Ch. 11..20
Chapter 0011
Skylar POV
“What bonfire?” Sierra looks at me accusingly.
I shrug my shoulders. “I don’t do parties because I don’t have friends. So I don’t usually pay attention to the social scene.” I look down at the ground after that word vomit confession. Taking a deep breath I look back up at Sierra. I wonder when she is going to figure out I am not someone to know and she'll move on like everyone else.
Sam looks at me and chuckles a bit but then quickly turns confused when I don’t join in laughing then looks between the two of us. He clears his throat. “We have a bonfire the weekend following the first full week of classes. Which happens to be tonight, you should both come. It’s in the clearing in the woods behind the packhouse, nothing too crazy, but it is tradition. Will you come? Please say you’ll be there.” He’s looking at Sierra with big puppy dog eyes. Is he pouting?!
“Of course! We can’t break tradition!” Her cheery personality shines through. “Is there a dress code for this particular get-together or is it come as you are?” She smiles up at him. So, this is what flirting looks like up close, interesting. She definitely does it better than Kaley, I think I get the appeal now.
He looks a little lost for a second before blinking and coming back to his senses. “Come as you are, but I would dress warm, it’s already starting to cool off and the clearing is in a bit of a valley that holds the cooler air.”
“What time?”
“We are going to start setting everything up now, so you can come whenever, but the bonfire is lit near dark, so like 9. But, really you can come whenever.” He smiles at Sierra. It’s really cute to
watch him flirt. I don’t even know if he realizes that’s what he’s doing. She seems to have him under a spell.
“Well then, we will see you later Sam.” She smiles at him again and she gets into her car, I follow suit. Once we are both in and the doors are closed she looks over at me. “Okay, I was just trying to get us away from the b*tch trio and the hot brigade, but after all of that I really am hungry, where’s the best burger place here?”
“The hot brigade? Really?” I question her, shaking my head. She just laughs as she starts the car.
I laugh and start giving her directions. We eat and head to her place which just so happens to be at the end of our block. “I didn’t realize your aunt and uncle were some of our lead warriors. That would explain your fighting skills. I guess I never really asked about you today, sorry about that.” I look down at my lap as I sit on her bed as she digs through her closet.
“Don’t worry about it, we have plenty of time to get to know each other. And what I want to know right now is what do you mean ‘you don’t do parties because you don’t have friends’? You’re not going to just slide that into conversation and hope no one heard it.” I cringe. After I said it, I felt like I was whining.
“Exactly that, I do not have friends, I don’t go to parties, no one chooses to hang out with me. They mostly choose to avoid me. It’s been like that for a long time. You are the first person I have had more than one conversation in a row that wasn’t in school about an assignment or at training.” I shrug. It’s weird though when I used to think that stuff to myself it hurt, but I feel nothing now, like I am numb to the fact that I am avoided unless absolutely necessary by my peers. That can’t be good.
“That’s a lot to unpack and I have a feeling the silver laced whip marks on your back fall into this same story too, right?”
“Wait, what? How did you know they were silver laced whip marks?” I’m stunned, that’s oddly specific knowledge to just guess and I told Delta Kyle by accident over mindlink today. No one else knows.
“I will allow the topic to change, but we are going to circle back to the friends thing. My parents are chemists. I already told you they work for our Alpha King. Many of the things they work on are chemical weapons and antidotes for war.” I flinch at the thought that her parents make things to harm other wolves, things like the silver powder that was rubbed into my wounds. “Don’t look at me like that. They aren’t bad people, but they have seen bad things. It’s their job to know the worst things that could be done to our Alphas and the Alpha king and be able to stop it or reverse it. Sometimes they have had to reverse engineer some of the things used in battles. That’s one of the reasons I am here, my parents are on some mission I don’t even have details about. It wasn’t safe for me to be alone, but it would be odd if I stayed with people in my pack for too long since I normally stay by myself when they travel. So staying with family was the best cover for my protection.” She leans back out of her closet and attempts to glare at me, but her happy features don’t really do that look. “This goes without saying, but keep that to yourself.”
Chapter 0012
“You just met me, why would you trust me with that information?”
