"You need to dance!" Riri shouted over the loud music. "It'll make you feel better!" Her words were meant to comfort me, but they made me feel even more out of place. I wasn't very confident about how I danced, but Riri was.
Riri had always been very outgoing and enjoyed being around people. She loved going to parties and meeting new people. Her attitude was what drew me to her, and we had been friends for almost five years. We met before college and clicked instantly. She became my go-to person for everything, and we hung out and talked all the time.
Today, graduation was finally upon us and we could finally start our lives. It had been a long journey but it was all worth it. We finally made it!
Today, graduation was finally upon us, and we were ready to celebrate. Riri had decided we should go clubbing, which I thought was a good idea. But after one drink, I was already feeling tipsy while Riri remained unfazed.
"Come on, Anisha! The music's great!" Riri called, looking stunning in her black bodycon dress that emphasized her hourglass figure.
I laughed as Riri's hips swayed in a not-so-seductive way, trying to crack me up. But some people around us found it amusing, and she knew how to get me going.
I eventually joined her on the dance floor, raising my arms and letting loose. It was a lively and warm atmosphere, and I felt so good. I danced like nobody was watching, whipping my hair around and spinning in circles. We might have gained some strange looks from people, but I didn't care. Who said something about getting the right moves and synchronizing with music? No! Nothing like that! I was laughing. Riri was laughing. I stopped dancing for a second, only to dance in the next beat like a weird zombie, which Riri had also mimicked. We burst out laughing.
"I need another drink!" I said, pointing to my throat.
"Me too!" Riri giggled. "I love your dance, always."
"I learned from the best," I chuckled.
Riri ordered Scotch on the rocks, but I reminded her that we needed to stay hydrated and asked for water.
"You've had enough, Ri. Let's have water." I reminded her, but she just waved her hand in the air and giggled again.
"You know me. I can handle it, but you-" she winked at me, "darlin' have some water. I can't carry you to the car. You're too heavy."
I then surprised her by ordering a Michter's rye double on the rocks, which she found shocking. Her eyes almost left the sockets, before laughing like a drain. "and another one!"
"You're serious? You don't drink!"
"I am now. You're a good influence." I smirked at the feigned shock on her face.
"Well, I sure am. Just don't blame me for your sweet hangover."
"I won't. Let's drown a few more shots tonight and feel the effects tomorrow." I told her as I picked up the shot glass and drank its contents, only to shudder from its taste, and I coughed.
Riri was laughing at me. "Did you forget you haven't had that alcohol before? You've had mild drinks, not whiskey. You're supposed to kind of sip it, but hold your breath. It's hot and prickly when it touches your mouth. But trust me, there's sweetness in it, honey."
"My gums are tingling...and something's hot in my throat!"
"Very normal!" she laughed. "Do you want more?"
I nodded eagerly, wiping the corners of my mouth. No matter how much I might like to think otherwise, tomorrow is going to be a tough day. So, why not make the most of the night?
I could feel our mood was in full swing. Riri looked drunk but was not. She still looked in full control of herself. I laughed internally. Maybe that was what I wanted to see. She must be drunk already.
As we continued to drink, I lost count of how many shots I had. I started to feel nauseous and lightheaded, and the lights and music became overwhelming.
The lights were flashing and the music was blaring. My eyes searched for Riri in the crowd. She said she'd be quick in the bathroom, but she was there, talking to a man.
He was tall and...and angry.
Oops. Perhaps it's time to go home.
"Hey!" I staggered as my hand waved to get their attention. Riri looked like she wanted to be anywhere but in front of me. "That's my friend you're scaring, old man." I pointed at him. I knew I was slurring my words, but I did not care. I couldn't see his face clearly because of the lights.
I gasped when Riri pulled me to her side, "An, behave."
I was drunk, but she was my friend. "Are you okay? We can go home now, Ri. I think...I think we've had enough." I closed my eyes. "No fighting in the bar, remember?" I whispered to her. "Who...who is this?" I turned to the man, but he was gone. "That's what I thought. I...I scared him." I laughed. That old man wouldn't wanna mess with me.
"I'm dead, An...Oh, I'm so dead." She said, but I couldn't tell if she was nervous.
"No, you're not, but we will be if we don't go home now. He might come back." My eyes were closing. They were getting heavier every second. "Oh, Ri. My head...I think...I'm going to sleep."
**
I slowly opened my eyes and immediately regretted it as a throbbing pain pounded in my skull. Groaning, I turned to my side and rubbed the sleep from my eyes, realizing that I had a terrible hangover. Where was my friend Riri? The pain in my body and head reminded me of last night's attempt to celebrate our success.
