His boots came to a stop in the clearning and he took a deep breath in of fresh air. It had been too long since he stepped outside and the fresh air helped hurry along his recovery. Leon stared at him as he relaxed with his new freedom and slowly watched Joseph look back at him.

"I think it's time we both see your family."

Joseph looked away and said "Maybe for you."

Leon watched his jaw tighten as his state of relaxation disappeared and he tried to sense if the man was in pain still. There was no bond or link between them and he was left with only questions.

"Your parents have been waiting for Kara's latest update on your recovery."

"They don't need anymore."

"Joseph. They are your parents."

His gaze snapped back to Leon and he growled "My parents died when I was pup as far as I am concerned. These people mean nothing to me."

Leon looked away and let out a slow sigh as the man walked back inside. His nerves were racing and he felt the craving to break something settling in. Climbing the stairs, he silently returned to their quarters and stopped at the bedroom door. He watched Kara sleep for what appears to be the first time in quite a while. He knew she would join him in bed but by shielding him from the pain she wasn't getting the rest she needed.

"Joseph."

He glanced over his shoulder as the skin moved aside and Zeke entered with his other brothers. Griffon stared at him a little surprised to see him on his feet and Ace shook his head.

"Finally decided to give your mate a break?"

He led them out in the hallway and Zeke said "We're glad you're doing better. Just don't do that again."

He leaned his hip against the wall and asked "Worried?"

Ace chuckled and said "I think more worried what would happen to Angel if you didn't pull through. She had been a nervous wreck with you being laid up for so long."

Griffon sighed and said "Gabby hasn't been much better."

"So all the women worried about their litte brother and yet Zeke seems to be the most relieved I can stand on my own to feet again."

The two laughed and Zeke shook his head. He settled his gaze on his baby brother and knew the man understood why.

"Thank you for taking care of my family."

Zeke nodded and asked "What changed?"

"Just felt stronger today."

The three studied him for a moment and Ace said "Well at least this means Kara can stop and catch her breath."

Joseph stared back at him and asked "She continued with the training?"

The three slowly nodded and Griffon sighed "Between that loud bunch of babies, tending to you, and slowly creating a bridge between your folks and Leon she has no time to relax."

He looked away and stared back at the waterfall. Leon's suggestion made sense now and he felt his jaw tighten.

"Are you going to see them?"

"No."

Ace frowned and said "That's not right."

Zeke watched him look back at them and said "Just don't turn your back on them if they approach you. That would be insulting to Kara."

He nodded once and asked "Damon?"

The three chuckled and Griffon said "He hasn't come anywhere near us since your confrontation."

Ace nodded and said "I think you lived up to more than just the big brother image for him. The way you stared him down gave us chills."

"I doubt that."

Zeke watched the two shrug and "Using Kara to identify him wasn't the nice approach."

Joseph met his gaze and said "It wasn't something I would do unless I had no other options."

The two stared at each other until Ace cleared his throat and Griffon rolled his eyes. The tension between them about their relationships with their mates was going to kill them all if it wasn't put to rest soon. They watched Joseph look away first and saw him glance down the hallway. He heard Mikhail making his way towards them and found him lingering around a corner in hearing distance. The boy snuck a peek at him and when he didn't blink the boy ran up to him.

Despite the protest throughout his entire body he took his son into his arms and held him as he greeted his uncles. Mikhail shifted into his pup form and jumped down onto the ground.

"Can we go for a run?"

He could hear his brothers protesting and said "I'll try and keep up."

Mikhail's tail began wagging as he shifted into his wolf form and walked with him down the steps. The transition was less painful than earlier and he followed his son outside into the clearing.