Page 55 of Wolf Targeted
Libby turns narrowed eyes on Angela and sticks out her tongue.
“Hey now,” Patrick says as he jogs over. “You don’t disrespect the beta like that, Libby.”
“Sorry, Beta,” Libby mumbles her apology.
“What did you call me?” Angela asks. “I thought we were on a first-name basis like you and Jara.”
Libby turns to Angela and then glances at her dad and back to Angela. “Sorry, Angela.”
“It’s okay, squirt.” Angela pats Libby’s shoulder.
Patrick grabs Libby’s hand. “C’mon, you’re still grounded. You did what you needed to. Now, back to the house.”
Libby’s shoulders slump and she hangs her head as they trudge to their cabin.
I stroll around, chatting with the other members of the pack, but it’s all the same. People are cagey and acting like everything is fine until I see Ellie and she rushes over to me.
“Hey, El.” I hug my younger cousin.
“Hey, have you heard anything about your parents? I feel so guilty Grayson let us out before them.” Ellie chews her lip.
“No, and I don’t think it’s a great idea to try to move them here right now with the current issues.”
I want them here more than almost anything, but with the humans in the forest and my relationship with Archer being so rocky, I don’t want my mom to say I told you so.
She’ll try to get me to leave him, and no matter how much of an ass he is, I can’t. My wolf whines in my head at even the thought of leaving this place and her mate.
“It’s probably for the best right now,” Angela says, pulling me from my thoughts.
“How are you guys doing?” I ask changing the subject. “Is there anything you guys need from the next delivery?”
“You know where we came from. Deliveries weren’t a thing.” Ellie laughs.
Grayson’s pack is stuck in the dark ages. Ellie and her mom probably don’t understand all the pack whining about monitoring their electronics and the need for deliveries.
“I know, but you’re here now, so if there’s anything you need, you let me know and I’ll get it for you.” I pat her shoulder.
“Sure thing. How are you holding up?” She eyes Angela.
“I’m doing my best.” I sigh.
“No, I meant how are you? From what I see around this place, you take care of everyone. Who takes care of you?” Ellie crosses her arms over her chest.
I flinch. She has no idea how on the nose she is about that, and that’s the heart of my problem. I take care of me, or at least, I try to.
“I do,” I say with a shrug.
Tears burn the backs of my eyes, but I refuse to let them fall. I refuse to break.
“That’s not fair,” Ellie says.
Ellie is a year younger than me, but she should know better than anyone that life isn’t fair. It’s not fair that Grayson is holding my parents over my head, and it’s not fair that Archer treats me like property, but this is my life.
Eventually, I’m going to have to live with this. I’m going to have to become accustomed to giving all of myself to my mate and my pack and expecting nothing in return.
“It’s my life and life’s not fair. I have accepted it.” I lie.
Angela grumbles, “We’re trying to make sure you’re safe.”
