I wanted to growl, but I turned to my father and wrapped my arm around one of his. “Now this is a party.” He called out and raised his arm. “Mingle, eat and enjoy. Tomorrow we will be back to a normal routine.”
“Actually.” I looked up at him. “If it is alright with you, I would like the Beta and Gamma females to start a new training program with me for all females in the pack.”
Tina and Lynn walked to the front and nodded. I knew I didn’t have time to speak with them, but I knew they would agree.
“Anything for you.” My father looked around the room and smiled. “You heard her. Tomorrow, we will start training the females.”
“Let’s eat.” I called out, and the Omegas came out and started circling around with trays of food.
I looked up at my father and waited until he met my gaze. “What are the chances of some kind of love charm or potion being put on you?” I whispered quietly under the din of everyone else talking.
“Not likely, but possible, why?”
I widened my eyes. “You have got to be kidding me.” I smacked his arm and gestured behind us. “Do you not remember me having to punch you in the face because you got googly-eyed over Aurora?”
“I actually don’t.” My father scrunched up his face and then shook his head. “I can’t think straight.”
“Which is exactly why I think something is going on.” I shook my head and turned to face the crowd, and I caught glarescoming from Aurora and Amanda. But they would learn their place sooner rather than later.
“I’ll leave it in your hands.” My father leaned down and kissed my cheek. “You will protect me, won’t you?”
“Of course.” I smiled up at him and then went to mingle.
Chapter Thirteen
T
he knocking on the door woke me up and I groaned. I wasn’t ready to wake up; I snuggled deeper into my bed and ignored the knock when it sounded again. Ugh. “What?” I called out and my father’s chuckle from behind my door had me cracking an eye.
“Got a little too loose last night, didn’t you?” He stood just inside my room and smiled knowingly at me.
“You know I did.” I tossed my pillow and buried myself back under the comforter. But my dad just tossed the pillow back to me.
“Time to wake up.”
“I don’t want to.” I groaned and grabbed my phone and realized it was five in the freaking morning. “Dad…” But his laugh interrupted my groan.
“Sorry darling, but training starts now.” He walked over and ripped the blanket off of me and I screamed as the cold air jolted me more awake. I wanted to whine some more, but my father was already walking out. “If you’re not downstairs in five minutes, I’m dumping water on you.”
I groaned and kicked a little before I got up. I know it’s stupid, and I needed to be better than my last lifetime, but I really wanted to still be asleep. I got up and wiped my face, then headed to change into a tank top and shorts while tossing up my black hair. I threw on my shoes and ran through the pack house to find my dad by the front door.
I wiped the sleep from my eyes and nearly growled when I spotted his smug grin. “Why?” I couldn’t form a coherent question yet, and he just laughed again.
“Because this is going to take you a long time to master, and we have to start as soon as possible.” I tossed my head back and took a deep breath. I knew I would need to have control, enough control to hide myself in plain sight, so he was right.
“Okay.” I wiped my face and jumped a few times to shake off the fog in my brain. “Let’s go.” My dad pounded on my back and walked out the door.
“Have you shifted yet?” My dad was heading down the porch steps as I closed the door.
“No.” I met him at the bottom and he nodded. He headed off to the bushes to the left of the house and tossed his clothes out. Within a minute, Loki is walking over to me. His black fur shining and his golden eyes glowing, his huge form as tall as my shoulder. “Hello Loki.”
Hello pup. Climb up. We have a way to go before we are clear of viewing eyes.
“Okay.” I walked down the steps and waited while Loki grabbed my father’s clothes and then settled on his belly so I could climb up and he was off. I wrapped my fingers in his furand leaned down, keeping my balance as best as I could. He was flying through the trees, dodging the brush and fallen logs.
The air was whipping my hair around. He was moving so fast I could barely catch my breath, but it was exhilarating. The roar of the wind, the slash of the leaves as he cut around bushes and smaller plants.
It’s amazing, isn’t it?
