**CHAPTER FOURTEEN.**
I trailed gently behind Topper as we entered the building. Crazy was a proper word to describe the architectural state of the whole place. Everything felt like it was made to show how well to splurge money, and I couldn't stop looking around as we entered into an elevator.
The elevator ride was quick as we stopped on the tenth floor. We stepped out and entered into an apartment. The living room was empty but expansive, with large windows showcasing a breathtaking view of the city and Hudson River Park.
Topper caught my raised eyebrow and stunned expression. He grinned. "Welcome to my *humble* little place," he said with a wink and I couldn't help but snicker at the words he'd used to describe his place. It was far from little and too sophisticated to be called *humble.*
"Humble?" I replied, unable to suppress my sarcasm. "This looks like the Queen of England's holiday home."
He smiled and led me down what seemed like a basement. It was surprisingly well-lit, and a large group was assembled at the far end of the room. I recognized Brianna and Killian, but the others were strangers. I also noticed Draken was nowhere to be seen. And for some reasons, my instincts flared, alerting me to the danger of this new environment.
Topper sensed my hesitation and pulled me forward, resting his hands on my shoulders as he introduced me. "Everyone, meet Eline. She's also a shifter at NYU."
The group turned to me, their stares piercing. I felt like a mouse caught in a room full of predators, and my inner cat wanted to bolt.
My cat tingles kept telling me to leave, but I didn't. I cleared my throat as I waved at them. "I'm Eline…a werecat." Saying those last two words felt so liberating.
"A werecat?" Someone asked as he stood up, his voice a deep rumble. It was a face I couldn't recognize. Yet, I couldn't help but think I'd seen them before. He was tall, dark, and intimidating. "I'm a werecougar, and Cougars are natural predators of cats by nature. I've never met a werecat before, but I hope we get along. I'm Kelvin, also a student of NYU and captain of the basketball team."
He offered a handshake, his grip strong enough to crush bones. I forced a smile and shook his hand, noting the wary looks from the rest of the group. "Nice to meet you, Kelvin. I hope we get along." My voice was steady, but my heart raced. I couldn't help but wonder if I'd made a mistake by coming here. Everyone in the room seemed to have an edge, a predatory nature that made my skin crawl.
A woman seated next to Brianna, swirling a glass of wine, chime in. "Welcome, Eline. Just so you know, you're the odd one out. We're all natural predators here. Your natural enemies," Her words were cold, and I felt the hostility behind them.
"Do not scare Eline, Betty," Topper warned her from where he stood behind me. Then, he moved away and took a seat by a bar cabinet for wine. "Have a seat, Eline. Feel comfortable, and don't mind anything Betty says. She's a jokester." He said as he poured himself a glass of wine.
Brianna tugged me down to sit between her and Betty. Despite her sharp words, Betty turned out to be more friendly than I’d expected. I learned she was a weresnake, and her casual demeanor was a facade that hid a deadly nature. Brianna introduced me to the rest of the group—Hannah Stanley, a female werewolf; Links Barlowe, NYU football captain and another werecougar, Kelvin's cousin, who wore a cocky smile; and Killian, a werewolf I already knew as Draken's friend.
Asides Topper and Brianna, Killian seemed like the friendliest of the bunch, but even his smile had an edge to it. I kept my guard up, knowing that my werecat instincts made me cautious around creatures that were, by nature, my predators.
As hours passed and we all related and talked about different things, especially things that had to do with shifting for the first time, having to deal with excess hair on the skin…I felt so comfortable with them. Being able to be all sides of myself without having to hide anything made me feel like I'd never felt before. They reminded me of my family, and it made me feel included.
"What about you, Topper? How was your first shift?" Brianna asked her boyfriend. They were sitting together in a chair, cuddling. They made such a cute couple.
Topper hesitated for only a moment before answering. "Only one person was there to help me through the excruciating moment, considering my parents are never home. It was painful, but that person helped me through everything."
"Who was that?" Hannah asked, her tone piqued with curiosity. "I know it can't be Draken. He's too much of a tomfoolery to actually lead someone through their first shift."
