Siren -Editing-

Chapter Eleven

We walked, hand in hand, down the long halls. I hummed, excited to be spending time with Dad again. I had been so lonely since Mama left us behind to see the goddess. Daddy says she's not gonna come back, but I know Mama wouldn't leave us behind.

"What game do you wanna play?" I looked up at him as he opened a door I hadn't seen before. Mama always kept me away from this hall, but Daddy says it's OK now.

"Hmm, how about..." He picked me up and walked down some stairs. "How about the quiet game? How long can you stay quiet while Daddy gives you a check-up?"

I giggled and motioned, zipping my lips as he sat me on a cold metal table. I watched as me pulled out silly tools and checked silly places as seriously as he could.

He pulled out a small flashlight and checked my eyes, a small hammer tapping my knee, a cold circle on my chest and back, and arms. After a while of odd poking and prodding, he set his hand on either side of me giving his best smile. "All done! You did so well, Lily. How about some candy as a reward?"

I nodded, returning his smile, and eagerly took the lollipop he offered. "Thank you!"
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Our time outside was cut too short as we were pulled back inside by well-meaning pack mates. The stench of sweat as they danced to the music filled our senses as the lights spinning around the room gave a small strobe effect as everyone moved to the music blasting through speakers, I didn't think a wolf pack needed.

Daniel quickly left my side as something else caught his attention, his mate, I assumed. I scanned the crowd and spotted Jes dancing with her mate as though no one else was around.

Every scent blended into one to create the most nauseating smell that I never wanted to catch again. The only upside to it was that I couldn't tell if Father was in the room or not.

I doubted it, with his already heightened senses made more sensitive, this room would be the last place he would want to be. I knew that feeling well, though, but that knowledge made this the only place in the house I wanted to be in the moment. Knowing he wasn't there, but Blake was.

I strode along the wall toward where he was watching the crowd with his arms folded. He looked like a guard surveying a prison that could get out of hand at any point.

Before he even noticed me beside him, I pulled his arms out from his chest and slipped into them like he had been holding me the whole time. Blake looked down at me as he unfolded his arms and wrapped them around my waist, pulling me in closer to him.

"Comfortable?" He smiled as he studied my face in the low light. I nodded, content to be in his grasp as though it protected me from the too many things going on in the group behind me. He kissed my head and let his gaze flick back up to the event, "good."

"You're not working, are you?"

"Not technically."

"Then why are you?"

He looked back at me, letting his hands trail along the edge of my dress as he thought about his response. "Because this is all going to be my responsibility sooner than I'd like it to be, and I need to be ready for it."

"Working twenty-four-seven isn't going to magically make you ready to lead a pack, Blake." I grabbed onto his suit jacket and gently pulled him down to my eye level, "You're just going to burn yourself out if you never get to experience being in the pack, the connection is what makes an Alpha a leader."

He searched my face, as though studying whether I was just trying to get him to relax. When he couldn't find anything but sincerity, he smiled and kissed me gently, "You like being right, don't you?"