Page 30 of Take Me
“I have to go to school and I have internships I need to apply for.” My voice sounded like I was on the fence. Like I was considering his words.
“What if they come after you again?” He clenched his jaw and I wasn’t sure if it was because he was angry or irritated.
“Then I am the single line of defense between them and my family. My two defenseless,humanparents. Or did you forget that I didn’t choose this life?” It was a low blow but one that needed to be said. I had to remind the both of us of the elephant in the room. I wouldn’t let him get away with it, even if I did feel bad about the pressure on his shoulders.
He ran his hands down his face and his shoulders slumped. “You’re right, I’m not your Alpha but I worry about you.”
The smile that spread across my face was anything but friendly. “You don’t have that right, not after everything you have taken from me.”
I got in my car and was closing my door when I heard the whisper or maybe it was my imagination but I couldn’t shake it all the same. “What about all the things I have given you?”
Chapter 36
Jade Rivers
The question that Rafe had asked continued to burn through my thoughts as I sat down with my parents that night for dinner and as I tossed and turned in my bed afterwards. What had he given me? I had heightened senses yes, but what else? I didn’t know what that meant and I didn’t know how to answer it for myself.
There was a knock on my door before my dad stepped into my bedroom. He was so fragile, so human. It scared me for him and also made me envious. I wished I could go back to the fragile naivety. I longed for the ignorance he had. Witches, werewolves, and vampires were real and they were haunting me. Even more so now that I knew I was being hunted.
“Are you okay?” He kept asking me that. He knew, he could see it, that I wasn’t the same girl I had been months ago. I wasn’t the same girl they had left here but there was nothing I could do about it.
Imposter.
I sat up in bed and turned the bedside lamp on. It cast the room in a soft yellow glow. I plastered on my best fake smile. “Yeah, why do you ask?”
Dad blinked and then he sighed. “You hardly eat anymore and you look different.”
I had to hold my hands together to keep from touching the fresh mark on my neck. I leaned back into my pillows, casually. “How do I look different?”
He narrowed his eyes like he wasn’t sure if he was right about it but said it anyway. “Like you have bulked up almost but at the same time, lost weight.”
I would have to explain something to him. He was right. I had chosen to ignore the changes in my body but they were there especially as I lounged in my bed in my pajamas. My legs were more defined and so were my arms. There was a healthier glow to my skin, even though I had been sick when they came home. Now I felt better than I had ever felt before. I was stronger mentally and physically. I was excelling in my classes and retaining knowledge like I never had before. I had to spin this lie perfectly. If I didn’t, he would know. “I have been working out with Tracey after class.”
It would explain my extra absences and he wouldn’t worry about me partying like they had before. But he also checked his account like a hawk and I had no money of my own. Another thing looming over my head. If I had a gym membership, he would have called me out about the charges. I tried to charge as little to their account as I could and if I needed to hide anything, I always ordered from Amazon or got cash from the ATM in small increments. Not that I had hidden much. But I didn’t exactly want my dad to know about my lingerie or where I bought it from.
“I was wondering, you look good.” Then he considered what he said. “I mean you have always looked good, but you seem healthier.”
“We have been getting dinner after our workouts so I’m not really hungry after.” I would leave it understood that Tracey was the one buying dinner but then his next question had me embarrassed.
“Are you two…” He fought with the words. “Seeing each other?”
I snorted. I should have seen that question coming. “I did go out with a guy last night.”
Had it just been last night that everything had happened? It felt like an eternity had passed. He waved his hand. “I had a best friend in high school that was gay and he pretended to go out on dates with women so his parents wouldn’t know. I just want you to know that you never have to hide anything like that from us, that we will always accept you, no matter who you love.”
Would you still accept me if you knewwhatI was?
Tears stung my eyes at his accepting tone. “You don’t have to worry about that. Tracey has just been there for me through everything and I enjoy her company. She keeps the wild tamed.”
He smirked. “You mean the partying?”
“Potato, patato,” I countered.
“We are going to Morocco next, you should come with us.” His words held a magical lilt to them. He was more excited about this trip than any of the others. I didn’t blame him. Morocco was on my list and he knew it, that’s why he was inviting me now. But with my wolf and everything happening, I didn’t think it was a good idea.
“Maybe next time, Dad,” I tried to conceal my sadness but I knew he could feel it.
He padded into the room and leaned down to kiss my forehead. “We leave next week, I just wanted to make sure that you knew you were always welcome to come with us.”
