At the Club

Chapter 1

BIANCA’S POV

I wasn't that type of person that liked going to clubs or attending parties for numerous reasons - the loud music and noise that pounded violently in my heart and brain, the lust-filled gazes that gets thrown at you every second by both hungry men and women alike, the clashing mix of alcohol, sweat and colognes both cheap and expensive alike. But today, I had to overlook all that and more and just drag my butt to this place for reasons that threatened to drive me insane.

I was seated near the bar with my best friend, Nina, further away from the crowd of overjoyed party guests in the dancefloor. She was enjoying her drink while I complained to her about how my parents were planning on arranging for me to be married to the son of the Alpha of our pack city.

“I just can’t believe my parents will want me to marry someone I don’t even know!” I took a quick drink and furiously kept my glass cup back on the counter as if to smash it. “Isn’t marriage meant to be built on love… on friendship with someone who’ve known long enough to be sure you can spend the rest of your life with?”

I wasn’t sure Nina was paying attention. She brought her glass over her face, the straw lingering in her mouth as she bit into it as though to seduce somebody. Her eyes which looked mysterious in her eye makeup were furtively glancing over my shoulders. She was easily distracted and I hated that.

When I turned and looked in the direction she was staring at, I saw a man leaning against the wall by the pathway that led to the VIP private rooms. He was shirtless, his bulges glistening in the faint lights over there. He was wearing tight leather pants that clung to his legs like a second skin and when my eyes met his, he quickly flicked them away. I was sure he was one of the male strippers who just finished performing.

“Seriously Nina!” I tapped her, hurt by what she was doing. “I’m right in front of you, pouring out the most serious problem I’ve had ever since I was born into this world to you and you’re here, eye fucking that male stripper?!”

She dropped her glass, groaning in frustration. “I’m sorry girl, I can’t stop myself, he’s just so hot,” she gave another glance quickly to the direction the stripper guy was again.

I puffed out an angry breath loudly and shook my head in disappointment, Grabbing the glass, I took another long drink before dropping it and returning my gaze to her.

Nina took my hand and rubbed it comfortingly. She looked at me, her large, mysterious eyes glistening with apology.

Nina was my best friend. We’ve known each other ever since we were little girls in kindergarten. We had a lot in common - our fathers were one of the eldest betas of our pack, and I was the only child of my parents, so was she. As a result, we saw each other as sisters. We did almost everything together and spent most time with each other. She was a natural at making me feel better whenever I was down, but at that moment, she wasn’t helping at all.

I nodded reluctantly at her, a sign that her apology had been accepted and she jollied like a child in an ice cream store. I couldn’t stay mad at her for long, even though I wanted to.

“Who did you say your parents were arranging for you to marry again?” She asked with rapt attention this time.

“Richard Smith, the fucking son of the Alpha!”

She gasped, instinctively placing her palms over her lips in a way that made me think something bad happened or that something was on my face, which I knew wasn’t the case.

“Why…” my brows furrowed deeply in confusion and curiosity. “Why so surprised? What do you know about him?”

In all my years of being in this pack, I had no clue about Richard Smith. He wasn’t around much, travelling often, and only recently came back, becoming the buzz of the town. Honestly, I didn’t bother to find out what he even looked like.

“You haven’t heard?” She switched from her horrified look to smiling mischievously. It was amazing how she could switch expressions effortlessly, like an actor or comedian. She could have easily become one.

“Heard what?” I thrust forward, and my interest peaked.

“Richard is a famous playboy. He never sleeps with any human with boobs and pussy twice.”

Gosh! I balanced my elbows on the countertop, burying my face into my palms and momentarily raking my hair with my fingers, messing it up – Something I spent almost hours styling before coming here.

Can this become any worse? My parents were pairing their only child and daughter with a fucking playboy and I bet they didn’t even know.

“Oh, B,” I felt Nina’s comforting, slightly cold palms rest on my exposed shoulders. “I’m so sorry, but if you don’t want that fragile little heart of yours broken to a million pieces again, then you must convince your parents to stop this marriage from happening.”

I raised my face to look at her, my expression now more downcast than ever. Does she think I haven’t tried? My saliva has dried up in my attempt to stop my parents from going on with their crazy idea. But each time I try to talk them out of it, my father will say;

“Honey, we can’t afford to see you dumped again by some silly, irresponsible jerk who doesn’t know your worth. Richard is the only son of the Alpha and we’re certain he’ll treat you right. Do you know how many parents we beat to this? Count yourself lucky, we’re your parents and we know what’s best for you. And we’re telling you with everything in us that this arranged marriage with the Alpha’s son is the best thing we could offer you,” my father will say before cupping my face and stamping a kiss on my forehead. After which, my mum would urge me to listen to him and pepper kisses all over my face too.

I know Dylan – my former fiance dumped me when we were planning our wedding for reasons I still couldn’t figure out till now and left with some other girl. But that didn’t warrant my parents to arrange a marriage for me with the hope of me not getting dumped again.

I tried to say something to Nina whose gaze had trailed off once more to the direction of the male stripper, but she beat me to it.

“Fuck! I can’t hold it anymore. I’ll be right back B.”

She trailed off to dance with the male stripper, leaving me alone and hanging. I tried calling her back but she kept muttering she’d be back in no time as she and the stripper who looked like he had just achieved a trophy headed into the crowd of jostling bodies.

I needed her the most now. Can’t she bottle the feeling of attraction she had for the stripper who she probably won’t see again after this night until we’re done with this serious conversation?

I returned to my drink, drinking more than enough as I was lost in my web of thoughts. I hated alcohol but I planned on getting drunk that night to drown my sorrow. To drown the rage that filled my heart, so I took more shots, not caring about what could happen. Suddenly someone pulled a stool up next to mine with a screech and sat down as though Nina’s exit was the cue for him to do so.

Turning to my side, I saw a man dressed in a black shiny sequin suit, unbuttoned with no inner shirt, showcasing his toned torso. He was wearing sunglasses that had the same black colour as the suit.

“Hey gorgeous, can I buy you a shot?” He asked smugly.

“Thank you, but I’m okay,” I answered politely before shifting my gaze from him, expecting him to take his leave, but he didn’t.

“You look sad," he pitied. "We both know that life is shitting you up right now. Your boyfriend probably broke up with you and you’re here, looking for a way to forget about him,” he came closer and whispered into my ear. “I can help you forget about him.”

He was drunk or high, and I could tell by his breath, which I didn’t appreciate. It annoyed me and worst of all irritated me. My vision was starting to blur and my head was a minute away from spinning to oblivion. I was starting to feel a bit dizzy from the excessive drinking.

He rested his hands on my thighs and tried to crawl them into the inside of my gown when I stopped him from doing so. I wasn’t fully drunk, so there was no way I’d let this filth take advantage of me.

“I’m not interested and I was just leaving,” I grabbed my purse and staggered up but he held me by the wrist, my purse falling.

“Come on…” he slurred. “Don’t be so boring. Just for tonight, I promise I’ll fuck you so hard you’ll beg me to be your new boyfriend.”

I was more irritated than before. I tried to break free from his hold, but it was tight. Persistent. Fear coursed through me as I struggled, my heart pounding in my chest. The bartender had gone out and most of the crowd were at the main part of the club, dancing to the loud music. No one would hear me if I screamed.

Amid my fear and panic, a hand wrapped itself around the circumference of my waist and an alluring scent filled my senses.

“Back off Ben!” He beat his hands off my wrist, freeing me. “She’s with me.”