by JP Vasha
Not in particular, Khloe said thoughtfully. The friends I used to have might be here, but I lost contact with them in the months before my suicide because I was drowning in self-despair. So for now I don't foresee anyone coming up to say hello but maybe some old flings, but that's not very likely.
A social butterfly, Khloe was. I see, I said in response, and then wondered, while drinking my champagne and scanning the crowd, if I could really judge her like that; after all, in my old life I didn't have much friends either. But, unlike Khloe, I'd been a very shy and very introverted person, so making friends hadn't come so easily to me. Khloe did use to have friends, but she'd chosen to discard them when she turned all self-loathing and bitter.
I sighed. Comparing myself to Khloe had become a stupid habit. I needed to drop this. The fact I was different from was clear, since no person was the same. But still, it was somehow intriguing to know someone so intimately like I knew Khloe and try to see the matching and mismatching traits.
As I watched the crowd, I glimpsed a few glances shot my way, from dudes mostly, but from some girls as well. The girls didn't look happy about my presence there, and the guys were blatantly checking me out. Let me guess, girls hate you because you're pretty?
Khloe snorted. As if. While I am pretty, they look at me like that because I probably slept with their lovers or something. I wouldn't know; I never bothered to check with the guys if they had a woman or not.
Not very ethical of you, I noted and forced away a grimace when a man raked his leering eyes down my body. God, I hate this.
Well, sorry that I'm gorgeous, Khloe tactfully said.
And modest, too, I said back. Khloe scoffed but said nothing. She knew I was right; she was pretty vain, which I could only blame on the environment she'd grown up in. Spoilt and vain and arrogant, Khloe was, only because she was coming from a wealthy family with men throwing themselves at her feet since she was loaded and hot. If she'd lived the life I had...
There I go again. I needed to cut lose from the thoughts of my previous life, because it was't important anymore. As of right now, Noreen and Jermey Daniels were my parents, Candy and Catie were my sister, and Borris was my brother-in-law. That's all that mattered now. That's all that should matter.
As I was musing on what I should and shouldn't think about, there was a call for everyone to gather around for the Ceremony. I found my family sitting close to the aisle and I sat with them, waiting for the Ceremony to begin.
First walked Eugene Harris, the Texas Pack beta. He practically glowed with happiness, and it made my heart jolt a little. Then came in his mate, the bride, Max Simmons, and the look on Eugene's face was melting-worthy. If a man ever looked at me like that, I would feel like the luckiest woman alive.
The Ceremony, much to my disappointment, was like an ordinary wedding. The only difference was that the line "until death do us apart" wasn't said, and I guessed it was because mating was forever, even after the life was over. Once one of the the mated pair dies, the other would soon die as well.
Once the Ceremony was done, I was sure the festivities would begin when the priest held up his hands, quieting everyone down, and smiled. "We have a special guest in this blessed day and event," he boomed, "and that guest asked personally to give his blessings publicly. Please welcome Mr. Zack Grey, the Beta of the Biwole."
Whispers echoed in the hall as everyone clapped. "The Beta?" Noreen said, astonished. Apparently, no one had included her in this little tidbit. "What's the Beta doing here?"
No one responded to her question, because at that moment, a man in his late twenties went up on the stage, shaking happy Eugene's hand and smiling at Max. The man was... handsome. Really handsome. He had short, curly black hair, a pair of the lightest green eyes I'd ever seen – which I could see from all the way down here, since they were so bright – and he was tall, muscular and really strong.
I wasn't the only one drooling, though; I saw many other women giving him a pleased appraisals, including Catie. "He's yummy," she whispered to me, licking her lips. "And he's also single."
"Really," I mumbled, unable to look away from him. He didn't look like the kind of man who would be single for long.
If you want him, you should go for it, Khloe commented dryly. I wouldn't stop you. I don't mind having my body fucked by a cute guy, even if I'm not the one in control.
I blushed. I don't want to fuck him. I just want to look.
