Chapter 4

MISTY

“Misty!” My mom reprimanded me from the door. “Apologize!”

“I damn well won’t,” I hissed aggressively. I ran to the bathroom, sat on the toilet, and fumed, wishing I was with Chelsea.

After a quick shower, I donned jeans and a T-shirt and walked into the kitchen to find my parents eating lunch. My dad looked annoyed but had a mouth full of food, and my mom shook her head at me.

“What?” I asked.

“There is no need for you to eat with us if you don’t apologize to Josh,” she said, her eyes shooting daggers at me.

“Did you hear what he said? And why was he here anyway?”

“He dropped something off for me,” my dad replied. “What did he say?”

Taking a deep breath, I recounted. “Nice ass, I heard you like to wallow. What is the deal with him and Beta Anthony?”

My mother frowned. “That was rude—what did he mean by wallow?”

“Didn’t you see my muddy backside? A rung broke during the ladder traverse, and I fell into the puddle. Then, the lever broke in the shower, and now I have a mark against me.

“And according to Beta Anthony, I’ll be punished soon. I had a really trying morning. Thanks for carting me to this militant pack, Dad,” I snapped.

“Misty,” my dad scowled. “I don’t know what you did, but you flooded the entire changeroom, and the maintenance team is not happy with you.”

I gaped at him. “The lever came off in my hand, Dad. I didn’t pull it off. You know these things happen around me. I can’t help it!”

“I know, but you need to be careful. As a beta’s daughter, I expect you to behave with decorum. And you can’t just slap someone…”

“Did you know that the O-Team is labeled as outcasts? And ~two~ hours of daily training,” I ranted.

“You’ll get used to it, honey,” she said, but I saw the guilt on her face.

I stomped to the bedroom to call Chelsea.

“Happy birthday, bestie,” I smiled when her face popped up.

She took one look at me and asked. “What’s wrong? I know that face and fake smile.”

“Chels, I can’t even begin to tell you. My phone is going to switch off, and I have to be back at work. I’ll call you later. Promise.”

“Okay,” she agreed, a frown on her face, but I cut the call quickly, not wanting to rehash everything or tell her that a stranger hated me for no reason at all.

Deep down, I felt incredibly hurt. I’d been bullied before, but it had never gotten to me the way it was now. Back then, Chelsea had always been by my side, but now I felt adrift and alone.

We spent the rest of the day folding mountains of clothes and popping them into the bins for collection. After seeing all the colors, I was glad I wasn’t wearing luminous green or yellow.

It was brainless work, but it did allow me to get to know Dawn and Perry a little better and learn about the inner workings of this pack.

I had an epiphany—equality wasn’t a big thing in packs.

~“Alpha has always been the one in charge,”~ Cammy mused.

~“Yeah, but I don’t have to like it. I want freedom.”~

By 6 p.m., I was exhausted. I walked home and went straight to bed without supper. I didn’t even have the energy to talk, never mind eat. To my surprise, I found the muddy uniform washed and folded on my bed, my sneakers squeaky clean.

Charging my phone, I fell asleep before calling Chelsea back.

***

The week flew by in a blur, and every day I found myself scanning for Lloyd—half-hoping, half-dreading I’d catch sight of him. When I did, my instinct was to bolt in the opposite direction, heart pounding with embarrassment.

But on the days I didn’t see him at all, an inexplicable sadness settled in my chest, which I couldn’t understand.

Like Dawn and Perry, I wore the uniform every morning—it was a pain to change. Although I missed Chelsea fiercely, both had become friends.

Everyone seemed tired and on edge—not surprising, given our schedule. We were cleaning the lanes at the bowling alley while wearing white disposable overalls, gloves, and booties.

I couldn’t wait for Sunday. I intended to sleep late and spend hours talking to my bestie.

“When does anyone have time to play?” I asked them. “Besides Sundays.”

“It’s only been like this for the last three months. Before, we only worked five days a week, and you only had to do basic training, but then Alpha went into overdrive,” Perry said.

“Why?” I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.

Three months? Why did Uncle Zack need my dad’s help? It looked like he had it under control. Something weird was going on.

Perry shrugged. “No idea. Anyway, tomorrow I’m going to binge-watch ~Archer~ and not move from the couch,” he said, getting up and stretching his back.

“I’m going to spend hours talking to Chelsea while I eat a whole bag of chips.”

“I have to help sort out my dad’s garage, but in the afternoon, I’m going to laze on the back porch and read,” Dawn said, getting to her feet and moving to the next lane.

