Chapter 106 *

Chapter 106 Chapter 106
Angelina’s POV
Logan pulled out his phone. Started tapping frantically.
"I need to hit an ATM. Like, right now. Before he blocks everything."
He was scrolling through his banking app. His finger moving fast across the screen.
Then he stopped. Just stared at the phone.
"You've got to be kidding me."
Logan turned the phone so we could all see. The screen showed a message in red text:
Access Denied - Contact Account Administrator
"All accounts frozen." Logan's voice was flat. "He works FAST."
Silas leaned over to look at the screen. "Damn. That was like... what, five minutes?"
Logan sat back down on the lounge chair. Put his head in his hands.
Mia walked over. Sat next to him. "What are you going to do?"
"I don't know." Logan's voice was muffled again. "I've got cash stashed in my room. Maybe... two hundred?"
He looked up. "That'll last me what, a week?"
He laughed. But it wasn't a happy sound. "Guess I'm getting a job."
I watched him. This wasn't spoiled brat behavior. This was genuine distress.
Logan was panicking about losing his autonomy. Not about losing luxury.
Silas sat down on Logan's other side. "So are you actually going tomorrow?"
"To the meeting?" Logan hesitated. "I don't know, man. Part of me wants to just... not show up."
His jaw clenched. "Let him see what it's like when I actually don't give a fuck."
"But?" Mia prompted quietly.
Logan put his head back in his hands. "But if I don't go, he'll make my life hell. More hell than it already is."
He paused. "And he'll take it out on my mom too."
The pool area went quiet. Just the sound of water lapping against the sides.
Mia broke the silence first. "Hey."
Logan looked up at her.
"Your dad's an asshole."
"But that's not new information," Mia continued. She gave him a small push on the shoulder. "Don't let him ruin tonight."
Silas nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah man, we've got a heated pool, a fully stocked bar..."
That stupid grin appeared again. "And your dad's not here anymore."
He stood up. Spread his arms wide. "Let's make the most of it before you become a homeless person."
Logan stared at him for a second. Then he laughed. "You're an idiot."
Logan stood up. Some of the tension left his shoulders. "Alright. Fuck it. Let's party."
He walked toward the bar. "Who wants shots?"
I stayed where I was. Leaning against the wall. Watching them bounce back.
Teenagers. One minute in crisis, next minute partying. But at least they knew how to recover quickly.
Mia jumped back into the pool. Made a huge splash.
Logan went back to the bar. Started actually pouring shots this time.
Silas was messing with the underwater lights. Making them change colors.
Within minutes, it looked like a normal teenage pool party again.
But I noticed things the others didn't.
Logan kept glancing toward the house. His smile was real. But there was worry behind his eyes.
I walked over to one of the lounge chairs. Sat down.
Mia swam over to the edge near me. "You okay?"
"Fine."
"You sure? You look like you're thinking about something."
"I'm always thinking about something."
Mia laughed. "Fair point."
She rested her arms on the pool edge. "That was really brave though. What you said to Logan's dad."
"It was just the truth."
"Yeah, but most people wouldn't say it." Mia's expression got more serious. "Especially not to someone like Richard Pierce."
Mia studied my face. "You're not scared of him at all, are you?"
"Should I be?"
"Most people are."
"I'm not most people."
Mia smiled. "No. You're definitely not."
Silas came over. Flopped down on the chair next to mine. He was holding a beer.
"You know what's funny though?" His voice had changed. "At least your dad gives a shit, Logan."
Logan was still at the bar. But he heard. Turned to look at Silas.
Silas took a drink. "My parents? I'm pretty sure they forget I exist half the time."
His smile was gone now. "They're always busy with pack stuff. Meetings, politics, territory disputes. I'm just... there. In the background."
Mia climbed out of the pool. Walked over and sat on the other side of Silas.
"God, I feel that."
She wrapped the towel tighter around herself. "My parents are Alpha and Luna of Canyon Pack. Do you know what that means?"
Logan walked over. Sat on the chair across from us. "What?"
"It means pack comes first. Always." Mia's voice was bitter. "Every decision, every meal, every conversation. It's always about pack politics, alliances, territory."
