My days have been busier than usual. So busy that I haven't gotten to spend any time with Lucian after school. I even had to cancel plans with Clara. If I wasn't in school, dad usually had me in the forest, teaching me about all sorts of things. And when mom got jealous, she would pick me up from school and bring me along with her. Honestly, I feel like a ping pong ball.

I was learning how to be a werewolf while trying to remain a daughter, but my parents were being overbearing. They were literally fighting for my attention. 

"You're spacing out? Come on, Amelia, what do you want to eat?" My mom's voice had me looking in her direction.

We were at a restaurant, sitting in the spacious outdoor area. This was one of the days mom had decided I needed a break from my studies, both school and Dad's lessons. Unknown to her however, I had my own plans set in motions. If things worked out nicely, things could hopefully return to some normalcy. 

"I'm still deciding," I said as I picked up the menu that was left. 

Glancing up, I looked around as best I could without drawing mom's attention. He wasn't here yet. 

"The peach cake looks good." She smiled happily. 

I just hoped that happiness remained. Oh here he comes!

"Amelia, sorry I'm late," Dad said as he approached our table. When he noticed Mom, he didn't seem surprised. Guess he caught her scent a long way off. 

Mom looked up at him. Her eyes narrowed into a glare. "What are you doing here?" 

"Amelia, what are you up to?" He looked at me, a questioning look in his eyes. 

"Have a seat," I pulled the chair beside me back some. "I need to talk to you both without the two of you arguing."

Mom continued to glare at Dad, who moved to take the seat beside me, before abruptly she averted her gaze. 

Figures. She is ready to stab him and he is ready to run for the hills. Releasing a sigh, I crossed my arms and placed them on the tabletop. "You two are using me to get back at each other and I'm exhausted from it."

"We're not using you." Mom turned her penetrating gaze on me. 

Arching an eyebrow, I looked between the two."You're using me to stab daggers at Dad. And Dad, you're using me to see Mom."

"I'm not using you to see your mother." He ran a hand through his hair before peeking over at mom. "I can see her anytime."

"Oh really? So you bringing me home, walking me inside the house is all innocent."

"I needed to make sure you got in safely," he said in a voice that wasn't too convincing. 

"I knew it!" Mom glared once more in his direction.

"Mom, you picking me up after school for these little getaways is wrong too."
 
She looked back at me as if I was the one in the wrong. "Is it a crime to want to spend time with my child?" 

"It's not, but you guilt me into them only to get under Dad's skin." I look between them. "I asked you both here so you two can talk it out."

"I have nothing to say to him. Besides this is between me and him" She crossed her arms and sat back in her chair.

I knew this wasn't going to be easy. Mom can be stubborn. It was why I had her brought us here in the first place. I guessed Dad wouldn't turn around at the sight of her, which made this whole trap a little easy. 

"You both brought me into it, Mom." Reaching over, I placed my hand on her arm. "Come on, just hear him out."

"I'm up for talking," He said as he placed his arms on the table, leaning forward with eyes on Mom.  

"You would be." She muttered, but we both heard it. 

"Maya, we do need to talk about this." 

"What's there to talk about? You made your decision."

Ok, he obviously wasn't going to say it. "Mom, Dad gave up the pack."

"Amelia." He looked at me with a soft glare, which I answered with a shrug.

What was the big deal anyway? He technically had nowhere to go now. Besides, she should know. 

Mom's eyes widened before she slammed her hands on the table, half rising. "You gave up the pack? Are you insane?"

He remained calm. "Ringer won't reveal the secret."

Retaking her seat, closing her eyes for a moment. "That's who you gave your pack to? That low down creep always had it in for you." 

He shrugged and smiled. "I didn't have much of a choice. Besides, the pack chose him as their alpha."

"Of all the idiotic--You always were passive." She rested her chin in the palm of her hand.

"But not when it came to you and now Amelia." 

Smooth, Dad. Very smooth. 

"That changes nothing still."

"I know I hurt you by leaving, and I am sorry, but it had to be done. If it helps, I mentally suffer from being away from you." 