Everyone in the room laughed at that, excluding me. They all didn't disagree with what Hannah had said about Draken being a tomfoolery. He didn't seem like the type of person. If anything, it made me curious to see that side of him.
"It wasn't Draken," Topper laughed. "It was actually his twin…Drake."
"What? Drake helped you through it?" Kelvin asked, the surprise evident in his face. Everyone was surprised, including me who didn't have a good first impression of Drake. "What made that devil spawn decide to help you?"
Topper shrugged. "I don't know. He just did, and I'm grateful for it." He said, taking a sip of his wine. He sounded like there was something more to the story, one he didn't plan on saying.
"Erm…can I ask something?" They all looked at me as I spoke, and I almost cowered if it wasn't for Brianna's smile. "I am just curious, what type of shifter are you, Topper?" I had learnt about everyone's animal side, except his.
He smiled and untangled himself from Brianna as he stood up. "I'm a werewolf," he replied, but I could clearly remember that Draken had told me he wasn't one. "but I'm also a werecheetah, so that in shifter terms means I'm a hybrid — a rarity. Majority of my family are either werewolves or werecheetahs, but I happen to be both."
"How does that work?" I questioned.
"I guess it's true what they say about cats being curious animals," Links joked.
"I can't help it," I replied with a smile. "I am naturally curious."
"Hm. Curiosity killed the cat, Eline," Topper said with a weary smile. "Funny because even I don't know how being a hybrid works. I rarely ever shift, so I am not really eager to know how it works. Shifting as a hybrid is intense, even way more than normal shifters, and hybrids don't always have control over their animalistic urges. That's why hybrids have fated pairs—to keep them in check."
I wondered if Brianna was his fated pair, but I decided not to intrude further.
"By the way, there's a hockey game this weekend. My team will be playing with the Cortland University hockey team," Topper announced excitedly. "Free tickets for everyone."
Killian groaned. "I hate those jocks from Cortland, especially Raphael and his cousins. If there's a way I can sit this match out, I would. The last time we played, Raphael and I almost tore the whole rink apart." He complained.
"Who's Raphael?" I asked.
"You don't know that douchebag?" Hannah and Betty asked simultaneously.
I shook my head. "I don't."
"Lucky you. He is the captain of the Cortland University hockey team, son of the mayor of New York. He is also my horrible ex boyfriend," Betty explained in a monotonous tone. "He's a shifter, the worst person to be entangled with. He's synonymous with despicable."
"For some reason, he hates Draken, Topper and Killian. He also has a pack in Cortland, and that happens to be the reason why there are rumors of wolf sightings on the campus — those aren't just wolves. They're werewolves," Hannah chipped in as she crossed her arm around her chest. "I hate him so much, everyone does, and I know the feelings are mutual."
"Enough about Raphael," Topper said as he brought out some tickets out of his pocket. He began to share them and when he got to my side, I declined. "You don't want to watch our match?"
I shook my head. "I already have a ticket, actually." I explained.
"Okay," he replied, moving on.
The rest of the night went by in a blur as we all drank and spoke about the upcoming hockey match and what to expect. Although Topper and Killian were confident they would win, especially with Draken as their captain, Betty kept telling them to stop being overconfident. She told them Raphael was known for not playing by the rules. However, the boys remained confident.
Once it was eleven, I decided to leave. My dormitory gate closed at midnight, and I didn't want to be locked out. I told them I was leaving already, and with a solemn expression on their face they all bid me off. Topper offered to see me off to where I would be entering my Uber, but I declined. He was tipsy already, so were the others. I was the only one not drunk or tipsy, since I'd refused to take anything alcoholic. Instead I'd settled for orange juice.
As I got outside the building, I felt the fresh breeze hit my face, sending some sort of warmth towards me. I had enjoyed my night with Topper and the group, and never had I been so proud of myself for accepting the invite to join their group. It felt good to be among my own kind, even if they were predators. Without a doubt, I knew I'd be back again.
I stood outside the building as I brought my phone out to order a Uber, but as I was about to, I felt a hand tap me from behind. I spun around, startled.
"...Draken?" I gasped, recognizing the familiar face.
Draken stood there, his expression as stoic as ever. What was he doing here? I didn't know, but something told me this night wasn't over yet.