Truly

Chapter 9

~Toni

I would have hoped I would like the sun but in the Regal Pack, the sun seemed to beat down hard. Max was sat under a tree and I had my head on his lap, my feet pointing out to the vast garden his family owned. He was softly playing with my hair as I had my hat across my face to try and help with the sun.

"I don't like it." Max suddenly spoke up.

"Don't like what?" I sat up, put my hat backwards on my head and looked at him.

"I don't like the fact that you can do the competition and not me. This is not out of jealousy but it's my love for you. What happens if you get hurt? I couldn't cope and I have to watch you. I am so sorry, but I just don't like the fact that you are competing. Do you know what events you are doing yet?"

"The fight and then of course the race. I can fight. I'm probably the best fighter in the competition."

"Well, I feel a bit better now."

"Good." That was when I looked at my phone. Seeing the time I leaned up and kissed Max on the cheek. "Got to go sorry."

"Why?"

"The competition starts tomorrow and the competitors' families are arriving today. I have to go home."

He pulled me in for a hug and then let me go.

I practically ran back to the cottage, the excitement could hardly contain itself. As soon as I opened the door, I was attacked by a little red head who only reached my knees. Looking down, I was met with the toothy grin of Josh's little sister, Georgia. My mum and dad were in the kitchen with Josh's parents so i left them be and went into the living room to where my siblings would be. Ricky and Alec were sat on the sofa, both on their phones, ignoring the room. I pulled Georgia over, whispered in her ear and stood back to watch my handy work. Georgia jumped on each of the boys, taking their phones and then kissed their cheek, with a devilish smile on her face.

"Come on in here, Toni. I recognise that trick." Ricky shouted.

"So you should. I can't count the times I did that to mum and dad." I laughed and then hugged my brothers in turn. Alec may have been annoying to me, but I had definitely missed him.

The cottage was full with all the people that were there. I had tried to escape the chaos to phone Max but my brother's had burst in on me. I had persuaded my mate not to come round and meet the parents because 1) it was too packed 2) I was able to stop him from meeting them, that little longer. I couldn't, however, stop Caleb from coming round. Due to dad being Caleb's beta, they were best friends. Dad got Caleb up to date with all that had happened in the pack and Caleb got dad up to date with what had happened here. Caleb had also told me that I didn't have to call him Alpha anymore seeming as I would soon be a Luna. That resulted in Alec asking if he still had to call Caleb Alpha leading to several complaints from my brother because apparently I had 'special treatment'.

I knew my parents would have to meet Max but the longer I could put it off was the better. The competition started tomorrow with the fight. The day after there was the obstacle race. The final day was the race and the awards ceremony. I was taking part in the first and last day. I thought that on my day off, we would spend the day watching the obstacle course and then they would ask to meet Max. That would be the worst day off. My father would literally start with twenty questions instead of a simple 'hello'.

It was when I was alone in my room that Max called. Josh's parents, my parents and Caleb had gone out into the pack, leaving the 'kids' at home. I had text Max to say it was safe to call and he replied almost instantly.

"I was waiting for that text."

"Yeah, hello. My day was great thanks how was your?" I asked sarcastically.

"Oh shut up. If you must know though, my day was awful without you."

"You literally saw me a couple of hours ago."

"I know and those couple of days have felt like a week." He said dramatically.

"Shut up." I laughed.

We talked on the phone for half an hour in total, just talking casually about normal things. I also had decided to warn him about my parents. The dramatic loved up mother who wants every detail about any relationship and the over protective father who only wants the best for his precious daughter. He actually called me fragile once. That might have been the day that I punched my brothers to prove a point to him.

Going downstairs, I threw myself in between my brothers and then looked at the telly. It was one of the American comedies and I looked at Alec.

"Is this you? Didn't you love this programme?"

"I still do love it and don't pretend you don't. You have always watched this with me."

"I know. I love it!" I squealed. 

For the rest of the night, we talked, caught up and watched American comedies. It was going to be one of the last nights I could just hang out with these guys as a Shadow Pack member so it was a moment I would treasure.