Hay Creek

Chapter 3.

Kai

"But—" My dad raised his hand, cutting me off again. He hadn't let me finish a single sentence all morning.

"But nothing, son. You thought I wouldn't find out you were gone last night? Is this how you want your future pack to behave? I hope not, because sneaking out has become your routine. Is there something I should know?" He settled into his ornate wooden chair, the gold accents on the armrests and legs gleaming, the soft leather seat clearly fit for a king. I longed for the day it would be mine in my own office.

"No, but—"

"There you go again with the 'buts.' No more excuses, Kai."

I sighed heavily. When he acted this way, I felt like shutting down completely. Yes, he could be tough on me, but I understood. He was preparing me for what lay ahead, ensuring I was ready.

"Let's set this aside. Have you found your mate yet?" he asked, resuming his work. I took a seat in one of the chairs in front of his desk.

"Yes, I have," I replied.

He looked surprised. "Oh really? Where did you meet her?"

"At school. She's in most of my classes. Dad, she's beautiful. She—" I paused, noticing his expression.

"So she has you wrapped around her finger already." My dad leaned back, an amused look on his face.

I laughed. "No, well... I like her."

"Does she belong to another pack? She's not a loner, right?"

"No, and no. She's... um... She's human." I bit my lip.

"Human." He coughed. "Oh, is she?" I nodded. "When do I get to meet this human?"

"Soon, I hope." I looked at him, trying to gauge his reaction. His expression gave nothing away.

"Dad, is that a problem?"

He fell silent.

"Dad?"

"No, it's not. There's nothing I can do about it. This is the person your wolf has chosen for you, which means she's the right one for you. I trust that decision." I half-smiled and nodded, relieved by his acceptance. He smiled back. "Now, go on. I have work—" There was a knock at the door. My dad glanced up and said, "Come in." The door opened slowly, revealing Conrad.

"Conrad," my dad said. "Oh, you're busy. I apologize for interrupting, but I have something important to discuss." He turned to me. "Son, can we continue this later?"

"Yeah, of course." I stood up and headed for the door when my dad's words stopped me.

"I'm happy for you, Kai." I didn't turn around; I simply smiled and walked out.

I made my way down the hall and downstairs. In the kitchen, I found my mom and Jayden. "Look, there's your brother. I'm sure he'd want to go with you," my mom said, busy preparing dinner. The aroma was enticing.

"Go where?" I asked.

"A party," Jayden replied.

"You can't go to a party by yourself," I teased.

"Of course I can. Whatever, Kai." Jayden rolled his eyes. I enjoyed teasing him.

"It's at the Curk," my mom added. The Curk was an open field in the woods near the Devil Wolves pack territory. I understood why my mom wanted him to have backup.

"When is it?" I opened the fridge, looking for something to drink.

"Tonight," Jayden said.

I grabbed some orange juice and closed the fridge.