True Feelings #4
Emmett put his hands up, “I didn’t say Katie did anything. I just didn’t know if….” I growled, “Everyone wants to know why they can’t meet her. Well, this BULLSHIT is why! Who cares that I don’t like Lisa anymore?!”
“She’s a bitch. Literally everyone thinks so. Even Aunt Haley, who is nice to most people even when they are complete assholes to her. There’s your sign Lisa’s the worst. Aunt Haley hasn’t even met this girl and she hates her.”
“You all HATE Lisa. I do remember hearing about how horrible she is and was. Now, everyone’s trying to make Katie out to be a bad person when she’s not! I just don’t like Lisa. Everyone get OUT of my fucking room.”
Emmett frowned but Alexandria came in and grabbed his arm, and they clearly linked each other. My brother growled but left. He could growl all he wanted to. This shit was ridiculous. Corbin said, “I didn’t mean any offense, Keaton.”
I said, “I’m not taking offense with you, Corbin. Just my family calling all over realms after getting the exact result THEY ALL WANTED FOR YEARS! Jesus Christ! I might get whiplash from their mood swings here soon.”
Corbin said, “I don’t think they meant it that way, but I do know you’ve been battling their dislike for your ex-girlfriend for years. So, I get it.” He portaled away. Channing growled in my head. I asked, “Why did you shift?” Channing huffed, “Because I can.” Ok.
Preston said, “I think your family likes Katie.” I snorted, “They have a funny way of showing it. They were just talking about how they want to meet her, then switched to accusing her of something left and right. I swear to god, P, they look for reasons to dislike who I’m with.”
Preston said, “You’ve only ever been with Lisa before Katie and no one had to look for a reason to dislike her either. That girl handed them up on a silver platter. I think your family was just worried you seemed to not have memories of you and Lisa.”
I shrugged, “Channing remembers which means I do. I remember the few fun times we had. I remember thinking we didn’t have anything in common. I can recall the mean stuff Lisa did, just not why I put up with it. It’s a relationship that should’ve been over a long time ago.”
Preston hummed, “Agreed. Try not to be too pissed at your family. They are just worried something happened to you. They don’t care that you see Lisa for who she is.” Before I could say anything Immy flashed in to study me.
Our Beta’s youngest sibling squealed and started doing a dance. I asked, “What?” Immy answered, “Your aura is so pure and shiny, just like it used to be. It’s like Katie cleansed your aura by resetting your palette! This is so exciting.”
I asked, “My aura was dirty?” Channing snorted, “Should we have taken a bath?” I rolled my eyes at my wolf. Immy sighed, “It was always your aura, but there was always a tinge of sadness, and it just grew. Now, it’s shiny and bright like it’s brand new.”
I told her, “Spread that around, would you? My girlfriend is not a bad person.” Immy gasped, “Someone thinks Katie is bad? But her aura is so pure! I told everyone that! Who said she’s bad? That’s so mean.” Immy ran out of the room yelling, “DADDY MATT!”
Preston laughed, “Well, now you’ve done it.
” I shrugged, “They shouldn’t have been jerks about Katie.
” Preston observed, “How very defensive you are of her. I find that intriguing, my friend. Even when you defended Lisa it was at her behest because she asked you to. Your family didn’t even say Katie did anything, but you are mad. ”
I countered, “They implied it. They were the ones who wanted me to be done with Lisa. I have been for a while. Everyone wins.” Preston nodded, “I’m with my mom on this one, I see no problems here. We need to hang out soon.” I nodded, “Definitely.” He popped away.
I smelled my mom before she knocked. I called, “Come in, mom.” She did. Mom said, “No one thinks Katie did anything wrong, Keaton.” I snorted, “Don’t you?” Mom answered, “No, we just think that she doesn’t know what she is or what she can do.” Channing perked up listening intently in my mind.
Mom continued, “I wondered if maybe she is somewhat of an empath. Your past with Lisa caused you pain, and I was worried she could take it or something like that. Not I think that Katie would mean to. You clearly mean a lot to her, and I fully support that. You’re a great man so I know why she would feel that way. I’m just a little worried about her.”
I frowned, “Katie was fine when I left, and just because that was your motive doesn’t make it everyone else’s.” Mom sighed, “Emmett thought someone cast a spell on you on your way home. He doesn’t suspect Katie of anything nefarious. No one does.”
I questioned, “Why can’t everyone just be happy? You wanted me over Lisa and I am.” Mom bit her lip before saying, “You’re my child, and I’ll always worry about you. If someone casts a charm or spell on you, we want to help you.”
