He was unkind. Would snap at me for little things. I wasn't allowed to hang out in the living room or kitchen if he washome. Which was always, because he never worked. God only knows where his money came from. If I needed anything, he'd shove cash in my hand and tell me to buy my own food. My own clothes, soap, school supplies.
My father never loved me, maybe even resented me, which is why it makes me wonder why he put so much effort into my health. And if I was really born a shifter, like Doc says… what did that make him?
I munch on food and stew in my thoughts as the sun rises. I glance up at the skylights above, opened to release the humidity building in the kitchen, made worse by the summer air, when I catch that minty, green apple scent.
Andrea's eyes narrow on me from across the room. I didn't even notice her coming in.
I should look away.
But I watch as she aggressively slips on an apron and ties the strings. I'm surprised they don't tear off with her jerky movements. She stomps to the pots along the wall, and they make a loud clanking sound as she rips a few off their hooks.
Hilde catches on to the alpha's animosity in the air, and nudges my shoulder. I didn't even notice her approach.
"Don't worry about her."
"I'm not. I—honestly, I feel kind of bad about the whole thing."
Andrea admitted to me her history with Grayson and her dream of becoming Luna. It's ridiculous to feel jealous when half the time I want to throttle him, and my omega is furious Andrea and Grayson were together. But I can admit, it must be hard for her, too.
We should kill her.
Beep's thoughts spring up, uninvited. I snap back,No, we are not killing Andrea. That's actually insane. And homicidal.
She took what was ours, Beep says.She touched what was ours. And she beat us. Nearly killed us. Made us look like fools.
I swallow a groan.Okay, crazy pants. Back in your box.
I take a deep breath and try to shake off the sudden onslaught of jealous rage. Hilde's watching me with amusement.
I shake my head and say, "I'm trying to imagine how I'd feel if I were her. After the way I showed up. And, I guess, if she and Grayson were… you know." I shrug uncomfortably and wave my hand in the air. I can't say the words—what Grayson and Andrea might have been to each other—they get stuck in my throat, make me feel itchy and hurt.
He is not hers. He's ours,Beep snarls. She drags my gaze back to the alpha shifter, who pointedly ignores me as she preps food in the corner of the kitchen. And I fucking hate that I feel this way, that I want to punish her for touching Grayson.
My gigantic alpha, so bossy and rude. So big and fearless. With thick, dominating energy that rattles out of him, shaking me to my core.
Stop, Beep. You aren't helping,I plead with her. Finally, she allows our attention to drift from Andrea.
Hilde pulls a white terry-cloth towel from her apron and begins absently wiping down the table while she gathers her words.
"This punishment isn't about you, Mona. Not really."
Orion said something similar yesterday. "Because of Grayson, you mean?" I ask, trying to sound way more casual than I feel.
She snorts. "Not him either. She made her choice, and she keeps making choices she thinks are best. But they aren't in the best interest of the clan. They are whatshethinks is best, even if none of us agree with her. It's hard to explain, but it's not the first time she's gone off and done something Lune—or any of us, for that matter—wouldn't approve of. Try not to take it toopersonally. We live a long time. Too long to hold a grudge. She knows that, too, and eventually, she'll get over it."
I can't imagine she'll get over being relegated to the kitchens with the fierce alpha rage wafting off of her, pointed in my direction. I can feel it from here, her scent bitter and sharp.
But Andrea doesn't look at me again, though I notice her head tilting toward us while Hilde and I talk. Even from there, I think she can hear us if she chooses to listen in.
I decide it doesn't matter. Not right now.
I spot Heather and Joey, and since I haven't seen her since I was in the hospital, Heather rushes over to hug me tight. Joey hugs me too, wrapping his tiny arms around my leg, and he's just so fucking adorable. She's taking him to school, then is off to the clinic, so we say a rushed goodbye after I promise I'll come and visit her soon.
It's amazing how strong an alpha really is—it's incomprehensible as a human that someone could possess so much power. But the cinnamon roll scent of my mate enters the kitchen, threaded with heavy, dominant alpha pheromones that have my mouth watering, and I nearly wobble in my chair.
He steps into the kitchen like a man in charge, and this isn't even his domain. But the whole room stands at attention. I watch him glance around until his eyes pin on me. I can't help but shiver as his green eyes darken and he takes deliberate steps toward me.
Dammit, there's something really hot about that, the way he moves toward me with such confidence. He's a little annoyed with me too, and for some insane reason, I find that thrilling.