“Because, you have been taking beatings for something you didn’t do and clearly no one knows, and those who suspect can’t get the truth out of you. You have integrity and loyalty, though your lack of self interest concerns me a bit.” She giggles. “So tell me, why is someone using some of the worst forms of torture on you? You don’t strike me as a boyfriend stealer, a cheater, or a liar. Which means you are a threat, and I think you don’t even know it.”
“I’m not sure what I did to gain the constant negative attention, but the ‘who’ isn’t important. It started when I stepped in to protect another, younger, student from some bullying and it has just escalated over time.” I shrug.
“Is that the same line Delta Kyle let you get away with too?” She raises an eyebrow, but she is still smiling at me.
“Maybe.” I shrug again and look at my lap. I feel like she is just warming up and I am really going to have to choose my words carefully with her. She could be an interrogator.
“So, back to the no friends thing. Care to explain?” She tries on her third coat and is twirling in front of her full length mirror. “From what I have seen you are great and genuine and I am an excellent judge of character.” She huffs and throws the coat into a pile on the chair of her vanity and goes back in her closet.
“It’s complicated. And it’s just easier to not get close to people, with everything going on. I don’t want anyone else as a target just because they decided to be friends with me. My brother will take the next beta title and I will take whatever rank my mate gives me. I’m nothing special and don’t have anything to offer. You’ll see, the only reason you lasted this long is because you are new and haven’t figured out the teen hierarchy here. You are gorgeous and have already gotten the attention of my brother and his friends…” I let the ‘and you’ll move on and forget me’ thought hang in the air.
“You have not met any real friends then. This b*tch won’t scare me away and the way I saw you fight today, I’m surprised you let anyone treat you poorly, let alone physically harm you.” She grabs a hat that matches the bright red peacoat she chose and does another twirl in the mirror. “I can’t believe that your alphas or even your brother haven’t stepped in.”
“I told you it’s complicated. They don’t know about stuff like the whipping and anything else is not worth their time. If I can’t fight my own simple battles, I’m not worth the time or the effort. I’m a beta by blood and should be strong enough to handle my problems without running to them with every little problem. Some levels of minor bullying are tolerated by my brother and his friends. It’s a survival of the fittest mentality.”
“Then they are all d*cks and not worthy of leading in my opinion. But, they probably don’t know half of what you put up with based on the scars you carry on the outside. The inside scars, though, they wouldn’t have a clue, they’re guys, that’s just stupid territory for them.” I couldn’t help but laugh, long and hard. She wasn’t wrong. The emotional turmoil in my head was worse than anything that has been done to me physically. “So let's make you look and feel as hot as you are tonight and see what we can find out from these boys.”
Chapter 0013
“Wait, what are you talking about? I am not hot and what do you want to find out from which boys?” Now I was scared. She was looking at me like a predator looks at its prey.
“I saw how each of those boys looked at you today at training and again after school. You are not as invisible as you may think and I am going to prove it to you. Even your brother was impressed at training.”
“I doubt that. My brother, like my dad, only focuses on the position and job and I do not fall into that category, so I am not noticeable. But, you are cute for thinking that.”
“I’m still dressing you up hot tonight, there’s no getting out of it.” I roll my eyes, this might be the worst of the torture yet.
“How hot can you be wearing a coat and hat? You are ridiculous.” I giggle at her as she drags me in her closet.
Two hours later we are walking from Sierra’s place down our ‘U’ shaped block. I have a bright blue coat on, a t-shirt and dark washed jeans, my blonde hair tied on my head in a ponytail and black combat boots. She added light make-up and insisted on this pale pink lip gloss.
The block housed all of the ranked members of the pack. Our driveways all make the center of the ‘U’ and our well manicured backyards fan out to a forest line all the way around. It is great if you want to go for a quick run and part of the reason I have been able to hide my shifting from my brother and my dad. At the center was the main packhouse where Alpha Lucas, Luna Ava, Cameron and Dakota live. To the right of them is the Beta house where dad, Mateo and I live. To the left of the packhouse is the Gamma house where Gamma Brett and Oliver live. Next to the Gamma house is the Delta house where Delta Kyle, Gwen and Sam live. There is a house next to the delta’s housing an Elite warrior named Ben and his young family and two houses next to mine also housing Elite warriors. One of which I now know is Sierra’s aunt and uncle. I know them all on
sight, but we don’t interact much outside of training. I basically keep myself from everyone, just in case. Kaley has shown more than once seh will go after people who appear close to me and if I fight back she will harm a pack member in some way, and it tends to be the pups, and I just can’t have that. No one’s children need to get hurt because she is mad at me for whatever reason.
