Page 37 of Fallout
We’re having an early dinner tonight. It’s tradition for the pack to have a cookout before everybody shifts, so there is a line of grills as Parker’s dad and a few other men from the pack grill hamburgers, hot dogs, steaks, and a variety of other meats.
“I’ll stay with you as long as I can.” Parker holds my hand with one hand and holds his plate overflowing with meat with the other. He leads me toward an empty picnic table.
I look at the one hotdog on my plate feeling a little nauseous. I’m not really that hungry, we just had lunch a couple of hours ago.
“I’ll be fine,” I tell Parker, putting my plate down on the table. I don’t even attempt to eat.
“I can tell you’re bummed out.” He takes a huge bite of a hamburger.
I push my plate forward, leaning my elbows on the table. “I’m fine.”
But he’s right. I am super bummed out. I’ve always been different than everybody else. And even when I meet a group of supernaturals, I’m still not the right kind of different.
I wish the guy that was coming onto pack land wasn’t such a creep. It would be nice to talk to somebody like me. Does he know what I am? He must, right?
A sigh escapes my lips and Parker turns to face me.
“I’m sorry.” He brings a hand up to my lips and gently kisses my fingers. “You know I wish you could come with me, but I can’t watch you close enough tonight—not with that other supernatural skulking around. Once things calm down, I will make a way for you to be included.”
I shrug. “I told you, I’m fine.”
He gives me a look but doesn’t argue further.
Having a soulmate is incredible, but having him know everything that I feel is a little annoying. I don’t need him to be in my head right now. I don’t want Parker to feel bad.
Another person joins us at the table. I look up to see Blaine sit down. He smirks when he sees me looking.
“Hey, Vixen.”
Parker growls. “Do you have to flirt with my soulmate?”
Blaine gives Parker an unamused look. “I’ve been calling her Vixen since long before you two found out you were soulmates.”
“And I hated it then too.”
I grin at their banter. When I glance off to the side, I spot Will sitting a few tables down from us. He’s sitting with other members of the pack, but my chest aches. I know the only reason he’s not sitting here is because of me. The smile slips off my lips.
What can I do to fix this?
Parker and Blaine are too busy bickering to notice my somber mood. I chew on my bottom lip as I consider what to do. If only I could talk to that other supernatural. Maybe he knows how to control his powers. I never want to accidentally read Will’s thoughts again. The absolute last thing I want is to start reading pack member’s thoughts. What I love most about being with the pack is how quiet it is.
Quiet—I nearly laugh at the thought. Everybody is talking loudly and laughing with one another. There is nothing remotely quiet about the pack, but it’s still so peaceful. This is what I’ve wanted for so long.
“Are you going to eat that?” Blaine asks, motioning to my plate.
I scoot it toward him. “Have at it.”
He grins and stuffs half the hot dog in his mouth.
Parker frowns. “Are you not going to eat?”
“I’m not hungry.” I told him that earlier, but he insisted that I should get something.
Parker opens his mouth, presumably to argue, but Blaine cuts him off with a wave of his hand.
“She’s fine, Parker,” Blaine says. “She’s not a wolf shifter—the full moon doesn’t make her hungry like it does us.” He stuffs the rest of the hot dog in his mouth. “Do you need me to take Henley home?”
Parker’s eyes flash gold as he looks at Blaine. “I will take her myself.”