I forget that you and Kaley are cousins. That’s so weird to process. Hold that thought though, I need to shower and I assume you are my escort to school? Give me ten minutes.
“Here, Luna Ava wanted me to bring you this and said ‘corne home as soon as you’re ready.’ She probably figures you don’t have anything left here.
He holds out a bag I didn’t even notice before.
She’s not wrong. My hasty escape to my childhood prison did not involve bringing supplies, like a change of clothes.
I take the bag and just nod my head before running up the stairs two at a time. I am done in record time and had to laugh at what Luna Ava packed.
She knew who I would forgive or at least talk to first and who I would need more convincing to give another chance. She must have also come into
my room and taken everything else I had so I had no choice but to wear what she packed me. Although, there is no other scent but mine. Sneaky,
meddling woman. I’ll have to ask her about that.
At least she packed me my own underwear, bra and jeans, but she gave me Oliver’s tank top, a t-shirt of Kota’s and Cam’s sweatshirt. And they all
smell like they had worn them just before she packed them. I roll my eyes while I roll up the sleeves on the sweatshirt and head outside. I had to tuck
the hem of the shirt into my pants too since it goes all the way to my knees, this takes the fashion term “oversized’ way too far. I give Sam a serious look
“Hey, don’t shoot the messenger. You will notice your brother and I didn’t contribute to the cause.” He waves up and down my outfit.
“That doesn ‘t mean you didn’t help with the removal of my other options.” I say as we start heading toward the school, clearly neither of us are in a hurry to get there, we’re already late, I’m so far ahead in my classes the teachers stopped caring when I come and go. They also probably notice
there are less incidents with Kaley when I’m not there. And he’s the future Delta, primary schooling is just a formality. He hands me a granola bar and
water bottle, and I just roll my eyes and laugh. He and Mateo are taking the malnutrition diagnosis to heart. What they don’t know, is I’ve gone longer
on less food. But that is not something I am going to tell them after all of this crap.
‘[so while we are talking about being your escort…”
“How did you make that jump from Luna Ava’s choice of my outfit?”
“Don’t change the subject! You are still going to the ball with us right? You can’t go alone, none of us can, it’s not safe for so many reasons.” He
laughs darkly. Plus now that you have been officially recruited by the Alpha King you may not get to go to another one.”
“I guess, this is just a lot. With everything else going on, the Mating Ball just seems stupid, especially for me. I’m only fifteen, still super awkward
around anyone who isn’t you guys and Sierra and I can’t dance. I can’t even find my mate for three more years.
Our elders are lazy and it seems like many of them are just using the ball to try and force chosen mates to heighten status or as political strategy to
connect packs. I wouldn’t want to be in any of your positions, at all, basically paraded around like cattle at an auction.
“You’re no different really, are you?” He looks at me sideways
“What do you mean?”
“They way your dad talks, that’s basically what you
are being paraded around for too. So a guy can level up his rank or you can get chosen by an Alpha or, I guess now, some higher rank from the Alph:
King’s guys since you clearly have ALL of their attention now.” He wiggles his eyebrows at me. I roll my eyes back at him.
“I guess I never really saw myself in that position before, my brother is the Beta, not me. I’m just a warrior. It’s all I have ever wanted to be, it’s all I’m
good at.”
“You have never been just a warrior, but that is why you need to stick with us and maybe give us a little slack when we have a less than pleasant
reaction to other guys around you. You honestly have no idea how others see you and that is great, because your ego will never be your downfall.
But, it’s also dangerous because it makes it too easy for someone to take advantage of you. And yes jealousy is a part of that, but none of the other
guys will ever admit that to your face.”
He gives me a sheepish grin and I giggle a real laugh for the first time in days.
