NIYA'S POV:-
As the sun rose over the horizon, I felt a wave of delight wash over me. The vibrant colors of the sunrise were absolutely breathtaking, filling the sky with hues of orange, pink, and gold. I couldn't help but feel a sense of hope and possibility as I watched the sun rise, its rays casting a warm glow over the landscape.
The cool morning breeze played with my hair, invigorating my senses and filling me with energy and enthusiasm for the day ahead. It was a moment of pure joy, one that I would always remember. Everywhere I looked, people were smiling and greeting each other, their faces full of happiness.
I knocked on the door of the house, feeling a sense of excitement and anticipation bubble up inside me. When the door swung open, I was met with a sight that filled my heart with joy - Cassie standing there with a huge smile on her face, looking absolutely gorgeous.
"Omg! I'm so happy to see you here" She greeted me with a warm hug, squeezing me tightly and giggling with delight.
"Cassie, I'm happy to see you too, but I can't breathe," I gasped, trying to break free from her embrace.
She quickly released me, her face turning red with embarrassment. "I'm sorry, what brings you here at this time?" she asked, glancing at her wristwatch. "It's only 6:30 in the morning."
"Well, I was actually--" I began to explain, but she cut me off.
"Oh, how rude of me. Come on in, let's get you settled," she said, taking my hand and pulling me inside. She closed the door behind us and led me towards the kitchen.
"What can I get you to drink?" she asked, opening the fridge.
"Milk tea would be fine," I told her, taking a seat at the kitchen table.
"Milk tea?" she repeated, looking at me in surprise.
"Girl, tea is not good for your health. You should be drinking something healthier."
But hey! That hurts my feelings. I couldn't help but feel hurt when my friend made a negative comment about tea. Tea means so much to me and has been a constant source of comfort and support in difficult times. It warms me up on cold days and keeps me alert when I need to be. There's just something so satisfying about sipping on a cup of tea.
As I sat at the kitchen table with my friend, I nonchalantly suggested, "Hey, why don't you just make me a tea or let it be?"
She reluctantly agreed and prepared a cup for me while pouring herself a juice. We chatted about her and her boyfriend Tyler, discussing their plans and how they met.
"Where's Blake?" After finishing our drinks, I asked Cassie where Blake was.
"Upstairs, sleeping probably. He doesn't sleep so late, I think he might be tired" she sighed.
"I'll go wake him up," I replied, and headed upstairs. But had a hard time finding his bedroom in the large house. After trying a few doors that didn't open and checking two empty rooms, I finally found Blake sprawled out on his bed, fast asleep
I carefully opened the door and tiptoed into the room, trying not to disturb Blake as he slept. My heart was racing as I approached his bed, and I couldn't help but feel a little nervous about what I was about to do.
I had the toy honk in my pocket, which I had borrowed - or, more accurately, stolen - from Dean. I knew it might be a little childish, but I couldn't resist the temptation to try and startle Blake with it.
But as soon as I honked the toy next to his ear, I immediately realized my mistake. Blake shot up from the bed, his eyes glowing with anger as he grabbed me by the neck and growled.
"Blake, it's me, Niya!" I gasped, tapping his arm as I struggled to catch my breath.
"Oh my god, Niya, what are you doing here?" he asked, releasing his grip on my neck and sitting up.
"I just wanted to prank you," I coughed, feeling embarrassed and a little guilty for what I had done.
Blake grabbed a glass of water from the bedside table and handed it to me, his expression stern. "Drink this, and don't you ever pull a stunt like that again," he warned.
I took a sip of water, feeling grateful for the chance to catch my breath. Blake sat back down on the bed, resting his head against the headboard as he watched me.
"So, I've been doing a lot of thinking lately," I began, trying to gather my thoughts.
"Okay, stop right there," Blake interrupted, a hint of amusement in his voice. "I get it, you've been thinking a lot for the past week. So what have you been thinking about?"
"The curse, and how we can break it," I replied, watching as Blake raised an eyebrow in skepticism.
"I don't think it's of any use," he sighed. "Don't you think our ancestors tried every possible way to break it, and it still didn't work?"
"Yes, but our ancestors didn't have something that you have," I grinned, trying to remain optimistic.
