The day actually went pretty smoothly, I didn’t even have any run-ins with Kaley and her crew. I wasn’t sure if that was because of the display this morning at training or the new friend I seemed to have acquired. No one talked to me or really looked at me, but no one actively tried to do anything to me either. Either way, the break was nice, and I found myself smiling as I walked down the hallway to put my things in my locker at the end of the day. Of course, good things only last for small moments for me.
“You think you’re so tough, being Delta Kyle’s favorite suck up. I bet that’s not the only thing you suck, it’s the only explanation for how you manage to gain his attention.” I ignored Kaley even though I was completely disgusted by her insinuation. I took a deep breath and continued shuffling things in my locker, hoping she would get bored and walk away, now that she had thrown her insult. She slammed my locker shut. I was just lucky my reflexes were fast, otherwise, I would have lost fingers.
But, before she could spit whatever venom she had at me, Sierra walked up. “Hey girl, I am so hungry, and you promised me to hang out after school.” Sierra completely ignored Kaley’s presence, and I caught the look of death Kaley was throwing her way. I had to stifle a laugh.
“I almost forgot, sorry, I was trying to make sure I had everything I needed to get my work done this weekend.” I turned my back on Kaley, and we took about two steps before she shouted.
“Hey, new girl, you’ll want to watch who you hang out with. Some people in this school will give you a bad reputation and only cause you problems.” We both looked back at her.
“Thanks for the tip.” Sierra linked her arm into mine and started to turn us away again.
I heard clicks of heels approaching us. “Listen here, you little… Hey guys!” Kaley’s voice went from venom to bubble gum in a flash, and I noticed she was looking over our shoulders.
A general bored mumble of ‘hey’ came from the group of guys walking our way. Seriously? I just wanted to melt into a wall.
“Damn, they are even hotter up close.” Sierra said quietly to me, turning us around to face my brother and his friends as they walked up to us. I just rolled my eyes at her. They had never approached me in school before, like ever. So, I could only assume they were here for the beautiful brunette friend I had acquired today.
I couldn’t deny these guys were gorgeous, and unfortunately, they all knew it too. My brother, Mateo, and I looked almost identical, with sandy blonde hair and gray blue eyes, getting most of our looks from our mother. The only difference was his build was exactly like my father’s, wide at the shoulders and narrow at the waist. He kept his stick-straight hair military short on the sides and in the back and longer on top. It looked like he had run his fingers through it a couple times to make it stick straight up, but somehow the look worked for him.
The future Delta, Sam, was Kyle’s son. And he looked like he just stepped out of a Hurley surfing ad with wavy, sun-kissed, light blonde hair that hung just below his ears, dark blue eyes, and lean muscles. He was tall but not as wide-set as the other guys, but he was no less ripped and one of the fastest warriors I had ever seen.
Oliver, our future Gamma, looked like your stereotypical biker. Medium-length, dark brown, almost black hair that fell forward obscuring his face and piercing brown eyes that were almost as dark gave off a ‘don’t mess with me’ vibe. He had tattoos on both forearms and one on his chest, just peeking out of the collar of his shirt. He was the most quiet of the group, lending to the mysteriousness. His expression was regularly bordering on resting b*tch face.
Our future alphas were twins who could melt you with one glance, or maybe that was just me. They both had black hair with a gentle wave to it. They both kept their hair short on the sides and back like my brother. Cameron was always perfectly groomed, no curl on top of his head was out of place. His light green eyes softened his severely sharp features though. Dakota let his curls do whatever they wanted on top of his head. I had often wondered what it would be like to run my fingers through those soft curls. Dakota’s baby-blue eyes were more playful than his brothers, he was definitely the troublemaker of the two.
Somebody must have said something, because Sierra elbowed me in the ribs. Oh, Goddess, please let me not be drooling. I mentally face-palmed myself. “I’m sorry, what?” I looked around, having no idea what we were supposed to be talking about.
“I was just saying, nice moves at training today. Hopefully, we’ll get a chance to work on those again at advanced training and you can give us some tips. Sam needs to redeem his top takedown time.” Cameron said to me, smiling, and Dakota laughed, slapping Sam on the back.
I just smiled and nodded, feeling a little dumbfounded. I had no idea how to respond. These guys had never talked to me more than a ‘hi’ in passing at my house before and never at school. Even though they had been friends with my brother for their whole lives and spent a ridiculous amount of time at my house. This was the longest interaction I had ever had with any of them.
He, he, he. A weird, forced, high-pitched giggle came from my left. I looked over and didn’t even realize Kaley was standing next to me. She reached out and put her hand on Cameron’s chest. “You’re so funny, babe, Sam is one of the best warriors we have, I bet he could do that move with one hand tied behind his back. His dad was just being nice to Sierra and S-Skylar.” Did she just choke on my name? She’d never really used it before. I’m normally just the b-word to her. “It’s not fair to wolves lower than you guys.”
Who is she calling a lower wolf? I could feel my muscles shake with my wolf’s irritation. I looked down at the ground and blinked a few times to make sure my eyes weren’t changing color, giving away that I had my wolf.
Cameron took a slow breath in and took an almost imperceptible step back as his twin chimes in. “Nope, I’m pretty sure Sam sucks and needs to start from the basics again. Maybe we should send him to train with the pups for the week.” Dakota laughed out, and my brother joined him this time.
So did Sierra, and I allowed myself a giggle. I couldn’t help it; their laughs were infectious. This was the first time in a long time I had felt comfortable around my brother and his friends and probably the first time ever in a public setting like school. I broke eye contact and looked away, taking a few deep breaths to settle my mind around that.
I looked back up at my brother. A sort of pained look flashed in my brother’s eyes I couldn’t quite read, does he not want to be over here talking to me? The thought that he doesn’t want me shouldn’t sting this bad, since it’s really the only solid emotion I ever get from him, but my heart sank into my stomach. I quickly broke eye contact and looked at the floor again. I don’t want to earn more slaps for someone’s weird fetish over my brother.
“As much as I enjoy making fun of your boy Sam here.” She patted Sam’s arm. “Skylar promised me some food, we were just heading out to eat, if you will excuse us gentlemen.” Sierra basically pushed us through the wall of six-foot-tall guys like it was no big deal and led me toward the parking lot of the training grounds where she left her car this morning. I heard a huff behind us, but I wasn’t sure who it was and couldn’t wait to get out of here as soon as possible.
“How do you already have a car?” I asked, knowing she wasn’t 16 yet.
“I was able to get my license early, with special permission from the Alpha, of course.” She winked at me. “My parents were always so busy researching and working for the Alpha King that I needed a way to get around. As long as I don’t go joyriding or do anything else stupid behind the wheel, I get to keep my license.” She shrugged like that was a totally normal thing. I have a feeling she can talk anyone into just about anything without putting much effort into it.
“Hey!” A shout from behind us had us both turning around just before we got in her car. “I almost forgot, are you guys coming to the bonfire tonight?” Sam came jogging up to us.
