She took my hand saying, “I’ll let you in a secret, I volunteer if someone needs to stay with you or anyone else. I have serious social anxiety, and I keep that very well hidden. I’ve been working with the Princess Luna on opening up about it. Your parents don’t even know, only Luna Chelsea does. I don’t mind staying back with you, and it’s not a punishment for me like it is you.”
She hugged me, “I don’t know what’s going on sweet girl, but I know your mom was just scared out there. She heard you crossed the border, and she went to her knees in a panic. The Beta calmed her down, but she was scared.”
She rubbed my back saying, “That doesn’t excuse some of the things she or you said. Just keep it in that brilliant mind, words can’t be taken back. My mom always said words are like toothpaste, once out of the tube you can’t get them back in.”
She paused then added, “But I have to say that’s the first time I’ve seen you get upset like that. It tells me a lot since normally you just run back inside, and I find you here with your stuffed wolf.” She kissed my head and went back downstairs.
I waited five minutes until I heard her show on, then crept out of my room. I went through the kitchen and found all the mom monster cookies and the pre-made cookie dough. I gathered them all up into a garbage bag and threw it over my shoulder.
I called, “I’m taking out the trash.” Mrs. Dutton gasped, “Goodness gracious pup! Stop reading about how to be like a ninja! Make some noise.” I snickered because I did read a bunch of papers put out by the Hackura on how they stayed in the background even when they weren’t faded back.
I went outside and jogged to the dumpster. I tossed the garage in whirling when I heard a growl. Rober mocked, “Poor little horrible Beta blood. One has to question if you are at this point.” I hit him square in the face. He screamed, “MY NOSE!”
I scoffed, “Yell, louder so someone comes… that seems like a bad plan.” He growled, “You’re NOTHING!” I rolled my eyes, “Literally no one is nothing… even you… that’s just… an asinine statement … even for you.”
He warned, “Everyone is beginning to question if you even have Beta blood.” I disagreed, “Everyone knows I do! My mom would NEVER cheat on my dad. HOW DARE YOU SAY THAT AND QUESTION HER CHARACTER!” I snarled and jumped on him.
I hit him several times before his friends dragged me off and I hit several of them while I was at it. One yelled, “Damn! Come on, Robert. That was over the line. No one doubts she’s Beta Drake’s daughter. Even if we did question Beta Female Sam’s integrity, which we don’t, Melanie looks just like Beta Drake but more feminine.”
Robert yelled, “Shut up!” Someone argued, “You shut up, man. That’s not cool to say to anyone, but especially about the pack leadership.” I said, “I could cross and not get caught and… honestly everyone should know that.” He taunted me, “Then do it.”
I scoffed, “Uh huh… sure… like I’d believe you wouldn’t rat me out. Gosh, people think I am so dumb… when I was literally tested.” He got in my face and whispered, “Yet you haven’t figured out what’s really going on here. I’m running circles around you, and you can’t even figure it out.”
I shoved him back, “If you’re caught lying about me… I mean… you have to know that’s bad for you.” He winked, “I’ll never get caught.” His friends finally looked nervously at each other. Whatever he was talking about, they didn’t know about it.
Tank, Jason’s friend, yelled, “Hey! What’s going on over there?” They took off running while Tank jogged over. He asked, “Why do you have blood on your hands?” I said, “Uhh… well… you see… what had happened was…” He groaned, “Goddess above, pup. Come on.” I started to speak, then said, “One second.”
I pulled open the bag I just tossed and took out some of the cookies while Tank raised an eyebrow. He could do that all he wanted but I was going to send them to Ryan Bishop. He could figure this out. I was going to prove there was something wrong with the cookies. He could help me do that.
Tank teased, “You just like to cause chaos.” I snorted, “I don’t cause chaos… it seeks me out… even when I do nothing but try and exist.” He ruffled my hair. I sighed, “Have you met Zippy yet?” He laughed, “That’s quite the name. I can’t say I’ve even heard it.”
He’d transferred to our pack with his family a couple years ago. I said, “She is my best friend Adeline’s sister. She is doing a foreign pack exchange program, but she’ll be back in six months.You’d like her.” He admitted, “I’m confused as to how I haven’t met her when I know Adeline.”
I explained, “She travels during the summer and keeps doing exchange programs. Her family goes to see her. She wants to get her… well she says travel bug… out of her system before she meets her mate. You guys would be cute though.”
He winked, “I’ll see if I can get a picture and let you know if I agree.” I squealed, “One second.” I ran inside to my room and brought out a picture from a pack picnic he and his family weren’t at, because they’d visited their old pack that weekend.
He grabbed the picture and pointed to Ziggy. He asked, “This is her?” I nodded, “Yup.” He asked, “And is Ziggy a nickname?” I grinned, “Nope.” He admitted, “If anyone else said that I’d say they were fucking with me.”
I explained, “It’s the name of one of their ancestors. Their mom got super into researching their bloodline. Her name is to honor a name that had been out of their family for centuries. She found German ties, plus… it means Victorious Protector…. and Ziggy is fiercely protective of anyone she loves… so..”
He asked, “And what does one have to do to convince you to give me her number?” I said, “Uhh well I don’t have her number… but I have her email address, and you could… well…. I will give it to you if you tell me what Xander smell like?”
He winced, “I promised Jase I wouldn’t say. You got anything else that would convince you?” Dang it, Jason! I bit my lip. I couldn’t tell him about the Robert deal. I clapped, “You go to Harrison’s Warrior classes!” He nodded, “Yeah.”
I grinned, “He said I could go… but no one will partner with me when I fight… will you?” He looked like he felt sorry for me. He agreed, “Of course, Ladybug. I thought everyone wanted to be your partner.” My face fell, “Uhh well… no. No one likes being my partner… which… well I win… so….”
He laughed, “Then I look forward to the challenge of getting better when we fight.” I nodded and went back to the house and wrote down her email. I walked back out and handed it to him. He said, “I don’t know why but I feel like you just handed me my forever, pup.”
I pointed out, “Well, you aren’t eighteen and neither is she… so…” He grinned, “Yeah, I know. It just feels like it. Can I keep the picture?” I nodded, “Sure… oh… and maybe should it come up…for reasons… I might have mentioned you to her in an email and attached a picture of you and Jase….and she thinks you’re hot. Ok bye.” I shut the door in his face, and he laughed really hard.
He knocked and I winced opening it. He said, “If you ever want to talk about whatever that pup and his disaster friends are doing, I’m here.” I hung my head saying, “No one will believe me.” He frowned, “What does that mean? I thought they left you alone.” I shrugged, “Well…”
Mrs. Dutton came in greeting, “Oh hey, Tank.” He nodded, “Mrs. Dutton.” She said, “You should get moving. The McAlister’s can’t find out I let her run around while they are gone when she’s supposed to be grounded.”
He nodded then linked, “I’m always available if you need to talk. Also, your parents didn’t leave when you told them to. They waited until your brothers came outside from talking to you. Neither were willing to leave, but your brothers convinced them to. I know this is not fair, but they do love you.”
I wanted to keep him on my side…especially since no one believed me…and he seemed to consider my innocence at least. Plus, I really did think he’d be cute with Ziggy though. I replied, “They always leave. They will come back with cake and apologize saying they didn’t know what they were thinking. Or that they weren’t thinking. It’s what happens. I appreciate you telling me they didn’t just leave though.” He nodded.
