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Authors: Micalea Smeltzer

Tags: #Teen Paranormal

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BOOK: Insider
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“Me too,” I said around a bite of my sandwich. I wiped my mouth with a paper napkin. “But at least I did get to see them.”

 

“That’s my girl,” Gram said, “always
seein
’ the bright side of things.”

 

I snorted.

 

“I assume ya’ll are heading over to Amy’s?”

 

I looked at Caeden.

 

He swallowed. “Yeah, that’s the plan.”

 

Gram puttered over to the sink and began washing some plates that were sitting there. “Cate and I have the shop covered for the rest of the week since you two weren’t supposed to be back yet. Take this time and do something fun.”

 

“Like decorate my room,” I said.

 

Gram turned away from the sink and smiled at me. “I was beginning to think you weren’t ever going to do anything to that room.”

 

I shrugged. “It didn’t feel like the right time.”

 

“Well, here. Take my debit card,” she said and puttered over to her purse. She pulled out her wallet and began to dig through it.

 

“Gram, no,” I said. “I have my dad’s credit card. He won’t mind if I get some stuff. Plus, I still have that gift
card you got me.”

 

“Am I not allowed to buy my granddaughter anything?” she pouted. “You never let me spoil you.”

 

“Gram it’s really not necessary,” I said. “I appreciate the thought, I really do,” I stood and kissed her cheek.

 

She slipped the card back inside. “Fine, you win.”

 

I laughed and turned to Caeden. “You ready?”

 

“Yeah,” he swallowed the rest of his sandwich. He dropped his plate in the sink and I did the same. “See you later Lucinda.”

 

“Bye Gram,” I hugged her.

 

We were almost out the door when Caeden grabbed my arm and said, “Wait.”

 

“What?” I asked and instantly went on alert, sniffing the air.

 

“Aren’t you going to bring some stuff to my house? You know, drawer sharing?”

 

“Oh,” I said and put a hand to my racing heart. I was far too jumpy. “Yeah, sorry, I forgot.”

 

“I’m offended,” he joked and I playfully hit his arm.

 

I headed back to my room and he trailed behind me
,
before plopping on my bed beside the dogs
,
who
were still snoozing peacefully.

 

I dug out my shiny royal blue duffel bag, which I had gotten from American Apparel on a trip to New York City, from the bottom of my closet. I grabbed some jeans, shirts, hairbands, and a bunch of other crap and dumped it into the bag. I struggled to zip it closed.

 

Caeden took it from me and slung it over his shoulder. “I think I’m going to get me one of these. I can rock the shiny metallic look.”

 

I laughed as he strutted out of my room, doing duck lips, when he reached the front door he turned and struck a pose.

 

“Do that again and I’ll take a picture and post it all over Facebook,” I threatened.

 

“You wouldn’t dare,” he said.

 

“Oh I would,” I laughed.

 

“You mean to tell me that you would
mortify
the love of your life?”

 

“Yes, and enjoy every minute of it,” I crossed my arms over my chest and leaned against the wall. The dogs wandered out of my room and into the hall. Archie stretched and Murphy rolled around on the floor.

 

“You’re sick,” he grinned.

 

“What can I say?” I shrugged. “I love it when your cheeks and ears get all red with embarrassment.”

 

Caeden shook his too long hair. “We better go.”

 

“Come on guys,” I said to the dogs. They immediately jumped up from the floor and ran to the door.

 

Caeden let them out and I closed the door behind us. Gram’s car was gone so I figured she must have left for the cupcake shop
already
.

 

Turning around I busted out laughing when I saw Caeden struggling with Murphy. His face was quickly turning red. “You. Have. To. Get. In. The. Crate.”

 

The large dog would not be budged.

 

“Come on Murphy. I don’t want to hurt you,” Caeden said. Murphy was half in, half out, of the crate and he wasn’t budging. Caeden pushed at his backside. “Please,
Murph
? When we get home I’ll give you a nice big juicy bone.” Suddenly Murphy was in the cage and Caeden fell from the sudden movement. I was laughing so hard now that I had tears running out of my eyes. “That was not nice,
Murph
,” Caeden chided as he slid the locks into place.

