Unable to stay cooped up inside the room any longer. I made my way down the hall towards the kitchen. My mind was still a mess but I hoped that some fresh air would help.
My steps faltered when I reached the kitchen and spotted Dad sitting at the island with a cup of coffee in front of him and his eyes focused on his phone.
We hadn’t really talked since we arrived at Grayson’s house, and the last thing I needed right now was a speech from him.
Biting my lip, I took a small step back, but just as I was about to spin around, Dad looked up.
“Good morning,” he greeted softly.
“Morning daddy.” I gripped the hem of my shirt as I entered the kitchen.
His sudden growl startled me.
“That is not...” He trailed off with a shake of his head. “Where’s Lucas?”
I shrugged as I slid into a chair.
“Grayson said that he went home,” Dad muttered.
“He did,” I told him.
“Before or after you had sex?” he asked.
Colour flooded my cheeks in embarrassment. Lifting my shirt to my nose, I sniffed it but all I could smell was me and some of Lucas’s scent. Eva had pointed it out too and now Dad which meant that Grayson and his brother had smelled it too.
Dad sighed, locked his phone and placed it aside. He scratched at the stubble on his chin before he linked his fingers together and watched me with an all too familiar look.
“You’re going to give me the talk again, aren’t you?” I asked him when he continued to stare at me.
“It depends. Do I need to?”
I instantly shook my head. “I still wish Grandma had told as about sex and stuff.”
Dad chuckled. “You still remember it, don’t you?”
“It’s hard to forget.”
We shared a smile but it quickly faded as the seriousness returned to his eyes.
“I know that sex it unavoidable when it comes to your mate, but I hope to god that you’re being responsible and using protection.” Dad reached out to rub his knuckles against my cheek. “You’re not ready to have kids because you’re still just a kid yourself. The fact that you barely know Lucas is also something I have to point out.”
For a moment I was hit by a sudden wave of panic but I quickly pushed it aside. Lucas and I hadn’t used a condom the first time we had sex but we had used one last night and this morning.
But I knew better than to think that the chances of me falling pregnant after only one time of unprotected sex were slim.
“Ariana? You’re using condoms, aren’t you?”
I couldn’t look him in the eyes. “W-we didn’t the first time we. . .but we did last night and. . .uuu. . .this morning.”
He muttered a curse as he jumped to his feet. His voice rose by the second, making me hunch my shoulders. Sweat broke out over my forehead and upper lip. My hands clutched the hem of my shirt as my teeth sunk into my bottom lip.
“I thought you were the responsible one,” Dad yelled. “You have more fucking common sense than your sister.”
My heartbeat increased and my breathing sped up. From beneath my lashes I glanced around, searching for a place where I could hide.
Dad’s voice lowered and then he fell silent. My eyes slowly rose to his. With his back to me, he gripped the counter tightly and sucked air into his lungs. Dad stayed like that long enough for me to calm down.
Turning, he walked around the island and stopped in front of me. Dad took my hand and guided it to his chest where he pressed my palm to his racing heart.
“I’m sorry, honey bee,” he apologized softly. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”
“You’re mad at me,” I whispered.
“I’m fucking furious at you for being so stupid.” He gave me a small smile. “It’s only the second time I’ve lost my temper and yelled at you.”
“I liked the first time better.”
“Why?” He frowned.
My fingers twitched against his chest. “Because you apologized by buying me ice cream and then spend the whole day watching Disney movies with me.”
“I’m sure I can find you some ice cream in Grayson’s fridge,” he muttered. “I’m not so sure about the Disney movies, though.”
The smile slipped from my face as my eyes dropped to our hands. “I wouldn’t be able to eat it.”
Dad said nothing. He pulled me against his chest and wrapped his arms around me. For a while we stayed like that in silence, but then Dad turned his head and pressed a kiss to my cheek before he pulled back to look down at me.
