3 - Dinner is ready

After hanging out a while at the park, we went back to Jessie’s house, where everyone was there to greet us. Grandma hugged me. “Oh, look how much you’ve grown, and so beautiful. Isn’t she beautiful, Jared?” she said to grandpa, and he nodded, giving me a kiss on my temple.

“Very beautiful,” he replied. “And Tyler. Boy, you’re getting tall.”

“How’s your mother?” Uncle Henry asked as we sat down on the couch.

I shrugged. “Better than me, I think. Could I stay here? I don’t want to stay at that place. It feels like a museum.”

My uncle sighed. “Afraid not, kid. Your dad wants you to stay with him.”

“He’s not my dad,” I said for what felt like the hundredth time.

“Emma,” he said, sounding a lot like Tyler. “Things aren’t as cut and dry as you think. The alpha wants you to stay in his home. He wants to know you. Give him a chance and you might be surprised.”

“But Mom-” I said, feeling angry that no one is thinking about her.

“You’re not betraying her by getting to know your dad,” he explained. “She’ll be fine. Don’t worry. The grams and I will make sure of it. Ashley and I have been thinking of going down to stay with her a while, in fact.”

My heart grew lighter. “Really? You are?”

Aunt Ashley walked over with a nod. “Yes, we are. She’s doing what is best for you, but she shouldn’t be alone. Trust me, we’ll take care of her.”

“Thank you.” I got up and hugged Aunt Ashley, feeling a few tears escape.

“No need. You just take care of yourself, listen to the alpha and do what he and your teachers say,” she said, giving me a pointed look. “I know you, Emma. Don’t fight them. It’ll be easier for you if you don’t.”

“She’s already started,” Tyler said. “I think the luna lady already hates her.”

Aunt Ashley rolled her eyes. “Misty hates everyone but the alpha and her niece and nephew.”

“Hey sis, it’s getting close to dinner. We should head back,” Tyler said.

“We should stay and eat here.”

“No ma’am,” our aunt said and waved to Jessie. “Get them back to the alpha’s house. Lock the doors and do not let Emma out until you get there.”

“Aunt Ashley,” I groaned, but she shook her head.

Jessie laughed. “Come on, you guys.”

Despite my attempts to bribe her, Jessie refused to stop until we reached the alpha’s house. As soon as we stepped inside, the Luna lady, as Tyler called her, came stomping up to us. “What do you think you’re doing, disappearing like that?” she yelled. Her eyes had a strange blue glow to them.

“We didn’t disappear,” I told her. “We just went to visit our family. Last I checked, we’re not prisoners.”

She gawked at me. “Well, aren’t you the most vu-”

“Misty,” a deep, low voice said with a hint of warning. We all turned to see the alpha walking over to us. “Dinner is ready. Go join the others,” he told her.

“But-” she said and sent me a quick sharp glare.

“Go.”

She pressed her lips together and turned on her heel, walking out of the room.

“You’re right, Emma, you’re not a prisoner,” he said, his tone softer now. “But I would appreciate a heads-up when you leave so I know not to worry.” I balked at the idea of him worrying about us, but Tyler elbowed me in the side. “Yeah. We can do that, Dad. No problem.”

The alpha nodded, a small smile on his face. “Thank you. Now, let’s go eat. The others are waiting.”

I did my best to hold in a sigh and followed him and Tyler to another huge, luxurious room. A long, dark wood table was in the middle. It looked like it could easily seat sixteen or so people. People I’d never met before filled most of the seats, but I recognized Alex, Kelly, and Liam.

“Everyone, this is Tyler and Emma, my children,” the alpha said with a hand on both Tyler’s and my shoulder. I wanted to knock it off, but there were many people here and I knew Tyler wouldn’t like it, so instead I grit my teeth as the alpha told us the names of the people at the table. I got lost in the list of titles like Beta, Gamma, and the names that followed. Instead, I looked for a place to sit.

There were only three open chairs. One at the head, obviously for Alpha Darrin, one between Alex and Kelly and another by Liam. As soon as the alpha told us to sit, I started for the chair between Alex and Kelly, but Tyler beat me to it. He had a big goofy grin on his face as he said ‘Hi’ to Kelly. She grinned back at him with a similar grin on her face.

Damn it. I blew out a breath as I looked at the last remaining chair. Like a woman condemned, I walked over and sat down next to Liam. Nervousness filled me, and my skin seemed to prickle at the closeness of him. What was wrong with me?

‘Mate,’ I heard someone whisper. I looked up, confused, but everyone seemed busy with their meal.

“Something wrong?” Liam asked. The hushed rumble of his voice sent chills through me. Part of me wondered what his bedroom voice would sound like.

‘No! Stop it,’ I thought to myself. ‘Remember Kevin. Kevin. Kevin.’ Realizing I hadn’t answered him, I shook my head. “No, nothing. Just thought I heard something.”

“What did you hear?” he asked. His gaze felt heavy on my skin and it took all I had in me not to squirm.

“Nothing. It was nothing. Just forget it,” I said, looking down at my plate and picking up a fork. Out of the corner of my eye, I swear I saw the corner of his mouth tilt up into the start of a smile. It made my stomach twist and do flips on itself. Seriously. What was wrong with me?