Finding My Pack (21 page)

  I shove him back and he goes willingly. Anger rolls of his stiff form, scaring me a little. I hurry to get away from him, angry people are never a good thing. I make it to the end of the bleachers where the rest of them are leaning over the rails, watching us. I see Mikey look our way and hope he skates away.

  Adam grips my arm tightly. "You think you're better than me or something?" He roars in my face. I wish he'd be quieter and not make a scene in front of the kids. "You're just trash! A nobody. A bitch who has to lay on her back for a cheeseburger. Who the fuck are you to say no to me? I was just trying to be nice and offer you five whole dollars for some head. That could feed your ass for a week right?"

  "Oh shit!" One of Kaitlynn's hyenas say. Everyone else is silent. I look around, noticing the kids have stopped skating and are staring at us. Mikey is looking at the ground, looking as heartbroken as I knew he'd be when he found out his hero is really a villain. I want to walk away from him like I usually do, but he hurt one of my kids. I can't have that.

  "You know what Adam?" I say, making sure the kids can hear me. "I AM better than you. I'm stronger than you are." His angry face turns to amusement as he laughs. I don't think he's aware of our new audience.

  "Are you fucking for real Kitten? You really think you're stronger than me?" He doubles at the waist cracking up.

  I wait for him to quiet before I speak again. "Yes. Yes, I do. Not physically, I've seen what you can do out there..." I point to the ice. "....But I'm stronger because I can deal with people like you and Kaitlynn trying to tear me down, day after day, and I'm still here. I still come back. Every time. Do you know how it is that I can do that, Adam?" I ask, not waiting for his answer before I continue.

  "It's because by the time you are out of my sight, I've already forgotten you. I don't think about you, or her. I don't think about your cruel words or how you laugh at me. I may be nobody, but you are nothing to me. YOU.MEAN.NOTHING.TO.ME. Do you hear me? You can use your words to try to beat me down and I'll get back up. Every time. You could use your hockey stick and break my bones and split my skin, but I'll get back up. Every time. Because I'm strong Adam, because you are not the biggest bad out there. You're just a spoiled little boy, bored with his station in life."

  I'm panting now, anger like I have never felt courses through my veins. I turn and look at the stunned faces of this rotten group of people. "All of you…" I shout at them. "…can point your fingers and laugh at me all you'd like. Point at the girl with no parents to care for her, it just means I know more than you do. Laugh at the girl with no place to sleep at night, it just means I can withstand more than you can."

  I look right at Kaitlynn. "Call the virgin a slut, it just means you have no class. What does it say when young adults like yourself treat people this way when people like me see YOU as trash?"

  I look back to Adam. "When I walk out of here today, I will have already forgiven you before I forgot you again. I can do that because I'm strong enough to do it. I have nowhere to go but up, Adam. Where are you heading?" I stare at him, waiting for him to answer me. He doesn't seem to have one.

  I turn, going back to my kids. A few of them look scared of me and I hate it, I shouldn't have raised my voice. I hate that they had to see it, but these kids are alone somewhat themselves. I couldn't let them see me back down. You never stand down to a bully.

  Mikey stares at me, but I can't look him in the eye. I crushed his dream of being like Adam when he grows up. At least on the ice. Every kid should have a dream. "Okay, the session's over, let's get our shoes back on!" I call out.

  The kids rush to the bleachers, some of them falling again. I turn and look where the hyenas are, no one's there anymore. As much as I'd like to think I made my point with them today, I worry about the blow-back. Oh well, whatever happens, happens. I'll deal with it like I always do.

........

  Logan

   After I stacked crate after crate of food supplies for Miss Annie she asked me to change the light bulbs in the kitchen. I was a bit annoyed, wanting to get back to Kitten but if I didn't do it, Kitten might have to and I don't want her standing on the rickety ladder. She could fall and hurt herself.

  When I'm done screwing in the last bulb I jump down and dust myself off. "Anything else Miss Annie?" I ask, hoping to God the woman says no.

  "That's all for today Dear, I see how anxious ya are ta get back ta Kitten. She's prolly finishin' up now. C'mon, I'll walk with ya." I try not to jump for joy in front of her. I don't know when the next time I'll be able to accompany Kitten to work is and I'd like to soak in all I can of her today.

  We walk in silence, Miss Annie's hand on my arm again, as we make our way through the doors leading to the ice. I hear shouting and realize I've tuned out my wolf hearing for too long. I got distracted like a fucking idiot.