“You’re my little girl and I love you. I’m happy that you found your mate, even though I don’t like him much at the moment, but you are still so young and I know that you’re not ready for babies.” He paused and seemed to be debating his words. “Your mother and I, we went through a lot of pain before we had you and Eva. We still know so little about human and Lycan parings. The last thing I want is for you and your sister to suffer like we had.”
I swallowed the lump in my throat and blinked rapidly to get rid of the tears in my eyes. “What if I. . .what if I do get pregnant? W-will you make me abort up the baby?”
“Never!” His eyes darted over my face. “I’ll support you no matter what.”
I threw my arms around his neck and hugged him as tightly as I could. “I love you daddy.”
“Love you too, honey bee.” His hand rubbed up and down my back for a few seconds before it stopped. “Don’t just stand there, princess. Come here”
I pulled away and turned to find Eva hovering in the kitchen doorway. Her eyes darted between us. It looked like she wanted to refuse but when Dad opened his arm for her she closed the distance and joined in on the family hug.
Something inside me twisted as their scents surrounded me. They were my family. Even though there was one person missing, I wouldn’t really want to change it. I couldn’t imagine losing either of them.
It has always been the three of us since Mom died. Sure our Grandma and our Granddads were there too, but it wasn’t the same. We were close to them, but not as close as the three of us were.
Dad pulled away after pressing a kiss to each of our cheeks.
“I have some things I need to take care of,” he said softly. “Stay inside the house, please.”
I nodded while Eva gave him a small smile. Dad hesitated in the doorway before he walked away.
“I don’t know about you, but I’m starving,” Eva said as she moved away.
I watched her as she moved around the kitchen to make herself a toasted sandwich. Eva didn’t offer to make me one.
Although the smell was appetizing, none of the things she used had been sealed. Once the sandwich was done, she placed it down opposite me, grabbed a can of soda from the fridge and then took a seat.
I watched her silently as she ate.
“What did you and Dad talk about?” Eva finally asked.
I shrugged. “He wanted to know if Lucas and I are using protection.”
She froze with the sandwich halfway to her mouth. Her eyes darted between mine as they narrowed. “Are you?”
“What does it matter to you?”
“It matters because he’s my—” Eva snapped her mouth shut and glared at me.
But I knew exactly what she was about to say.
“It’s stupid. You’re being stupid,” she growled at me. “I’m going to start looking into Lucas’s past.”
I frowned at her. “Why?”
“Because there’s something about him that’s not right.”
“He almost died trying to protect us. Isn’t that enough for you?” I asked her.
She lowered the half eaten sandwich to the plate and pushed it away. “I wish you would stop thinking with your heart and use your brain!” she hissed. “Doesn’t it seem strange that within days of us arriving at Sewn Lake, Lucas started talking to you?”
“We have the same classes,” I told her.
“You’ve only ever attended one!” Eva growled. “Think Ariana! How does he know so much? How—”
“Enough!” I ordered but she ignored me.
Eva leaned closer. “How did he know where to search for you when Oliver kidnapped you?”
My hands curled into fists when I realized what she was implying. “He had nothing to do with it!”
She stared at me silently for a few seconds before she continued. “Have you noticed that he’s not even bruised? I fucking punched him and he had no bruises!” Eva stood and planted her arms on the counter as she leaned forward. “What about the injury he got at the motel? It hasn’t even been two days and he’s already healed.”
I pursed my lips to keep the words from tumbling out. Grayson had asked me not to tell anybody what he had done for Lucas. Even though Eva was my sister and she had a thing with Grayson, I feared Grayson more than to spill his secrets.
“Why aren’t you saying anything?” Eva questioned when I remained silent.
“Would it make a difference?” I muttered as I stood. “It’s clear that you’ve already made up your mind about him. Nothing I say will make you change your mind, but I will prove you wrong,” I promised, but Eva wasn’t listening to me. Her eyes were focused over my shoulder.
***Hey readers, I would just like to say thank you for the well wishes and the understanding when I couldn't give you guys any updates. It really means a lot to have your support. ***