Jeremy kicked a pebble lazily as he walked down the street. A tired yawn escaped his lips. It was dusk and Mandy had gone to her house. All he needed at the moment was some shut eye too. It was what helped him think. And he needed to do that a lot.

He passed Kyle's house and paused. An elderly couple were busy in the front yard as they cleared up the place. They had just moved in. Jeremy sighed and walked on. He caught sight of Crazy Johnny coming out of his RV.

"Jeremy." The old man greeted. "It's been a while. How have you been?"

Jeremy noticed the old man's demeanour had changed ever since Kyle passed away. He looked brooder and there were no longer jokes.

"Yeah." Jeremy replied. "Long time."

"Are you okay?" Crazy Johnny examined him. "I mean I haven't seen you pass here of recent."

"Yeah, it's just..well..I just needed some moments of solitude." Jeremy cracked a weak smile.

"Oh." The old man nodded. "Well, don't let me stop you. You can be on your way."

Jeremy waved and walked along. Crazy Johnny watched him go and a conflicted look appeared on his face. He stared at the ground and clenched his fists. He couldn't take it anymore.

Jeremy stepped into the house and closed the door carelessly. The sound alerted his mum who rushed to the living room.

"Jeremy." She admonished. "Would you not do that, please?"

He gave her a dry look and walked upstairs without a word. She watched him climb up the stairs and her eyes flashed a bit with fury.

Jeremy plopped on his bed and let out another yawn. He wasn't in the mood for any drama at the moment. He noticed Shiela wasn't even in the room. The dog must have been in the back yard. He picked up his phone and dialled a number.

"Hello." Tina's voice echoed at the other end.

"Hey, Tina." Jeremy said.

"Alpha Griffin." He heard the humor in her tone at the other end.

"You know it sounds weird when you call me that." He groaned.

"Not really. It seems fitting. What's up? You sound tired."

"I am tired. Just wanted to check up on you, though. How are you?"

There was a small pause at the end. Jeremy knew she was still mulling over Kyle's death. When she had first heard the news, she became withdrawn and devastated. The Beta had kept a watchful eye on her in hopes that she wouldn't do anything drastic. As the months passed, she gradually put herself together. But there were still occasional flashes of the longing and sorrow in her eyes.

"I'm okay, I guess." He heard her reply. "Alpha Ronald and my dad are still expecting you, you know."

"Yeah, I know." He sighed, blowing a loose hair out of his eye view. "I'll come around when I'm not emotionally disoriented, if you know what I mean."

He heard her laugh.

"Nikki misses you too." She said.

A smile appeared on his face. Nikki, a six year old girl, was one of the members of the pack. Cute as a button, she had befriended and grown find of Jeremy during one of the meetings he had with Ronald two months ago.

"Tell her I miss her too." Jeremy laughed.

"Will do. Hey, Jeremy?"

"Yeah?"

"Thanks. I needed that."

"Anytime." He smiled, understanding what she meant. "Take care and stay strong."

"That goes double for you. Bye."

"Bye."

Jeremy hung up and shut his eyes, getting ready for a nap. Now he felt better. Guess checking up on people really did some good. A smile crossed his face as he was about to drift into slumber.

"Jeremy!" He was startled by his mum's yelling from below. He groaned and put a pillow over his face.

"Jeremy, I know you hear me! You get down here, young man!" Her voice was louder now.

Jeremy gritted his teeth and flung the pillow across the room. He slammed the door of his bedroom as he stepped out of it and stomped all the way downstairs. He met June at the living room who stood with her arms folded and a stern glare across her face. Months ago, that look from her green eyes would have sent chills down his spine. But then, his inner beast was dormant then.

"What?" He folded his arms in disinterest.

"Don't take up that tone with me,young man." June snapped. "Now I don't know what has gotten into you but I've had it with your unruly behaviour. I don't know if the alpha title has gotten into your head but it.."

"The Alpha tilte?" Jeremy laughed bitterly. "You think this is about the alpha title. Jesus, mum, open your goddamn eyes! This is about trust!"

June was taken aback from her son's outburst. She watched him twitch unnaturally as he glowered at her.

"I never even wanted this stupid title anyway. All I wanted was a peaceful life. A life of happiness and fun with my best friend, Kyle." He continued.

June shifted her weight from one knee to another.

"Kyle Blake. You remember him, right? You know, the best friend who you denied me of befriending since we were little. Without giving a good reason, might I add." He rolled his eyes. "Turns out he was a werewolf. Oh, and big surprise, I happen to be one too. And do I get an explanation from you? No. All you ever did was keep secrets and hide things. I can't take it anymore, mum. Enough of this. Until you come clean and tell me what I'm supposed to know, I'm afraid we'll keep living like strangers in this house."

June paused as her son finished pouring his heart out. Shiela had walked in, her attention alerted by the noise. She gave Jeremy a nudge but he didn't look her way. June stood, conflicted. Her face reflected worry.

