Mom hugged me as soon as she saw me.
"I'm so sorry. I heard you were not well, I should have come check up on you."
"It's okay mom, I understand."
"I feel so guilty right now. It feels like I am abandoning you."
"Hey, no you're not. You had important things to do. You're the new Luna of the biggest pack, remember?"
I wiggled my brows teasingly at her. She had this guilty look, but soon they melted off her face and she was laughing.
"Thank you so much for understanding, darling."
"You're doing your best to give me a better life mom, I'd be selfish to want to ask for more or not be grateful or appreciate you."
"Oh you're going to make me cry."
"No, it's okay. You're doing your best."
Others had taken their seats, except us. Mom hugged me tight but she was careful not to make it tighter. She thought I was sick. The guilt of lying to her and everyone else overwhelmed me but it was a necessary lie. Either this or say the truth and I was not ready for that. If I found myself in such situation again, I was still going to lie. It was the only way not to disturb them.
"Let's go have our seats mom."
"Alright."
"You have outdone yourself again, my Luna."
David complimented the food.
"Thank you, my Alpha."
"My Luna. My Alpha."
Lucas parroted, then began making kissing noises in the air. I was thinking David would get angry, I knew mom would find it funny but not David. To my surprise, he emitted a deep throated chuckle.
Dinner went on very nice. Talks flew around the table, involving everyone, even Trenton said a thing or two which surprised me. It was fun and everyone was happy eating mom's delicious meal while making jokes and doing funny things, that was especially from Lucas. He was like the clown in the room, making everyone laugh being his usual funny self.
Soon, dinner came to an end. I wanted to help mom do the dishes but she refused.
"Lucas, please come take your girlfriend out of the kitchen. She's sick and needs to rest."
"At your service, mom." Lucas did a mock salute. "Now girlfriend, let's go have fun to drive away that sickness."
"When you put it like that it sounds…ouch!"
Zach could not complete his statement when he yelped. Lucas had given him a swat on his neck for what he was about to say.
"Stop being a pervert, pervert."
"You just called him a pervert."
I pointed out.
"Yes, I did."
"Well, it's kind of funny. You want him to stop being a pervert, yet you classify him as one."
Lucas seem to ponder on it, then shrugged. "It is what it is."
David was long gone from the scene.
Aaron just stared at the three of us in amusement.
Trenton was ignoring us like we did not exist but he did not go back to his room. He remained in the big living room with us. Zach switched on the very big TV and we all decided on a movie.
"It's school night, so no much TV time, you got?"
Mom's intercom voice had startled us. It had been unexpected.
"How does she even know we were about to watch TV?"
"A mother knows everything."
Her voice spoke again.
Zach groaned.
"So, you all got it?"
"Yes, mom."
Aaron calmly replied.
"I'm only hearing one person's voice and I'm guessing that is Aaron."
The rest of us replied and the intercom went off.
We had started watching the movie. We had listened to Zach and put on a horror movie. I had no issue with movies or books. I read and watched any kind so long as they were interesting. But Lucas kept clinging to me. I could tell he was not a fan of horror movies.
"Is he going to kill her?"
He asked putting his face away from the TV.
"Yes, he is."
Zach was obviously enjoying himself. We had agreed to watch his favorite genre. I felt pity for Lucas. He could not watch it. What was the need for the movie if we could not all enjoy it?
"Please put it off, Zach."
"Why? You don't like the movie?"
"I don't have any issues with it but Lucas clearly is not enjoying it."
He observed Lucas for few minutes then switched off the TV.
"Oh my goodness, that was intense." Lucas uttered in relief. Then he narrowed his eyes on Zach. "You know how much I hate horror movies yet you decided you wanted to watch it."
He wagged an accusing finger at him.
"Get a hold of yourself."
We heard the ringing of a phone.
We kept mute to know whose phone it was. It was Aaron's and in seconds, he was smiling.
"Hey, Kay."
My happy mood was gone.
"Yes, I know. I'm good, you?"
I stood to go to my room.
"You want to speak with her? Okay, hold a second. Katherina?" I turned to him. "Katelyn wants to talk to you."
That was a surprise. Why? What did she have to tell me? What could she possibly want to tell me? I almost did not want to take the phone from him. But two things pushed me.
One, I was curious to know what she wanted to tell me
Two, it would make the guys suspicious if I did not answer the call. Especially when she'd paraded herself like a saint before them today.
I collected the phone and gingerly placed it on my ear.
"Hello, Katelyn."
"Hi. How are you?"
"I'm fine."
Why was she sounding nice? What was she up to this time?
"I'm sorry for what I did today. It was uncalled for, but I am sorry."
"Uhm"
I did not know what to say and the boys were staring at me, observing my reaction and also listening to my words. It would do no good to make them feel something was off.
"Look, I know you might not believe me but I'm truly sorry. I really am."
She sounded honest. And it was what I wanted after all. To be at peace with everyone. Her apology meant she no longer wanted to trouble me. If she could take out her time to call Aaron just to talk to me then I should forgive her.
"Alright. No problem."
"Am I forgiven?"
"Yes, you are."
"Yess!"
She squealed in my ear and it brought a smile from my lips.
Well, what do you know? People do a lot of things they regret. She regretted hers and had asked for forgiveness. I would be mean not to forgive her.
"Thank you so much, Katherina."
"Have a wonderful night, Katelyn."
"You too. And please if you're asked, tell them I called to check up on you"
"Alright."
I gave the phone back to Aaron and bid them goodnight. My heart was happy. No more bullying, I was going to be fine. School was going to go as it was supposed to. I reached my room, then I remembered the ink-stained clothes. I needed to find a way to get rid of them.
I went to the corner of my bathroom where I kept it hidden, there was nothing there.
My heart thudded.
Who had taken the clothes?