Ginger and Thyme (Kootenai Pack Book 4)
Page 11
“Uh huh. Thanks Olga.”
“Anytime Rosemary.”
Chapter Fourteen
Ginger
Easterville, Minnesota
3 years ago
“No, no, no!” I grumbled, “The chairs need a gap so people can see the ceremony.”
The big day had arrived.
Cain was getting married.
But not to me.
I decided to follow Evan’s advice and to make the wedding as amazing as possible. Show him how much I cared. I organized the whole thing because Lee and Cain only cared that at the end of the day we’re together. Just thinking of that sentiment made me nauseous.
When compiling the guest list, it kept growing and growing until the only possible way to have everyone they wanted at the ceremony was for it to be outdoors. Which meant six different contingencies for light rain, heavy rain, sporadic rain, storms, and acts of Moon Goddess.
Then the duo couldn’t be bothered to have opinions on anything. From color palettes to bridal party attire. Then when they did pick one, they kept adding more people to the party. In order to get Evan to match, I had to bully him into a custom suit.
But now that the day was here, it seemed like everyone was against me. Olly and Charlie were supposed to be in charge of chairs, and it was like they’d never been to a theater before.
I sat in a chair and pointed ahead of me, “Do you think Louie Lark is going to be able to see over Mercy’s head if the bear sits in front of him?”
“No,” Olly grumbled.
“But if the chair is here,” I stood up and moved the chair where I had instructed the twins, “Will he be able to see?”
The twins huffed and got back to work.
“Tiny tyrant,” Evan muttered under his breath. He was supposed to be in charge of the ceremony space. Good thing I stopped by when I did or the whole thing would be a disaster.
My phone rang, Sarah, the human barmaid was on the other end, “Where’s Lee’s bouquet?”
“Bouquet?” I ran down the mental list of everything needed for a human wedding and I couldn’t place that word.
“The bundle of flowers she carries when she walks down the aisle?”
“Shit,” I’d been putting off flowers because the smell irritated my wolf, “Let me see what I can pull up.
I called Mercy, “Please tell me you haven’t left Mainsbury yet.”
My polar friend laughed, “You’re in luck, the mama bears are arguing with the sitter. I’d say another ten minutes at least.”
“Do you have any flowers I can have?”
“Ummm let me check the green house. Do you want to pick them, or should I just bring it?”
“Just bring what you can spare. I’ll sort through it when you get here. Thank you so much.”
“Anything for our good pal Cain. I can’t believe he’s getting remated. I’m so happy for him,” Mercy gushed.
“Got to go.”
The bears arrived minutes before the ceremony was scheduled to start. The bundles of flowers looked pretty pitiful. As Mercy was naming them for me, I knew which I needed to pick.
“Aster and Lily.”
It was a slim chance. But there was a possibility that when Cain saw the two together he’d know which flower was meant for him and which was out of place.
I spent the ceremony holding back tears. Pretending to smile. Half the town stood in matching dresses at Lee’s side. An equally large group of men stood on Cain’s side. Starting with Evan.
Cain never once looked at me during the ceremony. His eyes were only on Lee. As she walked down the aisle. As they said their vows, and even once the ceremony completed.
The hours they spent taking pictures, I spent setting up the reception. The Tooth and Claw wasn’t big enough for all the people that wanted to celebrate with Cain and Lee. I had to improvise in planning.
“Looks good,” Ed said, patting me on the back. His tie was undone, and his shirt sleeves unbuttoned, “Is this why you turned down my job offer? Going into event planning?”
I rolled my eyes at him, “The puppy pile needs me. Do you think this wedding could have happened without me?”
Ed shrugged, “I’ve never seen Cain look so happy. Lee either. This will be a day they tell their grandpups about.”
His eyes glimmered in the light as tears formed that he refused to shed. I patted his arm. I never knew what to do with crying people. My wolf did, but she was fast asleep inside my skin, unwilling to put up with the circus of wedding coordinating, “Lottie looks lonely, you should ask her to dance.”
“You know what, I might just do that,” Ed tugged his sleeves back into a semblance of array and walked over to the eldest female in the puppy pile.
I watched the reception looking for anything that required my attention. There had to be something. Anything to keep me from looking back at the happy couple.
Cain swirled Lee on the dance floor. They looked like something out of a fairytale.
Evan dropped next to me and handed me a tiny glass.
“What’s in this?”
“Jack.”
“What? You gonna get me drunk and get me to tell my life story?”
“Worked with her,” he points at Lee on the dance floor, downing his own shot.
“I’m not Lee. You don’t need to turn me into your next little wolf project,” I passed him back the shot, and he downed it.
“I don’t know how to handle this,” I admitted, I waved around at all the not-pack wolves intermixed with the Easterville humans, “It’s constant chaos.”
“Lee’s all I’ve ever known, and she doesn’t need me anymore,” he said, “So I’ll take whatever I can get to still feel useful.”
I was startled by his admission, “Well, don't think I’m your next project. I don’t need you either. No one needs you the way Lee needed you.”
