6 - Cuffed

~Cadence’s Point of View~

When dinner time rolled around, a dozen people showed up in my parents’ backyard and set up two massive tents with tables. They had brought enough food to feed a hundred people. My dad went around and invited everyone over, and before I knew it the place was full. My parents were now winning the Keller brothers lottery of popularity.

Full of congratulations, hugs and … questions. People had a MILLION questions. 

“Ohh your mates must be so rich to have all this just brought in…”

“Ohh your mates are so handsome, are they models…”

“Are you pregnant…”

“Do you think you’ll have twins…”

I felt paralyzed, suffocated. I felt … worthless. Every single thing that these people cared about, thought was important, was the opposite of everything I valued.

I shut myself in my childhood bedroom when I was finally able to get away. I dropped onto my bed and threw my head back. How many nights did I stare at this ceiling and dream about winning a Pulitzer? How many days did I bust my ass in school to perfect my speech and grammar? Yeah I might cuss like a sailor, but I know how to WRITE, and I do it damn well.

Was it all for nothing? Years of stakeouts, always ensuring I was in the right place at the right time. Getting the dirt. Having the front page scoop on literally every single issue of the paper. 

I sighed and turned on my side, resting my hands under my cheek as a tear rolled down. 

*Hey come on, at least talk to them. It may not be as bad as you think. If they’re going to be Alphas they’ll have a lot of pull, a lot of say so. Don’t you think,* Fanny said.

*They’ll never let me really do what I want. They’ll never let me live apart from them,* I said. 

I knew I was being a brat, I just knew it. But come on! I was literally having to give up, sacrifice everything I’d work so hard for, and the twins? They didn’t have to change shit about their lives. If anything, now they’d only have one female’s name to remember. One female, always in their bed, stumbling over herself at their hard bodies, their strong and perfect jawlines … their bright white smiles and sky blue eyes. 

Pricks!

After a few minutes the tone of the backyard buzz shifted a bit. Curious, I got up and craned my neck around in the window trying to see what was going on. 

I watched as the brothers strolled toward a couple and embraced them. Ohh fuck … me. 

“They invited … their parents,” I said, grabbing the curtain in disbelief.

I immediately looked down at my leggings and mentally cursed the stars for not changing. I knew I was coming home, I knew my parents would be here but I never in a million years imagined all this. 

I ran to my bedroom door and locked it, like that would do anything. I was sure the guys wouldn’t bust down the door in my parents’ house. I had to hope.

I quickly began rummaging through the closet, which held all of my mom's approved attire. Boring, colorless and showing NO skin. Literally frump central. This closet said, “single and staying that way”.

*It is appropriate! Ohh, try on that navy blue dress. That will look good with your hair, you can straighten it quick, little mascara…” my wolf said, going on and on.

“Maybe I should shift and go out there since you want this so bad,” I said, out loud.

*Ohh! Please? Please! YES! I would die, oh goddess yes,* she squealed.

I dropped on the bed and wagged my finger at the closet. At Fanny. There’s no WAY I could let her out, not now. I leaned over the bed and looked out the other window, now seeing the twins introducing their parents to mine. 

“I’m gonna be sick,” I said, putting my face in my hands.

“Cade? Sweetheart are you feeling okay,” my aunt Luanne asked from the hall.

I heard the doorknob jiggle followed by the stomp of her foot. Both her and my mom had a thing about locked doors. Not that my cousins Cynthia and Annabelle would ever do such a wild thing. The craziest thing they both did was highlight their hair or paint their nails.

“Fine thanks, no need to hover,” I said, shoving myself off the bed and grabbing the stupid navy blue dress.

I looked at it and made a face. It wasn’t hideous, but I’d worn it to a funeral four years ago. I was certain it would be big on me since I’d lost a size after leaving the pack. 

*Since you stopped eating like a NORMAL person,* my wolf scolded.

“No one likes a paunch,” I insisted.

“What’s that dear? Punch? I don’t think there is any but I can get you something else,” Luanne said, and I heard her footsteps retreat.

I shook my head at her simpleness. That’s all this pack is, simple people. 

*And there’s nothing wrong with that! Simple, sweet and homey,* my wolf insisted.

“Yeah there won’t be any of those qualities at Moon Bay I can assure you that,” I huffed.

*You’ve never even been there. Go on, I’ll wait,* my wolf said, snarling.

Okay she had a point. 

I fired up an old flat iron I found in my bathroom, and what little make-up I could get together. I hadn’t exactly planned to be entertaining Alpha fucking Keller tonight. 

