33

After a while I got tired of waiting and decided to go in without him. Maybe Lou was already there and I could talk to her to convince her not to go back to that store.

When I got behind the curtain, I immediately noticed how empty it was. Hardly any men, only several women frolicking around the tables with champagne glasses. They were probably waiting for Jayden and his disciples to throw themselves at them for free. What did they get out of it?

My legs led me over to the bar, where I ordered a tequila, which I immediately downed. "You know what, give me the whole bottle." I took the bottle and quickly poured myself another shot.

"Sorry," addressed a gentleman who really looked way too old to hit on me. "Is this busy?" He pointed to the chair next to me and I noticed his disgusting stare, which was only focused on my cleavage. "Yes, it is." Ludwig pushed past the man, who disappeared, bleating softly, and the sun was already rising for me at night.

"Where have you been?" I asked him, smiling amused at the previous situation. "I had some errands to do. I see you're taken care of. A whiskey, please," the blond turned to the waiter, which gave me time to scrutinize his nice brown shirt and light blue jeans.

"She's not here yet, is she?" He sipped his drink and looked around the club while I had to tear myself away from his gaze. "No, unfortunately not." I poured myself the next shot and then looked around for this one more closely, but no sign of the brown-haired one.

"She'll be right there." He turned in my direction and I noticed that the redhead I had seen with him suddenly took a seat behind him at the counter and eyed me dismissively. "I think we're being watched," I whispered to Ludwig, who then looked around confused and immediately turned back to me when he spotted the redhead.

"Shall we sit at a table? I'll order something else, then we can." He turned to the waiter, took his new glass and walked past her with me, over to the tables. If looks could kill...

"Sit here." He politely held out a chair for me and I took a seat thanks. Just as he sat down next to me, I saw Lou enter the club. She looked exhausted, like she hadn't slept in days. I wanted to get up quickly and go to her, but Ludwig held me back.

"You stay here. I'll get her." I nodded to him and he got up to walk over to her and then when they started a conversation and she looked over at me, she started smiling all over her face. "Oh my gosh!" She hugged me tightly and gave me a kiss on the cheek.

"How are you? I heard about the fever and the transformation...are you alright?" She sat down opposite me and eyed me. "Yes, I'm fine. But I'm worried about you," I answer her, taking her hands in mine.

Her eyes became sad and Ludwig also looked at her worriedly while he sat down next to her. "Something happened, but I can't tell you that here," she whispered, looking around as if we were being followed.

"Hey, Ludwig. Can we talk for a minute?" I looked behind me and noticed the redhead glancing down at me briefly and then smiling back at the blonde. "Go away, Jessi!" Lou hissed suddenly, but the redhead didn't stop staring at Ludwig. "We can talk tomorrow," he answered her, taking his eyes off her to look at me and Lou.

"But it's urgent," she continued to tease, which made me stand up angrily. "Can't you see we're talking here?" I asked her, looking her up and down. It's always cheaper, I thought to myself, and turned my back on her.

"Who talked to you, you awkward child. Go back where you came from." I turned to her and was about to freak out when Ludwig stood between us and tried to calm the situation down. "I'll be right back, Chiara," he informed me and I stayed behind disappointed while he disappeared with her among the other people. He had promised me not to be alone for a second and when I turned to the table, Lou was suddenly no longer there either.

It was this club that made people bad. As soon as you entered it, your mind became foggy and you could no longer rely on anything or anyone.

I sat down and drank on my own. Everyone should do whatever they want. I would not let my good mood spoil and I would talk to Lou alone tomorrow in peace and quiet. I would find out where she was, after all I was a wolf.

I didn't know how much time had passed, but the shop was now full of people and there was still no sign of Ludwig. How could he just let me down?

I was about to pour myself a new glass when Ethan appeared in front of me, looking rather upset. "You have to come with me, Chiara!" He fidgeted nervously, but provocatively I turned the other way and ignored him. "I'm serious, this is about Lou!"

I turned back to him and looked at him questioningly. "What about Lou?" "She's completely freaking out," he replied, wriggling back and forth. It didn't go with his usually arrogant manner to suddenly be so nervous, so there had to be something to what he was saying.

I got up and looked around the room again. It annoyed me that I couldn't spot Ludwig and I actually didn't want to leave without him. "Are you coming now?" Ethan ran a hand through his hair and followed my gaze through the crowd. I grabbed the bottle of tequila and nodded to him. He went ahead and I followed him out of Hell.

When I got outside, I held his arm for a moment so that he turned to me in confusion. "Where's Lou anyway?" I asked him, releasing his arm. "At Jayden's cabin," he retorted and I glared at him. "You can forget that! You can get Lou and bring me to me. I'll wait here!"

I stopped, but he took my arm and roughly yanked me across the road to the edge of the forest. "Let go of me, Ethan!" I hissed at him, and in anger I dropped the bottle, which made me even more angry.

"Chiara! I've had enough with you! Your girlfriend needs you and it seems more important to you to wait for a man who left you alone and ran away with his wife!" He took a deep breath while I felt like I couldn't breathe at all. He had to lie because Ludwig would never lie to me like that. That was just impossible.

"Lou wouldn't be doing so bad if it wasn't for you wolves!" I hissed at him angrily while my voice trembled and I kept telling myself that Ludwig wasn't a liar. "You're a wolf too!" he yelled at me, and I started clenching my fists and walking towards him.

"No I'm not!" "Oh yes?" He suddenly pushed me so hard that I fell to the ground and injured my elbow. "Do you still have them all?!" I yelled at him hocj and had to hold back my tears.

He crouched down in front of me and looked me in the eyes provocatively. "Ludwig will never love you. He's fucking the horny redhead right now while you're lying on the ground and I'm threatening you. What kind of man who cares about a woman would allow that?" He laughed and I felt the tingling in my fingertips again that I felt the last time I transformed. I knew he was trying to provoke me into transforming myself, but I took a deep breath and tried to control myself, but I couldn't, because only hate, self-doubt, and anger had room in my heart, which made the elicited the first tears.

Ethan caught my eyes crying with anger and reached out a hand to help me up, but I slapped his hand away and got up on my own. "See what happens when you get angry? Did you feel it!? You are part of this pack and it's time you took your place."

I didn't know what to do anymore and cried so bitterly that the agonizing noises coming out of my mouth echoed out of the forest. My thoughts turned to Ludwig, who I was certain was not the man Ethan was trying to convince me. He was just doing it to pressure me, at least I hoped so.

When I suddenly felt Ethan's arms around me, I flailed wildly, but that only made him hug me even tighter. "Calm down!" he breathed and I didn't have the strength to fight back. I clutched his chest and let it all out. Countless tears rolled down my face as I felt bad for not being there for Lou.

Everything that was so good this morning just vanished into thin air that night. I realized that I didn't really know anyone, nor could I trust anyone. I just wanted to go back to my mother, who I actually had no connection with at all, but it was too much for me.

My mind seemed to unravel as there wasn't a single clear thought left. Everything inside me screamed for normality, but I was surrounded by wolves and angels who were anything but normal. In addition, the secrets that everyone carried with them and in the middle I, the girl, who thought everything would be fine and yet I was encased in the deep black that clung to my soul and threatened to destroy all good things.