Chapter 15

Axel’s POV

Parties are great, but there are just too many people in one space. Everyone wants to talk to you, get to know you when all I want to do is get to know her more.

She’s letting us be around her with ease now, which is excellent, but she is still holding back from us. It might be because she hasn’t had her first shift yet; she can’t feel her wolf. Hopefully, once she does, she will feel the pull to us like we feel to her. It’s crazy but amazing, yet infuriating, as I can’t just do and say the things I want.

What’s worse, that sleaze Mason keeps getting in the way. He does shit to her; I know he does; I just don’t know what yet. Watching him push my brother out the way to get as close to her as he could, I wanted to rip his head off. I could as well if I allowed Ace out. Right now, we have to do everything we can to control Titan; Ace knows how angry he gets and how out of control he will be if he gets his wish. So thankfully, Ace is behaving. Titan is usually the opposite of Archer, but since meeting Ayla, Archer isn’t as laid back; he’s more alert and will jump into action for her at the drop of a hat. He is more like his wolf counterpart now.

The room was muggy. They had opened all the doors leading outside; we didn’t have to stay in the foyer or the dining room this time. There were just too many of us.

I watched the new wolves arrive. Ayla was talking to the representative from the Light Gorge Pack; she seemed nice enough. I’m sure we will meet the other pack’s representatives by the night’s end. There were four more packs to meet.

Luna Laura had done a great job making the place look amazing for tonight’s party. She had strung thousands of tiny lights across the ceiling, and all the tables were draped in white table cloths with beautiful mini-ice sculptures in the centre of each. The food was even more impressive than when we arrived, and it was amazing then.

Turning when I hear Alpha Michael lead the she-wolf from the Light Gorge pack away; I was hoping to get Ayla back; we all were, but she was gone; I couldn’t see her.

“Where did she go?” I ask the others

“What do you mean she’s right there….” Aiden went to say but then saw I wasn’t wrong.

“Something doesn’t feel right” Archer was holding Titan back. We could both see it in his eyes.

“Go chill out for a minute, Titan isn’t happy, and that won’t be good for anyone,” I tell him.

“Fine! But find her, or I won’t be held accountable if something happens,” he growls, then sculks up the stairs.

“I think I can still smell her; I’ll go and look,” Aiden says, but he is already walking off.

I could smell something funny. Like something had mixed with Ayla’s scent. I was not too fond of it, the hairs on my neck stood up, and Ace was restless. Following my gut, I search for the smell, leading me outside to a group of people.

“Then I was like, what’s your bloody issues and they stepped back, of course,” Mason’s voice could be heard; the prick was making out he was some big tough guy, no doubt, when in fact he couldn’t fight his way out of a wet paper bag.

The smell was coming from him. Suppressing a growl, I step back; I know it wouldn’t be wise to do anything right now. I might be confusing Ayla’s scent, as she was standing right next to him not long ago. It might just be the result of a few scents mixed

“We need to talk,” Aiden says through our mind link. I know it was just to me as I couldn’t feel Archer

“Have you found her?” I ask

“yes”

“And?” I push

“Mason, he hurt her, right under our noses”, he growled.

Anger washed through my body so fast that I wanted to punch something. I needed to let Ace out. Mason was only a few feet away from me. I could get him and be done with him in seconds.

“I can feel what you’re feeling right now, brother, and you need to calm down. I promised Ayla we wouldn’t do anything yet; she doesn’t want us to,” Aiden warns me.

“Where are you?” I ask, taking a few deep breaths.

“Coming back to the foyer, meet us at the stairs.” He tells me I’m already moving.

As I make my way back into the house from the garden, my fists are clenched, raging. I want to punch something or someone. Edging around immaculately dressed men and women, many smiling and wanting to make conversation, I have to politely decline, for now, trying to not scream in their faces.

Finally, I see them; she has hold of Aiden’s hand; she looks sad, like she has been crying. Speeding up to reach her faster, I need to get a smile back on that beautiful face. She still looked incredible. The black dress hugged her in all the right places; her auburn hair was loose, framing her face and making her eyes shine brighter. I know she doesn’t see what we see; we must change that.

“Are you okay?” I ask, lifting my hand to touch her cheek. My other hand I place on her waist and pull her closer. She doesn’t resist. She let go of my brother’s hand and wrapped her arms around me. It just felt right.

“Yes, I’m okay” she nods into my chest.

Looking up at my brother, I can see how angry he is. Blaze Is right there with him. He wants blood, and I doubt we can deny it to him for long.

“I don’t feel so great right now,” she tells us; stepping away from my arms, she holds her head.

“Do you want to sit down?” I ask her taking her hand.

“I think I need some fresh air; can we go outside?” she starts walking toward the door.

Aiden followed her, and I trailed along behind. We walked across the lawn to the bench, off to the left. She didn’t look good; something was up.

Not wanting to be the one left out when something was happening, I thought it would be best to send Archer a mind link, letting him know to get back down here.

Stacy’s POV

Tonight was going to be fun! Mason said he would teach that little bitch a lesson before the party, so she should look awful when she shows her face if she even dares to.

Ayla was the last thing on my mind tonight, though. There was going to be a whole load of new wolfs in town. Right before my birthday too! My party is all ready to go on Wednesday evening, the day after my birthday like it always is. This year though, it will be even better.

Turning eighteen means, you get your first shift. I can’t wait, as I know I’m destined to be mated to Mason and be the next Luna. Why else would he still be without a mate being the son of an Alpha? If I’m not his mate, then he’s not worthy of me, and there will be someone ten times better than him anyway.

“Jaxson”, I shout

“What”

“Can you do me up? I can’t reach?” I ask ever so nicely

“Alright, alright, no need to bloody shout; a few manners wouldn’t hurt you, would they” he grumbled.

“Bloody hell Stace, are you really going to wear that tonight?”

“Of course, what’s wrong with it? I need to impress tonight,” I answer; he’s so annoying he has no idea how important tonight is. We are almost eighteen; our mates might be there, and we don’t want to look like a mess.

“Jacob is getting a show tonight, then I see; why do you have to date my best mate?” he muttered.

“This isn’t for him”, I scoff; Jacob is cute and all, but I know he’s not my mate; I used to hope he was, but not now; now I know I’m meant for more incredible things; I know I’m meant to be the next Luna. He’s just something fun to play with for now.

There are so many hot new guys in town lately, thanks to this power shift thing, whatever it is. I might as well have some fun before I’m mated to Mason; a bit of jealousy will do him good. Plus, I have to show those triplets what they are missing. Make sure they see Ayla is a nobody; one look at me tonight, and they will leave her crying. Goddess knows why they are even bothering with her as it is.

Twenty minutes later, we finally get to the pack house, mum and dad insisted we all go in the same car, we will be meeting the person staying with us tonight, so apparently, we have to show a united family front.

“Have fun, kids, don’t drink too much and don’t forget, we need to impress”, my mum’s sing-song voice filled my ears.

I didn’t have to wait long to see my future mate; he was doing the rounds greeting everyone.

“Hi, Mason, over here”, I call to him, but he probably didn’t hear me; it would surely be the only reason why he wouldn’t come over. Then I see them. Tall, dark-haired and dreamy walking down the stairs… with her!

Why did she look like that? In that dress, those shoes, her hair. She wasn’t meant to look good, not as good as me anyway. I bet she’s a witch or something. She must have put a spell on them; why would they like her over me otherwise?

“I’m going to ignore her right now; Mason will get her for me. She’s nothing but a little skank, and she looks like one right now, too” I smile to myself, knowing all too well that it was going to be hard to get the triplet’s attention now. Goddess, I hate her!!!