Chapter 49 Partying with them
"Where are you taking me?", I asked, my voice tight with suspicion as Lyra practically dragged me along the corridor, her grip firm and annoyingly energetic.
"To the beach", She said excitedly as she led me to the side patio, practically bouncing with each step like she’d just been injected with pure sunshine. Her hair swayed behind her, wild and free, matching the reckless grin plastered on her face.
"But you said that the upper class.....", I started, trying to remind her that she was the one who lectured me not even an hour ago about off limits rules.
"That’s bullshit, let’s go", She cut me off in mid sentence without a single drop of remorse, waving her hand dismissively.
As soon as we pushed open the patio doors, a blast of warm air and chaos hit me straight in the face.
Laughter. Splashing. Yelling. Loud voices were screaming and shouting as they swam around at the beach. The sound carried across the sand in waves, mixing with the music thundering from massive speakers set up near the pool area. People were everywhere, running, dancing, diving, jumping into the water like it was the last day of summer.
"Beach? And you let me dress up like this. What's even going on?", I asked as I stared around in pure disbelief, glancing down at my clothes, way too formal, way too warm, and definitely not beach-party appropriate. I felt like an overdressed alien dropped in the middle of a wild festival.
"Today is the splash pool party. I wanted to follow my brother's rules, but fuck him, let's go and have fun", She tugged on my shoulders eagerly, almost vibrating with rebellious excitement. Her eyes sparkled with mischief like she’d been waiting for this moment all week.
I watched silently as men and women played and danced around the pool deck. Their bodies bumping to the rhythm of the beating speaker. Red cups in hand, they seemed to drown in the intoxication of their beverages. Some were splashing water at each other, shrieking with childish glee; others were grinding against the music, carefree and completely unbothered by the world outside this sandy bubble.
Food. Liquor. The scents drifted through the air, mixing with the salty ocean breeze. Tables were piled with grilled meat, fruit bowls, pastries, and a suspiciously large assortment of alcoholic options. Someone had even set up a cocktail station shaped like a tiki hut.
My eyes darted everywhere, trying to take it all in at once, the blur of movement, the pounding music, the sunlight glinting off splashing water. For a moment, it didn’t even feel like we were on pack grounds. It felt… free.
Lyra looped her arm through mine, pulling me closer so she wouldn’t lose me in the chaos. “Come on, stop standing like a scared deer. No one here cares about rules today. It’s a break before the next boring Alpha meeting.”
“I’m not scared,” I muttered defensively, though my stiff posture betrayed me.
“Yeah, sure,” she teased. “Your soul definitely didn’t just leave your body five seconds ago.”
I glared at her, but she only snorted.
A group of warriors cannonballed into the pool at once, sending a massive splash that drenched half the people on the deck. Shrieks erupted everywhere. Someone turned up the music even louder.
“See?” Lyra shouted over the noise, her grin wide. “Isn’t this better than sulking in your room?”
“I wasn’t sulking—”
“Yes you were.”
I pursed my lips but said nothing.
She squeezed my arm. “Come on, loosen up. You look like you’re preparing to go to an interrogation instead of a party.”
Before I could protest, she yanked me forward again.
"Mmm." My mind left my thoughts to follow the alluring scent of food. Grilled food. Cooped up in my bedroom with nothing but snacks at hand would do that to a girl. Right now, this alluring scent of food was enough to distract me.
"Let me get something to eat", I spoke to her then followed the tempting smell to the smoking grill. One of the chefs stood over the mouthwatering temptation as he flipped the succulent meat.
"Hey?" I greeted the chef.
"Shit!" He jumped. "Where the fuck did you come from?"
"From the house." I sent a charming smile.
"After a long time, I have finally seen you again?" I watched as his metal spatula flipped the sizzling meat.
"Huh?", I gasped totally lost.
"I was there in the training, that time you fought with those bitches, you really taught them a lesson", He spoke as I watched the succulent meat.
"I didn’t see you the following days and rumours spread that you fall sick but you don't look sick to me",
"I'm sick.. whatever I will be fine after eating", I murmured trying to be nice to him.
A smile crossed his charming face as he continued to tend to the food.
"You hungry huh?" He stared into my hungry eyes.
"Yes!" Drool nearly slipped from my mouth.
"Okay, hand me some of those buns over there." He pointed toward a table. I picked up two hotdog buns and two burger buns and skipped back over to him. He placed two burgers and two hot dogs on my plate.
"Thank you." I nudged him before I turned away to find a section to sit at.
Grouped at a small bench table, I noticed Lyra and some beautiful girl drinking and talking along with another male. I strolled over to the table and sat down before I dug into my food.
"Hi to you too." Lyra laughed, looking at me.
"Oh hey?" , I looked at her friends absent minded.
"That's what happens when junk food becomes your dinner." She teased.
"Mara this is Jason and Bridget, meet them." Lyra introduced me to the male and female that sat beside her.
"Hi?" I said with a forced smile on my face.
"Hello." Bridget spoke first.
"Hey Mara. Nice to meet you finally." Jason spoke too with a smile on his face.
My eyes narrowed into his smiling face. Something about him seemed to surprise me. Why is he not running for the hills yet? Did he not get the memo?
"Why are you happy to meet me? , Did Lyra tell you anything about me?", I asked curious to know.
"Nooo, I just heard from my friends what you did to the bitches on the training ground, so I was eager to see you", He explained.
It seemed like everyone hated those bitches.
"Ohhh", I nodded in realization then turned my attention back to the food. The next minutes that followed, I didn’t say anything else.
I finished off my food as I listened to the conversation of the others. Satisfied with my meal, I eased into my seat as I sipped the drink Lyra offered me.
Through out, I noticed that Jason's eyes were on me but I didn't even turn to smile at him.
"Wait, who are these people?" I looked over the many faces that walked around.
"Oh, there are different packs here. The White Water, the Blue Moon, and the Black Mountain are here." Lyra assured me.
Bored, I decided to look at the people who were passing by. May be there was someone I knew.
Everything was well with me not until when , the people at my table grew quiet. I turned and looked at them.
"What's up?", I asked Lyra when I noticed that she was staring at me too.
"What you mean, you weren't listening to us through out the whole conversation?", Lyra asked with her eyebrows raised.
"Nooo, I have been absentminded, what were talking about?", I asked.
"Jason wants to take you out for a walk", Bridget spoke with a wide smile on her face.
"The Fuck you mea...",
"Mara, I brought this suggestion, I just want to see you happy", Lyra cut me off in mid sentence. I looked at her for some good minutes then finally an idea came in my head.
This was chance to escape from the ruthless Alpha. "Take me, I'm fine with it", I finally spoke then we stood up. I walked in silence, and outside I saw Jason's car parked across the street.
I noticed him reaching it quickly, maybe to open the door for me. Before he could reach me, I was already reaching for the door's handle. I didn't want to make this seem like a date at all. Realizing that I was already in, he hopped into the driver side.
"I forgot to tell you, you look absolutely beautiful." He complimented me.
"Thank you." I accepted. "So where too?"
"Well, we can hit up a nice restaurant in town if you like?"
"Sounds good to me." I lied. An arcade or even the skate park would be better than food. I was just from eating.
The ride into town was somewhat quiet. He tried to hold serious conversations but they only seemed to last a minute or two before we stopped talking. He pulled into a small parking lot. I looked up. Written in cursive blue lettering was the name Cheree'.
We both stepped out of the car. Waiting patiently for me, he escorted me to the front entrance. He opened the door. Gentleman. Jason approached the podium. Standing there was a pretty petite woman.
"Reservations for two under Mr. Robinson."