11. Skyler
Eleven
Skyler
R eluctantly, I drop the cigarette butt in the bin and head my separate way from Amethyst. I wanted to put her in the passenger seat and take her home where I knew she’d be safe.
Staring at the dashboard, a sigh leaves my lips.
No matter how much I want to protect her, I need her to want that too. I won’t steal her freedom.
Although, the thought of her going to GGs with Nitasha makes my skin crawl, my inner wolf protesting.
She always gives me trouble at work. Showing up late or just ignoring the tasks I put her on.
Pushing my buttons and constantly trying to bait me into an argument.
Not to mention the time she went as far as trying to frame me for a large amount of cash coming up missing.
I don’t know if she is after the store manager position or if she just wants someone else to take it, but she’s certainly never been a fan of me.
It’s more than that, though. My gut just screams not to trust her; that she has malicious intent. For her demeanor to shift completely when interacting with Amethyst, it sets me on high alert. Why does she want to show my Sunlight an overly friendly side, and what is her interest in Amethyst?
I slide the gear shift to drive, debating going to GGs myself, before giving in and turning toward the house. The last thing I want to do is scare Amethyst away. Light stalking is a one-way ticket to doing just that. I just have to trust that Nitasha won’t harm her.
I don’t.
After what Amethyst revealed to me tonight, I don’t want anyone to be alone with her. Especially not a witch who’s always kept her affinity hidden. Perhaps Nitasha wasn’t blessed by The Mother. The insistent chill down my spine when she’s around suggests otherwise.
Every mile I put between us is hell. I want to hold her. Show her what it is to truly be cherished. She must feel it, too. We’ve long since crossed the line between boss and employee. There’s something between us. A beautiful, budding love just needing nurtured into full bloom.
Turning into the driveway, my headlights shine onto another vehicle. What the fuck? Pulling closer, I see the Mississippi license plate and know it's my sister. Seems like she has a new car. I don’t even recognize this brand. All I know is that it’s a white SUV.
I sigh. It’s the consequences of my own actions, but I am not in the headspace to handle August tonight.
I love my sister. Her energy is just too much for me at the moment.
Not to mention, she’ll be able to sniff out my mate bond within five minutes.
I trust August, but her proximity to our father creates a rift between us.
I rub my temples, gathering mental strength, and light a cigarette for good luck.
As soon as the car door clicks shut, August pops her head out of the front door.
I scoff. She acts like she owns the place everywhere she goes.
My house included, apparently. She steps out and I narrow my eyes, taking in her appearance.
She looks ridiculous. A leather jacket and a bra.
Completing the look with leather pants and boots. All black, of course.
“Fuck you too, Skyler.” She meets me halfway, punching me in the chest. “Thought you might like to hear it in person.” She bats her lashes; I roll my eyes. “You know, it’s a courtesy to call before showing up.” I take a drag of the cigarette. August promptly swats it from my hand.
“Oh, I know. Just don’t care. And how many times have I told you to keep that shit out of your mouth?
” I glance between her and the fading embers on the gravel.
“Too many to count. Also don’t care,” I shrug.
“You do realize nicotine doesn’t affect the paranormal like it does humans.
” She crushes it under her boot for good measure.
“Just because we’re immune to the effects doesn’t make it any less nasty.
Goddess fucking above, Sky, have some class. ”
She motions toward the house, “Anyway, come on in. I was just finishing up dinner.” I huff; there’s no arguing with her.
I kick my shoes off at the door and unbutton my shirt.
Damn it. Whatever she’s cooking does smell pretty fucking delicious.
A growl rumbles across my stomach. When was my last meal, anyway?
As I step into the kitchen, she’s pulling some sort of bread from the oven. “Gross!” She howls as she slides the bread onto the counter. Turning to stir a pot on the stove, she adds, “Could have done without seeing you naked.” She glances over her shoulder, side-eyeing me to drive the point home.