"And what's that?" Blake asked, a hint of curiosity in his voice.
"Me!" I exclaimed, grinning as Blake chuckled.
"Okay, so what do you have in mind?" he asked, his curiosity now fully piqued.
"Research, I need access to your werewolf history and library," I said urgently, my voice laced with desperation.
"I've stumbled into this world and I need to know more about it. I need to understand what's happening and how to control it."
He looked at me with a mixture of curiosity and concern. "I don't think you'll be allowed," he said, his voice heavy with resignation. "Our pack has strict rules about outsiders learning about our ways."
"Please, you're the gamma," I pleaded, grasping at any hope of getting the information I needed. "You have some influence in the pack. Can't you do something to help me?"
He sighed, the sound of defeat clear in his exhale. "Fine, I'll try. But I can't make any promises."
Overwhelmed with gratitude, I threw my arms around him in a hug. "Thank you, thank you so much," I said, tears of relief prickling at the corners of my eyes.
He pulled back, concern etched on his face. "How's your neck?" he asked, his voice laced with worry.
I shrugged, trying to downplay the severity of the wound. "It's nothing I can't handle," I said, attempting to sound braver than I felt.
He stood up from the bed, walking over to his wardrobe. I changed position, rolling onto my stomach and propping myself up on my elbows, my legs swinging in the air.
"So how did Cedric find out about me knowing the truth?" I asked, my voice laced with suspicion.
He sighed, closing the wardrobe door and returning to the bed. "I told him," he said, sitting down next to me.
I stared at him in disbelief. "What? Why would you do that?"
He shrugged. "It wasn't intentional. Cedric has the ability to read minds as a Beta. He figured it out on his own."
I was stunned, my mind racing with the implications of this new information. "What do you mean, he can read minds?" I asked, my voice laced with incredulity.
"It's just one of the powers our pack has," he explained, his voice heavy with resignation. "The Alpha has the ability to control anyone, even humans. Cedric, as a Beta, can read minds. And as a gamma, I can manipulate brains and erase memories."
I was speechless, my mind racing with the implications of this new information. The world of werewolves was even more complex and dangerous than I had realized.
"Wow, seriously?" I exclaimed, my eyes wide with shock as I tried to wrap my head around the revelation that Blake had just shared with me.
"Yes, that's not all," he said, his expression grave as he prepared to impart more information.
"Is there more to this?" I asked, my heart racing with fear and excitement as I realized that the world of werewolves was even more complex and dangerous than I had originally thought.
"Yes. Xander can control fire, Liam can control earth, Cedric can control water, and I can control air," he explained, his voice heavy with significance as he listed off the various powers possessed by members of their pack.
"Are you kidding me?" I asked, my mouth still hanging open in shock as I tried to process this new information. Blake chuckled and closed my mouth with his hand.
"There are no flies in my room, but you might want to keep your mouth closed anyway," he chuckled, and I gave him an annoyed look.
"Whatever," I rolled my eyes, still trying to come to terms with the fact that the world was full of things that I couldn't even begin to understand.
Blake had a training session to attend, so he went to take a shower. I left his house and headed to the training ground, wanting to see how Blake trained everyone. I climbed a tree and found a perfect branch to sit on, offering a great view of the training.
The training session was actually pretty impressive, and it was clear that Blake was a good teacher. However, as I watched, I couldn't help but notice a few flaws in his techniques. When the session ended and everyone left the ground, I jumped down from the tree, startling Blake.
"What the heck, Niya?" he yelled, his heart racing with shock as he tried to figure out what had just happened.
"Sorry," I laughed, feeling guilty for scaring him.
"I just wanted to see how you fight." I scratched my head, feeling embarrassed that I had caused him such a fright.
"You scared me!" he exclaimed, shaking his head and laughing as he tried to compose himself. "So, how did I do?"
"You're good, but you have a few flaws," I told him, trying to be honest without hurting his feelings. "For example, you clearly show that your left side is your weak point."
"Wow, you're good at this," he said, winking at me as he realized that I had been paying close attention to his techniques.
"Thanks," I shrugged, feeling a little embarrassed by the compliment. "But you need to be careful with your right leg. You don't pay enough attention to your stance, and it could lead to injury."
