Pack of Lies

by Sara Dailey

  In my search for the one person I shouldn’t be searching for, I saw Teagan coming my way, so I waved.

  “Hey Allison. So, how was your morning?” she asked as we headed toward the cafeteria together.

  “It was okay,” was all I had the chance to say. because as soon as we walked in I immediately heard my name being shouted. It was Aiden and Sammy, waving me over to their table. The pack’s table.

  “You’re friends with them?” Teagan asked, her eyebrows furrowed in a confused-disappointed-shocked combo.

  “Not really. Well sort of. My brother is, I guess. Do you want to sit with us?” I asked hesitantly.

  “Uh… I’m going to go with no. But thanks. It’s okay. Really. I’ll see ya later.”

  “Sure,” was all I managed to say before Teagan high-tailed it toward the other side of the cafeteria. Bummed to see my new friend leave, I warily headed over to join the pack; definitely not sure if I would ever consider them as friends.

  Before I could even sit my bag down at the table Kendall said, “Look who made a friend. That’s sweet really, but just so you know, we don’t usually mingle with the domestics, especially that freak. She seems a little damaged if you know what I mean.”

  Was the girl serious? Channeling my inner mean girl, I snapped back, “She doesn’t seem damaged to me, but I’ll keep that in mind, Kendall. You do realize that my dad is a domestic, right?” Not giving her the pleasure of waiting for a response, I chose a seat as far away from her as possible and then proceeded to dig in my bag for lunch money.

  Seconds later, Cade, looking a bit stressed, dropped his backpack on the table near Kendall and let out a small huff. Kendall immediately stood behind him and started rubbing his shoulders. “What’s wrong with my baby?” she cooed in his ear.

  Gag!

  “Nothing, I’m fine. Let’s eat,” he said as he shrugged out of her grip and got up to head to the serving line, leaving Kendall behind standing there looking quite disappointed. I looked around, noticing everyone else at the table suddenly wore the same expression, the what’s-up-with-Cade face. And I had to hide my smile, thankful to not have to see Cade and Kendall hanging all over each other.

  Chapter 14

  Cade

  I hurried off to the lunch line hoping that Kendall wouldn’t follow me. I needed to be alone. It was killing me being near Allison. Being close enough to smell her was almost physically painful. I hadn’t seen her all day, but I could smell her everywhere. This was not normal! How was I supposed to pretend like there’s nothing there? There was definitely something there. Something I couldn’t ignore. Something I definitely couldn’t explain.

  And Kendall. Somehow, I was supposed to be with Kendall even though the mere sight of her suddenly repulsed me. Where the hell does she get off telling me what to do? I totally get that she wouldn’t want her boyfriend hanging out with another girl, but telling me that I have to stay away from Allison? Threatening to tell my father if I don’t? How could I pretend that nothing has changed between us?

  But, I had to. I wasn’t exactly sure what my dad meant when he said, “And you know what that means,” but I knew it couldn’t be good. Would he keep me from being the next alpha? Kick me out of the pack? Disown me?

  There was only one thing I could do. I didn’t have the same options that others had. There were rules that I was expected to follow, no matter what. No one really gave a damn about what I wanted. It has always been, and will always be, what’s best for the pack that matters.

  Just as I was heading back toward the table, Sammy walked up and asked, “Hey man, you okay?”

  I gave him as much of a smile as I could muster and lied, “Yeah, I’m fine. It’s just a bad day.”

  Chapter 15

  Allison

  The only thing that I could think about the rest of the day was the possibility of getting to sit next to Cade again on the way home. The hands on the clock of the classroom wall could not move fast enough.

  During eighth period, I watched the clock intently for the first fifteen minutes and then decided that by staring at the hands go tick, tick, tick, it was making the time go by slower. So I tried to avoid looking at the clock all together, but when I couldn’t take it any longer, I looked back up, and it had only been four minutes. Then I proceeded to silently beg the time to move faster for the rest of the period. By the end of the class, I had taken absolutely no notes from the fifty-minute history lecture. Already off to a great start.

