Nearly the second I settled in my chair, Kyler strolled in. His eyes narrowed as soon as he saw Arctic, and my shoulders tensed. Riff placed his hand over mine that curled into a fist on my thigh under the table. His fingers squeezed mine, and I managed a shuddering breath that released my tension. Still, once Kyler took his seat, my shoulders tensed once more. Mr. Renard eyed us from the front of the classroom, and I sighed. He wasn’t sorry about this situation. He was sorry that he wouldn’t change it. Well, I suppose maybe he couldn’t. Did Marcus order him about? He said he didn’t belong to Kyler’s father, Evan, but he never mentioned Marcus.
While he lectured, I took notes, my right hand a fist on the table between Kyler and me. However, I made that my only point of tension, allowing me to be angry without it overcoming me. At least until the hotshot placed his left hand over my fist. My entire body tensed while my jaw clenched so tight, my teeth ached.
“Do not touch me,” I growled under my breath. Annoyingly, once his fingers touched my bare ones, warm tingles danced across my skin. Arctic’s were more intense, as were Ryker’s. Perhaps because they didn’t throw me away the second we met. “I want nothing to do with you.”
“I told you I was sorry,” Kyler murmured, and I scoffed. What, pray tell, was his sorrow supposed to fix? Did it change the past? Keep him from kicking me when I was down? Or from declaring the ground was where I belonged? No. It didn’t change a damn thing.
“And? What do you want? A cookie?” I scoffed under my breath. It took so much strength to fight my anger, and to resist snarling at the boy who mocked me with his pretend behavior. I suspect he only played nice because his father was about to return. Or, he decided he wanted to be possessive. Right. I was not a trinket he could own. Nor would I be a trophy for him to show off to his friends.
“No, I want a chance to make it up to you,” Kyler replied with a touch of impatience. Cry about it, hotshot. Considering his actions got us into this situation, I didn’t see how his actions could get us out of it.
“And why do you deserve this chance?” I asked in return, with only stunned silence meeting my words. Scoffing, I paid more attention to taking notes than the idiotic hotshot who refused to release my hand. What, did he think the tingles would win me over? If that were the case, I would have already fallen at Ryker’s and Arctic’s feet.
Apparently, my question entirely threw off the alpha because he never answered. However, he never released my hand either. When I glanced at Arctic once the bell rang, he quirked his brow and indicated Kyler with a grin. So, I could deal with him now? Ah. I was calm, mostly. Sure, anger danced underneath my skin, but not so intensely it threatened to take over my soul. “Let go,” I growled after trying to jerk my hand away only for Kyler to tighten his fingers. Bastard. Why the hell would I consider him a suitor when he wouldn’t respect me? Let me guess, if he wanted sex, then I had to roll over and think of the pack? Bullshit. He could take that attitude, write it on a piece of paper, roll it up, and fuck himself with it.
Loud laughter had me looking at the door of the classroom only to discover Tyger leaning against the doorframe with amusement dancing in his eyes. “Oh, that was good,” he chortled, “I fucking love you, Angel.” Kyler growled menacingly, and Tyger snorted in reply. The students and teacher paused when Tyger appeared, even though it was the end of the day, and some of them needed to catch their bus. Riff, I noticed, shared the same feeling as Arctic since he stayed out of the altercation between Kyler and me. However, the werewolf looked amused that I refused to bow to the almighty alpha. “Don’t make me put you in your place for Angel,” Tyger warned with a smile that promised he would enjoy it
“Who the fuck are you?” Kyler demanded, and Tyger chortled before shifting. Several startled cries left the throats of the students while Mr. Renard warily watched the tiger in his classroom. Kyler released my hand to clench his into fists. I wasted no time in grabbing my backpack and rushing to get behind the tiger who purred throatily when I pet his head. Arctic laughed while following us at a slower pace, his hand fisted in the back of Riff’s shirt while he forced the teenager to walk away from Kyler.
“Way to save that situation,” Arc chuckled to Tyger, who shifted back with a pleased grin. Backing out of the doorway, he kept me behind him, so Kyler couldn’t get to me since the alpha stalked after Arctic. Once we were in the hall, I noticed Dakota leaning against the wall with a silent snarl twisting his lips. The second Kyler stepped through the door, my cousin pounced. I tried to move to break up the fight, but Tyger pulled the back of my jacket to return me to his side.