“Your past with Lisa may be painful, but our past teaches us things. I had a lot of baggage because of my past when I met your dad, but it taught me a lot about myself. I learned that ignoring your instincts is never a good thing.”
“I trusted someone I shouldn’t have when my instincts told me not to. Hell, they screamed at me not to, but I just wanted to believe in the pretty words. Sometimes trust, but verify, is a good policy. I stood on my own. Without Heath, the Shroud, and your dad.” What?
Mom continued, “That was good for me to do. I opened a business here at Haley’s urging to follow my passion when I was ready to come home. To have something that was just for me.” Mom flashed over and hugged me.
Mom nudged me, “I think Katie is good for you. I’m not upset you don’t think of Lisa as more than she is.
That girl has spent far too much time up here.
” She tapped my head. Mom gritted her teeth, “She took up permanent residence in there, and seemed to override your senses. I had so many things checked out, and it was never anything Supernatural.”
“Now that you’re feeling this way it tells me my instincts were right. I won’t stop looking for what Lisa did, because I believe she did something. Haley is going to help me find the truth of the matter. If I find out Lisa did one damn thing to you, then she is in for a world of hurt.”
I admitted, “I think it’s more my fault. I don’t recall liking anything about Lisa. We have nothing in common apart from being members of the same pack. My ex had moments where she was funny, but overall, our personalities don’t go together.”
Mom agreed, “No, they don’t. I’ve said that for a while.
I honestly thought she was your Noah.” I heard a growl in the hallway.
Mom rolled her eyes saying, “In the sense that Noah was a very abusive and manipulative person, but he twisted me up and isolated me from your uncle. Neither of us realized it at the time. Hell, he isolated me from the whole Shroud.”
“I’ve seen that same cycle with you and Lisa. I just know there’s nothing anyone could’ve said to me that wouldn’t have had me defending my relationship with Noah. Haley called him a fucking Troll from the day she met him. Ted hated him, Susanna despised him, and Noah drove Sally and me apart.”
“Sally and I were close until our string ceremony. It wasn’t her fault, but Sally felt like I stayed away because of her.
All because Noah made her feel that way.
When in reality, it had nothing to do with her.
I thought they deserved a chance, and with me there I believed they wouldn’t have one.
I also didn’t want to see it. To see them together and me not having my string. ” Dad growled again.
My mom rolled her eyes at the door, “I hadn’t even met you, Chase! Do you want to go there? I have trump cards and you know it.” Now I heard several snorts. Mom winked at me. I nodded, “Sure, sure. Who’s Noah? What the hell were you just talking about?!”
My mom smirked, “Someday soon we will sit down and talk all about that.” I hummed, “Noah is dead, right? Because if he’s not, I’m killing him right now.” I didn’t care whose damn friend he was. Channing snarled. I jumped up away from my mom then shifted.
Dad stormed into the room. Mom commented, “That seemed like an extreme reaction.” Channing snapped his jaws in anger. Bolt took over, “Pup, your mom is fine.” Channing pawed at the ground. Bolt snorted, “Pup, you know full well I eradicate threats to your mom. Noah is dead.” Good.
I shifted back and grabbed some shorts. I frowned, “I’m shifting at the drop of a hat lately.” Dad said, “Well, you had those cookies and it seems your Alpha Swagger and mojo were a bit repressed. This is more like what sixteen year old shifted Alpha’s do.” Great. So, I was back at the beginning.
Channing growled, “We kill people that hurt mom.” Yes, we would.
Mom fanned herself, “It’s always so hot seeing you help our kids like this Chase.
” I gagged, “Mom!” She snorted, “Keaton, you keep spending the night at your girlfriend’s place.
ALL the wolves, not just the ones you are related to, are talking about how you reek of this girl.
I know you know about sexy fun times. You linked me asking about condoms.”
I pointed out, “Which you know how to use.” I winked at her. Dad growled, “Sweetheart.” Mom laughed, “I have my own ways of helping our children, sex education and birth control for example.” Dad growled possessively.
I linked, “Run, mom.” She smiled wickedly at me saying, “I do like this girl.” Mom kissed my forehead then flashed out of the room. Dad growled and followed her. I yelled, “PREDICTABLE, OLD MAN!” I heard grandpa howling with laughter before I fell asleep.
I woke up before everyone else and left because I had zero intentions of discussion anything about my damn ex-girlfriend. I just wanted to see Odette. I groaned realizing Lisa was waiting at my truck. I said, “Get off my truck. I’m leaving.”