As promised I went straight to the racetrack after school on Friday to make up for going to Caleb’s the other night. I practiced hard and they let me go at eight to go home to get ready for the party. I called Keri for emergency help to speed things up. I showered and blow dried my hair before she curled it for me. It was almost ten o’clock when we were putting the finishing touches on my makeup.
By the time I walked up to the Red River pack house the party that was in full blast. There were people on the front lawn dancing to the blaring music the front door was wide open and I could see more people through there. There were some many people it was overwhelming and I only recognized a few faces; but what thing I did know what that they were all shifters.
I shimmied my way through the door and began trying to navigate my way around the house through the bodies. Lights were flashing, music was pounding in my ears and there was so many smells, I became confused and lost in a house that I’d been in enough times that I shouldn’t be lost. Oh God, I thought, of course this would happen to me at my first party. I decided to stop moving and take a few deep breaths, take in my surroundings. So many other people had survived this experience before me; I will not be the one who did not survive.
Suddenly a pair of hands grabbed my waist and I could feel a body grinding into my backside. “Hey.” I shouted turning to face the guy, he wasn’t bad looking but I wasn’t here for that kind of stuff. “Keep your perverted hands off me.”
“Why you got a boyfriend?” He asked in a husky voice.
“No!” I cried before mentally slapping myself, I should have lied.
“Then what’s the problem?” He asked again approaching me again.
“Lana!” I heard someone shout my name, I whipped my head around to the sound and saw Mark watching me, my heart melted in relief as I push my “dance partner” away from me and quickly pushed through the crowd.
“Are you okay? Doesn’t seem like you like him very much.” He commented holding out his hand for me to help me the last of the way through the crowd and holding a red solo cup filled with who knows what in the other.
“I don’t like parties very much.” I replied glancing nervously at the people who surrounded us.
This made him chuckle. “They’re not so bad once you get used to them.” He assured me. “Come on all the good stuff is in kitchen.”
The kitchen was definitely less crowded like an exclusive part of a club. About twenty people were crowded around the large island in the middle and appeared to be playing a game, others were around the dining table playing another game. Finally some people I recognized. Mark guided me towards the island, Kyle and a girl named Jenny both moved over to give Mark and I room. I was handed my own cup of vodka as they all greeted me like we’d been friends forever, well most of them did at least. When I made eye contact with Caleb he only gave me a curt nod before turning back to the girl beside him and talking with her.
“I’ve never...” Jonathan started from where stood three people down from Caleb, apparently we were playing ‘I have never’. “I’ll go easy on you for this one Lana,” He said smirking at me, “I’ve never cheated on a test or exam.” Shit, I took a sip with fewer people then I would expect. Most of them looked at me with surprise.
“What ? It was in grade nine! I couldn’t remember a math equation so I peeked at Keri’s test.” I admitted blushing like mad.
“Harvard Havard, cheating on a test. Not as innocent as she looks.” They teased.
“Okay, okay just keep going.” I said laughing at myself.
I drank only twice in the first round and once again drank to Jonathan’s “Never have I ever”. I was actually enjoying myself; I was surprised how easily I was able to ignore Caleb who was shamelessly flirting with Monika in front of me. When it reached Caleb for the second time he paused and looked straight at me.
“Never have I ever...been rejected.” I think my heart stopped beating. The people who knew what was going on between Caleb and I were either staring at me for my reaction or at him in shock. I kept eye contact with Caleb as I downed my cup; I’d had enough of this game.
“I’ll see you later; I can see I’m not wanted here.” I told Mark.
“Come on Lana, it’s just a game.” Mark pleaded begging me to stay.
“Yeah Lana it’s just a game.” Caleb mocked with a smug smirk; he’d gotten the reaction he’d wanted. I shook my head at him and plunged back into the crowd. I wouldn’t allow him to cause a scene and ruin Jonathan’s birthday.
I went back to the dance floor and began to sway back and forth with the bodies as the little alcohol I had consumed began to set in. I quickly got bored with that and went to go sit outside in the gazebo that was a ways from the house; the music was quieter here and best of all I was all alone. I made myself comfortable as I listened to the crickets chirp. I decided to check my phone as well; Keri had left me five text and Connor had left me three asking how that party was and I was about to answer but the sound of creaking hinges interrupted me. I looked up and there was another guys staring at me almost in wonder.
“Uh, can I help you?” I asked unsure.
He shook his head as if to clear it, “Oh yeah, I saw you come in here and I thought you might want some company.” I looked him over confused of his intentions, he was good looking like all the other boys here of course, he had blonde hair and contrasting black eyes, broad shoulders and large muscles.
“I’m afraid you are mistaken.” I corrected him.
“Well I apologize it’s not too often I am wrong.” There was nothing cocky about his reply, there was almost a hint of authority, that was when realization hit.
“Shit. You’re an Alpha and I’m an idiot.” I cried smacking my forehead.
