Little Red

Chapter 2

After dinner, I walk Myles out.  His upbeat attitude from earlier evaporates into the chill air as he sighs sadly.  

"I wish I didn't have to go back.  Everything was going so well today." He looks completely downtrodden as he nudges a pebble with his beat up old boots.

Hating when he's like this, I smile gently at him.

"Hey, it's okay.  Maybe it's not as bad as you think it is, Myles."  We both knew it was a lie, but I didn't want him to be so bummed out.  

He has a difficult home life, so his parents asking him to come home was not something he looked forward to.  From the moment our friendship began, he became a part of my family, even living in the pack house with us, but not on our floor.  Eli would never allow that.  

He lets out a sigh and doesn't respond, instead tugging his hands through his short hair until it sticks up at odd angles.  He glares off into the dark night.

A group of females my age emerge from the forest nearby.  They easily converse in quiet whispers as they pass by.  Upon seeing Myles, they all send him flirtatious winks, but frown when they spot me next to him.  I only stare back at them, undaunted by their glares and trying to bite my tongue.  

This is the way it's always been.  The female wolves of the pack have never accepted me.  I was different, and that didn't sit well with them.  Sure, over the years I proved myself to be a fierce warrior, just like them.  But it didn't help.  In fact, my advanced training and alpha blood only isolated me further from my peers.  They wanted nothing to do with me, either jealous or intimidated.  Despite their nasty opinions, I learned to let it spur me on to keep improving and to ignore their scathing words and judgmental looks.  However, that doesn't mean it didn't sting sometimes.

I tear my gaze away from them when I feel a warm hand on my shoulder.  Turning, I look at my best friend before looking down at my feet to hide my eyes.

"Hey, you know they're all idiots." He says softly, picking up on my sour mood.  

"Yeah, I know.  I'm used to it by now." I say, attempting (yet failing) to lighten the air. 

He places both hands on my shoulders now and turns me to face him.  His brown eyes hold a rare seriousness that traps me.

"I'm always here for you, you know that." He reminds me.  

I smile softly up at him.

"I know you are Myles, and I'm always here for you, you know that." 

He pulls me into a brotherly hug and settles his head on top of mine.  

"You're so much better than them, anyways." He remarks.  "You're the Alpha's daughter, my best friend, and you're Ara.  You're worth 20 of them combined."

I only smile against his chest.  

He's lying, but I allow myself to go along with it.

"Are you going to be okay?" He asks, pulling back and looking sincerely worried.

I snort.

"Yes Myles, I'll be fine!  You'll only be gone one night...thank Goddess!" I end, faking relief at his absence.

He laughs at my antics.

"I'm rubbing off on youuu!" He coos, pinching my cheeks.  "It's only taken me nearly 20 years!"

"Hey, cut that out!" I pout, slapping his hands away.

Our laughter comes much easier this time.

..........