The Pack (The Pack 1)

I closed my eyes, leaning my head against the cold shelf as Dad’s words echoed Dominic’s. He’d said almost the exact same thing, but he’d also mentioned the danger I was in, a fact that would only have me on the first plane out of here if my dad knew.

“Bunny,” Dad said and I pressed my lips together at the nickname, fighting back sudden tears. “I love you.” My eyes stared sightlessly in the fridge as he continued, “I want you to be happy.”

“I am,” I had to stop and clear my throat, and knew he couldn’t have missed the catch. “I’m happy here.”

“Are you?”

“Don’t sound so surprised,” I retorted. “This tiny town has its perks.”

“And living with your dad in a motel where you have to clean rooms?”

“Builds character,” I answered instantly, nodding my head sharply.

“Aw, Bunny,” he said, his tone a familiar blend of determined and cajoling.

“Dad, I need time to process,” I replied, needing to avoid the incoming spiel intended to convince me to go. One my mother had no doubt fed to him. The temptation to leave was overpowering, almost irresistible in fact, and if I let him talk, I’d be on the next plane out of here. However, a tiny, powerful part of me wasn’t so sure I wanted to leave.

“I’m going to my room.”

“We’ll have to talk about it eventually.”

“Eventually isn’t today, Dad.”

I avoided his gaze as I scooped up my bag and made a beeline for my room. Sleep and with it oblivion, couldn’t come fast enough.

Chapter Thirteen

The next morning I slammed the snooze button so many times, I barely had time to grab a granola bar before dashing out the door, only to draw up short.

“No ride,” Dad commented, coming up behind me.

“No ride,” I echoed, staring at the empty spot in disbelief, and a little bit of hurt. Okay, a lot of hurt. I turned and stomped back inside, flinging my backpack on the couch as I flopped down. “You know what? I don’t feel good. I think I’ll stay home sick.”

“Good idea,” Dad commented. “We can talk about your mother’s plan.”

I dropped my feet to the floor and pushed myself back up with a barely suppressed groan. My body hurt, but there was no way I was going to let my dad in on that fact.

“On second thought, I can walk to school.”

“Bunny.”

“Dad.”

“I’ll give you a pass this time, but you can’t keep ignoring it. If you stick your head in the sand, you’ll miss everything.”

“Can’t you just let me be mad?” I burst out, swallowing hard as I threw my arms out. “Can’t you just let me be sad and angry that the thing I want is in reach, but now I don’t want it because she is the one offering it?”

“You can’t hate her forever for what she did,” Dad said, his eyes pained.

“Wanna bet?”

He tilted his head in reluctant acknowledgement of my ability to hold a grudge as we both stood there, a world of shared misery between us.

“I won’t push, but you will have to talk to her eventually,” he finally said, surrendering. “I’ll give you a ride to school.” I opened my mouth to protest that I was sick, and he lifted his eyebrow. “If you’re well enough to yell at me, you’re well enough to go to school.” I snapped my mouth shut and reached for my backpack instead. “Good choice.”

The ride to school was silent, but it wasn’t an angry, oppressive silence like it would have been if I’d had the same fight with my mom. Dad had already let it go, and it was just another reminder of why I’d chosen him.

“I love you, Dad,” I blurted out, needing him to know.

He gave me a lightening quick grin as he said, “I know.”

“Oh, I forgot, you know everything,” I teased, smiling.

“And don’t you forget it.”

He dropped me in front of the school, and as I walked up the steps it felt strange not coming from the teacher’s lot. I scanned faces, searching for Anna or Caleb. And Dominic, a little voice chimed in, one I pointedly ignored.

I’d snoozed so many times that morning, because my sleep had been filled with nightmares, flashbacks from the attack, and every time I’d woken up I’d felt more tired than when I’d gone to sleep.

As hard, as I tried to block the details of the attack, to reassure myself my attackers were dead and no longer a concern, my mind continued to replay the attack, as if stuck in a loop. It was only when I’d remembered the words Justin had said to me before Dominic ripped him away, that my mind had stopped, letting my body relax enough to sleep.

He’d issued a warning, one I had forgotten in the turmoil, but my mind had insisted on me remembering. Now, I needed to let Anna and the others know since it was their lives in danger.