2. How could it be you?

Kiara’s POV

As I stepped into the magnificent halls, an overwhelming sense of not fitting in washed over me. With my Plain Yellow button-up shirt and blue jeans, I knew I would inevitably attract attention. Unlike the others, who were impeccably dressed for the occasion, I felt out of place. Walking through the crowd, I could see the lights bounce off the people on the dance floor and illuminate the entire place. The music was roaring within the room, but I was far from enjoying it.

Sensing my unease, Anna grabbed my hand and led me to one of the corners, where we spotted a small table farthest from everyone and decided to sit there.

“Kiara, wait here for me, will you? I’ll go get us something to drink,” she said.

“Just water for me, please. Thank you!” I responded, but I doubted she heard me.

I lost myself in thought as she vanished into the crowd we emerged from. Despite this being our final semester at school, a small part of me held onto the hope that things would take a different turn for me this time. Throughout my existence, making friends and finding companionship has been a constant struggle. It was only a year ago that I encountered Anna in our history class and began spending time with her. Nevertheless, I refrained from allowing her to get too close, as I knew Leslie would also target her. Leslie just couldn’t bear the thought of me discovering even a tiny measure of peace and happiness in my life. It was as if her sole purpose was to inflict misery upon me.

“Earth to Kiara?” Anna’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts. Flashing a smile, she placed a drink before me, which I suspected to be a Virgin Mojito.

“Sorry,” I gave her a sheepish smile as I couldn’t help but notice her grin. Anna was truly a beautiful woman. Her green irises glistened in her doe eyes every time a smile touched her face. Resting at the center of her captivating visage was a small nose, complemented by delicate lips beneath. Her lustrous blonde hair further enhanced her radiant beauty.

“I really don’t think it’s a good idea for you to sit with me,” I said. “If Leslie sees us together, she’ll make your life a living hell.”

“Well, I don’t think she’s here yet, so we’re safe,” Anna shrugged.

Although Anna never feared Leslie, the dynamics shifted due to her father’s position as the Beta. One can never predict the false accusations they might fabricate. That’s precisely why I declined Anna’s offer to wear her dress tonight. If I had accepted, Leslie would have gotten suspicious about who lent me the dress.

“Anyway, are you excited for tonight? You’re going to find your mate tonight,” Anna said, grinning.

“Provided he shows up to the party,” I said, “I can’t wait to know who it is, though. Hopefully, all goes well.”

“Of course, it will. It’s not like he’ll reject you.” Anna joked, “I can’t wait for you to find your mate. Finally, there will be someone who can take care of you.”

“Me too,” I said.

“Anyway, I think it’s almost 12. Do you want to hit the dance floor?”

I glanced towards the dance floor and realized I wasn’t ready to join them yet. However, I couldn’t bear to decline Anna’s invitation either. She deserved to enjoy herself and have a great time. Perhaps if I excused myself, she would have the opportunity to spend time with her other friends.

“Uh, sure, you go ahead, though. I need to use the restroom.”

“Do you want me to accompany you?”

“No, it’s alright. You have fun. I’ll join you soon,” I said, heading towards the washroom.

As I entered the washroom, I couldn’t help but attract a few glances from the people around me. Determined to prolong my stay in the restroom, I lingered until an influx of more and more people made it inevitable for me to leave. Disheartened by the timing, I returned to our table only to encounter the worst person possible.

 “Can anyone call the fashion police?” Leslie burst into an exaggerated laughter in the middle of the crowd. She wore a shiny golden high-slit dress that perfectly clung to her curves.

“There’s a fugitive here,” she said as she fell into Asher’s arms.

Asher, one of the most attractive men I’ve ever seen, possessed hooded brown eyes nestled beneath a prominent eyebrows arch. A perpetual stern expression adorned his face, lending an air of aloofness and unapproachability. Nevertheless, his demeanor never felt cold towards me. His lips often formed a thin, straight line, and his forehead was always pulled together for a frown. Although Asher never stopped Leslie from bullying me, he never contributed to it. This left me wondering if perhaps he harbored a soft spot for me.

Nevertheless, I couldn’t deceive myself into believing that he ever cared about me. After all, not only was he already in a relationship with Leslie, but he was also our pack’s future Alpha. The additional weight of his status as the captain of our school’s football team only reinforced the notion that Asher’s interest in me was highly improbable.

“What are you staring at, you idiot?” Leslie’s voice snapped me from my trance, and I looked away in embarrassment.

Asher’s handsome face had a strange expression. He seemed to want to laugh, but his mouth corners were particularly stiff. He nervously moved his gaze away from her body and looked down at his toes.

The mean girl beside Leslie looked at me with disgust, sneering, “Oh my god, Kiara, I doubt you know how to read. Can’t you understand that tonight’s dress code is a formal dress?”

“But it also says on the invitation, ‘ladies and gentlemen’” I pretended to be surprised and looked at them, “Don’t you know these words?”

Leslie’s mouth fell open. “How dare you?”

Before I could see what was coming, she came forward and splashed her drink on my face. “Get out of here. We don’t welcome Bastards,” She angrily said. “Your father should have dragged you into the pit with himself. It would have been good riddance.”

I tried my best not to let tears surface in my eyes. How dare she? Before I could do anything, the bell in the auditorium began to ring. Oh no, it signaled the arrival of midnight. In just ten seconds, I would officially turn 18.

The crowd commenced a countdown reminiscent of New Year’s Eve, a tradition we faithfully upheld even during our semester parties. I could feel the cold liquid on my face dribbling down my neck and along my back, but I could hardly care about it as I was too distracted by the commotion around me.

As the last bell rang, the crowd cheered in happiness, but I could hear a glass getting broken beside me. As I looked toward Leslie, I saw a hand pushing her aside. Stepping forward, Asher fixed his eyes on me; a bewildered expression was etched on his face. It was as though he couldn’t believe what he saw.

“How could it be you?”