Back in the spring, before I got my wolf and my fast reflexes, she was trying to get me to give her the answers to the history test she couldn’t be bothered to study for because she was too busy chasing Cameron and Dakota. I refused, she got a terrible grade and she told me I would pay. I don’t know if she chose Ben’s daughter on purpose or at random, but her, her two friends and some random omega guy grabbed the girl, covered her head with some kind of bag and dragged her to the side of the school and the guy stomped on her leg and broke it. They sent me the video anonymously with the message ‘next time choose better’. They covered their tracks pretty well, no one spoke and nothing but the guy’s lower leg, hands and the girl was in the video. I took it to my dad, but when he went to look at it, the message and video was gone.
He accused me of wanting to be mixed up in the drama of high schoolers and jealous of the attention the popular girls were getting with the boys amongst other insults to my intelligence. That’s when I stopped going to him for my troubles or advice altogether. He only pretended to listen to me most of the time anyway, more focused on his files and paperwork and whatever else he did for the Alpha. I don’t even eat in the dining room with him and my brother. When I had a nanny, I would eat with her in her suite unless we had company. It was always that way and I didn’t question it until after 7th grade she was dismissed and I was deemed old enough to look after myself. Unfortunately, no one told me.
I went to her suite to get food, but it was empty. I searched the house and found my father and brother in the formal dining room with a full spread of food. The only thing my father said was that she was needed for a more important child and I shouldn't interrupt dinner again. Neither said anything or came to check on me after I ran from the room crying. I eat in the kitchen with our cook
now and help her with the clean up when we are done. She doesn’t question it, but I can see the pity in her eyes when she looks at me. I hate the pity more than I hate being alone.
Chapter 0014
I didn’t realize how lost in my thoughts I am until Sierra nudged me. “Hey where have you been the last ten minutes?”
I blink trying to shake the memory from my head and wrap it around what I’m about to do. “I don’t know if I can do this.” I finally blurted out. “I wasn’t lying before, I really have no friends and none of the people here like me, or want to interact with me. I should just go, you will have a better time without me.” I go to turn around.
“Not a chance. And you are wrong, you do have a friend, me.” She places her hand dramatically on her chest. “And I would have a terrible time fighting Kaley without you. You deserve to put that b*tch in her place or at least witness someone doing it secretly on your behalf.” She winks at me.
I just raise my eyebrows at her. How did she know Kaley was my problem? Not even Kyle has figured it out and he knows most of the stuff she’s done to me.
“Uh, I don’t know what you –.”
“Mean? Really you’re going to try and lie to me? You don’t have to confirm it out loud, but I already told you I am an excellent judge of character, and she is a social climbing wannabe who couldn’t fight her way out of a paper bag, with a map and GPS. I could give two sh*ts about her pretend status and influence. I’m an exchange student only here for a year. What is she going to do, get me expelled? I’d like to see her try. Technically speaking, I'm the Alpha King's Gamma's only child, no one here but the Alpha outranks me, she can kiss my ass.”
My eyes went wide and I tried to open my mouth to say something, but nothing would come out. How do you respond to something like that?
“Okay, you win, just know her dad is on the school board and several kids have gotten in trouble or suspended just for accusing her of things or being in my vicinity. People have also been hurt
because of her hatred of me. I don’t want you risking anything just to prove a point. I’m not worth that, and I can handle what she throws at me, it feeds her superiority complex and keeps her attention away from harming anyone else in the pack and protecting them is the most important thing.” I look her straight in the eyes to make sure she knows that I am serious.
She grabs my shoulders. “You are worth it. I don’t know where you got that idea from, but for being as smart as you are, that is the dumbest thing you have said all day. Now let's go! We have hot boys to flirt with and a b*tch to taunt.”
I have a feeling I am going to regret this night so much. I take a deep breath in and let it out slowly. “Fine, let’s do this, but you cannot let me make a fool out of myself. This is not my scene at all. I have no idea what I am doing.”
“Don’t worry, I’ve got you. And from the looks your brother’s friends were giving you, I don’t think you could make a fool out of yourself.” She winks at me. “Now lead the way, the sun is starting to go down. Boys playing with fire all man-like is something I can’t miss."
