“All right, let’s get out.” I opened the door.
We stepped out gingerly, awkwardly standing before my brother as he stared at us with a pained smile.
“Hey, Mikey. Glad to see you not so furry,” I joked.
That caused him to smile, which showcased two large canine teeth pressing down on his bottom lip.
My mom gasped a little and covered it into an awkward cough. Mikey made no move to hug us, which hurt, but I understood he was dealing with some demons.
“I missed you,” Mom murmured.
He nodded. “Me too, Mom.”
Clark looked at the black-haired girl and nodded, before walking away without a word.
Weirdo.
“Doing okay?” the black-haired girl asked.
Mikey gave her a short nod. “This is Elise.”
She stepped forward and extended her hand. “I’m Michael’s sponsor. I help him… get acquainted.” She shook my mother’s hand, then mine.
My mom gave me one raised eyebrow. I knew the word ‘sponsor’ had her thinking of an alcoholic.
“Let’s sit.” Elise pointed at a picnic table that was off to the side of Clark’s house.
“Do you like it here?” Mom asked him, looking at Elise as if she didn’t trust her.
Mikey smiled, once again shocking me with those big teeth. “Yeah. It was a rough time at first, but now that I’m able to hold my human form, we play a lot of games. I’m really good at foosball.”
Elise smiled. “You’re okay.”
He gave her a sheepish look. Yeah, they were totally into each other.
“How old are you?” I blurted out to her.
Her eyes met mine, and for the slightest second, they flashed orange. “Twenty.”
Hmm, same age as me. I decided to be civil and change the subject. “So, I heard you’ll be starting classes in the fall?”
Just then, a twig snapped, and Mikey’s head shot to the thick woods that lined the property. He took a slow, deep inhale, flexing his nostrils, as his eyes turned the color of honey. My hand went to the blade on my thigh and my mother leaned into me.
Elise’s entire body was clenched, as if she were ready to take Mikey to the ground if need be.
“There’s a rabbit nearby,” Mikey said.
Elise nodded. “Do you want to go hunting?”
Mikey shook his head. “I think my mom and sister should leave.”
Without another word, Elise burst from the table and rushed my mom and me into our car, telling us to lock the doors. I was in total shock that my shithead little brother, whom I’d always teased and thought of as a punk, was some dangerous beast now.
“It’ll be okay,” I lied to my mom.
She didn’t say a word, just cried the whole way home.
Maybe this was Mikey’s life now, only able to live with his pack to control his beast. If that was the case, then I had to be okay with it. It wasn’t exactly what I had envisioned for our family, but he seemed happy-ish.
At least he was adjusting. That was all we could ask for.
Chapter Fourteen
“Alright! This is the winning race and will determine this year’s victor of The Beach Games!” Noah roared through his bullhorn.
Lincoln and I were on the same team with Noah and Shea. We had totally made them do a couples’ thing, and we were tied for first place.
I gave Tiffany a side glare. Shea nearly killed Noah for inviting her, but I guess she was considered family because of her stupid parents who I’d never even met. These alleged amazing parents were BFFs of Noah’s and Lincoln’s parents, so we had to include Tiffany, and to top it all off, the bitch was tied with us for first. She’d brought some brute of a guy to be the final member of her group, a Celestial who’d graduated years ago and must have been pushing thirty.
“Pick one representative to swim the obstacle course!” Noah shouted into the bullhorn.
My eyes flicked to Tiffany, who rolled out her shoulders. “I was first place at the national swim team meet, three years in a row,” she cooed. “I’ll do it.”
Her two lackeys and old Celestial dude nodded.
“I’m doing it!” I shouted to my group.
Lincoln frowned, lowering his voice. “Babe, no offense, but I’m a better swimmer.”
I glared at him. “It’s Tiffany” was all I said.
He threw his arms up in defeat and Shea grinned. “Okay, now if you have a chance to drown her—”
“Ladies, please. Good vibes,” Noah intervened.
Now it was Shea’s turn to glare, and Noah stepped back two paces. When would these boys learn not to intervene in our feud?