Tale of the Werewolf Alpha and His Mate

Chapter Eight: The Second Day

BECCA

My second day has been much more satisfactory and less awkward. I wake up after my post-run sleep and help Aria get ready for school. We get out the door and begin our descent, only to freeze on our spots to find our mother in the kitchen.

“Eh, Mom?” It comes out as a whisper. “What are you doing?” I ask.

My mother looks up and smiles after the initial surprise. “Well, I had an… epiphany.” I raise my brows as she continues, “I came here for a fresh start. I cannot spiral down again. So, I have decided to start with something small…. Tada!” She puts a plate of grilled cheese sandwiches on the table and playfully boops Aria’s nose.

That innocent girl grins back at her mother.

“Sweetie,” I narrow my eyes, and my mother sadly sighs, “I know I am too late, but Becca, I want to rectify my mistakes now. I hope...”

“Momma!” Aria intervenes and immediately rushes to hug the woman. I quietly watch them play and smile at each other.

“C’mon, let’s eat together like we should have all these years.” My mother places Aria in her seat and glances at me with hope.

As does Aria.

I grunt, “Fine!”

I take my seat next to Aria. It’s uncomfortable, and Aria seems to be the only one eating and praising while my mother and I find ourselves stealing glances and sighing. Aria nudges and looks at the two of us. I nod at my little angel and then mumble, “What are you even thinking of doing, huh?”

I cough up. “Why would someone like you change overnight? Something is fishy…”

Taken aback, my mother stares at me and then sighs. “I want to change. Becoming older and wiser than earlier, I have realized what a neglectful and selfish parent I have been to you. I know it is too late, but I must change my ways. I need to cherish you, Becca; I regret the times when I lifted my hand on you and let my boyfriends beat you up. You fought well, and I...”

I briefly shudder at those memories when I let myself be tortured to protect Aria. “You inspire me to do better than that, Becca!” My mother squeezes my hand in hers, and her glossy eyes make me feel guilty. I don’t yank my hand out of her grip.

With that, the small Simmons family finally has breakfast together after a very long time.

***

I walk into the familiar main hallway only to be hounded by a cheery Dakota, but this time I don’t really mind her cheeriness. I smile back at her as she sticks too close and links her arm with mine. “What do you think you are doing?” I ask, raising my brow yet in a polite manner.

She rolls her eyes at me and shrugs. “Loving my new friend, duh.”

I cringe a little but that’s what she’s like, so it’s cute.

The two of us walk toward the lockers when Dakota asks, “What are you listening to?”

It feels like the entire world around me has slowed down, and I freeze. I can’t let her know what I am currently listening to. Instead, she takes off one of my earbuds when I turn to her. “What are you doing?”

Dakota looks at me and shrugs, “What do you think? I want to know what your genre is. I like dance music.” She comically dances in her space and laughs before she looks at me in anticipation.

I reply, “Usually Heavy metal...”

“Woah, I love metal too,” she says. I raise my eyebrows. “So, what’s up with you? Are you okay?”

I frown.

“Yeah, I am. Why?”

Dakota shrugs, “No reason. You seem stressed.”

I don’t know if I should share my mother’s decision to redeem herself and that she wants to hire a housekeeper because she would be going to the city for work. In fact, she has even finalized one. But when? Wasn’t she drunk? I wave a hand and scoff, “Oh, I am okay, Dakota.”

Skylar and Sarah come by us to chat. The girls try to involve me as much as they can, but I find myself zoning out, and my eyes wander.

Dakota clears her throat and teases, “If you are looking for Nathan, he will be late.”

I blink at their smug expressions. I wave, “Uh, ha, no! I am not looking for-”

“Why are you sweating and stuttering, then?” Skylar winks at me. Taken aback, I stare at the girls.

Dakota leans in and whispers, “Yeah, you seem to be blushing.”

Sarah wriggles her eyebrows when Skylar frowns and snaps, “No, Sarah, don’t do that!”

I stutter, “I am not…I just...” The girls smirk at my lame attempt, and then I firmly state, “I am not looking for Nathan.”

I shut my locker close.

I turn and walk to my first class while they follow me, laughing. Why would I? Right?