Groaning internally, I made a slow beeline to the bathroom, but I stopped in my tracks as I looked around the unfamiliar bedroom.
Taking a deep breath and trying not to panic, I checked the walls, the bed, and the bathroom door. This was not my place! And it was gorgeous. But where on earth was Riri?
I rushed into the bathroom, did my business, and washed my face before noticing a new toothbrush. I wondered who had changed me last night. Was it Riri? Or was she too drunk to take care of me? The questions flooded my mind, but I forced myself not to panic. I was in someone else's house!
I found some clothes in one of the closets and walked out of the bedroom, admiring the impressive design and modern structure that blended perfectly with nature. The huge window showed the beauty of a big lawn and green trees.
The smell of bacon led me to the kitchen, where Riri startled me as she came out. "Riri, you scared me!" I exclaimed.
"I'm sorry. I just knew you were near. How's your sleep? Did you sleep well?" she asked as she led me to the table.
Confused, I looked at her and asked, "Who is he?"
The man was cooking, and his back was facing us, but I could see the stark contrast of his skin against the white cotton shirt he was wearing. "First, sit down, eat, and I will explain everything," Riri replied.
The man finally turned, holding up a plate with the beacon I had been smelling earlier. "Have some soup before you eat the beacon and egg." His voice was as deep as the dark color of his eyes. I hesitated for a moment before taking the plate from him. "Don't worry. It's not poisoned."
My stomach growled. "It's not what I thought." I managed to say, hoping he didn't hear my stomach complain. My eyes still followed him as he rounded the table and sat across from me. I turned to Riri. "Is he your boyfriend?" I said in a whisper tone as I narrowed my eyes at her. "You've been keeping secrets from me, Ri."
She chuckled. " I suggest you eat first, An. There's soup and fruit. How do you feel?"
I sighed as I began to eat. "Tired, but I don't regret it," I replied, giving her a wink. But when I looked at the man across from me, his eyes were darker, and it made me uncomfortable for some reason. The food in my mouth wouldn't go down my throat. He was staring too much.
Noticing the half glass of OJ at the center of the table, I took a drink, assuming it was Riri's. It helped me swallow better, and I loved the taste. "I drank your juice if you don't mind," I told her.
Riri suppressed a smile. "It's actually his OJ," she pointed out, nodding toward the man.
"Oh..." I met his dark eyes. "Sorry," I said, embarrassed, before clearing my throat and placing the glass back on the table where it was easy for him to reach it. And instantly regretted that silly move. You drank from it. He won't drink from the same glass anymore, Anisha! "No, I mean, I will get you another-"
But he took it before I could!
I watched him drink as he watched my reaction as if he was enjoying it.
"I am thirsty, too."
"Do you want to drink more?" The man asked, his voice deep and smooth.My response was quick. "Yes. In...in another glass if you don't mind." I noticed the corner of his mouth raised, but it disappeared just as quickly.He towered over me as he stood up and walked to the refrigerator. His commanding presence made me feel small, intimidated even, but I tried to keep my composure. I didn't know him and he didn't know me.Riri's teasing tone interrupted my thoughts. "Stop staring and start eating, An."I replied, "I'm eating," as I stuffed a piece of fruit into my mouth. "You can tell me what you want to tell me while I'm eating, Ri. That way, we can save time."In my peripheral view, I saw him take his seat before placing the glass of OJ near my plate. Despite his obvious presence, I ignored him and focused on Riri."As you know, school is over, and you want to find a job." She started. I hummed in response, still eating. "Remember the Creekpine town?""Your hometown that you never let
"I need to call my parents," I said as Riri was following behind me. I turned to face her and noticed the seriousness in her expression. "I don't understand what's going on," I told her."An, this is serious," she said. "I need you to be open-minded and understanding, please.""Please, Riabhel, can you spare me from making any demands? I believe I have been quite understanding so far. I'm still trying to process everything and I'm not angry yet about what you've done." As I entered the room, I noticed my bag on the sofa and began searching for my phone inside. "Where on earth did I put my phone?" I muttered in frustration."It's right there," Riabhel said, directing my attention to the bedside table where my phone sat next to the alarm clock.I couldn't help but roll my eyes inwardly as I responded, "Did you hear what he said about a pack? And he even growled like some sort of beast. You heard that, right, Riabhel? And now you're acting strange. You're being defensive and it seems lik
