Filed To Story: Secret with Betas Daughter: Skylar Story Series
Then I turned to Gamma Brett, “I didn’t realize we signed up for this, I thought everyone had to run patrols. And since when can we make requests on assignments?”
I look back at Marnie. “And what is this crap about the men doing the real work? You just weren’t planning to be helpful at all?”
She winced a little and I looked back at Gamma Brett.
He gave me that dad look that said I was really close to crossing some line, but I also wasn’t too far off the mark of annoying situations. Which means one of the twins was probably going to have to deal with Kaley in their group and my brother probably got Jeanie in his. I’m going to have to ask Sierra about that. I can’t believe they are putting our packin danger just to try and spend time with the guys. Don’t they know how serious this actually is? “At least you know you are paired up with the literal best. Skylar has beaten out all the guys in every test we have done so far, so Cunningham wasn’t wrong. We still have time, quite a bit actually, so you are going to have to figure out how to suck it up today, because we are in the middle of a shift and can’t take you back. None of us can be out here on our own, not even me. We always team up just in case. I will mention to the Delta, who is coordinating the rotations, of your misinformation. With that he turned around and continued jogging. I guess it was a good enough answer for her, she didn ‘t bring it up the rest of the time.
That was the second most torturous experience Of my life. Marnie even kind of tried, and it was terrible. She stopped complaining after Gamma Brett told her to suck it up, but she progressively got slower as the time went on and Gamma Brett had to call for another team to come in early to pickup the slack. I was actually embarrassed that, as a team, we couldn’t get her to move faster without literally carrying her the whole time. And that was never going to happen. I headed straight to the Beta house after to take a quick shower and get to school. I know Luna Ava said not to be alone, but the walk to and from patrol was pleasantly quiet and drama free. I walked up to my house and Sam was on my porch, just casually waiting. At least the scowl was gone, hopefully meaning that he was able to spend some quality time with Sierra and therefore less angry and short tempered. He stood when he noticed me, walked straight over and gave me a huge hug, locking my arms to my sides. “I’m sorry, I didn ‘t know how bad it was here for you. Don’t be mad at Sierra for telling me, she needed to vent as much as I did. I won ‘t stop you from leaving or tell you you can’t go. You’re not wrong, we all get to come and go as we please and you feel stuck and we made you feel more trapped. You do make us better though and we are afraid you won’t ever come home once you get away. He word vomited all over me. Then as an afterthought asked, “How was your training?” He gave me a knowing look before letting a huge smile break out over his face. “It sucked as much as you think it did. What happened? How did they weasel their way into rotations? Who got stuckwith the other two?” There was no need to specify who we were talking about. “Sierra got Jeanie and I got Kaley. Neither were happy with the pairings and I’m sure my dad will hear about it from my uncle. But my uncle also can ‘t come right out and say he’s trying to force Kaley on Cam and Kota, even though everyone sees that’s what he’s doing. My dad isn’t stupid and this is actually a serious situation that my uncle thinks is a game he can use to play matchmaker by forced proximity.”
‘I forget that you and Kaley are cousins. That’s so weird to process. Hold that thought though, I need to shower and I assume you are my escort to school? Give me ten minutes. “Here, Luna Ava wanted me to bring you this and said ‘corne home as soon as you’re ready.’ She probably figures you don’t have anything left here. He holds out a bag I didn’t even notice before. She’s not wrong. My hasty escape to my childhood prison did not involve bringing supplies, like a change of clothes. I take the bag and just nod my head before running up the stairs two at a time. I am done in record time and had to laugh at what Luna Ava packed. She knew who I would forgive or at least talk to first and who I would need more convincing to give another chance. She must have also come into my room and taken everything else I had so I had no choice but to wear what she packed me. Although, there is no other scent but mine. Sneaky, meddling woman. I’ll have to ask her about that.
At least she packed me my own underwear, bra and jeans, but she gave me Oliver’s tank top, a t- shirt of Kota’s and Cam’s sweatshirt. And they all smell like they had worn them just before she packed them. I roll my eyes while I roll up the sleeves on the sweatshirt and head outside. I had to tuck the hem of the shirt into my pants too since it goes all the way to my knees, this takes the fashion term ‘oversized’ way too far. I give Sam a serious look
“Hey, don’t shoot the messenger. You will notice your brother and I didn’t contribute to the cause.”
He waves up and down my outfit. “That doesn ‘t mean you didn’t help with the removal of my other options.”
I say as we start heading toward the school, clearly neither of us are in a hurry to get there, we’re already late, I’m so far ahead in my classes the teachers stopped caring when I come and go. They also probably notice there are less incidents with Kaley when I’m not there. And he’s the future Delta, primary schooling is just a formality. He hands me a granola bar and water bottle, and I just roll my eyes and laugh. He and Mateo are taking the malnutrition diagnosis to heart. What they don’t know, is I’ve gone longer on less food. But that is not something I am going to tell them after all of this crap. ‘[so while we are talking about being your escort…”
“How did you make that jump from Luna Ava’s choice of my outfit?” “Don’t change the subject! You are still going to the ball with us right? You can’t go alone, none of us can, it’s not safe for so many reasons.”
He laughs darkly. Plus now that you have been officially recruited by the Alpha King you may not get to go to another one.”
“I guess, this is just a lot. With everything else going on, the Mating Ball just seems stupid, especially for me. I’m only fifteen, still super awkward around anyone who isn’t you guys and Sierra and I can’t dance. I can’t even find my mate for three more years.
Our elders are lazy and it seems like many of them are just using the ball to try and force chosen mates to heighten status or as political strategy to connect packs. I wouldn’t want to be in any of your positions, at all, basically paraded around like cattle at an auction. “You’re no different really, are you?” He looks at me sideways “What do you mean?” “They way your dad talks, that’s basically what you are being paraded around for too. So a guy can level up his rank or you can get chosen by an Alpha or, I guess now, some higher rank from the Alpha King’s guys since you clearly have ALL of their attention now.”