  As I tune back in I hear that dickface, Adam, ranting about someone thinking they are better than him. I snort. Everyone's better than his ass. I walk faster, urging Miss Annie to pick up the pace. I can't react to anything yet as human ears wouldn't be able to hear him at this range.

  When we round the corner my vision goes white. My body on fire as my wolf wants to come out. I start forward, ready to fucking kill his ass. The hand on my arm grips tighter. Miss Annie's voice reaching my ears.

  "Now hold on, boy, let's see if Kitten can handle herself 'fore you go rushin right over." I'm about to tell this lady to fuck off, that she shouldn't have to handle herself when Kitten's sweet, but hard voice rings out around the stadium. I've heard her voice like that before. When she told off the carnie at the fair. I stop and watch with Miss Annie as Kitten faces off with no less than a dozen punk kids. Someone's about to be told off and I get front row seats again. I take my phone out to record this so I can show it to the guys later. You know, informational purposes. I chuckle to myself, yeah right.

  No one can accuse my girl of being short winded but the more she talks the more I want to kiss the fuck out of her. When she said that she was stronger than the built boy in front of her I thought I'd have to step in and stop her. The kid looks like he'd like to test that theory. The looks on the bitches’ faces are priceless as this tiny little girl tells them like it is. Her speech tears at my heart but pride swells within me when she talks about always getting back up. I know she does, my brothers and I have seen it.

  Kitten turns to a girl with more makeup on her face than a dead person who's been shot square in the nose. The bitch's eyes narrow at my girl, but she keeps her mouth shut. I think she chose well considering the steel in Kitten's eyes. She looks like she could eat this girl for lunch. As she's wrapping up, I see her turn back to the douchebag. She tells that fucker that's she got nowhere to go but up and I have to hold back from shouting 'HELL YEAH BABY' at her. She then asks where he's heading and the little fucker stands there with mouth open, unable to answer her. She turns and walks off, looking like she's doing just what she said she did, forgetting about them. I fucking LOVE her.

  My wolf is purring seeing her display of dominance and begs me to make her mine. Telling me that she'd be a good mate and fierce mother of my pups. I feel a tugging at my arm. I forgot all about Miss Annie being there.

  "Stop that growlin boy, she took care of business jus' like I knew she would." She tuts at me. I didn't know I was.

  I turn out of her hold, not wanting anyone's hands on me but Kitten's at the moment. My wolf won't be happy until she's in our arms. "You should do something about that guy," I tell her. "Ban him from here or something."

  She heaves a sigh. "I wish I could, the fact is, he's ta star player on ta hockey team, him and ta rest them boys are the main income 'round here. I'll talk ta the coach, but seein' as he's his Daddy, I don't reckon he's gonna do much about it." She shakes her head. I can tell she hates the situation, but it's either her place of business or Kitten. Her choice is obvious, even though I hate it.

  I watch as the kids race off the ice, readying to leave. The runt that Kitten helped out earlier is looking at her like she holds the moon in her hands. Kitten won't look at him and I wonder what that's about. The kid finally comes out of his stupor and gets his shoes on as well. Miss Annie approaches her, telling her that she'll collect the skates and clean up here. Kitten looks around, probably for me and I make my way over.

  "Hey, Logan," She says sadly.

  I can't help myself, my wolf won't let me. I grab her waist, pulling her into me. Fuck that feels good. I tilt her chin up and crash my lips down on hers. She gasps in shock and I use the opportunity to taste her. Fucking shit... this isn't calming my wolf in the slightest. I growl at her taste, savoring every second of it. I hear her whimper and I'm lost. That's the sexiest sound I've ever heard.

  I forgot all about there being children present. Not to mention Miss Annie. "That's enough ‘a that boy, you've made your point. Let ta poor thing breathe."

  I pull back, looking down at my girl. Her face is flushed and she's just blinking at me. It's adorable. I smirk down at her. There's more where that came from baby. Out of the corner of my eye, I catch movement. I see that fucker Adam hiding behind the stands like a bitch. The look in his eye says this isn't over. I agree. Kitten may have stood up for herself today, but what that little shit doesn't know and she doesn't seem to remember, is that she has eight terrifying werewolves to back her up now. Oh yes, we'll be meeting again bitch boy, I think at him as I glare in his direction. He takes one last, longing look at my girl and turns away.

Kitten

T
he ride home was mostly silent as I stared out the window. When Logan kissed me my mind had stopped working completely. It was almost scary in its intensity, but the rumble I felt in his chest called out to me, begged me to let go and lose myself. I totally did. Afterward, he backed away from me, his demeanor changing. I wondered briefly if I did it wrong but my embarrassment at doing that in front of so many people, children at that, soon overrode my worry.

