Reading Between the Lies

I don’t know if I can keep going. I can smell the river ahead, but the cracks of fallen tree limbs and the sounds of his carnal breathing are closer. I spot an old crumbling wall left over from the old property line and kick it over to hopefully buy me some time, but I don’t think it will be enough. I hear a mocking snarl at my attempt to stop him. I just need to make it to the river. I dread to find out what will happen if he catches me first. I can’t go through anymore of his sick and twisted torture that he disgustingly calls fun. There it is. I see it. Oh my goddess the river has never looked so beautiful in my life. The sun rays dancing off the surface. I just need to cross it. I’m just a few feet away. Almost. Almost. And just as I am about to jump I am tackled to the ground. Claws grabbing at my leg and pulling me down with a hard thud that could be heard from miles away. I can hear him sadistically laughing at my expense. “I gotta admit Amelia, I thought you were actually going to make it. When I’m done with you, you’re going to wish you did.” He leans over to pull me up but I see my chance and I kick his knee in causing it to buckle and grab his arm and slam him against a tree, but what I didn’t expect was to see him shift midair and start sprinting towards me. Before I blinked he had me pinned to the ground and licked my face. “Damn it Carson was that really necessary?!” I shout at him. “Consider it payback for that little stunt you pulled” he chuckled back. “Now, since I have caught you before you crossed the river there will be no cheat day for today. I have a bunch of fun ideas for you” he said with a sinister smirk on his face. “Good goddess all mighty Carson we’ve been at this all week, there is practically nothing left!” I was hoping he would maybe cut me some slack considering my 18th birthday is in a couple of days and I have a lot to do to help my mother prepare, but something in his devious eyes tell me that’s not going to happen. “I suppose I could let it slide. If, and this is a BIG if” he paused for a moment to read me to see if I wanted it enough to do what he asked. “If…” he paused. I could tell he was trying to read me to see how bad I wanted to skip it. “ if you save a dance for me at your party.” I can’t help but laugh at his request. I look to the ground and shake my head and look up to see him giving his best puppy dog eyes anticipating my answer. “ You are an absolute to dork, but you have yourself a deal” He chuckles at my response and we head back to the pack house. Carson has been training me since I was 13. He is the son of my father’s gamma, Shane Williams. The gamma in our pack is in charge of training the warriors, and as he is to be the future gamma my father saw it wise to have him be my personal trainer. Lucky me I guess. I don’t really mind the training. The way Carson trains, however, could make the god of war himself curl up in a ball with a security blanket, scared to even look at another weapon again. He is on a level of his own! Okay okay all jokes aside he really is a terrific trainer and has become like a brother to me. We come around a bend and I can see the pack house in the distance. That is my home. Our pack is hidden in a remote wooded area about 2 hours from Portland, OR. My father, Byron Bryson, is the alpha of our pack the Silver Dawn pack. He is also the supreme alpha of North America. Being a supreme alpha is equal to being king or president in the human world. My older brother Isaac is set to take over in a little over a months time. His best friend, Thomas will be his beta, who also happens to be the current Beta Matthew Ford’s son. As I mentioned before Carson will be the next gamma. I think the trio will do very well. They are all in sync with each other and support each other very well. All three have yet to find their mate. As I am hoping to find my mate at my party, I also hope they will find theirs as well considering all of the surrounding packs, as well as some others throughout the country will be attending. My birthday happens to be around the time of the winter solstice. During that time one of the supreme packs per region holds a Yule ball. This year is our packs turn to hold the ball since my father is a supreme alpha, so the night after my party will be the Yule ball. To say it is a busy couple days is an understatement. We make it back to the pack house, and everyone is running about hurrying to try to to get finishing touches done. I scan the room and I find my mother, Elena, with her nose, buried in a clipboard, making sure everything is accounted for. She is the best example for a Luna and I can only dream I will be half the Luna