She looked down at her hands. "Last week my mom missed my birthday dinner because of a border dispute."
Her laugh was harsh. "She sent a text. 'Sorry sweetie, handle it. Alpha duties.' Didn't even remember until the next day."
Silas nodded. "Right? Like, we're not asking for much. Just... I don't know, basic parenting?"
He looked at Logan. "But when you're raised in pack hierarchy, you learn real quick. You're not the priority. The pack is."
Logan was quiet for a moment. "Damn. I... I didn't know it was like that."
He leaned back in his chair. "I mean, my dad's overbearing as hell, but at least he's... there? Even if he's yelling at me."
"At least you have parents." My voice was quiet.
Everyone turned to look at me.
Shit.
I realized immediately what I'd just said. That came from Angelina's past. Not Aria's present.
My brain scrambled. I needed to fix this. "I mean..." I started. My voice came out slightly rushed. "I mean, at least you all have parents who care. Even if they show it badly."
Silas stared at me. His expression changed. "Master, your parents... they treat you well, right?" His voice was careful.
They knew my family's situation. Omega household. Bottom of the pack hierarchy.
That meant constant struggle. "They do their best," I said simply. "They're good people."
Logan looked at all three of us. "Okay so... my dad's an asshole, but at least he's present."
He pointed at Silas and Mia. "Your parents are busy running packs and saving the world."
Then he looked at me. "And yours are just... trying to survive."
He paused. "We're all kind of fucked up in different ways, huh?"
Mia laughed. But her eyes were wet. "Yeah. Pretty much."
"Welcome to the fucked up kids club," she said. "Population: us."
Silas raised his beer. "Cheers to that."
He looked at each of us. "To shitty family dynamics and the friends who make it bearable."
We all raised our drinks. The glasses clinked together.
We all understood each other's pain in different ways. Pack kids being ignored. Rich kid being controlled. Omega family kid being looked down on.
But here, by this pool, we were just teenagers.
Then Silas's expression changed completely. He grinned. "But yo, I'm not actually lonely though!"
I knew what was coming.
"I got Master now!" He scooted his chair closer to mine. "Master~"
His voice was exaggerated. "You're like, literally the coolest mentor ever."
I stared at him expressionlessly.
He kept going. "Nobody in the whole freaking world could teach me the shit you do. You're like if Lara Croft and John Wick had a baby."
Mia groaned. "Dude, can you NOT be so cringe?"
"What?" Silas looked offended. "I'm being sincere!"
"You're being embarrassing," Mia said. "I'm getting secondhand embarrassment here."
I cut through their argument. "You want to switch rooms?"
Silas froze. His grin became forced. "What?"
"The room near the toilet," I said calmly. "You want a different one?"
His face went through several emotions. "Nah nah, Master, the room's fine! Totally fine!" He waved his hands frantically. "I was just... expressing my gratitude! Yeah!"
"Sincere gratitude," he added quickly. "Very sincere. Not trying to get anything."
Mia burst out laughing. "Oh my god, you're so transparent!"
Logan was laughing too. "Dude, you lasted like thirty seconds before trying to kiss ass!"
"I wasn't kissing ass!" Silas protested. "I was being appreciative!"
"You called her the coolest mentor ever," Mia said. "After literally complaining about your parents two minutes ago."
Silas's face turned red. "That's... that's different!"
I stood up from the lounge chair. "The room stays the same."
"Yes, Master." Silas slumped in his seat. Defeated.
Mia was still giggling. "You guys are such idiots."
Logan looked at all of us. His expression softened.
"You know what? This is what I actually want."
"Not those boring-ass business dinners or family obligation shit," Logan continued. "Just this. Hanging with my people. That's it."
Silas immediately broke the moment. "Aww, Logan's getting emotional!"
He pretended to wipe tears from his eyes. "Should I play some sad violin music or something? So deep, bro. So deep."
Logan's face changed. "Oh you're dead."
He grabbed a water gun from the pool toy bin. Started pumping it.
"BRO!" Silas jumped up. Started running. "NOT THE HAIR!"
Logan chased him around the pool. Water spraying everywhere.
Mia grabbed another water gun. Joined in.
Soon it was complete chaos. Everyone was soaked. Laughing. Yelling.