“Yes I am and yes you are.” He said with a kind smile I couldn’t help but return. “I’m Vince, Alpha of the Lake Wood pack.”
“Lana of the...uh...” What was I suppose to say. I was technically the Red River pack but without Caleb’s acceptance I guess I still belonged to Holloway.
“You seem unsure of you pack, it can’t be that hard. Unless you’re a rogue.” He commented sitting down a comfortable distance from me.
“No not a rogue. Just relationship complications.” I offered.
His eyes narrowed, “You wouldn’t happen to be, the Beta of Red River pack, Caleb Foster’s mate? I hear he hasn’t accepted her yet, there’s been lots of talk in other packs about it.”
This information made me stand up and surprise. “What?” I exclaimed. “Oh god still? No, no, no. That can’t happen. Why don’t they just let it go?”
“So it is you!” He said standing up beside me and taking my arms. “Lana, from my pack and many others I would like to say we’re on your side. What Caleb is doing is wrong and Jonathan should be doing something about it.”
Something about this angered me, “Vince, you don’t understand. If Caleb doesn’t want me then I’m okay with that. If he wants to be with me then I want it to be because he truly loves me, not because he’s being forced by other people.” I explained to Vince and he looked at me surprised.
“But Lana–” He started but was interrupted by the door opening again. My stomach dropped when I saw who it was.
“What’s going on here?” Caleb demanded and Vince looked to him surprised but I didn’t dare look Caleb in the eye, not right after the conversation I’d had with Vince that he had probably overheard.
“What does it matter to you?” Vince replied with a more demanding tone to show he was an alpha, but Caleb didn’t back down.
“You on my territory Vince and she happens to be my mate.” Caleb defended,
I scoffed and moved between them, “The mate you don’t want.” I pointed out to Caleb but he didn’t even spare me a glance.
“We’re on your territory but the rules are still the same.” Vince continued his stand becoming more defensive now that he knew Caleb was my mate.
“What rules? I haven’t broken any rules. I have a right to protect my territory.” Caleb retorted taking threatening step closer to Caleb and I.
“I’m not talking about the written rules Caleb.” Vince said sternly, “I’m talking about the unwritten rules of accepting one’s mate, one that you’d do well to adhere or you’ll have problems from my pack and I think I speak for many others when I say I we will not be that only pack you’ll have problems with.”
“Vince,” I said shocked by his bluntness, I looked at Caleb and his angry expression had hardened, if this threat surprised him in any way he didn’t show it and without even a word of farewell Vince pushed past Caleb bumping him in the shoulder on his way through the door.
Caleb and I stood silently for awhile waiting for the other to say something, neither of us wanting to speak. I won. “Did he do anything to you?” He asked.
“What does it matter, you do stuff with girls all the time, I feel it.” I replied.
“When are you going to get it into you thick head that those headaches of yours are not my fault?” He shouted at me and that took me aback it just came out of nowhere.
“Why do you always ruin everything?” I managed to choke out before the tears that had formed in my eyes could fall and I brushed past him so he wouldn’t see. I went to the bathroom that was on the second floor it was the first free one I could find and once again there weren’t as many people around and those that were, were half unconscious from too much alcohol making out with some stranger both oblivious to their surroundings. Little did I know that I was followed to the bathroom.
I lock the door behind me and slumped against the door exhausted just from the events of tonight. What was I doing here at a party? I didn’t belong in this kind of lifestyle. I belonged at the race track or in front of a grand piano in a theatre. I took a few deep breaths before standing back up and heading to the sink. I glanced in the mirror as least I didn’t look much different than I did when I check my reflection in my rear view mirror before I left my car, maybe a little tired but that was barely noticeable (on the outside at least). I decide it was time for me to depart enough shit had gone down between Caleb and I tonight I didn’t have the energy for another confrontation , so I took another deep breath before unlocking the door.
I took one step before my mouth was covered and I was forcefully pushed back into the bathroom. I heard the door shut and lock as I looked at my first assailant. I tried to scream but his hand prevented the noise from escaping.
“Shh, shh. You don’t want to do that.” He soothed shoving me roughly into the back wall and into some shelves. I cried out again in pain as my back came into contact with these objects. “You don’t want to alert anyone. Michael get behind her and hold her.” It was the guy who had first tried to dance with me, I tried struggle as they exchanged their holds on me but they we too strong. Their grips would leave bruises for sure. They must have been rogues because pack wolves would not subject another wolf to this forcefully behaviour.
“Please,” I begged as the guy number two pinned both my legs and my arms so his buddy’s hand were free.
“I just want to show you how pleasurable I can be sweaty pie, since you didn’t give me the chance earlier.” He said roaming his hands freely around my body and running his tongue along my jaw line. I couldn’t help it I tried to stay strong but my situation was helpless if no one had seen me being pushing back into the bathroom. The music was just too loud for anyone to have heard the crashing.
“Help,” I whispered my last hope as the first guy ripped my shirt right down the middle.
A/N: Mwahahahahaha cliffhanger! Have a spectacular week!