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Pearl was in my room when I returned at sunset, and I sighed. "Who said you could go out?" she demanded. She was the Theta, being more suited to my parents than I was, and she made sure I knew ALL about it.
"My parents," I said.
Pearl's eyes narrowed. "You didn't ask ME," she snapped. "Your parents are soft. When I'm Alpha, I'll make sure you know ALL about it." She glared contemptuously at the mattress, pillow and single blanket I'd managed to hold onto. "I should take those away and make you sleep on the floor like the bitch mutt you are," she said. "Luckily for you I'm in a forgiving mood. But next time, you ask ME before you go on a run." So saying, she left, and I sighed again as I sat on the stool I'd also managed to hang onto.
Pearl would have had me stripped of all basic comforts, but even my father had balked at that. Not because he cared, but because he didn't want the authorities getting involved. I shivered as I sat there, watching the sun going down. Marriage seemed the only way out of Pearl's promised clutches, but at the same time it would make things worse. Pearl had been promised to Coach Jasper when they were cubs. Alpha Jonas was Coach Jasper's father; marrying him would make Coach Jasper my stepson, and Pearl would become my step-daughter-in-law. And I really didn't relish the prospect.
But there was nothing I could do. Still, as I got ready for bed, I counted my lucky stars Pearl hadn't as yet demanded to join my training sessions.
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The next day, I wished I'd kept my mouth shut when Father informed me that Pearl would be coming with me to training. He said it was because Pearl deserved some extra training as well, but Pearl's smirk told me otherwise as we set off. "I don't trust you," she said. "Jasper is MINE, mutt. I don't want you talking to him without my say so."
"I can't exactly ignore him when he talks to me," I protested.
Pearl rolled her eyes. "You know what he wants you to do today," she said in a tone that suggested I was slow. "So when we get there, you can just go right on ahead and get to it."
I almost wanted to thank my lucky stars that Pearl wasn't in my regular swim class at school. Remembering how I'd jinxed myself, I refrained, and instead prayed that Coach Jasper wouldn't be there today.
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To my relief, Elise was by herself, and she raised an eyebrow when she saw Pearl at my side. "I didn't realise I'd be spotting two people today," she said lightly.
"Pearl wanted to come and see what I get up to," I said, smiling sweetly at my fuming cousin, who looked ready to drown me.
"Well, she can help me count your laps," Elise said. "You're doing dolphin stroke today so you can train your body to stay underwater while being active."
"Sounds like a plan," I said.
Pearl cut in. "Who the hell are YOU?" she demanded of Elise.
Elise, to her credit, kept her cool, rather than belting Pearl over the head with her clipboard. "I'm Jasper's stepsister," she said. "Don't worry. I'm not on a quest to seduce him."
"See that you don't," Pearl snarled.
Elise and I exchanged looks. "You have my word," Elise said. "Cass, you ready?"
"As ready as I'll ever be," I said with a smile.
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