His Sunshine Baby

Damn Alpha Pride

I stare at that text a few seconds, a bit distraught. How did they even get my number? We only stayed a few hours and paid in cash… I reread it, but it’s short, just mentioning an “invite-only” fancy event on the upper floor.

I can’t ignore the idea that this might come from Nathaniel, but there wasn't any chance for him to get my number. From what I recall, I just gave him my first name! Should I share this text with Daniel? But he’s probably freak out and tells me not to go. Though I know I do want to go. I don’t care about the party…

Let’s just ignore it for now. I put my phone aside and try to focus on my paper for a couple more hours. When it’s finally 1 pm, I leave the library and get into Danny’s car he left on the university parking lot. Just when I’m about to turn it on, Daniel sends me a couple of texts to complain about his morning at the lab and his experiments not going well, and I give him a quick encouragement, with lots of hearts and emojis he likes. I don’t mention the text I received earlier about the nightclub. I love my best friend, but sometimes, he is a bit too much…

I start the car and drive all the way to the Hospital. When I enter, the nurse at the front desk recognizes me.

“Hello, sweetheart. How are you today?”

“I’m fine, thanks, Annie. How are you?”

“The usual. Say hi to your dad for me, will you?”

“I will, Annie, thanks.”

I hop on to the elevator, reaching the fifth floor a few seconds later. I’ve walked those corridors so often I could get to my father’s room with my eyes closed. He is sharing with two other people, so I always go in as quietly as possible, and walk to his bed, the one closest to the window. No one is here today, but I still take small steps for some reason.

The flowers I brought earlier in the week look fine, I may have a couple more days before buying a new batch. I take a seat next to my dad’s bed and put my bag down. My dad looks the same, except that the nurses apparently shaved him earlier. I grab his large, warm hand and take it to my cheek, something he loved to do.

“Hi, Dad.”

He stays eyes closed and silent, as usual. His heart monitor is still giving off that slow, rhythmic beeping.

“How are you today? Are you missing mom? I miss her a lot, you know. Do you dream of her, daddy?”

The doctor told me patients in the coma can dream. I wonder what my dad would dream about… He probably misses mom. And her cooking, he loved her cooking a lot. His bike and his old garage, too. He taught me how to ride when I was fourteen, and always said he would buy me my first bike when I turned twenty. Sadly he didn’t get the chance yet…

I just hope he doesn’t dream about their accident. I’d instead think he’s just having a long, peaceful sleep.

“I finished my last paper today. Economics. You always said I was too smart for you whenever you saw me doing my algebra when I was a kid, remember? Now only one year to go with my studies, dad.”

My parents didn’t get to go to University, and my dad didn’t even finish High School, yet they insisted I do if I could. I always wanted to please them and got good grades, but they didn’t really care about my classes. They were proud whenever I was studying and consoled me if I was tired or sad about my rank.

I always tell my dad about my studies, hoping he’s listening and proud of me. When the school topic is over, I tell him about how the pack is doing, about this morning’s training, about Daniel and his experiments that make him crazy.

I come to last night, but I don’t tell my dad anything about Nathaniel. I just mention we had fun, and that’s it. I don’t usually say anything that might anger or sadden him. Only happy things. My dad is my only family left, and I’m so scared of losing him. I pray every day he would wake up.

“You alright, sweetie?”

Deborah, another nurse, just walked in. I smile at her. I used to cry every time I came to see my dad, but I’m a lot better now.

“I’m fine Debbie, thanks.”

“You’re such a good daughter, coming every day. Those two gentlemen’s families don’t even come once a week to see them. Your daddy is a lucky man, sweetie.”

I smile. This is one of the nicest things I’ve ever heard. All the nurses here are so lovely. Deborah checks everyone’s vitals in the room before leaving.

Once she’s gone, I take out my headphones, give my dad one of the earpieces and put on his favorite song, I’m a believer by The Monkees. I take the other one to listen to it with him. I love that old song. I smile whenever I hear it.

Whenever he put it on the old stereo in our house, my dad and I would dance around and sing it loudly, making my mom laugh. He loved rock bands mostly but made me listen to anything. My mom liked Latino songs more, it reminded her of her roots. Our house was the kind that had music on from sunrise to dusk. I miss the old days… I close my eyes and let my playlist pick new tunes from the list I made for him.

I doze off while listening to music, and when I wake up, it’s about five. Crap, it’s that late already… Daniel sent me two texts, looks like he will have to stay at the Lab for the night. I feel sorry for him, those experiments are really giving him a hard time lately. I don’t really get his biology stuff, but he’s so into it his research, it’s not unusual for him to pull all-nighter from time to time.

I say goodbye to dad, taking my time before leaving. I hate leaving him in that hospital room day after day, but I’ve gotten used to it. When I’m at the car, I’m about to drive when someone suddenly mind-links me.

Hey, Elena?

Chris? Something wrong?

Yeah… My dad is looking for you, and he’s not too happy…

Crap. Where is he?