“Bad bunny,” Tyger scolded with laughing eyes while he tapped my nose. “It’s best to let your cousin enjoy himself a bit, since it will be good for him.” I disagreed, because what if he got hurt? However, when I looked at the fight, Dakota seemed to get the best of Kyler. After several wicked hits, he pinned the more dominant teenager with a loud growl escaping his throat.
“You ever touch my cousin again after she told you to keep your goddamn hands to yourself, and I will cut them off,” Dakota warned darkly. Then, after growling one last time, he stood and stalked towards me with Tyger laughingly shoving me at him. Dakota purred the instant he wrapped his arms around me, rubbing his head against mine smugly. “Let’s go, bunny, we have stuff to do and no reason to linger here. Especially if we hope to avoid grumpy.” Grumpy? Ah, he means Marcus. Yeah, Marcus would derail our plans.
So, we rushed to his car, where Char checked his phone with a smirk and a quirked brow. Once we were in, he showed us the video of Dakota and Kyler fighting. Tyger stood outside the driver’s window and laughed before requesting that Char share the entertainment with him. The teenager agreed with a pleased grin. Men. With a wave, Tyger promised to meet us at home and my heart warmed when he said that word. I thought the apartment was home, but it was only ever temporary. So, knowing this house was anything but filled my soul with delight. However, I would have to apologize to Mr. Sanchez for running off like I did. I would like to visit him too because he’s lonely.
Walking into the house caused a smile to curl my lips because I loved knowing I belonged. Matty barreled into me to chatter about what he, Tyger, and Snow did all day. There was a gaming marathon in which he beat Tyger several times. Mostly because Snow helped, but all that mattered to Matty was he bested the shifter. Tyger rolled his eyes with a fond grin when I glanced at him, and a soft laugh escaped my mouth before I could swallow it. They were wonderful with him, and I was grateful the shifters took Matty under their wings to protect and befriend him.
“Ryker will wake soon, so let’s get you in something a little more relaxed. That outfit was for the mutt’s benefit. You need something softer and more comfortable for where you’re going,” Tyger decreed. So, he knows who these people are to me, then? How unsurprising. Still, I bet he just wants me to be his doll again. The grin the shifter gave me warned I hit the nail on the head, and I sighed silently. The worst part was I’m almost beginning to look forward to this. Tyger was gentle and careful, albeit he had no shame whatsoever. Still, if I played along, he gave me all the time in the world.
I wore some comfy worn jeans, a soft shirt, and an oversized hoodie that was long enough to reach halfway down my thighs. It was so comfortable I never wanted to take it off, and I growled at Tyger when he tried to remove it to do my hair. Laughing, the shifter seemed pleased and brushed my hair before humming and leaving it down. So, he was testing me? Bastard. Soft chuckles had me glaring at the shifter who seemed happy to receive my ire.
He wasn’t quite so happy after I beat him several times in one of the games Liam fetched for Matty while we slept. I wasn’t surprised the vampire brought everything Matty desired while my little brother slept. It warmed my heart that he cared so much, and I hoped Matty would settle into a routine that allowed him to spend time with both of us. If he woke once I got home from school, for example, that would give him time with me before Liam woke. At least until I started working again. I
mean, I have to pay for this place somehow. Plus, there was food, and well, anything we desired. I couldn’t ask the wolves, shifters, or vampires living with me to shell out money whenever I wanted to buy something. I refused to use anyone like that.
I beat Tyger again for the umpteenth time, which I suspect was due to him letting me win, when a hand squeezed my shoulder. Following it to its owner, I sighed upon discovering Ryker and Liam were up. Liam took my controller with a grin while Tyger smirked. Ah, so these two were the ones who inspired Matty’s love for this game. It was nice to see the placid vampire enjoying himself.
