Cinnamon Rolls #4
I told her, “I can because we do not have a relationship. You aren’t even in the pack I’m going to be the Alpha of, so Emmett is your Lead Alpha and Alpha.” Lisa crossed her arms, “I want to transfer into that pack. I only want you as my Alpha.”
I told her, “That wouldn’t work out.” Lisa cried, “But if you’re not my Alpha, I’d be demoted to Omega.” I shrugged, “Then earn Warrior status.” Lisa hit my arm again gasping, “How could you say that to me?” I reasoned, “That's what I’d say to anyone.”
A growl sounded from the corner of the building. I turned to see my grandpa’s wolf. Ratchet snap his jaws at Lisa who jumped. I laughed, “Ratchet, it’s ok.” Lisa hit my arm again, shouting “He growled at me!” I replied, “I heard him.”
Lisa demanded, “Do something!” I scoffed, “Come off it. You know that’s my grandpa and his wolf. He’s not going to do anything to you.” Lisa hit my arms again causing Ratchet to snarl at her. I told him, “It doesn’t hurt.”
My grandpa’s wolf chuffed at me. Channing linked me, “Ratchet said he doesn’t care and that if Lisa hits you again, she’ll be punished for hitting another pack member.” Oh boy. That meant Grandpa really was mad.
I warned Lisa, “Stop hitting me or you’re going to be punished for hitting another pack member.” Lisa sneered, “Then you’ve gotten weak over in Gray Stone. I told you that you need me, I make you better.” I replied, “I wasn’t the one who said it.”
Channing growled at our ex then told me, “Lady is sleeping so I can’t talk to her.” Great. My grandpa shifted back, “You vicious little girl! GET OUT of my eyesight before I throw you in the dungeons. I won’t even let you out until I good and well feel like it.”
Lisa gasped while Grandpa told her, “Here’s a spoiler alert for you, I will not feel like letting you out for SUCH a long time. I’m not talking days, months, or weeks here. I’m thinking years are in order, maybe a decade.”
He snarled, “I’m only not giving into that instinct because it’s Christmas. Take my goodwill and cheer for the holidays to run back to your house little girl. Stay there far away from my grandson.” Lisa glared at me as if it were all my fault then ran away.
My grandpa walked over and clapped me on the back saying, “Let’s run home, Keaton.” We shifted and ran the rest of the way back. Dad was waiting by the back door giving grandpa an appraising look. My grandpa and I shifted and grabbed the clothes waiting for us.
Dad asked, “Dad, care to explain why Keith announcing Lisa was waiting to talk to Keaton had you running out the back door and shifting?” Grandpa answered, “I couldn’t wait one more second to see my grandson.
Let’s go inside, Keaton. Your mom is missing you something fierce.
” Dad narrowed his gaze on grandpa but didn’t say anything else.
We walked inside together. Allison squealed, ran over to me, and jumped into my arms. I greeted my little sister warmly, “Hey, Allison.” She kissed my cheek then admitted, “I’ve miss you, Keaton.” I told her, “I’ll be home after New Year’s and I miss you too, squirt.”
Allison held up her pinky finger asking, “Promise?” I smiled, set her down, then gave my little sister my pinky swearing, “I promise.” I saw Arden and ruffled his hair, “Hey, little dude.” Arden huffed, “Keaton!” He straightened his hair then gave me a hug. I laughed and pulled him in tightly.
Keith linked me, “Is everything ok?” I answered, “Of course.” Keith snorted, “Really? Because Grandpa dropped his whiskey when he heard you were talking to Lisa. He growled, Keaton. What the actual fuck?”
I replied, “He’s protective.” Keith rolled his eyes at me, “Tell me something I don’t know. For example, why was that grandpa’s reaction?” I shrugged him off. Emmett was looking at me out of the corner of his eye too.
Carter and Colin both hugged me. Carter linked, “I know something weird is going on with Lisa. I’ll figure it out.” I told him, “It’s fine.” My little brothers both looked at me through narrowed slits, glaring at the windows as if Lisa could be summoned by their thoughts of her.
May was slowly inching over to Keith. Clara walked up to me next to give me a hug. My future Beta whispered, “Your mom is in the kitchen.” I left the room to walk there and managed to surprise mom from behind, giving her a hug.
Mom whirled around smiling, “Hello Keaton. That means Keith is here too. Why that little sneak! I’ll go see him.
” She kissed my forehead saying, “We really miss you around here. I’m so glad you boys are coming home soon.
I’m beginning to think this is karma for making Heath live like this when I couldn’t be in the Shroud anymore. ” Mom flashed away.
