Seven

I woke up at seven and changed before leaving my room. I wandered to the kitchen and sat at the counter.

"Good morning cupcake," Daniel said as he walked in after I finished eating.

"Morning Daniel." I really needed to give him a nickname, since he always calls me cupcake.

"So, what's the activity going to be today?"

Why does he want to hang out with me anyways? Doesn't he have friends here?

"You don't have to hang out with me you know. I'm sure you have friends you'd rather spend time with."

"Actually, I enjoy what we do better. They play video games all day."

"Boring."

"My thoughts exactly. So what did you make me for breakfast."

"Oh, you know, since I just love cooking other people breakfast I made you waffles, eggs, bacon and hash browns."

"I knew I liked you."

I rolled my eyes, "You're gullible."

"Wait, seriously? I have to make my own?"

"Who do you think I am? I am not your maid."

"Well, the position is open."

I gave a small quiet laugh, "Like anyone would apply."

"Which gives you all the opportunity."

I rolled my eyes, "By 'anyone' I was including myself."

"Fine." He sighed dramatically before glancing at my empty bowl, "What did you have?"

"Yogurt, fruit and granola."

"Are you kidding?"

"Nope, it was delicious."

"I'll take your word for it. I'll stick with my bacon."

"I thought you needed to keep," I paused and made sure he noticed that I looked him over, "That how it is."

"That? You mean this sexy ass body?"

"Nope, I meant that." He scowled and I laughed a bit louder as he started cooking his bacon.

He was almost finished eating when I heard Caden coming. "I'll wait outside."

"Why? Oh."

I smiled emotionlessly and left the kitchen but stayed close outside.

"I thought Blake was here." I heard Caden say.

"She was." Daniel replied calmly.

"Oh." I thought he sounded sad but let it go.

"You two need to do something about that." Daniel said and I cursed him in my head.

"I figured we were over the whole avoiding stage."

"Obviously not."

"I see that." Caden said with an edge.

"Hey, I'm just saying."

"I know, sorry. What are you two doing today?" I heard the jealousy and I wondered why he was jealous. I thought this was strictly business for him.

"Don't know yet, she hasn't said."

I heard him whisper something but couldn't make out the words.

"I would do a lot of things for you bro, but that's something I'm not doing, sorry. I think that's all you."

"Okay, yeah yeah, I guess you're right."

"I'm always right." I head Daniels cocky reply.

"Don't push it."

I almost laughed as I heard Daniel smother his laugh with a cough.

"Do you think it's too early to formally introduce her to the pack?"

He was quiet for a while, "I think you should ask her."

I didn't hear a response and assumed he nodded or shrugged.

"Did you two talk before you brought her here?"

Caden sighed, "Not really. Her dad is messed up Dan, he didn't even ask her. He laughed when I asked him when he planned on asking her if this was okay with her."

Wait, he wanted to make sure I was fine with this? My wolf insisted that it was more than business for him but I denied it.

"Yeah, I wanted to punch him. Who does this to their daughter?"

"Who accepts this from a girls father?" I heard Daniel ask and I smiled, way to defend me Daniel! I thought.

Caden got really serious all of a sudden and his voice came out like a growl, "Dan, you know why I did this. You know I didn't do it just because of the deal."

"I know, I know. I get why, I do. Actually, I would've too, in that case. I just- it sucks for her."

"Yeah. I really do get why she hates me. I would avoid me too. I just don't know what to do. I really don't Dan. She doesn't want to talk to me."

"Can you blame her?"

"No. I just hope she doesn't compare me to her father."

"She talked to you last night though."

"Yeah, maybe a minute." I heard the jealousy and decided I wasn't imagining it.

"Stop acting like the alpha you and be the relaxed guy, the guy people like you for."

"Ah Dan, I think I might cry. That may have been the sweetest thing you ever said to me," I heard Caden sniffle and I had to try not to laugh. I guess he had a sense of humour too, which shocked me.

"Whatever. You know what I mean though right?"

"It's hard talking to her and not thinking about it though."

"I can see that."

I heard them both sigh and almost laughed again, they have a lot more in common, at least by the way of gestures, than I thought.

"How do I get her to trust me?"

"Stop acting like there's a stick up your ass." Daniel said and I could just picture Caden scowling as he growled.