that she is. I run up behind her and give her a quick peck on the cheek. I startle her and she jumps. Once he realizes it is me she wraps me up in an enormous hug. When she releases me, she has the biggest smile on her face, but that smile quickly turns to anger. “WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR LEG!” Oops… Busted… I thought I had it wrapped up enough. I look over and Carson as white as a ghost. My mother may be the sweetest person on earth but when her pups are involved … ha good luck. “Mother I am fine we were just training” that doesn’t seem to ease her. “ training doesn’t involve mauling your leg off” my mother replies. She was always one for dramatics. “Mom I am fine. It’s already started healing. It was my fault anyways” “ you go straight to Dr. Elijah’s office now and get that looked at.!” She left no room for argument. As if anyone would even try. “ yes, mother” I reply, and give her another peck on the cheek on my way out. “ Holy sh*t, Amelia, I bought p*ssed myself!” Carson said under his breath. I don’t blame him. My mom can be scary at times when she needs to be. “Oh you’re fine stop being dramatic” I said, while playfully shoving him. He just gave me a nervous chuckle. I made my way to see Dr. Elijah. He looked me over and I was practically healed by the time I got to his office so he gave me a thumbs up and sent me on my way. Carson and I were walking back to the pack house when we ran into Isaac and Thomas. They seem to be in a serious conversation, so Carson decided to leave with them. I head back into the pack house to see if there’s anything I could help my mom with. “Oh hun good, you’re back. I just need you to go through the song list and add anything that you would like.” She handed me a folder that looks like it had a novel on the inside. “ what all is in here?” I asked. “ oh, it’s just song choices. Menu, guest list etc. I will need that back when you’re done please and thank you” my mother left to finish setting the place setting and I headed to my room. It only took about an hour but I finally finished choosing some songs to dance to for the after party. I look over at the clock and it is about 7:30pm so I head down to grab something to eat since I missed dinner. I go to try to find my mom first, so I can drop off the folder. As I’m looking for her, I passed my father’s office and I hear voices. Of course I have to stop and investigate. “Why do they need to be invited” I recognize my brother’s voice “ there is absolutely no need!” “ I agree how do we know we can even trust them. What are their intentions?” Thomas asked. “ Guys, I think we just have to trust that alpha Byron knows what he’s doing.” Carson suggested. “ Apparently, my dad doesn’t know sh*t if he even thought to include them!” my brother seem to inherit the dramatics for my mother. Who are they talking about? And why is it such a big deal? “What are you doing sweetie?” my mother says behind me and I jump. “Oh mom you scared me! I was looking for you, so I could give this back to you. I was just on my way down to grab something to eat” you could see the suspicion in her eyes. “ Well thank you sweetie. Go on grab some thing to eat. I’ll see you in the morning.” I hurry downstairs and I run into Kylie my best friend. Kylie is Thomas’s little sister. Kylie and Thomas have the same features. They both have brown hair and hazel eyes, but that is where the similarities end. Kylie is a free spirit very independent with a fiery attitude. Thomas is more reserved and composed. He hardly ever lets his feelings show on his face. “Hey hey hey what took you so long? I almost ate your food waiting for you” I couldn’t help but laugh “almost?” I retort with a chuckle she had already taken maybe two bites out of my food. “Well it was just sitting here in my face, what would you expect” she said. “ Sorry I got sidetracked. Do you know what’s going on with the guys?” I asked her hoping she may know what they were talking about. She looked at me with a puzzled look on her face. “What are you talking about? who was talking?” She asked. “I was just walking past my dads office and I heard Isaac Thomas and Carson in there talking. Apparently my dad invited someone that maybe he shouldn’t have?I don’t know it was odd. My mom came up behind me before I could hear who they were talking about.” I can see the gears turning in her head and it’s honestly kind of funny to look at “NoI don’t know what that’s about.” She says while still eating my food “OK get your paws off my food I’m hungry” “OK fine fine I need to watch what I eat anyways fit in my dress.” She said as if she needs to watch her weight she has the perfect figure any girl would kill for. “At