I couldn’t help the eye roll this time. Sierra was legitimately crazy, boy crazy and there was no stopping this train now that I am on it.
I led her along the path around the packhouse into the back yard. The Luna does such a great job making her garden so pretty. I wish we had flowers like this, but my dad thinks it is impractical and refuses to let me do it or pay someone to do it, but the Luna lets me sneak over and read in one of the many secluded areas back here whenever I want, she even keeps some of my favorite wild flowers in the planters and a hammock in one of the nooks. It’s a great escape from my house when it feels too big and empty.
Chapter 0015
“Skylar! It’s so nice to see you! Are you joining the boys for their bonfire?” Speak of the devil.
“Hi Luna Ava, how are you? The guys did invite us if that’s okay.” I was suddenly unsure of how all of this works. I’ve never been invited to a party and certainly didn’t expect the Luna to be sitting on her back patio when we got here. “This is my friend Sierra, she is staying with warriors Robert and Stephanie for the year. She’s in the same grade as Mateo and the twins.”
Now I can’t seem to stop talking, why am I nervous? This woman has been the closest thing to a mom I have ever known.
“Hello Sierra, it’s nice to meet you. You must be the one that sparred with our Skylar here this morning. You both are the talk of the warriors today, isn’t that right dear?” She looks over her shoulder, with a smile that lets me know she is implying something, but I'm not sure what.
I didn’t even realize that the Alpha was out here too, man what happened to my observation skills all of a sudden.
“You got that right” He sits up from his reclined position, his gruff laugh contrasts with his thick eyebrows and natural stern look. “None of my warriors have been able to beat your take down time, including Delta Kyle and Gamma Brett.” He laughed to himself again. “Trust me they tried for a solid three hours, changing up who they each fought and everything. We have a few bruised egos being nursed tonight.” He smiles as he relaxes back in his chair like he is savoring the joke.
Sierra laughed next to me. “That is amazing! And thank you again Alpha and Luna for letting me spend the school year here. I really do appreciate it.”
“Not a problem dear. Clearly it was the right choice.” The Luna winked at us. “You had better be on your way or all the good seats next to the fire will be gone.” She wiggled her eyebrows at us and I
have no idea what that was supposed to mean, but Sierra clearly did as she grabbed my arm and started to drag me away.
We followed the path of little twinkling lights through the woods and walked about 10 minutes before we could hear voices and see the warm glow of the fire. We walked through a small crowd of people. I’m not sure if it was invite only or just upperclassmen or what, but there were only about 30 people milling about. Maybe it was just early still. I have no idea what to expect or what I am doing, so I just follow Sierra since she seems to have a destination in mind. When we walk a little further around the very large fire I can see where she is leading us. My brother and his friends are posted up on the far side of the clearing guarding what look like coolers. We barely stepped around the fire and as soon as we were visible, Sam shouted. “You made it! Finally, we have been waiting forever.” The other four guys snapped their heads our way. That earned us some looks from the surrounding crowd. I am for sure out of place here based on the looks we are getting and Sierra either doesn’t notice or doesn’t care. I’m guessing, doesn’t care.
“Hello boys, we are right on time. Don’t be dramatic Sam.” She smiles at him as we walk closer.
“Wow! You both look great! Do you want a drink? We have water, soda, beer, take your pick.” He is far too eager and it’s kind of cute.
“I’ll start with water, Skylar?” Sierra looks back at me. I think she took the safe option for me so I wouldn’t feel so out of place and I am grateful for it. She must know what I’m thinking because she winks at me.
“Water for me too, please.” I look at Sam as he trots away and kicks some kid off the furthest cooler he was using as a seat and grabs two bottles of water. We keep walking towards my brother and his friends, reaching them the same time Sam does with our bottles.
“Seriously though, what took so long? Your car was back the same time we were with supplies.” Neither of you live that far.” Was he pouting again? That little wounded boy look must work for him
to keep trying that with us.
We both laugh at him, but Sierra comes in with a great response. She cups his face and runs her thumb along his lower lip. And if he were a cartoon, hearts would be shooting out of his eyeballs and his tongue would have dropped on the floor and rolled away into the forest. “Tuck that lip in Sugar, save it for girls who fall for it. Perfection like this is not free, nor is it easy. It takes time and cannot be rushed.” She looks back at me and winks again, she definitely knows what she is doing. I feel like I should be taking notes.
