I left all the wolves in the kitchen to sort it out themselves. I forgot all about the breakfast until I came back to the kitchen. The smell of burnt food greeted me.

Everything seemed to simmer down as they all started coming into the kitchen for food. Philip took his seat back while everyone else got food and left the kitchen.

I heard some snide remarks from the guys towards Philip. He just smirked and would stare the guys down. They’d quickly retreat into the living room.

No one said anything about the little tiff between Amanda and I. We both knew that we’d work it out. We just needed some time.

Chris set his head on my shoulder as I watched the toast cook. “Sorry.” He mumbled.

I tilted my head to rest on his. “I know.”

He kissed my cheek then went to the living room with the rest of the guys. He had a bruise on his jaw in the shape of Phillip’s fist. I knew he’d have that bruise for at least a day or two. They’re fast healers, but not super speed.

I was actually feeling content. That was until Grayson girlfriend decided to join us for breakfast. I had just sat down next to Amanda at the dining table when she came in, holding a plate of food. Of course the scorn of my existence was right behind her.

I just shoved food in my mouth so I wouldn’t say anything. It was very awkward. They sat right across the table from Philip and me. I didn’t miss the scornful looks Grayson gave Philip. I also didn’t miss the gloating smile Philip was giving Grayson in return. These boys were going to be the death of me.

We didn’t really have much of a conversation for the rest of our meal. I just watched Matt’s attempt at eating. He’d much rather throw his food around than put it in his mouth.

I had to get to work soon, so instead of hanging out with everyone, I went up to my room and got ready for work. Philip stayed behind to talk to Connor when I left for work.

Work was busier than I expected it to be, but I made a good amount of money in tips. I put my keys back in the ignition and went home.

I made a quick grilled chicken salad. It was the quickest and easiest thing I could make. My back was absolutely killing me as I sat at the island.

Jack and Eddie came into the house so muddy. I shook my head looking at the footprints they were tracking.

“What?” Jack said looking at me.  He hadn’t missed my disapproving head shake. “We’re workin’ men. We make messes.”

“And you’re going to clean that up.” I mumbled before I shoveled food into my mouth.

Jack put his dirty hands on my shoulders, squeezing. It felt heavenly. Eddie quietly escaped. He was the smart one.

Then he stopped. “Wait. Come back here.” I whined.

He sighed and turned around, “We’ll clean it up mom.” He whined like a child.

“Not that. I meant you can’t stop rubbing my back.”

He sighed, “You clean up the boot mess and I’ll rub your back.”

I nodded, “Deal. Good back rub though.”

He washed his hands. They were filthy.

“Did you seriously touch me with those hands?” I looked at my shoulders awkwardly.

He laughed. “Yes.”

“Jaaaaack.” I whined.

“Oh stop. You have to wash it anyway.”

When he put his hands on my back, I melted. My back hurt so much.

I was in absolute bliss with Jack digging his fingers into my lower back.

“Lower.” I ordered.

“You know, you’re really bossy.” He teased.

I shrugged, “I cook and clean after you guys almost every day.”

“Yeah yeah.”

I was aware of the door connecting the kitchen to the backyard opening, but I really didn’t care who it was.

“Harder Jack.” It came out more breathless than I intended. I groaned as his fingers dug in.

“What’s going on in here?” Mason said suggestively as he strolled in. I could just imagine the smug smile on his face.

“Can it.” I ordered Mason.

“Back hurt?”

I looked over at him, “Really? Is that what you see? You should be a detective.”

“I’ll pop it.” He swatted Jack’s shoulder with his hand.

“Nooo Jack come back.” I whined.

“He needs to shower. He smells like a cow.” Mason shooed him away.

“I was enjoying his hands.”

Mason smirked. “I’m sure you were.” He cracked his neck. It popped sickeningly.

“Put your hands as if you were a mummy.” He showed me, and I did as he ordered. “It might hurt, but then it’ll feel great.”