"Dan."

"Hey! Don't growl at me. We both know even I wouldn't want to talk to you if you were all business all the time. She doesn't know you, and she never will at this rate. Caden seriously, just be you. And calm the hell down."

"Calm down? I know you're right about the rest but calm down?"

"You could strangle an elephant with the tenseness in the air when you're in the room. How do you think she feels?"

"God I'm an idiot-"

"I know."

"Dan." He growled and I almost laughed. How didn't I realize they were brothers?

"Okay, I don't want to keep her waiting."

"Oh yeah sorry, I got thinking."

"You have to stop doing that too."

"What? Thinking? Dan-"

"No, over thinking. Stop thinking about what to say, how to act, what to do, what to ask. Instead just do what feels right."

"Oh god, my brother is a softie." Caden sighed and you could almost hear the smirk. I wanted him to talk to me like he did his brother. Relaxed and calm, not businesslike and all alpha-like.

"Asshole. I'm trying to help."

"I know. You know I don't do the serious thing with feelings."

"Trust me. I know."

They both gave a light laugh and Caden's was low and smooth. I thought Daniel's was contagious, but Caden's was even more so.

"Thanks Dan."

"No problem bro."

"See you around."

I didn't hear his response but ran to the garage to make it look like I was not eavesdropping.

"What took you so long?" I asked as Daniel walked up.

"I was talking to Caden."

I nodded and looked away to the shed.

"Blake, h-"

"Not now, okay?" I knew by his tone that it was about Caden, not to mention he used my name rather than cupcake. You know it's serious when.

He sighed but nodded, "So, what's on the agenda for today?"

"What do you normally do? Just bike, swim, hike or run?"

"Pretty much, although sometimes I switch it up and play a sport, but there's only two of us."

I nodded, "That's a problem. Do you have tennis? Badminton?"

"Yeah, tennis courts. I don't know if we have rackets."

"I have four that I brought."

"Four?"

"Yeah, I bought... extras."

"Do you break them a lot or something?"

I smiled but it came out sad, "No. I bought one for my sister, brother, and mom."

"Oh. Well, we can break them in."

"Okay. Sounds good."

"We don't have to though."

"No, it's fine. I'll go grab them." I jogged to the house and slipped inside going straight to the stairs.

I climbed up two flights and realized Caden was close. I climbed another and realized he was closer. Damn, I hope he's not in his room, I really need to move my things.

I leaned against the wall at the top of the stairs and took a couple deep breaths for courage before walking up to the door.

I raised my hand to knock but he opened the door before I could.

"You don't have to knock, its your room too."

"I told you-"

"Well, your welcome to it at any time."

I nodded and he stepped aside so I walked in slowly, "Do you mind if I grab something from the closet?"

"Of course not. Whatever you like."

I knew what his brother meant by alpha him and the relaxed him. He sounded so different talking with his brother. In a way I wish he would be like that with me, but in another I wanted him to keep his distance at maximum length.

I went into the closet and grabbed two rackets before heading back out into the room.

"Tennis?" He asked.

"Yeah. I get to choose what we do today."

"Oh right, the bet." He had jealousy in his voice again but I wasn't even sure if he cared at all. How could you be jealous and not care? And how could you care but act like everything is business?

I nodded.

"Blake-"

"Daniel's waiting, sorry, I have to go." I really wanted to ask him questions about this morning but I couldn't without him knowing I was listening. And I had no idea where I stood with him right now. My wolf was telling me he cared but common sense told me he saw me as an alliance former, in a way.

"Right, of course, sorry."

It was silent for a moment before I nodded and turned around to leave. I had walked a few paces before he spoke and I stopped moving but didn't turn around to face him.

"If tonight is too early, I get it. We can wait until you're ready... for the announcement, I mean."

"Whatever."

He nodded and I left. I jogged down the stairs to meet Daniel.

"Well, what took you so long?" He wiggled his eyebrows.

"He was in his room and I had to get to the closet."

"Please tell me you didn't wait until he left."

"No! I just asked to get something."

"It's your room too."

"Why does everyone say that? It's his." I said and grabbed a few birdies before turning to him, "So? Winner chooses tomorrow?"

"You bet."