 

He had a cut on his cheek but it was already healing. He closed the trunk and turned to me with his hands on his hips.

 

“That went well.”

 

“Definitely,” I giggled.

 

I opened the car door and picked up Archie. As soon as I closed the door he pawed at the window. “You want it down bud?
Wanna
feel the wind through your pointy ears?”

 

He made a cute little noise as I rolled the window down. As soon as Caeden started driving he turned and
gave me a cute little dog smile
. All pointed teeth and rolling pink tongue.

 

On the ride to Caeden’s house we were both quiet. I think we were both lost in our thoughts.

 

He came to the gate and entered his card. The doors quickly swung open and we drove through. The garage door was up and two people were in there. One with fiery red hair
was pressed against a brand new green Jeep and was totally making out with the other person. There was enough passion to ignite the garage.

 

“Is that Charlotte?” I asked leaning forward. I knew it had to be. No one else had
red hair that shade.

 

“Yeah, and my brother.”

 
 
six
.
 

Caeden parked the car and rubbed his knees. “Well, I guess I should’ve known this was
coming.”

 

I laughed. “Yeah, you should’ve. Do you think they’ve noticed us yet?”

 

Bryce and Charlotte were still going at it. Tongues, hands, it was a bit dizzying watching them.

 

“I don’t think so,” he said and tapped the horn. The noise made me jump and it did the same to the two lovers. They both looked around, with the whole deer in headlights look, before spotting us.

 

I gave a small wave and Caeden grinned cheekily before hopping out.

 

I opened the door and let Archie out. Caeden had let Murphy out and he was running around in merry circles. He saw a bird and took off after it. Didn’t dogs know that they couldn’t fly? If so, why
did they chase birds? The bird is
always going to get away.

 

Caeden cleared his throat and must have decided not to say anything about the intense make-out session because instead he said, “Are the… uh… others here?”

 

Charlotte was blushing profusely, her pale freckled skin turning crimson. She straightened her curly hair and said, “Yeah, I think they’re in the kitchen.”

 

“Did you get a new car?” Caeden asked Bryce.

 

Bryce’s hands were shoved in his pockets and he was looking anywhere but at his brother. “Uh-hmm, Stella died. This baby is Stella Jr.” He lovingly rubbed the side of the brand new Jeep.

 

“Okay then,” Caeden said. “Well, I need to talk to everybody so you might want to head on into the kitchen.”

 

Bryce shrugged away from the Jeep and took Charlotte’s hand. “You got it commander,” Bryce saluted Caeden.

 

Caeden shook his head and turned to me. “His sense of humor never ceases to amaze me.”

 

I snorted. “That was pretty tame. I called your house one time and he answered-”

 

“Oh lord, I don’t think I want to know what he said,” Caeden grinned as he followed Bryce and Charlotte to the house. I kind of wished the garage
was
connected to the house. I hated being out in the open like this.

 

Caeden took my hand as if he sensed my unease.

 

“Well, I’m going to tell you anyway,” I smiled. “He said, ‘
Mel’s Taxidermy. You bag
em
’ we stuff
em
’.”

 

“No, he didn’t!” Caeden laughed. “Wow, I don’t know why mom ever lets him answer the phone.”

 

“I just wonder what strangers would think if they dialed the wrong number and he answered.”

 

“They’d probably be thoroughly freaked out.

 


Luckily I knew it was him so I just laughed. Does he answer his cellphone that way?”

 

“You
betcha
,
” Caeden grinned and his dimple
peeked through, taunting me.

 

We went in the side door and straight to the kitchen. Amy was whipping up lunch. When she saw us she stopped what she was doing and smiled at her eldest son.

 

“Give me a hug!” she said and enveloped him in her arms. “I know you were only gone a few days but I missed you so much! What will I do when you move out?” She kissed his cheek and moved to me. “And Sophie, I missed you too. I’m so sorry you had to leave in such a hurry and under such circumstances.”

 

“It’s fine,” I said and hugged her back. “We needed to be here.”

 

“I’m making lunch,” she said, as if we hadn’t noticed the mess behind her. “Homemade pizza. Are you hungry?”

 

Even though I’d just eaten a sandwich my stomach rumbled. I blushed and looked at Caeden. “Yeah, I’m hungry.”

