80. I am Not Her

Lilith

Eric was not kidding; his father was a complete asshole. Like a serious dick. I walked away with Ellen, and she was saying “I am so sorry about him Lilith. He is just I don’t know. He used to be so different. Since our mother died, he has changed. He holds everyone to the same standard as my mother was.” I turned my head I didn’t know what that meant. But Ellen went on. “She was the most proper women you ever met and well dad thinks everyone should be like that.”

Ellen went on. “I am sure Eric told you he used to be a great father.” I nodded. “He did say that yes.” I told her. “Yeah, well mother was a good woman, but she had a high standard to live up to. Father since her death I believe that every female should try to be like her in every way they can to the point he has made her a god in his eyes, when though she was wonderful, she was just a plain shifter. She was not from an affluent pack, nor was she a daughter of an alpha, she was just a regular shifter, not very gifted when it came to any kind of physical ability, but what she did have was a very reserved way of thinking.”

“She was mild and kind, always pushed for others to be polite. My father idolized her mannerisms, then when she died, he went a bit nuts and thought everyone should be just like her and that she was more of some kind of deity. I always tried to be like her, because I loved her and well, my father, I guess I wanted to impress him. He can be hard on my brothers; you saw that a little. Well, I wanted his affection so much.” I looked at her, why was she telling me all of this? I didn’t know if I needed to know this. “You must understand I love both my little brothers, but I was the oldest and dad gave me all this attention and when Eric was born, I was pushed more to be with my mother and dad took Eric in and as he was to be the next alpha he soon had all his attention. Mom told me that it was Erics place to be like dad and I was to be like her.”

I understood that but it seemed kind of weird to me. Ellen went on. “Anyways, at first, I tried to get back to spending most of my time with our father, but he would send me back to mom. Eventually I caved, and just devoted myself to being as like her as I could. When she died, I was so much like her that I was back to being Dad’s favorite, and I liked it. I knew he didn’t really care that I was me, all he saw was someone who acted so similar to her, with the exception I pushed others to be the same way.” I nodded and asked, “Ellen but when we hung out you just stopped. You gave in and just flipped to I don’t know being a real person.” Ellen smiled wildly.

“Yeah, I just, it was like you were offering me a chance. I don’t know, you had no preconceived notion other than I was a bitch, and you still offered me a friendship with no expectations or notions of what I should be. When you offered friendship, I took it because you are just yourself and I want to just be myself too.” I stopped walking and looked at her. “Well, you are you and I like you. Screw your dad, he needs to be knocked down from that fucking high horse of his. He isn't shit” Ellen laughed. “I think no one has ever spoken to him the way you did. I can’t believe Eric even threatened him.” I laughed. “Well let's hope he gets his shit together; I can’t stand this higher than thou art shit.” Ellen laughed. “How about we get some of those apple ciders a warm drink with sounds yummy.” I suggested. “Do you mean one with the liquor?” She asked. “Is there any other kind?” We both laughed and went to find some.

The festival was huge. Eric mind linked me as Ellen, and I sipped on our cider. “Lilith you know you are crazy right?” I smiled at Ellen. “Whatever he needed to be taken down a fucking peg or two. Anyways did he leave?” I asked over the mind link. “No, much to my dismay. Noel and I are staying with him to make sure he behaves himself.” I rolled my eyes. “Eric, you and Noel leave him alone. This festival is about having fun, not watching your stuffy ass father doesn’t sound fun. Don’t let him ruin it. Come hang out with me and your sister, we are more fun, and don’t you dare fucking act like you would prefer to just be safe. I saw your eyes on me. So, get your ass over to the cider vendor and grab some. Bring Noel too.” I told him. “Is my Luna giving me a command?” He said over the bond being flirty. “You bet your sweet ass I am. Now come on.”