Chapter 0016
I giggle with her and take a sip of water, which draws the attention of Cameron and Dakota. “She is right, it was definitely worth the wait.” Dakota says not taking his eyes off of me and I’m not sure what to make of that, so I break eye contact only to lock eyes with Cameron who is nodding and then Oliver who is hiding a smile behind his beer bottle. I don’t know if I have ever seen him smile, but I don’t have time to ponder that as Cameron draws my attention again.
“I don’t know if I have ever seen your hair up like that, it looks nice Sky.” He says looking puzzeled, like he’s trying to figure something out.
“Yeah, TIny, who’d you get all dressed up for?” Dakota winks at me.
“Who are you calling Tiny?” I scoffed at him “I had no control over what I look like, my look is that of a hostage situation by a very demanding friend.” I smile over at Sierra who is laughing at something Sam was saying. Before Dakota could reply to me, Sierra jumped in.
“It was not a hostage situation, I was just being a good friend and highlighting all of your amazing assets.” I rolled my eyes at her. She wasn’t wrong though. She found this amazing blue coat that accentuated the grey of my eyes and the eye make-up she did made my eyes glow almost silver. She then pulled my blonde hair into a high ponytail and added soft curls to it making me look taller and more confident. I still had my jeans, t-shirt and black combat boots on from school today. She didn’t do a lot, but what she did made me look like a different person.
I don’t know how long we stood there talking to the guys, but we seemed to have their undivided attention. My brother and even Oliver joined in the conversation after a while. I found out Oliver was actually really smart and took a ton of extra math classes. He and I had a long discussion that went over the heads of everyone else, at least one of them likes school, it makes me feel less weird. Cameron and Dakota were talking about a few of the things their dad wants them to consider since they are becoming co-Alphas and some of the other pressures they had to think about. My brother
even talked about the pressure dad put on him to be the best beta. We found out all five of them were into sports and training. They have all tried almost every outdoor sport there is to try, several I would love to join them on. I think Sierra just has that charm about her, it draws you in and if she chooses to pull you in you can’t resist. These guys have never had these kinds of conversations around me let alone with me.
Dakota walked by me after getting another beer, stopped right next to me and looked straight down into my face. “You really are tiny, Tiny. What happened? Was Mateo given all the height and nothing was left over for you?” He stood towering over me, his six foot and growing frame required me to tilt my head all the way back to look at his face. It should have intimidated or frightened me to have him this close, but I didn’t feel anything but safe around any of these guys.
“I guess I never realized how small you are, Smalls.” Cameron added. My head was so far back, I only had to shift my gaze slightly to notice he was right behind me. Not touching, like Dakota, but close enough to feel the body heat radiating off of them.
Still not intimidated, I responded the only way I could think of, like Sierra. “I guess some of us needed less time to reach perfection. Some of you are still working out the rough edges.” They both smiled at me.
“Like a fine wine, Little Bit, we are only getting better with age.” Sam chimes in, his arm firmly grasped around Sierra where it’s been for the last hour or so since she switched to beer. We all laughed at him.
Chapter 0017
“Do either of you have a variation on short you would like to throw in for good measure?” I look at Oliver and my brother. They both chuckle and I attempt to use the moment to get out of the twin sandwich I am in.
But they just move as I move, so I stopped trying to get away and looked around to Oliver as he said, “Let me get back to you, Bite Size, I’ll come up with something clever.” I rolled my eyes at him and Sierra just laughed.
“And you?” I look at Mateo.
“Right now, Shorty, the only thing I get to call you is the take down champ. Dad is never gonna let any of us live that down.” Everyone chuckles at the memory. He reaches for me between the twins and wraps an arm around my neck and pulls me close in a gentle headlock type hug, a gesture he has never done before. I don’t know if it is the beer slowing down his uptight faculties, although I didn’t think beer really did much to werewolves, and he hasn’t had a ton, but who knows, I’ve never had any and he stopped the guys from giving me any tonight. They all offered multiple times as we mingled. Or was he uncomfortable with how close the twins were to me. He’s never been protective before, but I guess I haven’t given him a reason to be, we don’t hang out. Hell, I don’t hang out, with anyone, this is all new for me and he probably knows it.
