Page 57 of The Alpha and His Song: Volume One

I snarled, “What. Did. You. Do. To. Her?” They looked at the ground. I felt tingles around my waist and whirled around holding my mate tightly. Odette smiled at me as I looked her up and down. I asked, “Did they hurt you?”

Odette laughed but there was something missing in it. It wasn’t carefree and my mate looked worried. She told me, “I’ve seen and dealt with a million mean girls, don’t worry about it.” They growled at my mate. Channing snarled, “THE AUDACITY!”

Odette sighed, “This school is very growl-y.” I glared at the girls and linked them, “Leave her alone.” They muttered, “Freak.” Odette replied, “Takes one to know one, ladies.” Their eyes widened because they hadn’t realized she could hear them.

I linked them, “DO NOT CALL HER THAT! You’re running laps when you get home on my order!” Channing was furious. I linked Tyler, “Farrah, Adella, and Rania have laps to run when they get home.” Tyler replied, “Umm ok. How many?” I answered, “Enough that they fall down.” Tyler snorted back.

I looked into Odette’s eyes noting they were rimmed a little red. People in MY PACK made MY MATE cry! I linked Immy, “What happened?” Immy asked, “With?” I groaned, “You weren’t with Katie?”

Immy answered, “No, but Isla has gym with her.” I asked Odette, “What happened?” Odette shrugged, “Jealousy. Lisa has a posse.” I snorted, “That would be new. Lisa always said she never had friends because of me.” Odette tilted her head, “That doesn’t make sense, Key. People would be her friend because of you. You’re pretty popular around here. Mr. Basketball star. I’ve been filled in, trust me.”

I stared at my mate realizing she was right. Lisa should’ve been more concerned about having fake friends. At minimum Clara and May should’ve been her friends, but they hated her. Did Lisa have friends? Keith hated her so he was jaded when he agreed with me.

I linked Malachi, “Hey, Malachi.” Malachi answered, “Oh look, you remember you can link me. For example, you should link a Beta when you get punched IN THE FACE. I can’t calm Emmett down when your dad yells about you being punched when I don’t know about it. So, please tell me no one punched you today. While knowing if you did get punched, I appreciate the heads up.”

I replied, “No one punched me, I have a question.” Malachi responded, “I probably have an answer.” I asked, “Does Lisa have friends?” Malachi answered, “None her age, but some younger girls. All Isla’s age or younger. I’ve seen her with some freshmen in her group lately. Why?”

I replied, “Because Lisa always told me she didn’t have friends because of me.” Malachi replied with the same logic my mate had, “Keaton, people want to be Lisa’s friend because she’s close to you. Even if they can’t stand her voice. There will always be people who want to be friends with potential, or just future, Luna’s because of the power they stand to have or do have. Did you really never see Lisa with her friends?”

I answered, “No.” Malachi asked, “Are you ok?” I replied, “I’m fine.” I was pissed and I wanted to shift and run in wolf form. Channing agreed, “Great plan. Let’s give mate a ride.” My wolf almost had me there for a second.

I linked Clara, “Have you seen Lisa with her friends?” Clara snorted, “You mean her posse of loyal, devoted followers? Yes. They are a small but mighty annoying gaggle.” Channing was growling in my head.

Odette tugged on my arm asking, “Are you ok? It’s like you’re here but not. Your eyes were…” I smiled tightly assuring her, “I’m fine. I’ll walk you to your next class.” Luckily for everyone Odette was in my next class. History just became more fun.

Keith linked me, “Whoa. What happened?” I explained and my twin sat back. He eventually replied, “Tony also confirmed Lisa does in fact have friends. Colin nor Carter have never seen her with friends though.”

I answered, “I’ll bet no one from our family has.” Keith asked, “What brought this thought on?” I answered, “Katie pointed out that I’m popular at school. People should want to be Lisa’s friend because of that.” Keith went to reply several times then eventually nodded.

