Ryder stepped out of the car and shut the door. So this was Alecia's childhood home. Nothing but a two-story white house with a wraparound porch. A few brown and bare bushes ran around it. Dead leaves covered the front yard – halfway hiding a few elves and squirrels painted in green mold. He took his coat off and slung it over his shoulder. This was not his world. How could four people have lived in that home? Alecia walked up to him, slipping her hand in his. “This is where I grew up.” “I see.” “Alecia,” an unfamiliar female voice said. He looked up and saw her sister Trina running towards Alecia with her mother and father behind her. Her blue jeans and white shirt accented the same curves Ally had. She had just as much innocence in her smile. Would they make love the same way? Hmm. He pushed the image from his mind. The girls embraced and jumped around in a small circle, talking about how much they’d missed each other. “Sweetheart,” Alecia's father said as he wrapped his arms around his little girl. Alecia's mother joined in the group hug. They were quite an affectionate family. Ryder looked off to the side at the rows of houses that looked cramped together. How did one live so close to other people? The group broke up and at once turned to look at him with confused looks. He chuckled. Maybe they thought she was bringing home a girl. Trina grabbed her sister’s arm, and said, “man, did you bring home a friend.” Alecia giggled, raising her hands for an explanation. “Everybody, this is Ryder, my friend.” She hoped they had not met enough werewolves to be able to tell immediately from the powerful aura that surrounded him, that Ryder was a werewolf, but apparently, she need not gave worried. Her family had no clue. Friend. Huh. Ryder took a step towards her father and held out his hand to shake it. “ Ryder Hendrix, Sir, but everybody calls me Ryder.” “Nice to meet you, son,” her father said, his eyes looking in the direction of the rental Maserati. He must be trying to figure who he was and what he was doing with his daughter. Trinq stepped in front of her father, her black curly pony-tail swaying behind her - her green eyes wide and bright. “Alecia finally brought home a boy,” she said. “Trina.” Alecia took her arm. “So this is your friend?” her mother said, walking up to her girls. She must have given the girls their curves although her hips were slightly wider probably from bearing two children. She had long brown curly hair that flowed down her back just like Alecia's. “Yeah.” Alecia clasped her hands in front of herself. “Ryder and I have gotten to know each other real well during the last semester.” Mr. Bell's jaw dropped low as he shook his head. “So you live in North Carolina, also Ryder?” “What?” Ryder squinted his brows down as he looked over her father’s head to Alecia. She just shrugged her shoulders and gave him an innocent smile. “No, sir, I’m from New York City.” “Really, I could have sworn Alecia said you were from North Carolina. But I guess it doesn’t matter. Let’s grab your bags.” “Yeah.” Ryder shook his head. This was going to be an interesting weekend. Just wait until they found out about the engagement. He used a remote button and popped open the trunk of the car. The two men walked towards the vehicle and grabbed the bags. Ryder heard the sound of more approaching feet. What, another family member? “Alecia, you’re home.” The Alpha turned just in time to see a skinny boy with short light-brown hair walk up to them. “Hey, Kyle,” Alecia said waving at the boy. Her eyes looked unsettled. There must be something about this boy. Maybe an old crush. The boy’s smile stretched fully across his baby face and his wide eyes accented the pinkness in his cheeks. Ryder narrowed his eyes. Hmm. He seemed too taken with her. “Give me a hug, Kyle,” Alecia said before wrapping her arms around the boy. Heat rose in him. He took two quick steps towards them, but stopped. He would talk to her about that later but not in front of her parents. “Oh, Kyle,” Alecia said as she turned to Ryder. “This is a friend from school.” Ryder walked up to them and he held out his hand, hoping that would release Kyle's arms from Alecia. But Kyle kept one hand on her back as he moved his other hand closer to Ryder so he could shake his hand. “Nice to meet ya.” His blood