Busy with the preparations, I ended up getting ready at the last minute.
Even Holly was finished before me and she had been working.
Music thrummed through the flat as I finished up doing my hair, accompanied by a very welcome beer delivery from hero Holly.
Finally relaxing, I was beginning to get in the party spirit.
As I put the cap back on my lipstick, I heard deep laughter booming in the hallway people began to arrive.
I took one last look at myself as I prepared to join the fun.
My dark hair was lightly curled and loose around my neck. I was wearing a bright red skater dress with matching flaming lipstick that set off the brilliant green of my eyes.
I grabbed my beer and left my room, closing the door behind me as I entered the crowd of people already filling the hall.
I took a swig of my beer as I surveyed the current attendees. Everyone knows everyone in a small Pack like ours. The faces were not unfamiliar, and yet most probably didn't really know my name.
Holly was the socialite.
I headed through the crowd towards the kitchen and spotted Kyle.
He was chatting to a handsome guy with blonde hair and warm brown eyes. I knew the guy was one of the trackers that had been training with Kyle. Matt, I think.
As I drew close, Kyle spotted me and grinned. Tall and slender, he looked tiny next to the muscular figure beside him. "Hey Charlie!" he raised his bottle in salute.
We chatted for a few moments, Kyle making introductions between me and Matt.
Noticing my empty beer, Kyle offered to collect us all a new one and disappeared, leaving me with Matt. He was sweet and funny, and I found myself flirting with him just a little.
"How long have you known Kyle?" He asked, leaning against the wall with his hand in his pockets.
I hesitated; it was common knowledge that a lot of kids had ended up in the orphanage when families were killed from raid all those years ago, but not everyone liked to admit it.
I opted for the safest option in a half truth. "Since we were kids. We grew up together."
He smirked. "So, did you end up siblings or sweethearts after all those years?"
The twinkle in his eye was not missed and I laughed. "Very subtle. We are good friends and that's all. He's like my brother."
"Shame for Kyle." He murmured softly, a sexy smile on his lips as Kyle got back with the drinks.
We chatted for a little longer about the new duties we would be given soon, when Holly found me and dragged me away.
"Sorry guys, I just need to borrow Charlie for a sec." the smile she flashed them was not genuine and I was immediately wary. She pulled me down the hall and into her room, slamming the door behind us and biting her lip. Eyes wide.
"Charlie... I'm so sorry. I didn't realise..." She began, grabbing my hands and squeezing them.
My heart sunk into my stomach as I imagined the worst.
"Callum is here." Holly said flatly.
I sighed. I had forgotten about him. Yeah, I wasn't happy about it either. Still, it could be worse. I was consoling myself with the fact that he was easily ignorable when she spoke again. "So is Jack."
"Shit. I meant to tell you. Him and Shelby wheedled an invite at the coffee shop today." I groaned.
I was possibly focusing on the wrong thing, but this was supposed to be an opportunity for me to shake off the silly crush I had on him, not get drunk in his presence!
Ignoring my mounting displeasure, I slapped a smile on my face. "It's fine. He's here with Shelby. I'm completely fine about it.
The words even tasted like a lie.
Just as I spoke, a loud snarl ripped through the flat.
Holly looked at me worriedly and we rushed to intervene.
I followed the inevitable raised voices to the sitting room, where Jack stood facing Callum, eyes flashing golden as he bared his teeth. Shelby clung to him, ineffectually pulling on his arm. Fat tears shone in her eyes as she shook with fear.
To his credit, Callum was standing his ground, with his head high, although unable to meet the eyes of his superior. The hushed whispers in the room died as Holly and I entered. Noticed by most but the two men causing the commotion.
Jack took a large step forward, dragging the pleading Shelby with him unnoticed.
Callum was pale. His shoulders beginning to hunch.
Just as he began to slowly offer his throat in submission, I stepped between them. Holly started to usher people into the kitchen, cheerfully telling them no one was drunk enough yet.
As she left with the last guest, she shot me a worried glance and closed the door. Muffled sounds of chatter and music were the only noise in the room for a few moments.
Suddenly, a loud sob erupted from the still present Shelby. "Jack. Please." She sniffled. Fat tears now staining her cheeks with mascara.
Jack was looking over my head, still focused on the other man. I checked to make sure Callum hadn't pissed on my carpet and then turned my attention to Jack.
"Jack." I growled. To be met with silence. I tried again to no avail.
Frustration was building inside me, and I spun to face Callum. "Go. Get out of here before he kills you."
Callum blinked dumbly at me for a second and then began edging towards the door.
Enraged Jack snarled, tearing his arm out of Shelby's grasp, and launching himself at Callum.
Further away and a second too slow, I got there first and blocked him.
Stopping just short of grabbing me by the throat, his eyes finally landed on me, growl dimming only slightly. "Step aside Charlie. I told this fool I better not ever hear his disgusting fantasies bandied about again. Then here he is, talking about you like you are a piece of meat in your own home."
"This is my party. He is my guest, as are you, Jack." I stated firmly, placing a hand on his chest. "I appreciate your concern, but this is my business. I'm not a pup anymore. I don't need you to fight my battles and I definitely don't need you to ruin my party." The glow in his eyes was dimming slowly, returning the deep blue I knew so well.
A muscle jumped in his jaw as he struggled to calm himself. He took a deep breath, closing his eyes for a second. "You're right. I'm sorry for ruining the mood." He glanced distastefully at Callum over my shoulder. "I apologise boy. Make sure you act like a man in future and we will have no further issue."
"Do we have an agreement?" Jack demanded.
After Callum nodded sickly, Jack held his hand out in a peace offering and they hesitantly shook.
Shelby let out an audible sigh of relief and drew the attention of the rest of us.
Hiding a smile, Jack turned once again to Callum. "Show me you are a decent man and take my date into the kitchen. She obviously needs a drink."
The Alpha-like boom to his voice left no room for argument, and the two scurried from the room as quickly as they could.
As silence descended on us once again. I pursed my lips at Jack and rolled my eyes. "Seriously? Was there any need to put on your big boy pants for one final 'my dick is bigger than yours' comment?"
Jacks eyes glittered, suddenly full of humour and I felt my mouth tweak in an answering smile.
"I don't need to compare dicks with a pup. Especially a virgin that has to lie about bedding women."
I raised an eyebrow in amusement as he smirked, clearly under the impression he had shocked me.
"Bedding women might have been a lie. But I can vouch for the fact that isn't a virgin personally." I said with a sultry smirk of my own.
The shock on his face was only briefly satisfying before I spun away, sashaying out of the room to re-join the party.