The moment seemed to go unnoticed by the others and they all started discussing this morning’s training, while we all moved over closer to the fire and found seats on logs or the ground. Mateo didn’t take his arm off my shoulder until I sat down and leaned against one of the logs. Sierra sat by me, but Sam sat on the log behind her, placing her in between his legs. My brother sat on my other side, leaving Oliver, Cameron and Dakota on the next log that was angled towards us.
“Don’t remind me. I was on the receiving end of that particular beatdown.” Sierra mumbles. I was worried for a minute that maybe she was irritated with me for the way I beat her during training, but
when I look at her, she doesn’t look upset. She actually looks amused. They all laugh again and I take a deep breath and join them.
Man, was that training only this morning? I feel like so much has happened since then. I did notice as we changed our location many more people had shown up too. I was so caught up in our own group, I didn’t even notice. I guess Sam was right, everyone came whenever and just hung out as long as they wanted. The fire was really nice, It was more chilly than I had anticipated. I wasn’t cold, but I would take warmth over cold weather any time.
“The Alpha told us that all the warriors tried to match or better her time using the takedown today and no one could do it.” Sierra supplies to our group. “Including all your dads.” she added like an afterthought taking a pull from her beer, but I think she was rubbing salt in the wound.
“Really? Damn! Well I don’t feel so bad then, if none of our dad’s could beat it either.” Sam says.
“How many training sessions do you go to?” Oliver asks in his low growl, I can see his brain doing some kind of calculation. “I know you’re at all the mandatory pack training and you train with Luna Ava at advanced training, but what else?” He seemed genuinely curious as he took a slow drink of his beer.
“All of them.” I shrug, keeping my focus on the fire. I don’t know why, but I feel uneasy saying that outloud. Until today I didn’t hang out with anyone, so outside of getting my homework done I trained. It was the only time I left the house and Kaley left me alone. I was not going to explain that to them though. I was just starting to feel a little normal.
Oliver choked on his beer. “All of them, what do you mean ‘all of them’?”
I wasn’t sure how that was unclear, but whatever, maybe the beer was getting to him too. ”I attend all of the morning mandatory trainings for the high schoolers, the advance training for the warriors and ranked members three times a week and I help and work with Delta Kyle and the warriors who
do the basic trainings, patrol training and work with the pups during beginner training.” I shrug again like it’s no big deal, because to me it isn’t, never has been. I look forward to working with the pups and with all of the crap Kaley pulls, I like knowing they are learning to deal with people like her so no one else has to go through this. It keeps my head clear too, the effort makes me happy. I also think that basics are undervalued and people don’t focus on them enough. It’s the best way to warm-up and stay sharp. In the middle of a fight, your muscle memory is what takes over and it’s not the fancy sh*t these guys like to mess around with that saves you.
Chapter 0018
“That’s almost 30 hours of combat training a week. You do that on top of school and everything else.” He’s looking at me like he’s never seen me before and I look around at the rest of the group and their looks aren’t much different.
“I’ve never done the math before, so I’ll take your word for it, but yeah, I guess.” I stammer out, looking back to the fire and start to feel uncomfortable with all of the attention. I shift a bit and try to look smaller, if that's even possible. Like it will stop all their staring.
“Aren’t you like the top student in your grade?” Cameron asks me.
“And in advanced classes and stuff too right? I know you’re in my English class for sure.” Dakota adds finishing his twin’s thoughts.
“Okay, we get it, she’s amazing. Now stop making it weird.” Sierra jumps to my aide after coming out of her own shock and pulling me in for a hug. I let her pull me to her side, but I keep my focus on the fire or the ground. I was doing so well fitting in, but now my oddities are starting to be revealed and I don't really want to talk baout why I avoid people.
“I think we all just got an ego smackdown, and are feeling a bit inadequate right now, that’s all.” Sam says, wrapping his arm back around my friend, sliding down behind her and pulling her back to his chest, but still staring at me.
“Speak for yourself, no inadequacies here.” Oliver laughs and we all join in.