Perry hopped across the lane, ran, and slid on the booties, stopping just before the pins. “You’re seventeen, right?” I nodded. “Why didn’t you stay at Monolith Pack?”

I considered for a moment and then decided to go with the truth. “I didn’t have a choice. My last alpha didn’t want me to stay, and Alpha Zack accepted me as a favor.”

Dawn sat on her butt and stared at me. “Really? Did your last alpha dislike you?”

“Kind of,” I admitted.

“Why?”

“He didn’t like my sparkling personality.”

Perry let out a braying laugh, which was cut off when the door banged open, and Beta Anthony stood in the doorway.

“A little less talk and more work,” he snarled.

“Yes, Beta,” Perry and Dawn said.

I didn’t bother responding, but I saw his glare and got the distinct feeling he didn’t like my dad or me. Could it be because he’d lost some power? Josh obviously felt the same way, judging by his behavior.

“I have an idea,” Dawn said. “If you’re up for it, we can go to Sleazy’s later on.”

“What’s Sleazy’s?”

“It’s this dark and dingy nightclub in Gardenview, the next town over. You get on the dancefloor and just dance. It’s fun and cheap, and you never lack for dance partners.”

I grinned. This was just what I needed. “What time?”

“Around ten. Can’t get there too early.”

“I’m in,” I said and high-fived her.

We finished cleaning the bowling alley and trudged wearily to the training ground. I liked it when training was late in the day because I could go straight home and avoid the changerooms. After what happened, I was wary.

“Who’s the archery trainer?” I asked Dawn when I spotted a muscular she-wolf with tightly braided hair.

“That’s trainer Astrid. She’s okay but likes to stand near the targets like she has a death wish.”

Oh hell, this didn’t bode well for me. Surprisingly, I’d made it through the week without earning another mark.

“Shit, I’ve never used a bow and arrow before,” I confided.

“And the wind is gusting, which makes it much more difficult,” Perry remarked.

“Oh good, we’re paired with the M-Team. They suck as badly as we do,” Dawn said when she spotted the lime green uniforms. “And they are much friendlier. See the one with the long red hair?” I nodded. “My sister Fallon.”

I counted five and was delighted with such a small team.

Fallon came running. “Finally, I get to meet the star of the changeroom fiasco. I want to shake your hand, and maybe you could autograph my arm,” she said guilelessly.

I burst out laughing. “Nice to meet you, Fallon. I see lime green does nothing for your vibrant hair.”

“Yeah, in truth, I think Alpha is color-blind.”

I giggled.

Trainer Astrid clapped her hands. “Everyone, collect a bow and a couple of arrows.”

We all grabbed bows and arrows and waited for further instructions. Trainer Astrid stood in front of me, her hands behind her back. “You’re Misty?”

“Yes, Trainer Astrid.”

“Your reputation precedes you. Have you ever used a bow and arrow?”

Goddess, had Uncle Zack told everyone? Or maybe it was Beta Anthony—he seemed the type—

“No, Trainer Astrid.”

“Right, then let me show you.”

She spent ten minutes teaching me how to hold the bow, slot the arrow in, and aim. But hitting the target was difficult, and as Perry predicted, the wind blowing directly toward us made the arrows fall short.

Perry, Dawn, Fallon, and I used the extreme right-hand target, and I was thankful Astrid wasn’t standing next to that one. I didn’t want to earn a mark because I shot her in the head or something.

Lloyd was absent, and I could let my guard down. Training was almost over, and I was surprised at how much I had enjoyed myself.

“Right, last try,” Astrid shouted.

When it was my turn, I focused, recalling her instructions. This time, I would wait for the wind to die before loosening my arrow. I wanted to hit the target at least once.

I ignored the banter behind me—or tried to. Annoyed that the wind had died down just as I slotted my arrow into the bow, I’d have to wait for the next lull. Squinting down the arrow, I sighted the target.

“Well, looky here. Alpha, with the hot beta,” Perry whispered.

“He’s so much bigger than Alpha,” Dawn sighed.

“And what a fine ass,” Fallon giggled.

Breathing out, I focused on the target as a gust of wind blew my hair out of my face. And then Cammy screamed, ~“Mate.”~

I jerked in fright, the wind died, and my fingers slipped off the arrow. It sailed high and in a perfect arc straight toward the gray-haired wolf, whose back was turned.

~“You shot at our mate,”~ Cammy said in despair.