Meeting Caroline
1371 Words
I get down to breakfast, and my dad is the only one at our table. “Your brother is eating in his room. He’s agonizing over what to wear…..” he says with his eyes twinkling. I laugh picturing how many times Dylan has run his hand through his hair. “Maybe you can go help him seeing as you look picture perfect to receive an Alpha and his daughter.”
“Thanks, Dad.” I had put on a blue dress. It was sleeveless but very simple and elegant. It reached my knees, and I had on white dress sandals. “I’ll link and offer after we eat.”
‘Hey, you need some help choosing your clothes, Romeo?’
‘Oh f**k! He told you?!’ I hear the frustrated anguish in his voice.
‘Yeah, calm down. It’s just me, Casanova. I’ll be up in five to help.’
‘Thanks, Layla.’ He sighs.
I turn to Dad. “Liam told me the basics. Sounds like he’s going to have to work at repairing her trust already.”
“Yep, all thanks to Missy.” Dad looks irritated just saying her name. “I think you will be a huge help in this Layla.”
He reaches over and squeezes my hand, his eyes landing on my bracelet. He adjusts it and smiles at me sadly.
“I will do my best, Dad. I wish Mom was here too.” He gives me a look of sad understanding. I kiss his cheek before I run upstairs. I grab a cinnamon roll and a pile of bacon on the way.
I use the keypad and let myself into Dylan’s suite. Knowing exactly where I’ll find him, I walk into his closet. I chuckle when I see him leaning against the wall with his eyes closed like he’s in pain.
He looks at me. “Not funny, Layla. I mean I can’t even choose my clothes today to see her. What the hell?” He shakes his head biting his lip.
“Here eat this grumpy. It’s called the mate bond. I hear it makes you stupid and irrational. And now I see it up close.” I smirk at him and he frowns angrily.
“Lucky for you, I love you and want you to be happy. I take it you liked her.”
I pull out a pair of slate gray slacks and a bright blue button up shirt.
“You could say that. She’s gorgeous but also smart, and she thought I was funny. Very kind too from what Liam heard.” I hear the smile in his voice.
I pull out a pair of black slip on dress shoes. “There, wear that. Will show off your best features.”
I hang around while he goes to get dressed. He looks at me with a question on his face as he leaves the bathroom. “your hair looks great. Don’t touch it again. Grab your watch and phone. Let’s go, Romeo.”
Liam runs into us on the way down. I had already linked him not to tease.
“You look good, Dylan. Go impress your lady.” He winks at me and we go stand by Dad in the private living area.
Five minutes later Alpha Ben walks in. I’ve met him before. He’s got kind brown eyes and always has a smile for friends. Following him is a stunning girl with black hair, porcelain skin and big soft gray eyes. She’s my height and wears a dark purple dress and silver sandals. She looks a bit shy and nervous. I smile at them and wait.
“Ben, it’s good to see you today.” Dad says as he shakes his hand.
“James glad to see you this morning since we didn’t get to talk much last night. Ah, Miss Layla, you are all grown up now. Nice to see you, my dear.” I shake his hand and he turns toward his daughter. “This is my baby girl, Caroline. Caroline, this is Layla, Dylan’s twin. She is quite talented.”
I raise my hand in a friendly wave. “Hi, Caroline. It’s lovely to see you today.”
She smiles back. “I’m glad I got to come and meet you.” She looks at Dylan and I see her bite her lip.
He is staring at her hopefully. “Hi, Caroline.”
“Dylan.” She says with a shy smile.
“Why don’t we go outside?” I offer and Liam nudges me with his elbow.
Caroline nods eagerly and she links her arm in mine. I turn and look at my brother who looks a bit disappointed. I link him and let me work my diplomatic magic. You’re going to owe me so big.
We sit outside in the butterfly garden and have cookies and lemonade. I start telling her funny stories about Dylan as a kid and she loosens up quite a bit. She might be an Alpha’s daughter, but I can feel her nerves. Liam said he learned she is very shy and prefers to be the wallflower instead of the Alpha daughter hostess. By lunchtime she is sitting next to Dylan and he’s got her laughing at some of his Alpha training stories.
Liam links me. ‘You are damned good, you know that. Promise you’ll smooth anything over with my mate when I find her.’
‘Sure. Hurry up and find her, ok?!’
Dylan’s phone starts buzzing and I see him decline the call. A few minutes later the same thing happens. After three more tries, he answers it apologizing to Caroline. He gets up, but we can all hear him.
“Why are you calling over and over? Stop it.” He ends the call and comes back.
Thirty minutes later Missy comes storming into the garden. She’s been crying and looks enraged. She comes walking up and throws herself at Dylan who had gotten out of his chair upon seeing her.
“I need you, Dylan. You can’t leave me for her. You just can’t! I love you, Dylan.” She shrieks tearfully.
I tense up as I watch Caroline looking upset. Her wolf is showing in her eyes too. I stand up ready to intervene if I need to.
Persephone snickers. ‘Nah, let Caroline’s wolf tear her apart. I’d like to watch it up close. I’ll start digging her grave!’
“Missy, this has to stop. I met my mate. I can’t continue taking care of you.”
“So you are just dumping me and leaving me heartbroken. You can’t do this. You promised me!”
“I promised you nothing, Missy. We weren’t even dating. You knew I was waiting to find my mate. I made that very clear.” Dylan looks angry now.
“But I love you! I deserve to be your Luna. Not some girl you just met. I have been your support and loved you.” She shrieks and I scoff at that.
All she ever does is make a damned pest of herself. And Dylan has always told her they are just friends. Every time he takes her to something I’ve heard him say. “We can go as friends”. He rarely takes her just when she bitches so much he gets tired of it or threatens to dissolve into depression.
Dylan tells her to leave letting out a bit of his Alpha aura. She tells him he’ll come crawling back and stomp off. He apologizes to Caroline who just nods at him.
We are almost done eating lunch when Dylan gets a text message. He looks worried and replies to it quickly. A few minutes later, he says. “I’m so sorry but I have to go. There’s an emergency with Missy. I have to….” And he races off. I frown guessing what she’s done again. Liam shakes his head at me.
I link my brother. 'What did she threaten? Pills, hanging, driving her car off a cliff, or going rogue?'
'Pills. I have to stop her.'
'Get your ass back here as soon as you drop her at the hospital.' I growl.
- Writer
