Alone

43.

"You are drunk!" he shouted eyes blazing. Aarav and Reka took a step back. He crossed the distance separating us in a flash. Grabbed me by the arm and yanked me forward. I let out a cry as I lost my footing. The door on the porch opened with a bang. Mom was there.

"Renesme!" Her voice held an edge of panic. She ran to me and pulled me from Dad. Her arms crushed me against her chest. "I was so scared," she sobbed but no tears came out. I don't think she was aware of her own strength.

"Mom, I can't breathe," I struggled to keep my balance. The alcohol was getting to my head. She pushed away enough to look me in the face. Her eyes darted from me to the two wereleopards behind me. Her nostrils flared, sniffing my breath.

"You smell like—," she let go with a rough shove, and I staggered to my feet. Crimson bleed into her eyes as they rested on Reka. "You let my daughter drink?" she snared at her. "Do you know how old—" I threw myself at her, pulling on her arm.

"Mom, wait. It's a misunderstanding. Please," I begged.

"She's a vampire," said Aarav and I shot his a deadly glare. He closed his mouth. He was smart that was a good point for him.

"Mom, Dad," I kept pulling on Mom's arm, she completely ignored me, her eyes locked on the intruders who got her dearest underage daughter drunk. Deadly intent oozed from both of them. "Please, can we get inside? I have something to tell you," Dad was the first one to break the deadlock staring contest.

"Speak," Dad commanded. He knew too well that his power didn't work on me. I think he did it out of habit and not really to urge the words from me.

"Not before you let Reka and Aarav leave without harm. They were nice enough to drive me home when they could leave me in the middle of nowhere," I pleaded. Mom exposed her fangs, which I rarely saw. Her face twisted into something far from human. "Mom, please!" I yanked on her arm. She slowly turned to me. Eyes blazing with fury.

"I thought you ran away," her voice quivered. "I thought you ran after Jacob," she swallowed.

"Mom," my own voice dropped to a whisper. "It never crossed my mind," I searched her confused face. "Jacob—he wants me to grow up—wants me to be mature—wants me to figure out who I want to be," I paused. "I want to be better for him. But I don't know how—I don't know what to do," Mom wrapped her arms around me and held me close.

"It's ok, you're still young. You have a lifetime to figure it out. It's stupid for Jacob to force you to grow up too rapidly. Ju-just take your time. I'm already scared that you're going to leave us behind," Dad stepped closer and placed a loving hand on Mom's shoulder.

"Go now," he said to Reka and Aarav. "And thanks for bringing our daughter home. But I don't want you to hang out around here anymore," he warned. Reka stepped forward with her fists clenched.

"Renesme doesn't have friends. I'm her only friend. She's going through rough times with her mate leaving her behind. You should listen to her instead of holding her hostage in her own house. She clearly needs help," Dad stepped closer glaring at her. Aarav pulled Reka back towards him. Pressing her back into his chest and one arm around her shoulder.

"Let's go," he whispered in her hair and he held a protective arm in front of her. "They can figure out their own shit. Let's just go," he forced her to move towards the car. His eyes locked on Dad's and slowly backed up. He pushed her into the car and hurried around the hood.

"Renesme, I'll text you and you better text me back," Reka called from the passenger door. She pointed at Dad. "You better treat her right, Daddy! She needs you now more than ever," Aarav backed up the car and rushed in the opposite direction in a squeal of tires. Dad swirled towards me, raging.

"Who is that girl?" he demanded.

"That's Reka, I met her at school. You told me to make friends," I shrugged.

"With a wereleopard?" he sounded disgusted.

"I'm not racist," I pursed my lips at him.