A laugh escapes me. “Naked? Please. That’s rich coming from the one wearing lingerie as a shirt.” With an irritating smirk, she shrugs, “It’s fashion. I don’t make the rules.” There go my eyes rolling again. August makes her own rules. “Whatever helps you sleep at night, Augs.”
I sit down at the kitchen island, and August drops a plate of chicken alfredo and garlic bread in front of me. She stares at me expectantly. I prop my chin up on my hand and stare back. I know what she wants to hear. But getting her worked up is half the fun. She always cracks first.
“ Well ?” She growls.
Called it. “Thanks for being courteous enough to cook me dinner while breaking and entering, freak.” Turning back toward the stove to make her own plate, she mutters, “Eh, I’ll take it.
” I’m practically inhaling the food when she sits her plate in front of me and leans on the counter.
She twirls her fork aimlessly, glancing around the room.
“So…” She draws out the word, waiting for me to take the lead.
When I don’t bite, she asks, “What’s got your panties in a twist?
” I crunch down on another bite of bread instead of answering her.
She sighs. “I haven’t heard from you much lately.
Then I get that text. I know you, Sky. It was a cry for help. If you’d come back to Sanguine Ridge…”
“August, you know —”
She crosses her arms. “No. I’ve heard the same excuses a thousand times over.
Listen, Dad will croak soon. Just come home, kiss ass a few months, then we can split his money when he dies.
Easy peasy.” I cross my arms over my chest, huffing.
It’s not that simple. She knows that. If she wants to live in ignorant bliss, that’s her prerogative. But I’ll never go back to the pack.
I open my mouth to snap a response, closing it as a pang of empathy washes over me. August stays there, likely being reminded daily that she’s less than. Just because of what’s between her legs. She’s desperate to prove him wrong. She’s always worked ten times as hard as anyone else.
She’s a million times the wolf he’ll ever be. But he has her brainwashed, unable to see her power. Dad is a misogynistic ass. Preaching that strength can only come from a Y chromosome. I rather think the opposite is true.
Women wield the power of life itself. A fact that our father can’t stand. A power he tried to take for himself by becoming an executioner.
“No amount of money could ever convince me to spend another second in the presence of that murderous scum.” I try to keep my tone even.
August is quick to snip, “He didn’t kill mom, Skyler.
” I throw my fists down on the counter, “No? Just raped her. Is that any better? Does it make him worthy of redemption?”
A beat of uncomfortable silence passes between us. We all know that it’s true. When August was only a week old, our father forced himself on our mother. Desperate for her to give him a son. Or so the story goes. I’ve heard it countless times from our aunt, Quinn.
How our mother called her sobbing for help that night. And again, when she found out she was pregnant with me. I wish I had been a female too. That way he wouldn’t have had the satisfaction of getting what he wanted.
As if mom hadn’t suffered enough, she was murdered when I was just ten, August eleven. Allegedly, the murderer was from the Graveborne Guild, an upcoming vampire group. Even at my young age, I always suspected it was our father finally finding no more use for her. Using the vampires as a scapegoat.
Regardless, her death started a conflict between wolves and vampires that we’ve never quite recovered from.
Where peace once existed between our species, now there was only distrust and violence.
The Graveborne’s settlement was here in Tarot Lake and allegedly they were all either murdered by my father’s wolves or moved out completely.
“I don’t see how you can stay there, August. I don’t.
” Rifling through the cabinets looking for a whiskey bottle, she snarls behind me.
“You have no idea what my life is like! You never did. You were always loved and accepted. But for me, I’ve had to fight for love and acceptance my entire life!
It’s all I want. All I’ll never have since… ”
I wince at the hurt in her voice. Since the wolf everyone suspected would be her mate passed before they were old enough to find out.
She is mostly right. But, “I didn’t ask to be here.
And if you think what Dad gave me was love, you need to learn the true definition of the word.
I love you unconditionally. Does that mean nothing to you?