  Yes, I knew Cade had a girlfriend. And no, he didn’t seem interested in me at all today. He didn’t even glance my way during lunch, though he didn’t pay much attention to Kendall either. Who knows what he was thinking? It was probably not about me, but that didn’t change the fact that my mind was on him. The worst part was that I was starting to believe that I would never be able to think of anything but him ever again.

  So, imagine my disappointment when we piled into the Suburban after school without Cade. As we pulled out of the parking lot I saw Teagan standing near the curb, about to get in a friend’s car. When she looked up, I waved. She saw me and smiled back, but didn’t wave. This may just be a new record for me. Made a friend and lost a friend in seven hours flat. Now I had to endure the twenty-minute drive home without Cade.

  Chapter 16

  Cade

  I avoided just about everyone all day, but Kendall managed to catch up with me before I made it outside to Sammy’s car. Big surprise. I couldn’t handle being “Cade” today. Not when the only thing I wanted was out of my reach. I saw Allison looking at me, even when I wasn’t looking at her. I could feel it somehow. Her disappointment. Her confusion. What on earth could she be thinking?

  Kendall tugged on my backpack strap to try to slow down my pace. “Hey babe. Can we talk for a minute?”

  I stopped walking and took a deep breath, silently trying to convince myself that telling her to take a hike was not in my best interest. I needed, now more than ever, to play it cool. “Sammy’s waiting for us. Can we talk when we get back to the estate?” I asked, wanting to avoid whatever it was she wanted to “talk” about.

  “Actually, Shari said she’d wait for us and take us home.”

  Great, thanks to Shari this day keeps getting better and better.

  “Okay, did you tell Sammy?” I asked.

  “Of course, silly. Come on, let’s take a walk.” She smiled sweetly, but, somehow, I knew that sweetness was about to fade. She never stayed sweet for long when she wasn’t getting her way.

  We walked several feet away from the crowded front steps of the school before she stopped and faced me. When she didn’t say anything I asked, “What’s this about, Kendall?”

  That was all it took. She began her rant, again, about how I need to keep my priorities in check. Number one, of course, being her. Here was how it went down:

  Kendall: I want you to promise me that this whole little mess with that girl is over. I don’t want to have to worry about what you are up to.

  Me: It’s over.

  Kendall: Good, because I will not just stand by and watch you ruin what we have. And I will not share you. Are you hearing me?

  Me: It’s over, Kendall.

  Kendall: I saw the way you looked at her in the car this morning, Cade. I’m not stupid. But, you’re not either. I know you will do the right thing and stay away from her. You know Marcus will have your head if he finds out about this. And I would hate it if someone had to tell him what’s been going on. You need to rethink your priorities. Keeping me happy should be at the top of the list. And you know what would make me happy, don’t you Cade? That ring should be on my finger and you know it. Not to mention, if Marcus and Noel knew how you have been treating me, they would be more than a little pissed off.

  Kendall was right. I had to stay away from Allison. And I would. Even if it killed me. Kendall and I were supposed to be together. And that was that. I would make this work. No matter what.

  Though it was the last thing in the world I
wanted to do, I pulled Kendall toward me and assured her, “Don’t worry, baby. It’s over. I mean it. I don’t know what I was thinking. Really, let’s just forget it ever happened.”

  And then I kissed her. Really kissed her. Hoping I could make her think I meant it.

  Chapter 17

  Allison

  “Lillian, stop fussing with the couch pillows. The house looks great.”

  “I haven’t seen my parents in almost twenty years, Paul. Can you blame me for being a bit nervous? Just go get the kids. Make sure they’re dressed.”

  Aiden and I had been standing by the stairs for the last few minutes, not wanting to interrupt her panic attack. “We’re right here, Mom, watching you freak out,” I said.

