46 - Abby POV
1255 Words
This was one of those moments where I wish the world would open and swallow me whole.
Even the rest breaks and assisting my mum with cooking did not ease any nerves, for the situation we found ourselves in was hell on Earth.
Everyone was on edge, all eyeing each other; felt like I was in a Western shootout.
Mum had arranged a long table - The pack sat at one end whilst the Hunters sat at the other. Mum and I were sat either side of the table, acting as a barrier between the two groups. Colt was to my left whilst my dad was to the left of my mum.
"Could you pass me the roast parsnips, please?" Dan looks towards the Hunters, since they were sitting in front of the food.
Gruffly, one of them, I didn't know their name, picked it up and it was slowly passed down. "Thank you." Dan gave a blank response.
"So, how is work, Abby?" My mum turns to me and get any form of conversation started.
"It's going well. I'm covering indoor and winter sports at the moment. These will be my last segments before I go on maternity leave." I could see the Hunters stare daggers at my stomach, resulting in the pack shooting their own.
"Well, if you need anything, let me know and I will assist you."
"Thank you, Mum, but I think Colt has bought most of it." I turn to my mate, giving him a kiss on the cheek as we stare lovingly at each other.
"Has he now?" Dad made the snide comment.
"Yes, he has. It was my Christmas present." I turn at him with a blank expression. "And, just so you know, the only reason you have a gift from me is because I had already ordered it and couldn't return it."
He didn't seem to care as he turned back to his dinner. "I can think of a better present you could give me."
"Now, now, you two. This is supposed to be a time to heal wounds. You said you would agree to extend an olive branch." My poor mum. Will she be stuck mediating between the two of us for the rest of her life?
"I'm entitled to my opinion, Helen. And so, I am allowed to not like this situation." He gestures his knife towards me and Colt. Naomi and Siobhan had to put a hand on the others to stop them from launching across the table. That put the Hunters on edge as you could see them start to shuffle in their seats.
"Whilst you may be entitled to it, you are not allowed to enforce it on others." I clutched Colt's hand under the table as I gave my response.
"I'm just trying to think about what is best for you."
"By keeping me on a short leash?"
"I think we all know who the animals in the room are that need to be kept on a leash?" Dad's comment made all of the pack go on edge. He was risking our exposure, and he knew, we couldn't do too much to retaliate.
"Edward, remember your manners." My mother scolds him.
"I don't mind extending an olive branch to our daughter, but I am not extending it to the rest of them."
"I invited them to come here."
"And we could say the same about your group of friends who you didn't seem to tell anyone about." I gesture towards the people sitting on my right. None of them had said a word. The broad, ginger haired guy with a beard to my right seemed to be the only one with any emotions as he smiled, watching this interaction unfold.
"Who even are they?" Now I was trying to make them squirm a bit, see if we could get any information out of them.
"They all work on the farm."
"You need this many people to run a farm?"
"Mostly for pest control." The guy next to me answers, a rueful smile on his face as he shoves a pig in a blanket into his gob.
"Care to extend your services to dealing with annoying fathers?" I smirk back at him. That caused his head to roll backwards in laughter and thump the table in delight before turning to my father. "I like her. She's got your sass."
"And my stubbornness, apparently."
"We already knew I had that." Looks like our argument was going to continue. I turn my attention back to the guy next to me. "Do you have any family?"
"Yes, an older brother."
"And how does he treat you?"
"He can be my best friend or my worst enemy, but we are loyal to each other to a fault." His answer was honest, which I can admire, even if I didn't agree with his other ethics.
"Has he ever made you do something you didn't want to do?"
"No... he wouldn't. He knows me too well." I don't know if this guy was answering honestly or trying to get a rise out of my dad. Whatever it was, the latter worked as my dad banged his hand on the table in annoyance.
I just smile at his mini tantrum. "You see dad, his family doesn't force him to do things they don't want to do."
He turned a cold stare at me. "Abby, you may hate me, but you will not disrespect me."
"You've lost my respect ever since you said I should get rid of my child." I was returning the cold gaze. Colt joined in as his grip tightened on my hand. I didn't need to look to know his hackles were standing on their ends.
Dad rises to his feet and slams his fists down on the table, causing the food to rattle. "You can't have a child with this man!"
"Why not!? You've done the same!" I slam my own hands on the table as I shoot to my feet. "It's alright for your son to live, but I have to kill mine!?"
The words were out of my mouth before I could stop them. The only realisation I had of what I had said was when gasps went up around the room. My eyes widen in horror as a plefora of questions came out at once.
"Abby's having a boy?"
"Edward has a son?"
"Who are they?"
"Abby has a brother?"
There were only two people I looked at to see their response. My mum, who was opposite me, sat staring at the table, like she was listening to my comment play over and over in her head.
My eyes turn to Jason, who was sitting at the end of the table. He looked hurt as our eyes met. "Abby..."
"Jason, I-" I didn't know how to respond. The statement I made, I was questioning why dad hadn't killed Jason.
I didn't want it to be meant like that. I love Jason. I loved him like a brother before I found out he was.
Jason just slowly stood from his seat, chucking his napkin on the table before storming out of the room.
"Jason, wait!" I go to walk after him, but Colt grabs my arm. "Give him some air."
I could feel tears brewing as I stare at the doorway he had just walked out of. The only thing bringing me back to the table was the brand new question that Austin had twigged during that interaction.
"Wait, is Jason Abby's brother?"
- Writer
