Alpha vs. Alpha

Chapter 4: Dinner with the Alphas

I walked into my house, Dexter and me bantering about the possible season our football team was going to have. We took off our shoes, trying not to track mud into the house. 

My mother poked her head into the hallway. “Hi Dexter, hi honey. How was practice.”

“Good,” I said. “I think we have a pretty decent team. We’ll just have to wait and see.”

Her sandy blonde hair shone under the lights as she nodded her head. “That’s nice sweetie. Go take a shower and get ready.”

Me and Dex exchanged a look as she began bustling about. “Why,” I asked suspiciously. “Mom, are we eating out tonight? You haven’t cooked dinner yet.” She always cooked dinner by six o’clock. Always. 

She turned and smiled. “Actually, we got invited to dinner. Another Alpha in this area wants to meet our family and asked us to eat dinner with them.”

My easy smile flickered. I knew who the other Alpha was. “I’m not going,” I said flatly.

“Why on earth not,” she asked pleasantly. I knew she didn’t know about Reyna being my mate. 

“Not hungry, besides, I have tons of homework, so yeah. Tell them I wish I could have been there.” I began backing out of the living room slowly. “Bye, Mom!”

I ran into someone on the way out. I cringed and turned. It was Dad, his dark hair and eyes glaring at me, his thickly corded arms crossed over his chest. “Jaylan, you are going. End of story.”

“But Dad--”

“No buts,” he said sternly, but not harshly. I may favor my mother in appearance, but I favored Dad in personality. “Go upstairs and get ready, make sure your sister is too.”

I groaned, but heard the finality in his tone. I trudged upstairs after saying goodbye to a snickering Dexter. I opened the door to my sister’s room. She was sitting at her vanity, applying some sort of makeup to her face. Her brown hair was curled lightly, her soft blue dress making her darkly colored eyes stand out. She smiled at me. “Hiya, Jay.” Anna wrinkled her nose. “You stink, go take a shower, you have to look good tonight. That Alpha chick from school is going to be there.” She cut a sly glance at me. “She’s awfully pretty you know. Even prettier than Selena.”

I rolled my eyes. “That’s fantastic,” I said, even though my wolf was nodding its head in agreement. “We’re leaving in a few minutes, be ready.”

“Yes, sir,” she grinned, then shooed me out of her room. “Now go get ready!”

I stared up at the ominous house before me. It wasn’t actually, it was rather modest, my mind just dreaded what was inside. It was a two story farmhouse with white walls and navy blue shutters. The front porch had a wraparound deck like mine, and was nicely maintained. I could barely see Reyna living in the elegant house. Her room was probably black with chains and coffins.

I ran my hands over my khakis nervously. I really didn’t want to be here, my wolf did, but I didn’t. I didn’t want to see Reyna. She brought out all my worst qualities. Anger, impatience, desire, unpredictability, more desire. I groaned at the thought of spending all evening with her, trying to be pleasant and civil. I honestly didn’t think it was possible, but out of respect for my family, I was going to try.

We got out of the car and walked to the front door. My mother knocked lightly, and my father gave me a reassuring look right as the door opened. Reyna’s mother opened the door. Her dark eyes matched Reyna’s perfectly. “Hello, you must be the Midnights.” She ushered us inside. “It is so nice to meet you, Mark is finishing up dinner right now.” She flashed me a dazzling smile. “Hello Jaylan, it’s nice to meet you, Reyna has told me so much about you.”