Page 132 of The Hunger
“Maybe that means we could go to school today,” Zoe said, looking at her sister.
Kelsey was already shaking her head. “It’d be better if we waited a few more days and see how this pack meetup goes down.”
Jenna and Willow sympathetically agreed with her, to Zoey’s disappointment, which was short-lived when Mrs. Quill arrived with another stack of pancakes.
Rather than join them and wait for Aubrey’s response to Willow’s message, Fenris and I said our goodbyes and left. I handed him the car keys since I preferred being the passenger.
“Do you think Aubrey will leave them alone?” I asked.
“For now. She’ll be waiting tonight, though, which is why I should really head home at the regular time. I don’t want them to face her alone.”
“And I don’t want you to have to face her at all. I don’t understand what your father sees in her. She’s unstable, destructive, and tearing the next generation of the pack apart.”
“Fear sometimes blinds us to what’s obvious to everyone else.”
“And he fears losing you to the same insanity that’s claiming her.”
“Exactly.”
I shook my head and looked out the window.
“I’m glad my mom was more reasonable about us.”
Thinking of Mom made me realize I’d never checked in the day before. I grabbed my phone but hesitated to call her. It was early, and she’d probably been at the club late. I sent her a quick text, instead.
Me: Megan’s back from the Kraken. Lots to tell you. Up for dinner tonight?
Mom: Absolutely. Let me know what time to tell your father. Will Fenris be joining us?
Me: I don’t think so. Raiden is still being a backside.
Mom: That’s a shame. Hopefully soon.
“Your scent just went through a whirlwind of emotions. Want to share?” Fenris asked.
“Mom invited you to dinner, but I said you couldn’t make it tonight because of your dad. She said hopefully you would be able to soon. That made me realize how much I really want that and how I resent Raiden and this woke god thing for keeping dinner with my parents from happening. Then I recognized how selfish I was being when Ashlyn is still gods know where, enduring gods know what.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Fenris pulled into Megan’s driveway and took my hand.
“Stop worrying about the things you can’t control. Focus on what you can.”
I took a deep, calming breath and nodded. “Thank you.”
He leaned in and licked my nose. “Any time.”
“Stop making out in your car and get inside!” Megan yelled from her door. “Grandma’s already here, making breakfast.”
I flushed and hurried out of the car, scowling at my friend.
“What?” Megan said with an unrepentant grin. “She’s lived for centuries. Hearing that there are teens making out in a car isn’t going to shock her.”
“Megan, behave yourself,” someone scolded from inside. Unfortunately, it only made Megan laugh.
The house smelled like bacon and eggs when I reached the porch, and Fenris let out a playful groan.
“Tell me she knows a werewolf is coming,” he said. “I’m starving.”
