Bloodlines and Betrayal

5. 🐺

The first weekend of the school year had finally arrived, and the atmosphere in our household was electric. If there had ever been a time when the excitement was palpable, this was it. The younger kids were blissfully unaware of the growing mountain of homework waiting for them, while the older teenagers, myself included, secretly dreaded the inevitable demands of high school. For once, the younger kids would get a taste of the more complex world of high school homework, though they'd soon discover it was a far cry from the simplicity of elementary school assignments.

I, for one, was barely keeping my head above water. My homework had been largely neglected, save for my art assignments, which had become my refuge from the chaos of academic life. Art was where I could channel my frustrations and creativity into something beautiful, a reprieve from the grind of school. Choir class was enjoyable, but it often conflicted with my art schedule. Still, I cherished the time I could devote to creating, even if it meant pushing other responsibilities aside.

On that Saturday morning, I awoke to a scene that could only be described as chaotic. Somehow, during the night, everyone had ended up in my bed. The sheer number of bodies packed into the small space was both amusing and a bit exasperating. I found myself wedged between my brothers and sisters, with barely any room to move. The guys, who were usually the most prone to sprawling out, had somehow managed to fit in with the girls, despite the limited space.

My attention immediately turned to Hazel, my adorable little sister. She was fiercely protective of her stuffed wolf, Luna, and had a notable tendency to become distressed if anyone dared to steal it. I could already picture the scene unfolding: Colton, my older brother, had apparently decided that snuggling with Luna was a good idea. Hazel would certainly be upset when she woke up and found her beloved toy in someone else's grasp. The sight of her face scrunching up in outrage was almost too familiar.

Hazel had an intense attachment to her stuffed animals, and losing them—even temporarily—was a big deal. I braced myself for the inevitable meltdown. The moment she discovered Colton with Luna, her tiny face would likely turn red with anger. I had witnessed her tantrums over her stuffed animals before; they were legendary in our household. It was always amusing to see her chase after her stuffed bunny, which occasionally stole Luna, prancing around with it in its mouth.

Despite the chaos, I couldn't help but find it endearing. Hazel's melodramatic reactions, while sometimes exhausting, added a layer of charm to our everyday lives. She had a way of turning the mundane into something memorable, and it was part of what made her so special.

Since it was Saturday and there was no school, I was determined to make the day special for Kaylie and Hazel. With the guys preoccupied with their training and their pack business—which, while not exactly a secret to the Alpha and Beta families, was kept from the rest of the pack—we girls had the day to ourselves. Mom, who was the Luna, and Aunt Katie, the Luna Beta, were in on the plan. We decided it was the perfect opportunity for a girls' day out.

The morning routine was a flurry of activity. Everyone stumbled out of bed, and after a hurried breakfast, we began our preparations for the day. The guys headed off to their office to dive into pack leadership and other responsibilities, leaving us free to embark on our adventure. We had planned a trip to the mall, and to make it extra special, we opted for a luxury limousine. After all, our family was one of the top wolf packs in the country, and it felt only fitting to embrace a touch of extravagance.

As the limousine glided through the streets, the excitement in the car was palpable. Hazel and Kaylie chatted animatedly, their voices a blend of anticipation and joy. The cityscape sped by, and soon we arrived at the mall. The grand entrance, adorned with festive decorations, was a stark contrast to the everyday hustle of the city. The sight of the luxury limousine pulling up to the entrance drew curious glances and whispers from onlookers.