Chapter 38

When I came out of the bathroom Jessie was no longer in the hallway. I took a deep breath as I made my way back out to the dining room where Shane and Gram were. I almost stopped in my tracks when I also caught sight of Jessie sitting at the same table with Claudia on his lap.

I thought to myself.. what in the actual fuck is going on?

Gram and I locked eyes first... I smiled at her and she smiled back.

I quickly took my seat back next to Shane. He placed his hand on my leg the instant I sat down. I gave him a look of worry and a meek smile. Claudia is obviously trying to make Shane jealous.

"Jessie? Are you up for a little party? Nothing big… just some drinks and music…" Claudia asked

"That sounds great actually.."

When he answered her, he then locked eyes with Shane and smiled.

"What do you think Alpha? Up for a little party?" Jessie asked Shane with a strange grin on his face.

Shane looked at me and I tried my best to give him a look damn near begging him to say no. It didn't work.

"Um…. alright, but not for too long.. Just an hour or two.."

I know Shane was only trying to be nice but Jessie is not a good guy, I need to be ready for anything. I just wish he would have said no, after hearing Jessie's conversation, I know there's more to this and need to see what he might have up his sleeve. I have a strong feeling Jessie and Claudia are working together.

"Dude it's Friday! There is nothing anyone has to do tomorrow... We can go all night if we want.." Jessie whined

"Well Sierra and I have pack duties to attend to in the morning, so we can’t party all night…."

"Whatever be party poopers then…"

"But you and your new she-wolf can party just after we leave don't be too loud okay?" Shane stated pointing to Claudia

"Okay DAD…"

"Then it's settled! I will call some of the pack members and get things set up... How about we meet out back in an hour or so?"

Shane locked eyes with me again.

"Yeah, sure... We are just going to go and get freshened up first.."

I didn't want to go to this ‘party’ but now I feel like I don't have a choice. We sat there a bit longer as other pack members started getting up and putting their dishes near the sink. Once Gram was finished I went to clear her dishes as well, but Ramiro beat me to it.

"Gram are you going to come to this little party too?" I asked hoping that she could be my excuse for leaving earlier than Shane told them.

"Oh child no.. my partying days are over... I am going to have Ramiro take me back home and make myself a cup of tea and then off to bed it is.."

"Oh…" Was the only thing I could say. I was a bit disappointed.

"Plus, I don't think you would want an old wolf like me hanging around.."

"I wouldn't mind…" Shane added, so I knew he was on to my plan.

"Yeah me neither.."

"Maybe next time how's that?" Gram offered

"Promise?"

"Promise.."

I figured she wouldn't stay.. She has gone through a lot herself in the last few days... Plus she does need to get some rest.. We don't know when she will have her next episode... And having one in front of the pack might not be the best for her anyway.

"Alright Gram, well I will walk the both of you to the door.."

"I will come along too."

The 4 of us got up. Shane was the first one to the front door and opened it. I gave Gram a big tight hug while Shane shook Ramiro's hand. Then we switched. Shane hugged Gram and I hugged Ramiro thanking him for looking after the only family I have left. Once the door was shut, I turned to Shane.

"I am going to head upstairs now.." I said to Shane

"Alright, I will meet you up there."

"Okay.."

I made my way to our bedroom as quickly as possible. I stood behind the closed door as my head started to spin. This guy that Shane so graciously invited into our pack has something out for us. He is working with the one man that has had it out for me my whole life... And come to find out he wants something from me... But I have no clue what it might be. The only thing that I have from that night that my whole pack was slaughtered by the bad man who I now know is Logan was a ring. I wore it on a necklace. When Gram gave me my first jewelry box I put the ring in there. My fingers were too small to wear it. I know that now they are probably just right... However, it brings me a lot of pain. It was my mothers... She gave it to me a week before our pack was attacked. It was my birthday. She told me it had been handed down from all the women in her family. After moving in with Gram I got my first jewelry box and it has been in there ever since.

I go over to the jewelry box and open it. There it is... The amazing pearl sitting right in a gold setting. There are 2 small diamonds on either side of it. It is what my mother used to call a very elegant piece. I needed my mother because I didn't know what was going on right now. So I went through some of my things that were in Shane's room and opened a box that my jewelry box was in. I pulled the ring out and slipped it on. It fit perfectly. I looked at it and then placed it near my heart. I miss my mother so much.

