Consequences

HUNTER

My father sure liked to hear himself talk. Unfortunately, the rest of the pack did too. I was the only exception.

I fingered a chip in my plate as I waited for his speech to end. He gave the same one every single Sunday. While I understood his logic for starting Sunday Lunches to begin with, I didn’t see why they still had to continue.

Back in those first years, the pack was busy establishing the territory. Fights were constant, requiring constant training. The pack had no downtime and no time to socialize. These days were different; we weren’t so busy that we couldn’t spend time together during the week.

When Dad began the final stretch of his “toast,” I looked up to see if Drew had joined yet. I’d noticed right away that the seat beside his father was empty. As it still was.

My face heated up as I looked around for his blond head, but it wasn’t here. And neither was his scent. I was acutely attuned to his scent, probably because he was to be my beta, but more likely because I’d been hunting him for years.

Why wasn’t he here? Not only did my dad command full attendance, but Drew was the future beta of our pack, for crying out loud. Who the hell does he think he is?

I looked around once more, confirming Elliot’s absence as well, and rage rampaged through my insides. Drew is my~ beta. He’s supposed to be here for ~me~, by ~my~ side, not his.~

Just as I began to plan Drew’s punishment, my dad said his closing line.

“And, kids, no drinking.” He waited for the practiced laughter, then put his hands on his hips. “If I catch one of you, you will be in serious trouble.” He put on his angry face and pointed at the children. “Got it?” He waited for the kids to say yes. “Now, everyone, dig in!”

Happy voices exploded from the tables as conversations began and people passed food, the sounds of silverware on porcelain peppered in between.

I filled my plate and was about to dig in when I caught a scent. His scent. Though masked faintly by the smell of girly soap, it was his all right. But there was something else, another scent. Another ~person’s~ scent.

When I saw them turn the corner and when their scents hit my nose full on, I clenched my fork, bending it in my grasp. They reeked of lust. And everyone could smell it. My eyes snapped to Henry, then Charles; both were already looking at me.

I then looked back at Drew. He looked like he’d just had sex, too. His hair was messed up, his face was flushed, and he was sweating. Elliot was the same, though at least he had the decency to try to palm his hair back into place.

They took the seats beside their respective fathers, and everyone just ignored the smells that wafted off them. Everyone greeted them with smiles, and when they stole a glance at each other and smirked, I knew Drew’s punishment would happen as soon as I could get him alone.

Drew and Elliot’s closeness had always infuriated me, but I didn’t think they’d actually have sex. I thought they were saving themselves for their mate bond, but I was wrong. I was pretty sure this was the first time, though. And pretty sure I wouldn’t let it happen again.

Lunch continued with the usual small talk, and I took ever smaller bites as the meal went on. Drew kept looking at Elliot, blushing, quiet-giggling, and playing with the strings of his hoodie—Elliot’s hoodie, by the smell of it.

It made me sick. Drew was acting like a fucking girl. He was being so cutesy, not at all how a beta should be acting.

My fury grew to the point where I started shaking and had to put down my fork. My talons grew out, and I placed my hands under the table, opting to take out my feelings on the underside of my chair. For now.

Luckily, the lunch portion was just about done, and people started moving to the open area to dance as soon as the music started. Drew and Elliot immediately rose and followed the others.

Henry and Charles sat on either side of me once the seats were empty, and we watched everyone dance. Then the moment came; Drew broke away from the crowd, heading toward the back of the pack house.

I nodded to Henry and Charles, and they rose, heading to the pack house as well. I waited a moment, then followed their path. I rounded the second corner of the house, and Drew’s blue eyes shifted when they landed on me.

This put a hitch in my step, and my reserve faltered. Is he relieved to see me? Why? Doesn’t he know what’s coming? I regained my composure the instant I was aware of that scent again, my rage coming back to full power.

I clapped my hands slowly as I neared him. “Well, well. I didn’t think you had it in you.”

