Change of Plans - C.L. Blackwell Page 0,48

did when I was embarrassed. She couldn’t be older than seven. Caleb had told me all about her.

Caleb threw her up, “Is Dad starting yet?” She nodded and Caleb grabbed my hand with his free hand, taking me down the hallway to where all the voices were. Halting in his path, Caleb tried not to run someone over as they were coming out of the bathroom. He was an older man with salt and pepper hair and goatee. He smiled when he saw Caleb.

“Caleb, son, how have you been?” he asked, his voice gruff.

“I’ve been good, busy, but good,” Caleb responded with affection.

“Ah well, I bet you have been. And how are you, Miss Rebecca?” He addressed her from where she was still placed on Caleb’s hip.

She giggled, “Good, I lost my last baby tooth yesterday!”

“Really? Well, you’re all grown up now, aren’t you?”

Rebecca giggled again before Caleb put her down and she went running off down the hall, sending her blonde hair everywhere. I was still awkwardly standing beside Caleb, not wanting to interrupt their conversation. He took notice of me and our linked hands, “You must be Allison, it’s an honor to meet you, dear. I’m Nicholas Simpson, a good friend of your dad’s and the Winters. Caleb here hasn’t stopped talking about you since eighth grade.”

Caleb groaned, obviously embarrassed at the confession. I blushed again. It was a strange thing to think about, especially since I just found out last week.

“Don’t sweat Caleb, I won’t bring out any baby pictures. This time.” Nicholas winked at me. “Allison, how are you dealing with everything?”

I shifted from foot to foot and Caleb squeezed my hand. “It’s been different, but I’m adjusting. Caleb’s been a huge help, but it’s difficult to understand why my father never told us.”

“Ah, yes, Jim. Well, the death of Amber shook him up quite a bit, but I’m sure there’s a reason,” he said. “I remember when he was alpha, always a leader he was. I use to babysit him, way back in the day. You know-“

“Caleb. Allison,” a voice cut him off. We all turned to find Mr. Winters standing in the doorway leading to the living room. He looked no different than he did at my house the other day, cold and cunning. “I hate to interrupt bonding time, but I have a meeting to hold. If you would be so kind to join everyone in the living room,” he said as he swiped his hand in a broad gesture. He made it sound as a request. It wasn’t a request though, it was an order. There was a strange pull behind his works, making me want to go to the living room, but I could have easily resisted it. I guess it was an alpha thing.

I followed behind Caleb and Nicholas into the living room. The entire pack, all thirty of them, were standing along the perimeter of the room, with this and next generation’s alphas and betas in the middle. A woman I guess was Caleb’s mother, her beta, and Mr. Winters’s beta were all standing by the modern coffee table, giving the illusion of having some authority. According to Caleb, everyone here knew that Caleb’s father had all the power, just as he wanted it. Brody and Sierra sat on either end of an uncomfortable looking couch.

As Caleb and I joined them, all eyes were on me. It was really uncomfortable, but I kept my head high, trying to look like I wasn’t intimidated. I took my seat on the couch between Brody and Caleb, giving Brody a small smile. Caleb’s father glared at me and announced, “Now that we are all here, let the October Wolf Creek Pack Meeting begin.”

———————————

I nearly fell asleep with the petty ‘issues.’ Every issue was something irrelevant that was made into something bigger so Caleb’s dad could gain more control. I knew I didn’t really understand pack life or anything, but this was ridiculous. Everyone sat by as he took over the show.

Every now and then a blonde woman who I guessed was Mrs. Griffin, Sierra's mom would make a comment. Assuming because she was on Caleb’s dad’s good side, she actually got an opinion, but they were no better than Mr. Winters’s.

Slowly, I watched as the heads of pack members, people I’ve known my whole life, lower as they were pushed slower and slower in submission. This wasn’t a democracy, it was a dictatorship. I wanted to say something, but taking the clues