The Youngest Son
“Stop being a child, Kore!”
“What’s childish about going to work?”
Someone in the room groaned, probably one of his uncles who knew that was the last thing their sister wanted to hear from her youngest daughter.
Derek sighed and stopped three steps from the open doorway. He was ready to go, on time as ordered, but it seemed like they wouldn’t be leaving on time.
He straightened his spine, affecting a better posture to avoid the lecture about it, and took the final three steps into the formal dining room where most of the pack was still loitering after breakfast.
Kore was seated at the table, not even pretending to be affected by their mother’s screaming. She was only a year older than Derek, but she carried herself like she was at least twice that age, and often infuriated their parents just by refusing to fall into what they called the Moonshadow way.
She had a towel around her shoulders, her short hair curling from the dampness, and her eyes as bright and sharp as always. There were circles under her eyes from lack of sleep, but she looked happy enough, which meant that she and their mother had been at it for a while.
And likely would be for a while yet.
His mother, Sorelia, stood tall, tense, and dressed for the day in a cream blouse that likely cost the same as someone’s monthly rent; her skirt was pressed and equally expensive. His mother had always been impeccably dressed in the finest Moonshadow Pack money could afford.
She required that of her children, too, so Kore’s transgression of buying a pair of sneakers that were on sale at the beginning of the summer had started a three-month battle of wills.. Kore had gone on strike after the knock-down, drag-out screaming match back in May. Committing to paying back what she’s spent on the shoes to her allowance account and not accepting another cent from their parents, other than what was required by Council law: food, shelter, and basic clothing.
The pack had started a secret betting pool. The odds were stacked against Kore, given that she was a beta and their mother was the alpha of the Fey Shores branch of the Moonshadow Pack. But Derek had allocated exactly fifty-three dollars from random birthday gifts and payments for odd jobs to place his bet on Kore because she had inherited all of their mother’s stubbornness and none of her emotional volatility. His aunt would be collecting it on his behalf, as she had started to do after the last time his brothers found out he had some money.
“Good morning,” Derek greeted softly, not expecting an answer.
Sorelia didn’t even glance at him.
Kore turned to him, beaming. “Morning, Der’! How is my favorite little brother today?”
He smiled a little. Kore was the only one who called him that. He liked it more than his full name, even though their parents hated it. It made him feel closer to her.
“I’m your only little brother, Kore.”
She shrugged. “Tomato Tomato. Today’s the day! Excited?”
Derek held back a grimace. “Prepared.”
She chuckled wryly. “Fair enough.”
Kore stood and stretched with a sigh. “I’m glad I got to see you before I had to get going. It’s pouring out there, so don’t forget your umbrella.”
She rose from her seat, but their mother blocked her path, looming over Kore’s much smaller frame.
Kore didn’t even flinch.
She checked her watch and looked back at their mother. “Something to say, Alpha Sorelia?”
Their mother bristled at the address. The fury, frustration, and begrudging respect bloomed in bright red spots on her cheeks. Derek edged around the room, waiting for the blowup. Their mother always said she wanted a close relationship with her children, but she was more likely to shout them down for a differing opinion than support them.
Kore was the only one with an outwardly differing opinion, and Derek toed the line given that his mother could snap his neck with a flick of her wrist. She had never outright said she would, but she’d raised her hand enough to others that he had no doubts that she would if pushed enough.
His survival was more important to him than his pride or dignity.
“Derek is starting mandatory. It isn’t feasible for you to all ride with David.”
Kore snorted. “Who said anything about riding with David?”
Sorelia huffed, holding out Kore’s keys and her allowance card. “You are not allowed to walk to school.”
Kore glanced at the keys. “My legs work just fine. I like it. Makes my soccer training easier.”
She growled. “You are a Moonshadow. We don’t walk to school.”
“When I can afford a car, I’ll buy one.”
Sorelia slammed the keys down on the table. “I’ve had enough of your attitude. You will take these keys and behave, or so help me…”
“Are you putting me out?” Kore asked, her smile serene and a little mocking. “Or… sending me to New York, where I’ll gleefully take public transportation?”
Sorelia’s nostrils flared. “You’re going to drive your car.”
“I don’t own a car,” she said, narrowing her eyes. “You paid for it. You own it, right?”
“Take the keys, Kore.”
“No.”
They stared at each other. The air practically sparked between them. Sorelia’s eyes flashed. Her jaw trembled. Derek braced himself. The whole room held its breath, waiting for the moment Sorelia decided to compel Kore. As much as she said she didn’t want to be that kind of parent, she used her alpha compulsion against Kore more often than not. It made Derek sick every time..
Sorelia huffed. “I can see I can’t reason with you. Fine. Buy your cheap nonsense, but do not further embarrass me by walking to school.”
Kore cocked an eyebrow. “And what's the catch?”
“There is no catch,” Sorelia said. “You’ve proven your point.”
Kore scoffed and plucked the keys from the table. “I meant what I said. When I can afford it without your help, I will buy my own car and insurance.” She tilted her head to the allowance card. “That, you can keep. No need to leave the door open for another one of these friendly chats.”
Sorelia snarled, but Kore turned and walked towards the stairs, winking at him as she passed, leaving Sorelia shaking with impotent anger. She whirled on Derek. Derek went absolutely still. His heart raced, pumping adrenaline through him. She looked him over, searching for something she didn’t like about the outfit.
Sorelia had put it together and made him try it on all together in the store before she bought it, from the plain brown belt at his waist to the shiny, leather brown dress shoes.
He hated every piece of it. She set her jaw, clearly more frustrated that there was nothing out of place to yell about. He’d even slicked his curls the way she liked, yet there was still that barely restrained disappointment in her eyes.
She grabbed her purse. He slid aside as she headed toward the garage and followed, maintaining perfect posture and absolute silence.
At least he won the bet.