Evan didn’t reply but waved down one of the cater-waiters I hired for the event and took a glass of champagne that I picked out and drank it from the glasses I chose.
“I want them to be happy, I do,” I said, looking out at the wedding I planned for the man I loved and the women he loved more than he loved me, “But why can’t they be happy with us?”
“Don’t bring me into your fantasy,” Evan grumbled, “I’m not going to wallow over unrequited love. Look to the future, Ginger. You never know who is waiting for you there.”
I rolled my eyes, “I’m going for a run. The woods should be empty with everyone getting drunk.”
“Don’t you want to stay for the honeymoon send off?”
“I planned it, I don’t need to see them go on it,” I said. They were going to Alaska for an adventure I could only dream of. I gave Cain three choices to surprise Lee with and of course he picked the one I wished I could go on.
“Don’t let your own jealousy keep you from joy,” Evan said with complete seriousness, “It isn’t good for anyone.”
“Yes sir, papa bear sir,” I grumbled and took off into the woods, shedding the hideous dress as I shifted.
Chapter Fifteen
Rosemary
Red Rock, Arizona
6 years ago
“Thyme, how’s it going?”
“Thyme! I hope you’re going to be in my class.”
“Thyme!”
My life was a constant barrage of my sister’s name. From the moment I agreed to the charade, I could not escape it.
“Thyme! You and Simon have to come to my first shift party next weekend.”
“Thyme, don’t forget you’re in charge of choreography for Homecoming.”
“Thyme your assignments.”
“Thyme- training.”
“Thyme.”
“Thyme.”
“Thyme!”
Between cheerleading, pack duties, and classes, I was falling behind. Simon seemed to do it all effortlessly. He had straight A’s in all his classes, was captain of the soccer team and managed to train with the other whelps every night.
Push through, Rosie. I’m the strong one. I’m the leader. If I was struggling, Thyme would have died by now. That’s just what this life is like. Being a leader isn’t meant to be easy. I checked the texts on my phone.
Petty pup drama. I can deal with it in the morning.
I buckled down and sorted my homework into piles.
Easy: can do in the minutes before class.
Medium: need to work on but can finish before class.
Hard: must do start-to-finish tonight.
Schmuck: the classes with either a low-ranked pack member or easily manipulated human teacher that I could con into giving me an extension.
You can do it Rosie.
My mantra and improved mood lasts until two minutes to seven. I’m not even halfway through my first assignment. There was no way I could do this all after training.
“Are you coming, Thyme?” Alpha Hill was the trainer tonight.
New plan. I spun in my chair and batted my eyes at the Alpha, doing my absolute best to look as overwhelmed yet apologetic as possible, “I am so sorry, Alpha Hill. Mrs. Gutierrez gave a last-minute project and it’s worth half my grade. Can I skip training tonight to finish it?”
Alpha Hill took one step into the dining room. He wasn’t a physically imposing man like other Alphas, but he had a commanding presence. Each slow deliberate step brought his annoyed glower into view until he towered over my sitting position.
“Do you think this pack wants a weak wolf as their Alpha Female?”
“N..no sir.”
“So, should you ever skip training?”
My head dropped to stare at the floor, “No sir.”
“Do you think this pack deserves a dumb wolf as their Alpha Female?”
“No, sir.”
My phone chimed again.
The Alpha picked it up and scrolled through the messages. I didn’t dare look at his face. I knew the disgust that would be there from the scoff as he tossed it back to the table, “You need to update your priorities, Thyme. The pack does not want nor need a vapid Alpha Female more concerned with the petty romantic squabbles of humans and pups.”
“Yes sir.”
“Tomorrow morning you will resign your position on the cheerleading team to focus on your studies and pack duties.”
“But Celeste says every Red Rock Alpha Female has been captain of the squad since the team formed!”
“And none of those Alpha Females ever asked to skip a training session because they were behind in their schoolwork.”
The Alpha spun on his heel and left me alone in the dining room.
I had to scramble to get to the training grounds in time. But I was late.
“Where were you?” Simon came up behind me.
“I was doing homework and lost track of time.” I removed my clothes and stepped into the grouping of whelps.
“You seem to be struggling,” he noted, keeping right behind me.
“I’ll figure it out.”
“I can help you.”
“I’ll figure it out,” I snapped.
The other whelps around us turned to look at the bickering couple. Simon draped an arm over mine and I gave them a fake grin. These whelps looked up to us to be examples of mating behavior.
My wolf pulsed under my skin. As if I needed the reminder that Simon wasn’t Jules. But I’d made my choice. I had to live with it.
The squad did not take my leaving well. The whelps and pups were horrified that I’d quit.
“But I like cheerleading,” Izzie whined, “If you quit, I’ll have to quit. My mom only let me join because Simon’s mate was joining.”
I shook my head, “No, none of you have to quit. I just need to focus on my schoolwork.”
“But we’re in all the same classes.” Savannah glanced up from her phone long enough to argue, “Are you stupid or something.”
