Thirty- five

I couldn't believe it. I really couldn't. My sister was mated to a werewolf and she had been marked. Maybe, if I repeat this sentence in my head a few times, I will end up believing it.

The atmosphere at the dinner table was tense, not that I was surprised. Dad was glaring daggers at Harper, who was sitting beside me. Emily and Cory sat on the other side of the table from us, while both my parents sat on the ends of the table.

Cory, as usual, was oblivious to the tension and was just munching on his pasta. Emily was fidgeting nervously in her seat and glanced at me from time to time. Dad was silent and grumpy, just as I expected. Mom was trying desperately to lighten up the mood in the room. It was going worse than I expected. What a joy!

"So, Harper, what do you like doing in your free time?" Mom piped up.

"Make out with girls," Emily said with a sickly sweet voice. I choked on pasta and Harper immediately went rigid.

Before either of us could say anything, Dad grumbled. "Why doesn't that surprise me."

"Gordon, Emily." Mom gasped, shocked.

I tightened my grip on the fork in my hand as I could feel waves of unease from Harper sitting beside me. I gingerly placed a hand on his thought, which seemed to calm him down a lot. I grinned triumphantly at the effect and continued eating.

What the hell was wrong with both of them? I get it that Dad walked in on us kissing each other, but that was no excuse for his grumpy and impolite behavior. He knew I had a boyfriend and I would be legal before the week was over. I had done absolutely nothing wrong and he was exaggerating and overreacting.

I know that Harper slept with Emily and she was very hurt by the fact and how everything turned out, but as I recall she didn't hold any grudge against him. She had told me so many times that she had forgiven him and she was happy with her boyfriend. She even advised me to let go of all the prejudices I held against Harper. What the hell was her problem? She was, most probably, happy with her mate, her behavior, right now, was simply uncalled for.

"I play for the school's football team, Mrs. Hemming." Harper politely said.

"You're the quarterback, aren't you?" Cory piped up. Harper nodded and smiled. "That's so cool."

"Cory wants to try out for the football team, too," I said, smiling down at Cory.

"The tryouts will be next week. You can try, then." Harper smiled at Cory.

"Who's the team captain?" Cory asked again, all thoughts of pasta forgotten.

"Aiden Knight," Harper asked.

"How's the captain selected? It would be so wicked to be the football team's captain. No wonder you two are so popular." Cory gushed.

"Believe me, you don't want to be the captain of the team. It's way too much responsibility." Harper chuckled.

"What other responsibilities do you have, Harper?" Emily said, with a fake smile on her face. What the hell was wrong with her? Why was she acting this way?

"I happen to help my father in his business. I have been doing it for some time now. He has been preparing me for the day, he would hand it over to me." Harper pointedly told Emily. I didn't need to ask Harper about his father's business, I knew he was talking about the Alpha position, and from the looks of it, so did Emily.

"Oh, what does your father do?" Dad asked, intrigued.

"My father owns a lot of businesses in the town." Dad nodded at his answer, deep in thought.

"So, how long have you and Zara been together?" Mom asked.

"Around a week, I guess." Harper chuckled nervously and I bit my lip to stop the smile that threatened to break.

"A weak? And you were already kissing my daughter in her room?" Dad raised his eyebrow threateningly. He looked calm but I knew he was furious.

I felt Harper's settle on top of my own, on his thigh. "Yes, we have been together for a short time, sir but I can assure you that I love your daughter. I wouldn't ever think about hurting her and I am quite lucky that she even gives me the time of the day."

Dad somewhat relaxed at Harper's words. Mom sighed, winked at me, and gave me a thumbs-up. I blushed and I looked down at my date, too embarrassed to look at anyone else.

"How sweet," Emily said in a weak voice and I cringed and mentally prepared for another barb at me or Harper. "It's like you're saying that the both of you are soulmates." 

I blanched her words. What the hell was she trying to do? What had gotten into her? She was acting like a completely different person as if she was jinxed by some sort of dark magic.

Cory grunted and made a weird sound at the back of his throat, probably to imitate the sound of vomiting. 

