw the biggest tantrum over this house. But I'm glad we didn't buy it. Dad was probably going to renovate it and it was going to lose its essence. I'm happy you guys bought it instead, you preserved it well."
"Well if you still like it so much then consider it yours. You're free to come here as much as you please. And to build that tree house you were talking about. Maybe not for you, but for your pups." He gazed at her, a bit of warmth in his eyes.
She only nodded, and faced the floor, hiding the shy smile on her lips.
"Okay, what do we feel like having for dinner?" Iris returned outside.
"Oh babe, mom is a real vegetarian." Jude smirked.
"Really?" Joy's eyebrows furrowed. "A vegetarian wolf?"
"In the flesh," Channing muttered, then chortled on his own.
His wife and son stared at him with utter disappointment.
Jude even covered his face. "Why dad?" He groaned.
"Come on, it was a good one," he howled. "Wasn't it a good one Joy?"
"Leave Joy out of this." Iris took Joy's hand, moving her back to the kitchen.
"I'll show you how to make a mean vegetarian pizza," Iris chirped, pulling ingredients and pots out of different places.
"Were you always a vegetarian?" Joy asked, leaning on the counter, watching her every move. Deep down, she had always yearned for a mother. Of course she had, like any other person. The simple things, like watching her cook as they gossiped in the kitchen. Her heart wanted it so bad. So, she let herself experience it. She allowed herself to live in that moment. Forgetting about her real mother, her step-mother, her father, and everything else she'd been through.
"I wasn't necessarily born a vegetarian, right." Iris answered. "I decided to become one when I was fifteen, or sixteen. I didn't really like the hunting process. And the way the wolves ate those cute little bunnies," she pouted, "you'll see what I mean when you go back and hunt with the pack."
"Do you think I'll turn vegetarian too?"
"I don't know, maybe. If you're anything like your mother was, you might."
"You knew her?"
"Everyone knew your mom. The most amazing woman the Blue Moon pack has ever seen."
Joy played with her fingers, her nails scratching against each other. "I barely remember her." She huffed a laugh. "And everyone else has these fond memories of her."
Iris stopped what she was doing and moved around the counter to stand where Joy was. She took her hands and squeezed them. "Darling listen, your mother did what she did to protect you. Otherwise she never would have left you alone."
"Protect me from what?"
Iris scrunched her eyebrows. 'Have you told Joy everything about Lyssa?' She spoke into Jude's head.
'No, don't say anything.' Jude's panicked voice echoed into his mother's head as rushed footsteps entered the house.
Jude appeared at the kitchen door. His eyes wide and breathing a bit shallow.
"Iris, from what?" Joy pressed, searching the older woman's eyes.
"You know, from not having a normal life." She responded, letting go of Joy's hands. "She thought it would be best for you to live a more human life. Far from any form of werewolf danger."
Jude released a breath, relief flowing within him.
"Jude, why don't you go and show Joy your room," Iris said. Her voice was strained, her expression hardening. She didn't need to communicate telepathically for him to understand the look she gave him. Jude could tell that she was angry. Angry at him for being dishonest yet again. This was her giving him the chance to redeem himself.
"Sure," he mumbled, and gestured for Joy to follow him.
"Are you sure you don't need my help?" Joy turned to Iris.
"No, my darling. You go upstairs and rest a bit. Pizza is easy but you can help me with the dessert later."
"Okay," she muttered and followed Jude upstairs.
There was a total of seven bedrooms upstairs. The master bedroom, at the end of the corridor and three on either side of it. Jude led Joy to the middle bedroom, on the right side.
"This is ours," he said, as he opened the door. Joy stepped onto a coffee tiled floor and took in the gorgeous, spacious room. The bed was near the left wall with bedside tables on either side. There was a long white sofa right by the window next to the big tree Joy had fallen in love with when she was younger.
"This definitely would have been my room back then." She grinned.
"Better late than never, right?" Jude uttered.
"You didn't tell me that you and Reid are half-brothers." Joy blurted as she sat herself on the sofa, staring at the view of the big tree.
"I don't like the term." He sat on the bed instead, staring at his hands.
"I understand. But, I wish youd just told me. You know..." She shrugged, facing him. "Just telling."
"I'm sorry." He glanced at her.
