The shrieks of my sisters greeted me as I neared home, and I took a deep breath, preparing myself for the dungeon I had come to know as home.
My thighs were sticky and clammy, my movement funny, an aftermath of Theo’s ruthless passion. I wanted nothing more than to wash myself thoroughly, in hopes that I would be clean enough before I meet my mate, and after that I hop into bed.
Another excited scream greeted me as I reached the door, my hands closing on the cold knob, and I inhaled a large whiff of air. They were family after all; I only had to endure them for a moment.
The wooden door, now a rusty bronze from age, creaked as I opened it, and my eyes zoned in on my parents cuddling together on the loveseat and peeping over a phone.
My sisters were at the other end of the room, several white shopping bags lying at their feet, and their hands dipped into them every now and then, screaming from their new buys.
I stared at my sibling, their actions so in sync that they could be triplets if it weren’t for their contrasting looks.
Rebecca, an exact duplicate of my mother, with full lips, long straight hair, and a well-rounded figure. Mother would always brag that she stole all of her fine features, and it should explain why she was always biased towards her.
Rachel was my father, towering over us all at 6’1. She had his smile and his kindness, a trait that had earned her a spot as my favorite sibling. Not that I liked any of them.
Raina was a perfect mixture of both, only it had earned her favoritism from everyone, and she was spoiled to a fault.
I was sure the goddess had made a mistake in making me the last born. Raina had a haughty mouth and an attitude to match with it; it was even worse because she was older than me, and I often got the brunt of her mischief.
Meanwhile, there I was. Plain old Jane with hand-me-downs that have seen more than 3 generations and a name that didn’t even belong to me.
“Ryan.” My father perked up as he noticed my presence, the crinkles on his eyes forming as his smile widened. His nose flared as he perceived the pungent stench of cum surrounding me, and his lips pulled tight in a thin line. “Have you been frolicking with the beta’s son?”
“His name is Theo!” I snapped, annoyed he had been reduced to just his connection with his father. However, the scene from before flashed in my mind, the wide smile he had been sporting, and my mood turned sour. “He found his mate.” I announced to no one in particular.
A sound of disappointment echoed from my siblings’ lips, Rachel’s more pronounced as she somehow held hopes he would come for her, and I would have laughed in her face if I wasn’t so gutted.
My eyes scanned the living room, landing on the shopping box from earlier. “Where is mine?” I asked, walking towards a bag and yanking one up. “What did you get for me?”
A pregnant silence filled the air, and suddenly everyone found something else more interesting. The guilt was practically written on their face, and I wished I could say I was disappointed.
“Ryan,” my mother began, her voice now a soft, patronizing timbre. “We really couldn’t find anything you would like. I know you love the color blue, and…”
“No!” I snapped, unable to listen to her pathetic excuse anymore. “No, I don't. In fact, I hate the color blue so much that I would rather go naked than put that disgusting shit on.”
“Ryan!” My father barked, his eyes flashing gold for a moment, ever ready to support his mate, but I turned my glare at him.
“The name is Raya. R A Y A. It is always amusing how it is that you keep forgetting things about a particular sibling, but your brain manages to work when it involves the other three.”
“Ryan, that is no way to talk to our parents.” Raina cut in, trying to be the voice of reasoning.
I turned my glare to her, my eyes almost ablaze in fury. “You don’t have the right to school me on anything. I will talk to them however I want. How can you even understand when you have always been the favored child?” My gaze moved from her to my family, but their eyes darted elsewhere, unable to hold my gaze.
I shook my head slowly, a bitter smile slowly forming on my lips. “You know what, fuck you all!” I stormed out of the house, not waiting for their reaction. Not while the rage was still bubbling inside, threatening to spill.
This time my feet led me to the pack house, just in time to see the entourage of the new park filing inside.
My eyes merely glanced over them, too absorbed in my own anger to care for their presence when the only thing I wanted was to see Thalia and rant.
She had once suggested I move in with her, understanding my plight, but I had placed hopes in my parents whilst refusing to take up space that others would need.
It was too late now to consider it anyways.
I passed the living area, all the way to the indoor kitchen where the stairs were located, and I climbed onto them.
However, a hand shot up from the dark corner of the stair, pulling me towards him. I gasped, my mouth parting to let out a scream when it hit me.
Electricity sizzled where he touched me, the sparks going crazy just being in close proximity with him. My pulse raced, my mouth already watering as the scent continued to fill my nose and my head even.
I raised my head to look at him, my eyes dilating as I took him in, and then he opened his mouth, sealing our fates.
“Hello mate, I have been waiting for you.”