  Mom gave me a dirty look and then ushered us over to the couch, but warned us not to mess up the pillows. The introductions were about to commence. My grandparents were on their way over for dinner, and we were instructed to put on nice clothes, smile, and to be on our very best behavior. It was safe to say that Mom was thoroughly flipping out about the whole thing, but I couldn’t blame Mom for being anxious. A lot had changed in her life since the last time they were together.

  “I just heard their car pull up!” Mom said.

  “You and your crazy hearing,” Dad said. “Am I the only one around here who can’t hear every little thing?”

  Aiden patted Dad on the back and admitted, “No worries, big guy, I didn’t hear it either.” Then Aiden looked over at me. “Did you?” I smiled and shook my head. I had heard it, but I didn’t want to hurt Aiden’s ego.

  Mom hurried over to the door to greet her parents. I expected lots of tears and hugs after all this time, but instead, it was handshakes and air-kisses. My grandmother stopped in the doorway and said, “Why Lillian, haven’t you aged well?”

  Mom gave her a smile and said, “Uh, thanks, Mother.”

  When they came inside, Dad was there waiting to greet them both with a handshake, and I wondered to myself whether or not Dad noticed how short they were with him. If he did, he didn’t show it.

  Our grandmother turned to us and said, “Well, this must be Allison and Aiden. Oh my goodness. I can’t believe I’m just now meeting my teenage grandchildren.” It was a stab at Mom, and I was quite certain that she didn’t miss it. Irritation was written all over her face.

  Our grandfather made his way over and said, “Let me take a look at you two. It’s good to finally meet you both.”

  Aiden and I smiled just like we were supposed to and that was about it. No hugs. No affection whatsoever. It was like meeting your parents’ co-workers or something. We all just kind of stood there in the foyer not sure what to do or say until Mom finally said, “Well, dinner is ready. Are we ready to eat?”

  My grandparents were exactly as I had imagined them. Well… except I expected them to be nicer, more grandparenty. My grandmother, or Gram as she asked to be called, was tall and lean, and would probably be mistaken for my mom’s very attractive older sister. My grandfather was tall, well-built, and had an edge to him that almost made him a little scary. He might be a grandpa, but I wouldn’t want to meet him in a dark alley.

  After a few minutes, we sat down to the most uncomfortable dinner imaginable.

  “Well, everything looks delicious, baby,” Dad said to break the silence, and to help ease Mom’s nerves a bit.

  My “Gram” scoffed at his comment. After that, we all dug in and started eating, and silence hung in the air like a dark cloud. Even Aiden, who always had something to say, remained quiet. But… in the middle of dessert, all hell broke loose.

  “I just have to say this, Lillian,” my Gram said. “I can’t believe that you would leave your children in the dark about their heritage. What were you planning on doing when one of them transformed in the middle of the mall or something? I don’t understand how you, of all people, could be so careless.”

  When Mom just sat there, obviously not knowing how to respond, Aiden cut in. “Really, Gram, I didn’t notice anything.” His attempt to get Mom off the hook only got him a glare from Grandfather, so he quickly shut up.

  Then Gram continued, “Lillian, you should have known that you couldn’t raise them in that environment. Teenagers can’t be expected to just know what to do when the time comes for them to change.”

  Again, Mom didn’t respond. Evidently, Grandfather didn’t approve of her silence because he furrowed his brows and demanded, “Well, are you going to tell us what was going on in that head of yours, or are you just going to sit there and pout?”

  Finally, Mom found her voice and replied, “Well honestly, I wasn’t sure how it all would work out, but when I saw that things weren’t going well, I called you and came back. That has to count for something, right?”

  After another scoff from Gram, we all went back to eating our desserts in silence.

  Immediately following dinner, my grandparents said their goodbyes. The door shut, and Mom just stood there, looking as if she was about to break down in tears. Knowing just how to handle the situation, Dad didn’t miss a beat; he threw one arm around my shoulder and the other around Mom’s and said, “Come on guys, my favorite show is about to start. Come watch it with me.”

