Tasting 45

45–They Like Checking Me Out

Nors

“Tell me what happened?” Lord Atwood’s tone shifted, and he glared

at Shas

“He pressured her into doing his work and then ripped his hoodie off her when she felt cold and

tried to cover herself with it. She was crying, and he was looming over her, ready to hit her.” Ryker,

who now seemed eager to pin my responsibility on his brother’s shoulders. was no longer defending

Silas

I silently observed them pulling each other’s legs. After all, they had made me cry in the morning.

However, what I failed to notice was that Nash had stopped eating and was now glaring at his

brothers.

“She hit me first.” Silas slammed his hand on the table and groaned in his deep voice.

“She should have kicked your ass for that,” just as I watched Lord Atwood about to say something.

Nash angrily intervened.

“Do you have any shame?” he continued to berate his brother, but I observed him with a raised

evebrow.

“And you didn’t say anything to him until now?” Nash turned his attention to Ryker, but he wasn’t as

loud as one might expect.

“Brother! It’s nice that you have morals. I just want to know what happened between Nora and you

the other day when she came out of your locked bedroom crying like she had been struck with the

meanest words ever?” his statement caused Silas to look at Nash.

11–He Wants Me To Be Me

Atwood questioned, and I glanced around at the brothers. Nash had his head down in his cereal

bowl, while Cain and the others watched me.

“Yeah, I woke up late,” feeling like the perpetual disappointment, It responded. I should have just

told Dad everything.

“Um, Dad, I need to ask you something,” I adjusted in my seat, avoiding the stares.

“Sure, it’ll be the first time you’re asking for something,” Dad, unlike his sons, was calm and sweet,

not just to me but to everyone in the pack. His sons were the biggest douchebags I had ever seen.

“There’s this party at the royal beta’s house, thrown by his daughter April. I was thinking if I could go

there with Natalya,” I uttered, watching him smile at me.

“I am glad you are making friends. And why not?” He smiled but before I could completely

celebrate, he intervened in my happiness.

“You can have a fun night without anyone judging you or upsetting. you. Ryker will tag along for the

night to make sure you are safe,” the instant he said his name, I saw the brothers silently laughing

as if it was the worst thing to ever happen to someone. In fact, Ryker seemed offended, and then he

did what I least expected from him, especially since he and I had been bonding a lot better than with

the others.

“Why me? You should ask Silas who made her cry in the morning,” everyone went silent, and Silas

grunted. However, now we had to tell. our dad what happened between us in the morning.

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45 They Like Checking Me Dut

“Were you saying something?” Silas smirked.

“Nora!”

As they argued, Lord Atwood yelled my name, and I jumped in my

scat.

“I’m sending you papers, sign them,” dad said, and I narrowed my eyes in bewilderment.

“What papers?” I asked softly.

“The delay in the coronation of these two who don’t seem to understand a simple thing: they’re not

supposed to be rude to you,” as soon as he pointed at Silas and Nash, the two groaned.

“We didn’t mean to do it on purpose,” Nash grunted, “Why are you giving her so much priority over

us?”

They were back to arguing about the same thing over and over again. I took a deep breath while

they now babbled incoherent words to their father. I steadily pushed my chair back and stood up.

They all fell silent as I stood tall. “Dad, I don’t think I’ll need any of this tonight. Remember Natalya,

the girl who killed the monster? She’s willing to take care of me,” I said in the driest tone and then

bowed slightly before my father before stepping away.

“What did she mean by that?” I heard Nash grab.

“She meant we’re unable to take care of her because we’re not as strong as her friend,” I bet Ryker

scoffed and rolled his eyes.

After that, I could no longer hear them because I had stepped away into my bedroom.

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45–They Like Checking Me Out

‘I think we’ll be fine tonight,‘ I told Akira, searching for a dress for the night.

‘I got you. I might not be as powerful as them, and I might be in a cage, but I’m sure there will be

someone willing to save your life,‘ her taunt made me roll my eyes. She had me in the first half.

‘Akira! I can’t let you out. If word gets out, they’ll ask us to transition. and get a rank. Let them think

we’re Omegas for now,‘ I said as I grabbed a mini black dress with golden t–strap shoes.

A knock on the door grabbed my attention, “It’s open.”

I walked back to the bed and laid down the dress while Lord Atwood entered the room with a huge

smile on his lips.

“Dad, what’s up?” I asked, noticing that he looked a little sad.

“I don’t know why my sons are so difficult towards you. You’re such a nice kid; they should be happy

to have a sister around,” he sighed, checking my dress and then looking happy.

“Please enjoy your time. I’ll send a driver and a guard with you as well just in case,” now that he

knew Natalya would be there, he didn’t look too worried.

“I won’t worry. As for them,” I mentioned the brothers, “I don’t want to sign the papers yet. Let’s give

them one more chance,” I wasn’t doing this for them, but for their father. I know the more time they

take to achieve the crowns, the more it will be delayed, and the packs will

sufler.

“I wish–,” he suddenly paused and then shook his head, “never mind.

Go have fun.”

After patting my arm gently, he left the room. I went to shower and

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returned to do my makeup. Whenever I get annoyed with someone or someone upsets me, I spend

some time with myself. I do my hair and my makeup and then just wash it all off and go to bed. But

for the first time in my life, I had somewhere to go after getting ready.

I walked downstairs in my high heels with much care. I could see the brothers sitting with their

father in the living room, talking about pack matters when they suddenly fell silent.

“Nora! My daughter looks like a princess,” Lord Atwood voiced, smiling comfortably at me.

“Thank you, I’ll come back home a little late; hope that would be fine,” I said, avoiding the eyes of

the. brothers who I noticed had gone silent

too.

While watching my dad. I could see their faces too from my peripheral vision. Ryker had his head

down, but his eyes were peeking through his thick eyebrows. Cain was using his phone with one

hand in his hoodie’s pocket, but he had raised the phone to such a height that one might think he

was taking a picture of me. Nash was cracking his knuckles and neck, acting like he hadn’t seen

me, but I swear our eyes met a few times when he pretended not to look.

As for Cain, he wasn’t shying away from scanning me. I watched him. rub his chin and then stare at

me from head to toe, making me squeeze a little in my body and then gulp..

“It will be fine as long as you are safe and happy. The driver will drop you off and wait for you

outside,” dad uttered.

“There will be no need. He can come back, and I will call him when I am ready to head back home,”

I knew the pack members would feel very conscious with the royal guard and driver outside the

mansion where they are partying. So I suggested I would just give them a call to

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17

pick me up when I am ready.

“Sure, have a great night,” Lord Atwood smiled and began to look at the papers again, but I noticed

the brothers now looking at me directly.

It didn’t stop me, and I turned around to leave for the party for the first time in my life.