“Your reassurance is touching.” I muttered as he lined himself up behind me. “I’m so not comfortable with you behind me.”

“Not a big doggy style fan?” He joked as he put his arms around me.

I gasped at him. “You’re unbelievable.”

He laughed as he tightened his arms around me, “I get that from a lot of women.” I tried, and failed, so swat at him. “Oh that was a good one and you know it.”

He was right. That was a perfect punch line. But that didn’t meant I’d admit that to him.

“Ready?” He asked.

“I guess.”

His arms tightened around me, then he twisted and pulled. My spine cracked like bubble wrap. A fluid-filled, disgusting sounding bubble wrap.

“Oh my god Mason!” I yelled loudly when vertebrae painfully snapped.

He put me on my feet and I took a deep breath. My back felt amazing now. “That was amazing.”

His smile was wide. “You’re welcome.”

My stomach did a complete 180. I was going to throw up. I immediately ran to the bathroom and slammed the door shut. I barely made it to the bathroom when my dinner came back up.

Maybe that chicken I ate was bad.

When I came out of the bathroom I was absolutely starved. I felt like I could eat a cow. I took out a couple skillets and put them on counter. I threw the salad I made in the trash. I wasn’t going to eat that chicken again since it made me sick. I’d stick to a simple grilled cheese sandwich this time.

“No! Don’t go in there!” I heard Amanda warning someone.

Then the intruder came through the door. I turned around to face him completely. It was Grayson.

“We need to talk.”

I rolled my eyes. I was numb to him now. Seeing him wasn’t going to make me turn into a puddle of tears at his feet. Without moving my hands, I took hold of the cast iron skillet. I really didn’t want to see him, let alone talk to him. I had more than enough motivation to use my abilities.

He cautiously entered my normal hitting range. He was obviously relieved that I didn’t attack him.

He opened his mouth to speak. So I did what any girl would do.

I hit him, in the face, with the cast iron skillet. I wasn’t strong enough to do it with my muscles, so I did it with my mind.

He fell to the ground unconscious. I smiled and grabbed the skillet right when it started falling. My power has been fluctuating, luckily for me; it was up just enough to knock Grayson out. There was a very small dent in the skillet. I scrunched my face in disappointment. I really liked that skillet, luckily it was still usable.

I felt so much better looking at his unconscious body, laying at my feet, and knowing that I was the one who put him there.

Chris came into the kitchen. “What happened? I heard a couple crashes.”

I shrugged, “A little batting practice.”

I turned back to my task.

“Batting practice?” Then he saw Grayson, unconscious on the floor. “Geez Casey, how hard did you hit him?” He kneeled down by Grayson, making sure he was still alive.

He was of course. But hopefully he’d remember that I didn’t want him anywhere near me.

This was my life. On days that I didn’t work in the morning, I would be with Mason at the stables with the horses. When I worked in the morning, I’d go to the stables at sunset to help herd the horses into the stables.

It wasn’t just Mason and I. He brought the pack members that the horses didn’t freak out around. They were a real help with everything.

I avoided Grayson. I hadn’t even looked at him since everything happened. I didn’t want to hear what he had to say. If anyone tried to talk to be about Grayson, or about her, I’d completely ignore them. I exited the house through the window in the mornings. I had breakfast at a diner, or days when I went to the stables I’d grab something small on my way there. I had dinner at the diner at the end of my shift, or I brought food with me to the stables. Mason even hooked up a fridge and microwave for me. I went into the house by climbing up to the window at night.

No one really seemed to notice. Or they just didn’t comment on it.

I had been speaking with Stephan every day. Sometimes we talked about Grayson. Other times we’d talk about whatever was bothering us. Stephan let me vent all my frustrations to him.

Stephan was slowly starting to gain back my trust. Stephan may have tried to change me against my will, but he wasn’t repeatedly hurting me.

Nothing happened until the morning of Thanksgiving…3 weeks later.