Chapter 28: DRUNK

Once it was 5pm, oy two hours after Anna had gone into her room, the party started.

She could tell from the loud music that bounced off the walls though everything was being set up in the garden in the back.

Anna had took careful consideration while choosing what to wear for the party, she wanted something simple and not eye catching but yet somehow, she still wanted to look good.

This would be the last night she would have with Kane, she wanted him to see her as she is and not just the title that has been given to her from birth.

She styled her hair into an elegant bun that highlighted the length of her neck and the delicate carving of her collar bone.

She wore a black body hug shirt that stopped just above her belly button and then black jeans that accentuated her hips.

Anna spent quite some time in front of that mirror after she was done, her eyes taking in the changes that her body had over gone in just the few days she’s spent in GreyThorn.

It was obvious from the mirror that she was treated different here, better than she was before and her mind was calmer here but yet that tiredness in her eyes never left.

Though her cheeks became fuller and her bony arms and legs added on some little flesh, her eyes still told the story of her being a prisoner.

“Only for tonight,” She said in promise to herself.

She forced a smile at her reflection and then walked out of the room.

One last time.

She told herself.

The halls were empty as she walked down, sure enough everyone had already moved to the garden at the back and while Anna wanted to see this as a golden opportunity, she also knew that they would get to her sooner if she didn’t show up at the party.

As she walked down the stairs, she kept her head down. The few people she passed by were all smiles, some with glasses or party cups in hand as they chattered endlessly. Anna seemed to have blended into the walls as she made her way to the backyard and sure enough the closer she got, the harder she felt the pull that only Kane’s presence could create.

He was there already?

“Anna!”

Anna heard the continuous thuds on the glass door that separated the castle from the garden.

The architect definitely had a thing for glass doors when he was designing the pack.

Though the music had gotten louder, Anna heard her name loud and clear and recognized the excited voice immediately.

Besides, there was only one person who got that excited to see her in this pack.

Seeing as the girl’s eyes sparkled as she sighted Anna, her heart warmed and her smile slowly became easier to keep on her face.

Lily was next to Diane, both had glasses of red wine in their grasps, Lily was a bit red faced and looked tipsy, she was leaning on Diane who looked just as carefree as the woman on her shoulder.

“You look gorgeous!” Lily exclaimed, her breath fogging up the glass as Diane pushed open the doors and dragged Anna out.

“Come on, enjoy the party!”

The music was louder outside, hard beats that made the ground vibrate and rocked her entire body.

She hadn’t heard music like this before, heck! She’s never been to an actual party before.

She passed by people that noticed and didn’t notice her, they smiled as she brushed shoulders with them or even bumped into them. Everyone was in a good mood.

Well, everyone but May.

There she stood, her arm in Kane’s, they both stood so close that it made Anna look away immediately, not expecting the ache that built up in her chest.

She needs to get this mate bond thing under control.

“We’ve only just arrived but Lily has drank a whole bottle and some!” Diane giggled.

“I’m not allowed to drink much, note the glare coming from my brother directed at the cup in my hand?”

The only glare Anna could feel from Kane’s direction was the one directed at her, from May.

“Oh look, he sees us!” Diane waved dramatically. They were only a few steps away from each other.

Kane had a faint smile on his lips, he looked laid back, relaxed and no hint of that cold expression he always had around her.

Anna hadn’t seen him in a while yet it felt like decades, their eyes met and for a split second the only image that came to mind was his lips feverishly pressed against hers.

Anna looked away immediately, reverting her gaze back to her feet and biting her bottom lip like her life depended on it.

“We should go say hi and tell him we bought the cake for him,” Diane suggested while handing over a cup of...Anna didn’t really know what it was, she knew nothing about alcohol except for the occasional red wines that appeared on TV.

“What...”

“Its beer!” Lily yelled with a giddy smile, in turn spilling the contents of her own drink on her white shirt.

“Fuck!” She cursed loudly and then covered her lips with wide eyes.

There were children around, Anna realized and could help but laugh at the situation.

“Maybe you should find some place to sit?” Anna said as she took over from Diane and had the drunk and excited woman lean on her.

“You can go first,” Anna said to Diane, “I’ll go put Lily down where it’s quiet and cool,”

Diane nodded, cast a worried glance at Lily before nodding yet again.

“Okay, come back quickly!”

“ I will!” Anna replied, as soon as Diane walked away, her eyes narrowed into a determined gaze.

Finding a place not occupied by many people was hard so Anna opted to taking Lily inside and setting her down on the couch next to the glass door, humming every time she asked a gibberish question.

The garden was decorated beautifully, they really went all out for their alpha, the thought made Anna’s eyes water.

She wished she had something like this. A family that would go to so may lengths just to make her birthday this beautiful.

There were beautiful colored lights placed on the plants and trees, they looked like floating orbs until one looked closer to see the wires connecting them. White, blue, golden tables and chairs were kept all around the garden, enough to seat everyone.

A buffet was set, the cake, the food and the laughter.

Anna watched silently from behind the door with a heavy feeling in her heart.

She was jealous and the sobering thought only proved to make her more determined.

“You...You will save us from him right?”

“What?”

Anna turned to look at the woman next to her. Lily’s hair was in disarray and her cheeks flushed a deep red, her breathing unsteady and her eyes and forehead covered with sweat.

Or was it water?

“You...” Lily weakly pointed, “ The Wolf Spirit…hic!...will save us from him and bring everyone back...”

Save them from him?

“Who are you talking about?”

“Ugh...” Lily groaned and slid down lower into the couch, her unfocused eyes closing and her lips parting like she was about to say something...Then out came the loudest snore and Anna knew the woman was out like a light.

“Why drink so much if you know you can’t handle it?” Anna said, a faint but genuine smile on her face.

There was a blanket set down in the couch, probably because people knew something like this would happen.

Anna placed the blanket over Lily’s body and then walked back to the party.

No, she wasn’t going to meet Diane as promised, she was going to leave through the back.

Anna held a piece of cake and her still untouched cup of beer in hand just to blend in.

She walked deeper and deeper into the garden until the music faded and she could see glimpses of the main gate.

She could take that route or she could find a shorter one. One that led directly into the woods instead of the gates where she would be seen.

Anna took a turn, she didn’t know where the path would lead but vaguely remembered Diane telling her about the garden being connected to the woods that led to their borders.

Anna walked for over ten minutes and the deeper she walked without running into anyone, the louder and harder her heart beat.

She was going to do it.

She was going to be free!