What It Means To Be Me

Runaway

Waking up to the smell of bacon and eggs cooking was definitely relaxing. I remained in bed for a few extra minutes, just listening to the goings-on in the other rooms. The sound of a spatula moving against a pan was the first thing I picked up, but then the humming of the television overtook it.

Ah, Tanner's still watching that show. He must be half asleep unless he took a break last night.

Yawning, I got myself up and sauntered into the living room after pulling on a pair of boxers, noting Tanner was under the blanket, his eyes half-lidded with sleep.

Yeah, someone needs to go to sleep.

Shaking my head, I walked over to turn the television off...only to hear a growl coming from behind me. Straightening up, I turned to stare down at Tanner with a raised eyebrow.

"You've been watching it all night. You need to get some sleep."

Tanner sleep later. Want watch, it good.

Well, it was nice to see he already had some new words, but they probably weren't going to stick if he didn't get some rest for his brain.

"If you don't rest, those new words you just learned are going to fall out of those big ears," I warned, trying so hard not to grin at my stupid lie. It was true enough, though, 'cause he really did need to rest in order to retain the information.

But Tanner want learn more. Not can learn in sleep.

Chuckling to myself, I walked over and knelt beside him with a smile.

"You want to lose what you've already learned?"

He huffed and shook his head but didn't lift it from his huge paws.

"Then you need to get some rest."

No want, he replied in frustration. I really wanted to roll my eyes and drag him into the other room because I wasn't used to being ignored, but I knew that would just end up starting a fight.

Sleep here, learn when sleep.

Squeezing my eyes shut tight, I forced myself to hold back a growl and instead shook it off before shrugging.

"Fine."

I'd seen him getting ready to work me up again as my eyes opened, but when I gave in, he actually seemed surprised. His ears perked up halfway for a moment, waiting for me to say something else. However, when I just turned and walked away, I heard him grunt in disappointment and snuggle himself a bit farther under the blankets.

"I'm surprised you were able to do that, Alpha."

Looking up as I stepped into the kitchen, I gave Orlando a sarcastic smile and walked over to the fridge to grab the gallon of milk inside. It was kind of a puppy drink, but breakfast just didn't feel right to me if I didn't have it. When I got it out, though, I had to clip a quiet growl at Orlando because I could hear him snickering under his breath about it. Too bad for him, I wasn't in the mood to joke around this morning after having to back down from Tanner.

"When are you going to let him go?"

The question had my head jerking up and toward the stove, my eyes narrowing questioningly on Orlando.

"Let him go? I'm not holding him captive."

The cocky grin on his face told me I was lying. Hell, I'd even fenced in my yard so Tanner could go out and relieve himself...without being able to just walk off.