Growing Up With My Mate

8. Truth or Dare

Harris POV

           I’m pacing my room trying to calm myself down.  All I want to do is go back and beat the s**t out of Blake.  As soon as he said marking Brighton, everything in me saw red.  She just turned 15 and hasn’t had her first shift yet, and this asshole bragging about marking an underage girl felt so wrong.  I should’ve hit him harder.  More times.  I didn’t even realize someone knocking on my door until it opened. 

“Hey honey, what’s wrong? I heard the commotion downstairs and I can feel your tension through the whole floor.”  My mother was always the calm one.  A great counterpart to my father who is usually a hothead.  Not too hard to figure out who I take after.

“I’m trying to calm myself down mom, but nothing is working.  One of the guys made a crude remark about a friend of mine and I just snapped.  I don’t think I’ve ever hit someone that hard before.  All I want to do is go back and finish the job, but I know that’s not right. I just have so much anger right now!” I’m gripping my hair, and still pacing the floor.  I’ve never not been able to calm myself down but I just hear those words in my head over and over.  

“Harris.”

I can actually picture poor sweet Brighton being forced by that brute to sit on his lap while he tries to kiss and bite her.

“Harris.”

And worse, I can see her enjoying it.  It won’t go away and I’m about to go mad!!

‘HARRISON STONE BLACKWELL!’

I freeze my body on the spot and see my dad next to my mom.  His eyes are black, signaling his alpha wolf just ordered me to stop.  As he approaches me, I bow my head and stare at the floor waiting for him to speak.  His hand lays on my shoulder and I look up to see a face so similar to mine with darker eyes.  When he looks at me, his stern gaze softens.

“Harris.  You’re turning 16 next month.  Your wolf is going to emerge in less than 30 days.  Whatever emotions you will experience will increase 10 fold, especially for an alpha.  But as such, you need to learn to control yourself around your peers.  Now tell me what happened.”

I go through the details, about the girls and their attire, and the guys making comments.  When I get to the part that Blake said, it’s through clenched teeth.

“Do you know this girl?” my Dad asks.

“She’s my friend- I've known her for almost two years now. She was new to the pack her freshman year.”

“Ah, John's girl? Well, the punch was warranted if you feel the need to protect her.”

I nod, not knowing what else there is to say.  Then it dawns on me that I feel a lot calmer than I did a couple minutes ago.  Knowing it was my dad’s alpha ability through touch, I hugged him.  “Thanks dad, I needed that.”

I hear a click and I look up to see my mom took a picture with her phone with a large smile on her face.  Me and my dad groan as we separate.

“Now don’t give me that guys.  Harris will be 16 soon and we won’t have many moments like this left,” she says as she takes her fingers to brush away a fake tear. 

My dad turns to me. “You will go back down to the party and apologize to our guests.”  Ouch, definitely a command.

“Yes sir.”

           When I get back to the rec room, everyone seemed to have navigated inside and changed clothes.  The music channel is on the TV in the background and everyone seems to be enjoying each others company.  The atmosphere is calm, probably due to pool fun and food that I missed out on.  Clara is the first one to spot me.  It’s as if she has her own Harrison radar in her brain. 

“Babe! I was hoping you would come back. Are you hurt?  Do you want to go to your room and I can help take you mind off of things?” she suggestive states, brushing her breast up on my chest.  I don't need this right now. 

“You still have a scowl on,” she comments, trying to pout her lips.  Little does she know she’s part of the reason for my scowl.    Now that the Blake issue is over, as soon as I saw her face, I remember what Dustin told me about Brighton’s first day of school. That she intentionally poured coke on her sweater.  I’m used to Clara’s jealousy towards other girls who openly flirt with me or show interest, but that was Brighton’s first day of school!  And I haven’t even met her at that point.  And I know Brighton; she doesn’t cause issues.  So whatever Clara did, it was just being a b***h.

           Clara and I have been make-out buddies off and on for a couple of years now.  It was just natural since our parents are the alpha and beta, and we live on the same floor of the house.  But, now, the more I think about Clara, the more she irritates me.  I step away from Clara and she frowns.

“Not now Clara, I’m not in the mood.”

“Well, you know, I can certainly change that.” She puts her hand on my chest and bats her lashes at me. It takes more than a deep breath to rationalize my thoughts.  I grab her hand and drop it off of me.  “Clara, stop.  Whatever this is,” pointing between me and her, “I’m not into it.  Stop being so easy because it’s not attractive.”

Before she can react I step away from her and walk towards the group. “Hey guys!”

Everyone turns towards me.  I put my best alpha smile on. “Forgive me for earlier.  I’m pretty sure most of you have heard what happened…. Just know.. I don’t like disrespect of any kind, especially regarding my friends. If you can’t control your mouth, you need to leave.  Everyone here is under my protection, and I will protect those who could be hurt by slander, is that understood?”  After they all nod in agreement, I nod back, signaling to continue the party.

“We’re in the middle of truth or dare,” Dustin says facing me.

I notice that most of the kids in the rec room are in a semicircle on the floor or couches.  Dustin and Brighton are sitting back to back in the middle, like they’re the ones who initiated the game.  Dustin is a good guy and if Brighton had her pick, I would fully support that. 

