The misfits

32: Emma

"What? So you got beaten by a girl?" Austin repeated the words into the phone, incredulous. "Damn, son." He teased.

"That's my line." His father grumbled, and Austin could imagine his father glaring at him.

"Anyway, she's Prince Logan's daughter." He added. "I thought Prince Logan was dead." Austin mumbled, and his father heard him. "Apparently not. That's not the point! It means that I've lost my position as beta royal." His father sighed, emphasising on each word heavily. "What has that got to do with—Oh. OH. OHHHH. Wait, who's the girl? It is my right as the new beta royal to demand you to answer that question." Austin was hit with a sudden realisation as he said, pressing the phone to his ears with his shoulder, not sure if he heard right. He could imagine his father shaking his head at him before answering, "Her name is Everest. Nate Grey's sister." Emma's friend. Austin realised. "Does that mean I need to go back?" He asked, regretting it as soon as the words tumbled out of his mouth. "Yeah, you—" Austin smashed the 'end call' button, as he huffed heavily.

"Who was that?" Eleven-year-old Kay walked in, staring up at him. "My other dad. I got to go back. Something came up." He groaned, annoyed.

He decided to update Emma about the sudden news, after having told her that he was going to be here for a few months. Only his dad would find ways to ruin the holiday of a beta royal.

꧁꧂

"You got everything you need?" His adoptive mother stood at the door, while Austin lugged his belongings along with him. He suspected he'd be away for a while. It was a pretty weird arrangement, but he was adopted by a family since birth, and he went through life as a normal human being up to the night he got bitten, and he found out he was a werewolf and his senses had sort of gotten activated that night. Two weeks later, his real werewolf parents came to claim custody of him, even though he had insisted he wanted to stay. For the past ten years, he had been juggling both his lives, and he was proud to say he was still holding up well.

"Yep. I'll see you soon. Booty calls." He said, before giving his adoptive mom a hug and waving to Kay, before he went out of the door.

He walked out into the streets, eyeing for the small, dilapidated bar with the fat man in it. I'm gonna be of drinking age soon. Austin cringed slightly as he stepped into the dingy, poorly-lit area. A man with his eyes rolled backwards drunkenly offered him a glass of honey-coloured liquid, and slurred, a megawatt smile plastered on his face, "Scotch whiskey for your parched tongue?" He politely declined before making his way to the bartender, slamming his palm down on the table to get his attention.

The bartender turned and fixed him a steely glare, as he growled, "Whaddya want, boy?" Austin enunciated the phrase he had rehearsed in his head, "I am Apple Wrinkly Whomp." A spark of recognition sparked in the bartender's eyes as he smirked, "What a stupid code. 'Ere ya go." He gestured for Austin to walk closer and step onto the loose platform. The bartender gave him a toothy smile as he said, "Rough ride. Hang on tight." And he slapped the button.

A hole opened up under Austin's feet as he began to tumble into the supposed bottomless pit. Austin yelped before he closed his eyes, hoping he didn't die.

Note of warning, he had never done this before. Mostly because he had never tried to travel from New York to the castle, and his father usually had other means for them to travel, that did not involve him falling through floors.

"Nice landing, son." Austin had fallen onto his face as he turned his head up and spat into the ground. "Hey, Dad. Great way to ruin my vacation." Austin replied. His father sighed and said, "Not my fault. This is what happens when your old man gets beaten by a girl and loses his position as a beta royal."