Everyone seated at the table was silent while Laura explained mates to Kimberly.
Indianna felt bad for Kal. He deserved someone kind, funny and with a twisted sense of humour to match his—not Kimberly, who enjoyed being a bitch to people.
If she hurts him, I'll kill her, Greyson said coldly.
I'll help, Harry said.
Indianna jumped slightly, surprised to hear Harry's voice in her head.
Brooke caught Indianna's eye, and both girls shook their heads at their mates.
"So... I'm stuck with him?" Kimberly said. "I've barely spoken to him. I don't even know his name—"
"His name is Kal," Indianna said, looking at Kimberly with narrowed eyes. "And he is one of the funniest and kindest people I know. You don't deserve someone like him, so you'd better be grateful that you have him. He deserves someone nice, not you. You bully people to make yourself feel better, and that's horrible. No one should have to be stuck with a person like that."
"I think your mate loves me more than she loves you," Kal said to Greyson as he walked back into the kitchen with Ace and stopped by the door.
Kal smiled at Indianna before turning to Kimberly, his smile disappearing.
"We need to talk."
"Do we?"
"What else are you going to do? Sit there surrounded by people who don't like you? Go to the shops and buy some dye for your weird-coloured hair?" Kal questioned. "Actually, can you do that?"
"Kal, don't get distracted, you idiot," Ace called and rolled his eyes.
"Bring your food. It doesn't deserve to be left to go cold," Kal said.
Indianna smiled to herself when she realised Kal was still holding his plate, which contained half-eaten breakfast.
Kimberly swallowed and slowly stood, picking up her plate.
"Oh, and the ketchup," Kal added as an afterthought, looking at the other unbroken ketchup bottle on the table. "Bring the ketchup."
Kimberly picked up the ketchup, and Kal turned on his heel and walked away. Kimberly silently followed him.
"Well, that was unexpected," Mac said.
"Of all people, it had to be her," Greyson sighed.
"This might be a good thing," Laura said optimistically.
"How the hell is this a good thing?" Greyson demanded.
"Kimberly is a troubled girl. She's had a bad past. Maybe Kal is what she needs to help her."
"I had a troubled past," Brooke spoke up. "And a troubled present, but you don't see me being mean to people for my own gratification."
"Everyone deals with things differently," Laura said.
"The only thing we can do is wait and see what happens, and I'd rather not spend my free time talking about that girl," Kirstie said. "I've got to get ready for work."
"School started two hours ago, Kirst," Mark said.
"I know," she shrugged. "The kids never do any work, so why should I bother being on time?"
"So students are right. Teachers don't give a fuck about us," Greyson muttered.
Kirstie flipped Greyson off before kissing Mac and walking away.
"We should go to school as well," Brooke said and looked at Harry.
"Do you want to?" Harry questioned. "After last night?"
"Yes," Brooke nodded. "I need to get out, clear my head and focus on something different."
"Please say you're not going to make me go to school," Greyson groaned and glanced at Indianna.
Indianna chuckled and shook her head.
"I'm not really feeling up to it," she admitted.
"Good," Greyson nodded. "Harry, Brooke, make sure you're back tonight. Pack meeting at eight."
"About?" Harry questioned.
"Who do you think?" Greyson said and raised his eyebrows. "Rogue."
"The plan?" Indianna wondered.
Greyson nodded.
"Ace and I finalised it," he said. "We'll tell the pack tonight."
"Speaking of Rogue," Ace said, "we need to deliver food to Stacy."
"Oh God, she's still down there—"
"She's fine," Greyson said and rolled his eyes at Indianna's worried expression. "She's getting three meals a day and a bucket to shit in. What more could she want?"
"I'll prepare some food for her," Laura said, frowning at her son.
"Thank you, Laura," Indianna smiled.
"I wonder how you two got put together," Mac admitted and chuckled, shaking his head at Greyson.
"Opposites attract," Greyson shrugged and wrapped his arm around Indianna's shoulders.
"Sadly, they do," Brooke teased and stood up, grabbing Harry's hand and tugging him to his feet. "Let's go."
"The things you do for your mate," Harry muttered and shook his head as they walked out of the room. "I hate school."
Greyson smirked and stood up.
"Sugar, we're going to the gym."
Indianna raised her eyebrows.
"We are?"
"I'm still teaching you how to fight," Greyson shrugged.
"I'll join you," Ace said. "I have some time to kill before it's my turn to lead a search group for Martha."
