Big Bad Wolfie

"We're here," Happy/Zach announced when we pulled up.. "Thanks, Lazarus" he turned to the driver.

  Wolfie gave him a grateful nod.

Lazarus smiled at them, "my pleasure."

"Pick us up at nine. I'll call you if the time changes."

Yay, 4 hours of standing around as a decoration on someone's arm.

"Yes alpha," Lazarus nodded.

  When the conversation was over I turned to open the door and —

  Child proof locked.

  Again.

  I turn to the three werewolves, addressing the two making the decisions, "what do you think I'm gonna do? Jump out of the moving vehicle?" I raised an eyebrow.

  "I wouldn't put it passed you," Jason shook his head and got out. He made his way around the fancy car to my side and opened the door.

  "Yeah, good call. Only, where in the flying fadudle cakes do you think I plan to go?!" I exclaimed.

  He shrugged and put his arm out for me to take. "I don't know how good you are at planning ahead. You could be dumb as rocks, for all I know."

  I rolled my eyes and took his arm 'cause, if I don't, he'll take mine, and we all know how that turns out.

  Happy ran in in front of us.

  "Please, I'm a combat tactician," I argued his 'dumb as rocks' statement with an eye roll.

  "Yeah, one that let her territory get taken over," he quipped, raising an eyebrow down at me.

  I rolled my eyes, again. "I wasn't even there."

  "Still, leaving your house defenseless. . ." he trailed off, shaking his head in disapproval.

  We walked up the marble stairs to the huge mansion that the Gala is being hosted at.

  Dang, just as beautiful as last year.

  "There were plenty capable fighters there, and even negotiators. AND a defensive plan, but it can only be set into motion by a master's order." I pointed out the obvious, getting back on track. "Or at least a heads up," I shook my head.

  "That's the problem with weak leadership."

  I let out a bitter chuckle. "No argument there."

  They just. . . Left.

  "Good, hopefully it'll stay that way all night," he looked down at me blankly, derailing my train of thought. "No arguing."

  I processed what he was saying and let out a sigh. "Oh hun, knowing you, knowing me, knowing — " I cupped his hand in both of mine and held it to my heart, "Us, that will not be happening."

  He ripped his hand away and glared. "It will if you don't want trouble," he growled, leaning in closer.

  I pursed my lips, "Eh, we'll see where the night takes us," I shrugged.

  He glared at me again and scooped up my arm into the crook of his own, just for show probably.

  I discretely shook my head knowingly.

Softy.

  He is such a poser.

No tyrant has such a happy beta. Not to mention such a beautiful face.

  His gaze snapped to me and I immediately stopped. With narrowed eyes, he watched me skeptically.

  Not finding anything standing out as suspicious, he turned back the other way.

  A smirk started pulling at the corners of my lips.

  There's something great about knowing something and just sitting quietly knowing that you know it while someone else doesn't.

It's the best.

  "Eeeeeeek!"

  I was jolted out of my thoughts by a high pitched squeal.

  Startled, I turned to find the source.

  I found my extremely rowdy, and equally kindhearted friend, Jaimee.

  "Mari!" She yelled, running towards me and engulfing me in a bear hug.

  "Hi Jaimee," I smiled into her curly red hair that surrounds her shoulders. She's a few years older than me, but that doesn't stop us from being really good friends.

  "Oh my gosh, I heard what happened! Are you okay?! Did they hurt you?! Your house?!" Jaimee asked glaring at Jason and giving me a pat down for injuries.

  Jeez, information spreads like wildfire.

  I chuckled. "I'm as fine as anyone could ever be under

"Well of course you are," she winked twice at me. "But do you need

"Of course not," I

shoulders losen considerably at my response from the corner of my

of all that myself," I finished,

His shoulders tightened

Jaimee chuckled.

I must have forgotten who

Maria Crimson doesn't stand for crap from anybody,"

the source

He must have just

Lucky.

lick off a drop

  It smelled old, so I can tell he didn't just sink his fangs into someone on the way here. But it

"But of course," I humored with a grin equally as wide, forgetting

pressed into a thin line, and he grunted. "What I've seen hasn't been very impressive," he spat, cutting into the conversation. He

dazzling smile at his comment, "Great! Then things are going as planned," then turned back to my friends, not giving

their eyebrows in amusement. They looked to me,

it lasts," he patted Wolfie on the shoulder as he walked away. "'Cause it won't for

me a goodbye smile over his shoulder

Jason raised

"Good luck with that," she

Wolfie frowned

could get some privacy. We're probably not out

"So, what's the deal? Why haven't you kicked this guy and his lousy pack out of your territory?" She

the whole 'killing thing'. Not

know you. And you do do the whole seriously maiming and taking what's yours thing," She mocked me.

I looked at her, contemplating if I should even tell her or

. . He's. . .

wide and her mouth made an

him, then at me, then

I nodded.

gosh, that's rough," She cringed. "What are you gonna do?" She

head and scrunched up my eyebrows in thought. "Well, I don't really feel like

stern finger at me. "Hey, there's a chance you could survive the break up. Especially with those master

"The aftermath still wouldn't be

She sighed.

I need to

Wolfie off, "I'll be fine here. I'm

"No,

of alphas and betas coming over. "Heeeyy! Alpha Jay! Come have a drink with

  Probably already had a

  Wolfie grabbed my arm and started pulling

  "Oh, c'mon! I'm in the middle of a conversation, the bar is literally 10 steps away," I

  "Oh, leave her be," one of the men waved off. I think his name

times, but when I have, he's seemed alright. "This is actually

an open bar private," Wolfie responded lightheartedly, with a

  Another example of Alpha Jason being so much cooler than invader Jason. It's like he just

chuckled. "By that, I mean just not in the presence of Miss Crimson," he gestured towards me with

he

gave me a

responded the same way

  "Wouldn't dream

  He glared at me as he walked away, but eventually turned his

at Jaimee

were so lucky," she shook her head with narrowed

tell she's referring to how back in the old old old days when they wanted to reject their mate they just had

Sure they went through some physical and emotional discomfort, but nothing

  It gets brutal.

heard the numbers got

puffy hair flung around her shoulders.

always do when we fall down these sorts of holes.

find amusement in complaining about things we have absolutely no

— and it took them a hot minute to work things out,"

sighed. "Not sure

of enthusiasm. "Yeah, I know. But, they did end up

I said. Little different," I said, pinching my fingers together in

She sighed. "I

a confident nod. "I'm going to work something out. First comes my house, then mate bond comes second,

brightly at me. "That'a

called from somewhere else in

looked behind

"Oh, I have to go. Luna Beckett is calling me. You gonna be okay alone?" She asked me, with

in the direction of Wolfie. "I'm not

She shook her head. "Sadly,

at her.

out another sigh. "Fine, come find me if you

My smile

one last glance, she walked off into the

  "Hey."

I turned to

properly introduced myself. I'm Zach,"

back. "I know.

  "I know."