“Chika! Where have you been?” Nikki screamed as I walked towards her car.
“Mavy and I have been waiting for you for over half an hour.” She eyed my messy bun and heated face. “You look like you had fun,” she purred.
Mavy stepped closer to me, “Have you been crying Adea?” she asked as she looked at my puffy eyes.
“Yeah, I’m just all over the place. School’s been stressful.” I grab her arm and smile. She looked at me doubtfully as I pulled her into the car.
Nikki blasted the car and played Cardi B the whole way home. Mavy and I singing “Be careful with me” with the wind in our hair. Nothing like a bit of girl time to brighten a shitty day. “I love this song!” Nikki screamed as “Press” came on next. I laughed as I watched Mavy twerk against Nikki’s face.
My smile dropped when we pulled up to the packhouse gates. One of the guards walked up to the car and inspected the vehicle before he nodded for the other guard to let us in. “Thanks, Papi,” Nikki said as she blew the guard a kiss. I laughed at Nikki’s confidence. For a human, she had no fear whatsoever.
We pulled into the packhouse driveway and she dropped us off with a few minutes to spare before dinner. The packhouse was quiet so I mentally fist-pumped the air knowing everyone was out.
“Are you sure you’re okay Adea?” Mavy’s concerned look almost brought the tears back.
“I’m really okay Mave, I’ve just got a lot on my mind,” I reassured her. I bite my lip as guilt hits me in waves.
“Well, I cannot wait to watch Nikki do your makeup for the ball. Maybe we can practice tomorrow before we go shopping?” She seemed to believe me and dropped the subject. She batted her lashes and gave me doe eyes.
“Nope. No way.” I laughed.
“Please?” she begged.
“No.”
“Pretty please with a cherry on top?” she asked.
“Nope.”
“With sparkly sprinkles too?”
“Still no,” I repeated.
“What if we walk down memory lane?” she bargained. “Chance to jump on Daddy’s couch?”
I stayed quiet pretending to think it over, “Okay fine,” I agreed, her face transforming into a goofy smile as she pulled me over to the sofa.
We had a good solid 5 minutes of jumping up and down before we heard the door open. “Mavy and Adea, get off my couch,” Alpha Joshua’s voice ordered as he walked into the living room.
“Aren’t you two too old to be jumping on the couch?” he says as his eyes twinkle.
“You always spoil the fun, Daddy,” Mavy grumbled, getting off the couch and crossing her arms like a child.
Alpha Joshua was over 6 feet and had beautiful brown hair. His face hadn’t aged a day since I got here. “I got you chocolates from the pack meeting Mavy. You could share them with Adea,” he told us as he walked closer with the chocolates in his hands.
“Sweet! I was wondering what snacks they’d have at the meet for the Alphas. I love these meetings.” She squealed, rushing up to him as he embraced her in a hug.
Whenever there’s an Alpha meeting we know there are always sweet treats and amazing food. When we were younger Alpha Joshua would bring us a plate of goodies.
“Thank you, Alpha.”
At this point, I was standing next to the couch. He reached over and gave me a hug. “You girls smell like unmated males,” he says as he scrunches up his nose.
He looks at me knowingly, and I purse my lips and avoid eye contact.
“Both of us?” Mavy asks and shoots me a glance.
“Mavy must have rubbed off on me Alpha.”
Alpha’s are bigger, better, and their senses are 10 times stronger than the average wolf. I know he could see through my lie.
“Hmm…” Alpha Joshua murmurs. He seemed to be mulling something over as Mavy ripped open the bag of chocolates.
“Well, I’m going to get started on dinner. We just got home and got distracted by the couch.” I laugh nervously itching. to get away from his knowing stare.
“You don’t want any chocolates?” Mavy’s gray eyes grew wide with disbelief.
“I can have some later if you save any!” I laugh.
I start making my way towards the kitchen when Mavy asks her dad where the ball will be held. “The ball will be held at … Desert Moon,” he says.
She squeals and grabs onto my arm, “We have a chance at finding our mates Adea!” My body becomes stiff, worried she’ll smell Shane on me.
“We never get to see the unmated males at Desert Moon. They got a new Alpha about 2 years ago and Daddy hasn’t had a chance to speak to their Alpha about an alliance.”
Everyone’s heard of the Desert Moon pack’s new Alpha. His father took Desert Moon by force and
“So, we’re going to practice and do your makeup when Nikki picks us up tomorrow.” I give her a side glance.
“Don’t even Adea, we made a deal,” she smiles as we walk down the hall. She turns her head towards me and comes to a stop.
“Adea?” I can hear the caution in her voice and I hold my breath.
“Yes, Mavy.” I whisper quietly.
“Why…” she shakes her head and grabs onto my arm tighter.
“Nevermind. I wish tomorrow night was here already!”
I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding. “It’ll be nice to have some girl time,” I say honestly. It’s been a while since I’ve gotten out of the house for something other than school.
“Adyy,” Gabe says as he sees me enter the kitchen. “I’ve already started cooking the chicken, do you mind cutting up the vegetables for me?”
I give him a side hug, “Of course, I got this! Sorry, I’m late!” I tell him as I grab the potatoes that are next to the sink. Gabe takes a deep breath and he stops stirring the chicken around. He turns and looks at me as I start peeling the potatoes.
Gabe turns to Mavy, “How’s Trent treating you Mave?” Mavy giggles and blushes.
“We’re just friends, Gabe.”
“From what I’ve seen, the feelings are mutual. The two of you just need to admit it now.” He gives her a knowing smile.
“Shane was saying I should see if Trent can escort me but I want him to ask me first.” She turns to me, “He also said he could escort you in if you didn’t have someone to walk you in Adea.”
I stare intensely at the potatoes as I start cutting them. “If it isn’t weird for my brother to escort you that is. No pressure.”
I turn to her and smile, “I’d appreciate it.” Gabe stares at me as I turn back to the potatoes.
The rest of the evening goes on like any other night. With Gabe singing to whatever is playing on his wireless speaker and Mavy laughing from the table. We made chicken, potatoes, and sauteed vegetables. I set the table and slipped out before anyone could show up for dinner.