Still, I hugged Matty and ruffled his hair before following Ryker and Dakota out of the house. I swallowed nervously when we piled into my cousin’s car, and his trepidation wrapped around me as well. Only Ryker was calm, although I sensed a bit of turmoil from him too. “Remember, Angel, I’ll wait outside so you have privacy while you learn the secrets Jaxy hid from you,” Ryker murmured when Dakota turned onto a dirt road after driving for a little while. According to him, the house Jaxy left me was closer to Jax’s parents than most, albeit it was still a bit of a trek. I chuckled soundlessly at this proof that Dakota never had to travel much. Anything within two hours wasn’t far in my eyes. And, Jax’s parents were perhaps twenty minutes away from home.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Dakota muttered after he stopped in front of a quaint two-story house. It looked like a cute cottage compared to the house we came from, and I rolled my eyes inwardly. Am I becoming a snob already? Seriously? It hasn’t even been a full day. “You should come in too since you know what awaits us.”
Nodding, Ryker eyed me warily, and I bit my lip while wondering if he feared I would become far too upset. Well, whatever the consequences might be, they would be worth learning who I am. Ryker pulled my hood up with a sad smile once we were out of the car, and I sighed. Here goes nothing. Dakota smiled tightly while we approached the front door, sighing before he opened it. I know Jaxy said to not give them any warning, but that still seemed rude to me. Then again, they were his aunt and uncle, so perhaps they told him to walk in whenever he visited. Or, he took Jax’s words to heart.
The occupants of the house waited for us just within the door, and the breath rushed from my lungs. To the left stood a woman who looked undeniably like me, albeit older. I mean, it shouldn’t be all that surprising since she was Jax’s mother, but it still caught me off guard. After growing up with mom and Matty, who didn’t look that similar to me, it was a bit of a shock to see someone who did. Even though I knew she had to be old enough to have had Jax, who I believe was in his twenties, Dakota’s aunt looked like she was in her late twenties herself. The man beside her had black hair and soft blue eyes full of affection for Dakota. He stood taller than his wife, with a leaner build than the werewolves, and I bit my lip upon wondering if he was human. Albeit, he looked as young as his mate.
“Jeanne, Rex,” Ryker greeted with warmth filling his voice.
“M’lord?” Rex asked, “why are you back so soon? Did something happen to Molly’s child?” Child? As in one? I glanced at Ryker, my heart aching because I knew he meant Matty. He never told them about me? Tears burned my eyes, and the vampire lord shushed me while pushing me into Dakota, who hugged me.
“I still can’t believe he resurfaced,” Jeanne added with a soft sigh of relief. “We looked after you brought the news Molly died in that accident, but no one could tell us what happened to him. How do you lose a toddler like that?” So, they searched for Matty. Good, I’ll be happy to tell him that. It will help him open his heart to these people who want to love him. The tears in their eyes and the sorrow emanating from them informed me they loved mom, which helped ease the pain in my soul.
“What. Is. That?” Dakota demanded in a voice full of angry grief. Following his gaze, I stopped breathing. Jeanne and Rex turned to look too, their eyes filling with alarm while their cheeks paled.
“Rex was my lawyer, and he’s damn good, especially for a human. I sent him to negotiate with a neighboring pack for something I desired, which is unimportant. Imagine my surprise upon receiving a phone call that informed me he was a werewolf’s mate. Regardless, I grew fond of him since I took him in as a stray when he was a young boy, so I investigated. As I approached the address he gave me, Rex rushed out to place a tiny bundle in my arms. I’m sure you realize that was Jax. Even though Rex wasn’t his biological father, he adored the pup, and I couldn’t help but love the tiny thing too. So, even though I loathed to do so, I released Rex from the contract binding him as my lawyer. However, he insists that he still helps from time to time.”
“And three years later, my ex stumbled across a human with a toddler in tow,” Jeanne added with a slight smile. “He and our daughter adored the duo and ensured the little girl never felt unloved or unwanted.”
Twins. Jax was a twin. I couldn’t stop staring at the picture of them hugging with identical grins full of trouble. Hell, they were identical period, other than one of them was a girl. So, I was related to Jax by blood, but not Matty. How the hell did I end up with mom? I have the family genes since my looks match theirs, so it’s impossible for anyone to convince me Jax’s twin wasn’t my mother.
