VII. The Apology

Colton's POV

There is a graduation celebration for Raven and Robin, and I am surprised to get an invitation. The girls throw a lot of get-togethers and parties because they have a huge lake on their territory and swimming is always fun. I haven't been invited to one of their functions since Raven and Brain switched to a human school, but I do get to hear about them from mutual friends.

I once asked my gamma to find out why the girls were neglecting to invite me to their functions, and he came back with an excuse that was too simple to believe. Raven told him that she didn't think an invitation was necessary and Robin cosigned by saying they had never had to invite me to anything in the past.

It was true, but it was also bullsh*t. After their last party, which was right before Raven and Brain transferred, Lark approached me; not friend to friend as he usually did, but future alpha to future alpha. I knew this because the conversation felt different from others. He was letting his authority seep into his words, and I was letting it pour into mine.

The conversation started off casual, but then he reminded me that Brain was a child. I actually did forget that I have a good three years over the runt, and I think a lot of people do because of the grade she is in. Lark then went on to tell me that Brain was a 'special' girl, and that she needed extra patience. I know that he thought I was being a pervert, but I have NEVER looked at Brain or any other little girl in that way.

I can't say that I blame him for being worried, my affectionate display that day surprised everyone and it's common for hormonal males to target younger females, who can be easily swayed, but I don't have a problem getting girls into my bed. I've been at it for a few years now, and while I was more eager in the beginning, most of the time, it just feels like a part of alpha training.

None of that matters though, after I assured Lark that his kid sister was not on my radar, he pulled away from me, which sucked. Other than Dolton, Lark was the only person who I could talk to about how terrible alpha training is, even though he didn't have it half as bad as me.

Future alphas are all trained by high alphas; high alphas are wolves who can command groups of one thousand or more. Lark has to travel to the werewolf council grounds with his future beta for alpha training, but as for me, I have a high alpha at home. There is no one to monitor what my father does or how cruel his methods are and putting in a formal complaint could rob me of my inheritance.

Also unlike Lark, my alpha training includes screwing. My father has it in his mind that I can never really be a man unless I master my sex drive by having my fill. It's the dumbest thing I have ever heard, but thanks to him I have quite the impressive collection of alpha and beta daughters alike. All older of course; can't have the twins finding out.

When I get to the party, I strip down to my trunks and find a quiet place to sit. I don't want to be seen yet, because I want to, no I have to see Brain acting like a normal person for myself. Every time my gamma comes back from the Talon pack, he is always chit chatting with my beta about something related to the girl.

People say that Brain can't back down from a challenge so long as it isn't dangerous. It sounds very alpha like, but she has not one alpha bone in her body. If she did, I wouldn't have been able to force her to submit to me for as many years as I have.

When I finally spot Brain, I am not at all shocked to see she is hideous. The injury to her head must have messed with her vision, because she is wearing the thickest glasses I have ever seen, a pathetic wolf indeed.

Instead of a swimsuit like everyone else, Brain is wearing a giant blue shirt, and it does nothing but make her look even more disgusting to me. Especially because she still doesn't comb her hair. Her curls are sitting like a giant sponge on the top of her head, and I have to remind myself that it is none of my business what she looks like.

I see her interacting with a few people, and before I know what is happening, she backflips, yes backflips, into the lake and everyone cheers her on before somebody fishes her out. She obviously cannot swim and seeing her laugh about it makes something inside of me stir.

In the year that I have been outcasted by the Talons, I have nearly tamed my wolf and my human conscience is urging me to apologize to Brain. Since I still have to be mated to one of her sisters, I try thinking of a non-threatening approach.

I don't know how much time went by with me just staring at the girl, but by the time I decide to go with a simple 'I am sorry' she is already fully dried, buried in a book and the sun is setting.

No one is in the water, and everyone is sitting around a fire. I can tell she is uncomfortable, and I am more than sure it's because I haven't taken my eyes off her since I came. Thanks to the scent blocker, aside from Brain, people do not even realize I am here, so there's no crowd around me.

I get up and make my way over to where she is sitting. My wolf is mocking me by calling me a sap, but I shut him up by reminding him that if I am indeed fated to one of the twins, he will feel the rejection I know will follow harder than I will. He shuts his mouth after that.

I stand in front of Brain and her eyes dart up to my face. She looks confused, and I am doing my best to send out non-violent vibes. I sit next to her, and she shifts away from me. Honestly, I am a little offended. I'm not dumb, there are far too many witnesses for me to lash out at her.

"Listen Brain, I just wanted to apologize." Her mouth just hangs open. I am about to continue but a girl I have been wanting to try sits on my lap and distracts me. I'm glad my father isn't around because he would definitely have chided me as weak.

The whole reason sex is a part of my alpha training is to stop things like this from happening. I should have been able to ignore the girl and finish talking to Brain, but my second mind took control, and in the time it took me to register what was happening; Brain disappeared. I didn't even hear her leave.

I shrug my shoulders and ask the blonde to meet me in the woods. She smiles lustfully and within a few minutes, I have her bent over a boulder with my fingers in her mouth, so she doesn't alert everyone.

She tells me that I am hurting her, so I quickly find my release, and she literally falls to the ground. I roll my eyes and help her stand. I feel bad for being rough, but that is all I know, and she shouldn't have asked for an alpha if she couldn't take an alpha.

I mockingly ask if she can walk before I pull on my trunks. Last thing I need is for someone to accuse me of r*pe. I'm a monster, but not that kind.

The girl limps away, and I can tell she is appalled by me, which doesn't shock me anymore. I stay behind for a while, not wanting anyone to put two and two together. I hear a noise and I turn to see my father stalking out of the trees. I am disgusted and angry because I know he watched me f*ck.

"What are you doing screwing around at your future mate's party?"

"I didn't think we would have an audience," I quip. My father really loves it when I backtalk.

"You should have noticed me."

"Sorry pops, I don't like to think about men when I've got my d*ck buried in tight-" my father straight up punches me in the face.

My nose is definitely broken, and I have to fight Orlin back before we tear the old man's throat out. I cannot legally challenge him for the title until I am twenty-one and he cannot appoint me alpha until after my first shift. So, I am stuck with the sick f*ck.

I watch my father pull his fist back slowly, he does that when he wants to force me into flinching, but I haven't flinched in years, so it's useless. I waited for his fist to crash into my already broken nose but rustling in the direction of where the lake is, stopped him.

"Make sure you don't come back smelling like c*nt."