Dustin turns around and continues, “I’m still waiting Sally… what’s the answer?” He’s proudly displaying a cheeky grin.

 I sit down by Brian and ask ‘What was the question?’

 “Pssh, only if she was really mad at him for crashing her girls night.”

We both snicker as we look to the red head girl, rolling her eyes at Dustin.  “Ugh fine. No. After the initial shock, I had fun.  Are you happy now Dut?”.  She crosses her arms and puffs and it's just hilarious how much she doesn't want to admit her truth. 

 “Ecstatic darling…. over the moon. Now your turn.”

 “Okay…. Brian! Truth or dare.”

And then it goes like this for some time.  Brian was dared to eat a pickle covered in peanut butter, which by the way, looked totally disgusting.  Cole was asked how many kids he wanted with Jessie, and when he said 4 without missing a beat, Jessie blushed to the extreme.  Seems like they already had that discussion.  I was dared to form a human pyramid with several other guys.  Dustin was dared to play a random game of duck, duck, goose.  Just good simple fun.

Anna barks at the group, “Okay this is getting boring!  Should we play spin the bottle?”  Brian actually perks up to the idea.  I noticed throughout the game that he was glancing Brighton’s way.  Seems like she has admirers left and right tonight. 

“No thank you. I have all the kissing I need right here,” Jessie says proudly, grabbing Cole’s face and giving him a sloppy kiss, having most of the group groan.  Brighton speaks up as well. “Count me out as well.”

Anna looks offended and I’m curious as to why as well.  Dustin has a smile on his face like he knows the answer and I wonder if they are about to break Brian’s heart by coming out as a couple. 

“Well Ms. Brighton, let’s hear your truth since you didn’t get a turn…. Why don’t you want to play spin the bottle with all these hot guys here, including our hot future alpha hmm?”  Leave it to Anna to figure this one out.

One of the twins, Callie or Tallie or Ivy or something, starts to scream, “Oh my goddess!!- it’s because you’re actually dating Dustin isn’t it! I knew you weren’t telling the truth earlier!”

Apparently, this is what the big question was because everyone seems invested in wanting to know this answer, seeing how most of the group became quiet and started staring at them.  Both Brighton and Dustin groan leaning back on each other.  Brighton’s hair is over his shoulders in loose waves, still drying from being in the pool.  She seems much more relaxed in her pajama shorts and long sleeve t-shirt.  She doesn’t look the least embarrassed under all the scrutiny of her relationship.  They are facing opposite ways, but begin talking to each other just the same.

“Dustin, why are they like this?”  

“I don’t know…, it is a truth or dare game, you should probably just tell them the truth.”

“But it’ll break a few hearts dear,” she says as she pats his head from behind her.  Brian looks like he’s about to toss his cookies. 

“Better tell them now, before they get any other ideas darling.”

Brighton smiles and looks to the group on her side of the room.  “Dut and I are just really good friends y’all.  Seriously, we are just connected on a level that we can’t explain.  We are literally the same person just different genders.  Dating has never even been a thought between us.”

Dut is nodding as he agrees, following behind her.  “It’s just an honest relationship, kind of like a beta and his alpha…. Me being the alpha of course.”

Brighton snorts.  “Yea okay keep telling yourself that.”  Everyone seems to accept their answer, some seem satisfied while others look disappointed that they aren’t together. 

“Well then back to the original question Brighton,” Anna continues.  “Why don’t you want to play spin the bottle?” 

This time, she does blush, and it makes me smile.  Pink looks good on her cheeks.  I’m curious to know the answer myself.  She takes a deep breath, as if preparing for any criticisms.  “It may sound lame to most of you, but I’m old school.  I don’t know about you all, but when I see my parents together, it makes me realize how special having a mate is going to be.  I don’t judge anyone for their choices, but I want all of my firsts go to my mate.  You can’t get any of them back, and I know as a teenager, not all of those memories will be happy if it’s not my mate, someone I can really trust. So that’s the reason.  I haven’t had my first kiss and I don’t plan on having it until I meet him.”

The room was quiet as she talked. When it finally registers in my head, I kind of want to pound Blake a few more times.  She’s so pure and she’s proud of her decision.  Not everyone has the restraint as a hormonal teenager. I think everyone was reflecting on our lives as wolves and how having a mate is a serious situation.  I’ve already given away several of my firsts, and hearing Brighton, it makes me sad in a way, but I can't explain why.

“Well no wonder you couldn’t pull off that bikini.  You have no s*x appeal whatsoever,” Clara claims from the back.  Anger is felt throughout the whole room, with a few growls, myself included.

I stand and turn towards her.  “Do you not remember what I said not even an hour ago?!  Control. Your. MOUTH!” I say in a growl.

Clara steps back as if I slapped her.  “You’re excused Clara.  If you don’t leave, I will contact your parents and explain to the beta why you can’t social well with your peers.”  Clara lips start to quiver while staring at me, then looks to Brighton and scowls.  She swiftly turns around and walks out the room with her two friends right behind her. 

I turn to the group and before I can say anything to the group, Dustin chimes in, clapping his hands, “Well, that was the best show I’ve seen in a bit? Anyone else want a verbal lashing?”