3: Family Arrival

*ALEX*

I climbed the staircase in haste, excited to see the sunlight again after being confined for a long time in the basement. I grabbed the door handle and exited my dark world, entering the kitchen and leaving the darkness behind me.

'Stan, we're finally free, and we owe it to our human mate!' I gushed in elation.

'Let's Party Party!' Stan replied in glee.

My wolf's response made me chuckle. I proceeded to get out of the kitchen and make my way to the living room, and Granny Ursula was already there waiting for me. "Where is Lauren's room, Granny?"

"Follow me." Granny Ursula rose to her feet and led the way.

I saw happiness in Granny's face; she was glad that Lauren's face was cured. The ugly scars on her face vanished like the wind, just like my curse, which makes Lauren and I soulmates. We were born for each other.

I silently followed the frail, old-looking woman who has been my nanny and caretaker of our old mansion for a long time. "Granny, why does it take you so long to bring Lauren to me? Why wait all these years? Why did you keep her hidden from me when you knew all along that she was my fated mate?" I asked her in a calm way.

"I didn't know that the child was your fated mate. I'm scared that your wolf and your family will devour her to pieces because of her addicting scent, so I keep her away from everyone's path for her own sake. Last night, I had a vision in my dream. I sent Lauren down the basement, and after a few minutes in the darkness, she walked out of that place with a clear face. So I acted upon it in good faith, and my vision was correct. Now that you have cured her, she will be your responsibility. I will leave her in your care." Granny explained, wearing an unreadable expression on her face.

"Don't worry about Lauren. I will keep her safe." I made my promise to the old woman.

"Thank you, lad!" Granny Ursula replied with a smile.

We entered the second room at the end of the hallway, and I put Lauren gently on the bed. I grabbed the blanket and covered her with the soft garment, then I looked at my nanny. "You don't look well yourself. Are you ill?" I asked as I went to her side.

"This is nothing but some old woman's sickness, a sign of aging. It will be gone soon," Granny Ursula replied confidently, stepping quickly away from me as if she feared my touch.

"I can heal you." I offered graciously. One of the perks of being an Alpha is that I can heal illnesses and wounds. Yeah, I have that impressive talent, and I won't hesitate to cure my nanny of whatever illness she is feeling right now.

"Nah, don't bother, lad. It's enough for me that your curse and Lauren's curse are gone for good. It's about time for me to leave this place and explore the rest of the world before I finally leave this world for good. But before I do that, you must promise me that you will take care of Lauren to the best of your ability." Granny looked at me for a long time; she needed double assurance from me.

I nodded my head. "Of course I'll take care of Lauren. She is my fated mate. She will be my Luna soon." I told her with genuine excitement and affection flashing in my eyes.

Granny Ursula smiled brightly. "Glad to hear that," she murmured, and then asked me, "What is your next plan for her?"

"I plan to take things slow between us. I don't want to startle her with my identity. I want to earn her trust and friendship first." I said, wearing a serious expression on my face.

Granny Ursula smiled, liking my plan. "I like your style, kiddo. Just be good to her, and she will be loyal to you. I'm going to prepare something in the kitchen. You can stay with Lauren if you want."

"OK. But I prefer to see the sunlight first. I haven't seen the outside world for a long time. I'll be back in a minute." I replied and walked out of the room, excited to inhale the fresh air outside.

I walked past the living room and took a big stride towards the main entrance of the house. The moment I stepped outside, the sunlight showered my face with rejuvenating energy. Every fiber of my being is awakened and energized to the max! Making me feel like I am a thousand times more alive. "Fantastic! I miss this feeling of freedom! I'm back, world!" I shouted at the top of my lungs as my happiness soared to the heavens above.

I continue basking under the sunlight, feeling the healing force of nature nourish my body with renewed energy. After living in the dark basement for a long time, I feel truly blessed to see the sun again.

'Stan, can you feel the sun?' I asked my wolf.

'Yesssss! freaking amazing!' Stan replied. "Free me now! I want to run wild in the forest! It's been a long time!'

'But you can't run far away from me!' I reminded him.

'I'll be back before you even know it.' Stan replied. 'Free me now and go back to our mate!'

'Okay. I'll free you now.' I close my eyes and concentrate, allowing Stan to leave my body freely. In a moment, I saw him galloping into the dense forest ahead, not even bothering to look at me. Amused, I glanced at the gate and saw cars approaching the place. "Too early!" I groaned in displeasure, annoyed that I hadn't spent quality time with my mate yet.

'My family had arrived! Too soon!' I shook my head again, disappointed with the incoming distraction.

I rushed to the iron gate and opened it wide for the vehicles to enter. A total of three cars arrived.

The moment my mother saw me through the open window of her car, I heard her shriek of happiness.

"Son! Welcome backkkk!"

The car came to a halt, and my mother exited the car and came rushing into my arms like a mother hen.

"Wow, you're back. Finally! How did it happen? We have been waiting for ages for this day to come! You have no idea how happy I am!" My mother, Alicia, gushed in elation, and I smiled brightly.

Tears of happiness sprang in my mother's eyes as we continued embracing each other. I glanced at the rest of the cars; the servants are bringing stuff into the mansion. As far as I know, my mother doesn't like the taste of Granny Ursula's food preparation, so she always brings servants and cooks to prepare the food and make her and our entire family comfortable while staying in the mansion.

"Mom, where are Dad, my brothers, and my sister?" I asked when I didn't see their presence.

"Lyn is busy at the university, and your father and brothers are traveling as of this moment for a business trip, so it's only me for now. But you don't have to worry because you will see them all after we go home together this weekend." My mother responded with a smile, pulling me back to the entrance of the house.

We arrived in the living room and settled on the couch.

My mother looked at my face closely.

"Son, how did this miracle happen?" She asked, examining my face closely.

"Granny Ursula brought her granddaughter Lauren for the first time into the basement to light the candle. That is how I met her and eventually found out that she was my fated mate. So I marked her while she was unconscious, and that is when I finally transformed into my human form." I responded, glancing at the room at the end of the hallway, wondering if my human mate had already awakened.

The look of surprise flashed on my mother's face, and then her brows furrowed. "The girl with the ugly scars on her face?" she asked.

"Yep. She's the one, my fated mate. My wolf loves her. I want to take things slow with her." I explained casually.

My mother's face grew serious. "She may be your fated mate, but we already had a chosen mate waiting for you back home!"

After hearing the bad news, I'm truly pissed. I stared at my mother's face in annoyance, irritated that they had already chosen a Luna for me without my consent. "My life, my rules, Mom!" I growled angrily; the Alpha in me refused to take orders from others, even if they came from my parents.

My mother's eyes were wide open as she regarded me in shock at my outburst. "You can't take a human mate whose face is peppered with ugly scars as your Luna!" She protested in a horrific tone, as if my decision repulsed her.

I smirked. "Correction, Mom. Lauren's scars are gone. What you are going to see is a beautiful woman worthy to be my Luna!" I said, smiling brightly.

My mother rolled her eyes, not believing my claim.

"Really?" She snorted. "Alright, take me to her. I would like to see your mate with my own eyes."

"Follow me." I said, rising to my feet and moving in the direction of Lauren's room.