Chapter Five: Kendra

Kendra’s POV

Immediately we step into the room, I could feel everyone’s disapproval of me. The stunned silence that settles in the room, the whispering and giggling that is clearly directed at my dress…

“Nerd Alert!” Trystan, one of Chase’s friend shout out from where he is seated next to Natasha who immediately covers her mouth with her hands to laugh.

Chase. His eyes drift past the circle of women around him and locks with mine. My heart beat begins to race. His face is expressionless and unreadable and it keeps me wondering if he sees me the way the others do, If he thinks of me the way they do… his thoughts are all that matters to me.

" Eww! Is that a ball gown she’s wearing… it’s teens party, not a royal masquerade.” Ellie’s eyes are wide and filled with malicious glee.

I see she’s on Chase’s laps, her left arm winds around his neck. It hurts so bad. It feels like dozens of nails are being hammered into my heart. The fool just never takes her hands off of him, neither does she ever leave his side. The only time they're apart is when Chase is at football practice or attending his royal duties.

"Dummy.” Ellie wheezes as she gives me a sweet harmless smile that manages to intensify the sickness in my stomach. It’s like intentionally clawing deep into your skin and blowing soft air on the wound to ease your pain.

" I told you, Anna. inviting her was a bad idea.” Natasha smirks, her eyes blazing triumphantly.

"I heard that you have a cat you talk to because you do not have a wolf, is it true?” Ellie taunts, a vicious smile on her face.

Fuck! I fucking hate her. How the hell did she find that out? That is a secret only Mum and Cassie knew. “ Yes… I have a cat.” I admits.

The room erupts in a long lingering laughter and I feel so embarrassed by it.

“ How pathetic… Your kid sister, Cassie, she told me everything. Unlike you that is dumb and stupid, She's totally cool.”

My eyes snap wide open in shock. The pain of betrayer crawling under my skin. Cassie and I have a very bad equation at home but I never dreamt she’d do something like this to me.

I feel a narrow path of a single tear, escaping from my eyes and I quickly swipe it off with my thumb, and force a smile so I don’t give them the satisfaction of knowing that my heart is breaking into a million pieces.

From the corner of my eyes, I can see Anna turning red. Her hands are balled into fists at her sides as she tenses, looking like she wants to throw a punch.

" Why did you bring her in here, Anna? Here is no place for servants…” Trystan says.

Anna leaps forward and grabs Trystan by the wrist. He winces in pain as she twists. “One more word from you and I'll bruise your pretty face.” Her eyes gleams golden as she let go of his hand and stand up tall. “And that goes to each and every one of you that dares to utter one more word about Kendra.” Her brows pull together as her voice booms...

" Jeez! It’s not that deep, Anna.” Chase says, relaxing his back on the sofa and pulling smirking Ellie into his chest. His hand coming down to her waist as she nuzzles against his chest like a hungry cat. I should probably look away but my eyes seems to have a mind of it own as it refuse to blink.

“ Take a chill beer, would you? after all, Trystan is saying the truth. This is no place for losers. You should tell that to your little friend.” A Cocky grin on his face.

My insides are churning with aches. Hearing those words from him hurts differently. I feel my face flush hot with shame as they erupts in another wave of laughter until Anna takes my hand and leads me to sit next to her.

"Enough of all this already. If y’all have your dare, let’s begin.” Ellie announces.

Chase’s eyes widen in shock as he pops his balloon. “ Hell No. There is no way I’m doing this.”

Everyone’s eyes flicks in curiosity as Chase scrambles to his feet.

It’s obvious from the rising curiosity that we all want to know what he got, except for Anna who I notice a knowing look of ruthless satisfaction in her eyes. What the hell has she done?

She smiles mischievously and pulls me close to whisper into my ear. “ Watch him pay for saying shit about you.” Okay! Now I’m worried. What ever she did must be pretty bad and Chase's temperament can be one hell of a burning coal.

