Chapter 57 Chapter 57

Chapter 57 Chapter 57
Kaelani POV

When I get in the car, my phone starts going off and Kaia looks at it in the dash.
“Leave it. It’s the goofs, I’m sure,” I say.
The screen lights up again before I even finish the sentence, but I refuse to look at it. After the full-body-swimsuit nonsense and then all three of them growling at me outside Kieran’s pack house, they can sit with their feelings for a little while.
“I think you look hot, and so do they. Did you see Kieran and Zaire? Girl, I’m fanning myself for you,” she says, falling over in her seat.
I glance at her. “You’re annoying.”
“You say that now, but when one of them has you pressed against a wall later, remember who picked the bathing suit.”
My head snaps toward her. “Can you sit in your seat?”
She bursts out laughing. “I'm just saying.”
“Don't.”
Nyra laughs in my head.
“She's not wrong.”
“You shut up too.”
“Okay, what’s the plan for tonight?” Kaia asks.
“What do you mean? I thought we came to swim.”
She sucks her teeth and gives me a side-eye. “Lani, we’re seniors in high school. Nobody goes to a pool party to swim.”
I look at her. “So then what do they go to pool parties for?”
“To look hot and hook up.”
“Well, I’m not hooking up with anybody.”
“Yeah, tell that to your guys. And you do look hot.”
I shake my head and turn my attention back to the road. Honestly, I don't have a plan for tonight. A few weeks ago, I probably wouldn't have even come to something like this unless Kaia dragged me. Now I'm voluntarily going to a pool party wearing a two-piece while three guys who apparently think I belong to them follow behind us.
My senior year has officially lost its damn mind.
It takes about forty-five minutes to get to White Claw Pack. Luckily, Shelly’s house isn’t far from the gate.
The farther we drive into the territory, the easier it is to tell where the party is. Cars line both sides of the road, and music grows louder with every turn.
We follow the fairy lights leading toward the parking area.
The backyard is already packed when we pull up. Music carries across the property, people are gathered around the pool, and strings of lights stretch between the trees surrounding the yard.
When we get there, the guys are already there and waiting.
Of course they are.
“They beat us here?”
Kaia snorts. “Lani, they probably drove like maniacs because they thought somebody might see you before they did.”
“They're ridiculous.”
“And yet you're smiling.”
I immediately stop.
Before I can even step out of the car, Kieran is opening my door.
“See?” Kaia says behind me.
I ignore her and start to climb out before noticing the white linen shirt Kieran is holding toward me.
I look down at the shirt and then back at him.
“Whose shirt is this?”
“Mine.”
“Why are you giving it to me?”
“To put on over your bathing suit top.”
I stare at him for a second, waiting for him to smile or tell me he's joking.
He doesn't.
I glare at him. “Are you trying to piss me off?”
His brows furrow. “No. Why?”
Kaia snorts.
“Because you’re trying to get her to cover up,” she says. “One thing that will not work is telling her to cover up.”
“I'm not telling her—”
I look pointedly at the shirt.
Kieran looks at it too.
“Okay, technically—”
“No.”
I push his hand with the shirt in it out of my face and walk around him.
Liam presses his lips together like he's fighting a laugh while Zaire looks completely amused by Kieran being the one stupid enough to try it first.
Then I stop.
An idea hits me, and I slowly turn around.
“Strike one, boys.”
All three of their expressions change when I deliberately put a little extra movement into my hips before turning away again.
Kaia falls into step beside me as we walk into the party.
“Oh, you're evil.”
“I don't know what you're talking about.”
“Yes, you do.”
I bite back my smile.
“Drinks?” she asks.
“Oh, most definitely.”
If I'm going to survive these three tonight, I need one.
When we walk over to the drink table, Shelly approaches us.
“Oh my God, Kaelani, you look hot.”
I chuckle. “Thanks, Shelly.”
“I see why those three are drooling over you,” she says, looking over at the guys walking into the party.
Against my better judgment, I glance over too.
Kieran finally gave up on the shirt and has it hanging over his shoulder. Liam says something to him that makes Zaire laugh, but the second Zaire catches me looking, his attention locks onto me.
