Chapter Two
Rayven’s POV.
Fifteen minutes later I walked back into the kitchen where I’d left them earlier, this time dressed in the outfit my mother had chosen for me. Now! understood the earlier distress she felt at what she’d seen me wearing, as there was a drastic difference between the two outfits which I found when! arrived back in my room and opened the bag containing the clothes she’d bought me.
A huge freaking difference.
I was now wearing the very outfit my mother decided would be perfect for me today, to start my first day of adulthood. The top consisted of a halter top in the color of red one of our pack colors held up by straps, though a half buttoned top completed the article, Due to the
longer than normal tail ends of the shirt, I’d be able to tie them together which I did. This caused the shirt to bunch up in an almost seductive way around my boobs normally invisible to the eye. The rest of the outfit consisted of a pleated checkered skit of red and, black and gold, I was forced to admit I liked it. Due to the change in my wardrobe, I’d changed into a pair of high heel boots that totally meshed with the outfit mom chose.
Though wearing such outrageously girly outfits wasn’t something I was normally accustomed to, I allowed mom to have her way. If it made her happy to be able to see me dressed up in these clothes, then who was I to deny her wish? My mom was amazing, having taken on the embarrassment of a daughter and still loved me despite my faults. My daddy too. Both of them were so great to me, showering me with all the love I could ever crave and I could do nothing differently.
Mom nodded. “Much better.”
Daddy finally glanced up from the paper occupying his attention this morning to give my new look a once over. His nose wrinkled, “While I am not a fan of seeing my baby girl dressed so flamboyantly, I definitely approve of the new look. You look very grown up, Rayven,”
“Thank you daddy,” I smiled.
Now that I had come back downstairs in the garments approved by both my parents, mom saw to setting the table, I didn’t even attempt to offer my assistance this morning knowing, Mom was very peculiar about her responsibilities. It was a mate’s duty to take care of her soul wolf and their cubs, beliefs she refused to deter from. Ensuring she cooked every meal and set the table on her own, so that she’d be able to feed her mate and their cub.
Me
Understanding the time had come for us to finally have dinner I stalked across the room and sat down in my usual chair. Even though there were only three of us there were still five different chairs set at the table. I’d never understood the need for two additional chairs, but I’d long ago stopped asking questions neither answered. But neither did I attempt to sit in the chair between my parents on daddy’s left side, aware it’d never be allowed. I took the seat directly on the right side of him, the same placement I’d had from the moment I joined them at the table.
Like I said, my parents were peculiar.
About everything
“So Daddy’s deep voice disturbed the silence that’d gathered around the dining room, his intense focus centered on me, “What are your plans for today? Anything special in mind?”
Even though I knew Daddy had overheard my conversation with more not more than half an hour ago I failed to remind him of this. If my father was interested enough in my plans to ask me a second time, then who am I to deny his request? Without this man, I wouldn’t exist, he deserved the right to know what I’d be up to today, I swallowed down the food. “I’m actually going to meet up with Layla in about an hour.”
“Is Larken coming?” he asked.
Layla was my best friend. One of the few friends that I actually had truthfully. Most of the kids in town tended to avoid me like the plague, though all of them were friendly in their dismissal. As if somehow afraid of what would happen to them if they were ever caught being disrespectful to me. I was the Beta’s daughter after all, second in charge, so probably not in their best interest to be mean. Or so I assumed.
Not Layla though. She was different. I was about six years old when one day at the park I was approached by a girl who introduced herself as Layla. She’d promptly plopped down in the sandbox next to her, grabbing, one of the buckets I’d brought along. For the remainder of the day, she’d rambled on about whatever was on her mind, keeping up the conversation. That was the beginning of our friendship. She hadn’t cared about the supposed failure I was; Layla had liked me and ignored the warnings of the other cubs.
Larken was her older brother. Though he was all of fifteen minutes older than her, often reminding his twin of the age difference. He’d often found himself tagging, along with his twin sister, which served in spending a lot of time with me ton. Over time our own friendship had blossomed, proving he wasn’t averse to my presence in his life either. The three of us had been the best of friends since,
No one seemed surprised by the friendship that’d developed between us, as if it was somehow expected, Layla and Larken were the twin children of Alpha Kadden Black and his mate Luna Sara Beth. Their only children. The Beta and Alpha’s children always tended to hang together, their parents of the highest nobility. I’d often wondered if this was the real reason the twins felt compelled to befriend me, but was too afraid of what the answer would be. My heart wouldn’t be able to take it if it turned out the only reason they did was because my father was the beta. I preferred ignorance.
Slowly coming out of my thoughts I noticed my Daddy staring at me, I blushed at allowing my mind to run away with me. I shook my head. ‘No. daddy. It’s just me and Layla Alpha Kadden wants him at home today, said something about he’s going to begin his alpha training”
Mom finished laying out everything on the table and making sure the both of us had a bountiful plate, she finally sat down. Finally arranging her own plate and coffee to enjoy, Mom bobbed her head as she was deep in thought. “The boy is a little old to be playing around in town. It’s time he begins learning his place in this track”
“Your mom is righn, Daddy felt to defend the accounts of his mate, although Ed never said anything against her claims “At his age he should’ve been
1479)
Chapter Two
in training for four years, I honestly don’t know what the hold–up was.”
Larken was twenty years old, soon to turn twenty–one. The cubs in our town reached maturity the moment their wolves ascended, on their sixteenth birthday. Believing if their cublings were mature enough to experience a mate bond, they were old enough to step into the roles of their positions. Being the eldest child and son of the alpha it was his destiny to take his father’s place when Kadden stepped down. A sense of responsibility he’d been running away from for the last four years, Larken not wanting to become the next Alpha leader.
“Yes daddy,” I agreed. I didn’t dare argue.
Thirty minutes later kissing both of my parents goodbye, I intended on leaving the house to meet up with Layla. “Don’t forget tonight,” my mother called out to my back. With promises to be home on time I erupted through the front door, a flurry of motion full of energy. I stalked off down the gravel driveway as I headed into the center of town, where Layla was waiting for me.
“Ray!,” came her scream.
Layla raced across the distance screaming my name for all to hear, her auburn curls bouncing around her. My best friend was one of the most beautiful girls in town, with bright green eyes and caramel skin. She was freaking tall too at almost six feet, which made me so feel tiny when I stood next to her. Even it the most dowdy clothes she could make them look like a fashion icon without even trying. I’d often teased she’d been meant to be a model like all those we’d seen in the magazine, which often sent the both of us into a fit of giggles.
Despite her sheer size Layla wrapped an arm around my shoulder as she reached me, as if somehow to stamp her claim on me. Her friendship. “Oh Ray I’m so glad to see you,” Layla was almost panting she was out of breath, strange for a girl who had an unnatural abundance of energy. “You were almost late.”
“I was not,” I protested.
“Uh–huh,” she teased playfully as she tweaked one of my cheeks, determined to keep the play going between us. “I almost waited.”
“Heaven forbid,” I burst out laughing. “So what’s the rush?”
She shook her head. “Ah no rush my lovey, I’m just eager to spend the day with my bestie in the world. Just the two of us.”
Rolling my eyes heavenward at the response my question received, no different than what I’d been expecting. Layla was always like this, forever wanting to spend time together and often behaving as if each time were days apart. “So what’s the plans for today?”
“You’ll see,” she hedged secretively.
Sarting