Harper gave Emily a sharp look. "Is there a problem if I do believe in soulmates?" 

Emily snorted. "Well, sure. You do have a funny way of showing it. Sleeping around with every girl in town and having one-night stands all the time."

Harper clenched my hand in his and I sucked in a sharp breath at the pain that shot up my arm.

"Like the time, where you left me in the morning, after having sex with me. You could have said goodbye, you know." Emily pouted. 

Mom gasped in shock and Dad's nostrils flared in anger. I paled at her words and gaped at Emily in shock. It was as if, she was desperately trying to rile up Harper and with the way she was going, it was working.

Harper abruptly got up from his chair and glared at Emily who now had a very satisfied expression on her face. 

"You will respect me." Harper's voice boomed in the room and I knew his eyes would be pitch black by now, his wolf in total control. "I won't have a simple human mated to a dog disrespect me. Submit. Right. Now." 

Harper looked so calm and his voice came out without a waiver, but anyone could feel the authority in his voice and stance. His back was rigid and his fists were clenched by his side. He was desperately trying to control himself and his wolf. After all, it would have been really hard to explain if Harper were to shift into his white wolf, right now.

He had a powerful aura around him right now. My entire being wanted me to submit to him. My eyes were glued to his form and I couldn't seem to look anywhere else.

With great difficulty, I broke my gaze at Harper and looked at everyone else on the table. Silence had ensued the moment Harper had gotten up from his table and spoke. Mom, Dad, and Cory had their heads hanging low, as a form of submission and their bodies were rigid.

Emily on the other hand, had her head tilted slightly to the left, baring her neck, probably as a form of submission too. She was whimpering and desperately trying to fight the effect Harper had on her body.

I gingerly put my hand up and lightly touched Harper's back. I immediately felt the tense muscles of his back and his rigid spine. My touch seemed to have brought him back to reality and it was like breaking a trance.

He immediately stiffened before relaxing under my touch. Everyone was brought back to reality and a heavy silence descended upon the table.

Everyone except Emily looked up at Harper, their expressions varying between wonder, curiosity, awe, and fear. Fear of the unknown.

Emily still had her head down and I could see tears streaming down her face.

"I'm sorry but I have to go." Harper's tone was clipped and I knew he would most probably go to the woods to shift. He would need to let his wolf out. 

"I will tell you the date when freshmen are supposed to come for trials," Harper said while looking at Cory, who was dazed.

"I'm sorry if I offended you in any way, Mr. Hemming. I didn't mean to but Zara is my girlfriend and you need to accept this fact." Harper's voice softened in the end but still held a trace of authority in it. Dad just nodded, still looking at Harper in awe.

"The pasta was wonderful and thank you for inviting me to your lovely home, Mrs. Hemming." Harper looked at my mother who just gave him a small smile and nodded.

Harper then turned to look at me and gave me a small smile. "I will see you tomorrow." 

With that, he turned around and walked out of the dining room. I stared after him in shock.

As fast as I could, I got up from the chair and ran after him, not caring what my family would think about it.

I reached the front door, which was thrown open by Harper, and ran outside to catch up with Harper.

He had reached the side of his car when I called out to him. "Harper," I called out to him.

He turned around to look at me, surprise etched into his features. I ran to him and threw my hands around his tall frame.

His arms immediately snaked around my waist and I snuggled into his chest.

"Where are you going?" I whispered in his chest, but I knew he would hear me.

"You know where I'm going." Harper's chest rumbled as he spoke and I let out a sigh of frustration because of how closed off he was being right now.

"Take me with you." I looked up to gaze into his eyes, not entirely sure if I was expecting to see green or black orbs.

Green orbs twinkled at my request and I smiled. Harper was in control of his wolf and nodded at me. "Of course."

"Have her back here before midnight." I stiffened at the sound of my dad’s voice. I slowly turned around to find my father standing at the doorway, with his arms crossed in front of his chest.

"Yes, sir." Harper's chest rumbled again and I subconsciously leaned into his chest.

Dad just nodded and went inside the house.

Well, that went well!