The Unwanted Bond

Hey Now.

Parker's POV:

Once everyone had entered the house we all got settled around the dining table. I sat next to Matt and Ryan. Carter was to Matt's right, Sophia and Carla sat on the other side of the table. So it was Ryan at the head of the table, me to his right, Matt to my right, Carter at the other end of the table and Sophia and Carla on the far side of the table. The living room was behind me and I was facing the back sliding door. Ryan and Carter had grabbed plates, silverware and cups for everyone. Ryan smirked as he set down a tumbler-like cup with a reusable bent metal straw for me.

I narrowed my eyes at him but when he went to the fridge and grabbed me a blue gatorade I shrugged and rolled my eyes. He knows I have a fascination with bendy straws but the metal one works too. I turned back to Matt as everyone else served themselves food.

"How's the concussion?"

"It's gone now. I tell you what though, that was one hell of a punch."

I smirked. "Thanks. No one would even spar with me back home." I chuckled.

"I can see why. You're a solid fighter, now that you've proven you can ignore Ryan, you've proven you're going to be a great asset if it's needed."

"You're a good fighter too."

"Well I didn't become a head warrior because of my good looks." He nudged me.

I snorted. "Yeah.... Don't quit your day job."

His jaw dropped. "Are you calling me ugly?"

"No." I laughed. "You're just not my type."

"Good. I don't want to be your type. Ryan would kill me." He chuckled.

"Carter would snap my damn neck. I'm more scared of him than I am of Ryan."

"Is that why you're so quiet around him?"

I shrugged but ultimately nodded. "I haven't been around many Beta's since everything happened. Especially one that easily dwarfs me or that I actually am supposed to speak to."

Matt gave me a soft look. "I get it. Just know he would never hurt you. Ryan's mate or not. Carter is genuinely a caring person... especially to littles or people who seem a bit skittish."

"I know. I just... I had a hard time around Ryan without feeling like needing to flee. It's sort of just an instinct to be weary or to avoid people of higher status than me."

"You're higher status than Carter is. But I promise you.... You're kinda like a tiny.. Little brother." He held his hand up and put his fingers together to emphasize what he meant by tiny.

"I'm not even that short!" I protested, accidentally drawing everyone's attention.

Matt laughed. "You're pretty short compared to everyone else."

I glared at him as everyone laughed. Ryan ruffled my hair as he set a plate down in front of me.

"He's average height for a human male. Seeing as he's half human, that makes sense." Ryan kissed my forehead.

"Yeah! So fuck you." I smirked smugly.

Ryan flicked my forehead.

"Hey!"

"Didn't I tell you not to say that to other people?" He raised an eyebrow.

"You know what I meant though!"

"Still don't like it."

I rolled my eyes before turning my attention to the plate. Broccoli, Rotini pasta and grilled chicken sat on my plate. Everyone else had steak and fries and corn on the cob. "Why is mine different?"