Chapter 4

“Dad! I’m home!” I yelled as I slammed the pack door behind me. People were running around. Dinner was being served from 5pm to 7pm. Usually, if we go out, we will grab supper on the way, so I wasn’t worried about getting something to eat. “Daaaaad?” 

My mother died a few years after she had me from a rogue attack. A few years after that, dad mated with a woman named Michele. She was okay, but she pretty much ignored us. Dad still was really hard on Cade. He wanted him to be a hard ruler like he was. Me, I was a distraction. Not really loved, but not really hated, either. Just kind of ignored. 

Knocking on dad’s office door, I waited a few seconds before I tried it. Since it was unlocked, I slowly pushed the door open. Michele was sitting on dad’s desk, facing him in his chair.

“Tatum!” Michele said, annoyed as she rolled her eyes and slowly got up. “Why didn’t you knock?” 

“I did, and it was unlocked.” 

“Well, whatever you want, we are busy.” Michele started gathering papers and looking busy. 

“Cade told me you were going out tonight. Remember the rules.” Dad barely looked at me. 

“Alpha William’s son, Maddox, stopped by with her bike.”

Dad still didn’t look up. “Yeah, Cade told me. I assumed it went well?” 

“It did.” 

“Great. Then what do you need?” Michele put her hands on her hips.

Shaking my head, I knew it was a bad idea to come and tell him. Still, he would have been pissed if he found out, and I didn’t tell him. “Nothing, I guess. See you later.” 

Just as I walked out, I got a glimpse of my dad pinching Michele’s ass. It made me happy that he was happy. I just wish I wasn’t invisible. 

“Hey, sis.” Cade was walking down the stairs as I took a few steps from the office door. 

“Hey.” I said with a sigh. “Dad and Michele are in there. You might give them some space.” 

Cade looked at the door and frowned. “Yeah.” He knew what they were like. Putting his arm around my shoulders, he pulled me towards the stairs. “How did it go with Maddox?” 

Cade was more than a big brother to me. He was like my dad. Even though we are only a year to the day apart, he bossed me around and took care of me. “It went fine. Brett came by and then his friends Spencer and Steele.” 

Cade nodded. “I wondered if they would. Listen, I’ve been asking around. Apparently, he will be a good alpha and strong. However, he is a major player. Different girls every week.” 

“Okay? Why are you telling me this?” 

“I don’t want you to go out with him or anything. Keep any relationship professional. Until you turn 18 and find your mate, I don’t want him around you.” 

“Isn’t their pack our allies?” 

We walked up to my bedroom door. Cade let go of my shoulders and opened the door for me. “They are and since Maddox is back, you will probably see him around a lot. Dad has been wanting me to take over in a few years and I assume Alpha William is doing the same. That means learning everything.” 

“I’ll do my best.” Smirking at him, he just shut the door and stood their. 

“I’m serious. I can’t have my sister be a stupid fling to him. If he hurts you, what will become of us being allies? It could ruin the whole relationship there.”

“You are talking like I’ve went out with him. I met him exactly once, and that was to fix his bike.”

Cade wasn’t buying it. “I saw the way he looked at you. Even Beau said the same thing. We are trying to protect you.” 

“I can handle myself, thank you very much. I haven’t done anything this far, why start now?” Looking at my watch, I was down to 45 minutes to get ready. “I need to show and get ready. I take it we are going to get food before we go to the club?” 

Cade sighed, knowing the conversation was over. “Yes. Meet us down at the front doors when you are ready.” Cade turned to leave before looking back at me. “I’m serious, Tate. Don’t get involved with him.” 

“I heard you.” Shrugging my shoulder, I wasn’t sure what he wanted me to say. Turning away from him, I was a little disappointed. Not that it mattered much. I was going to wait till I found my mate, anyway. Still, something about him picking me up and tossing me against the wall was thrilling. Just thinking about it caused a sensation between my legs. 

He didn’t even have to kiss me to make my stomach flip. Stripping off my greasy clothes, the shower was ready for me. Maddox’s body danced in my head as I took care of the pressure he caused me. His breath on my neck. The way his hands moved me in a way that I never experienced before. 

Sure, I’ve kissed Beau and made out with a few guys. None of which gave me these feelings. Maybe Maddox was like a drug. You taste it once and now that is all you think about? Is this the effect he has on all girls? Or just me? 

“TATE!” Brett’s voice brought me back to reality. “Still in the shower?” 

“Grease doesn’t just wash away.” 

“Hurry up! I got the perfect dress for you.” 

The glass door didn’t hide anything. I could see Brett setting everything up in my bathroom. Even with marble countertops and mauve paint, she stuck out as she moved around. My bedroom was just as basic. Since my mother picked out this light purple, mauvy color, I couldn’t bring myself to change it. The only thing that kept rotating was my bedding. Now sat a cloud of cream blankets that could kill me at any moment.