“Yeah right, you’re so competitive, I’d put money on you attempting to hit 30 hours of training next week.” Sam laughs back at him. Oliver doesn’t respond but takes a large gulp of beer, telling me Sam is probably right and I will see more of Oliver in the coming week. I can’t decide if I like the idea or not. Training was my oasis from all of the crap going on behind the scenes at school, which they are a part of. I am not going to pretend like this little show of friendship is going to last. They
have never acknowledged me before today and Kaley made sure everyone at school stayed clear of me on the threat of physical punishment and my dad made sure I wasn’t involved in any leadership training that he is aware of. The only reason I got to train with Luna Ava is because she requested me specifically as the only daughter of a ranked member and my dad wasn’t going to deny his Luna. I think her and Delta Kyle said whatever they had to say to get me permission to work with her, especially after I got my wolf.
We were sitting in comfortable silence after that. Small conversations here and there, but nothing major. I just listened in, but mostly stared at the fire, enjoying the warmth and the calm. This is not what I pictured a high school party to be like. I expected wild kids trashing the place and loud music, kids dancing on tables super drunk. I’m sure there are parties like that, but this was very nice.
I should have known things were going too well and something bad was due to happen. Just as I had the thought ‘I can’t remember the last time I had this much fun’ the sound of a fake high pitched voice cut through the crowd.
“OMG! Babes! Your favorite girls are here, now the real party can start!” Kaley squeals from the entrance to the clearing with Jeanie and Marnie in tow.
Chapter 0019
The mood around me dropped palpably. I could actually feel the tension in the air, it was not pleasant. Each of the guys took a breath and blew it out, like they were preparing for battle as the trio walked over smiling like royalty. They each had on mini skirts that barely covered anything and cropped long sleeved shirts that looked to be a few sizes too small. Jeanie’s boobs looked like they might fall out of the bottom and the top at the same time. To top it all off they all had on tall black heels. It’s cold and we were in the woods, these were not the outfits for the woods. They probably got here the same time we did and it just took several hours to navigate the soft forest floor. I had to try and fight my smile at the thought. I did not succeed. I let out an involuntary giggle, which earned a death glare from Kaley, then she turned back to the guys.
“I brought your favorite tequila, I thought we could do some shots to celebrate the new school year and another year closer to you both being Alphas!” She squeals again, trotting, is that a thing girls do, over to Cameron and Dakota. “But I forgot shot glasses.” She pouts and it is nothing like the endearing pout Sam used on us. It kind of made her look constipated.
“Just drink straight from the bottle, the alcohol actually makes it pretty hygienic.” Sierra supplies dryly.
Kaley’s lip curls as she slowly looks over at Sierra. I’m sure noting how Sam has her wrapped up in his lap. “Um, thanks new girl, but I figured my men could just take shots off of me. That would be more fun anyway, right? A little warm-up for later.” She flips her hair looking at Cameron and Dakota. Why does she keep calling them her men? And second thought, why do I care?
“I’ll do one off Sierra. Sam volunteers.” Wiggling his eyebrows at her. She just rolls her eyes. I am clearly the only person who has no idea what is going on right now. I hope my face is as neutral as I am trying to keep it.
“You can take one off me Matty.” Jeanie looks at my brother. Matty? Since when was that a nickname? He hesitates, but doesn’t outwardly disagree as she walks over and wraps both arms around his waist from behind, in what I’m sure was supposed to be a loving gesture, but just looked uncomfortable.
“That leaves you and me Oliver.” Marnie strides over and sits on the ground between his legs, right before he stands up and she tips back awkwardly against the log I’m sure flashing someone with the right angle.
“What about Shorty? We can’t leave one out.” Oliver exclaims looking at me.
“Who?” Kaley pretends not to notice the odd number since she seems to have claimed both the twins.
“Shorty, needs a shot partner.” He gestures his head towards me and my cheeks flame.
Now that she was forced to acknowledge my presence, an ugly scowl forms on Kaley’s face. “I’m sure she doesn’t mind being the odd man out, or we could grab one of the other guys for her.” Kaley flips her hand in the air dismissively like it's a minor inconvenience.
“NO!” All five guys speak together. I jump a little at the aggression in their tones and Kaley, Jeanie and Marnie are confused by the outburst.
“Well that was aggressive.” I smile trying to defuse some of the tension. “It’s okay, I do not feel left out. Do whatever.” I try to match Kaley’s tone, hoping I got it right. I’m still lost, but I don’t want to stop any of them from enjoying things they usually do when they get together. This is clearly not something new for Sierra either based on her reaction. She gives me a sympathetic look. “It’s fine, I mouth to her.”
