Navy's Sons: Bullied by Quadruplet Stepbrothers novel Chapter 7

Tabitha’s POV

“You’re Yoseff Beckett’s son?” I gasp.

He sheepishly rubs his nape. “I guess you know my father.”

“Everyone on this island knows your father!”

The Becketts own the majority of the fishing and shipping lines in Kaelara island which puts their family on equal footing in terms of wealth and influence with the Aldairs! Plus, Yoseff Beckett is the Alpha of Stormblood pack which makes this guy…

“You’re the heir…the future Alpha of Stormblood pack?” My mouth blurts out the fact before I can stop it. Holy shit. This man is as much royalty as my asshole step brothers. That’s why he’s got the same powerful air around him—he’s got the Alpha blood too!

“You sure know a lot about the packs around here,” he notes. “Especially for someone who’s...”

“Human?” I finish for him with a tilt of my head. “Well, yes. My father is human, and I got that from him. But my mom is a she-wolf which is the reason why I’m quite versed about all the pack stuff. I’m Tabitha Huxley.”

Recognition flashes in his eyes. He snaps his finger in realization.

“You’re Alpha Emery’s stepdaughter!”

“Yup, that’s me.”

“That’s awesome. Congratulations on your mother and Alpha Emery’s engagement. This party is magnificent.” Arthur says and raises his glass for a toast.

I chuckle and bump my glass lightly against his. “Thanks, my mom worked hard for it..”

Arthur offers a small smile.

“Have to say, you look a little familiar.”

My brows lift slightly. “Really?”

“Yeah. Can’t quite place it though. Have we met before?”

“I used to live here. My mom and I left the island five years ago. We only just came back recently.” I shrug.

“Ah,” Arthur nods. “Then that might be it. We probably crossed paths back then.”

“Maybe,” I say. “Though I doubt I would’ve forgotten you.”

That earns a quiet chuckle from him. “A lot has changed on the island since then. Has anyone shown you around yet?”

I shake my head. “Not really. I don’t think anyone’s offering.”

“Then maybe you’re just waiting for the right guide.” Arthur raises his glass again, a small grin tugging at the corner of his mouth.

Oh, he’s charming and polite. Not what I expected from someone with Alpha blood. Guys like him are supposed to be too busy to waste time on girls hiding behind cakes, yet here he is, generous enough to offer his time without acting like I’m beneath him. He doesn’t carry himself like a snob either, not like my broody step brothers who walk around like everyone owes them air.

Maybe this is finally my chance to meet a decent friend now that I’m back on the island.

“You know what? That sounds—”

“There you are.” Jace suddenly pops out of nowhere and cuts through our conversation.

“J-Jace?” What is he doing here, interacting with me? It doesn’t look like he’s here to strike up a friendly conversation, not with his brows tugged into a frown as he glances between Arthur and me. His lips curve into a grimace like he just smelled something sour.

“Jace.” Arthur nods at him. “I was just talking with your step sister here. She’s got a way of making this place feel a little less stiff, I’ll give her that.”

Jace’s jaw tightens and his eyes flick to me with a cold, sharp glance before he speaks. “You’re out here flirting with a guest while our parents are looking for you?”

“W-What? I’m not flirting!” My face flushes in embarrassment as I shyly glance at Arthur.

“Hey, man. I was just striking up a friendly conversation. That’s all,” Arthur explains calmly.

Jace scoffs. “That didn’t look friendly to where I was standing.”

What’s his problem? He’s bulldozing in the middle of our conversation and now he’s throwing this crap at me?

“Let’s go. My dad and your mom are looking for you,” he mutters without waiting for a reply, and completely ignoring Arthur who is staring at us in confusion. He looks one step away from arguing with Jace.

I stumble a little as Jace pulls me along, my fingers still caught in his grip. We barely make it a few steps before a familiar presence blocks our path.

Behind me, Yennifer hisses, “Watch her strut like she owns the damn pack now.”

I don’t look back, but the shuffle of heels against the tile and the sharp scrape of a table dragging across the floor yank my attention. My eyes flick toward the dessert table.

Yennifer’s fingers are pressed against the edge, a glint in her eyes that sends a jolt through my chest.

“Oops,” she mutters as she nudges the cake, causing it to wobble in the air and slide off the table.

Shit!

Gasps rise through the crowd as the cake descends to my direction. But before it can crash into me, a figure darts out from the crowd. Evren cuts between us and swats the cake midair, redirecting it toward the side. The towering mess of sponge and icing explodes against Vina, who shrieks as frosting splatters all over her pale yellow gown.

“What the hell, Yennifer?” Vina screams, icing dripping off her curls.

Yennifer stares at the scene in stunned disbelief, eyes wide as the cake splatters all over her friend’s gown. Vina angrily stomps her teeth while wiping her cake-drenched dress. Around them, shocked murmurs rise and heads whip toward the chaos. Even Eris looks like she wants to disappear.

Yennifer snarls and shoves past Evren, dropping to snatch a chunk of ruined cake from the ground. “You can’t even get humiliated right, you pathetic parasite!” she spits, then hurls the mess straight at me.

I gasp as the bits of the ruined cake smacks across my chest and neck, splatting all over my blue dress. I just stand there, stunned, while icing clings to my skin and soaks into the fabric of my dress. The guests around us gape at us in shock. The cozy music that has been playing since the start of the party halts to reveal the chaotic mess that is us.

“Yennifer!” Jace snaps, his voice cutting loud across the courtyard. “What have you done?!”

“Jace, it’s her fault—”

“Enough!” Evren’s shout follows right after. I’ve never heard him sound this furious.

But I can’t focus on any of it. All I see are the rows of eyes of the guests that are glued to me like I’m some kind of circus act. Some of them whisper behind their glasses, others smirk like they expected this all along. I catch my mom’s face in the distance, her head tilting as she cranes her neck to see what’s happening. Emery stands beside her, following her gaze.

Too many curious eyes, too many ridiculing smirks.

Too many people around me…

I can’t take it.