Crown of Blood

13 | can't take a joke

i be tryna laugh with the bros 'bout the opps that we know
But they can't take a joke, 'cause it's not one
think it's 'cause we live by the code, reputation to uphold

Uncle Eddie was standing on the other side of the training grounds, two suitcases beside him. Pack warriors were running over from the trees towards him, and I saw the Alpha make his way over.

Grinning, I sprang up to my feet and jogged in their direction.

" - don't know how he got past us, Alpha! We didn't see him," one warrior gushed out.

"We swear, Alpha," another one jumped in. "Not one sign of him!"

"Nonsense, I walked right by," Eddie huffed, crossing his arms.

"Dad!" I squealed, hugging him tightly.

"Skittle!" he exclaimed. "How are you? Did they hurt you? I. Will. Turn. Them. To. Stone. This Instant," he snarled out, eyeing everyone around us.

"Ahem" someone cleared their throat, drawing our attention.

I turned my head to see the Alpha looking at us furiously, clearly displeased with all the commotion.

"My office." The look in his eyes meant now. He turned on his heel and headed back to the pack house.

"No, you will not!" Uncle Eddie slapped the hand of a warrior that was attempting to carry his suitcase. "That contains valuables!"

He grabbed the handle of the suitcase, while I took the other. Uncle Eddie interrogated me with so many questions that I was completely out of breath by the time we reached my mate's office. Stumbling through the door, a sense of deja vu washed over me as I stood in front of the familiar desk.

"Mr. Willows, please sit," my mate gestured to one of the chairs. Surprisingly, he didn't seem angry.

"You," Uncle Eddie wagged his finger at the Alpha. "If I find out you laid a single hand on her, I will rip your limbs off and use them as bats to beat anyone else that harmed her."

My mate's eyes flashed with anger at Edison's threat, his jaw hardening.

Uncle Eddie didn't seem to notice, instead turning to inspect me up and down, "You can be honest, Skittle. Did they do any - what is that?" he gasped in horror, noticing a scratch on my elbow.

"Hold my spoon," he shoved his wooden spoon of a wand at me, ready to throw hands at the Alpha. "I'm going to take care of this the old-fashioned way," he spoke in a deadly voice.

My mate stood up in a flash, tensing up at the sign of a possible fight.

"Wait," I intervened, grabbing Uncle Eddie's arm. "He didn't hurt me, dad." I rolled up the bottom of my leggings, exposing the bruises on my shin. "I was training!" I exclaimed excitedly, a big smile stretching across my face.

"Training?" he looked at me, searching for any signs of a lie. He knew how much I loved to practice fighting, and though I never said anything, I knew he was aware of how much it had saddened me when I was excluded from it at our old pack.

I nodded wordlessly, catching the eye of the Alpha who was staring at me with an unreadable expression, which caused my grin to fade.

"You're letting her train?" Uncle Eddie asked my mate, who gave a curt nod in response. "Well, why didn't you say so earlier?" Edison broke into a grin as he reached over and grasped the Alpha's hand with both of his, shaking it wildly.