Running From The Alpha

Chapter Two

Silence

I kept true to what I told Cynthia. When Peter was outside my class when third period ended I swept past him silently and I did the same at the end of forth period. I didn't say a single word to him as we walked to his car. I was soundless as I slid into the passenger seat.

"I don't suppose saying sorry would help," Peter joked lightly. I flipped my hood onto my head and pulled it forward to conceal my face from him. He sighed and started the car, "Guess not."

I glared as the dash as I fumed over him giving me a babysitter and treating me like a child. Stupid Peter. Stupid Car.

"Hey," Peter exclaimed. "I get that you're mad at me, Violet, but don't take it out on my car. She is not stupid!"

My head whipped around and I met his eyes with a glare so cold it could freeze the sun. He swallowed nervously and opened his mouth probably to say something that I was not in the mood to hear. "Stay. Out. Of. My. Head," I said slowly with a dangerously dark tone.

"Violet," Peter whispered reaching a hand out to touch me.

"Don't," I said and his hand jerked back as if he'd put his finger in a socket and got shocked. "Just drive the car."

His hand moved back to the steering wheel and I turned to stare coldly out the passenger side window. The thing about being in a pack is that you're connected to everyone in the pack. It's a like a bunch of mental strings that tie you to everyone else in the pack. The better you know someone in the pack the stronger the string. These strings came be used to communicate, they allow you to hear thoughts. When cell phones become widespread that wasn't really needed but before then the strings could be used to call for help or warn of trouble. Because it's rarely used nowadays you can really only hear those extremely close to you. You can block them out of course, that's what most people do but sometimes if they really push or you're feeling a strong enough emotion things slip through.

Peter knows I don't want anyone else in my head. I have good reason. The few rare times he slipped up when we were kids I didn't talk or have anything to do with him for weeks. He knew better than to go digging around in my thoughts.

The rest of the car ride home was uncomfortable silent but I wasn't in the mood to talk to him or listen to anything on the radio. When he parked I didn't even wait for him to shut the engine off before getting out and slamming the door close.

Alpha George's car wasn't in its spot on the driveway so I assumed he was still at the pack house. I was hit with the aroma of Italian food when I opened the front door. Luna Kiara was in the kitchen. Hopefully it was just spaghetti or something simple and she wasn't experimenting again.

"Violet? Peter?" she called. "I need a taste tester."

She came out to the foyer hold a wood spoon covered in a clay-colored sauce. "Here-" She stopped suddenly when she saw me. "Violet, sweetie what's wrong."

"Nothing," I lied just as a car door slammed outside. Great. Peter's angry. I started for the stairs. Last thing this house needs is another teenage screaming match.

Luna Kiara raised an unbelieving eyebrow. "Hold it right there young lady." I stopped and turned around in time to see her son stormed in slamming the front door behind him. Peter's eyes found mine first, then his mother's. "I know you did not just slam my front door."

Peter took a deep breath knowing just how bad of an idea it was to cope an attitude with his mother. "Sorry Mom."

"You better be." She turned back to me. "What's wrong, Violet?"