You dont have a vagina, then, she muttered and then paused. He's looking at you.
"What?!" I spoke aloud unintentionally, snapping my attention back to the Beta... and realized Khloe was right. He was looking at me. Right at me, in fact. I could feel his green eyes boring holes in my brown ones. I gulped and looked away immediately, my blush deepening.
After a few, silent moments, he began speaking. I couldn't hear a word of his speech, although it must've been along the lines of "congratulations on your mating, bro" and so on. I was entranced by this man for no apparent reason, because while he was truly handsome – drop-dead gorgeous, even – I had no idea who he was beyond his title, and that wasn't like me to be smacked speechless like that by some guy I was only watching.
There you go, Khloe actually managed to sound smirking in my mind. Your vajayjay does work after all.
My blush deepened. Stop it, Khloe.
Ahh, young virginal mind, she said, reminiscing, I remember how innocent I once was, too, until Ty Gibbons deflowered me...
Oh my God, please be quiet, I begged, feeling my face turning an ugly Shell of tomato.
Come on, Carla, she gave me a mental eye-roll, you're basically twenty-five now. Aren't you supposed to be more mature about this kind of things?
It was true; while Khloe was twenty-two still, I was actually twenty-five. But that didn't mean I had to be mature about that concept. Just be quiet, please.
She gave me her famous scoff. Whatever.
Suddenly everyone clapped and cheered, and I realized the Beta's speech had come to an end. I clapped politely along with the others, and finally the true festivities began.
I sought shelter at the buffet and found it in the form of a deliciously-looking shish-kebab with marinade sauce. I busied myself by eating the glorious meat and evading everyone I could. I was still aflush with embarrassment at Khloe's words and the Beta's momentary attention, but I acted as if I was the most confident woman in the world... Not.
As I was munching on my third shish-kebab – hey, I was hungry – I didn't realize someone had come near me. I was busy closing my eyes and moaning in pure bliss at the exploding taste of the food so when that someone chuckled, I froze. Prying my eyes open, I forced myself to swallow the entire piece I had in my mouth – which hurt a little – and whirled to my side to see the one person I wished hadn't just witnessed me having a mouthgasm.
Zack Grey was even more handsome up close. He was taller than me by a foot at least, and looked much stronger next to my delicate, soft form. His hair wasn't just completely, but a rich kind of black, inky, which gave it a slight blueish hue. His eyes, though, were easily his best feature, which said a lot about them since every part of him was gorgeous; they were not just light green, but so light, in fact, they were almost gray, and the effect it had was quite stunning.
He was so close that I started blushing again. I lowered my head and fiddled with my dress as I greeted him respectfully. "Mr. Grey, I – I didn't see you," my cheeks flamed hotter and my stutter. "May I be of any help?"
Good job, Carla, Khloe said flatly. Now he thinks you're some submissive, weak wolf, which, by the way, I never was.
That was a surprise. My research about werewolves unearthed some info about dominance and submission in the wolf terms. Usually, female wolves were in the middle of the dominance scale, although, like in every rule, there were exceptions to that, but those exceptions were really rare. Are you saying you're one of those legendary dominant female wolves? I asked her, momentarily forgetting who was standing in front of me.
Don't be silly, she said, and I again could hear her facial expression, if she even had one. Now she was rolling her eyes. But there's something your research haven't told you; there's no black or white in this kind of things. I'm not submissive, yet I'm not really dominant. I am, however, closer to the dominant edge of the scale. Now, quit thinking about this shit and focus on the hot man you're screwing with your eyes.
Seeing as my eyes were currently lowered to the floor, that last statement wasn't true anymore. Still, I listened to her because I didn't want to make an idiot out of myself. Yet before I could say something else to the hot specimen before me, he spoke. "You may do only one thing, and it's to tell me your name."