"Mum." Jeremy sighed, rubbing his forehead. "What are you hiding?"

The doorbell rang, alerting them. Jeremy and his mother faced the door, their scents detecting someone familiar. Jeremy raised his eyebrows in surprise and Shiela barked and ran towards the door. June walked towards it and opened it. Crazy Johnny stood at the other side. A look of resignation was on his face.

"Im afraid there are some things that cannot be hidden any longer." He said, his eyes darting from June to her son.

"Crazy Johnny?" Jeremy tilted his head sideways. "What's going on here?"

Crazy Johnny made to reply but he saw the warning glare on June's face. He matched her glare with his own.

"Juniper." He said to her. "He has to know. You've hidden things from him too long. He's no longer a little boy."

"You know something, don't you?" Jeremy asked the old man, his eyes narrowing in suspicion.

"Yes,my boy." Crazy Johnny sighed. "And now that fate has chosen you, you should too."

Crazy Johnny beckoned to Jeremy to follow him to the living room. He obliged and June closed the door, following shortly.

"Where do i start?" Crazy Johnny sighed as he took a seat.

"The beginning?" Jeremy deadpanned.

"Right." Crazy Johnny chuckled a bit. "Everything about you and Kyle started sixteen years ago."

June sat down and Jeremy caught an uneasy look on her face.

"It all started with a werewolf. Jack Cornell." Crazy Johnny continued.

"That name." Jeremy frowned. "I've heard it several times. He was affiliated with my history teacher, Mr White."

"How much did he tell you about Jack?" Crazy Johnny asked curiously.

"Not much, I'm afraid." Jeremy replied.

Crazy Johnny nodded. "Jack Cornell was a werewolf like Gerard. Many years ago, he moved into a town and met Gerard, Richard and a young lady, Cecilia who was Gerard's mate. The quadruple became close friends. But Jack was very ambitious. He wanted more than just a close circle. He also looked forward to the future. He wanted a pack. During that time he met a human. Sandra Blake."

"That's Kyle's mum." Jeremy said.

June shifted uncomfortably in her seat.

"Yes." Crazy Johnny resumed. "Jack had a fling with her. The issue at that moment was that he wasn't mated to her. There was no pure romance. He discovered later that their fling had resulted in Sandra being pregnant. While Jack had not expected that, he was prepared to take responsibility. But things got complicated again. Around that time, he met and was mated to a werewolf."

Crazy Johnny paused again and sighed. He rubbed the back of his neck in an akward manner.

"Okay, who was the woman he was mated to?" Jeremy asked.

Crazy Johnny winced.

"She's sitting right next to you." He nodded in June's direction.

Jeremy's eyes widened as he faced his mother. She had a forlorn look on her face. He suddenly felt uneasy as he knew what was coming next.

"Jack was mated to her and this time there was a true relationship. At this stage, Sandra had given birth to his first son. Kyle." Crazy Johnny sighed.

"First son." Jeremy frowned. "You're not saying..."

"Yes, I am." Crazy Johnny nodded. "Around this time, Jack and your mum's union resulted in his second son."

Crazy Johnny looked at Jeremy straight in the eye.

"You."

Jeremy faced his mother. The look on her face confirmed the truth. Now that he thought about it, there was more to him and Kyle's friendship.

"So you're saying." Jeremy faced the old man. "That Kyle was not just my best friend. He was.."

"Your paternal half-brother." Crazy Johnny said. "Born from the same father. A very strong and noble werewolf."

Jeremy noted the look on Crazy Johnny's face. It was a look of pride.

"But I don't get one thing." Jeremy said. "If Jack Cornell was really my dad, why did he abandon me?"

"He didn't." June spoke up for the first time. She faced her son and took his hands in hers. Her eyes were watery.

"Your father never abandoned you." She continued. "After your birth, months later, he traveled to Florida to meet his friends and inform them. His initial plan was to raise you and Kyle at the same time while getting as much protection and help as he could. But when he travelled to Ohio with Cecilia..."

June's body was now vibrating as sobs escaped her lips.

"Dominic killed him." Jeremy completed her sentence.

Crazy Johnny and June stared at him in surprise.

"How did.." Crazy Johnny began.

"Mr White told me the story months ago." Jeremy explained. "He only told me the part about Jack forming a pack. No details about me or Kyle was mentioned."

"That's probably because Jack must have not spilled much details about your birth." Crazy Johnny said.

"It's kind of ironic. Gerard didn't say much but he said the important details." He added with a chuckle.

"Crazy Johnny." Jeremy stared at him curiously. "How is it that you know much about this?"

The old man sighed and looked from boy to mother. June had a sad smile on her face. He nodded slowly and turned to Jeremy.

"Because Jack Cornell.." He heaved.

"..Was my son." He finished.

"Wait,what?!" Jeremy's eyes widened. "You're saying..."

"Yes I am." Crazy Johnny nodded. "My name is Jonathan Cornell."

"I'm your grandfather." He smiled gently at Jeremy.