"Thank you, Niya," he said, smiling at me as he took my advice to heart. "I guess I needed that."
"Anytime," I shrugged, feeling happy that I had been able to help him in some small way.
"How about you watch me train every day and give me your review?" he asked, a mischievous twinkle in his eye as he suggested this unconventional arrangement.
"Really? You want me to do that?" I asked, surprised by his request.
"Yes, Niya. But now I have to rush. I have a meeting with Cedric," he chuckled, before turning and walking away.
As Blake left to take a shower and head to the office, I stayed with Cassie, debating the merits of different types of tea. Cassie always appreciated my special ginger tea, but she had never admitted that it tasted the best.
Finally, after a few minutes of discussion, she relented. "Okay, fine," she said with a grin. "Your ginger tea is the best. I don't know how you make it, but it always hits the spot."
Feeling triumphant, I returned to the house, knowing that I would eventually have to face Cedric at the dinner table. I knew he would still be angry with me, and the thought made my stomach twist with anxiety.
As I walked into the dining room, I saw that my sister Riya looked concerned, while Amanda appeared furious. I could only assume that they had fought, and the other pack members all wore disappointed expressions.
"Good evening, everyone," I said, trying to put on a brave face as I sat down across from my sister.
"Good evening," everyone mumbled, smiling except for Cedric.
"Cedric, do you have something to say?" Liam asked, drawing everyone's attention to him.
There was a long pause as Cedric seemed to struggle with himself. I could see the conflict on his face, the way he looked down at the table and then back up at me.
Finally, he sighed and lifted his eyes to meet mine as he said, "I'm sorry, Niya. I should never have behaved like that with you. I let my anger and jealousy get the best of me, and I know that's not an excuse. I hope you can forgive me."
I couldn't believe my ears. The arrogant man was apologizing to me? I tried to keep a straight face, but inside I was dancing with joy. Finally, it seemed like things were turning around for the better.
Everyone's eyes were fixed on me, and I couldn't fathom why. Were they expecting something from me? An apology, perhaps? No way was I apologizing to Cedric. I inwardly flipped my hair, feeling a surge of stubbornness.
"Ahem--" Riya cleared her throat and discretely nudged my foot with hers, trying to get my attention. I looked at her with confusion written all over my face.
"It's okay, Cedric. I forgive you. Just don't let it happen again," I said, plastering a fake smile on my face.
"Excuse me, what did you say?" Cedric looked livid now.
"Do you have a hearing problem? I said it's okay," I shrugged nonchalantly and stabbed my fork into the noodles on my plate.
"What do you--" Cedric was interrupted by Liam.
"What was the fight about?" He asked, attempting to defuse the tension.
"It was nothing, just a misunderstanding," Cedric gritted his teeth, no doubt recalling the harsh words I had said to him. Good for him.
"I think we should start over and do something to put this feud behind us," Cady chimed in, trying to lighten the mood.
"What do you have in mind?" Amanda asked, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
"How about shopping and then clubbing?" Cady suggested, and to my dismay, everyone else looked enthusiastic as well. Everyone except for Cedric and me.
"That sounds great, but count us out," Liam said, causing Cady's face to fall.
"Hey, big bro, don't do that," Cady nagged.
"Actually, count me out too. I have office work and kids to look after," Riya spoke up.
"Same here," several others chimed in, and I breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed like I wouldn't have to endure a night out with the "sex-hungry dogs" after all.
"So it's just me, Amanda, Cassie, Niya, Cedric, Blake, Tyler, and Lucas," Cady said, and I felt a wave of dread wash over me. No, not again. I couldn't go out with this group of people.
"I think I'll pass on this one," I said, standing up from my chair.
"What? No, you're not doing it," Amanda said, looking sad.
I didn't want to let her down, but I also couldn't bear the thought of a night out with this group. "Fine, I'll go," I sighed, resigned to my fate.
But just as I was about to sit back down, my phone started ringing. It was a call from my new office, the one in Seattle that I had applied to. I had been selected for the job, and I would be leaving right after Amanda's wedding.