  Logan tried to put on a happy face when we first got in the car but it didn't last long. He told me how proud he was for putting those people in their place, and I had told him that people don't have places. That was the whole conversation.

  When we pull up to the house seven gorgeous men are standing on the steps. I can't help the smile that overtakes my face. As soon as Logan stops the car I throw the door open and pounce on Reed, who's the closest.

  He chuckles at me. "Hey there, excited much?" I nod my head vigorously. He just laughs harder, his blue, green and gold flecked eyes sparkle as his blond hair blows in the wind. I kiss his cheek quickly and jump down. Seeking my next target.

  Finn has turned and started to walk to the door so I get a running start and jump on his back. It's high, but I managed it. I kiss him quickly too as he stumbles forward.

  "Be careful Kitten!" Remy booms at me. I turn and stick my tongue out at him. He smirks and just shakes his head.

  "Did you have fun at work Kitten?" Finn asks.

  I groan and press my face into his neck. Mmmm Finn even smells sweet. "I don't want to talk about today. How was your day? What did you do?" I ask, trying to change the subject.

  Finn brings a hand up, touching my arms where they cross over his chest. It's comforting and I try to melt myself over him as best as I can as he climbs the steps to the house. "I spent most of it reading actually, but I wanted to be out here when you came home," He answers. Sounds better than my day.

   Jace, Tristan, and Kellan rush past us, getting through the door before we can. When Finn stops in the grand entrance room thing, I pull my head up, looking for the reason my ride has stopped. I hear the others shuffle in behind us as I stare at the monstrous sized teddy bear sitting in the middle of the room.

  Oh. My. God. It's blonde colored with pretty sky blue eyes and a gold bow around his neck. Around the bear sit's basket after basket of tiny candy bars and packets of different candies. I pat Finn's shoulders, squirming to get down. He releases me.

  I pace back and forth in front of the bear from across the room. I look at the guys, hating what I have to do. There's no escaping it though, sometimes things just have to happen. You might not know why, it just does.

  "Forgive me for what you're about to witness," I say to all of them. I run at the bear that's taller than me, full force, tackling it to the floor. I put my arms around it as far as I can reach and attempt to hug it to death. I giggle uncontrollably as we roll over, the bear's weight pinning me underneath it. It's fluffy but that's a whole lot of stuffing.

  Logan and Tristan are the first to burst out in laughter, but the others soon follow their lead. I'm still trapped under my treasure laughing, struggling to call out for help when I see Kellan's shoes appear. He lifts the bear and helps me to my feet.

  "Why on earth did you do that?" He asks.

  I wipe tears from my face and calm myself enough to answer him. "It had to be done. Tell me that it didn't cross your mind at some point."

  He chuckles. "Actually, that's the same thing Tristan did when he saw it." That doesn't surprise me. Tristan is awesome. "He also said it had to be done.

  "Is he the one that got him for me then?" I ask. Kellan looks around, his eyes landing on Remy.

  "We're not sure who got it for you, Miss Kitten," Remy says.

  "I highly doubt that, Rem," I tell him. They know, but just like the flowers, they don't want to say. He smirks, looking pleased about something.

  He gets serious. "Follow me to my office now, Miss Kitten? I told you, we have things to discuss." He reminds me. I kiss Kellan on the cheek before bending down and scooping a handful of the candy bars up. I examine one of them. It says fun-size Kit-Kat on it. It rings a bell but I'm too interested in discovering what's inside of it to care.

  "This way." Remy commands.

  "Hold your horses, Remington. It's the girl's first candy bar, for crying out loud." Jace pleads with Remy.

  I've stuffed three of them in my mouth by this time and I try not to choke as I hear a 'ding! ding! ding!' in my head. Jace. This is all Jace's doing. The flowers, the candy, the bear. I wish I could say that knowing he was behind all of this makes me unhappy, but it doesn't. I liked the flowers, I LOVE the bear and I might kill anyone who tries to take this chocolate away from me. He even got the fun sized ones. I'm pleased about this but I'm not going to let him know it. Not yet.

  Standing, I pretend like I still don't know who did this. "Well, thank you to whoever got me these things. Again."

  Remy clears his throat so I follow him. When he rounds the corner I rush back and drop my handful of candy, picking up an entire basket instead. Tristan laughs at me, but I just wink at him and take off after Remy.