Sally was looking at me then her eyes glanced behind me. I could scent dad standing there. Sally spoke mostly to herself, “Everything’s just being kept warm, I’ll give you two a minute.” I was going to tell her it was fine. Dad clearly wasn’t of the same opinion since he said, “Thank you, Sally.”
I turned, “Hey, old man.” then gave him a hug. Dad sighed, “Only you pups say that. I’m not old.” I smiled teasing, “You’re older than us.” Dad snorted, “I’m your father so of course I’m older than you. What kind of logic is that? That’s not the point.”
I sighed not bothering to ask what his point was, since I already knew.
Dad asked, “What’s going on, Keaton? For over twenty years your grandpa has had a very firm policy of not interfering with relationships.
Now, he’s running out the door to make sure you don’t talk to your ex alone. That tells me it’s not good.”
I said, “Apparently, none of you like Lisa.” Dad’s jaw dropped.
Channing warned, “Bolt is snarling over our word choice.” Well, it was accurate.
Dad growled, “Apparently?! Son, no. That was not a secret. Your mom and I let you pups make your own choices, but you certainly knew how we felt about you being with that girl. So, try again. This time you could try the truth.”
I sighed asking, “What if we take a rain check?” Dad frowned. Channing said, “I’m working on Bolt. They do not want to give us rain check, but they are considering it.” Eventually dad agreed, “Fine. I want an answer soon though.” I nodded, barely managing not to wince.
I really wanted everyone to drop this, but clearly my family wasn’t going to. I’d hidden Lisa’s sex reports for two years. Now everyone wanted to know about them. Channing linked, “Everyone will say what I did. They are wrong.”
I argued, “This is our family, of course they will say that.” Channing retorted, “Fine. Ask the girl we are giving driving lessons to.” I asked, “Are you out of your mind?! We aren’t asking another girl that.” Channing grumbled, “We could. She’d say it was wrong.”
I asked, “What is your deal with this girl?” Channing thought about it for a while.
Eventually my wolf admitted, “I don’t know.
Maybe I’m just excited about someone new.
Immy likes her. So, maybe the new girl is bubbly like Immy.
We just need someone who is not a downer.
I swear Lisa sucked the life out of both of us. ”
I asked, “What does Lady say?” Channing sighed, “She’s been sleeping, but the last I talked to her it wasn’t great.
Lady feels like she’s out of touch with Lisa.
She’s tried, but they are really different.
Lady didn’t like her reports or how Lisa treated us at all.
She likes us both.” I was really beginning to think that Lisa didn’t like me, and that was the problem.
In truth I was pretty sure I didn’t like my ex either.
Christmas was over before I knew it. This time when Keith and I left, my heart felt heavy. Our pack finally felt home again, and I didn’t want to leave. My own home was finally somewhere I didn’t want to avoid.
When we made it back to our hosting pack, Keith asked, “You ok?” I nodded, “Yup. I’m just ready to be home, I miss everyone.” Keith admitted, “You finally looked like you were having fun again. I feel like it’s been a few years since you looked like you were having fun.”
I groaned, “I get it. You all didn’t like Lisa, and everyone is thrilled we aren’t together. I wasn’t myself, but I finally feel like myself again.” Keith shoved me, “Good.” We spend our time training and in the gym.
On New Years Eve we decided to stay in Gray Stone. We were going to head home right before school. I stood with my twin as midnight came closer. My eyes were on the newly made Gamma because he was tense. When he stiffened and walked away, I followed.
I knew Keith was following too. I followed the Gamma to his Alpha, Mike McDermont. Gamma Jameson lamented, “I knew I should’ve told her not to go without me.” I looked at Keith who shrugged. Gamma Jameson’s mate was a partial Fairy. Alpha Mike said, “She’ll be ok.”
His Beta, Larson, said, “She will be Jameson.” Jameson yelled, “The fucking O’Toole’s got into Faerie and Goblins attacked. To be so clear, that’s not the definition of ok.” I asked, “Is Haley ok? Is Preston?”
Alpha Mike answered without looking at us, “Everyone is fine. Luna Melanie figured out the plot. You’ll need to talk to your brother about the memo about that. Luna Melanie tapped into the extra part of her Wolf.”
The White Wolf had powers so that must mean Melanie had activated them. Channing howled happily in my head. The wolves were all excited about Freya. Gamma Jameson’s mate popped in and winked at Keith and I.
Gamma Jameson had her in his arms in a second, his lips possessively on hers. I turned around with Keith and walked back to the party. As the midnight count began one of the Warriors I had been working with came over.
She asked, “Wanna be my New Year’s midnight kiss?” I smiled agreeing, “Sure.” I saw Keith’s jaw drop. I simply raised an eyebrow at who was coming up behind him, because it was May. My twin wasn’t surprised to see her either. Good. I was happy for them.