Chapter 80: The Other Sister's Rage Pt. 3

The sand pressed with a crisp warmth beneath my feet as we walked along the shore together.

I’d have much rather been having this walk with someone else, however. Talon.

“I know I’ve said it a lot by now, but I really am sorry about that night at the beach. This isn’t the same beach but it gives me like, PTSD just thinking about it.”

And just like that, Penny cut off any meaningful thought that I was beginning to have about my true mate. She was always good at spewing random idiocies throughout a conversation.

PTSD, I scoffed. I mean is she really serious?!

I guess, it was for the best, as I the reason I had even sook Penny out in the first place was to have a conversation that…may change everything after this night.

“Imagine how those who actually have PTSD feel.” I found myself saying.

“I-I didn’t mean to imply that-”

Before Penny could continue to stumble over her words, I cut her off. I wasn’t in the mood to hear her switch up on me because she realized that I was irritated by her choice of words.

“Of course you didn’t,” I said.

Penny sighed, probably realizing that just like that, she was on my bad side again. I’d come to realize that it didn’t take much where she was concerned.And yet still, I did care for her.

“I’m sorry, Harly,” Penny said with a now more sullen tone than before.

“Yeah,” I looked at her, almost feeling sorry for her. She really did try. “I know,” I replied.

Penny and I continued down the shoreline until we came across a barely visible path of sand that gradually sprinkled into dirt, and sprigs of grass. It led directly into the forest.

Now, it was time to get her alone. It was the only way that I could get her to be honest with me. Getting the truth out of her would be impossible around a pack of our people. It would be idiotic to be so tactless, and even Penny wasn’t that much of a fool.

“Wanna get away? Have a bit of girl talk?” I put on my most sincere smile; one not too small as it would most certainly alert Penny to the fact that she was in trouble. Not too big either, as it would most definitely scare her off.

“Oh, I…I don’t think so,” said Penny. “We’re on high alert and I don’t want anything to sneak up on us while we’re away from everyone.”

She put up a valid point. Not valid enough for me, however.

“Oh come on!” I pressed, dashed away and returned with four beers. “You know that my dad has everything under control. Ares and his pack are right alongside those of ours who are guarding against intruders. Not to mention the fact that we have two freakishly powerful gold-blooded inhumans on the lookout.” I added. “What in the bloody hell could go wrong?”

Penny still seemed reluctant. She really was not fit to be a pack soldier. The girl was the complete opposite of her father. A coward.

There was only one other way to get her into that forest. Intimidation.

“So…then what you’re saying is…that you don’t trust that our packs can keep everyone safe? Is that what you’re saying?”

“N0no! No, that’s not-that’s not what I’m trying to say at all-”

“But it sort of sounds like it. Sounds like you’ve lost faith in not only my father but your own.”

Flustered now, Penny shuffles around and then finally gives in. “Fine,” she said with an uneasy smile, her eyes lurking in the forest. She grabbed a beer, pooped it open and walked ahead of me. “Let’s go.”

I glanced back at the party behind me to see if anyone was watching. When I didn’t see any noticeable stares, I followed Penny.

We walked down the path in silence as I figured out how to approach the subject of my best friend murdering my sister. I hadn’t even considered how awkward it felt for Penny, my silence. It didn’t take much for her to be uncomfortable. Even around me, but I guess that was my fault, as I was somewhat of a bully at the best of times.

“So, how have things been going?” Penny asked, finally breaking the lull in our conversation.

I popped open a beer and took spaced out gulps of it as I thought long and hard about how this situation was going to, hence the continued silence even after her inquiry. Then, I finally looked at Penny, a short smile curling the corners of my lips.

Then I said, “Not so sure how to answer that question, Penny.”

“Why is that?” Penny asked me as she took an unsure yet curious sip of her drink. There seemed to be a small hint of concern suddenly wearing on her face at this point.

“Well,” I countered as I found comfort on the large loblolly pine planted next to me. “To be honest, I’ve heard some disheartening news concerning my sister.”

Penny’s brow raised with slight confusion, then she chuckled. “Harly, you don’t have a sister. What are you talking about-”

“But I do,” I said contradictingly. “And you know that.”

Penny seemed to become irritated by my admittance, as if it were news to her in the first place. I had to take partial blame for that. The girl had been conditioned by me for years, to think I was too good to claim someone like Vali as my kin, let alone my flesh-and-blood sister, whether half or full.

“Geez-Harly, just because your dad has a love child, doesn’t mean that you have to go claiming every stray that he’s sired. I can’t believe that you-”

“Watch…what next comes from your lips, Penny.” I glared.

Immediately, she shut her mouth and averted her gaze from mine. She was obviously doing what I had said; choosing her next words very wisely.

“I just…I don’t understand why you’re so protective over her. Even now. She’s practically taken everything away from you, and now she’s brought her mom to try and replace yours?Aren’t you upset about that? About the lies that her mother has released about yours? I mean-”

Penny shook her head and looked toward the night sky in distress, her hands dropping down to her legs causing a slight slapping sound. I could tell that she was at her wit’s end.

“Harly, why are you so accepting about this?” she asked me incredulously.

“You know good and bloody well that I wasn’t, Penny,” I reminded her. “Or have you forgotten the bloody near fight to the death that happened between us!” I hissed. Just thinking of it upset me. I couldn’t believe how angry I’d gotten that night. How angry both me and Vali had gotten.