Drew shifted on his feet, looking between Henry, Charles, and me as we closed in on him. “Wh…what are you talking about?”

“Your relationship, silly. You took it to the next level today, didn’t you?” I gave him my most sickly sweet smile. “That’s really great.” I clapped and stepped closer. “Bravo.”

Drew’s face displayed his comprehension, and he failed to suppress the blush and smile that accompanied it. “Oh, that.”

“Yeah, that.” I took another step, now just an arm’s length away. I leaned forward and exaggerated a sniff. “You reek, did you know that? Everyone can smell you. Can smell him on you, and you on him. It’s disgusting.”

Drew lowered his head, and his face reddened now for a different reason. He should have known he couldn’t keep that hidden from werewolves. We all had superior smelling; who was he trying to fool?

Without looking up, Drew whispered, “What do you want from me?”

“From you?” I looked at Henry and Charles and nodded. “I want a fight.”

When Drew snapped his head up, I punched him square in the jaw, Henry and Charles immediately running behind him and pulling him to his feet when he fell to the ground.

“Fight me back, dick lover!” I punched him in the stomach, and he slumped in the boys’ grasp. I pulled his hair to lift his head, that scent pervading my senses again. “You’re so pathetic. You really think Elliot could love someone as weak as you?”

I punched him in the face again, but then Henry released his grip, Charles looking at him and then following suit. Drew’s whimpering mass crumpled onto the ground.

“What the hell, Henry?” I asked.

Henry cleared his throat. “We don’t hit his face, remember? No bruises he can’t hide.”

He was right, but my anger wasn’t sated. “Stand aside, then. I’m not done here.” To my irritation, they did.

I punched and kicked him a few more times, but not having the support of my boys affected me. I realized I didn’t like acting without their support. Have I only been bullying Drew because they let me? What if they don’t let me anymore? This thought irked me.

I’m the future alpha, not them. Why do I care what they think?

Because you’re their alpha, another voice answered. ~And because you want to be a good alpha, like your father and his father before him.~

I hated the sense this other voice was making. And I hated hearing the whimpering at my feet.

I stopped my attack and backed away, sweaty and breathless. I looked at Charles and he met my gaze, but then he looked away. I looked at Henry, but he kept looking at Drew. I knew what would happen once I walked away.

Charles would follow me a few seconds later, Henry would ask Drew if he was all right or needed help, and Drew would say no and tell no one what had happened here.

It all made my stomach churn.

***

Thoughts swirled through my head as I lay on my bed, but all of them revolved around Drew.

One part of them surrounded the fight, if you could call it that. Did Drew just have a death wish? Did he enjoy me beating him up? Had I gone too far? Was it time for me to stop bullying him? Could we ever have a good alpha-beta relationship?

Another part thought about what he’d done after the fight, exactly what I’d predicted he’d do. He’d lied for me again.

An hour after I’d returned to Sunday Lunch, Drew had once more joined the party, this time freshly showered. Upon seeing the damage I’d caused to his face, Beta David had pelted him with angry words, while my dad showered him with concern and gentle questions.

My dad had always had a soft spot for Drew, would always praise him and look at him with admiration. I sometimes wondered if he wished Drew were his son instead of me. But tonight, he’d done something he’d never done before. He’d punished Drew.

Although Drew had said he didn’t know who’d jumped him, my dad had known it was me. I hadn’t been able to look either of them in the eyes while this interrogation happened. Still, my dad had said that Drew would be punished. He had to run ten laps. Another show of mercy.

The interesting thing wasn’t that he’d been punished, but why.

Before my dad had explained himself to Drew, he’d looked at Elliot for a good few seconds, long enough so everyone could know where he was looking. Then he’d said, “You were distracted from your duties. Again.”

A third part of my thoughts swirled around this, the ramifications of my dad’s words. Did it mean that Drew and Elliot were over? Were they not allowed to see each other again? And why did this make me so happy?

Before I could stop it, a smile spread across my lips.