  ***

  Unable to sit in the living room with the family any longer, I got up and excused myself from our American Idol viewing party when the show went to break. I couldn’t concentrate, couldn’t stop thinking about being back in the woods with the dark wolf. With Cade. It was a little unnerving to now know that it was Cade, who only a night ago was chasing me through the forest. Cade, who somehow seemed to know me, who somehow seemed to be connected with me, a connection I couldn’t quite understand. But apparently, it wasn’t meant to be. Now that I knew about a little pesky problem named Kendall Stuart.

  I opened the refrigerator in search of something to occupy my hands, my stomach, my mind, but quickly decided that what I needed was not there. I grabbed my coat and boots from the mud room and called out, “Hey guys, I’m headed out for a walk. I need some air.”

  I didn’t wait for a response before I closed the door behind me and headed toward the lake. It was freezing, but I didn’t care. I couldn’t bear to stay cooped up inside any longer.

  If I had any idea how to become a wolf, I’d be on all fours already. Unfortunately, I’m not quite there in my werewolf training. Really, there should be a class or something, or at least a manual.

  I kicked a few rocks on my way to the lake, watching them roll down the embankment toward the water that was attempting to freeze. As I breathed in and out, my breath made little clouds of smoke. Though my teeth chattered uncontrollably, I tried to embrace the frigid climate as I headed toward a pier that I had noticed last Saturday.

  As the pier came into view, I quickened my pace. It was perfect. The perfect place to sit and relax, or in my case, to sit and dwell on the fact that even though Cade and I just felt right—in my mind at least—it seemed impossible.

  At the end of the pier, the deck extended into an oversized gazebo with a beautiful patio swing. I made my way over to it, careful not to slip on the icy boards, and began to glide back and forth with my mind reeling about everything and nothing all at once.

  If we had never moved, I’d be stuck in League City with no friends, certainly no boyfriend, and miserable. Instead, I’m here with one friend—sort of—and the most perfect guy that I can’t have. I wasn’t sure which was worse.

  I swung back and forth, and back and forth, feeling more and more sorry for myself, as usual. There was a pity party a-brewing, and I was the guest of honor. Couldn’t things just work out? Ever? Was that too much to ask?

  What made this whole situation even more pathetic was that I only spent one evening with Cade, and I didn’t even know it was him at the time. We didn’t even speak, for Christ’s sake! I should not be feeling this way about him. I needed to get a grip. It was absurd! But I couldn’t help it. I thought about him constantly. I could still smell his scent in the ai
r, and I was starting to fear that I always would. How was I supposed to get over this silly infatuation with my body betraying me? It was like I needed him, like oxygen.

  My emotions were clearly on overdrive and reeling them back in seemed highly unlikely at that point. I closed my eyes as I felt a single warm tear cooling its way down my face. I was so caught up in my pity party that I didn’t hear him approach.

  I opened my tear-filled eyes to find Cade only a few feet away. He smiled sheepishly, walked around the swing, and sat on the other end, just far enough away that we didn’t touch, but too close for his scent not to overwhelm me. Together, we swung back and forth in silence for what felt like hours, though I’m sure it was probably less than a minute.

  “Allison, I don’t know what to say,” Cade finally admitted.

  “Um, me neither,” I answered honestly.

  I held my breath as he scooted over. The closeness was agony but only because I wanted him even closer. He looked at me with those unbelievably emerald eyes, and my pulse surged. His dark hair was tousled like he’d been lying in bed, and his cheeks were flushed from the cold. I could feel the warmth of his presence through the freezing wind as he reached out and took my hand in his.

  “I can’t explain it to you, Allison. I don’t know why, but I can’t stop thinking about you,” he whispered in my ear. I could still feel his breath on my neck long after he spoke. The sensation was both intimidating and intoxicating. I looked him in the eyes, planning to ask him about Kendall, but all thoughts were scattered as he covered my lips with his.

  It took only about a millisecond for me to register just what was happening, and without hesitation, I pulled him closer to me and deepened our kiss. I didn’t want it to ever stop. All I could feel was Cade, his warmth, his tenderness; it consumed me.