“Sorry ladies, we got called into the weekend training, so it’s a light and early night for us. Maybe next time.” Dakota said as the five guys turned around and started ushering us up the lit pathway before anyone else could argue.
“Damn, that was brutal” Sam let out under his breath before we even made it through the path opening. “Don’t get me wrong, I loved the two-female body shot, we will definitely be revisiting that situation, but did anyone else feel like the whole night just tanked as soon as the party got too big?” “First, over my dead body are taking a shot off my sister and second yes. I don’t think it’s ever been like that before.” Mateo says
I realize they are talking in code and I am smart enough to know who is the reason for the code, but at the same time I don’t know why.
The twins say goodbye to us from the back patio and say they will drive us all to training in the morning. Also a new situation, because I’m pretty sure I was included in that invitation, but we will see come morning. Once we get to the front Mateo, Sam, Sierra and I split off toward our side of the packhouse and Oliver starts walking to the other side towards his house. He shouts over his shoulder that we will leave at 6am sharp so none of us should be late, no matter how long it takes some of us to say goodnight.
I started openly laughing at the insinuation and then again at the look on Sam’s face. I hugged Sierra goodnight at the end of our sidewalk and she and Sam kept on walking to her house.
When we finally get home Mateo stops to take his jacket off at the door, I just continue into the kitchen looking for a snack. All I had was soda and water and I was starving. I walk into the dimly lit kitchen, the light over the sink the only illumination in the room.
“Where the hell have you been!” I jumped about a mile into the air and screamed at the growling words. Mateo came running in and grabbed my shoulders pulling me behind him protectively looking around for what scared me. He relaxed a little when he noticed my dad sitting at our rectangular kitchen table, a short empty glass in front of him.
When my heart rate started to go back to a normal rhythm, I looked at my dad and had to force an eye roll back. I stepped around my brother to fully face my dad. “After school I showed the new girl, Sierra, around and then we were hanging out with Mateo and the guys. I’m sorry, I didn’t realize the time. When we noticed what time it was and that we have training in the morning we all went home to get some sleep.”
“Is that true son?” I could barely hold back the growl from my wolf at my brother being questioned to see if I was lying. My hands balling into fists at my sides to curb the anger. I never do anything out of line, always his perfect little beta daughter, but worth nothing to him other than an image he presents to the outside world.
“Yes, sir. She’s been with us the whole time. It was the annual back to school bonfire.” Simple explanation that would have gotten me a smack to the face and grounded.
“And are you really going to training in the morning?” He asks looking at my brother only, as if I’m not even here.
“I go to training every day. Delta Kyle reports my progress weekly to you, sir.” I snap at him, before walking out of the kitchen to the stairs, towards my room. I hear the loud scrape of the chair, knowing my father will rush to yell at me for my back talk, little girls don’t back talk, they do what they are told and stay silent. But I don’t get far when I hear my brother.
“Leave her alone. She convinced us all that we should invest more time training, especially after her display this morning. All the guys and I decided it’s time to invest more into pack training. Sky is going to show us the ropes since she is the most familiar with the set up.”
“We have been asking you boys to go to weekend trainings for years. Why the change now?” My dad asks
“I guess she’s just more convincing than you. Now, It’s late and I need to sleep if I am going to be able to function that early.” Then I heard Mateo’s boots clomping up the stairs behind me. I let him catch up and he swung his arm around my shoulder again and kissed my temple. “I’m sorry, I can’t pretend like the way he treats you is okay anymore, it was never okay. I never should have let it get this far. I know why you work and train as hard as you do. You don’t have to do it alone anymore.” He walks me to my door and kisses my forehead before turning around and walking to the door across the hall from mine.