"I'll help clear the dishes away, and then I'll come down," Indianna said.
"It's fine, Indie," Mark said. "Mac and I can help tidy away."
"That's what the volunteer said," Mac replied sarcastically.
"Great. Let's go and get changed," Greyson said. "Meet you in there, Ace?"
"Yep," Ace nodded.
Soon, everyone dispersed from the kitchen and got on with their day.
Indianna changed quickly into a pair of low-hanging leggings and a loose vest top so her burn wouldn't catch on anything. Greyson walked in a few minutes later wearing sweatpants and a black vest top.
"What's that?" Indianna asked, looking at Greyson's hands.
"A bandage for your burn," he said. "Arms out."
Indianna raised her arms so Greyson could bandage the burn.
"It has a cooling effect," Greyson said. "I didn't want to risk hitting you on the burn during training."
Indianna narrowed her eyes.
"If you hit me, I'll kill you."
"You could try," Greyson smirked.
He placed his hands on Indianna's waist, bent down and softly kissed her, dragging her lower lip between his teeth.
"You could never take me down, sugar."
Indianna smiled sweetly and placed her hand on Greyson's cheek.
"Don't be so sure," she whispered. "I've kneed you in the balls before. I won't hesitate to do it again."
"Foul play!" Greyson called as Indianna walked out of the room.
"I like to play dirty," Indianna laughed.
Greyson caught up to her.
I'll hold you to that.
Indianna landed on the floor with a thud and narrowed her eyes at Greyson, who crouched beside her.
"Don't frown," he said and flicked Indianna's nose. "It's not attractive."
Indianna pushed Greyson's hand away and sat up.
"My back hurts."
"Maybe you should try staying on your feet, then," Greyson smirked.
"Maybe you should stop flooring me."
"Maybe you should learn how to fight."
"Maybe you should be a better teacher."
"Maybe you should stop being stubborn and listen to what I tell you to do."
"Maybe you should stop being so damn bossy—"
Indianna was cut off when Greyson grabbed her and crashed his lips against hers.
"Maybe you should shut the fuck up," he grumbled.
Indianna grabbed his vest and leaned backwards, pulling Greyson down with her.
"Bossy," she tutted.
She spun them over so she was straddling Greyson. He looked up at Indianna with a smirk and placed his hands on either side of her thighs.
"Take advantage of this moment. It won't often be possible for you to take charge, sugar," he said lowly.
"I think you'll find yourself mistaken," Indianna said and kissed Greyson. "I've got you wrapped around my finger."
Greyson scoffed.
Indianna squealed when the world spun and she found herself beneath Greyson, her arms pinned above her head and Greyson's face inches from hers.
"You wish," he smirked.
He pecked Indianna before jumping up and holding out his hand.
"We were training. Let's not get distracted."
"Yes, I don't need to see that," Ace called from the running machine.
"You're just jealous," Greyson shrugged.
Indianna stood up, ignoring Greyson's offered hand.
"Of course," Ace said sarcastically. "Kal just mind linked me."
"How's it going?" Indianna wondered.
"Another ketchup bottle was smashed," Ace frowned. "He wants mayonnaise."
"That boy is one of a kind," Greyson muttered.
"I think he threw the ketchup at the wall," Ace said with a chuckle. "This is Kal we're talking about. He worships condiments."
"You'd better go check on them," Greyson sighed.
"Let us know if we can help!" Indianna called as Ace walked towards the door.
"Don't bother us!" Greyson yelled.
"Okay," Ace laughed.
"He was talking to me," Indianna said.
"No, he was definitely talking to me."
"Oh really?"
Greyson nodded.
"Really."
Indianna pursed her lips. She took a deep breath and ran at Greyson, hoping to take him down for the first time.
"Too slow," Greyson tutted.
He wrapped his arms around Indianna's waist and spun her around.
"You can't take me."
"I will," Indianna grunted.
"We'll see."
Indianna walked into her room, wiping her sweaty forehead with the back of her hand.
She gasped in surprise when she saw Kimberly sitting on her bed.
"This is my room," Indianna said slowly. "You do know that, don't you?"
Kimberly coughed and nodded.
"Um..."
She looked around uneasily before moving her hand aside, revealing a small clear packet.
"They're yours," Kimberly blurted.
Indianna closed the door behind her and walked over to Kimberly.
"You stole them," Indianna said and slowly reached out to take the herbs from Kimberly. "You nearly got me expelled."
