He Will Be Mine

Chapter 84: Arguing For Our Lives (Part I)

*** Alyssa's POV ***

There was no chance I was going to waste any time on my usual girls' night Friday. It was a stressful couple of days leading up to it, and even though my dad assured us that the situation with Tyler's mom was taken care of and there was nothing more to worry about, we still had to fret over the final preparations for the appeal in the morning.

My dad had to return home, but I wish he could have stayed. As much as the man frustrates me, he's also been very supportive lately. Not only that, but he seems to have a talent for handling Elder Stirling, a talent that I am sadly lacking. Here's to hoping that being the same sort of rare wolf as Tyler will count for something.

Ronnie skipped movie night as well to come help us again. I owe that girl so much, starting with a bulk box of note cards to replace all the ones she's used to help me organize my thoughts. I should probably also offer to come help her babysit the twins or something, anything to show her how much I appreciate all the time and energy she has put into this when it has nothing to do with her. I know how important her time is to her, considering how busy she is with classes and coursework.

By the time we all make it to bed Friday night, I have a PowerPoint presentation ready to go and have prepared handouts for each of the Elders to go with it. Though Ronnie insists that I keep notecards on me to help me remember everything I need to say, I've spent so much time going over it all that it feels like it's permanently engraved in my brain and there is no way I could possibly forget it. But I ready the notecards anyway, just in case. There's no room for screwing this up. It's not a grade in some class on the line. This presentation may very well determine the course of my life.

In the morning, the mood is tense. Trevor and Meredith make us all a big, protein-packed breakfast as my guys and I work on packing up my computer, notes, and the packets I made for the Elders. With Devon's rented SUV all packed up and ready to go, we all crowd into the dining area of the apartment and dig into the food. Though Tyler and Trevor do their best to provide some comic relief for us all, Matt and I are too tense to get into it. Instead, he clutches my hand under the table as we do our best to eat what our nervous stomachs will allow and sit quietly to let the others have their fun.

"Man, something has been up with Marissa lately. Have you noticed?" Caleb comments at one point, asking Devon who is across from the table from him. "I mean, she's usually quiet and a little grumpy, but this past week she's been practically murderous. Tell me I'm not the only one whose head she's been biting off."

"No, there's definitely something up with her, but I don't think it's any of our business," Devon responds, always the cool-headed diplomat. "I've just been giving her lots of space and not even bothering with the usual formalities because she doesn't seem to have any patience for simple things like a friendly greeting."

It makes me sad to hear that, and I know that in a way, it's our fault. I still haven't seen or talked to her since after movie night with the dormies last week when Matt had his vision about her. It's probably anxiety that's getting to her. She doesn't know what we know, but she knows he must have told us something.

I make a mental note to try again to get her to talk to me. We can't have her here if she's going to be so hostile to her fellow warriors. And if anyone reports it to my dad, she might not even have a job left when she goes home if she's not careful. I'm sure she'll blame that on me too.

"Yeah, I just feel bad for Tasha. She has to room with her," Caleb adds before filling his face with another serving of sausage and seeming to forget about it entirely.

He and Trevor seem to get along extremely well, sharing a lot of interests in science and video games. Meredith and I lock eyes across the table and exchange amused looks at how they've gotten absorbed into yet another inside conversation we have no hope of keeping up with, but my attention is soon captured by Matt next to me. His nerves and the bitter scent of his anxiety are practically filling the room, leaving little room for me to think of much else.