Faye's POV
"Oh Faye, look at how big you are. I remember when you were a pup, now you are a grown woman."
"No, she is still a pup and not a grown woman," my brother said as he sat in the front seat with his childhood best friend, Eriko. He was the one we were all waiting for before those bitches happened.
I rolled my eyes and leaned back into the seat. I didn't even listen to them. Paye always calls me a pup despite the fact that I am all grown up. I am 16. 16 is not a child. If I were only two years older, I would have been able to make my own decisions. I would not be dragged across cities without notice. I would not be sitting in someone else's car, in someone else's town, pretending everything is fine.
"Hey, give me that."
I reached over and grabbed the Chanel bag from Kaye, who had been playing with it the whole time. He had his small fingers inside it, peeking, shaking it like it was some toy.
"Mine," he mumbled.
"It's not yours."
I pulled it away and placed it beside me. Obviously, one might be thinking why I picked it up. I am not stupid. Once we settle down, I will find the nearest store, sell this shit of a bag, and repair my phone. I need to reply to my friends. I need to reply to Guru. He must be worried about where we are right now. The thought of my blank screen made my chest tighten again. I need to call him.
"Paye, please give me your phone. I need to make a call."
He didn't hesitate. He just handed it to me like it was nothing. Like it wouldn't cause problems.
I quickly searched for Guru's number. My fingers moved fast. I knew it by heart but still searched anyway.
"Who do you want to call?" Paye asked casually.
"I need to let Guru know where we are so…"
I didn't even finish. He turned so fast I almost dropped the phone. His hand snatched it from me.
"No calling Guru!" he barked.
The sound filled the car. Eriko glanced at him.
"He needs to know where we are. He is our family, and we stayed in his house."
"That man is not our family. You two are my family. If you dare call him, you will feel my wrath."
Silence. I froze. My fingers were still half curved like I was holding the phone. I have never seen him like this. He has never shouted at me before. Not like that. Not with that look in his eyes. His jaw was tight. His shoulders stiff. Did something happen between them? Is that why we left?
Are we on the run from him or something?
My mind ran faster than the car.
"Hey, hey, take it easy on the kid. You are going to frighten her," Eriko said.
Paye didn't answer. He just faced forward.
I could see his eyes through the rearview mirror. They were not calm. Yes. Something did happen between him and Guru. And whatever it was, it was bad enough to drag us here.
"Welcome to my nest. It may be small, but it's warm. Feel free at home," Eriko said.
I stepped inside. The cottage felt different from anything I was used to. Smaller. Quieter. The air carried a scent of wood and something faintly old, i looked around slowly.
We were beside some woods nearby. Far from the city. No traffic noise. No neighbors arguing. No music blasting from somewhere.
Eriko showed me a room where Kaye and I would be sleeping. I stood at the doorway for a second before walking in.
In Redwood, we both had different rooms. My bed was bigger. My closet was bigger. My window faced the pool. We lived in a mansion. My brother really left all that so we can live in some cottage.
I placed my suitcase on the bed and pressed my hand against the mattress. It dipped slightly. The sheets had been folded for a long time. When I shook them out, dust lifted into the air.
After I settled down and tidied the room a bit, it looked like it had been abandoned for ages. No one had slept in it for a long time. I wiped the dresser with my sleeve. I opened the window for a second before closing it again. I unpacked my suitcase slowly. Folding. Hanging. Arranging.
Kaye did the same, though he mostly threw his clothes everywhere and sat on the floor playing with a sock like it was a puppet.
"Fold it properly," I told him.
He ignored me. I sighed and did it myself. Then later I went downstairs for dinner. Everyone was already seated. The table was small. Plates were already placed.
"Faye, what happened earlier in the car..." Paye said. His voice was calmer now.
"I know you didn't mean it. I forgive you, brother," I said quickly, saving him from apologizing.
He paused. He looked at me for a second, like he was trying to read something on my face. Then he nodded.
I sat down and helped myself to macaroni and cheese. I added roasted beef to my plate. The steam rose slowly. My stomach reminded me I had barely eaten all day.
I took a bite. It was warm.
"Look, something happened between me and Guru, and we need to stay here until that is settled. I need you to understand. Please. I wish I could tell you, but I don't want you to lose respect for him."
I stopped chewing.
"Did he do something bad to you?" I asked quietly.
Paye stared at his plate.
"I won't say. But please don't call him and tell him about our whereabouts. I need space from him. Okay?"
I nodded instantly. If something bad had happened, I didn't want to make it worse.
I know Guru can be a little harsh on my brother, but he was not just my brother-in-law. He was like a father figure to me. He corrected me when I was wrong. He praised me when I did well. He bought me my first phone. The same phone now broken. If my brother really wants space, I will allow it.
I just have to find a way to repair my phone and let my friends know that I am fine.
"So during your time here, Eriko has prepared for you and Kaye's school. From Monday, both of you will start. Kaye will be in elementary, and you will be in high school."
"Yeah, high school. You should have just skipped me. Now I have to find a way to blend in."
Eriko laughed lightly.
"Oh, that will be easy. Oakland High School has nice and friendly people. The Alpha of this town made sure of it. Your brother and I went to the same Oakland High School and we survived it."
Survived it. That word stayed in my head.
"Yes, Paye always tells me about your little adventures during high school, and you happened to be married to an Alpha."
"Was married to an Alpha. We are divorced now. But Alphas here are nice. My ex-husband's sister goes there, and she is the nicest of her siblings. You can make friends with her. Also, she is the top student trending right now."
Top student plus Alpha.
I listened as Eriko kept talking. Wow.
I haven't seen many Alphas before. In Redwood, being an Alpha was very rare. People there were just common wolves. No Betas. No Omegas.
My brother and I were the only Omegas in Redwood. We stood out without trying.
Now here, I could smell a lot of them around. Different scents. Stronger. Sharper.
It means another thing. We won't be special like we were in Redwood. Not after what happened today. My wrist tingled again.
That bitch's tight grip still burns on my wrist.
I flexed my fingers under the table.
But if I am able to make friends with the Alpha girl, it will be easy for me to find those bitches and beat them senseless.
All I need is an Alpha by my side, and It will be easy. Easy as a piece of meat.