Apex Predator

~THREE~

Our team ended up not winning the Hunt. Is that even a really big surprise? While hunting an elk, I messed up and tripped over my own paws and spooked it. Riley wasn't very happy, and his snarky comments continued, and this time, Atlas didn't say a thing to stop it. Not that I cared, like I said, I could handle myself when it came to a wolf with a big mouth, but to say it didn't suck was an understatement. Dad was very upset with me for choosing to hunt with a group of Devines, despite him knowing I had to go with what I got. No one else would've offered me a spot, and he knew that. So, to be upset with me over that was pathetic, and I had nothing to say to him as I stormed to my room and locked the door. No matter how hard I try to fit in with the pack, it never works. Dad is always upset with me over something, the clan thinks I'm a disappointment, and my brother would rather hunt with another pack than his own sister. I tried not to think of it like that, but I was forced to spend my time with Trella, specifically so I wasn't wandering around looking lost.

On top of that, I was easily annoyed by the constant nagging of my inner self wailing for her mate. It was utterly miserable as I laid on my bed, staring blankly at the ceiling. It was like my body didn't know what to do with itself. I didn't want breakfast, I didn't want to see Amber at the infirmary, I didn't even want to see my family.

My stomach was eating itself and my ears picked up the sound of footsteps nearing my room. I could smell the fresh scent of bacon and eggs with a piece of buttered toast, and the faint smell of Silas. The food smelt heavenly, but my stomach wasn't having it as it rumbled a bit in protest. My brother knocked on the door softly, "Astrid?"

I didn't answer as my eyes traveled to outside my window. A part of me knew he was just going to walk in anyways because this pack has no sense of boundaries, and I was proved correct when his head peaked through my door. "You good? You're usually the first one at breakfast."

"Yeah, I'm fine." Whoever really says they are fine and means it?

Unfortunately, my brother is smart and speaks lady, because he raised an eyebrow and came to take a seat on my bed. The plate of food still in his hands as he gave me a suspicious look, "Yeah, you're a big, fat, fucking liar is what you are. What happened at the Hunt?"

Oh, you know... I got rejected by the person who is supposed to love me above anything else. It's fine though. "Nothing happened." Normally, lying came easy to me, but Silas knew me like the back of his hand, and I could never successfully lie to him.

"Bullshit." He said sternly, setting the food down on my black nightstand. "I'm serious, Astrid."

I could feel myself start to get nervous. I couldn't tell anyone that Atlas was my mate, as it would blow up in my face. It wouldn't surprise me if the Devine Alpha denied any involvement and I would've looked like some lovesick fool, and they'd banish me. There is no way survival would be an option if that happened. With no survival training? I'd be an easy grizzly bear snack. "Just drop it."

He stared at me for a second before shrugging and standing up, "Fine. You don't want to tell me; I'll go and tell dad that something happened at the Hunt and you won't tell me what. He'll tear apart all the clans to figure it out."

My eyes widened in disbelief, "You fucking snitch!" I snapped. Another reason why a protective family sucks. My feelings can never be my own without someone getting involved and wanting to fight. "It was nothing. I got lippy with Alpha Atlas and he reamed me, okay?" I mean, that wasn't a lie, but it also wasn't the whole truth. Honestly, I didn't give a shit that Atlas ripped me a new one, the heartbreak was enough.

"Astrid..." He sat on my bed next to me again and sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose, "You can't go picking fights with Alpha's. You're going to get hurt."