Battle of the Roses [Book 2]

Chapter 6

I have a layover right now for three hours, so I'm gonna knock out a chapter for y'all :)

Chapter Quote:
"There's nothing quite like a really good kiss."
~Shay Doran, Nightshade
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Chapter 6

Caleb 

Over the course of next two weeks, I convinced Elaine to let me help her clean up after we were done eating.  Callie dragged Spencer to dance class each day.  He told me he actually enjoyed it, or at least when they learned hip hop.  Ballroom was another story apparently.  Lily would always walk sleepily into the kitchen after they left.  She was obviously not a morning person.

"Morning Sleeping Beauty," I greeted.

"Shut up, Prince Phillip," she grunted.

"I made you a plate for when you woke up.  It's in the fridge," Elaine informed.  Lily thanked her and heated up her meal.  She sat at the bar and began eating.  Her eyes turned on me as she said, "So, you're still here?  I thought you'd be gone by now?"

"I'm not sure where to go from here yet.  I might be around for a few more days."

"Good, because I'm the awkward third wheel when it comes to Callie and Spencer and I typically don't have anyone to hang out with when they're gone.  Let's go out to the woods.  I'll show you around our territory."

"Sounds like a deal.  I have nothing to do today so I don't see the harm," I said.

"Just be careful you two.  You may be alphas but you're still young," Elaine warned.

"I'm always careful," Lily declared.

"Debatable."

"You're definitely always blunt," I remarked.

"You're always a smart-ass," she countered.

"Only to you."

"I'm flattered.  Okay, let me get dressed and I'll be ready." Lily disappeared upstairs for ten minutes before reappearing in shorts and a tank top with some sort of sleeveless jacket over it (I don't know what they're called- I'm no fashion expert).  She led me out the door and shifted into wolf form.  I debated telling her about my ability to change coat colors but I decided against it.  They already thought I was weird enough.  No need to give them any more reason to at the moment.

Okay, so seriously, who are you?  You seem pretty trustworthy but you have way too many secrets.  Spill. Lily ordered.

You do know you're not my alpha, right? I queried.

Just because you're an alpha doesn't mean you can waltz into our lives and just live with us without telling us exactly who you are.  Obviously you don't want us to know because you think we're going to send you back but we're not.  It's not like we're kidnapping you and you're American.  I doubt they're going to look for you in Canada.

I mentally sighed, making sure she knew it too.  I stopped next to a tree and shifted forms.  I sat against the trunk.  Lily sat in front of me, leaning back on her hands and legs crossed in front of her.

"All right, you want to know about my family?  Here I go.  My family has been through a lot and I'm probably putting them through more crap by leaving but it's for the better.  I was just a bitter reminder for them and I didn't want to be.  My brother was an ass who wouldn't let me live my mistake down even though I was doing that job just fine on my own... thing is he was right.  It was my fault and just because I know it doesn't mean I wanted him bringing it up every time he got the chance.  I still love him but I couldn't handle it anymore.  I couldn't handle him yelling at me.  And then my dad... he never trusted me to be alone to watch any more of my siblings afterwards.  Whenever we went on hunts or whenever we had to go to the store, unless someone else was there with me to watch my siblings, he wouldn't leave me alone.  I didn't like the feeling of not being trusted, of feeling that I couldn't go to anyone to talk to.  And then my brother Hunter and I got into massive fights which sent me over the edge.  In our last one I got a black eye.  He got a bruised cheek.  It was so stupid but we fought over everything and I was tired of it.  So I left.  I packed some clothes, my laptop, some snacks, and left.  Three weeks in the wilderness before Elaine and Michael found me, and now I'm here with no plan on where to go next, no idea how I'm going to get money... I didn't think this totally through which is obvious but I couldn't stand being home anymore."