Chapter 15
I stared at my reflection in the mirror and cringed. Death warmed over would''ve been an improvement.
The cut on my head had swollen into a nice little ck and purple goose egg. I had dark bags under
my eyes, and I still had a sicklyplexion. I went and got the basics out of my backpack: brush,
toothbrush, and some makeup, and tackled the daunting task of trying to make myself appear
somewhat like a normal and functioning human being. I was only halfway through with my hair when I
heard someone let themselves in.
"Oh yikes," Kara said as she joined me in the bathroom. "Here, let me help." She took the brush out of
my hands before I could answer and started working on my hair.
Okay then. "Thanks."
"No problem-o. Misses W wanted to check up on you and talk some more."
"What about?"
"She didn''t tell me. Probably doctor stuff." Kara shrugged and started rummaging through my makeup
case.
"You know, I can do that myself right?"
"Yeah, well, I don''t really have any girlfriends so indulge me, kay?" Again, she didn''t wait for an answer
before getting started.
When she finished, I wasn''t half bad, if you could ignore the ck and purple goose egg. "Thanks."
"No problem-o. As I said, I have no girlfriends really."
"Why not?"
"I''m allergic to bullshit and have no fucks to give to all these drama mas. Come on, let''s take you to
Misses W."
Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!
"Lead the way," I said, not exactly eager. I wasn''t going to be leaving anytime soon.
Kara led me to a small office on the ground floor. The alpha and his wife were there waiting for us. Kara
showed me inside and left. "How are you feeling?" Emily asked.
"Good. My head doesn''t hurt so much, and I''m not sick."
"We spoke to your motherst night. Let her know you were here and being cared for. She''s made it
abundantly clear that although your condition has improved, you are not allowed to leave this house
until she arrives this evening."
Uh-oh, that didn''t sound good. "What about Mike and his dad? Do they..."
"Unless your mother or her husband told them, they are unaware of your current location," Alpha Brent
said.
"So what now?"
"That''s for you and your mother to decide tonight. For now, go eat and enjoy the day," he replied.
"Yeah, sure. Thanks."
Kara was waiting for me outside. "You are so going to be grounded until you''re eighty," she said,
grinning.
"How did you know?"
"Super hearing, duh! Come on. Let''s go see what the others are up to." Without waiting for me to reply,
she linked her arm through mine and dashed down the hall. I stumbled, trying to keep up with her. After
another amazing amount of turns and twists, we stopped at arge gym. Andy and Dean were in some
kind of weightliftingpetition or something. Instinct mmed into me, I dug my heels in, forcing Kara
to stop when I noticed the girl with them.
It was Beth, Mike''s sister. She words hit as hard as her brother''s fists. "Actually, I think I might get sick
again. I should go back..."
"No, you don''t," Dean shouted, making me jump. "I want you to witness how badly I beat Andy here."
"You heard him," Kara said with augh, dragging me inside. "What are you two doing now?"
"This dork thinks he can bench press more than I can," Andy said as lifted up the bar back onto the
rack, several ck tes were on each side. "That''s three-fifty right there. Let''s see if you can do that
one."
"Please! I can do it in my sleep," Dean said, giving me a wink as he sat down when Andy got up.
"Big talk little man," Andy replied then gave Kara one hell of a kiss. With a blush, I turned away. Beth''s
face was twisted in obvious envy, and when she noticed me watching, she narrowed her eyes at me.
Right, so there was that. I looked away from her and watched Dean, lift the bar off the rack. Clearly
struggling, he lowered and then lifted the weight before returning it to the rack.
"Boom, baby." Dean sat up with a bright grin.
"Barely," Andy said then waved at me. "How are you? That is one hell of a bump you got there."
"I was fine until you said that," I said, adjusting my bangs to cover the goose egg.
"So you still set on leaving?"
"No, not yet. Mom won''t let me," I told him.
Beth let out a nasty snicker, rolling her eyes.
"Great," Dean said in a near squeal. "With you, it won''t be so awkward with those two making out all
the time." He hugged me to him. I gasped as his arm pressed against one of the fresher bruises and he
jumped back. "Oh damn, sorry," he said, looking guilty.
"It''s okay. Don''t worry about it."
"It hurt a lot? I''m sure Emily can give you something for that," Kara offered.
"No, it''s fine. Really."
"If you''re sure," Dean said andid his arm around my shoulders, this time a lot more careful. "So let''s
show you around. Come on, guys."
"What''s the point if she''s going to be leaving tonight?" Beth said, looking like she''d rather I was
anywhere else but there.
"She might not be," Andy said. "Besides we want people to feel wee here. Come on Brook. This
ce has everything."
He wasn''t kidding. There was a room for movies, an indoor swimming pool, sunrooms, a library,
studies, and so much more. It was lunch by time the tour was finished. "So Brook, do you have any
questions about us?" Andy asked as we sat around therge table in the kitchen.
"I guess..." I wasn''t sure what to ask. Kara waved her hand for me to continue. "So you guys really
don''t see human as a bad thing or the whole parents aren''t mate thing?"
Beth made a disgusted scoff, rolling her eyes.
"Problem?" Andy demanded, giving Beth a cold nce.
Her eyes widened then shook her head. "I don''t get why you all are so nice to her, pretending it''s okay
she''s human and not Harry''s daughter. Not only is she a risk, but he''s an insult to the beta." Beth grew
flustered as Andy grew angrier. "Look what''s the big deal. It''s how it is. Missy knows this so what
gives?"
"Missy?" Dean asked, crossing his arms over his chest.
"Missy Mistake," I told them. "That was my name for them, back there." I wasn''t trying to make things
harder for Beth. She obviously liked Andy, but I owed her nothing and wasn''t about to do her any
favors.
Andy looked like he was about to jump over the table at Beth but Kara wrapped her arms around his
and gave him a little tug. "Andy, she''s not worth you getting in trouble," Kara told him. The anger
slipped from him as he nodded, sitting back down.
"In this pack, there is nothing wrong with being human," Dean said, shaking his head at Beth.
"Nor is being born outside of a mated couple," Andy jumped it. "It''s not an everyday thing, but it
happens. Most cases are like yours. One of the pair is human, Others are like mine, and it just causes
tensions in the family. My step dad and I tend to butt heads a lot. It''s worse between my dad and him.
They typically can''t be in the same room together."
Understanding dawned in Beth''s expression, and she looked ready to cry. Now I did pity her. "Okay this
is probably another dumb question, but what exactly does mate mean? I thought it was just your way of
saying, husband or wife."
The others snickered at my question and my cheeks warm in embarrassment.
"It''s a little moreplicated than that," Kara replied, grinning at Andy who shared her grin.
"Well mates," Dean started, wagging his eyebrows at me.
"Is Ryder''s job to exin to her," Andy said, giving him a pointed look. "Sorry Brook, but that''s usually
something Ryder is supposed to do. Like he was supposed to be the one to tell you that you were his
mate."
"But he''s not here. He''s back there pretending to be Dean, and I''ll probably be leaving tonight with my
mom."
"B-but Brookie," Dean said with a silly puppy dog pout.
"No offense, but why do you want to go so badly?" Kara asked.
Mike. "Lot''s of reasons," I said with a shrug.
"You know you''re safe here, right?" Dean told me. "They can''t get to you here."
My throat tightened and tempted to cry. I hated that they seemed to be able to see right through me.
Kara gasped with excessive dramatics. "Oh my God. He actually said something intelligent!" She held
her heart and leaned into Andy.
"You guys are so mean to him."
Dean put his arm around my shoulders, hugging me again. "See Brookie! You can''t leave. I need you
to be my backup."