RIRI"Because you were chosen," I told her.The furrowing of her brows revealed the depth of her inner turmoil. It was as if her mind was a whirlpool of thoughts, desperately trying to make sense of the information at hand. Her face betrayed the myriad of questions and concerns that were swirling within her.Lost in contemplation, her brown eyes would deepen in hue whenever she concentrated on something, drawing in anyone who happened to be observing her. The intense gaze she projected was captivating, and I wondered if she was even aware of it. Perhaps no one had ever mentioned it to her before.When I was initially tasked with protecting this woman, I expected it to be a difficult assignment. However, I was proven wrong. Her gentle nature, compassion, and understanding made everything seem effortless. As I spent more time with her, I realized that she was no longer just a person under my protection but someone I would willingly give my life to defend. In fact, she was the most impor
ANISHA"My name is Kazimir."I gasped as I gazed deeply into his eyes. It felt as if he could see right through my soul with the intensity of his stare. My heart raced and my stomach churned. Pushing against his chest, I stepped out of his arms, and he let me go."You've met my brother, but I haven't smelt his scent on you." He said, watching me intently as I took a few steps away from him."You look very similar to each other," I whispered. I whispered. If he hadn't introduced himself, I would have thought he was the same person I met this morning. As I eyed him, I noticed a sterner demeanor and a colder expression, but the resemblance was still uncanny.What should I have expected from identical twins? I groaned internally, placing the blame on Riri. She had failed to mention that they were the Frodhart twins, the Alphas who ruled the pack. She only told me that the pack was led by twin Alphas, without revealing that I had already met one of them. If she had, I would have realized t
ANISHAKallum strode toward us. His eyes were drinking me in. I couldn't help but feel like I was under a microscope. I felt myself blush.Craning my neck to see his face, he stopped in front of me and leaned down, his face mere inches away."You have been sampled. I wondered if he had a taste." He said, his voice low and smooth. His breath was fanning my face, minty and fresh. I couldn't help but think he smelt good. I shook my head internally."Kallum," Kazimir breathed. There was a warning in his tone."Don't use that tone on me, brother. I've been controlling myself and yesterday was not an exemption but you," he spat exasperatedly, "not even an hour, yet you already had your scent all over her." He said accusingly.Shaking my head, confused, I stepped in. "Uhm, Kallum, he...he just greeted me with a hug," I said, feeling guilty remembering that it wasn't just a hug. It was more intimate. But his eyes said it all. I shuddered. Was he jealous? Was this a thing in this pack? I wonde
KALLUMI noticed her blush but quickly averted my gaze from her body. I recalled the water incident that happened a week ago, and I knew she remembered it too. Although, to me, nothing is sexier than seeing my mate blush.Going a week without seeing her was excruciatingly painful for both me and my wolf, as well as for my brother and his wolf. We were obliged to attend the Pack Union Conference (PUC), where Alphas and High Councils from the governing association were in attendance. However, we had to be very discreet during our stay, since matters concerning the woman in front of me had not yet been discussed." I want another thing, though," I said, trying to control myself from grabbing her and marking that smooth skin on her neck. I was like a newly released mental who needed his dose of maintenance. She wasn't doing anything yet, but I was ready to explode if I couldn't touch her."What is it? It's late." She said, putting the glass in the sink and facing me. She walked towards me
KAZIMIRI watched her sleep.The dim light illuminated her sleeping form, peaceful and angelic. She lay under the blanket, wearing one of my shirts after I had accidentally ruined her pajamas. I couldn't help but smirk. I remember how responsive she was, and I liked it that way.My brother and I were able to hold back ourselves and, instead, found pleasure in her pleasure. Getting a sample of her taste was enough for us...for now."Do you want to sleep next to her?" Kallum asked, strolling out of the bathroom."I don't think you're sleeping next to her either," I whispered softly, though I doubted she would wake up from exhaustion.I heard him groan in protest."I think I want to sleep on the bed with her," he said, starting to climb on the bed. But I quickly grabbed his shirt before he could put any weight on the bed and cause it to creak."Nay. Nay. Not tonight, brother." I said firmly. "Not happening.""Come on," he groaned in a hushed voice when I let go of his shirt, frustrated.
ANISHA"So," I said, pushing the plate away and wiping the corner of my mouth. I turned to the two good-looking Alphas who were watching me swallow every food like I was some sort of food entertainment. I internally shook my head, realizing that my hunger had overridden the discomfort their eyes gave me."Um, last night," I cleared my throat, feeling nervous despite my attempts to deny it. "I...actually, I couldn't explain it. Am I your mate?" I blurted the question out, unable to contain my curiosity any longer.I heard them chuckle loudly. They both looked at each other as if they were communicating. Their eyes were glowing and flashing; they appeared to be focusing on something beyond our physical surroundings. And I remembered what Riri had told me about.I gave them the eye. "Hello, I'm right here, and I want to hear it too, you know," I said with an innocent smile. "I've heard that wolves can communicate through Mindlinking, but it's not appropriate to use it when I'm in front o