I knew he would be here soon. Ellen and I were standing there drinking. “Where is your husband?” I asked. I was anxious to meet him. “I left him by one of the bouncy houses with the boys. I mind linked him that dad was here, and I could tell he was not pleased.” I raised my eyebrows. “Yeah, don’t take it personally, though I don’t think you ever would, but most people don’t like our dad. At least not like they used to.” I snorted as Noel and Eric came into view. Ellen wrapped them in a hug. It was refreshing to see them act like what I thought siblings would act like. “Get some cider you two.” The guys nodded and stood with us. “Okay well Lilith this is fucking awesome.” Noel said to me.

Eric and Ellen agreed. “Where are my nephew's?” Noel asked and Ellen looked at me and Eric. She weaved her arm in Noel’s. “Find us later.” I gave her a smile as Ellen and Noel went to find the bouncy houses. “So what do you think?” I asked Eric who took a drink of his cider. “It is nice, look Lilith I am.” I brought my fingers up and covered his lips. “You don’t need to apologize for someone else behavior. All you need to do is walk with me and have fun.” I told him and he grinned as I removed my finger. The hand that was not holding his drink slid around my waist and he pulled me close to himself. His lips kissed mine and I embraced the feeling of him. He pulled from our kiss to whisper in my ear. “You were not wrong about my eyes on you.” His hand slid from my waist to my ass where he squeezed it, sending an electric current straight to my core.

We moved so his hand was on my lower back as we walked around, stopping to talk to so many people. Little kids' other people from our pack. It looked like everyone was having a good time. Everyone was eating and playing games. I finally got to meet Ellens kids, and her husband and they seemed fine. Her husband even thanked me which was surprising. Apparently, Ellen was making changes at their pack too, that were similar to the changes I was making. Things were going great we were all laughing. When I knew a large person was behind me. I turned to see Eric’s father. Eric went to move but I put my hand in front of him. I would handle this myself. “Do you need anything?” I asked in a calm even voice. “Can I please have a word with you luna.” I was surprised he called me that.

I knew I was his Luna but the fact he called me it was what surprised me. I nodded and he walked away I went to follow him, but Eric grabbed my arm. “Lilith you shouldn’t talk to him.” I ripped my arm from his. “I will, he may be the biggest asshole in the world, but he is still pack, and wasn’t it you that told me pack is forever?” He nodded tentatively. He nodded and I moved to where the old alpha stood off to the side. I realized then I didn’t actually know his name. He was about to speak but I started. “I don’t know what you want to say, but I do know I should at least know your name.” He paused and spoke. “Leo” I nodded and responded. “Fine, Leo what is it I can do for you?”

He looked like he was confused as to why I was being so cordial when I had been different before. “Do you need something?” I asked again remaining calm and keeping my voice steady. “Yes. I don’t think you are doing your job right?” He said and I raised my eyebrows. “Really, that is interesting, because if I look around, I see happy people all over the place. I fucking see packs coming together and having a good time. I also know I am doing one hell of job making sure my pack has a strong backbone. So how the fuck do you think I am not doing my job right.” His face was red. I knew he was getting angry at the way I stood my ground, the way I spoke but everything I said had been true.

“You can’t speak like that, my wife.” I cut him off. “Your wife I heard was a great Luna, I know this, but what she did was not the only way to do the job. I get it I am not like her, but that is the fucking way it is. I don’t give a shit about how you think things should be done. So don’t fucking come in here and put on a show. You and I both know you are going to crawl back into your fucking hole when this is done. The pack is doing good, in fact better than when you were alpha. Those training are more than double where they used to be as far as skill goes. Moral is up and people have stopped being complete dicks. I know it is not how your wife did things, but it works. Now anything else you would like to bring to my attention?” He was about to start complaining again and I just knew it.

So instead of letting him speak I said. “No, great have fun.” I walked away giving him my back and had a dark smirk on my face. Everyone looked concerned when I approached the little group. I didn’t turn around, but I saw their eyes slide behind me. “He is leaving?” Noel said and I grinned. I was glad he was leaving, he seemed to put to many people on edge. Ellen asked, “How did you convince him to leave?” I shrugged but I felt Eric’s eyes watching me. He had this look in them, like I was a meal and savior all at the same time.