Page 32 of The Alpha and His Song: Volume One

Stone and Channing were as close as we were. Channing wasn’t telling Stone about Lisa’s reports because of me though. I just didn’t need everyone to know about that. We walked out of Gray Stone’s pack house, shifted and ran home.

Stone snarled at Lisa, who was waiting behind the hospital for us to show up. My ex was sobbing for some reason. Keith linked me, “Leave it.” I shifted back and grabbed some shorts. I asked, “What’s wrong, Lisa?”

My ex cried, “Your grandpa said awful things to me, Keaton! How could you tell him about our private life?” I answered, “I didn’t tell him. Technically, you did.” Channing snorted out a laugh in my head. Lisa stopped crying to gape at me.

I shrugged, “He read the papers.” My ex hit my arm shouting, “You should’ve hidden them better!” I nodded, “Sure. Of course it’s my fault. Look Merry Christmas and all, Lisa. I hope you and your family have a good one, I truly do.”

Lisa quietly asked, “Can I spend the day with you?” I scoffed, “After you threatened my older brother and the Alpha of the pack? No.” My ex’s eyes widened, “Emmett told you about that?!” I continued as if I hadn’t heard her, “After we broke up and you have a boyfriend? Also no.”

I growled, “After you disparaged and tried to make a beloved member of this pack, and the Beta’s daughter, cry over her parentage? Again no. I won’t have you around Immy. She’s a fun loving pup, and you tried to cut her down.”

Lisa snorted, “She’s sixteen. Immy’s hardly a pup,. Heck she’s not even one at all since she’s not a Wolf.” I shrugged, “Immy will always be a pup in my head. She’s like my own little sister and you know that. Her lack of wolf blood means nothing to me.”

Lisa frowned, “I would never say anything like that to Allison.” I countered, “So you’d only talk back to Emmett? He’s the Lead Alpha, Lisa. What were you thinking?” Lisa started crying again. I wanted to give in, but Channing didn’t.

Lisa asked, “What is wrong with you?” I frowned saying, “I asked you that already and you didn’t answer but to be clear nothing is wrong with me.” Lisa stomped her foot, “I didn’t mean that whole thing with Emmett. I’m only going crazy because I don’t get to see you. I would never disrespect Emmett otherwise. He disparaged our relationship and I reacted. You can’t blame me for that!”

I told her, “I can because we do not have a relationship. You aren’t even in the pack I’m going to be the Alpha of, so Emmett is your Lead Alpha and Alpha.” Lisa crossed her arms, “I want to transfer into that pack. I only want you as my Alpha.”

I told her, “That wouldn’t work out.” Lisa cried, “But if you’re not my Alpha, I’d be demoted to Omega.” I shrugged, “Then earn Warrior status.” Lisa hit my arm again gasping, “How could you say that to me?” I reasoned, “That's what I’d say to anyone.”

A growl sounded from the corner of the building. I turned to see my grandpa’s wolf. Ratchet snap his jaws at Lisa who jumped. I laughed, “Ratchet, it’s ok.” Lisa hit my arm again, shouting “He growled at me!” I replied, “I heard him.”

Lisa demanded, “Do something!” I scoffed, “Come off it. You know that’s my grandpa and his wolf. He’s not going to do anything to you.” Lisa hit my arms again causing Ratchet to snarl at her. I told him, “It doesn’t hurt.”

My grandpa’s wolf chuffed at me. Channing linked me, “Ratchet said he doesn’t care and that if Lisa hits you again, she’ll be punished for hitting another pack member.” Oh boy. That meant Grandpa really was mad.

I warned Lisa, “Stop hitting me or you’re going to be punished for hitting another pack member.” Lisa sneered, “Then you’ve gotten weak over in Gray Stone. I told you that you need me, I make you better.” I replied, “I wasn’t the one who said it.”

Channing growled at our ex then told me, “Lady is sleeping so I can’t talk to her.” Great. My grandpa shifted back, “You vicious little girl! GET OUT of my eyesight before I throw you in the dungeons. I won’t even let you out until I good and well feel like it.”

Lisa gasped while Grandpa told her, “Here’s a spoiler alert for you, I will not feel like letting you out for SUCH a long time. I’m not talking days, months, or weeks here. I’m thinking years are in order, maybe a decade.”

He snarled, “I’m only not giving into that instinct because it’s Christmas. Take my goodwill and cheer for the holidays to run back to your house little girl. Stay there far away from my grandson.” Lisa glared at me as if it were all my fault then ran away.

My grandpa walked over and clapped me on the back saying, “Let’s run home, Keaton.” We shifted and ran the rest of the way back. Dad was waiting by the back door giving grandpa an appraising look. My grandpa and I shifted and grabbed the clothes waiting for us.

Dad asked, “Dad, care to explain why Keith announcing Lisa was waiting to talk to Keaton had you running out the back door and shifting?” Grandpa answered, “I couldn’t wait one more second to see my grandson. Let’s go inside, Keaton. Your mom is missing you something fierce.” Dad narrowed his gaze on grandpa but didn’t say anything else.

We walked inside together. Allison squealed, ran over to me, and jumped into my arms. I greeted my little sister warmly, “Hey, Allison.” She kissed my cheek then admitted, “I’ve miss you, Keaton.” I told her, “I’ll be home after New Year’s and I miss you too, squirt.”

Allison held up her pinky finger asking, “Promise?” I smiled, set her down, then gave my little sister my pinky swearing, “I promise.” I saw Arden and ruffled his hair, “Hey, little dude.” Arden huffed, “Keaton!” He straightened his hair then gave me a hug. I laughed and pulled him in tightly.

Keith linked me, “Is everything ok?” I answered, “Of course.” Keith snorted, “Really? Because Grandpa dropped his whiskey when he heard you were talking to Lisa. He growled, Keaton. What the actual fuck?”

I replied, “He’s protective.” Keith rolled his eyes at me, “Tell me something I don’t know. For example, why was that grandpa’s reaction?” I shrugged him off. Emmett was looking at me out of the corner of his eye too.

Carter and Colin both hugged me. Carter linked, “I know something weird is going on with Lisa. I’ll figure it out.” I told him, “It’s fine.” My little brothers both looked at me through narrowed slits, glaring at the windows as if Lisa could be summoned by their thoughts of her.

May was slowly inching over to Keith. Clara walked up to me next to give me a hug. My future Beta whispered, “Your mom is in the kitchen.” I left the room to walk there and managed to surprise mom from behind, giving her a hug.

Mom whirled around smiling, “Hello Keaton. That means Keith is here too. Why that little sneak! I’ll go see him.” She kissed my forehead saying, “We really miss you around here. I’m so glad you boys are coming home soon. I’m beginning to think this is karma for making Heath live like this when I couldn’t be in the Shroud anymore.” Mom flashed away.

Sally was looking at me then her eyes glanced behind me. I could scent dad standing there. Sally spoke mostly to herself, “Everything’s just being kept warm, I’ll give you two a minute.” I was going to tell her it was fine. Dad clearly wasn’t of the same opinion since he said, “Thank you, Sally.”

I turned, “Hey, old man.” then gave him a hug. Dad sighed, “Only you pups say that. I’m not old.” I smiled teasing, “You’re older than us.” Dad snorted, “I’m your father so of course I’m older than you. What kind of logic is that? That’s not the point.”

I sighed not bothering to ask what his point was, since I already knew. Dad asked, “What’s going on, Keaton? For over twenty years your grandpa has had a very firm policy of not interfering with relationships. Now, he’s running out the door to make sure you don’t talk to your ex alone. That tells me it’s not good.”