I quickly turn back around.
The boys who were at the diner with Zaire that day are here, and a group of guys and girls immediately approach them.
Good. Maybe they'll finally stop watching me for five minutes.
“Let’s drink and dance,” Kaia says.
“Now that sounds like a plan.”
Although they’re all in a conversation, I can feel their eyes following me around the party.
Every time I glance in their direction, at least one of them is looking at me.
Sometimes all three.
“You like it,” Nyra says.
“Maybe a little.”
I down my first drink and grab another one just as a boy from White Claw walks up to me.
“Hey, Kaelani.”
“Hey. I’m sorry, I don’t remember your name.”
He chuckles. “It’s okay. It’s Hayden.”
He holds his hand out to me.
I shake it, and Kaia smirks.
I don't even have to look at her to know exactly what she's thinking.
“I live for this kind of chaos,” she says.
“Don't start.”
Hayden smiles. “You look nice tonight. You looked nice at school too,” he says softly, his attention lingering on me before returning to my face.
“Thank you,” I say, smiling politely.
“So why the change?”
“What do you mean?”
“I remember you would wear oversized clothes last year. I always wondered why.”
For a second, the question catches me off guard. I didn't realize people I barely talked to had even noticed what I used to wear.
I shrug. “I just wanted to try something different.”
That seems like the easiest explanation. I'm still figuring out the rest myself.
He smiles. “That’s cool. Can I have a dance?”
“Please say yes,” Kaia says low behind me.
I turn my head slightly toward her.
“Are you trying to have them combust?” I link her.
“Absolutely,” she replies without an ounce of shame.
Before I can answer Hayden, Kaia takes my drink from my hand.
“She would love to dance.”
My mouth falls open.
“Kaia.”
“Have fun.”
Just then, a reggae song comes on.
“Perfect song too,” she says behind me.
I glance toward the guys.
Kieran has stopped talking completely.
Liam's attention is fixed on me.
And Zaire's jaw tightens the second Hayden and I start toward the other people dancing.
I feel all of their eyes on me.
Instead of making me nervous, a little rush moves through me.
My heart pounds in my chest at the thrill of making them jealous.
Maybe I should feel bad.
I don't.
I start off dancing in front of him, just whining my hips.
“Dance with him, Lani,” Kaia links.
I glance over at her, and she has the biggest grin on her face while holding both of our drinks.
“You're enjoying this way too much.”
“I told you. Chaos.”
“I don’t bite,” Hayden says, smirking.
“It’s not you I’m worried about,” I murmur as I turn with my back to him.
He laughs like he thinks I'm joking.
I'm not.
He places his hands on my hips, pulling me closer to him. By this time, I’m getting into the song, and my first drink is already settling.
The music is loud enough that everything else fades into the background for a minute. I stop thinking about the tree, Nana's warning, Felix asking questions about me, my magic, and everything else that has taken over my life lately.
Right now, I'm just dancing.
I really need to stop chugging every drink I have.
I make a mental note to slow down after this one. Dad would absolutely lose his mind if I came home tipsy and still had to train.
Hayden’s hands slowly move from my hips to my thighs as we continue dancing, and growls rip out across the field.
I don't even have to turn around.
I know exactly who they came from.
“Oh shit,” Nyra says, amusement filling her voice.
“They're fine.”
“Are you sure?”
I finally glance over my shoulder.
Kieran and Zaire are walking toward us.
Neither of them looks amused anymore. Liam hasn't moved yet, but the way he's watching tells me he isn't exactly happy either.
Before Kieran and Zaire can get closer, Stephanie and Aliza cut them off.
Of course they do.
I roll my eyes but keep dancing.
Aliza immediately steps in front of Kieran while Stephanie catches Zaire's attention. Whatever they're saying, neither guy looks interested in the conversation. Kieran keeps trying to look around Aliza, and Zaire's eyes haven't left me once.
“Girl, they are fuming. If looks could kill, he would be dead,” Kaia says, amusement in her voice.
I laugh and shake my head.
“You did this on purpose,” I link her.
“And I regret nothing.”
When the song ends, I start to walk away.
