Minor Trigger WarningGeraldโDADDDY! DADDDY! WHERE ARE YOU?โ Annie screamed as she ran down the hallway, crying.I jumped to my feet and rushed out of the room. โAnnie? Whatโs wrong?โShe waved some papers in the air. โGerry, look.โShe handed me the crumpled papers, and I smoothed them out so I could look at them. I relaxed when I saw the simple math problems on it. I smiled at her.โDo you need help?โShe nodded, wiping her nose. I winked at her.โGo get the jelly beans.โShe grinned before dashing down the stairs. I went back into my room to prepare for when she got back. I smiled at her when she ran back in, panting and holding up a bag of jelly beans.โI got them. Osprey was trying to eat them. He-โโANNIE! IF YOU DONโT GIVE THOSE BACK TO ME!โ he yelled as he stomped up the stairs.She ran behind me, burying her face in my back. I tensed as I prepared for the hurricane that was our brother. He growled at me as he entered.โDid you tell her to steal my candy!โโNo. I was going to
ToyaI smiled at Hannah as Mom and Grandma got us ready. Tonight our daddies were going to go with us to the daddy-daughter dance and we were so excited. Elena and Priscilla had already gone to their dance with their daddies. It was our turn now. I twirled in front of the mirror and giggled when my pretty blue dress flared out around me. I quickly sat down, laughing harder when it created a poofy ball around me.โI love my dress, Mommy!โShe dipped her finger into the gel and added some more to the skin between my braids to force stray hairs to behave. She smiled at me.โYou are such a little princess, baby. You both are.โI stood next to Hannah, frowning as I looked at our reflections. Her skin was so much paler than mine and our classmates had teased me a lot, saying that we couldnโt be siblings. My eyes filled with tears as I turned back to my mother.โMom, why do we have to look so different?โShe squatted next to me. โWhat do you mean, sweetie?โโOsprey, Gerald, Scila, Lena, Anni
ElenaI threw the door to Annie and Hannahโs room open. I grinned at them.โI have a cookie for the one that irritates Osprey and Gerald the most.โAnnie giggled and shoved Hanna. โThat cookie is mine.โHannah eyed me. โWhat kind of cookie?โToya poked her head from around my back before hiding back behind me. โItโs caramel chocolate chip,โ she whispered.Priscilla bounced into the room. โI want in but I donโt need the cookie. Iโll do it for free.โI giggled as I high-fived her. โI knew you were my favorite.โI ushered Toya inside before scanning the hallway for our brothers. โI know you have a plan, Scilla. Spill.โHer face split open into a huge evil smile. โAunt Scarlett is coming over. I say we use her.โMy eyes twinkled at her. โWhy you little conniving rat! I love it! So what do we do?โShe turned to look at Annie and Hannah. โI think we stuff them with sugar and then have our dads rile them up. When they have to vomit, I say we have them go vomit on the boys. Itโll embarrass hi
Epilogue (One year later)ScarlettI smiled when Osprey flung the door open. I held up the plate of peanut butter cookies I had made with him in mind.โI made cookies for dessert,โ I murmured, looking down at the ground.He took the plate from me and his hands slid over mine. My eyes shot up to his and he smiled at me. My heart started pounding and my tummy fluttered.โThank you. Mom made lasagna.โHe turned around and I followed him into the house while Aunt Tasha stepped out onto the porch to speak to my parents. We went into the dining room and I glanced around.โWhere are your siblings?โ I asked.โOut hunting with our fathers.โI played with the tablecloth. โWhy didnโt you go?โโI wanted to be here when you got here.โMy face heated and I couldnโt help but smile. โYou could have gone hunting.โHe unwrapped the plate and handed me a cookie. โI did hunt earlier.โI nervously tucked my hair behind my ear. โSo, youโre not hungry?โโI am. Would you like a plate? Iโll make you one.โI t
Tasha (2 years later)I smiled at Mona over Falconโs shoulder as he signed their fatherโs house over to her. It hadnโt taken much to convince him to do it since he was rarely there anymore anyway. He had moved all his things to Timothyโs house years ago and the sleuth had fully taken over his house in the city under Monaโs watchful eyes. His abilities as alpha had only grown with the other men by his side and now the sleuth was even more prosperous.Mona rushed around the table to hug me.โThank you, Tasha.โI squeezed her tight. โI didnโt do anything.โโPfft. I know he would have never given up Dadโs house without you asking him to.โI laughed, patting her back as I met her brotherโs eyes. โYou give me too much credit.โโI donโt but we can pretend I do.โFalcon took my hand and pulled me close to his side. โShut up, you brat.โShe laughed and kissed his cheek. โYou can still come and go as you please.โHe glared at her. โYouโre damn right I can. I am still the alpha!โShe winked at m
Osprey (6 years later)I sprinted back to my house like my parents had told me to after school was let out. I ran into the living room, quickly hugged my mother and deposited my bookbag beside the coffee table. I spun back to the door and rushed towards it when my father stepped in my way.โWhere are you going in such a hurry? You just got home.โI stopped, lowering my head. I had learned at any age that any type of attitude would be dominated out of me so it was just easier to submit and pray that I could talk my way into getting what I wanted.โI wanted to walk Scarlett home,โ I said softly.โDo you have homework?โโDad, itโs the first day,โ I whined, resisting the urge to stomp my foot.โDo you have homework?โ he repeated.I groaned. โI do. Iโm going to do it. I just wanted to walk her home first.โMy father studied me for a moment before sighing. โIf you miss even one homework assignment, I will not allow you to walk her home anymore. Am I understood?โI nodded enthusiastically. โ