"Here, he doesn't really like people." mum said, making dad raise an eyebrow.
"I don’t think people like him either."
Raven and I laughed whilst mum frowned at dad. "Seriously Elijah. He is the Alpha of Alpha’s."
"That is what dad hates." I chimed in.
"Ah yes, ego issues." Mum said, smirking.
"Can I help cook?" I asked. Dad frowned.
"You don’t need to serve him. Gwen can handle it."
"If she wants, let her." Mum retorted, giving dad a kiss on the neck to soothe his growing annoyance. Mum sure knew how to appease her man.
"Her cooking is really good, Uncle El you got to admit that." Raven added, eating a bacon strip.
"Yeah, I know that. I just don’t want her to waste time and working herself out over him."
I knew he meant my ankle. "I’ll be fine, dad." I never really told them the extent of the pain as an adult. They don’t really know it hurts daily. It came to a point where I started saying it hurt less and less. A lie I learned to live with. I was hurt in a rogue attack when I was around 2 years old, and it eats dad up that he wasn’t able to protect me. Although he saved me from getting killed, I was injured beyond the point of healing.
"I think it’ll be nice. I mean, he saved her life once." Mum said, bringing me out of my thoughts. Dad’s smile vanished and Raven and I looked at her in shock.
"Really?" I asked.
"Spill." Raven added.
"You were almost 5, we were at Raihana’s 2nd birthday. You wandered off into the forest, and well, it was one of those creatures. A Manangal. It’s how we found out he was a Lycan. He saved you that night and as much as your dad can’t stand him, I always remember he saved our little girl."
"She’s bigger than you are now." Raven added to my shorter mum.
"Still my baby girl." Mum shot back, frowning at Raven and dad. "Now if Kiara wants to cook, she can. Alejandro… well I think he has more secrets and reasons for the way he is. Rather than just assuming he’s a jerk."
"What makes you say that?" Raven asked playing with her food.
"I was different once. Bullied, disliked, and made a target, even after I had Kiara and Liam, several times people have wanted to kidnap ‘an alpha female’ like I was an experiment. And Alejandro, he’s more different than I am." Mum said sipping her water. I nodded. That made sense. I knew how it felt to be different…
"It must be hard to be one of a kind." I said softly.
"Don’t sympathise with him." Dad said. I gave him a small smile.
"Ok, dad. So, is there a specific menu or can I just make whatever I want on the side?"
"Do whatever you like." Mum said giving me a warm smile "So skipping training today?"
"Just today?" I said guiltily. Mum trained me with a weapon, although dad didn’t want her to. She refused to let me just be weak and I was glad. I just wish I could carry my weapon around. But it wasn’t easy when it was a 5-foot-long staff with a sharp long spike at the end.
"Just today."
"Great! I'm off to ask Gwen if everything I need is in the house." I said standing up and rushing from the room. Wincing as my leg spasmed. I grabbed the door frame just as someone rushed over, I knew from the scent it was dad. He steadied me and I looked up at him.
"I'm ok, dad." I said softly, cupping his face for a moment.
"Take it slow Kiara." He said, stroking my hair. I felt a wave of sadness and nodded, as if sensing how I felt, he pulled me into his arms. I closed my eyes, hugging him tightly.
"Aww, she’s such a daddy’s girl. My dad just threatens to beat me with his slipper." Raven said, making mum laugh.
"He did the same to Angela when she was younger." She replied, I smiled. Angela was mums’ best friend and also Raven's aunt.