"No, don't apologise. I mean..." She stood from the sofa and moved to stand in front of him. "I get why you didn't tell me. I just... I-It would have been nice to just know. It's something about you so, it would have been... good to know."
"I know." He failed to meet her eyes, glaring at the floor instead. "Which is why I'm apologising. You told me about your sister, so I should have said something about my brother."
She bobbed her head up and down, her eyes dancing around the room. "I really like this room."
"Joy," he breathed her name, rubbing the back of his neck. "There's something else that I need to tell you." He stood up, gazing into her eyes as he took one of her hands.
"What?" She blinked at him. Her eyes full of naïve innocence, trust. His mouth lost its footing, tumbling over words to say.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" He finally managed to croak out.
"Well you're the one talking, aren't you?" She giggled.
"Yeah, umm..." His heart expanded, filling up his chest. In that moment he forgot how to breath. "I love you." The words were slightly below a whisper. She had to read his lips to make out what he was saying. "I love you so much, and I'm not saying it so that you say it back. I'm just saying it for you to know." He swallowed the lump that he could feel forming in his throat. "I really mean it. No matter what happens, you're my mate. You're the one that I love. You."
"Okay," she wrapped her arms around his neck. "Me." She raised her toes and pressed her lips against his. His hands landed on her waist and he pulled her closer, their bodies pressing against each other. Their lips were warm and soft against each other. It was then that Jude realised he had been yearning for her, but in the most innocent way. He had been yearning for her thoughts, to know what she thought of him now. Yearning for her feelings, what she felt as he was kissing her. Yearning for her mouth to say those three words.
"Joy," he mumbled between their lips. Her eyes were still closed, savouring the taste of his lips on hers. She barely made out his question. "Do you trust me?"
"What?" Her honey coloured orbs fluttered open, meeting his forest green ones. She pulled mere inches away, her eyebrows furrowing ever so slightly.
"Do you trust me?" He repeated.
Her eyes ran away from his, glancing at the door instead. Iris, her saving grace, scurried in.
"Loves, we have a bit of a probl- oh my, I'm sorry," she covered her eyes as the pair pulled apart.
"What is it mom?" Jude asked after clearing his throat.
"Your father spotted someone snooping around the neighbourhood. We're trying to make it not look obvious so we can catch him. Your dad thinks he's from the Blood Moon pack."
"How is that possible?" Jude's expression turned serious. "They aren't allowed outside. Is he a Rogue?"
"He is an Outcast, a little bit different from a Rogue. He ran away from the pack because he was curious about the human world. When he couldn't adapt to the human world, he went back. They cast him out, so now he's looking for information that can help him win the Alpha's favour and go back in. Whereas a Rogue would be like..." She paused, glancing at Joy who was staring at her with curiosity filling her eyes. "Someone who leaves permanently and doesn't ever return," the woman finished, choosing her words wisely.
"But, how did he know to come here?" Jude asked.
"They do that often darling. They pick elders houses and try to snoop around. That's how we know what he is. If he sees either of you he'll become curious, so let's stay in here for a bit while your dad captures him."
"How long will it take?" Joy asked.
"Since he decided to have a braai* he should get the braai stand ready soon. So, I'll give him five minutes." Iris smirked. The pride she felt in her husband radiating from her eyes. A loud cry sounded from the front of the house.
"All done," Iris chirped and turned in a twirl, heading downstairs. The pair followed closely behind, stealing glances at each other.
Channing was standing by the porch, the intruder on his knees beside him. The intruder was tied up with his head bowed, giving them full sight of his messy, dirty blonde hair. Blood was dripping from somewhere on his face.
"Look what I found," Channing uttered, wriggling his eyebrows at the pair.
"What are you going to do to him?" Joy asked, her eyes staring at the injured man. He seemed partially conscious, moving his head around.
"This one may have seen you, so I'll have to cage him."
"What?" The man cried as his head shot up. His nose and mouth were covered in blood. "I didn't see anything. I promise," he closed his eyes shut. "I don't even know what you are talking about. Please don't cage me," he sputtered.
"Nice try." Channing lifted him by his collar and shoved him forward, and into the house.
"Is he really going to cage him?" Joy mumbled looking at Iris for the answer.
"Yes," Jude said while the older woman shook her head and held up a two, mouthing two days. She peeked into the house then closed the door.