“So, what brings you here, Ryker? And why did you drag poor Dakota along? I’m sorry, dear, but Jazzy was an alpha while Jax was an omega. We didn’t want any packs trying to force her to be something she wasn’t, and the pack my ex lived in already had an omega, so they didn’t need Jax. They would have tried to mate him off to the highest bidding alpha if he stayed. Groomed him his entire life for it. Jaz was always miserable because no one would accept her alpha status since she was female. Jax said her misery ultimately led to her death,” Jeanne sighed. “We wanted to tell someone, my sister doesn’t even know, but feared what they might force upon Jaz. She was such a free spirit that anyone telling her what to do would have killed her. So, even though I mourn her every day like I do Jax and Molly, I’m happy she was herself all of her life.”
“You asked where Jax went during the summer when he was a pup, and we told you we thought it only fair his biological father got to see him too. Well, that was only half the truth. He and Jaz spent the entire time together at a house in the middle of nowhere where there weren’t any packs. He, Jaz, and Molly had so much fun together that they looked forward to the summer months all year. Pol told his pack he wanted Jaz to spend time with her mother, so no one bothered us. Jeanne and Pol were set up by their parents, but couldn’t fathom living together all their lives. So, when I ran into Jeanne, well, Pol stepped aside to wish us well. I was happy for him when he met his mate as well. Once the twins were older, they continued to meet for the summer until Molly met her husband. Then they stayed in her apartment whenever they wanted to be together,” Rex explained while I stood there, numb. Does anyone know I exist?
“Jazzy stayed with Molly for almost the entire last year of her life. I’m still uncertain how she died, only that Jax buried her before he told us she passed,” Jeanne added with a heavy sigh. “Poor Molly was beside herself and didn’t want any of us to visit her. Even when she had her baby, she didn’t want any visitors. I fear she was full of guilt, but we didn’t want to upset her more. She still called us and exchanged cards, but visited none of her family. Jax snuck away to visit her all the time, however, so we weren’t too worried.”
Tears filled my eyes once the numbness wore off. So, it was my fault that mom isolated herself from her family. But why? Why did she do that? Why did they hide me? I understood why Jax’s sister was kept secret from his pack, and he from hers, but why me? He mentioned keeping me from being stifled in his letter. But did that have to include keeping mom from her family? Pain because my existence was a burden on mom filled my soul, while self-loathing strangled my heart. Why was I so much trouble?
“Jazzy, Molly, and Jaxy loved their secrets,” Ryker murmured while Dakota stared at the picture on the table with mute anger. I understood why he was angry. How cou
ld he not be when he had another cousin he never knew about? Two, really. And it wasn’t just Dakota that got left out but his entire pack. “They were determined to take their last secret to their graves.”
“Unsurprising,” Rex sighed. “They loved having something to share between the three of them. It always drove Shelly crazy that she could get none of them to confide in her even though Pol laughed it off. I know it might be against Molly’s wishes, but introduce her son to his grandmother at the very least. It will hurt if we never meet him, but you shouldn’t devastate Shelly. She’s mourned them since she learned about the accident and couldn’t find even a trace of the boy. Whoever hid him, they did so well. It will make Shelly’s life if she meets her grandson.” Great, another sin to add to my list. Is there anyone I haven’t hurt since I was born?
Agony radiated from my soul while I wished I was never born. I shuddered when the couple glanced at me warily before turning their attention to Dakota. “Why did you bring Dakota here, Ryker? Why are you hurting him like this?” Jeanne asked with concern in her voice, although Dakota scoffed. “Hon, we never meant to hurt anyone. Once they passed, well, why tell anyone about someone they’d never meet?”
“Maybe if you weren’t such pushovers, she never would have suffered,” Dakota snarled. “Who lets their kids do whatever the hell they want and shrugs it off!?” The fury in his voice caused me to shrink in fear, which made him look at me. “Sweetheart, I’m not angry with you. You are the victim. And it’s partly their fault. Ryker isn’t much better.”
“No, no,” Ryker chuckled when Rex looked ready to argue, “he isn’t wrong. I honored a promise they conned me into making since you taught Jax your tricks all too well. However, the consequences of that were never suffered by me or Molly’s son. Sure, Matty suffered a little, but not as much as another. Dakota has every right to be angry.”
Bouquet of Regret (Angel's Shifters Book 1) Page 37