least you have a dress. I still need to go tomorrow to get mine. I can’t decide what look I want.” I hint hoping she will go with me. “Oh girl, just leave it to me and I will pick out the perfect dress for you. You were going to look so fine your mate is going to go crazy.” I really hope she’s right and I find my mate. It’s what every wolf dreams of when they turn 18. That one special person that you’re bonded to in the most precious way possible. “OK well it’s a date then we’ll leave right after breakfast tomorrow.” I tell her “Sounds good buttercup. I’ll see you in the morning.” She hugs me that runs off back home. The next morning I meet up with Kylie. We have breakfast then takeoff to the mall. So far we went to three dress shops and I still haven’t found anything. I’m starting to get a little anxious since it’s only two days away we stop at one final place , Kylie just sends me off into the dressing room and then starts throwing dresses over the door. I’m starting to get a little overwhelmed the first one I try on is a gorgeous satin royal blue dress. The dress is beautiful, but it is so formfitting and makes me self-conscious since I trained the way I do I’m a little more toned and muscular and most girls. I go onto the next, and it is a champagne ball gown. It’s giving me regal vibes. I don’t think I’m feminine enough to pull it off. After five more dresses, I finally try on the last one that Kylie throws over the door. It is a silver silk dress. I finally get it on as Kylie comes into the dressing room. I swear her eyes are about to pop out of her head. “Oh my goddness Mia you look absolutely gorgeous.” She says “Really” I ask sheepishly. These silk drapes over my body. It has a swoop neckline that drapes right above my breasts to show just a little bit of cleavage to wear it is still modest, the back however, sweeps down my back right above my tail bone. It has crystal spaghetti straps, that once it hits the material in the back, it looks like crystals are running down the back of the dress to the train. “You have to get this one. I am not letting me leave here until you buy it” Kylie demanded “I do feel really great in this dress”. I decide to get it and we leave the store. We stopped to get lunch and we run into Isaac, Thomas and Carson. “Hello ladies what are you up to?” “Hey Carson we just had to stop and pick out a dress for Mia. Trust me you will definitely approve.” Kylie answers with a wink. I blush and instantly elbow her in her side. She winces with a devilish smirk on her face. My brother on the other hand wasn’t impressed with the comment. “Oh calm down brother bear it was only a joke!” Kylie tries to assure my brother. Still not at ease he tries to change the subject. “You didn’t get your dress until now? I bet you’re driving Mom crazy.” “Well she is doing just fine… because mom doesn’t know…she thinks I had my dress this whole time” I reply. Isaac is right though my mom would’ve had a coronary if she found out I hadn’t had my dress yet. “What are you guys doing here?” I ask. “We had to pick up our taxes. They are finished from being altered” Thomas replies. “Oh, I bet you guys are gonna look so handsome.” Kylie mocks while pinching her brothers cheeks. You can definitely tell he’s annoyed. Isaac decides to chime in “well we better go. Some of the families are coming in today and we have to be there to greet them.” “OK well we’ll just meet up with you guys at the house then” I say to them. We head to our cars and start our drive home. “Kylie I can’t believe you said that!” I yelled punching her in her arm. “ ow!” She replied rubbing her arm but quickly smirked “ whatever could you possibly mean by that?” The audacity of this girl! “You know da*m well what I’m talking about!” “Oh come on Amelia, you know he is practically in love with you. And don’t look at me all shocked like this is the first time you are hearing this.” She said smiling and rolling her eyes. “Kylie we are just friends. He kinda like a brother to me. I mean we grew up together.” “Yeah and he obviously grew in love with you. Come on Mia, he would take you as his chosen In a heartbeat.” I feel like my chest is getting tight. There is no way he is in love with me. And there is no way he would take me as a chosen over his own mate. He would never go against the mate bond. Thats all we have ever talked about growing up, about how amazing it would be to find our mates and live happily ever after. “ You’re crazy.” I retort not believing a word she is saying. “ Okaaay. Whatever you say. I’ll just be there waiting to say I told you so.” After we get home, not even an hour later cars start to pile in. Well, I guess it’s time to get the show on the road.