Creepy Song #4
Mom turned to me, “Don’t listen to him, Keaton. You can bring not Katie by before graduation. Your dad and I would love to see her.” Grandpa Frank snorted, “Yeah, because now Chase and my oldest grandson are the only ones who haven’t met her.” No one said anything.
I asked, “When did Emma meet her? Or Colin and Carter.” Grandpa gloated, “Ok, so there’s a bigger list. The point remains I met not Katie, son.” Dad just rolled his eyes while Emmett didn’t say anything. What was their deal? I knew why Emmett wasn’t saying anything. He met Odette.
That didn’t answer why my dad so quiet. Mom was stoically ignoring the comments. Which means whatever they were not saying, mom knew about it. It amused me it didn’t appear they knew that. I swear dad never learned. Channing snorted, “You’re one to talk.” Ok, my wolf he had a point.
I looked at my phone letting Odette know everything was ok. She wanted me to get a key. I linked Ken, “Can you get me a key to Katie’s place? She wants me to have one.” Ken snorted, “Maybe I already have one waiting at the front desk for either of you to ask.” The man was good at his job.
I replied, “Thanks, Ken.” He said, “Anytime kid. Maybe do me a solid and keep the noise complaints down on occasion.” I nearly snorted out loud. My family stayed in the Shroud talking for a little bit. Emmett was having patrols running to make sure there wasn’t a Mintor problem.
I left and went back to Odette’s. I found her on the couch, picked her up, and carried her into the bedroom. I woke up to Odette flopping around and whimpering. My mate was upset about something. I began to stroke her hair which calmed her back down then pulled her into my chest.
Next thing I knew, I felt tingles stroking my face. I opened my eyes. I didn’t even need Immy to tell me something was wrong. Odette had been crying, which was easy to spot since my mate’s eyes were rimmed red.
I linked, “CHANNING! Our mate was crying and you didn’t wake me up.
” Channing replied, “She wasn’t.” Odette clearly was though.
Luke’s mate was apparently the reason for the tears.
My heart went out to the woman in question.
I couldn’t imagine her situation. Then Odette said they wanted her to have his child.
Channing roared in my head, “MARK MATE NOW! SHE WILL HAVE OUR PUPS WHEN SHE’S READY! THEY AREN’T GOING TO RAPE HER AND FORCE HER TO HAVE ANOTHER’S PUP!” I was trying to reason with him, but I was pissed off too.
Emmett linked me, “Umm what’s going on? I’m pretty sure I heard that roar that Ken linked was you.” Channing snarled back at him. I pulled Odette close trying to inhale her scent to calm down. Emmett linked, “I’m sending Keith.”
I didn’t care what he was doing. No one was taking my mate from me! The only thing that calmed me down was Odette’s song. Keith linked me, “Ok, so what the hell happened here?!” Dad linked, “We are outside, let’s go for a run.”
Everyone was just everywhere tonight. I was worried when Odette got a headache. This is what Giz was talking about. God, I needed to know that guy’s real name. I agreed to take the not dog on a walk. Keith linked me, “We can’t bring the dog.” I replied, “It’s not a dog.” Keith snorted.
We led the not dog outside where everyone was waiting. I teased, “The gang’s all here.” Grandpa Frank snorted, “Yes, the gang as you say show’s up when the windows are rattled.” Emmett said, “We can talk about that later. Right now, we need to run. Was bringing the little dog necessary?”
Tatum growled at my brother. I explained, “She’s not a dog.” Everyone stared at me. I insisted, “You’ll see but Tatum is not a dog.” Everyone snorted. We shifted and ran. Tatum kept up just fine which had Channing radiating smugness at the wolves with us.
We shifted back after several miles. Emmett snorted, “You’re right, little brother, this is definitely not a dog.” Tatum yipped. I retorted, “I know that.” Dad urged, “So tell us what we don’t know then. What the hell happened that had you growling so loud we heard in the pack?”
I growled, “Katie’s ex wants to fucking die, that’s what happened.” Emmett said, “Finally! Something that’s doable. We can kill an ex.” Grandpa Frank and our uncles looked at him. Emmett shrugged, “What? We can kill him. This is a fixable problem.”
I snorted, “Thanks, Emmett.” My brother teased, “I got your back, little bro. Killing someone, to make you less likely to wolf out, that is in no way, shape or form another Werewolf is easy. There’s not even paperwork to do. I can easily get behind this.” Channing growled, “Luke dies.” I knew that.
Grandpa asked, “What did not Katie’s ex do?
” I growled, “He’s leaving her notes, and killing his unborn child with his mate because Katie is supposed to have his firstborn in his demented mind.