“One more dance,” Hayden says.
I glance toward Kaia.
She gives me an enthusiastic nod that I absolutely did not ask for.
I shrug. “Sure.”
Hayden grins as the next song starts.
The moment his hands move to touch me, someone pulls me away.
A startled sound leaves me as I'm turned around, and before I can ask what the hell is happening, I'm standing face-to-face with Zaire.
His eyes are dark.
Really dark.
“What are you doing?” he asks.
My heart stops.
“I’m dancing,” I say softly.
“You have to wait your turn,” Hayden says.
Oh, Goddess.
Zaire looks at him.
“I don’t wait. Don’t ask her to dance again.”
Hayden's brows rise, and I immediately put my hands against Zaire's chest before this turns into something it doesn't need to be.
“Come on.”
Zaire grabs my arm and pulls me off to the side.
The second we're away from everyone else, I pull my arm free and turn toward him.
“What is your problem?” I snap.
He chuckles dryly.
“You are ours, Kaelani. The only guys you dance with are us,” he says, hooking my chin.
My irritation should probably get worse at that.
Instead, the intensity in his eyes sends a completely different feeling through me.
“Say it,” he says low, eyes locked on mine.
My stomach flips.
“Oh, I like this side of him,” Nyra purrs in my head.
“Shut up, wolf.”
She giggles.
“Zaire,” I say softly.
“No. Say it,” he says more firmly.
I stare at him, my heartbeat pounding against my ribs.
“I am yours,” I say in almost a whisper.
“I didn’t hear that.”
I narrow my eyes at him, but he doesn't back down.
“I am yours,” I say a little louder.
“Whose?”
My lips part.
I know exactly what he's asking me to say.
“You, Kieran, and Liam's,” I say quietly.
Something in his expression immediately softens.
“Good girl,” he says, kissing me softly.
My hands instinctively settle against his chest, and for a second I forget I was supposed to be irritated with him.
He pulls back.
“Don’t do that again.”
There it is.
I blink up at him.
He bends down low to my ear.
“If you want to dance, you ask us.”
I pull back enough to look at him. “You do realize you're being incredibly bossy right now?”
His lips curl. “Yeah.”
“And you're not sorry?”
“Not even a little.”
I hate that Nyra is practically purring.
Before I can respond, Kieran walks over to us.
One look at his face tells me dealing with Zaire didn't save me from anything.
He walks over and kisses me hard.
The sudden kiss catches me off guard, but my hands find his arms before I can even think about it.
When he finally pulls back, I take a deep breath.
“I didn’t like him touching you,” he says.
I stare between him and Zaire.
One is looking at me like he wants to drag me away from every guy at this party, and the other just made me announce exactly who I belong to.
I swallow hard, overwhelmed by what is happening right now.
“You two are doing too much.”
“We're doing too much?” Kieran asks.
“Yes.”
“You were dancing with him on purpose.”
My mouth opens.
Then closes.
Zaire's brow lifts.
“That's what I thought,” Kieran says.
“That doesn't mean you get to lose your minds.”
“Nobody lost their mind, Shorty,” Zaire says.
I stare at him.
“You told that boy you don't wait.”
“I don't.”
“Meathead.”
Kieran laughs while Zaire shakes his head.
“You like me.”
“Debatable.”
“Hey, Kaelani, got a minute?”
The amusement immediately disappears from my face.
I turn.
Felix is walking toward us.
Nana's warning flashes through my head.
Don't trust anybody.
Then Caelum's words follow right behind it.
Felix asked me if you were a witch.
Kieran shifts closer to me. Zaire's expression changes too, and I know neither of them has forgotten what we talked about at the tree.
Felix stops in front of us.
“Hey, Kaelani. Got a minute?” he asks again.
I study his face for a second. He looks like the same Felix I've talked to at school. Friendly. Relaxed. Nothing about him screams that he's hiding something.
But something happened when we touched.
And now I know he's been asking questions about me.
Keep him at arm's length.
That's what we agreed.
But I can't figure out what Felix wants if I never give him the chance to tell me.
I glance at Kieran and Zaire before looking back at Felix.
Maybe it's time I find out.