A wave of relief washed over me. Maybe this was a sign that I was meant to move on from this pack and start a new chapter.
"I have to take this" I showed them my phone and walked away from everyone. Isn't it late for them to call me?
As I walked away from everyone, I couldn't help but feel a sense of anxiety wash over me. I knew that this call was not going to be a good one.
"Hello," I answered the call, my heart brimming with joy at the sound of the ringing phone. But my elation was short-lived.
"Is this Niya Davis?" The voice on the other end of the line was somber, and it sent a shiver down my spine.
"Yes, it is," I replied tentatively, sensing that something was amiss.
"I'm sorry, Ms. Davis, but I have called you to inform you that your offer letter has been rejected," the voice informed me gravely.
My heart sank. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. "Wait, what?" I stammered, struggling to process the news.
"Sorry, miss, we find you unfit for this job," the voice stated plainly, as if delivering a death sentence.
"But I received the offer letter just a few days ago! How can you do this?" I protested, my voice rising with each word.
"Miss, our job requirements have been updated, and we have found someone else who is a better fit for the position," the voice explained apologetically.
Desperate for a lifeline, I pleaded, "Is there no other vacancy?"
"Sorry, miss, but I'll let you know in the future," the voice said before abruptly hanging up.
The weight of disappointment hit me like a ton of bricks. Tears streamed down my face as I struggled to come to grips with what had just happened.
As I wiped away my tears, I heard footsteps approaching me. I looked up to see Cedric, my nemesis, standing before me with a look of smug satisfaction on his face.
"What do you think of yourself?" he sneered, oozing arrogance.
"I think of myself as a queen," I shot back defiantly, my head held high and my arms crossed in front of me.
"You—" Cedric began, pointing a finger in my face.
"You what?" I interrupted, raising an eyebrow. "Did the cat get your tongue?"
"You'll pay for this, Niya," he threatened, taking a step closer.
"Oh, by PayPal or Google Pay?" I quipped, my tone laced with sarcasm.
"How do you want me to pay you?" I asked, Cedric growled, his eyes blazing with fury.
"You think you're smart, Niya?" he taunted, his smirk widening.
My own smirk vanished as I sensed the malice in his tone. But I refused to give him the satisfaction of seeing me cower. "There is no room to argue on this, Cedric. Of course, I'm smart," I declared, holding my ground.
"I am the reigning Jeopardy! champion in my living room," The atmosphere was electric as Cedric and I stood face to face, our eyes locked in a battle of wills. The tension between us was palpable, and I couldn't help but feel a rush of adrenaline course through my veins. As he stepped forward, I held my ground, refusing to back down.
"Overconfidence is not good, Niya," he warned me, his voice low and menacing.
I didn't flinch. "Same goes for you, Cedric," I shot back, my voice laced with defiance.
Our faces were now so close that I could feel his breath on my skin. The slightest movement and our lips would have met. But I wasn't about to let that happen. Not with him.
Over my dead body, I thought to myself. I would sooner jump off a cliff than kiss this man, even if he was the last person on earth.
As I took a step forward, he took a step back, and I knew I had won this round. "You're playing with fire, Niya," he warned me again, his eyes burning with intensity.
"I know," I replied, my smirk returning. "But you know what? I love playing with fire."
Cedric turned his back on me, and I could feel the satisfaction bubbling up inside me. But then he spoke again, and my heart sank. "And just because I said sorry doesn't mean anything has changed between us."
My eyes narrowed. Didn't he make it clear that he wanted to put our differences aside? I blew air on my nails and said nonchalantly, "I don't count on that sorry anyway."
"Just so you know, I hate you," he said, looking over his shoulder.
I shrugged, trying to hide the pain I felt. "Feelings are mutual, buddy."
He didn't say anything else, just walked away with a smirk on his face. But I knew that he was planning something, and I was ready for him. Cedric may think he knows me, but he has no idea what I'm capable of.
Game on buddy
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Author's Note:-
Dear readers,
I just wanted to let you know that this chapter has been edited since its original posting.
I hope the changes have improved your reading experience and made the story more enjoyable.
As always, thank you for your support and for taking the time to read my work
If any mistakes please let me know
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❣️🕊️PEACE🕊️❣️