Chapter Three

“Pack your bags, Amy.” My mom came in, surprising me from the list I was making.

“What?” I looked up. “Why?” “You are going to spend the summer with your father. I already got the approval from the Alpha.” Mom smiled down at me. “Come on, baby. Pack your bag and get ready.” I jumped to my feet and ran to my mom. “I can go?” “Just for the summer, baby, then you will be back here with me. I had to promise that you would be returning here.” I pouted. “Mom, I really don’t want to be here.” I wanted to make them pay, but I wouldn’t risk him finding me. “It’s okay baby, you will understand once you see your dad.” She patted my hair and kissed my cheek. “Now get ready.” “Okay, Mom.” I kissed her back, then she left me alone. I grabbed my phone to lock it and then turned back to my closet. I packed my bag and then headed into my bathroom when I heard the downstairs door slam open. “I fucking knew it!” I heard Shannon scream downstairs. I ignored her as I grabbed everything from my bathroom, then I grabbed my laptop and chargers. I stuffed everything into my backpack and headed downstairs. “Shannon, why are you screaming?” Morgan was at the table with his coffee, and my mom was running around when I pushed my suitcase into the room. “I’m not Brandon’s mate, Daddy.” Shannon flew into the room and dove into his arms. “How are you so sure?” Morgan wrapped his arms around her, but I just snickered. She snapped her eyes to me, and she flew at me. “It’s you. You stupid whore.” Shannon tried to claw out my eyes, but I just sent her flying with a backhand. “Amy!” Morgan got to his feet, but my mom tsked. “Morgan, you can’t yell at Amy for protecting herself. Shan attacked her first.” My mom placed my breakfast on the table. “Amy, come eat. You have a long day ahead.” “Babe? Why does Amy have a suitcase?” “She is going away for the summer. To her father’s.” My mother turned to me and opened her arms. “Come, baby. Come eat. The car is coming, and you need to be ready to go.” I walked over and sat down, and dug in. “Why is she going to her dad’s?” Morgan walked over to pick Shannon up. “She wanted to spend the summer with her dad before college, and who am I to say no?” My mom smiled down at me, and I smiled back at her. I didn’t know what was going to happen this summer to protect me from Brandon finding out I was his mate, but I needed it. Whatever it was, I needed it.

“Yeah, my dad called me this morning, and since I haven’t seen him since Christmas break, and when he offered to fly me out, I asked my mom.” I smiled sweetly over at Morgan, and Shannon glared. “You’re leaving?” Shannon stood up. “Yup. I’ll be gone the full summer.” I smirked over at her. “But my room is locked, and it will stay that way.” My smile dropped away as I stared at her and used my alpha command. “Amy!” Morgan yelled out. “You know you’re not allowed to alpha command your step-sister!” “And I wouldn’t have, Morgan, if I hadn’t found her in my room this morning, trying to take things out of my closet.” I turned and raised my eyebrow, daring her to try to lie. “Is that true?” Morgan looked down at Shannon, and I just stared at her. I watched her open her mouth to deny it. “I wouldn’t lie. I’ll just command you to tell the truth.” She screeched and stomped her foot. “Yes!” she screamed. “Are you happy? Yes, I went into her closet to steal some clothes because I know she is Brandon’s mate.” “How?” I threw up my hands, playing like I didn’t know the truth. “How could you possibly know that I am his mate? Neither of us has scented each other.” “Because he scented you on me!” Her voice was hitting a higher octave, and my ears were starting to hurt. “Calm down. You’re hurting everyone’s ears, and just explain yourself.” My mom sat next to me at the table, rubbing her head. “Last month, Brandon turned eighteen, and I was wearing Amy’s dress. He scented around me and said I smelt divine. But when I’m not wearing her clothes, he has zero interest in me.” Shannon pouted. “So he likes the way I smell, doesn’t mean we are mates,” I pointed out, completely and utterly denouncing Brandon as a mate. If I didn’t accept him, he would never be my mate anyway, and I would never accept him. That was the only thing I was sure of. Brandon would be the last male I would ever touch this time around. “Stop being obtuse, Amy. We all know what it means when a wolf likes your smell.” Shannon started to cry and buried her head in her hands. “He’s the male I want, Daddy. The only one I would ever accept. But he wants her.” She pointed to me. I scoffed. “I don’t want your sloppy seconds, Shannon. Even if he was my mate—and I am not saying he is—it would be a cold day in hell before I accepted him as a mate. I would take the Lycan King over Brandon.” I threw my head back and laughed when she gasped. The Lycan King was the bogeyman of all wolves. The last Lycan to exist and one who lives in the wild. It’s said the only wolves that ever see his face are the council that oversees the packs. But either way, I wasn’t lying. I would take the King as a mate before I would even look in Brandon’s vicinity. “You’re lying. He’s the alpha.” “And?” “Everyone wants to be the luna.” “Idiots want to be the luna.” I turned back and finished my food as Morgan calmed her down. My mom stood when she heard a horn. “That’s for you.” I nodded as I stood and kissed my mother goodbye before I left.