Year One

3

“Yeah, time goes by fast.” Mom carried over the steaks to the table, placing them right in the center. “If you think it’s quick now, just wait until you get our age.” She patted Greg’s shoulder as she headed back to grab the steamed vegetables.

“No, that’s not it.” Greg took a deep breath, savoring the aroma. “It’s the scout that’s coming.”

“Scout?” Mom pulled her seat out from the table and sat.

“Your Dad wasn’t able to meet me for lunch today so we haven’t heard anything.” Dad sat and picked up his fork from the table.

Yay, here he goes again. Let’s hear all about the hoity-toity scout. I plopped into my seat and grabbed my glass of water.

“Someone from Bloodshed Academy is coming to meet me.” Greg couldn’t keep the huge grin from his face. “Can you believe it?”

Dad startled, and his fork pinged off the table while Mom’s face turned a shade of white.

“Say what now?” Dad straightened in his seat and cleared his throat.

“Right?” Greg grinned as he cut a large piece of his steak and then took a big bite. “It’s amazing.”

Although Mom and Dad’s faces didn’t show looks of amazement. They almost looked scared, and I had no clue why.

T

o say dinner was tense would be an overstatement. Greg talked the entire time about Bloodshed Academy and what it meant for someone from their pack to finally get an invitation. Mom and Dad only nodded their heads and replied in one or two words, which was starkly different than normal.

As Greg and I walked out into the foyer, Mom and Dad followed behind.

“Honey, I’m not feeling so well.” Mom placed a hand on her stomach and then shot Greg a sympathetic smile. “I’m sorry, but I don’t think I’ll be able to make the game tonight.”

“You had said something earlier about not feeling well.” Dad touched her shoulder and shook his head. “Is it getting worse?”

It’s funny because I don’t remember her saying anything earlier about not feeling well. In all fairness though, I had been rushing to school since I had overslept.

“Yeah, but I hate missing the baseball game.” Mom sighed and gave me a small smile. “It’d be kinda nice if you stayed home to help take care of me.”

Was she being serious? She and Dad had been all about this game up until this very moment. “What?”

“I really need her there with me.” Greg threw his arm around my shoulders and tugged me into his chest. “She’s my good luck charm.”

His musky cologne nearly made me choke. Who the hell wears cologne when they’re going to play a game? He’s the damn pitcher, so he’s one of the sweatiest ones, too. “It’s the last baseball game of my senior year.” I hated being this way because my parents usually didn’t ask me for a lot. But there was something inside me telling me I needed to go.

“Yeah, but you can always hang out with your friends another night.” Dad winked at me and pouted. “Please don’t make me take care of her all by myself. You know how she gets when she’s not feeling well.”

In Dad’s defense, Mom did get overdramatic and diva-ish when she didn’t feel well.

“Sir, I really need her with me.” Greg’s arm stiffened around me, and a low growl rumbled in his chest.

An alpha wolf doesn’t like not being listened to. If Dad wasn’t careful, Greg’s wolf was going to come out.

Dad glanced at my mother and then sighed. “Fine, but come back home right after the game. The scout is here for Greg, so it’d be best if you didn’t interfere.”

“Sure, I can have Ian bring her back.” Greg dropped his arm from my shoulder and opened the door. “Come on, I can’t be late for warm-ups.”

Yes, we must rush. The world would come to a halt if Greg wasn’t there. Those words were at the tip of my tongue, but I swallowed them down like a bitter pill. I didn’t feel like fighting with him tonight.

As I turned to step out the door, Mom grabbed my arm and tugged me toward her so she could look me in the eyes. Make sure your necklace stays on you, no matter what. Promise me.

Ever since last week, she’d been nagging me about my necklace. I didn’t understand why it was so important to her. Yes, I promise.

“Is everything okay?” Greg’s brows furrowed, and he glanced at where mom was clutching my arm.

“Yes, fine.” Mom released her tight grip and giggled a little too loudly. “I’m just feeling off and hate not being there. I better get to bed.” She turned to walk down the hallway.

“Both of you be safe,” Dad said as his eyes firmly met mine. “If something feels off, get back here immediately.”

Something was definitely going on, and it was freaking me out. “Of course.”

Why are your parents being so weird? Greg took my hand and pulled me out the door.

No clue. I mean, it’s my senior year, but it’s not like I’m leaving the pack or anything. Although he was, and I was so damn jealous. At least, I’d get a little freedom away from him. Sometimes I felt like he was suffocating me and I’d never be able to find air.

“Hey.” He stopped at the passenger door and gave me a smile. “You aren’t worried about me leaving, are you?”

“No, not really.” I gazed down and let my dark hair hide my face. I didn’t want him to catch my relieved features.

“This shouldn’t change anything between us.” He placed his index finger under my chin and lifted my face. “I’ll be back during breaks and stuff.”

He was going for reassurance, but we both hoped everything would change. “We … um … better go. You’ll be late.”

Slowly, he turned. “Yeah, you’re right.” He walked around the front of the truck and got in the cab.

I took a deep breath and opened the passenger door. I stepped onto the ledge and slid onto the seat of the F-150. Of course, it was only a year or two old, which didn’t help us blend in with the other students very well. “Why don’t we just run there?” I cringed because the words slipped out before my filter kicked in.

“You know why.” He started the truck and frowned at me.