*They want to show you off! I’m beyond excited. I want to be doted on and have everyone be proud of us,* my wolf preened.

Yeah and what has she done, hm? Catching that squirrel a few weeks back was a dumb stroke of luck. I was convinced the thing was brain damaged and that’s why he was moving so slow. Come to think of it, if the twins are footballers maybe they have brain damage. Hmm, makes sense. Worth exploring.

“Tonight on the news at 11, reporter uncovers the real reason Lenox Keller has a droopy left eye. Did the future Alpha have a seizure or does he just need botox? Tune in.”

By the time I was done and got the dress on, I was feeling pretty decent. I looked good at any rate, that’s always when I’m most confident.

*You don’t need war paint and fancy hair things to be beautiful,* my wolf cooed.

Bullshit! This level of hotness doesn’t just roll out of bed! I very rarely stayed the night with anyone I dated, and if I did it was an oversight. I never brought anyone back to my place, I always wanted to be able to just leave.

Something told me I’d hardly ever have privacy again. Goddess I treasure living alone!

*You won’t be alone! We have a whole pack to care for,* Fanny preened, happy.

I shook my head and looked at my feet. I couldn’t very well pair sneakers with this dress. A quick search of my closet only turned up more sneakers and flip flops. Okay so my fashion sense only appeared AFTER I left this house. 

“Fuck it,” I said, and threw open my bedroom door to a shocked Aunt Lu. 

“Oh here’s your drink,” she said, handing me what I assumed to be lemonade. 

Something told me she’d been standing outside my door for a hot minute. I had been too wrapped up in getting my shit together to notice. I took a big gulp from the glass and laughed. 

“You should have spiked it Lu Lu.”

“Dear are you okay? You can tell me,” she said, taking in my bare feet.

Lu and my mom were one in the same. Prim and proper, dainty and delicate. My mom made a fortune off my swear jar in high school, you simply did not cuss in her presence. I was willing to bet between the two Richmond sisters they probably hadn’t had a drop of alcohol in their lives unless it was snuck into a food recipe. Borrrrrrring!

“Just ready to get this the hell over with,” I said, linking my arm in hers.

I had no real plan, which I didn’t like. I was always ready, but sure of myself. Right now I was going in blind, not a clue what to expect. It made me absolutely itchy. Not being prepared usually brought out the mouthy Cadence.

*Ohh good! Something new for us,* my wolf giggled.

It is entirely unfair that I have to deal with a voice constantly teasing me and I can’t do a damn thing to her without hurting myself!!

*Duh, is this your first day as a shapeshifter? Do you need me to find a dictionary? Cause I know you have like five of them,* Fanny sassed.

*You are awfully chatty for someone who is NEVER getting to shift again,* I said, just as Lu and I made our way through the crowd.

*Is it… hot in here? Do you feel that,* Fanny said, stopping me dead and flashing images in my mind. 

Last year I covered a story about a she-wolf who went into heat after finding her mate for the first time while he was having sex outside with someone else. I … may have been nearby and gotten a picture of her instantly submitting to him, pathetic. He was literally inside someone one minute and her the next, just unbelievable. The first girl stood and watched the entire thing, yeah I got a picture of that too.

*You’re one to talk! Now shut up and be good or else,* my wolf said, matter of fact.

“There she is, finally,” my dad said, pushing through a couple people to get to me.

“She just had to have a chat from Aunt Lu,” I heard, from just beside me.

I turned to raise my eyebrow to the female, who clearly wanted some sort of praise for doing the bare minimum. 

“Aren’t you going to introduce me Cade,” she followed and promptly elbowed me. 

Ahh there it is. Everyone wants something.

Dad grabbed my other arm and our trio made our way over to the twins and their parents who were laughing hysterically with our pack’s Beta and his mate. For a fleeting second I wondered what was so funny but quickly realized I didn’t actually care.

Maybe I’m dreaming, maybe that beer I had at the frat house was spiked and I’m in a coma. Too much to hope for?

“Hey beautiful, come meet my mom,” Lenox said, reaching for my hand.

My dad quickly handed me off to him. I glanced back at old Dan, he was a nervous wreck. Highly unlike my dad, he’s always calm and put together. But maybe in the presence of the Kellers it’s all a bit too much. I certainly get that.

The moment Lenox touched me, my entire body relaxed, utterly betraying me. He interlocked our fingers and I felt trapped!

*If this is trapped, get the handcuffs! Locked in,* my wolf said, swooning.