Having “The Talk”

Zayla

The run home takes a surprisingly long time, and it’s dark outside by the time I make it back to the house. Walking in the front door, I hear the hushed chatter of my parents in the living room.

Knowing I have to walk past them in order to get into my room, I halt my movements to suck in a deep breath.

My need to hold onto my happiness for just a moment longer is stronger than ever…fuck, I just need a break.

Walking at a quick pace, I try to pass them quietly and fast. But of course it’s a pointless act.

“Zayla, come here for a minute.” My father’s voice carries loudly through the house as soon as my hand touches my door.

“Of course he waits until I reach my door before he fucking calls me,” I can’t help but let out in an angry whisper.

Turning and walking back into the living room, I spot both my parents standing by the fire. Keeping my distance, I stop at the other side of the room, crossing my arms over my chest.

My father lets out a quick cough, clearing his throat. “Zayla, we need to talk to you about earlier.”

Sighing loudly, I’m unable to hide my irritation. Like, honestly, come the fuck on!

“No, I don’t think we do,” I say after a few minutes.

“Zayla, don’t talk to your father that way. Now sit down and just listen.” My mother’s voice is stern, yet I can hear the clear and uncomfortable sorrow that bleeds through it.

“No, I’m fine, I’ll stand.” My tone is short and clipped.

“Zay, you know that we love you right?” my dad says with a deep breath. “After talking to Paisley, I realized that what the twins and I said may have come out too harshly, and was led by misinformation.”

When I scoff at his statement, he stops short, raising an eyebrow at me.

“So you’re basically sorry I took it the wrong way?” I raise my eyebrow back at him, my tone becoming more bitter by the moment. “Tell me, Dad, how the fuck does one take what you said the wrong way?”

“That’s not what I meant, Zayla.” His voice is a sighing whisper, but my hurt from earlier is still burning in my mind.

My wolf and I are just so sick of everyone’s shit, which is why I don’t stop the “Fuck you!” that leaves them.

“Zayla!” my mom gasps out, trying to sooth my father by rubbing circles in his arm. The move makes my wolf and me snap.

“No, I mean it! Fuck you! Fuck both of you! Fuck both of you and those fucking sons of yours too!” The words fall out of my mouth so fast, I couldn’t catch them if I tried.

My mom looks taken back, but my father looks pissed yet remorseful. His teeth gritting together so hard they sound like they’re about to break, he says, “Are you done?”

“Considering I now know what my family really thinks of me, abso-fucking-lutely.”

“We’ve never thought anything bad about you, Zayla, Jesus fucking Christ—we’re your family! We were just worried about you! You’re messing with mate bonds! You can never undo that, the bond is permanent!”

My dad continues to look shameful while my mom always tries to salvage the situation. Rolling my eyes, I can’t help but let the hurt I’m feeling start to show on my face.

“Don’t you think I know that? Of course I know that.”

“Why didn’t you tell us about Soren?” My dad’s voice holds a slight falter as he watches a tear roll down my cheek.

I tried so hard to keep my anger in place, to hide the pain that came with almost every slight rejection I got from Soren.

Tried not to let it out in every fight my parents and I have had the last few days—but I can’t hold it in any longer.

Allowing sobs to rack my body, I finally lay everything out to my unsuspecting parents.

“I knew you wouldn’t believe me. I mean, why would you? Who would believe that I found my mate at such a young age?

“Who would believe that I’ve felt nothing but a game of emotional tug-of-war from him over and fucking over!

“Who would believe me when I say that as soon as I feel like he gives a shit about me, he pulls away! Only to come back hours later to kiss my head goodnight… But only if he believes I’m sleeping!

“Do you know what it’s like? What feeling that rejection from the one person who’s supposed to love you is like? Do you know how it feels when your wolf blames you for their mate not wanting them?”

Taking in a deep breath, I try to calm myself before continuing.

“I know what happened in your past, but Dad, Mom has always wanted you, she always showed she cared about you.

“And even when she fucked up…well, at least you knew what she fucking looked like. And that’s more than my mate gives me.”

“What’s going on?” Draxel’s voice rings out clearly. The tension in the room is strong enough to taste it. Using him as a distraction, I start heading to my room.

Draxel’s hand reaches out and grabs my arm before I can pass him.

“Zay, what’s going on?”

Rolling my eyes, I rip my arm from his hold.

“Not that it fucking matters.”

As I’m walking to my room right before I’m about to close the door, Draxel’s voice hits my ears, his tone holding power and finality.

“We’re having a family barbecue at five. You will be there, Zayla! Kimber and I have an announcement to make.”

Ripping my door back open, I lock eyes with, now, both of the twins, my parents standing still behind them, their faces completely blank.

“Don’t fucking ever try to use your alpha command on me again! I don’t give a fuck who you are! I’m sick of all of you!”

Draxel’s and Drayden’s eyes widen slightly as I continue, “I’m half-fucking-ready to become a rogue—at least then I won’t have to deal with your fucking stupid asses!”

Slamming the door, I run over and throw myself on my bed. Tears I was holding in earlier are now running down my face in an endless stream.

My body continues to let out all of the emotions I’ve been holding in for so long. All the rejection, the anger, the hurt.

And when my body finally has had enough and my mind finally starts to feel released, my consciousness slips away, allowing me something I crave more than anything: a moment of peace.