Family Secrets

D. 3 - Meeting Hall

D.

A yawn escapes me, echoed by three of my brothers as we walk towards the meeting hall.

"'s too early for this crap," Diego groans.

Juan and Eliseo give twin head bobs of agreement. Just a step behind them, Raul sighs heavily, practically dragging sleepy twins Xavier and Salvador.

"Wait for me!" Adrian calls, jogging forward with his shorter legs.

I mentally check off my brothers, realizing just before we step into the building that we're missing—

"DUSTIN!"

The shrill call comes from a tiny, rambunctious boy bouncing on his toes just ahead of us.

My baby brother barrels forward, bowling into him; they immediately begin to wrestle, laughing all the while.

"Ben Jermin Cougar," the boy's mother warns.

The rambunctious boy freezes. A heartbeat later, Dustin does as well. Both boys look up at her in question.

"We don't roughhouse at the meeting hall," Mrs. Cougar admonishes.

"Mijo!" Mama's voice reprimands just a few steps behind us; I see mirroring flinches from my brothers even though we know Dustin is the one in trouble.

Dustin hangs his head, "Sorry, Mama, Mrs. Cougar."

"Mom, we were just playing," Ben says quietly. He turns beseeching eyes on our Mama, "I'm sorry, Mrs. Rodriguez. We weren't trying to be bad."

"We're good boys," Dustin says quietly, his tiny lip quivering.

Our mother and Ben's look at each other, exasperation written into their faces.

From behind us, Pop's voice grumbles, "If you're truly sorry, then we won't have to have this conversation again next week."

"Yes, sir," both little boys whisper.

Pop's face softens, "Where can you roughhouse?"

"Our house—"

"My house—"

Pop nods, "And what are we doing after the meeting?"

The boys look at each other in excitement, "Visiting?"

"Visiting," a deep voice agrees from behind Ben—Mr. Cougar.

"Yay!" Ben and Dustin whoop, giving each other a high-five.

I try to stifle my groan. I don't want to visit the Cougars. There's nothing fun for me to do there. I wonder if I can stay home...

A roar echoes down the mountain.

All around me backs go ramrod straight.

"Time for the meeting, I suppose," Mr. Cougar sighs.

"I'm not a fan either," Pop agrees. "Come. Let's get inside."

Somehow Dustin and Ben end up seated one bench back from each other. I can already see mischief dancing in their eyes.

Behind me, the doors of the meeting hall swing open with a loud bang. Despite myself, I flinch.

"On your knees!" the alpha-order casts me to the floor immediately, unable to even consider resisting. Around me I see other bodies flinging themselves forward, puppets obeying their master.

My parents, though, and Ben's, I notice that they're different. They each take their time, kneeling with dignity and grace. I never understood it when I was younger, but now that I'm older, now that I know how power dynamics work, I know it's a powerplay. Both males are showing that they are immune to Alpha's power—and so are their female Mates.