The teacher asked, “Keaton, do you have the answer?” Odette whispered softly, “The war of eighteen twelve.” This teacher wasn’t a Werewolf, so she didn’t hear Odette. I answered, “The war of eighteen twelve.” The teacher looked annoyed, “Correct.”

I smiled at Odette. Keith linked, “Aww. Your mate is smart and she pays attention. I’m assuming she will be in all our study groups.” I replied, “That goes without saying.” After school ended, I took Odette to my car.

When we got to her apartment she asked, “Do you want to take a walk with me?” I smiled agreeing, “Always.” We walked hand in hand down to this path with a bench. We sat on it and she turned and threw her legs in my lap.

Odette asked, “So, what’s your favorite color?” I laughed, “Yellow. What’s yours?” My mate answered, “Green.” I asked, “How many places have you lived?” Odette immediately answered, “Fifty-seven towns. States would be forty. Tennessee has always been my favorite though. I’ve lived here three times now.”

I was stunned, “That’s a lot of places.” Odette shrugged, “It’s my life.” I asked, “What is your mom like?” Odette sighed, “She’s pretty and a whole lot to deal with. She seems pretty angry a lot of the time, but happy with this guy though. I like him. He wasn’t a creeper unlike a lot of them.”

Fury lit through me. I asked, “Did they touch you?” Channing snarled, “Kill them all!” I agreed and that was something I could do. Odette shrugged, “Some of them.” She shivered a little bit. I really was going to kill them.

I asked, “Who were they?” My mate put her head on my shoulder whispering, “You care.” I pulled back and tilted her chin up saying, “I care a whole lot. Anyone who has ever hurt you is my enemy.” Odette smiled softly, “That’s a strong word. A little dramatic though. Enemies, you’re silly.” She had no idea.

My mate tried to look away but I kept a hold of her chin, albeit gently. Odette sighed, “There were some that actually scared me. When I say my mom has had a lot of boyfriends, I’m talking about hundreds here.” I asked, “Who?”

Odette tilted her head, “Calton Benitol scared me the worst. That was my mom’s first boyfriend after my brother left. My brother never left me alone with any of her boyfriends before that. My brother was intimidating, even back then. He was massive. Then there was Andrew Lochard.” She shivered.

I knew that name. My mate tearfully admitted, “Those two were the worst.” I asked, “Did they hurt you?” Odette shook her head, “Not badly, and not in the way you mean. I ran away. I was with my ex-boyfriend when the Andrew thing happened. He said he took care of it, but that I shouldn’t tease people.”

I growled, “He blamed you?!” Odette snorted, “It was always my fault with him. My mom agreed, which is why I always have a separate place. Mom said I took their attention away from her.” HER MOTHER BLAMED HER FOR SOMEONE ATTACKING HER?! Channing was furious. I was beyond reason and the only thing stopping me from shifting was that my mate’s needs were higher than my own.

I linked Clara, “Get me everything on Carlton Benitol and Andrew Lochard.” Clara responded, “Umm ok. I mean I know the one name.” So did I. My Beta added, “But a lot of people will have those names. Do we have anything to narrow that search down?”

I asked Odette, “Did you stay in those places with them long?” Odette said, “My mom stayed with Carlton for seven months. It was the first time I had an apartment to myself. My brother usually lived with me, but when his dad got custody, we left. My mom refused to have me in the house with her and Carlton after the incident.”

My mate snorted, “It’s not fair, but I hate the whole state of Virginia for that. I missed my brother, and I didn’t see my mom for six months. I didn’t see her often before but that was ok because I had my brother.” I linked Clara, “Carlton lives in Virginia.” Clara said, “On that.”

I asked, “What about Andrew?” Odette sighed, “Well, Wyoming is a beautiful place. I had several special spots I loved to go there. I can’t say I hate it there like I hate Virginia. I just avoided him. He showed up to my apartment one night.”