The Unwanted Twin and Her Alpha Protector

Chapter 13.1: Limits

Riley POV

I tread lightly into the dining room, dressed in casual clothes, hair swept up into a messy ponytail, concealer strategically covering the dark circles under my eyes.

"Take a seat," my father growls.

I sit. Sofia shoots me a glare. I raise a brow at her. She sniffs, lifting her chin up haughtily.

"It's alright for some to stay home, but I still have to go to school. It's a good thing nobody knows you're my sister," she scoffed.

I tilt my head. "You mean because you've been hinting that I'm a maid in your house as well as a hooker?" I said calmly.

My mother gasps. My father turns his head. Sofia swallows hard. Silence and then....

"What?" my father booms.

"She's lying, Father. She's trying to get me in trouble. I never said anything of the sort," she said quickly, glaring at me.

"Doesn't matter. Honestly, not being compared to you improves my day," I said lightly.

My father pinched the bridge of his nose, looking tired.

"Enough. I don't have time for this nonsense now. Riley, can't you just be quiet? Do you have to make waves all the time?" he growled.

Of course. Never any admonishment for Sofia, just me. The familiar hurt rises inside of me, but I resolutely push it aside. I should not have expected anything less.

"Regarding your suspension," he began, fixing his eyes on me, "you're not to leave this house. You'll skip lunch and have dinner as usual. You'll work on your homework. I don't care. Just don't cause any more trouble than you already have."

"That's all?" Sofia gasped, "That's not fair. Why don't you make her do chores or something?" she demanded.

"Because I have enough to worry about," he barked, "and quite frankly, I don't trust Riley enough for her to leave her room. It's that simple."

Sofia silently fumed at me. I smiled icily. She rolled her eyes. I bit down into my measly piece of toast, tearing off big chunks and moaning to myself.

"Pig," Sofia muttered.

"Fake ass barbie," I countered back under my breath as her eyes widened in outrage.

She stood up so angrily that she knocked her chair over. "I'm going to school," she pouted, "I'm taking the red car, Daddy," she added as my father nodded.

"Drive safe, darling," my mother chirped.

Sofia smiled sweetly and then headed out. Instantly, the air turned glacial as they glared at me.

"Your grandfather is coming tomorrow," my father's voice was clipped, abrupt. "You will behave in front of him. You will be respectful, and as far as he's concerned, we've been treating you well. Is that understood?"

"Crystal," I said with heavy sarcasm. "Wouldn't want the old man to realize the truth. Would hurt your reputation," I finished.

My father slowly exhaled, looking on the verge of losing control. I finished my toast.

"Riley," my mother's voice is soft.

I look at her properly for the first time since I've arrived back in this hellhole. Her voice wavers again.

"Can't you, just for my sake, try and get along? It would be easier on us all if we weren't fighting all the time," she smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes.

"You mean easier for you," I deadpanned, "and as I said before, you aren't family to me. I'm here until I turn eighteen, and then I'm gone. So tell grandfather whatever the hell you want, because in the end, it's not going to matter anyway."

"Riley," she whispered.

I stood up. My mother looked at me, almost pleadingly. Once upon a time, it might have worked; I might have softened, given her what she asked without hesitation. Not anymore. I wasn't the old Riley anymore. I wasn't the girl who had grown up believing the world was kind and loving. I was the new Riley. The realistic Riley. Nothing ever came without strings in this place, and love was certainly something they tried to use as a weapon.

"Unless there's anything else?" I said with sarcasm.

"Just go," my father glared. "Remember that I have cameras in the main areas of the house," he warned, his voice lowering, "so I'll know if you try and leave."

"Right," I said, rolling my eyes, "well, at least the cameras are good for something. Surprised you have time, though, to keep an eye on me. Pack business must be slow," I continued as his expression continued to grow darker.

"Riley, I swear to god, you're pushing my limits," he snarled.

"Then your limits are laughable. A few words and you can't control your temper?" I mocked, "Not exactly befitting an Alpha now, is it? A little girl making you lose control?" I scoffed, "However will you live that down?"

He growled, but I was already moving, heading for my jail cell, while out of the corner of my eye, I saw Mother put a gentle hand on my father's arm, attempting to soothe him. I wished her luck with it. Arrogant jackass.

As I move, I take note of the cameras, the blind spots, their patterns. I notice their locations and then smile softly to myself. If I wanted out of this house, nothing was going to stand in my way and today, I was going to prove that I wasn't some obedient little doll they could control or imprison.