"Um... sorry," Kimberly coughed and scratched the back of her neck awkwardly.
"Why?" Indianna asked.
She walked over to her dresser and placed the herbs back in the box with the rest of them.
"I wanted to get you in trouble," Kimberly admitted with a shrug.
"Why? I never did anything to you, but you came here and acted horribly towards us. No one was mean to you. You brought all this hatred upon yourself."
"Greyson wasn't nice to me," Kimberly scoffed.
"Greyson... had his reasons," Indianna sighed. "And he's not nice to many people."
"I don't like you," Kimberly said.
Indianna raised her eyebrows.
"I judge people quickly. I judged you, and I decided I didn't like you."
"Why?" Indianna frowned. "You don't know me."
"You're the stereotypical example of a prissy bitch with an amazing life, and I don't like that," Kimberly said.
Indianna couldn't help but laugh.
"An amazing life?" she questioned. "When I was five, I was attacked by a wolf and my father was killed. I've grown up shy and alone, hating my own mother. I came here and was thrown into a new world where I found out I had a brother who not only attacked me and killed our father, but kidnapped and raped my best friend twice, killed an innocent person, nearly killed me and has been harassing me. Does that seem like an amazing life to you?"
Kimberly awkwardly looked at her hands.
"I judge people too quickly," she muttered. "Sorry."
"You're going to have to work a lot harder than that to earn forgiveness around here," Indianna said. "Especially if you want any hope with Kal."
Kimberly's head shot up at the mention of Kal.
"I don't know him," she said. "But there's something about him. Ever since we touched..."
"You're mates," Indianna shrugged and crossed her arms over her chest. "What did you talk about?"
"He told me to dye my hair and stop being a whiny, annoying bitch," Kimberly quoted.
Indianna shook her head and rolled her eyes.
"He doesn't deserve you. Not after how you've been acting."
Kimberly was silent.
"But he's got you. There's no fighting the bond," Indianna said and sighed. "Just ask Brooke and me. We can tell you that it's not a good idea."
"So, what's going to happen?"
"You're going to be with Kal," Indianna shrugged. "You've got to make it work."
"How?"
"You've got to change," Indianna said bluntly. "It's Kal's job in the pack to help people and be someone they can confide in. You've got to help with that. You've got to be... nice."
Kimberly chewed on her lip and frowned.
"I... um..."
"You can start by apologising to people," Indianna said. "Especially Kirstie. You kissed her mate. That's wrong. Extremely wrong."
"I... um—"
"This isn't normal for you, is it?" Indianna asked. "Apologising? Admitting you're in the wrong?"
"No," Kimberly said. "I'm a bitch to people. That's me."
"But it's not," Indianna said. "I think it's a front."
"You don't know anything about me," Kimberly snapped.
"I think you've retreated so far into your front that you don't know any different," Indianna guessed. "I don't believe you were always a bitch. Laura said you were troubled."
Kimberly narrowed her eyes.
"What did she tell you?"
"Nothing," Indianna said. "And, to be honest, I don't want to know your problems. I've got enough of my own. I just want Kal to be happy."
"You don't think I can do that," Kimberly said, narrowing her eyes at Indianna. "Don't pretend you're not judging me. I can see you turning your nose up at me."
"I'm not going to pretend," Indianna said. "Let me make this clear: I don't like you. You need to change. Maybe in the future, when you've stopped being a bitch to people, we may get along. But currently, I don't like you. All you've brought into my life is trouble, and that needs to change."
"I thought you were shy," Kimberly noted.
"I'm slowly working on it," Indianna said. "Anger helps."
Kimberly sighed and crossed her arms over her chest.
"You need to help me."
"I do?"
"You want me to change, and you want Kal to be happy. I can't do that myself," Kimberly shrugged.
"So, you want me to help?" Indianna scoffed. "You said you don't like me, and I said I don't like you. That might be difficult."
"I judge too quickly," Kimberly shrugged. "Change my mind, Indianna."
"I don't know if you can change mine," Indianna murmured.
"Please," Kimberly said, a hint of desperation seeping into her voice. "I don't want him to hate me."
Indianna sighed and ran her fingers through her hair. She stared at Kimberly for a few moments before nodding.
"Okay," Indianna sighed. "But if you're mean to me or anyone else in any way, I won't help. I'm doing this for Kal."
Kimberly nodded slowly.
"So, what do we do first?"
"Firstly, you go downstairs and apologise to Kirstie. Secondly, we buy some hair dye."