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It was time to show Finn and the others I fought my own battles and won. “Everybody calm down. He was right.”
“What do you mean?” Glen demanded.
I shrugged. “You were right, Finnick’s Dad.”
“Alpha Aidan McDonnell,” Brand whispered.
I winked at him. “Like I said, Alpha McDonnell, you’re right. I mean, not about the slut part. But ill-bred? I’d have to agree with that; my sperm donor was a rat bastard, for sure. I know my accent’s thicker than flies on shit, and I ain’t much to look at.” I ignored the muttered protests from the guys. “I did lie to you. But I mean, haven’t you ever had something you didn’t want to announce at the dinner table?”
“I wouldn’t be afraid to say my own name,” he shot back. “I was told you had courage.”
“I was told you Easterners had manners. Even I know you shouldn’t confront a fellow dinner guest and talk shit about her under your breath. Or out loud.” I waved at his glasses. “And isn’t that a lie? Your glasses, I mean. There’s no way you need those.”
He huffed, and Finnick spoke up, picking up his chair and sitting again. “Yes, you’re right. My father wears them around humans to blend in. It’s common practice for those who work in the human world. Many shifters in the city wear them.”
“Gotcha.” I sat back down and chomped on a small piece of cheese to keep my hands busy. “Sorry, I wouldn’t know about human stuff. I’ve never been outside pack grounds.”
“Never?” Brand murmured the word. I shook my head, then felt his warm hand cover mine under the table.
A tense, fraught silence swamped the room. Someone had to speak, and it wasn’t going to be me.
“So, Florida…” Brand’s father surprised us all by beginning; he didn’t seem the type to make small talk. “You said you are nineteen. When did you finish high school, this year or last?”
I swallowed. “Yeah, just Flor, thanks. And I didn’t. Finish, that is. I had to quit going to school when my mama died, back when I was fifteen.”
“Why?” Margarette demanded.
I felt my face burning. “It was either quit school and take up pack duties, or be cast out along with Mama for the rogues to kill.”
“When you were fifteen?” Alpha Hillier ran his hands over his beard. “I can’t believe we didn’t know how low your pack had sunk.” I kept eating, hoping I’d have time to finish the bacon-dressed green beans and mashed potatoes once I’d devoured my steak.
“Would you want to finish school?” Finnick asked, and to my surprise, his voice wasn’t sarcastic or cold. He seemed genuinely interested. His dad, on the other hand, was looking appalled.
Ignoring his dad, I swallowed my mouthful. No one had ever asked me if I wanted to finish school, or get my high school equivalency.“Yeah. I love to read. I mean, I don’t own any real books, just some paperbacks I found in the trash, but back in school, I loved checking out books. And I kept learning after I quit, so I might be able to place out of some classes. I actually found a bunch of old textbooks in the dumpsters when I was scrounging for food for me and the other unranked kids, and I taught myself algebra.”
Ugh. I didn’t really care what he thought of me, what the others thought. So why was I trying to convince them I wasn’t dumb?
“You like math?” Finnick looked intrigued, his green eyes gleaming. “I just finished my master’s in physics. I could tutor you?—”
Margarette cut him off. “She would need a Northern tutor, Finn. She’s going to be a Northern Enforcer.”
Finnick looked like he wanted to argue, but he let it go. I wasn’t going to, though. “I agreed to be a visitor at Northern, Margarette. I don’t know where I’ll end up. Your pack might not like me.” It seemed probable; I couldn’t imagine what an unranked hick like me could offer a pack that renowned.
“They’ll love you,” Glen announced. “If they know what’s good for them.”
Brand cleared his throat. “What she needs to learn is how to shift and hunt. For that, you want to come to Mountain.” He squeezed my hand. “If Northern doesn’t suit you, you’re welcome in my home, Flor. We could use an Enforcer with your skills. I want to see what kind of damage you can do with a real staff.”
I smiled back. “Thanks, Bearman.” I didn’t mean I was going to accept his offer, but the other two Heirs acted like I had. Glen, Finnick, and all the other males started shouting suggestions.
“Wait a minute, we have weapons, too.”
“She could be an Enforcer in any pack!”
“I’ve already offered her a place?—”
“She’s already been adopted by Northern!”
“That can be changed.”
