The Alphas Sister (Complete)

Chapter Three: Bruises and Whispers

I awoke to the sound of bashing on my door. "Kyan, get up, man! Cade's going to kick your ass if you're late!" It was Matt, one of my closest friends in the pack, his voice muffled but urgent through the thick wood. He was always looking out for me, even when I didn't deserve it.

"He's going to kick my ass anyway," I shouted back, rolling over in bed, the sheets tangling around my legs like a trap. My body felt heavy, still wound up from yesterday's chaos, but at least I wasn't nursing any bruises—yet.

There was a knock again five minutes later, sharper this time. "Get up!" Cade's voice boomed, and I knew if I didn't move, he'd bust my door down—alpha strength and no patience for my bullshit.

I threw the covers off like an angry child, the cool air hitting my skin as I fumbled for my sweatpants on the floor. Slipping them on, I caught my reflection in the mirror. My black hair hung shaggy over my eyes, a mess I pushed aside with a lazy swipe, too tired to bother with a comb. Dark green eyes stared back at me—my mom's eyes, people always said, paired with her straight nose. But my build? That was all Dad—broad shoulders, thick arms, standing at 6'4, perfect for looming over threats or staring down rogues. It made me look tougher than I felt some days, especially lately.

Most of what I knew about my parents came from pack stories and faded photos—snippets of a life I barely remembered. They'd died when I was six, rogue attack gone wrong, or so the elders said. I didn't like dwelling on it; the past was a weight I couldn't lift.

I decided to leave my shirt off, a petty jab at modesty—and maybe a chance to get a reaction out of Electra for a laugh. I knew it was wrong to think that way, but after yesterday, messing with her felt like fair game.

I opened the door to a pissed-off Cade, his arms crossed, jaw tight. He took one look at me—bare-chested, half-awake—and scowled. "You have twenty minutes to get to the training area. Don't be late," he said grumpily, then turned on his heel and stalked off. Guess he wasn't over yesterday's mess yet.

I trudged downstairs, the wood creaking under my weight, and headed straight for the kitchen. About ten packmates were scattered around the long table, digging into breakfast. They all looked up as I entered, then quickly away, their chatter dipping. Okay, so I'd pissed some of them off by snarling at them yesterday. Fair enough. I muttered a gruff "morning" as I passed, and a few mumbled it back, eyes on their plates.

I rummaged in the cupboard, grabbing a box of Milo cereal—chocolatey, crunchy, the only thing worth eating this early. Taking a seat next to Matt, I poured a bowl, ignoring the eyebrow he raised at me. "So, I heard what happened between you and Cade," he said after a minute, his tone casual but probing. I stayed quiet, shovelling cereal into my mouth. "Apparently it was quite the showdown. Wish I could've been there to see it." He flashed a grin, all teeth and mischief.

I kept my mouth shut, but he pressed on. "So, what happened between you and his sister? You turn on the charm?" The room fell silent, every ear perked, every eye pretending not to watch.

I shifted in my seat, irritation prickling my skin. "Nothing happened. It was just a misunderstanding, and I'd appreciate it if you didn't gossip about it," I snapped, loud enough to carry. The chatter resumed, a low hum, and Matt held up his hands in surrender, his spoon clinking against his bowl.

"Sorry, dude, didn't mean to pry. Just—everyone's noticed the tension between you and Cade lately, and they want to know what's going on." He went back to his cereal, unfazed.

The kitchen door swung open, and everyone looked up as Electra walked in. She wore sweatpants, a black sports bra that hugged her frame, and her hair was pulled into a high ponytail, swinging with each step. She must be training with us today. My eyes lingered a beat too long—damn it—and I caught the faint flush creeping up her cheeks as her gaze darted to me, then lower, before snapping away. I smirked to myself. This was fun.