Hidden Burns

Chapter 1

Sawyer's POV

I walked through the house's doors immediately heading into the kitchen and placing my stuff down before quickly opening the sliding glass doors to let the spring breeze in. I had always been a fan of the spring. The warm days but cool nights made it all worth it.

The house was quiet. I can barely remember their voices and their laughs. My dad had been traveling from pack to pack since my mom died. Last I heard, he had settled at one and had been working with their warriors for some time.

He and I were not on speaking terms. Well, at least we did not try to be. I let him do his own thing, and he let me do my own thing. Ever since she died, he became a zombie. It was like he had forgotten all about me and my pain. When I lost my mother, I also lost my father and a lot more mental and physical pain.

I stood outside looking out at the trees and then noticed the pool I needed to clean. Well, it was now or never. I made my way down and started to clean it. I grabbed my phone, and turned on some music. I decided to settle for some Vance Joy for now, listening to his newest album, starting with my favorite song Catalonia.

I did notice the many... many strings of messages from Luka trying to get me to go out with him tonight to some party. I just wanted to enjoy our first day of break and lay back in the pool or on the couch alone.

That man did not know how to leave my introverted self alone. Damn me for choosing my best friend to be an extrovert. Look, I liked having fun and going out but needed my alone time with some music refuel. I loved Luka, but he sure knew how to talk. I had just dealt with him at school all day I did not need the evening with him too unless he joined me in my quest to be a bum.

I was almost done cleaning the pool and so invested in singing and dancing along to some pop music now. I had missed Luke's car pulling up to the house. I had just finished up and was putting the cleaning supplies away when I was grabbed from behind and pulled into a hug. I screamed at first and was turned to be met with Luka's bright amber eyes. Luke was a good-looking guy that could swoon everyone with his shaggy brown hair and tanned skin.

"What the hell Luka?" I shout before I hit him in the arm and give him a bit of a glare. "A heads up would have been nice," I say as I get out of his arms and put away the rest of the cleaning of items before turning to him.

"Well, if you answered your phone or waited for me after class. You would have known I was coming." Luka shrugs as he kicks off his shoes and sits by the pool looking up at me. I looked down at him as his lips formed a slight pout.

"I know. I am sorry. I just wanted to get home quick and not deal with your fan girls." I tease as I sit beside him and stick my feet in the pool. "Please. They are all scared of you. I need you, so they won't approach me." He groans resting his head on my shoulder and taking my hand in his.

"Which is why I need you to come tonight. Shield all those women away from me." I laugh and shake my head, knowing we would eventually get to him, begging me to go. Before I could answer, he picked his head up, looking at me. "How about we go for a little bit get just a bit tipsy or get tipsy beforehand, see what all the idiots are doing? Cause some chaos as always and then leave. We can come back here and then chill, being lazy or whatever."

I give him a look as I start to think about it and then shake my head. "Fine, but we get tipsy before. Always better to go late and drunk then show up sober." I tell him. "And we get watch the new Obi-Wan episode."

"Deal."

....

Luka and I had ended up getting quite drunk before heading into the party, and as always, we rolled in with a ride from some of his friends greeting some our pack members. I watched from the corner as he spoke to everyone around him while I stood back taking everyone in people-watching.

Ever since the accident, I changed. I wasn't always an introvert or at least this reserved, but it was hard to put myself out there. I tried for a bit, but most of the ways I coped led me down the wrong path or spiral. Luka was the only one who hadn't judged me and fought like hell to get me back to a place where I was comfortable in my own skin.

I know his parents and him wanted me to be his mate, but I am so grateful that we were not when our eighteenth birthday came. I kept my eyes on him as he played some party game slapping the cup off the table before his friends could get the pong ball in it. I eventually made my way around to talk to some of the girls and guys I was friendly with in class so I didn't look entirely socially awkward.

After a few more drinks and games, I felt Luka come over when the game finished and wrap his arm around my waist when I was talking to Sadie, a girl that was friendly with Luka and me. "So, Star Wars?" He whispered to me.

...

We returned to my house after Sadie offered us a ride. I made my way through, stumbling to my room while Luka prepared the snacks. I changed into an oversized tee shirt and put on a black pair of Nike spandex.

I ran to the living room and sat in the corner of the sectional before Luka could. "Bitch." He laughs as he comes back with chips and popcorn.

"Don't complain. We have a whole season to watch." I say, laughing as I sit back. "I may fall asleep, so we may only get through one episode." I smile as Luka sits next to me, putting his feet on the ottoman as I stretch my legs out on the couch.

"We can just go to bed and start tomorrow. I mean we are on summer break now." He says as he takes some of the popcorn. I picked my phone up and check time to see it was 12:06 am. "Damn I did not realize how late it was." I say as I lay back.

"Damn Luka you owe me. We were there so long..." I groan as I take some popcorn.

"It is not my fault. That last game got so intense..." He says before I jump in. "Yeah, that last game turned into three." I scoff as he gets up and walks over to the piano in the corner of the living room ignoring me. He was definitely not sober.

"Play for me." He says as he brushes the keys. I walked over and sat down at the baby grand piano we had. It had been a while since I last played, but whenever Luka asked, I would usually play for him.

Just as I was about to start, I heard a car coming up the driveway. "Did you invite someone over?" I ask him as I try and read the plates hiding back with him.

"No. I wouldn't do that."

I looked out to see two big Cadillac Escalades pull in. "What the fuck?" I mumble as I crouch down and pull Luka down with me to stay hidden.

I look keep watching to see who gets out of the cars. I don't recognize the first few people a few girls and guys about our age maybe older and then a young boy. I look over to the first car and finally notice the driver step out.

"Fuck." I hear Luka mutter.

"Is that my dad?"

....

Hope you Liked it! Let me know what you think!

-M.