Head Down

Chapter 21

NATE'S POV

While I finish the apple, which I find I have no stomach for, the others fill me in on their end of the past three days.

"Chris and I found out your trail to Wisconsin is strong, when we're ready we can send out a tracking party for the rouges," says Tom.

I shake my head and reply with thought, "No. It's been almost four days since they left, there's no chance we could find them."

"You're going to let them go?" asks Laura, surprised.

"If they ever set foot back in Minnesota, no. But as of now there's no use in going after them. They're long gone."

Tom and his mother look shocked, which I suppose I deserve. I have always been hot headed as well as head strong, and have never just let something -or someone- go, especially after pissing me off. Tom in return has always tried to steer me towards reason, and he expected he'd have to do just that with the surely fruitless crusade of chasing the rouges. But now I have Katie to think about, and in that I realized this all on my own.

In contrast with the Pickett family, James appears neutral when he says, "Okay, that's settled." Then on another note, "School has been brutal."

"I hate Mrs. Knott," groans Chris, referring to his biology teacher.

"When will you be coming back? If you miss too much you'll have to go to summer school," says Tom.

Being Alpha, I will never have to apply for a job or anything like that, because I was born with a full-time one. I will manage the pack, meaning I will basically take care of it's finances, territory, members, training, rules, and everything else that requires an executive decision. School is definitely necessary in preparation for this, though the last three months of senior year aren't going to critically effect my education. I have almost everything I need now, but am scheduled to take over after college -which is purely for the purposes of humoring the human world, and enjoyment- but that means I'm going to have to complete high school.

I shrug, "I go back when she does. If that means summer school then fine, but I might not have to go if I can pass the final exams."

"Good luck," snorts Chris.

"If you just studied the books you could scrape by," muses Tom. "But that would mean community college." I take a moment to think that over, because honestly I had never even considered the option until now -and I've never needed to. Our pack is generally successful and therefore have enough money to pay for most colleges, and the teens are nearly all smart enough to apply for Ivy League. I myself have always received high marks at school, but Tom is right. Missing that much would kill my GPA. I find, however, that I can hardly care less about attending a local college. Katie is far past worth it.

"What about home school?" suggests Aaron.

"I hadn't thought of that," I admit. Really though, I hadn't thought about school much at all.

"I think it's a goo idea. I can talk to your father, see what he thinks," offers Laura, biting into a honey covered bagel.

"I agree. Thanks Laura," I reply.

"Nice. Now the rest of senior year is going to be boring," jokes Chris.

"Patrol and training have been amped down, though," says James with a calm smile. Out of all of us, he always hated those things the most. Responsibility is not his favorite thing.

We just had rouges trespassing on our territory and we're softening patrol?

"Your dad had wanted us to take it easy," explains Tom at my dismayed expression.