” Emmett whistled, “Ok, I did not see that coming. I thought this was about a far more superficial reason. I feel everyone is about to get onboard with my agreement in killing this guy.”
Grandpa snorted, “Of course we agree. That’s sickening and disturbing on several levels.” Dad sighed, “Yeah, we all agree. We’ll run more patrols, those people won’t get not Katie.” I nodded. Emmett said, “So we agree about the ex dying. Lovely, let’s talk about the elephant in the room.”
I asked, “What?” Uncle Cameron groaned. Emmett said, “The fact that you’re so mad, you roared so loud we heard in the pack and shook the windows in grandpa’s building, about your girlfriend’s ex is because…
” He trailed off intentionally again. Grandpa snorted.
Emmett’s phone rang breaking the silence. My brother yelled, “OH COME ON!”
Uncle Cameron said, “Damn. No one can catch a break.” Emmett answered, “I swear to god this had better be good, and if someone starts to utter the letter L as the start to this explanation, I will lose my shit. I’ll go off the reservation….” He trailed off then told us, “I have to go.”
Keith asked hopefully, “To banish Lisa?” Emmett snorted, “Sadly, no.” Keith sighed, “Good because that’s my thing.
You can’t take my first move from me.” Everyone snorted and Emmett left.
Channing said, “I think we might have tried to say it.” Yeah, except it was hard for some reason to admit Odette was mine.
Which was weird. I was proud I had my mate.
We ran for several more miles in both human and wolf form. When Channing was worn out and calm, I made my way back to Odette’s. I told Tatum as we walked, “Between you and me we will keep her safe.” Tatum yipped.
I added, “We’ll just have to skin this Luke Merrick dickhead.
” Tatum hissed. I stopped and looked at her, “Dogs don’t hiss, just an FYI.
” The dang not dog looked directly in my eyes and hissed again.
I snorted, “Fine. Dog that is not a dog, hiss all you want.” Tatum then returned to happily prancing beside me.
My days developed a routine of sorts. I spent my time working, listening to Rya’s friends try to come up with a way to help Odette. They weren’t sure on anything in my opinion. Odette was definitely walking with more pep in her step.
I thought that was the Coven FINALLY doing something, but no it had nothing to do with them. My mate’s medication for the blood disease we thought they had diagnosed incorrectly had changed. My mate kept saying that the pharmacist said nothing changed though.
I couldn’t figure it out. I even smelled Odette’s new pills, and they smelled like the old ones. The only thing different was the color. Channing sighed, “We can’t tell the Beta wolves. They will LOSE their minds with one more question coming up.” No joke.
I found my mom and asked, “Do you think Katie would like our North Carolina home? I could always change to Montana or New York.” Mom asked, “What does your heart tell you? Your first instinct was North Carolina, and you asked your dad for permission already. Why are you second guessing?”
I sighed, “Lisa echoes, I guess.” Mom sat me down, “You know, I see a lot of your dad and me in you. You’re a good combination of us. Being in an emotionally abusive relationship is something that sneaks up on you. It’s never something that you see when you’re in the situation.”
“It happens so slowly when you finally see it, you’re looking around wondering what the hell happened. Acting that way wasn’t you. Letting things and actions go wasn’t like you. You don’t blow off your friends.”
“You don’t excuse behavior or argue with your family.
You don’t go into a shell of yourself so that when it’s over you wonder who you really are.
It took years to find the old me. I found her on my own, and I made a name for myself.
When I came home, your Aunt Haley convinced me I needed something just for me.
I started my event business, and that led me to your dad. ”
I whispered, “Mom.” She smiled, “You had your own journey. Now, not Katie is bringing out the you we’ve all wanted to see. When your uncle put aside his dislike for things, he was grateful to your dad. One, because I was staying in one place.”
“Two, because I started coming out of the shell my ex forced me into. He forced me into the shadows and to run from my home. I figured out who I was, but I was still angry. When I met your dad, I still had echoes. I understand, and so did your dad.”
“Your dad is the most amazing man, and I’m so grateful he’s my string. Not Katie loves you, I saw it in her eyes. She’s a lovely woman, and I think you are very lucky in that department. Just like your dad and I are.” That was not a subtle reference to the fact she thought Odette was my mate.
Channing snorted, “Everyone knows we just can’t tell them.
” Yeah, which was weird at this point. Mom stood and kissed the top of my head, “The echoes get quieter over time, eventually they become a memory that you look back on. Don’t let the echoes win, Keaton.
Trust not Katie. It’s ok to let someone in. ” She left my room.