Nora’s eyebrows went up. “Seriously?”
I nodded. “I was only a few years older than her, but I still tried to make sure that she didn’t feel forgotten. My father went to all of my events, and not a single one for her. When it came to being showered with love, I always did everything right, and she never could do anything correct. I knew it weighed heavily on her. I saw the way her sparkle slowly faded. We were both aware I was his golden child.”
Nora tapped her finger on the table nervously. “I know. He doesn’t exactly hide it.”
“Our dad calculates everything. He has a reason for it all. Even the house he has, which is right next to Brandon’s parents. That was on purpose. He wanted to be the Alpha’s right-hand man and learn everything he could. He figured either Brandonand I would be Alpha, and if I didn’t get the role, I should at least be second best.”
I remembered moving in. Jade and I were only little. Brandon and his parents had already lived there. We pulled up, and Brandon was in the yard on a scooter. I could instantly tell he had Alpha potential. When we met his father, I could see it oozing out of him. Brandon was raised to be a leader.
Our father bought the house on purpose. He wanted Brandon and me to get close. Because if I didn’t become Alpha, then I could be Beta. Still in control somehow.
“I didn’t even choose Brandon as a friend.”
Nora looked surprised at this. “Really?”
I nodded. “He would ask me to hang out, and I refused. My main focus was always Jade. Brandon took me in under his wing. He was the one who never stopped reaching out.”
Nora looked a little surprised by this. “I didn’t know that.”
“It was a long time ago, but it just proves my father has always been this way. He didn’t change when he got married, he didn’t change when he had children, and he didn’t change when he lost his wife.”
She frowned. “And you think you’ll be the same?”
“I don’t want to be like him. I don’t want to have children and ever make them feel the way I knew we felt. I don’t want to wake up one day and realize I slowly turned into him without realizing it.”
She went silent for a long moment. The music was the only noise between us. She looked away, taking in the view. “You aren’t your father. You’re not even close to being like him.”
“I’m not like him now because I’m always reminding myself not to be. I have control over this.”
“Kaleb, you are two different people. Your father is a heartless person. He doesn’t care about anyone but himself. Even though you are the golden child, he still used that. He raised you to be an Alpha. How can you think you’re like him?”
I looked down at my hands. “I look just like him. I look in the mirror, and I see him.”
I could still hear all the reminders. Hold your head high. Don’t let them see you being weak. You represent me, so do it perfectly. What if I started saying those same words to my kids? What if I slowly started to distance myself from my wife? What if I were just like him?
Her hand reached over the table. “Kaleb, you are not your father. You guys aren’t close to being alike. You grew up taking care of your sister rather than letting your father tear her apart. I know you’re her role model, and that has to mean something. If she cares about you that much, you have to be doing something right.”
I soaked her words in, knowing she had a point. I worked hard on being a better person than him. But that didn’t shake the years of reminding myself to be better. The years I told myself I would never get married and have children because I didn’t want to end up like him.
“I don’t expect you to understand.”
“I understand…but that doesn’t mean I don’t think you’re wrong. I will never know what you guys went through, but I sympathize. It’s hard stepping out of a shadow that follows you.”
“Jade told me about your parents.”
Nora looked a little surprised by this. Just then, the waitress came back with our water. Nora took a long sip of it before playing with her straw. “I should have expected that. We’ve been together so she might have figured I told you.” She sighed softly. “My father wasn’t a great parent. So, I have to overcome the fear of being like them. I always feared I would turn into my father.”
“It’s easier said than done.”
Nora nodded. “It is. But if anyone can do it, you can too.” She took my hand and squeezed it. “And I’m here if you need a reminder that you are nothing like him.”
The next day, we packed up to go for another hunt. Westley and Asher were standing near the picnic table, going over the map when I arrived.
“Where’s Brandon?” I asked as I walked toward them.
“He messaged that he was running a few minutes later. Should be here soon.”
“What’s the plan this time?”