"Mom please guide me right now from wherever you are... I don't know what to do with all this shit that is going on... I wish I could talk to you for advice.."

As my eyes filled with tears the bedroom door opened. It was Shane.

"You alright my love?"

"Yeah, just thinking about my mom."

"We don't have to go to this ‘party’ if you don't want to."

"We have to…"

"Are you sure?"

"Very. You said we would be there so we have to."

I went into the closet and pulled out a pair of pants and a shirt to wear. Something comfortable, and stylish. Right now I kind of look like a security guard. Shane also changed into more comfy clothes. I sat on the bed after I got dressed waiting for Shane. My thoughts were all over the place. I knew one thing was for sure I was not going to be drinking tonight.

"I am all set. Are you ready?"

"As I will ever be," I answered knowing that I needed to see what Jessie was up to.

I took one more look at myself in the bathroom mirror and then headed out of the bedroom downstairs. When we reached the bottom of the stairs Shane locked his fingers in mine and he stopped and looked at me.

"I know you want to talk about some stuff. Let's go out and entertain these pack members for an hour or two tops and then we will head back up to the room and talk."

"That's fine."

"Good, I will even get some snacks put together and we can just hang out and watch a movie or do whatever you want."

"That sounds even better."

We made our way out back where the others were. I was very surprised to see that there weren't many pack members out. I wonder if they also had a weird vibe from Jessie. Honestly, the music wasn't even that loud either. I mean I couldn't even hear it until we went outside.

"Shane! Come do a shot with me!"

I tugged on Shane's hand. I didn't want him to drink. I didn't trust Jessie and I didn't want to take any chances.

"No thanks, bro! I am not in the mood to drink tonight."

"Oh come on Shane, when has that ever happened?" Claudia said as she put her hands on her hips.

"I said no! That's it!" Shane was visibly not happy.

I could see that Shane was not happy that she was trying to push the issue.

"What about you Luna? Want to have a drink with your mate's best friend?"

"I would Jessie, but I am honestly not feeling very good. I am just going to get myself a sprite."

Jessie gave us both a look of disgust. When he realized that I saw his face he quickly put a smile back on his face and came up to us with drinks in hand.

"Please just have 1!! I am leaving in the morning...

I linked Shane.

"Just take the damn cup and smile. DO NOT DRINK IT!"

"Do you know something I don't?" He questioned me.

"I do... So trust me."

"I do trust you, and I will not drink it."

"Thank you."

"Alright, fine Jessie…" Shane rolled his eyes as he took the cups from him.

Questions started running through my mind. Why does he want us to drink so badly? Why is he pushing us to drink? Why is he not taking no for an answer? Why do I get the vibe that there is something in the drinks? Shane now had both drinks in his hand and gave me one of the cups. I smelled it and it did not smell appealing at all.

"What is in this?"

"I made this! I know you both are going to love it.." He sounded so proud about it when he answered Shane.

"Thanks.."

"We are going to go and say hi to the others that are here."

"We will be back," Shane assured Jessie and Claudia

Shane and I started to walk away. I was going to use this time to start pouring out my drink as well as Shane’s. But that was not what happened. Jessie and Claudia waited until Shane and I got about 100 feet or so away before they ran up to us.

"We want to come with you and say hello to everyone.."

"Oh okay.."

Shane smiled at me as if he were saying what are we going to do now. I honestly don't have any kind of answer for him... But there is one thing that I know we aren't doing. Drinking these drinks! I just have to be more creative as to how we are going to ditch them without Jessie and Claudia seeing, now that they have foiled our original plan.

It only took me a moment to plot the greatest escape from drinking. Because Shane wanted to mingle. I offered to hold his cup while he shook someone's hand. The minute I got his cup in my hands, I would trip, tossing the cups, causing them to spill. And that is exactly what I did. When I tripped the pack members that were around us got quiet.

"Luna, are you alright?"

"Yes, I am... I am so sorry. I spilled our drinks…"

"Don't worry about that my love, I just want to make sure that you are alright."

"I am"