He glanced at my parents and nodded. “Okay. See you in a bit.”
To make matters even more awkward, my birth mom, Gabriella, stepped out the door, holding a glass of tea. It was like a rule that, no matter what, parents got the chance to question their children’s actions.
“What the hell is going on?” Dad asked, pointing toward the men carrying guns. “Why do they have those weapons?”
“Is there something we need to know?” Mom asked.
Gabriella said nothing as she took a seat on the porch couch, watching quietly.
“We’re gonna go down to the field. Nico’s going to teach me how to shoot.”
My mom looked aghast. “Is that safe?”
I did my best to keep from rolling my eyes. Even with my own hesitations and fears, I didn’t sound as terrified as she did. Dad, however, looked more furious than anything.
“No, it’s not. Maddy, I don’t think this is a good idea,” he said.
“Dad, it’s for my safety. Nico wants me to know how to use one if the time comes. If a big fight or battle breaks out, he wants me ready.”
Sneering, he waved back at the house. “Well… wouldn’t the best thing be for you to hide? I mean, isn’t that safe room in there a better option than blasting away with a gun?”
“Right,” Mom added. “We don’t want you involved.”
“That’s a nice thought but unrealistic,” Gabriella said.
I groaned inwardly. This was not going smoothly.
“What do you mean?” Dad asked. “Of course, it’s realistic. If someone is in trouble, the safest thing to do is to hide. You’ve seen what these people are capable of.”
“Oh, I know,” Gabriella said, setting her tea aside. “That’s why I’m sure it is the best thing for Maddy to learn how to fight. Both as a wolf and as a woman. If learning how to use a weapon will help keep her safe, I’m all for it.”
“Well, that’s your opinion, Gabriella. But aren’t bullets flying around more dangerous?” Dad asked.
“Enough! Enough, okay? I’m going. For God’s sake, I’m an adult. If I want to go and shoot a damned gun, it’s myprerogative. Gabriella is right. It’s like what Nico told me. If someone broke in and I had to choose between dying and knowing how to use a gun, I’d rather know how to use the gun.”
“So you’re taking her side?” Mom asked, pointing at Gabriella.
I wanted to scream—to tear my hair out. Of all the stupid shit for them to get in a fight over, this was at the top of the list.
“I’m not taking anyone’s side, Mom.” I thought about it for a second before changing my mind. “Actually, no, I am taking a side.My own. I’m doing it. There’s a war coming, and I need to be prepared. Honestly, I think it would be good if you were too, but that’s your decision. I’m leaving.” I stormed off before any of them could say anything else to piss me off.
By the time I got to the field, I’d managed to calm down.
Felipe and Luis looked at me, then quickly continued loading the guns. Nico grinned. “So, that went well.”
“How would you know?”
He tapped his ear. “Shifter hearing.”
I sighed. “Let’s not talk about it, okay? Show me what I need to know.”
“Okay, we’ve got some time before Sinthy comes down.”
“Uh, Sinthy?” I said. “Is she also gonna learn to shoot? Is that necessary with what she can do?”
“Not really,” Nico said. “But she told me she had worked out something to make training more realistic. Not gonna lie, that sounds a little scary, but I guess we’ll see what she has up her sleeve.”
Nico showed me how to load, unload, and turn the safety off all the different gun types. A dozen more of his pack mates arrived, and eventually, we were all taking shots at cans sitting lined up on an old wooden fence. Nico and his two friends kept grumbling about how out of practice they all were. That irritated me because, from what I’d seen, they could hit the targetswithout issue. Me? I was struggling my ass off. I’d fired off at least thirty rounds before I finally put a shot through an old beer can.
