Love Impossible: My Royal Mates

Chapter 3

Marcus watched me carefully as I walked up to the house. His eyebrow raised when I approached him. He was not the tallest wolf in Xander's parklands, but he sure towered over me. He stood maybe 5'11". My mom and I both only stood 5'7" or 8" on a good day. We were extremely short around these parts. "Where is your car?" Marcus asked me, His voice suspicious.

"It wouldn't start. It's in the school parking lot."

"Could have texted one of us," he responded. Evidently, he did not like the strange boy on the pack property. I hesitated before opening the front door. I wanted to ask him what was wrong with getting a ride from a classmate, but I also did not want to start any arguments. Since my disaster with Daemon, those closest to Xander watched me extra close. I was not sure if they had allotted themselves as babysitters or if they just thought I was trouble. I made my way to the stairs to lead to the room I had been staying in, when a thought hit me hard. Maybe they didn't want a human here. I nearly missed the step I was about to take when a hand reached out to steady me. John had stopped me from falling.

His brown eyes looked at me with worry, "Careful, Cub. Your ma would kill all of us if you broke your neck." His Russian accent was thick, and his beard covered most of his facial features. I could never truly tell if he was scowling or just not smiling.

"Sorry, I am such a klutz." I shook his hand off my wrist.

John eyed me suspiciously, "Something is on your mind." It wasn't a question. It was an observation.

"Yeah, weird day today." I responded. I was not about to tell him that after 3 years of being ignored by my classmates in high school, I suddenly was being noticed by the football team. I was not about to divulge that I was called Wierd Hannah or Orphan Hannie (Rhymes with Annie) or even the Cursed One. I hate small towns. Too many people knew everything about you. The entire class was very aware that my bio dad disappeared before my 1st birthday. They all knew my mom basically never left her house because he had traumatized her so badly she had PTSD. They all knew my step-dad was the only dad I ever had, and he died before being able to adopt me. I was the unwanted one. No man wanted to be my dad, so that must mean I couldn't be worth dating or being friends with. Whatever, I didn't need those assholes.

John studied me. Honestly, his quiet stare was a bit much most of the time. It unnerved me how it felt he was looking into my soul. Maybe bears could do that, look in your soul, and see what you didn't say. "Weird good or Weird bad?"

I thought a moment before speaking, "Neither and both." I bypassed him then, wanting the conversation to be over, and finished going up the stairs.

When I got to the top of the landing, John called out behind me, "My mate's cub is my cub. If you need me, you only need to ask."

Cute, he wanted to play dad. I've had 2 of those, I didn't need 2 more. I made my way into the bedroom. I stepped in and shut and locked the door behind me. I never felt like it was not safe in the house. I knew better than that. Not a single person would risk my mom being upset if something happened to me. That was my problem; they wanted me safe, for her sake, not mine. When would someone actually see me? How could I ever expect to be someone other than the one left behind or the daughter of the famous Frankie Parker, the future White Moon Pack Luna, mate to different species, conqueror of the notorious Vampire Daemon Mortimer, and super genius when it came to all computers and puzzles.

I made my way into my bathroom and decided a shower was needed. These supernaturals would be able to smell how close Chad got to me if Marcus didn't tattle on me. I just hope he didn't think this was reportable to my mother. She freaked about everything. The bathroom was pretty generic. The tile was an off-white color with small blue specks running in it. The closet was bigger than my old bedroom at Mom's house, and there was a wonderful tub with Jacuzzi Jets. Beyond that, the sink was littered with my hair products, my makeup, and random jewelry pieces that I didn't put away in my jewelry box. I was not the tidiest person, and it drove my mother insane. I just remind her that there is no trash lying around, no rotten food or anything to attract bugs and mice. I just did not organize everything like she did. Her lips would purse in unhappiness, but she would drop the issue each time. Thank goodness. I was tired of fighting with her. We spent a full year at each other's throats because Daemon decided to tear my family apart.

I wrapped myself up in a towel and made my way into the bedroom. While drying my hair with another towel, I walked to the big window that had a lovely spot for sitting. The ledge was big enough to sit and curl up with a book. I did this quite often. It even had pillows and blankets to make it more comfortable. I grabbed my sketchbook from my bookbag and opened it back to the picture I was drawing of my dream. The dragon in my dreams called to me. It needed me. I just couldn't shake the feeling he was in danger, and I was supposed to do something to save him. My problem was that I had no idea if dragons truly existed.

"Hannah, time to eat!" A knock at my door sounded. My mom was actually home tonight. I was very impressed, we haven't seen much of her since her visit to the council. She had a tendency to stay in her vampy library. I got tired of that old warehouse long ago, even before Daemon tried to kill me. Now, the place made my skin crawl.

I responded, "Coming, just finished a shower, start without me." Honestly, I was far from hungry. My appetite was next to nothing these days.

As I was pulling my shirt down, another knock at my door startled me, and I opened it a hair. Charlie, Marcus's wife, and Xander's sister were on the opposite side. "Hey girl, are you hungry? I am starving. I hope that whatever Mom decides to make is super tasty." Charlie's enthusiasm for everything was contagious. I laughed and opened the door a bit more to allow her inside. I grabbed the jeans I had set on my bed prior to starting my shower and quickly got dressed.

"Do you plan to ask your mom anything about going clubbing with me this weekend?" Charlie asked. "I can promise her no harm will come to you."

I shrugged, "Depends on her mood, I suppose. She has been pretty adamant that I don't go places like that for "SAFETY REASONS"" I used airquotes to indicate how unsafe Mom thought I was, rather than the truly safe meter I am in.

Charlie giggled, "Oh gosh, I can remember my first time going to the Lion's Den. Did I tell you about that?" The Lion's Den was a shifter club that Charlie wanted to take me to.

"No," was all I was able to answer before Charlier wrapped her arm in mine and pulled me towards the dining room.

"So the first time I went was for my 17th birthday. Everyone was buying drinks for me because birthdays must be celebrated. Round after round of tequila, vodka, rum, and many other types of alcohol were pushed in front of me. I was not even catching a buzz; but a friend handed me a small pill. Said it was magic enough to let shifters feel the work of alcohol like a human does. So, obviously, I took it, and oh gosh, did I get drunk. I was so off my rocker that I accidently fell inside the DJ's box. He thought I was trying to get close to him by flirting. In reality, I was far from steady on my feet, and I bumped into someone. I just know I never want to drink that much again."

I giggled, "I will have to remember that when I am able to go to the club."

I nearly jumped out of my skin when I heard Xander growl a warning, "Charlie."

Charlie didn't look bothered by his seething, "Chill big brother, I was telling her about the time I was at the club and fell into the DJ box."

Marcus had jumped up and said, "Maybe avoid the party talks until Hannah is of age to get into the club?"

"What she's turning 18 in a few months. She'll be able to get into the club."

I watched Xander pinch his nose in frustration, "She is human. She can't get in until she is 21."

"Hold up," I was startled, " I can go to a shifter club with Charlie and go in next month."

"No, being human, the bouncers will stop you if you're not 21. Shifters don't get drunk, or if they do, it takes copious amounts of illegal drugs like wolfsbane to happen. Did Charlie happen to mention that's how she got drunk? You can die from alcohol poisoning. Besides, your mother would have my balls if I even thought about sending you to a party with Charlie." Xander truly was trying to be patient, and I was not having it.

"Look, I would be if I walked up with Charlie they wouldn't think twice about letting me in. Besides, if you're already worried about what my mom will do to you now, you may as well turn in your man card." Behind me, Charlie snickered, and I stood my ground.