She jumps up and grabs my hand. “I have an idea.”
“She is not taking a shot, Sierra.” My brother looks at her with his best ‘I mean business look.’
“Of course not.” She rolls her eyes and pulls me to sit on the log next to Sam. Then she is sitting across Sam’s lap and lays back adjusting so she is lying across my lap too and her shirt has pulled up exposing her torso. “All right Mateo, set us up.” she giggles as Sam catches on.
“Yes! This is so much hotter!” Sam basically growls and it makes me really uncomfortable, but I hope it doesn’t show on my face since most eyes are on us now.
My brother takes the bottle of tequila from Kaley’s hands and brings it over to Sierra, then meticulously pours it into her belly button. She squeals a bit and then giggles again. Sam leans down and drags his tongue across the waistband of her jeans and then up her stomach and around her belly button. He wraps his big hand around my backside and settles it on one of my butt cheeks with a firm grip and trails his other hand up my friends side and settles it on my knee before latching his whole mouth on her belly button and taking a very long time to get such a small amount of liquid off of her. He never once took his eyes off my friend though and I began to relax in the situation considering how new this territory was for me. Sam and Sierra found another way to include me without my having to drink or be embarrassed. I smiled and let out a giggle as Sam squeezed my knee and found that perfect spot that tickles enought to make me squirm.
Chapter 0020
“Alright asshole, you made your point. Stop giving Sierra a hickey and groping my sister.” Mateo sounded stern, but also amused at his friends' antics. The rest of the guys just laughed along at his annoyance. He would have ripped Sam’s arms off if he felt like I was in any kind of actual danger, so that made me feel better. He looked at Sierra and gave her a little head nod. I know he was thanking her for once again allowing me to be a part of this without feeling stupid or inexperienced.
The rest of the guys took their shot off the girl that claimed them, but none were as entertaining or excited about it as Sam. I now know how my brother felt watching me sit there. It was not pleasant and yet it was comical to watch him take a shot off of Jeanie, who insisted on grabbing his hair and keeping his lips on her at least as long as Sam did on Sierra making weird gasping sounds and moans. Marnie was a little more gracious, but by force. Oliver held her wrists together over her head, so she couldn’t grab him. But she appeared to like the show of dominance, mentioning letting him tie her up later. Kaley of course insisted both twins take a shot off of her. It just felt ridiculous and forced by then. She went over the top grinding her butt in their laps, flipping her hair around and arching her back as she laid down. I’m sure she thought it was enticing to them, but if she actually looked at everyone’s faces, they were more grimaced than smiling or lust filled. Our whole group dynamic changed after they arrived and Sierra and I were ignored by the trio, clearly trying to maintain all of the attention, even thought the guys refused to leave us out of conversation.
After about an hour I looked at Sierra. “I think I’m going to head out, you can stay if you want to.”
She jumped up faster than I thought possible in her former sleepy state leaning on Sam’s shoulder. “Nope, I was actually thinking the same thing. We were both up early and some of us, non slackers, have training in the morning.” She said the last words loud enough to be heard over the trio’s squabble of which couples were most likely to be mates after we all turned 18.
“Seriously? Saturdays too?” Oliver said, completely walking away from the Barbie trio’s conversation. I just stared at him, was he listening in?
“I will still put money on it.” Sam chimed in with a big old smile on his face.
You could see the clear confusion on Kaley, Jeanie and Marnie’s faces at the attention diverting from them so quickly and having no idea what the guys were talking about.
Oliver groaned. “I guess that means I’m out too. I’ll walk you guys home.”
“Called it.” Sam stood up too, laughing. “But, I’ll walk with you. I have to see you in action early on a Saturday.”
“I guess we should all be there, shouldn’t we.” My brother stood up having a harder time extricating himself from Jeanie’s tentacle-like grip.
“You’re right, we should all go. Delta Kyle will appreciate that we are all there.” Cameron says as both he and Dakota stood up from the log they occupied with Kaley.
“But we just got here and we haven’t even started having fun yet.” Kaley whined. She grabbed the twins' hands, stumbling a bit. “I was hoping we could end with a little two on one time. It’s been forever.” She looked up at them through her heavily mascaraed eyelashes. Gross, was she talking about what I think she was talking about?