I took that as my cue. Rising from my seat, with the excuse that I was going to the bathroom, I left the table. I figured they needed time to talk some. The restaurant outside wasn't crowded anyway. Heading inside, I looked back to see that Mom looked like she was listening to him.

"Amelia?" 

I looked around to see Clara watching me. Smiling, I turned to her. "Hey, what are you doing here?"

"Hanging out with the squad. What are you doing here?" Clara looked in the direction I was looking. "Who's the handsome older guy with your mom?"

"My dad." 

"What? But I thought--"

"Yeah, me too. Short story: Mom lied."

"You'll have to tell me the long version later." She looked back at them. "So you're just being a fly and watching them?" 

"I wanted to give them time to sort out whatever." 

Clara grabbed my hand, a little too happily. "You can join the girls and I?" 

"Do I have to?" I groaned. I didn't want to be anywhere near them if I could help it.

"Come on. It'll be fun." She started to pull me along, but paused to turn to me. "Unless you rather go back to watching your mom and dad make up."

An image of them getting all romantic flashed in my mind. "Uh yeah, no way."

"Thought so." She resumed pulling me along.

We came to their table where three other girls sat. I realized the squad leader right away. Her long, wavy red hair was up in a ponytail today. This made me wonder if they had practice a while ago. The other two girls were brunettes. 

"Beatrix, Ladies, this is my bestie, Amelia. Amelia met the squad." Clara released my hand and pulled her chair out to take her seat. 

"Hi," I said with a small smile. 

Clara gestured for me to take the seat beside her, and so I did. I felt like they were all watching me. It was a little nerve-wracking. They went on drinking their drinks or eating on the single food item they each chose. 

Beatrix was the first to speak up. "So Amelia, why haven't you tried out for the squad?"

The girl on my left spoke next. "You are pretty enough too."

"Cheerleading isn't my thing." I hoped that was a good enough answer because I would hate to explain that my reason for not joining was that I would have been forced to follow Beatrix's orders. 

"Oh. What club are you a part of?" Beatrix asked before biting off a French fries. 

"None. My girl is usually studying her heart out." Clara placed her hand on my back, patting me a few times.

I waved her hand away, only to playfully glare at her. "I do not, Clara. I'm just really busy helping Mom." 

"Oh, I see. Shame really." Beatrix's gaze wandered upward in thought. "You have great looks, for your type though." 

Did she just insult me? 

"Just great looks? Amelia is a hottie babe," Clara said, clearly oblivious. "It's all thanks to her Latino heritage. She refuses to show off those amazing assets though."

"Clara." I nudged her foot with mine. 

She acted like her comment was nothing. "Just telling the truth, Babe."

"Did you hear, quarterback Lance is on the lookout for a girl?" The girl on my left spoke once more.

I was glad for the topic change. I had enough of being the center of attention especially among these kinds of girls. 

"No way. That cold stone brute is looking?" Shock consumed Clara's face. 

As Clara and the other girls continued on with the conversation, I found myself watching my animated friend. That didn't last long because I felt her gaze on me. Turning my gaze to Beatrix, I found her staring right at me. A small smile was on her face. 

Just what was her deal? She would smile at me as if she knew a secret I didn't know from time to time, even the first time we met. 

Her smile widened. Probably because of the irritation in my expression. The hairs on the back of my neck rose. Why do I feel this uneasy feeling when I'm around her? An image of my black wolf snarled back at her.

She blinked her eyes. And in the moment she blinked them, they glowed red. A gasp left me.

"Hey you ok?" Clara's question drew my attention.

I turned to her with a smile. "Oh yeah, I'm fine."

When I looked back at Beatrix, she had her head turned to Clara and was asking her something. Her eyes were back to normal, but I knew I saw them glowed red for a moment. 

The squad girls continue to talk about guys and high school, but I remained quiet for the most part, pretending to be interested. When it came time for me to head back to my own table, I told Clara we would meet tomorrow and hang out. As I turned to leave, I caught Beatrix watching me again. That same secretive smile was on her face.