Beauty and The Beta (Bailey)

34

Chapter 34 Bailey After giving Harley a hug, and fighting tears, I walked from the hospital to find my Dad waiting for me just as he had promised. Leaning against the walls of the pack hospital, taking the moment to enjoy a chance to relax, basking in the late afternoon sunshine. He must have heard me approaching as his head turned to look at me the moment I moved down the steps, and I watched as his eyes darted across mine, taking in my tear-filled eyes, and his face filled with concern, “Is he okay?” I assume he had jumped to the conclusion he had passed away or something along those lines with me battling tears. I simply nodded. Not feeling up to elaborating on everything I had just discussed with Harley. It had been difficult enough the first time. I did not need to go over it again with my Dad, because he would want to analyze it too, and I most definitely did not nhave the energy for that. “We going home?” I asked. “Well, I am walking my little girl home, yes, but I do have to head back to the office. I have a few things I need to see to, before I am done for the day.” He says with a smile. I find myself smiling back at him. I am glad he wants to walk me home, and appreciate him looking out for me. I do not, however, appreciate him referring to me as a little girl… “Little girl? A little less of that Dad. I am an adult now, do you not think I have grown past being called your little girl?” I asked him, and he chuckled to himself, like he found himself so amusing. Though my Dad had always had a habit of laughing at his own jokes. “Always my little girl, it doesn’t matter how old you are, Bailey. Something Ellis said bothered me though. Does being the second sibling really cause you to feel like you weren’t important?” his face had gone from smiling to looking downhearted now, which tells me he never thought of it that way. Obviously, in my mind, he hadn’t been a bad parent, and neither had my Mum. They had ensured we all had everything we needed. But, their priority did tend to fall to Jordan, with him being the Beta heir, and, of course, with Morgan, with her being their youngest. Not to mention she had a habit of being quite demanding. So, I think it was sort of a natural thing that I sort of got lost somewhere in the middle. I didn’t mind, I was always quite happy to sit and keep myself occupied

having my head in a book, and I guess my brother and sister picked up on that and copied, but the serious bullying was in school. Around pack… As we walked along the paths of the pack, the roads and paths were both quiet, so the two of us just enjoyed one another’s company. I slowly nodded, not sure how best to approach the subject. “It was since school, Dad. Just because I studied more. Did well in school. You know what kids can be like. You know that, Mum was forever telling me I made it worse for myself.” “Your Mum knew?” he asks, sounding more than a little surprised, making me wonder if he lived in his own little world sometimes. So busy