boiled under his skin. Ryder bowed his head in acknowledgment, keeping his gaze fixed on Kyle. He must be an idiot to not even guess that they were a couple. “Alecia, so are you coming tonight?” “To what?” “Youth meeting. Everybody who went off to college is going to be there.” “Oh, that’s right,” Alecia said. She hadn’t forgotten. Her eyes wavered and she looked to the ground. “We can go, Alecia, if you want to see your friends.” She smiled and turned back to Kyle. “We’ll be there.” “Cool, let’s all ride together like old times,” Kyle said. Alecia nodded. “We’ll come over around 5:00.” “I can’t wait to catch up,” Kyle said as he raised his hand to Alecia's family and turned back to his home. Ryder shook his head. That boy was no competition, but still, he didn’t even want someone else thinking of Alecia. Alecia's family helped them grab the two cases, and they went inside, being greeted by the scent of fried chicken. Ally showed him around, pointing out family photos that lined the mantel and her family’s bookcase that spread across a whole side of a wall. He scanned the books which mostly centered on politics, natural childbirth and medicine with a few of the classics thrown in. So they liked to be educated. Ryder glanced over his shoulder. Every eye in the house focused on him. “He must be rich. Look at those clothes,” her mother whispered to her father. The corners of his lips twitched. This was not the impression he wanted to make, but maybe it would play to his advantage. “Come let’s go find a seat,” Alecia said, showing him to a faded plaid couch. Her parents sat in matching green plush chairs. Trina sat on the other side of Alecia, beaming at him as she leaned over her sister. He was surrounded. Ryder bent to Alecia's ear and whispered, “I must have something on my face.” She giggled and whispered back, “I’ve never had a boyfriend.” Ryder nodded as he leaned over and looked at Trina. They stared at each other for a second until Ryder crossed his eyes, which broke Trina's gaze, and all three started laughing. “So, son, you go to California state university?” Ryder turned to her father. “Yes, sir, I’m in my last year of law school.” “You’re a lot older than Alecia.” He leaned forward like he was going to jump out of the seat as he clenched the armrests. Ryder smiled. Now he was nervous. “Yes, sir.” Mr. Bell shook his head and leaned back into the couch. “What does your father do?” The tension was strong. “Daddy, don’t interrogate him,” Alecia said. Her father raised a hand. “Just trying to get to know him.” As in trying to figure out if he was worthy of his little girl. Well, he’d make sure Mr. Bell gained a favorable impression of him. He could play the good boy. “My father is a lawyer, also.” “And your mother?” Alecia's mother asked. “Well.” Ryder paused, he studied Alecia's mother for a second. She was a teacher and believed in the benefits of women working. “She was a model before she had me, but now she just does charitable work.” “That’s noble,” Mrs. Bell said. “So Alecia how did you two meet?” her father asked. “Through a mutual friend.” Trina tugged her arm. Alecia bent to her sister and heard her whisper, “How long have you been dating?” Alecia smiled, but looked at her father when he asked Ryder his father’s name. “George Hendrix. I hope to bring Alecia up to New York soon to meet my parents.” Her father paused for a second and his eyes became distant as if he searched his mind. He must recognize that name. But how? She looked at Ryder. He looked so strong and confident at this moment — his gray eyes never wavering. What was he feeling or thinking? She needed to get her father distracted and off his family. “Daddy, Ryder voted for President Richard.” “Ah good,” he said. Her father’s face brightened and he leaned back into the seat. Politics was always a good distraction for him. “He’s been a good president so far.” “Yeah, Alecia told me you did volunteer work for the GOP in Clayton.” “Ah, nothing much, just calling people and door-to-door campaigning, but I’m sure it helps. That’s what I heard the President say while he was campaigning: ‘Every Little Bit Counts.’” Ryder smiled. Alecia knew he had suggested that phrase. “I’d love to get more involved next election,” Mr. Bell said. Ryder nodded. “What avenues have you looked into?”