The Luna They Underestimated

Chapter 09

Rowan’s POV

"Rowan, you may be my daughter, but that doesn't mean you get away with slacking off. Ten laps of the oval. Now."

"What? Come on, Mom, you can't be serious," I argue, just as his sandalwood scent hits me. Alpha Thorne walks up behind me and stops at my side. He obviously saw our dispute, which makes the whole thing even more embarrassing.

"Everything okay?" he asks my mother.

She bows her head in respect, then glares at me.

"Yes, Alpha, it will be. Now go, Rowan," she says, pointing to the edge of the field.

I take off my sweatshirt and toss it at her. She can't be f*****g serious. Why is she being like this? My mother growls, catches it, and points to the edge of the field again.

"This is bullshit," I hiss, stomping off.

"Make that twenty," she calls out.

I groan, but I walk to the edge of the field, cursing her name to the moon goddess.

"Keep going, Ro, and it'll be thirty. Now start running!"

I roll my eyes and start doing laps while she shrieks, blowing her damn whistle. Hazel does a couple with me before she gets tired and sits down.

By the time I've done fifteen, my legs burn and my lungs feel ready to explode. I stop, bracing my hands on my knees, trying to catch my breath. My mother blows her whistle to get my attention, and I look over at her, sweat drenching me, my shirt sticking to my skin.

"Five more, Ro."

"Five more, Rowan," I mimic under my breath, glaring daggers at her. I tug my saturated shirt off and tie it around my waist.

"You want me to add more?" my mother calls out.

I shake my head and keep running. As I pass the bleachers, I notice Alpha Thorne is still there, watching me, and unease prickles up and down my spine. Something has pissed him off, and I bet I know what. It always seems to be the answer in my world. Me. I wonder if he's figured out that I have no wolf and I'm useless to the Pack.

Once I've finally conquered hell, I feel like a demon. My face is burned red as if I'd spent the whole summer in the sun, and my breath comes in such short pants I sound like one of those squeaky dog toys.

I stumble over to my mother and collapse on the grass beside her. Let her see what she's done, what she's put her precious child through.

She glances at me, barely acknowledging my plight at all.

"Let this be a lesson to you, Ro. All of this is for your own good. I'm not about to go easy on you. I never have and I never will. It would only make you a bigger target."

She stares at me as if she expects a reply. Fat chance. I'm still trying to calm my racing heart and breathe normally as I raise my arms over my head. Maybe I'll have a heart attack and die right at her feet. That would teach her.

"Seriously, I don't know what got into you. Did you really think I'd let you talk to me like that in front of everyone and get away with it? You're supposed to be working with me, not against me."

"I didn't do anything, Mom," I wheeze. "He's the one who approached me, not the other way around."

My entire body is threatening to give out. My legs burn and cramp, and my chest heaves as though it might spontaneously combust.

"Doesn't matter. Next time, watch your tone!" my mother scolds, and walks off.

"Evelyn, can I speak with you, please?" Alpha Thorne's voice isn't far away. Had he heard any of that?

I turn to glance at him as my mother hurries over.

"Of course, Alpha."

Thorne looks over at me dying on the ground, and I look away. I must look pathetic, which won't help my mission of proving myself useful to the Pack. Hazel walks over, squats beside me, and hands me her drink bottle. I squirt some water into my mouth before reluctantly sitting up. I was perfectly content dying on the grass, but no, now I have to haul my ass to the locker room to change.

Hazel leans in, dropping her voice so no one else hears.

"Damn, girl. I thought my dad was strict. What the hell did you do to get her panties in such a wad?"

"Apparently my attitude," I say, and her brows furrow.

"But I saw you." Her head bobs as she looks from me to my retreating mother. "You weren't doing anything."

Mom is almost at the main building now.

"Tell my mother that," I sigh, and stand. My legs feel like jelly as I walk toward the building.

School finished an hour ago, so I'm a little shocked to run into Angie when I go to my locker after changing. Her blonde hair is highlighted to perfection, and her blue eyes are bright. I can see why she's so popular. She's gorgeous, but the snarl on her face says her nature is anything but.

Whatever. I don't care why she's still here. I just want to be changed. I open my locker, pull out a clean shirt, and throw it on, reveling in at least one thing on me being clean.

A hand darts out and slams me against the open locker door. Hazel is quick. She tries to grab Angie and shove her away, but it doesn't work. Angie grabs the front of my shirt, and the collar tears.

Seriously? I literally just put this on. Why couldn't she have ruined the smelly sports shirt drenched in my sweat? Maybe she waited until I changed so she wouldn't have to touch that one either.

"Listen, b***h," she snarls, shaking me again. "Stay away from the Alpha, or believe me, I will make every last moment of your pitiful little life miserable!"

I stare at her, realization dawning.

"Wait. You stayed here for an entire hour after school to tell me that? Wow, possessive much?"

I rip her hand away and turn to get the rest of my things. I'm determined not to get into a fight today, thank you very much. Who knows what punishment Mom would dream up if I managed that?

Hazel glares at Angie.

"Geez, Angie, go away, would you? She hasn't done a damn thing to you. What is it with everyone picking on her on her first day? She just ran twenty laps on the field! Lay off," Hazel growls.

It's nice to have an ally, though I wonder how long it will last once she finds out the truth.