What Doesn't Kill You

Chapter Four

After I got my answer I didn't feel like going back to school so I stayed at the cliff and thought of my best plan of action.

I decided that tonight, at the Alpha dinner, I would pull Jeremy aside and talk to him, tell him that I would do anything for him, my mate.  If that didn't work I don't know what I'd do next. I just really wanted him to accept our bond we were made for each other.

I took in a deep breath, breathing in the crisp winter air. Nothing could touch me here. I didn't have low self esteem here. There were no taunts, no bullies, no problems.

At least until my phone rang.

"Hello?"

"Taryn! Where are you? You're usually home by now," my sister's voice sounded through the phone.

"I'm sorry, I went for a walk. I lost track of time," I apologized as I stood up. I brushed off my pants and started heading home.

"Where did you walk to? How long do you think you're going to be?"

I lightly laughed at my sister's motherly words, "I went to our lookout." I knew the mention of  the lookout would sadden my sister because it was one of the last places our family was all together.

The line went silent for a couple of moments then my sisters slightly choked up voice said, "Well hurry home, I love you."

"I love you too, see you soon," I answered then hung up the phone.

It only took a couple minutes for me to get to my house. When I walked in there was yelling and screaming coming from the kitchen.

"I can't believe you would say that!"

"Baby, that's not what I meant. You know that you're beautiful!"

I walked in and my niece and nephew had their backs to me sitting at the bar along with Mark, Kirsten's mate, who had my sister in his lap. I was happy to see his curly mop of chocolate hair and I bet so was Leila and Kirsten.

"You said I got bigger! I am not fat!!" Rachel screamed from across the kitchen. Her jet black hair in a mess around her face, her pregnant belly poking out from her otherwise slim body, and her dark skin slightly pale from the over exertion of yelling at her mate.

"You're pregnant! You're suppose to get bigger! It doesn't mean you're fat. It just means my child is growing inside of you. You're still beautiful!" Jason yelled from the other side of the kitchen.

Before Rachel could yell again I interrupted, "Did Jason put his foot in his mouth again?"

"Aunty Taryn! What happen to you face?" My niece exclaimed.

I raised my hands to my face and felt around when I hit the dried blood and tender spot on my brow bone I winced.

"Oh yeah, I'm just clumsy. When I was leaving school I tripped and fell into a locker," I explained lamely.

"Are you sure that's what happened?" Jason asked as Both he and Kirsten moved towards me.

"Yes, Jace, I'm a spaz. We all know that," I replied with a smile.

"That's a seriously nasty cut, Ryn. Why didn't you go to the nurse?" Kirsten asked as she grabbed my cheeks and inspected my face.

"Because we have the best nurse here," I quipped then smiled at Rachel, who actually is a nurse.

"Come here, sweetie let's go get you cleaned up," Rachel grabbed my hand, pulling me to the bathroom.

She sat me down on the toilet and grabbed the first aid kit from the cabinet.