Page 24 of His Sunshine Baby

But after a long wait, Reagan suddenly burps very loudly.

What?

“Damn, I knew this beer was no good,” she growls while looking at her cup.

After a second of consternation, I start yelling.

“Are you kidding me? You old hag! Is this a joke to you? We’re talking about my family here!”

“They are gone, kid. Now stop yelling, you’re going to give me a headache.”

“I don’t care! All you do is drink all day when you come here! Can’t you help me a little? I’ve spent most of my life trying to figure out who I am! And now, you come here, with all the answers, and burp in my face? You old witch!”

Suddenly, she frowns, looking angry for the first time, and glares right at me.

“Don’t you dare call me that, Elena.”

“What? Old witch? Is that worse than old hag?”

“You have no idea what witches are, so don’t you dare.”

“I’ll call you old witch if I want to! Old witch!”

“You little runt!”

We keep yelling at each other. Between us, Daniel sighs while looking at his beer.

“The level of this conversation is extremely low and childish, ladies.”

“Shut up, Daniel! Elena, come outside with me! You little pest!” suddenly growls Reagan.

“Elena, don’t,” whispers Daniel.

But it’s too late, I’m already pissed and on my feet. I follow her outside, driven by my anger. As Danny said, this is childish and stupid, but I don’t give a damn. I’m tired of being in the dark and Reagan is just playing with me.

Once outside, she takes off her worn-out leather jacket. She might be old, but she’s still in pretty good shape. Is she fifty, sixty? Hard to tell. Anyway, this won’t be a pleasant moment, she looks really pissed now.

After all, she was my teacher.

Half an hour later, I’m exhausted, with a burning cheek and bruises all over. Damn, my whole body is aching. Reagan, however, is still standing there, looking calm now.

“What’s this? Is that all you can do?” she sighs.

“You’re a monster, Granny. Elena is still the best fighter in our pack,” says Daniel, looking sorry for me.

“Then you’re a whole bunch of weaklings!”

I knew she’s always been crazy strong, but I never thought that old hag could still be good enough to beat me so easily! I wipe off a bit of blood from my lips. The worst thing is, I know she went easy on me. When I was younger, she would make me fight until I couldn’t stand up anymore or passed out. Everyone in the pack thought I was naturally strong, but whatever natural skill I had as I child, Reagan sharpened it by teaching me how to fight all those years.

She puts her jacket back on, still grumbling.

“Where is this damn clan going? So weak. Is Clark lazy now? Damn dogs.”

“Granny, if the Alpha hears you…” says Daniel.

“So what? Let him come at me! That runt could use a lesson too! He needs to be taught some manners!”

I massage my shoulders. Reagan has always been like this: at war with the whole world, and happy to growl at anyone. She takes out a cigarette and lights it up. Like this, with her long waves of gray hair and her leather outfit, she looks like some biker. I’ve always admired her, as my mentor, but I stilldon’t know much about the woman who taught me pretty much everything about being a wolf.

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