At the Main House. Apparently, he heard about you going out last night, I didn’t understand everything, but he looks furious, Elena.

It’s ok, I’ll be there in a few minutes.

Ok…

How did he learn about our escapade on the Velvet Moon territory? Did the young ones we caught yesterday talk? Probably one of them blabbed about it. I growl nervously while driving, and my wolf is annoyed too. As more time pass, I have a hard time controlling her and her alpha instincts against my uncle Xavier. Werewolves are complicated creatures, and our relationships and society are even more complicated. Especially between Alphas…

I pull over in front of what we call the Main House, my uncle’s house, which is also the principal place of gathering for our pack. It’s a large, old-style but richly decorated house. Iris is waiting for me outside, and she runs to me as soon as I get out of my car.

“I’m so sorry, Elena, I think he overheard me talking about the nightclub with Prue on the phone… I tried to calm him down but…”

“It’s ok, Iris, it’s not your fault.”

Though I do feel a bit bitter that she accidentally led my uncle to know, I can’t really blame her for her dad’s temper. I walk past her to enter the house, where a couple of guys I know are standing guard. They both salute me, but their faces show they know what I’m here for, and feel sorry about it.

My uncle is in the kitchen, and his expression changes as soon as I enter the room.

“Where the hell have you been?”

“At the hospital with my Dad.”

My response surprises him, and for a few seconds, he doesn’t know what to say. I don’t think my uncle has visited his brother more than a couple of times since the accident, and he knows I go often. He apparently decides to ignore my answer simply.

“Where were you last night!”

He is growling furiously, and my wolf is ready to growl too. I hold her back, trying to have her act docile, but it’s against her nature, and I struggle. I lower my eyes even if I don’t have any obligation to and decide to go for the truth.

“I went outside our border, to the party.”

“What the hell were you thinking! Going past our borders? And to the Velvet Territory at that? Who the hell do you think you are, Elena!”

“Sorry, uncle.”

“I told you not to call me that!”

This time, I glare at him. He doesn’t let me call him uncle, doesn’t visit my dad in the hospital, how am I supposed to consider him family? He growls even louder, but as usual, that has no effect on me. For a reason I can’t understand, my uncle’s Alpha aura is totally harmless to my wolf. Unfortunately, that only angers him more.

“You’re supposed to be one of our warriors! How do you dare defy my orders to sneak out like some rogue! And to go, drink!”

“It wasn’t to drink, it was for…”

“Don’t talk back to me! I don’t want you acting like some w***e and showing off around!”

“Excuse me?”

This time, my wolf is growling and won’t take this insult. How dare he calls me that! But he doesn’t back off.

“You heard me! Do you feel so great about yourself that you have to show off to everyone in this City? Learn your place! You are not some damn princess, you are a fighter and belong to this pack!”

I growl even louder, furiously. I don’t belong to anyone! And I do whatever the hell I want, in this territory or another! I’m fed up with my uncle restricting me any chance he gets!

“What is so wrong about me? I just do what anyone else does! I’m twenty-one, for Moon Goddess’ sake? What do you expect, for me to do nothing but train others and sit around? I’m a wolf! I can’t stay still and obedient like a damn dog!”

“You will learn! You are supposed to set an example! Why do you think the kids went out last night? They all want to do like you!”

What, so the youngs outing last night is my fault now? What the hell! I only learned about this party ten minutes before going! Why is he pushing all the crap on me!

“Enough! I’ve had enough of you binding me and restricting me any chance you get! I can’t hunt, I can’t fight, I can’t get out! I’m fed up with this! Stop ordering me around, I’m your niece, not your damn guard dog!”

“You’re not my niece! My brother only adopted you, that doesn’t make you my family!”

I stay stunned, shocked by his words. How dare he... He would have never said such a thing in front of my dad. Across the room, the other guys are looking at him with disgusted looks too. I growl again.

“f**k you, Xavier.”

I turn around and storm out before he can say a word. I walk past Iris while exiting the room, and she looks surprised too. She calls my name, but I ignore her and jump in the car.

I’m going home. I drive fast, exceeding the speed limit a few times. I’m so mad and disgusted about what happened, I can’t stop. I take the car back to our residence and run the stairs all the way up to our apartment. My phone rings a couple of times, but I ignore it and go straight to the bathroom. I undress promptly and take a cold shower.

Moon Goddess… I hate my uncle and his stupid inferiority complex. He could never swallow that my dad, his little brother was stronger than him, and now, he hates that I’m even stronger. Damn Alpha pride… I let the water clear my thoughts, but I know what I need. To do something stupid, something forbidden.

I wash my hair, myself, and walk to my room, grabbing my denim skirt and a black lace crop top, the one Daniel finds me sexy with. With black lingerie, it is perfect. I grab some cash from my wallet, my phone, and my ID, and go out again, putting my heels on. I take a deep breath and start the car again. Taking a look at the car’s clock, It’s almost 8 pm now. I take the highway, heading for The Rain.