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Buddie followed him in, looking at the two of us with an expression that said he knew we’d just been going at it.
“Hey, little man,” Duncan said, swinging him up into a hug. His smile was genuine as he looked at Charlie, which almost made this all so much worse.
The unfortunate side effect of me and Duncan putting distance between us was that Charlie was an unwilling victim. He was in the same community, same pack, but the distance was real and the gap growing.
“Are you taking care of your sister?” Duncan grinned at Charlie.
“Of course. When I get bigger, I’m going to be really good at it, too.” The pride was gleaming in Charlie’s eyes. I’d been so terrified of what I’d chosen, and he couldn’t wait until the day he shifted.
“You’re already good at it.” Duncan threw him up in the air, to happy giggles.
“Charlie, do you have homework?” I asked, grabbing his school bag and sending the hint to Duncan.
“Yes, Piper.”
Charlie wasn’t a big eye roller, but with that tone, he didn’t really need to be.
Duncan put him down, shooting a glare in my direction over Charlie’s head. He could look as hurt and betrayed as he wanted. It didn’t matter. This conversation was over. Whether he liked it or not, he knew it too.
He turned and walked out, his steps heavy.
Chapter Six
Rastin angledhis head in the direction of the group on the other side of the gathering that I’d been secretly staring at. Or not so secretly, since he seemed to have noticed.
“They’re going to come and find you either way. Go over there first. You’ll feel better,” he said, his voice a bit softer than his normally cutting tone.
“Maybe later.” The only reason I’d come to the roast tonight was because Duncan wouldn’t want me here with the other alphas. Problem was,Ididn’t want me here either. I hated these things, and nothing had changed in the last couple of days. It didn’t matter how good the food smelled or the free-flowing ale and wine. The bonfire didn’t offer enough heat to help the chill I was feeling. In an area filled with happy, laughing people, I was miserable. The only thing that could make my night worse was forcing a conversation with a group that included Duncan and Groza.
I snuck another glimpse at them. They were standing together, holding court and looking perfect. A few months ago, Duncan had been the first person I’d turn to. Now I didn’t want to walk across the clearing because he was there.
“You already met Kicks. Maddocks is easy in comparison. They’re going to seek you out anyway. Every alpha that comes in this area is going to,” Rastin said, pulling me away from my thoughts.
Maddocks looked like a blond god standing next to the two other dark-haired alphas.
Rastin was right, though. I was here, so might as well get it over with—might save me some aggravation tomorrow or the next day, and it was better to choose my moment than sit and wait.
I let out a loud sigh, letting the realization that this meeting was going to have to happen now settle in.
“Are you going?” Rastin said.
“I’m going.”
“You want me to come?”
I wasn’t sure when our dynamic had shifted to this annoying sibling type of situation. I wasn’t sure if I liked it, either.
“If I’m going, I’m going alone. I don’t need anyone to hold my hand. Talk about embarrassing.”
There was a giggle from a few people away. Damn these shifters and their hearing.
Rolling my eyes at the gigglers, I made my way across the clearing. It felt like I was slogging through a swamp trying to get to them, for all my enthusiasm.
All four of their gazes turned and locked on to me, like heat-seeking missiles, as if I’d sent out flares on my approach. I could see the storm building in Duncan’s eyes as I drew close. Groza’s glare iced over.
“I see we have guests,” I said, acting as if Duncan and I were on cordial terms and I hadn’t been on the verge of stabbing him the last few days.
“This is the new guide you’re hiding?” said Maddocks, who seemed to have a natural ease with people. Even his skills weren’t enough to tackle the tension in this group.