"We'll keep him locked up for two days," she whispered. "Then turn him in to what we call our Helpers. They are responsible for taking care of Outcast wolves. They counsel them and once that's complete they are free to choose whether they live in the human world, or move to the Blue Moon pack."
"Have you ever had wolves who betray you?" Joy asked.
"Of course, and that makes it difficult for us to trust them completely. But it doesn't stop us. We try to protect our kind no matter the pack they are from. You could call it a werewolf code. Because we all came from the same place."
"Oh right. Jude told me you used to be one pack."
"Yes, but not just that. I'm speaking beyond that. We maybe of different packs, but we are all still werewolves. And we should do our best to take care of each other."
"What about those who turn the wolves they kill into carpets?" She glanced at Jude who scrunched his eyebrows.
"Thomas was a full wolf my love," Iris told her. "Krii found him wandering in the forest and brought him in. His scent indicated that he was from the Blood Moon pack, but Khaya wanted to keep him anyway. They realised later that he was sick and when he bit Khaya they had to send him to an early grave."
Joy punched Judes arm and he yelped. "You made me think he was a person wolf!" She hissed, and Iris giggled, holding Joy back.
"Let me do it for you." Iris bent to remove her shoe and Jude made for the lawn without getting hit.
"Mom you can't do that. You're supposed to be on my side."
"How can you make her live in that filthy hut?" She pointed at him with her shoe as she followed him to the lawn. Joy was cackling behind her, holding her arm. "Joy, catch him for me." The woman instructed and Joy ran towards Jude.
"Babe, let's talk about this. Technically I wasn't lying. He did try to kill my son when he bit him."
"But you made me stay in that filthy hut when you had a whole castle."
"It's not really a castle."
"Are you really trying to defend yourself, Jude?" Iris raised a questioning brow.
"Explaining mom. I'm explaining my-" His head shot up, just as Iris sniffed the air. With the speed of lightning, Jude grabbed Joy and whirled her around, covering her with his body as a whisking sound filled the air. The danger Jude anticipated didn't reach them. When he turned, Iris had an arrow in her hand, her eyes scanning the area it had come from.
"There's more than one," Iris mumbled as she dropped the arrow. She glanced at the door, where Channing was standing with his hands fisted.
"You two, inside," Channing instructed Jude and Joy as another arrow flew towards Iris. She ducked, causing it to pierce the plant further behind her.
"You're going to pay for that," she mumbled. "Channing, my spear." She raised her hand and he threw it. She caught it without looking, spinning it in the air before flicking away the next arrow.
Two wolves jumped over the wall and sped towards her, growling with bared teeth. Iris narrowed her eyes, and tilted her head, as if listening for something.
"There's a third one running towards the intersection," she said to her husband who immediately shifted into a large, black wolf and made for the wall.
"You're trespassing," Iris grunted, poking one wolf's side. "And you ruined my flowers." She smacked the other. Her spear moved a few seconds ahead of her eyes as she put each wolf in its place. Her movements were swift and effortless, leaving the wolves whimpering and panting. "Kids," she scoffed, rolling her eyes.
Joy's trembling mouth gaped open from behind the curtain. "Your mom is amazing," she muttered.
Jude was close behind her, watching his mother.
"She was one of the best fighters of their time. Almost as good as my dad."
"That's why you don't seem worried," she closed the curtain, looking up at him.
"She's the one who trained us. She and your mom." He licked his lips. "Those two wolves out there are nothing. She didn't even shift. You should see her when she's fighting a real threat."
The door swung open and Iris glided in with a small huff. "That was actually pretty tiring," she uttered.
Channing followed in after her, the three, now human, trespassers tied together. He shoved them towards the door near the bookshelf. Through the door was a staircase that went downwards and Channing pulled them in.
"What happens if they breakout?" Joy asked Iris.
"Well, that's never happened before, but I bet they wouldn't go far. We live alone in this house, but there are a lot of pack members that live in the area." She sat herself down on the sofa. "Catching Outcasts is our job as former leaders, that's why our house is at the beginning of the neighbourhood."
"But if we need help, we howl." Channing grinned, closing the door behind him.
"Oh dad," Jude mumbled.
"Anyway," Channing sat next to his wife. "As much as we love having you guys here. It might be a bit safer for you to go back to the village."