GOING HOME

     “Oh, nothing really. We were just speculating about what my brother was up to. Has he come to his senses yet?”

       “That again? I told you we’re here for you and to have fun. Let’s not talk about my pity party. You still haven’t told us what you wished for. Come to think of it, you’ve not told us about much of anything. I think you’re holding out on us.”

       “You buy the next round of drinks, and I’ll see if I can squeeze a few interesting stories before we have to leave.” Trisha looked down at her watch and frowned. Kiera sighed she’d been ordering the drinks all night because she received a discount on them.

      “Maybe one story. Dean’s insisting on hosting a weekend gather for other pack to come here and mingle. You know the whole talk politics and find a little action. If a few matings happen along the way, it’s a bonus. The problem is, he can’t host it. He and James have the two packs fighting each other.” Trisha realized the time and how late it was getting. She made an odd noise of disappointment when she saw how much of the last hour was gone.

      “I hadn’t heard. Sounds like you’ll be busy this summer.” It wasn’t like Rogues or lone wolves got invitations to those events. Kiera would be on the outside looking in as a Lycan.

     “Kiera, if you’d just come back, I’m sure we can prove to Dean that you were telling the truth.”

      “Trisha, it’s your birthday and I don’t was to talk about it.” Kiera leaned back so Kathy could put the drinks down. “Thanks Kathy.”

      “Not a problem. Glad you’re having fun this evening. You girls need to haul this one out more often. She needs it desperately. She works, sleeps, and only eats if she remembers. It’s all on your tab, Kiera.” Her champagne colour hair reflected the ever changing coloured lights, giving her a carnival sideshow vibe.

       “Thanks, I think after this they’ll leave.” Kiera wasn’t in the mood to go home this early and she wouldn’t allow Dean to control her like that.

       “Sure, no problem. You know how it works around here. See you later.” Kathy smiled before she moved on to another table.

        “I’m thinking I might seriously look at the guys this year and see if I can find the one. None of us are getting younger.”

        “With my luck, I’ll find my fated love, and he’ll be everything but interested in me.” Mary said into her drink before she downed nearly half of it. She took a coughing breath after that. “Yup, that’s how I think our meeting will go down. Rough and leaving a burning trail.”

       “Hon, you’re the easiest of all of us to love. It won’t be like that. He’ll see you and sweep you off your feet.” Trisha assured her.

      “That just sounds too good to be true. But I see Mary with the smart techie kind of guy or a teacher. I see Trisha with the boy next door type, and then there’s Kiera. You, girl, will need an army to handle what I see coming. Unexpected danger runs in the monster that you catch the eye of. Maybe he’s a wanted rogue? Or someone we don’t expect to live on the edge of danger.”

       The other three girls looked at their friend, who burst out laughing hysterically, and the night’s drinking caught up with her.

       Kiera looked under the table as they sat around. “What are you doing, Kiera?”

       “I am looking for where she’s hiding her tarot cards. Because you’re freaking me out. It’s not reasonable to think I will meet anyone, rogue or not. If they don’t come here, I don’t meet them. Pure and simple. Also, why would I go for a rogue? Could you imagine all the grief and not knowing what was happening because of his extracurricular activities?”

      “Trisha, we all know your actual birthday is tomorrow, so what do you plan to do then?” April needed to change the subject. It was boarding on the no go subjects again.

      “I’m taking the day off and I’m going to sleep in. Later I’m leaving to go camping.”

       That got stunned looks from all the girls at the table. “Where? Does Dean know about this decision? I mean, with a potential war, and that gathering, wouldn’t he want you to stay close to the main pack?”

       “That’s up to random luck, I think. He knows I’m going hiking for the day. Bah, how many times have these two fought over one thing or another over the years we’ve all known them? It’s all posturing if you ask me. And there’s the signal. We need to get going. Thank you for arranging this, Kiera. I really wish you’d come back. We could do something about all of this. Catch them on camera or something.”

      “Not when your brother has already told me he’ll punish me if I set anyone up to prove my point and do the same thing to whoever helps me. He doesn’t want me gone, but he doesn’t want to help either. So…” Kiera shrugged as Dean approached the table again.

     “Time’s up everyone. It’s time to head home.” He had the nerve to clap his hands to emphasize how much he wanted them to hurry up.

      What he expected wasn’t what he got, though. The three girls jumped to do his bidding. Kiera, though, stayed seated. She sat there and kept drinking.

       Trisha and the others made their way to the door while Dean watched Kiera drink the drinks left on the table by the others.

       None of the girls were sober at this point, and Trisha watched her brother place his hands on the table as he glared at Kiera. “Go home Kiera. Go home now.” He was pressing her with his presence, and it wasn’t working. Kiera wasn’t pack.

      Kiera sat there with a deadpan look on her face. “That might have worked once. But I am in the neutral zone. This is home Alpha Jonas. This is my home now.”

      “You know what I mean. You’re drunk, Kiera. Go home and sleep it off.”

       “Sadly, I’m not drunk enough. No, I’m staying here for a while longer. Have a good evening, Alpha Jonas.” She dismissed him by looking into the glass she was holding.

       Dean continued to glare at Kiera for a heartbeat. “Oli, take my sister and her friends home. I’ll be back later.” Oli, or Oliver Trigger, is Dean’s Beta or, as Kiera often called him, Dean’s lap dog.

       “Dean. You should return…”

       Oli didn’t finish his words before Dean interrupted him. “Go! Just Go! I’ve got some business to deal with. I’ll be home later.”

       “Dean, Alpha. She’s a Lycan. She’s not worth it.”

       “Never tell me what’s worth my time again. My time is mine to do as I want. Leave! Now! Do as you’re told!”

         Kiera flinched a little. What was happening? First, begging her to return without an apology. Then James threatening her to join his pack or else. Now this.

       She thought it was weird before, but she’d survived stranger things. But now… Now she wasn’t sure why this was happening. This was why she drank. Right here. It hurt too much to think about all these things because none of it made sense.

       Oli all but fled now, pushing the girls out of the Rocking Horse’s main entrance. The Alpha’s presence worked on all of them.

       “No one cares Alpha Jonas. No one cares. Now I’d like to have my drinks in peace. Thank you.”

        He straightened and stared at Kiera. “You bloody well need a keeper.”

        “Sorry, but that’s a thankless job no one would willingly take on.”

        “Fine.” Then he walked away from her table and returned to the table he’d sat at for most of the night.

        Kiera pretended to enjoy the drinks, just to spite him. He was no longer her Alpha, and she wouldn’t take orders.