His voice wasn't as deep as I expected it to be. It was baritone and raspy and undeniably sexy. And he was asking me to tell him my name. Slowly, I raised my eyes and his locked them on spot. He was looking at me with intensity, and for some reason, even though we were standing in a respectful distance from each other, I could feel sudden warmth coming over my body that couldn't be because of the weather, since it was chilly, and the air was somewhat charge.
Carla, meet attraction, Khloe commented. Jesus, girl, you should at least manage to understand what's going on. No one can be that naïve.
I've never been attracted like that to anyone before, I told her defensively, and then focused on what was going on. I was stalling. I needed to tell him my was waiting for it. He requested that of me. I needed to tell him the name under which I'd taken refuge.
And for some reason, it physically hurt me to say, "I'm Khloe. Khloe Daniels."
Chapter Three
It felt surreal, dancing with Zack Grey of all wolves. After I told him my name, he asked me for a dance, and since I was no fool, I decided to take him up on his offer.
When he slid his arms around my waist, a chill ran through my spine. A good chill. I had to keep my face from flushing, which was difficult, as I hesitantly put my hands on his strong shoulders and let him lead me away into the dancing floor, moving slowly with me among the crowd of dancers.
"I'm sorry if it's straightforward," Zack's voice penetrated my amazement, "but you're very lovely."
Aww, Khloe remarked dryly, isn't he a charmer?
Ignoring her, I dared looking up into his green eyes and ventured a small smile. "Thank you," I said, and braved it up even more and added, "You're not so bad yourself."
He chuckled, and was it me or his arms tightened slightly around my waist? "I'm glad you find me to your taste," he said, eyes sparkling with an emotion I didn't understand, "otherwise it would've been really difficult."
I blinked, trying to make sense of what he'd just said. "I don't think I follow."
His head leaned closer, forehead almost touching mine. "Come on, Miss Daniels," he said softly, so only I would hear and none of the curious, surrounding dancers wouldn't, "I felt you watching me during my speak. I looked at you, too. Our eyes caught."
What the hell is that supposed to mean? I mentally asked Khloe just as my body froze, no longer moving with his.
Shockingly, Khloe said nothing. And that made more worried than anything else.
Letting out a nervous laugh, I fought the urge to twirl a strand of my hair around my finger like a bubble-head idiot. "I honestly have no idea what you're trying to get to."
He stared at me for a long moment, as though trying to search something in my eyes, and when whatever he found finally computed, he seemed stricken. And that made me pause. What the hell was going on?
Clearing my throat, I tried for politeness. "Mr Grey? Is everything alright?"
"I don't like lies," he said, his voice smoothing into a calm that sounded both serious and lethal, like a predator on the hunt. My muscles locked in alarm. "I also don't believe in anything but honesty, so I'm going to be completely forward with you."
I had no idea what to say, so I blurted, "I'd appreciate if you followed your own statement."
He didn't waste any time to cut to the chase. "You're my mate. But you smell wrong."
'You're my mate, but you smell wrong.'
What?
Khloe, I hissed in my mind, Khloe we have an emergency. Please, please talk to me. Please tell me he didn't say what I heard him say.
Khloe was silent. This was not good.
In my old life, I went to great lengths to make sure nobody pushed me into a corner. I'd been agreeable, so much so that no one ever thought I could produce my own thoughts and opinions, and therefore never tried to get an answer out of me. I'd preferred being considered as a dumb stick, and the time I'd spent in the void hadn't changed that.
But living in Khloe's body for the past few months, bantering with her, kind of broke that agreeable wall I put around me like a citadel. And now, that I finally found my freedom out of that unnerving place, I realized that this new place of mine was just as bad.
My thoughts a one big jumble in my head and Khloe's silence pushed me farther into that corner Zack had begun shoving me into. And I had only one way to get out.
"You're wrong," I told the Beta of the Biwole quietly, lowly, "You got the wrong girl."
His eyes sparked, this time with anger at my response, but I couldn't deal with it. Living with Khloe and her wolf in the same body for the past five months was one thing. Being told I was the mate of one of the most lethal werewolves in the world and that I "smelled" wrong was another.
