Chapter 2

Kate’s pov

“Kat, let’s fucking do something fun today. I know that dinner for Beta Riker is tonight, but please. I can’t just hang out at the farm all fucking day. Dad is driving me insane.” Leia said.

“What do you want to do?” I asked.

“Let go to the fucking beach.” Leia said, nodding her head yes. Her shoulder length, lavender hair bouncing up and down.

“Dad won’t let me leave the pack, Leia. You know that.” I replied.

Dad had been very strict about us leaving the pack by ourselves. Especially after what happened to uncle Riker. He had caught the guy who killed him, but dad always suspected there were more hunters out there.

“Shit, let’s just sneak out then! It’s only for a few hours.” Leia sighed heavily.

She had gotten her dad’s potty mouth, his height and his love of sci-fi movies. But her mom’s eyes and body shape. She was my best friend and we were born almost on the same day. We had celebrated every birthday party together and she was the only one I could truly be myself with. Even though we were so different. Leia was outspoken and funny. Had no fear and didn’t care. Well, she did. She was just really good at acting like she didn’t.

I knew Leia better than anyone and she was almost her dad’s twin. But he had real confidence, while she was faking hers. Inside she was just as insecure and shy as me, maybe more.

I was the opposite. Even as a kid I was too smart. And I realized kids my age didn’t like a smart ass. They didn’t like a know it all. So I started talking less. Watching my words. Mom often says I remind her of dad when they first met. I spoke in short sentences and I always thought about what I was going to say. I would replay conversations in my mind and think about what I could have done better. What I should have said.

The only person I could talk to without thinking was Leia.

“How about we ask someone to chaperone us? What about your brother?”

Leia shook her head, “no Oliver is busy. What about Emma? Emma’s cool.”

Aunt Emma was cool. She was my favorite aunt, mostly because I could relate to her the most. I have known I liked girls ever since I was eight and she and aunt Jara were the best role models for a queer relationship. Besides Kane and Beta Damian of course.

When I came out, Leia’s dad, Cyrus, was so excited. Saying he hoped Leia and I would be mates. But Leia is straight. We even tried kissing once, just to see if we felt something. Also to practice in case someone wanted to kiss us. We both felt nothing and sadly I haven’t been kissed since.

“I’ll call Emma okay? But no guarantees.” I said as I picked up my phone.

Aunt Emma agreed and she drove us to the beach. “So you girls needed a chaperone to go outside the pack huh? Or did you really want to spend your Saturday with your aunt?”

I looked down and Leia started to laugh, “can’t it be fucking both? We just wanted some fucking fun before tonight’s dinner. And I need to work on my tan. Can’t all be fucking lucky like Kat.”

I shrugged and stared out the window. I could already smell the salt in the air. The beach wasn’t far away from our pack, but there were a lot of humans around. If it came down to a fight, Emma wouldn’t shift and reveal herself. But we were stronger than humans. Leia was half human, her dad turned into a werewolf only after she was born. So she was not as strong, but still, stronger than your average human.

It made me nervous to be out of the pack, but seeing the ocean calmed me down. The sound of the waves and the warmth of the sun on my skin.

“Are you fucking done staring at the damn water?!” Leia shouted, “let’s go swim!”

Emma shook her head and laughed, “go, I’ll get us some seats. I’ll keep an eye out, Katie.”

I took my dress off and folded it neatly, then handed it to Emma. I wore my favorite bikini. It wasn’t as simple as Leia’s, but it suited me. I was blessed, or cursed, with my mom’s curves.

So I had to wear something that supported the ladies. My mom had helped me pick this one out, she loved floral patterns. It was lilac with a bunch of flowers. A top with underwire and some high waisted bottoms.

Leia was wearing a black string bikini and looking really cute. She pulled my by hand to the water and she dove right in. The water was warmer than I thought it would be and I saw kids having fun around me.

“Hey, isn’t that Sierra?” Leia asked me after a while.

“Where?”

“There, with her mom and Roman? Look it’s her! We should fucking say hi.”

I shook my head. We were all really close ones, but when Asher and Sierra went to high school they joined the popular kids. And Leia and I were far from popular. I barely talked and Leia would only talk about geeky things. We didn’t fit in with their group and we only hung out when our parents did.

Besides, they were here as a family. Probably to remember uncle Riker. And equally important, I had the biggest crush on Sierra and Leia knew that. I would shut down when I saw her and be even worse than normal.

I shook my head, “no, not today. We’ll see them tonight.

Sierra looked good though. Her long blond hair was in a braid and she was wearing a blue bathing suit. She really looked good.

I quickly turned my head. There was no point. First of all, Sierra was straight. Secondly, she was most likely mated to Asher. She would turn eighteen next year and we will see who her mate is. But I was sure it wasn’t me. So why waste time on thinking about her?

Yet, I did think about her. All the time. Every time I saw her I would get these nots in my stomach and I would wonder how soft her lips would feel on mine.

“Earth to fucking Kat?! Are you there or are you thinking about Sierra again?” Leia said seductively.

“I wasn’t. Let’s just go see where Emma is seated, I want something to drink.”

“Or, we could say hallo?” Leia said, raising her eyebrow suggestively.

“Leia, please stop. I don’t do this to you around Asher.”

Leia blushed, “that’s not fucking the same.”

“Yeah it is. I know you had a crush on Asher since you were ten. So don’t even pretend.”

Leia rolled her eyes, “whatever. Fine. Let’s go see Emma.”