The Beta's Mate

Chapter Six

Zeke Hayes

I came clean to Ava, about my dad. I lied, but i told most of the truth. It's a friday night, and i was invited to dinner with Cam and Ava.

Ava should be here any minute, and now i have to sneak out because my dad's in a mood. I push open my door, and listen for any sound. I slip out after making sure I have my wallet and phone.

I walk down the stairs quietly, peaking my head out to see my dad. I hear him in the kitchen, so i slip my shoes on. Then I'm out the door as quietly as possible. Ava's sedan is in front of my house, with Cam in the passenger side.

I push a fake smile on my lips, because my nerves are getting to me. I walk to the sedan, climbing in the back.

"Hey" I say as I buckle up.

"Hey" they say in unison as Ava starts driving to the diner.

"All good?" Ava asks, and I know what she's implying.

"Yeah. Starving "I lie, and she smiles.

"Me too," Cam says dramatically, whining.

The drive to the diner is quick, music is playing and we have short convos here and there. Ava is pulling into a spot and then we walk in together. Ava growls, and my eyes follow where she's looking.

Nicole, Sam, Nolan and Peyton are sitting in a booth in the back. I step up besides Ava, and hook our arms together. "Don't let her ruin our night. '' I say softly, and she nods. We wait to be seated and my mind wanders to Peyton's fingers on my check.

I got instant goosebumps when he touched me, and I've never experienced that before. The waitress takes us to the opposite side of the dinner then them and Ava relaxes at that. We climb in the booth, i sit next to Cam this time and we order drinks.

"So what's your guys' weekend plans?" Cam asks, sipping his coke.

"I'm doing a group homework session tomorrow" I start, sipping my diet coke.

"Ooo i love those. I'm working at the cafe" Ava says smiling "You?"

"I'm also doing a homework session. With friends besides you losers" he sighs dramatically, leaning back in the booth. I laugh, nudging my shoulder with his.

"You're the real loser"

"Yeah!" Ava agrees, sticking out her tongue.

We have a chill dinner, and it's actually really fun hanging out with them. We've been getting closer and closer, and it's been nice. I like being around them. But the night ends quickly, and my throat tenses while I walk up the path to my house.

I slip inside, and slip my shoes off. Then I go up the stairs as quietly as possible. I push open my bedroom door and stop in my tracks.

My dad is on my bed, his head snaps up to mine. A look of disgust covers his features, and he stands up. "Where were you?" he snaps out.

"I want to have dinner with friends" I say, trying to keep my voice even.

"Did I say you could go?" he spits out.

"No, bu-" I get cut off by a full beer can being thrown at my head. It causes instant pain to flicker through my head, and my eyes squeeze shut as the liquid soaks me. By the time I open my eyes, my dad is shoving me into the wall.

"No, i didnt. I am so f*****g sick of you, Zeke" he spits out, his nasty breath filling my nostrils. My head is getting fuzzy, as i try to dissociate myself with this moment. But I can't, and I don't have time to think, and I'm being shoved into the ground. Then a foot collides with my stomach, knocking all the air from my lungs.

"Dad" I shout, my voice cracking as his foot collides with my tired body again.

"Shut up, Zeke. f*****g christ." his foot collides with my head, and pain pricks through my whole body. I'm not sure how long this goes on for, he's shouting endless amounts of words at me.

Worthless

Pathetic

No one wants you

No one loves you

But then I hear another voice, my mom.

"Erik! Stop it" she yells, and it stops for a moment, then one last hard kick collides with my stomach.

My eyes closed at some point, and my cheeks were soaked in tears and beer, but I felt my mom shake me.

"Honey" she whispers, and I open my eyes, looking up at her. "I'm here baby, come on" she whispers, pulling me up. Everything hurts, I swallow around my tight throat. "You need to shower," she says softly, and I nod my head.

I let her walk me to the bathroom, and she stops in the doorway. "Take a shower, I'll bring you some pain killers" I nod and she chews her lip before speaking "Don't tell anyone, okay?" she says, and my heart cracks, but i nod my head. I shut the door behind me, flipping the lock into place.

Don't tell anyone?

A nasty habit I've picked up, when things get bad, when the pain is all I can feel. I take a blade to my skin, sinking into my thighs, the stinging brings me relief that I'll never find in this life, or at least i dont think I will.

So when I shower and the water flows over my fresh cuts, that sends stinging through my body, it takes away from the pain in my head, in my stomach.

I clean myself up the best I can, and I see red around my eye that's already starting to bruise. My throat clenches, and the stinging in my thighs is all my brain is focusing on. I pull on clean sweats, and go to my room. I see a pain pill bottle, and a water bottle. I take the medicine before climbing into bed.

—-

My body aches, but I'm almost at Sam's house. I have a huge bruise on my stomach, and my eye is black and blue, but it's not as bad as I thought it was going to be. I'm almost to Sam's when a large gate appears, and it says i have to walk through.

I pull up my i********:, and go to our DMs

ZekeHayes: Do you live in a gated community??

SamanthaLauren: oh, yeah. Wait there, be there in a sec xx

I slip my phone back into my pocket, and stand awkwardly by the gate. The guards there are eyeing me, but they don't say anything. A white Audi pulls up in front of the gate, and Sam slips out of it. Her long blonde hair is wavy and she's in shorts and a tank top. She sees me, and smiles wide waving at me.

She says something to the guards, then they let me in by sending me small smiles and nods. I return the gesture, and meet Sam halfway. Her gaze lands on my eye, but she forces a smile to her lips and tugs me to her car. "Nolan and Peyton will be here soon. They live here too, but they're working out right now" she says and i slip into the passenger seat, while she gets in the driver side.

She drives past a lot of houses that look the same. We're not in the car very long before she pulls up in front of a big two story house. While we're getting out, Peyton and Nolan come strolling over. They both are carrying t-shirts, wearing basketball shorts. Peytons golden skin is glistening in the sun.

He's absolutely ripped, so is Nolan which makes me self conscious. But I can't take my eyes off Peytons chest, and his veiny arms. I knew they were bigger, taller but i didnt realize they were f*****g ripped. I have some muscle, but my abs are nowhere near as defined as Peyton's.

An animalistic growl comes from Peyton's chest, and it scares the living s**t out of me. My eyes snap up to him, and he steps closer to me. "What the f**k happened to your face?" he snaps out, his tone is harsh. Insecurity swarms my body and I shrug.

"I fell, im clumsy as f**k. " i roll my eyes, turning towards Sam who sends a tense smile my way.

"Let's go inside" she comes around the car, tugging me with her as she looks over her shoulder, sending a glare to the boys. "Sorry about him, he can be moody" she whispers to me.

"I'd say so" I mumble. We step inside to her foyer, and we remove our shoes and she pulls me towards her kitchen.

"My mom made cookies, and we have sandwiches if you're hungry. Oh I also got you diet coke. Ava said it's your favorite" she smiles, and goes to her fridge to grab things out. I sit down in her island, taking in her beautiful kitchen.

She sets down a plate of cookies, and a diet coke. Then she pulls out some sandwiches. "Help me carry them to the table?" she asks, and i nod instantly getting up and helping her. "We're gonna work out here, figured we'd better have snacks' ' she smiles, showing off her perfect white teeth.

I set the stuff down, and sit down across from Sam. The boys pile in eventually, Nolan has a small smile on his lips, and Peyton looks like he's going to murder someone, per usual.

We work on our homework, and eat the food Sam's mom prepared for us, her parents aren't here which makes things less awkward. It's a pretty good time hanging out with them though, I was worried it wouldn't be fun like it is with Ava and Cam.