I broke out of his arms and fled.
I couldn't go back home. The parade I'd put up, the new Khloe Daniels and all that crap, was too much for me to handle right now. Besides, they were all still in the wedding, and I didn't want to answer any question regarding my hasty escape.
Instead, I ran to the closest pub and sat down at a stool. I wasn't a drinker, but desperate times called for desperate measures. I hailed the bartender and asked for a beer. He complied by handing a glass full of the gross, bitter liquid. Good.
As I drank my beer and tried not to squirm under the gazes of the many males in the room, I reached out for Khloe. I need you help, I begged her. Please stop this stupid silence. You never bother to shut up, so don't start now. I want you to explain what the hell had gone on there.
Khloe was still unresponsive. I tried a different technique. Khloe, if you don't answer me now, I won't ever talk to you. Ever. I need you. You're my only friend. And that was the problem. My only friend was my body's true owner. My life was so screwed up. And here they said afterlife was awesome. I'd been in the void, and it was terrible. And now I was stuck in someone else's story.
I didn't do morbid and pessimism, but right now I was bordering on brooding.
Finally, I got an answer. It's pretty obvious what happened, Carla, Khloe said, her mental voice dry and numb. He smelled his mate on you – on us – and since there are actually two women in here, the smell is wrong. Not to mention the state my wolf is in.
So what now? I asked, anxious to hear the answer. What are we going to do? Which of us is his mate?
Khloe's humorless laughter filled my mind. If I knew the answer, we wouldn't have to discuss it so elaborately.
I sipped the beer. It was awful. Good. Khloe, what should I do? If he truly thinks one of us is his mate, he won't let us go. My research told me that while werewolves did find mate occasionally, it wasn't very common, and they mated for life. A werewolf would never give up his chance at mating his One True Mate, and that meant if Zack truly believed Khloe or me were his mate, he would hunt us down and haul us away.
After I went out of my way to accommodate myself into Khloe's life, after all the trouble I'd gone through to make sure everything would feel at least more normal than before, it was not going to go to hell. Because Zack Grey declared me his mate. And that was more than depressing. It was downright upsetting.
I don't know what to tell you, Khloe's voice was strained. Yes, sure, this wasn't supposed to happen, but it did. There's no way around it. We'll have to leave with him or he'll make a fuss and maybe even drag the Alph
a of the Biwole into this. The last thing we need is the One True Alpha sniffing around our business.
One of the rare common traits of Khloe and me was our privacy. Each of us was a private person on her own, and combined together we took secretiveness into a whole other level. We didn't want our little dirty secret to be found, because we both didn't want to deal with it. We were okay for now. We were going to get the answers ourselves in the future. We didn't need other people to meddle in our business.
If Zack took us away, there would be nothing we could do about it. I would have to tell him, and then God knew what would happen to us. Because I didn't want to part with Khloe, and I didn't want any of us to return back to the darkness. And sooner or later, whoever was his mate, Khloe or I, would have to let the other go.
And that was not acceptable.
We should run away, I thought ruefully. We should run as far away as we can, maybe even seek sanctuary in the East Coast Pack or something. If we stay, the Beta will take us.
I know, Khloe sighed. I know.
None of us said anything after that. I was glued to my bar stool, and Khloe had no way of manipulating the body. I was in charge. She left the decision up to me, because while she wasn't exactly the submissive, she had no choice but to follow my lead.
I would never survive in the wilderness, especially with Khloe's wolf huddling in some mental corner and refusing to take charge. Both Khloe and I were city girls, and even if I had ways to switch places with her, we wouldn't survive still. We had money, thanks to Khloe's wealthy heritage, but we were both lousy at being independent. The only reason I used to be on my own in my old life was because I had no choice. But in truth, I had no idea how to deal with it.
My shoulders slumped. We'll have to go with him. There was no other choice and we both knew it.