I grit my teeth and pretend like the comment didn’t hit me where it hurt most. “No, I just...I don’t have to explain myself to you. I’m done with cheerleading.”
I ran out of the gym and into the nearest bathroom. Once securely in a stall I cried.
The only saving grace I had during these overwhelming times was Jules.
Or would be Jules if we ever managed to catch each other with our busy schedules.
I called him and left a voicemail.
He called back while I was in class and returned my voicemail with one of his own.
“Rosie, I know it’s hard. It sucks. It’s just until we’re done with school. You’ll get into a kick ass college and I’ll get a great residency and then, who knows, maybe Thyme will come back. Just keep your head up. I’m here for you.”
***
I didn’t get in.
Simon held his acceptance letter to one of the best schools in the world, and I didn’t get into my safety school.
“Well?” Alpha Hill walked into the hallway, saw the massive envelope in Simon’s hand and the small one in mine. He sighed, “I’ll make some calls and see if we can’t find a school for you.”
“Thank you Alpha.”
He shouldn’t have to pull strings to get me into college. I should have been able to do it all. But with mediocre grades and no extra-curriculars, why should a good school accept me? But I only had those issues because I had to quit all my clubs to keep my grades mediocre because I had to train as a wolf every night. But I couldn’t exactly write I’m a shifter ask me how for my essay.
“It’s okay, Thyme.” Simon rubbed my back.
“No, it’s not okay. I can’t do anything right. I should have just stayed in Vancouver. Colleges don’t expect online school kids to have clubs and fun in high school, right?” I broke away from him and ran to my room, slamming the door behind me.
I called Mom.
The unexpected perk of being Thyme these past few years was the way my mom treated me. She expected so little of Thyme I could rant and ramble to her, and she’d comfort me. She hadn’t told me to be the stronger sister since the swap. And I loved it.
“Thyme honey, what’s wrong,” she answered the phone the same way every time.
“I didn’t get in.” The tears flowed freely as I was wracked with sobs.
Mom clucked on the other end of the phone, her voice immediately soothing, “Oh sweetie, there are other schools.”
“No, there aren’t,” I curled my legs against my chest, resting my chin on my knees, “I got rejected from my safety school. And Simon got into every school he applied to and now Alpha Hill has to pull strings for his loser daughter-in-law so she’s not an embarrassment to the whole pack and-”
“Breathe Thyme.”
I took a shaky breath in.
“Hold it.”
I couldn’t hold it. I was so overwrought with emotions the inhale came out in shaky bursts with more tears.
“Exhale.”
I cried harder.
“Inhale, Thyme.”
I tried to focus on my breathing. To ignore how I was a failure and ruined everything. Thyme was smart to run. If I was struggling, she’d have already crumbled. But that thought didn’t give me any comfort.
Chapter Sixteen
Ginger
Tooth and Claw Pub, Easterville, Minnesota
3 years ago
“It’s not what I ordered,” the middle-aged man crossed his arms over his chest like a petulant child. He motioned toward the plate of chili cheese fries with his chin, “Take it back.”
Let me eat him
No
He’s disrespecting us, let me out, I’ll eat him
My wolf seemed to think the way to solve problems was to eat people. This was a change from the pr
evious problem solving of, “run and hide.”
“I’ll get that right out for you, sir,” I ground between my teeth, taking the extra time to write all the words in the correct order slowly and deliberately, showing it to the man before taking the plate back.
I could have taken him
I liked you better skittish
I’m tough, always been tough, you’re skittish
Uh huh, sure, wolfie.
“Talking to your wolf again?” Evan teased when I brought the plate back to the kitchen.
“How long is Sarah on vacation?” the only reason I agreed to work as a waitress was because our human barmaid was on Spring Break. Whatever that meant.
“A week.” The grizzly flipped more onions on the grill and motioned with the spatula for me to dump the plate, “But she’s graduating this semester. Moving on, moving away. Our little human is growing up.”
I crossed my arms over my chest, “Little? If Sarah is little what am I?”
Evan smirked and looked me up and down, I stood barely taller than his chest, “Tiny.”
“At least I don’t hit my head going up and down the stairs. Every. Damn. Time.”
“I can reach the top shelf.”
“I can reach the bottom shelf.”
“I can see over crowds.”
“I can easily disappear into crowds.”
“Do you want to disappear, Ginger?” Evan asked. Our playful teasing turned serious, “Hide under rocks away from the world.”
Did I? I used to. I shook my head, “Not particularly. Why do you ask?”
“You’re a tough kid, Ging-,” he flipped the onions again, “But as soon as a wolf walks in, you cower. You’ll talk trash to me all day, but when Cain comes in, you’re a kicked puppy all over again. Did he do something to you? Is that why you cower?”
I shrugged, “He’s my alpha, that’s what wolves do, right?”
Evan rolled his eyes, “I think you have more things to work through than you let on. How’s it going with Travis?”
“I go every week, as promised,” I think I was the only one who actually went every week.