Chapter 09

FRANKIE POV (16 yrs old/ 4 yrs ago)

It’s been a week since I was released from the hospital. I had been on bed rest for three of those days, and now I was starting to get irritable about being confined to the house.

It's absolute bull crap, but what can I do? I knew this was what I had been waiting for once I returned home. Being hospitalized and in a medically induced coma for three days didn’t diminish the disappointment in my father and the embarrassment my mother stewed within. In their minds, I was the reason that the pack was constantly pointing or talking about them.

It didn’t occur to them to ask how I was feeling, or if I was experiencing any discomfort or pain.

After Alpha Tom and Luna Margie helped me home and into bed, I heard them arguing with my parents in whispered, controlled yelling. Alpha Tom stated that I would not receive punishment for my behaviour, and was to be monitored while I healed. After I received the all-clear from the pack doctor, I was to report back to Alpha Tom’s office to determine whether I wanted to test again to move up to a higher training class or wait until next year.

It was already nearing the end of summer, and school would start back in another month; it didn’t make sense to have everyone retest just for me. I had planned to forfeit my chance of promotion this year and retry again next summer, but I was certain that my father would view this decision as a letdown for him.

Again, I loved my parents. They never abused me physically; they were just absent for most of my milestone moments and MIA for emotional support or growth opportunities.

I sat in my room, spinning on my small wheelie desk chair as I focused my stare on the ceiling pattern above. I was losing my mind from boredom.

Moving around was still stiff, but my stitches had dissolved the other day, and I could now get up out of bed and move around, but was limited to just my small bedroom. I would even settle for walking laps around the house, but I knew it wouldn’t be received well by the prison wardens posted downstairs, AKA: my brother and his friend and future beta, Billy.

I liked Billy. He was a good guy… when he wasn’t with my brother, Ryner.

Ryner and I used to be super close as kids, but then high school happened and like with most close siblings or even close elementary school friendships, high school changes everything. We grew up and chose different paths to focus on. I was focused on warrior training and academics, whereas Ryner chose popularity and sports. What did he need a post-secondary backup plan for? He was already guaranteed the Gamma role once our father retired.

I hated how easy everything seemed for Ryner. All he had to do was do the bare minimum, and then everything was his. I was expected to maintain straight A’s, I was to be the top female warrior in classes, and I was also expected to maintain a perfect good girl image. That meant no parties, no sleepovers and no boys.

Meanwhile, Ryner was drunk or smoking wolfs-weed every weekend and had slept with half the female population at high school. It was embarrassing and insulting.

The double standard is what drives me insane. It always feels like my mother never wanted children, just the image of having a family for her portfolio and my father has his son, his heir, and that is enough. I can’t even begin to figure out how many school events I would have been left stranded at if it weren’t for Luna Margie. Even if Aria wasn’t part of it, Luna Margie was sitting in the front row, and the loudest cheering came from the crowd.

I sit by the window, staring outside and daydreaming of escaping my second-story window and playing outside. It may sound juvenile, but I am getting cagey.

“Frankie! Get down here!” I heard the door whip open and my father's voice boom within the house.

What could I have done now? I haven’t left the house, much less my room, in a week.

With a heavy sigh, I grabbed my light blue fuzzy bathrobe, slid into my white bunny slippers and headed downstairs.

What I didn’t expect when I arrived downstairs was the large group awaiting me.

“There she is.” Luna Margie smiled and rushed towards me with open arms. “We have been wanting to see you for days, but we were always told that you were sleeping. How are you?”

At her words, I glared at my parents. They lied. They lied to their Alpha and Luna, but why? What was the big deal about my having visitors from the Alpha family?

“I’m glad to have company finally,” I mumbled and walked into her open arms.

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