“No,” they both reply.
“This isn’t killing you?” I let out a frustrated breath.
“We try not to think about it,” Sonia looks down.
“Sorry… I think I’m going to head back. I need my mom.” I laugh at the last part… needing my mom, like a pup.
“Oh, hey Kate,” I’m pulled out of my thoughts by the most annoying, nails on the chalkboard, high-pitched voice. “I didn’t realize you’re back from Chicago,” she laughs.
“New York. I was in New York, Nikki,” scoffing, “nice to see you too.” I narrow my eyes and purse my lips. Nikki is the poorest excuse of a she-wolf with no moral compass. She is two years older than me and was one of the pack’s tramps, as well as one of Ian’s whores. Nikki enjoyed tormenting me with the fact she continued sleeping with him after she found out he and I were mated.She didn’t care.
Chapter twelve
Get A Hold Of Yourself
**March 2000**
Kate
Istumbledownstairs,followingthe smell of bacon, sausage, eggs, blueberry muffins, waffles, and hash browns. Wonder why mom is cooking so much food? I step off the bottom tread and hear multiple voices coming from the kitchen.What’s going on?I rub my eyes and step into the kitchen.
“Kelsey!” I shout seeing my brother standing in the kitchen with a piece of bacon hanging from his mouth. I jump into his arms, so happy to see my brother home from school. It’s been six months, far too long.
“Hey, angel.” I hear the sweet sound of Ian’s voice from behind me. Pulling away from my brother, I turn into Ian’s waiting arms. I squeeze him tight, not wanting to let him go. “I’ve missed you, angel,” he whispers in my ear.
“Oh, good grief, Kate. Go put some damn clothes on.” My dad snaps, looking up from his newspaper. I look at my tank top and short shorts and giggle at my dad’s reaction.
“Sorry dad,” I slip from Ian’s arms.
“We’re going fishing after breakfast, so wear something comfortable.” Ian holds my hands in his. I nod and take off for my room.
“Hey Zane,” I say, running past him.
“What? No hug? I’m like chopped liver.” He takes a bite of his blueberry muffin.
After we feast on the huge breakfast mom prepared for everyone, the guys and I cleaned the kitchen. I’m so excited to have them all home, even if it’s just for the weekend. Kelsey complains that they’re missing a raging kegger to be here, but I ignore him. He’s always complaining about something.
Soon we load into two different golf carts and head for the lake, just the four of us. Just like the old days, Ian insists on baiting my hook. We cast our lines and sit on the soft grass at the lake’s edge. We make small talk about school and what we’ve been up to. This is my third year attending the boarding school here in the pack’s land. I live at school Monday through Thursday, coming home on Friday after school. Not everyone has the luxury of going home on the weekends, but when your dad is the gamma and you’re his princess, you get special privileges. Ian is a business major, just like Zane and Kelsey, and he claims his classes are relatively easy.
“So, with such easy classes, what do you do with the rest of your time?” I adjust my line.
“Ummm…” Ian seems to be at a loss for words. Zane and Kelsey laugh. “Well, there are lots of things to do on campus.”
“Like parties?” I look from my line to him.
“Yeah… there are parties.” We hear Zane shout; I turn and see the water break as Zane reels in the massive fish. Ian jumps up and rushes over to help him. I find the entire interaction with Ian about parties odd, like he didn’t want to talk about it. Just weird.
“Hell Yeah!” Zane shouts, lifting the huge catfish over his head. “You know what this means, right Kate?”
“Bonfire!” I excitedly shout.
“Bonfire!” The three guys shout back. I giggle. I’m so happy they’re here, especially Ian.
We continue to laugh and fish the day away, each of us catching an enormous fish. Ian’s mom brought us a cooler full of sandwiches, fresh fruit, and water. Slowly, our friends arrive and soon a gigantic pile of logs and fallen tree branches are intricately stacked ten feet tall. As the sun goes down, the silence of the forest is drowned out with loud music and laughter. They light the logs and prepare the fish to be cooked.
“Ian… babe… there you are.” The most annoying high-pitched voice belonging to Nikki, one of the pack’s whores. “I’ve been missing you all day. Your blocks are up, and I couldn’t contact you.” She whines and then pushes her body under his arm and wraps her arm around his waist. I purse my lips and cock my lips to the side. I hate Nikki.
“My blocks are not up. I was ignoring you.” He wiggles out of her grip, staring at me.