Twisted Fate

Chapter 45

Astrid

The thick book grazes the edge of the couch and lands on the wood floor with a dramatic thud.

I look up curiously, my hair sliding over the velvet cushion and falling past my shoulders. My harasser grins at me, utterly pleased with interrupting my new hobby. Watching the ceiling and thought processing seems to be the only excitement in my life these days.

"What?" I ask, aloof.

Carson removes the stack of books from his lap and stands in front of me. He playfully taps the edge of my foot with his shoe. "My friends are having a small get-together tonight."

My eyes widen, and I sit up from my slouched position. "You have friends, little rabbit?" I gasp mockingly.

"I have more friends than your cranky ass," He quips. A scornful smile crosses my lips, and I flip him the middle finger. "As I was saying," he chuckles, "it's Myra's birthday, and she's invited a few of us to her house tonight. I was thinking we should go."

"We?" I laugh, "You want me to hang out with some teenagers?" For some reason, that idea doesn't sound too good for my social status.

Carson makes an annoyed face. "You're only three years older than me. Look, do you want to come or not? It beats staying cooped up in this stupid gift shop all night. Ms. Hattie and Blair are doing some work in the study, so we can skedaddle the fuck out of here."

Despite my emotionless face, I consider the offer for a moment. I could continue to sit here, wasting away or hang out with Carson and his friends. The distraction would be a good thing for me right now. My brain has been screaming for a mental break for the past hour.

My father called this morning for the...well, I lost count. But unlike other times, I answered the phone.

At first, rage and fury coated his sharp tone, the blade slicing straight through my eardrums. I'd never heard that man scream as loud as he did. I was sure he'd never forgive me, but I knew exactly what to do to win him over. I apologized for leaving, making my voice sound extra small and meek. A split second was all it took for his stringent alpha shield to break down, and I was daddy's little girl again.

He sighed a deep exhausting breath, one that all fathers of daughters know. "I thought I knew what fear felt like, but I was a stupid man to believe that. I didn't understand the true meaning of fear until my firstborn left her pack with half a million dollars clinging to her life. Only then did I know the true meaning of fear."

I remember thinking: Ahh, shit. My heart twisted at his words. The old man should get rewarded for the world's best guilt speech because that performance would take first place.

"I'm sorry, dad," I told him repeatedly. But I also wasn't that sorry for leaving. He would have fought me to the ends of the earth, told me to stay home. Even though I trust my father's advice, I couldn't risk the safety of my pack.

At one point, mom joined in on the conversation. She asked if I was enjoying my time in Salem as If I were on vacation. And then repeatedly asked how Arlo was doing, which was code for, "How are you and Arlo doing?"

The conversation grew tense after that. "I don't trust that motherfucker," Dad growled many times. And many times, I told him he was too overbearing, and I could handle myself. And besides, if Arlo wanted to hurt me, he would've done it the second he got me alone.

But the worst part of that conversation was towards the end when Mom and dad got eerily quiet. It could only mean one thing.

Dad remained quiet for some moments longer before he finally broke the news to me. The witches have been sneaking around the city. They've tried to break into our pack borders.