 

“And I’m always hungry,” Caeden rubbed his flat stomach.

 

“Good,” she clapped her hands together. She was just a total ball of energy today. “Go sit down and when it’s ready I’ll bring it.”

 

Bryce and Charlotte were sitting side by side at the table; holding hands. Logan was sulking, at the end of the table, the front legs of his chair off the ground, and his blond hair combed back. He was scowling at no one and nothing. Dude needed a serious chill pill.

 

I spotted Bentley’s dark head and was just beginning to scan for Chris when I saw that she was sitting in his lap. She nuzzled his neck and giggled. Bentley’s smile lit his brown eyes as he whispered in her ear.

 

I turned to Caeden. “Holy hell, what happened while we were gone? Is it mating season for wolves?”

 

Caeden’s blue eyes were wide. “Apparently so.” He paused at the head of the table and cleared his throat. “We have some important things to discuss.”

 

Chris slid out of Bentley’s lap and straightened her honey blond hair. It had gotten longer in the past few months.

 

Caeden didn’t sit down; instead he leaned forward, placing his hands flat on the table. He looked into each of their eyes. “With Travis as Alpha we are all in danger. He’s even
more unstable
than his father was. Based on what… you described,” Caeden winced as he looked at Bentley. “It was pretty gruesome. Travis is power hungry and I’m positive he’ll come after me
just like his father
. We’re going to have to
do more scans of the woods and change up the groupings.” He eyed the lovebirds. “We’ll change the groupings every shift so that Travis can’t predict who will be together. If you smell a hint of anything suspicious you let me know.
Anything.
We’re in danger, and I can’t press the importance of safety and caution enough. Don’t do anything stupid, I mean it,” he glared at his little brother. “First shift tonight will be Logan and Bryce. Bentley and I wil
l take over for you. Sophie and-” He looked around with a bewildered expression.

 

Christian and Charlotte giggled. “I guess Sophie’s all by herself,” Chris said.

 

Bryce spoke up and said, “I’ll do it.”

 

“So, basically,” Logan said as he drew random designs on the table. “We’re going to be doing twenty-four hour patrols?”

 

“It’
s necessary,” Caeden snapped, “for the safety of our pack.”

 

Patrols had just been after school and the occasional one at night.

 

“What about once school starts back up in a few days?” Logan drawled.

 

“Then patrol starts right after the bell rings and through the whole night.”

 

“Are you kidding?” Logan slammed his hand on the table. “When are we supposed to sleep?”

 

Caeden’s teeth ground together and his tails sharpened to claws. “Are you questioning my authority?”

 

Logan paled. “I- I-” he was saved from saying anything more by Amy.

 

She brought over the five pizzas covered in toppings. They smelled heavenly.

 

“I’ll be in my office if you need me,” she patted Caeden on the shoulder and ruffled Bryce’s hair.

 

Caeden’s nails retracted and the tension slowly leaked from his body.

 

Caeden and I sat down and grabbed a slice of the pizza. Two
whole pizzas were already gone.

 

I cleared my throat and poked Caeden in the side.

 

“What?” he said.

 

I gave him a significant look.

 

“Oh right,” he swallowed. “Sophie needs more training in how to fight.
I’m not sure that I’ll be able to do it.

 

“I’ll help you,” Bentley said.

 

“I’m game,” Bryce said. “Anything that allows me to knock my brother’s girlfriend on her ass sounds like fun.”

 

Caeden smacked the back of Bryce’s head.

 

“I’ll help you too,” Chris said.
“I may not be a wolf yet but that doesn’t mean I still can’t beat you.”

 

Logan, of course, said nothing. I would never want to play the quiet game with him. I’d definitely lose.

 

Charlotte
reached across the table to take my hand. “Between all of our help you’ll be the biggest,
baddest
, wolf out there.”

 

“So,”
Chris leaned forward
, “when do we get to kick the crap out of Sophie’s
toosh
?”

 

“Now, I guess,” Caeden shrugged. Chris grinned wickedly and I knew I was in for a beating. “But don’t hurt her
cute
toosh
ie
too much,” he pinched my hip. “I’m rather fond of it.”

 
BOOK: Insider
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