” August sighs, resting her head on the counter and lacing her fingers together behind her head.
“I know, Sky, I know. I love you, too. I don’t know what I’m doing anymore. Truly. He disgusts me. But I’ve spent my entire life trying to prove him wrong. Show him I can be what he needs to carry on his legacy. If I don’t become alpha, then who even am I?”
My lip curls up in disgust. “Some legacy to carry on,” I scoff, taking a swig of the whiskey.
August shoots up, glaring at me. “What is your fucking problem tonight,” she growls.
I don’t offer an answer, diverting my gaze instead.
Our conversation had gone far differently than I expected.
I wasn’t keen on shifting it toward Amethyst.
August stalks closer to me; eyebrows drawn together as she studies me. She begins to pace in front of me. “That’s fine. Don’t talk, asshole. I’ll figure it out myself.”
And she will. Shit.
My eyes glow the slightest bit. An instinctual desire to protect Amethyst coming to the forefront.
I squeeze my eyes shut. Not fast enough.
August stills, leans closer. Inhales the scent from my shirt.
She shoves a tattooed finger in my face.
“You found your mate.” A growl rumbles in my throat.
“That makes perfect sense! The pent-up frustration, reluctance to me showing up tonight. You knew I’d figure it out! ”
My vision becomes sharper as my wolf side tries to take over.
“Drop it, August. You don’t know what you’re talking about.
” She matches my energy, allowing her canines to elongate.
Baring them at me. Her silver eyes shine like twin moons.
On the cusp of shifting, she taunts, “Who are they?” With a sinister expression, she pushes further.
“If that sweet scent on your shirt isn’t from your mate, maybe they’re mine. I’d love to have a taste.”
With bared fangs I stalk toward her, forcing her backwards.
She merely giggles, crossing her arms across her chest as her back hits the refrigerator.
She stares at me, challenge in her eyes.
“You could tear me apart limb by bloody fucking limb and still I’d never tell you who she is.
” I snarl, each word more vicious than the last.
Not only do I want to hide Amethyst from our father, if her location is compromised, that vampire scum from Angel’s Rest may come sniffing around.
Her safety is my top priority. August’s entire demeanor changes.
She turns from brutal wolf to giddy teenager.
“ She you say? Interesting.” Fuck. I fist her jacket, pulling her close enough to feel her breath on my face.
“If you so much as hint to our father that I have a mate you can consider yourself dead to me, August Ashford.”
She holds up her hands innocently. “Relax, Sky. I know the threats he’s made to you.
To her, rather. I won’t tell a soul. Promise.
” She crosses her heart with her pinky finger, then holds it out to me.
“I have no reason to. I don’t want you to be alpha, anyway.
I just want my brother back. For him not to have to worry about finances. ”
Taking her pinky in my own, I let out a soft laugh.
“I don’t exactly worry about finances, Augs.
The Challenger is paid off. And I only have something like five years left on the house.
Really, I could pay it off now. I just want to keep that money in savings.
” She raises an eyebrow at me, seeming doubtful.
“I make a decent salary. Obviously, nothing like what you’re used to.
With your new cars every week; but it’s plenty enough for me. ”
She sighs in defeat, “I’ll take your word for it, Sky. I just miss you, that’s all.” Pulling her in for a hug, I suggest, “Then come visit more, you know I keep the guest room made up for you. Stay the night.” I gesture toward the stairs. August’s arms wrap around me tighter. “Don’t mind if I do.”
Throwing her arms over her head in a yawn, she turns to head upstairs. “Love you, shit head, goodnight!” I shake my head, a warm chuckle rattling in my chest. That’s more like her.
Pulling my phone out of my pocket, for the first time ever, my heart sinks when there’s no messages.
I drag myself up the stairs, through my bedroom, and to the porch, plopping down in my chair and staring out across the lake.
It sparkles in the moonlight as I pray to the Goddess that Amethyst is safe.