Chapter Five: Paige

I spend my weekend training and sleeping. The calming energy I felt on Friday has lingered, and it was just what I needed to leave Cory behind. I feel much better as I awake on Monday morning. Double-checking myself in the mirror, the messy bun I forced my red locks in is messier than I meant, but oh well. Leaving my room, I walk down the stairs and into the kitchen, where I know I’ll find my mother. I’m surprised not to see Peyton. I guess he already left. I grab a granola bar and some bacon; I don’t have time to eat a full-blown meal right now, so this will have to do.

“I’m leaving now, Mom. Love you.”

“Be safe, and please, behave, Paige. Remember that you’re the Alpha’s daughter.”

My mom is always like that. She wants perfection, even though perfection doesn’t exist. She runs our pack with those same expectations. It’s why everyone tries to avoid Luna Margot. She will criticize you for hours if you let her. The only person she accepts at face value is my dad. That’s because they’re mates, and the mate bond is unbreakable.

Driving to school, I wonder about my mate. Will I even have a mate? Will he accept me for who I am? Do I want a mate? The thought of getting hurt again makes me feel queasy. What if he rejects me because I’m not as tall as some she-wolves or even as skinny?

I’m athletically built, but my stomach isn’t flat, showing evidence that I eat something other than salad. My mother used to say that those were qualities of a healthy she-wolf who can bear children, but even she’s commented on my appearance as I’ve grown.

Amber is much skinnier with her thigh gap and her tall, slender frame. I think that’s where some of my insecurities come from.

The thought brings a mix of sadness and anger over me as I pull into the school parking lot. I push it down because I want to have a good day today. Just one good day. I link up with Val and Thomas to make our way to our classes. The day drags by, and by lunch, I’m starving. Thomas is the first one out of the class when the lunch bell rings. He impatiently waits for Val and me to catch up.

“Come on. Come on. Hurry.”

“Chill out. It’s not like they are going to run out of food before we get there.” I reply.

Thomas isn’t usually this excited for lunch. His excitement leaves me with an uneasy feeling as we enter the cafeteria. The lump grows as Thomas suggests we eat facing the door. 

“What are we going to—” I'm cut off by Amber’s shrill screams.

I look up to see that Peyton and his buddies rigged the cafeteria doors to dump ice water on her and Cory as they walked in the door. Suddenly, that uneasiness is replaced by a proud feeling. My brother exacted revenge on the two people responsible for hurting me. That feeling fades when I think about the punishment he’s going to face.

He’s been in trouble a lot lately, and I know it weighs on my parents because Peyton has to get ready to be Alpha. The principal opens the door, getting the last bit of water on his bald head.

“Peyton Bradshaw, follow me to my office.” Peyton looks at me and winks. He doesn’t care about the punishment.

Peyton

The whole prank went off exactly as I planned. Cory and Amber are freezing and soaked. Paige is smiling again. I’ve accomplished my goal. Maybe next time, Amber will think twice before messing with my sister. Cory too. He needs to be careful because when I’m Alpha, I won’t think twice about banishing him. As I walk into the principal’s office, my dad is already sitting there. The principal probably mind-linked him when he heard the screams. I have a reputation around here.

“Seriously, Peyton? This is not how an Alpha behaves,” my dad says.

“Oh, really? An Alpha is not supposed to stick up for his people?”

“How is pranking people sticking up for them?”

That’s when I realize he doesn’t know. Paige never told him what Cory did.

“Cory cheated on Paige with Amber. They deserved it for hurting your daughter.”

His eyes go wide with anger. He never liked Cory, but I don’t think he thought Amber was capable of such a thing.

“Ah, well. I guess that’s the end of that.”

“We have to punish him in some manner, Alpha,” the principal begs. He’s been dying to kick me out since he met me. But despite my best efforts, I’m the next Alpha. I’m untouchable.

“Not this time, Nathan. This time Peyton did what was right.” I detect a hint of pride in his voice.

The thought brings a smile to my face even as the principal stares at me with disgust. I may mess up a lot, but I will always protect my people. Especially Paige. I leave the principal to simmer in his anger for me.

Claire is waiting for me outside. For a minute, I stand and admire her beauty. Her golden hair sits on her shoulders. Her bright blue eyes notice me staring, causing her to blush. Goddess, I love that. My wolf purrs, loving her just as much as I do. 

“What are you looking at?”

“Just my beautiful mate.”

Her face falls. Neither of us are eighteen yet, so we aren’t confirmed to be mates. She doesn’t believe me, but I can feel it in my bones. She’s mine. I touch her face and tilt her chin up to face me.

“I love you,” I say.

“I love you, too.”

“Mmmmm. We should just skip afternoon classes.”

“Oh, you think so?”

“I do.”

“I hate to break it to you, but if you keep missing class, you’re going to fail. If you fail, you’re going to have to spend Saturdays inside of class instead of inside of me,” Claire says.

“You know, maybe we should go to class.”

She gives me a mischievous smile before whispering a promise to make it worth my while. Sweet girl, she doesn’t have to bribe me to follow her. I’d do it no matter what.