Honey
Cristi held on to me tightly. For a moment I didn't think she was going to let me go. She released me when Liam said, "Cristi, for Goddess sake, let the girl go."
"Liam! We didn't know where she was. We didn't know if something had happened to her. Now we see she is okay; I am entitled to be relieved. Are you seriously going to deny me this moment?" Cristi demanded.
"Cristi, you can see the girl is fine. I don't have time to waste on your theatrics," Liam replied.
"Liam…" Cristi gasped, placing her right hand over her chest, her mouth and eyes wide in shock.
"Crisit," Liam growled, "Sit down. You too," he growled looking at me.
I took a seat and watched him, waiting to see what he was going to say. I knew that if he was here, then that meant that it was more than likely because he had heard about my outburst at school earlier. I didn't regret what I had said. I had meant it. The amount of bullying in this pack was atrocious, plus the lack of action on the part of the faculty and staff members within the school was just as bad. It wasn't going to be any good for me to say anything to Liam though. There was no doubt in my mind that the lack of action from the faculty was because of Caleb. They were hesitant to get involved because they didn't want the backlash that would undoubtedly come on them from Liam. My dad had always said that a fish rots from the head down, and after having seen how Liam had just handled the situation with Cristi, I was willing to bet in this case, I was looking at a rotting fish.
Liam looked at me and said, "So, Honey, I just wanted to drop in and see how you were settling in to your new life in our pack."
"Just taking it one day at a time," I replied.
"Well, I can understand that it has been quite the adjustment. But telling me you are taking it one day at a time isn't really telling me anything is it?" Liam said, looking at me like a wolf eyeing off an innocent little rabbit.
"Why don't you tell me what you want me to say?" I asked.
"Honey?" Cristi gasped, looking at me in shock.
"What?" I asked her. "He is just playing a game. He didn't come here to see how I was settling in. He doesn't care about my wellbeing. If he did, he would have asked about the bruises and obvious signs of an altercation that are clearly visible. He hasn't asked because he doesn't care. All he cares about is what I said today to his precious son."
"What did you say?" Cristi asked.
"I said this pack is a joke," I told her.
"Why would you say that?" Tony asked, looking at me in obvious surprise.
"Because it's true," I stated.
"Honey, why, why would you say that?" Cristi whispered.
"Because it is the truth," I replied.
"Would you care to tell me why you seem to think that this pack is a joke. This pack that took you in and gave you a home, and protection too, might I add," Liam said as he eyed me once more.
"You are totally okay with raising a pack of bullies," I snapped.
"I am not raising a pack of bullies," Liam snapped back.
"Yes, you are. You just won't admit to it because your son is the biggest one," I hissed, glaring at Liam with open hostility.
"Careful now little girl. You don't want to push me too far," Liam growled.
"Why? Scared you will show Tony and Cristi where your son gets his bullying ways from?" I asked, clearly annoying Liam.
"Young lady, there have never been any complaints of bullying in this pack until you just said there is bullying taking place here. Now, my take on this is that maybe the issue isn't my pack, maybe the issue is you," Liam growled.
"Liam!" Cristi shouted, glaring at Liam in anger.
"What? It's obvious Cristi. She is a little trouble maker," Liam retorted.
"Liam, stop. You don't know Honey like we do. She is never in any trouble. She is always getting along with everyone. If Honey says there is a problem, then there is a problem," Cristi told him.
"What happened to you? You used to be smarter than this?" Liam asked her.
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Cristi asked him.
"Living in the Midnight Sun pack has made you soft Cristi," Liam said, looking at her in disapproval.
"How dare you…." I growled, glaring at Liam, right as Tony cut me off and said, "Honey, don't."
"My sister was a great warrior before she left here. Sharp as a whip with a mind like a steel trap. Now she can't see when a troubled young girl is being difficult and causing trouble at school," Liam stated.
"If Honey says you have a problem with bullying in the school, then you have a problem with bullying in the school," Tony interrupted.
"But funnily enough, none of this supposed bullying started until after you brought that girl here," Liam said.
"Whatever you need to tell yourself to help you sleep better at night," I muttered, looking at him in open disgust.
"Now listen here young lady, my patience is wearing thin with you," Liam snapped.
"You're just annoyed because Tony and Cristi aren't pandering to you. You are so used to people tripping over themselves to accommodate you without question. I don't care if you believe me or not. I know what is happening within this pack, and someday soon, others will know too. And when that happens, you will have a lot to answer for," I told him.
"Is that so?" he asked, looking at me in amusement.
"Yes, that's so," I replied. And I meant it. I didn't care that he wasn't listening to what I had to say about the bullying. There was going to come a time when this moment would come back to bite Liam. And I couldn't wait until it happened. But in the mean time I would just have to hold on until I was sixteen and had the help of my wolf.
"Liam, if that is all, we will handle things from here," Cristi told him.
"Don't tell me what to do in my own pack. I am the Alpha here," Liam snapped.
"And there it is," I muttered, rolling my eyes.
"Enough!" Liam shouted, jumping up from his seat on the lounge and glaring among the three of us. "Nobody tells me what to do in my own pack! Is that clear?"
"His son is just like him," I whispered to Cristi, who looked at me with her eyebrows raised in shock. I nodded my head to let her know I was serious.
"Right! That's it! You have gotten on my nerves for the last time!" Liam shouted at me. He walked over to where I was seated on the lounge beside Cristi and grabbed me by the arm, dragging me from the seat.
"Liam, don't do this please," Cristi shouted, standing up and grabbing Liam's arm to try and make him let go of me. Liam pushed her away from him and kept dragging me towards the front door. Before we reached the door, it opened, and an imposing figure walked in, stopping and taking in the scene before him.
"What the hell is going on here?" Connor asked.