He wiggles his eyebrows at me. I roll my eyes back at him. “I guess I never really saw myself in that position before, my brother is the Beta, not me. I’m just a warrior. It’s all I have ever wanted to be, it’s all I’m good at.”
“You have never been just a warrior, but that is why you need to stick with us and maybe give us a little slack when we have a less than pleasant reaction to other guys around you. You honestly have no idea how others see you and that is great, because your ego will never be your downfall. But, it’s also dangerous because it makes it too easy for someone to take advantage of you. And yes jealousy is a part of that, but none of the other guys will ever admit that to your face.”
He gives me a sheepish grin and I giggle a real laugh for the first time in days.
“Even Xander, the Alpha prince?” “Especially him. He probably has more girls thrown at him in an hour than the twins do weekly.”
He shutters. “That sounds awful. But, here, he sought you out, not the other way around. And, you didn’t fawn over him like every other girl here, you treated him like a person not a prize or trophy. You also completely kicked his ass. He probably fell in love with you the minute you knocked him out.”
“You guys don’t like it when girls throw themselves at you?” I was not touching the comment about Xander. “Don’t get me wrong the s*x is always fun, but they all want more, the status, the money, they want to be trophy mates, and our jobs, including our mates’, is a ton of work None of them want the work or even know there is work involved in the job that is associated with the title. We keep to ourselves for a reason. It’s not an elitist thing, it’s a self preservation thing, but no one gets that if they don’t have to live it. And it’s not just the girls, their parents throwthem at us as well, whether the girl is willing or not.
Similar to your situation, I think. ‘I guess. Speaking of my dad, let’s get into class before the principal tells him I’m skipping or something else that will get me punished.”
“I don ‘t think that is anything you have to worry about after you called every single one of us out in the hospital.”
I cringed. probably not my finest moment and I could have been more tactful in my delivery, but the words needed to be said and more importantly heard. We don’t even get further than my locker before Kaley comes up to me with Jeanie and Marnie in tow. “What took you so long to get back? And why are you dressed like that? Where did you get Cam’s shirt? He never lets me wear his sweatshirts. I demand you hand over my boyfriend ‘s shirt now! And I will be letting my father know that you aren’t taking the responsibility of getting back to school in a timely manner seriously after your shift.”
I look at the hand she has held out to me like I really would pull off Cam’s shirt and give it to her. “The Luna chose her outfit after her patrols this morning. If you have a problem, you can take it directly to her. As for arrival times, we are well within our allotted return times, I should know. Speaking of, how were your shifts ladies? I hope all of your requests were met and satisfactory since you were all so eager to join even though you weren ‘t qualified yet and don ‘t participate regularly in training that would prepare you for a situation like patrolling.”
Sam finishes sweetly over my shoulder. Something is brewing in his eyes. Both Marnie and Jeanie mumble unintelligible things, not looking at either of us. Marnie still looks as tired as she did when she got to us this morning. But at least she looks slightly more put together. I bet she isn’t allowed in Kaley’s presence without checking off certain boxes on her personal ‘must look this way’ list. Early doesn’t suit her at all, I almost feel bad she was forced into this with false advertising and promises. Maybe she’ll drop it and put me out of my rmsery. “There was a misunderstanding with our shifts. Daddy will fixit before the end of the day today. Kaley flips her hair over her shoulder. “We won ‘t need to actually learn any of that stuff anyway, I don’t know why we were lumped in with the rest of the help. “I don’t really consider myself fhe help.’ And your schedules are set for the rest of the month. There is no changing them, regardless of what my uncle thinks he can get away with. The task of arranging them has been left to me and considering you couldn’t be bothered to show up for your assigned shift on time or complete the whole thing you will not be given any special favors.
I suggest you start wrapping your head around having to actually work for a change. Your daddy’s time of fixing things for you is coming to an end.”
Sam looks Kaley dead in the eyes and for a brief second I saw a flash of something like fear cross her features.
“Oh and Sky, I will need your report on Marnie by the end of the day, we are evaluating all of the new patrol recruits, remind me to tell Sierra when we get to class. She has to do Jeanie’s report as well. They at least showed up.”
He glances at them, then at me, then he wraps an arm around my shoulder and guides me away from that potential trainwreck.
“You do realize the target you put on our backs right?
I don’t know how the family stuff works, but they are going to make Sierra’s and my life a living hell.”
“Let’s be honest, you can take them all blindfolded with one arm tied behind your back, but at least you would have a reason to fight back. I also believe you are currently working your way through hell, I don’t think any of them could actually make what you are going through worse. She can’t get to you, and she knows, or at least grasps, what you mean to us. She’s not dumb enough to go after you again.”
He raises his eyebrows letting me know he and Sierra discussed me at length.
I found that making up with, or I guess, acknowledging Mateo and Sam was more punishment for the other three than ignoring them all. I have never heard more growls and incoherent mumbling from any of them before. I still wasn’t saying much to anyone, they all still have to figure out I’m nota china doll, but that won’t be a reality until we are all in an actual situation that involves me saving myself and not needing them in the slightest. I still chose the corner table at lunch to just have some breathing room. I have to figure out this balance between socializing and having personal space. It feels like | went from one end of the spectrum to the other and then back again. It gives me a headache.
New Book: Returned To Make Them Pay
On her wedding anniversary, Alicia is drugged and stumbles into the wrong room—straight into the arms of the powerful Caden Ward, a man rumored never to touch women. Their night of passion shocks even him, especially when he discovers she’s still a virgin after two years of marriage to Joshua Yates.