"What have you got, Chase?” Ellie asks, snatching the paper from his hand. She gasps as she looks down on the paper in horror and then looks up at me . “ What the fuck?" 

This isn't good. It looks like whatever he got has something to do with me. 

She aims her angry glare on Anna. " you did this… you fucking have his dare changed.” She accuses.

Anna snorts, smiling calmly she says, “ Prove it.”

Ellie’s accusation isn’t wrong. Anna has the special ability to read minds, she can also see through hidden things and can manipulate them to suit her without moving a muscle.

Growing tension rises in the room. Chase's eyes is filled with disgust as he point a finger at me. “ There is no way I’m kissing that girl… I’d rather sleep in the stables and lay my head on the horses poo.”

Kiss me? What the hell is going on? All eyes are on me, shock and surprises written on everyone’s face. Why would Anna do something like this to me? My heart is beating wildly, threatening to jump out of my throat. I fucking hate that she took such decision without asking me first.

Do I want Chase to kiss me? The answer is yes… Is this the way I want him to kiss me? The answer is a resounding no, in capital letters... NO.

"You have to kiss her, Chase. I dare you”. Anna says.

"And if I choose to back down?”

" You will have her name written on your forehead and you'll wear it for 48hours.”

“Gross!” Natasha scoffs.

" Man, this should be fun to watch.” Trystan whooshes out and pop an ice-cube in his mouth.

Ellie places a possessive hand on Chase’s shoulder. “ Chase, do not listen to her. Dares don’t have to be embarrassing, instead they should be more of a challenge and what Anna is doing goes against the rules.”

"Says who? Who made the rules?” Anna retorts. “ Chase, you are the Alpha. Soon to be king and ruler of the seven kingdoms. No true king cowers out of a challenge.” 

"She is right, Chase." Trystan backs her up and Anna shoots him a grateful look. 

" I am not a coward!” I hear the murderous fury in his voice and feel a chill of it in my bones.

There, comes a low chant from Trystan, "kiss! Kiss! Kiss." His hand tapping on his laps. Why does he badly want Chase to kiss me?

Soon the chants grows loud and louder as others joins in… Kiss! Kiss! Kiss! Everyone in the room chants, except Ellie whose eyes shimmers red in anger as she gives me all the evil look.

The claps, chants and taps on the tables grows louder, forming a steady rhythm. Chase takes a step towards me. He can't back down even if he wanted to. 

He leans in close, so close that the warmth of his breath tickles the side of my ear. The scent of him washes over me, overwhelming every other sense, drawing me to him.

He whispers, “ Back down. I want you to back down now. I may not be able to go against the wishes of everyone here but, you have the right to reject a kiss from me”.

Nervously, I swallow hard. My eyes travel across the room to where Anna is. The mischievous smile she aims my way let me know that she wants this to happen and there is no way she’d forgive me if I back out. I had told her earlier that I wish to have my first kiss, she is making my wish come through and by doing so, she is unknowingly pitching the boy I love against me.

"Do it already, Chase.” Trystan impatiently thunders.

" As your Alpha, I command you to back down.” His voice is more growl than a speech. “Otherwise I will make you pay.”

"No” I whisper as his breath floats over my lips. Believe me, the word came out of it own accord. I couldn’t hold it in. I have just openly defied the Alpha’s command and I’m certainly going to pay for it.

"No?” He chuckles. “ fine then. You are going to regret this, I promise.” He silently fumes as I concentrate on the mouth that, despite his anger, I desperately want on mine.

" I can’t go against Anna either.” That’s one dumb flimsy excuse. Kiss me already!

His lips parts, and as his tongue slip out to moisten them, I feel drawn to him in a way I cannot describe. If I have a wolf, she will be leaping with joy.

Lowering his head, he grudgingly taste my upper lip with the tip of his tongue. The moan that leaves me is raw, sexual, and made my core throb harder than I thought possible. I didn’t move, not even to breathe, as he did it again, deeper this time and for a brief wonderful moment Chase slide his tongue into my mouth, devouring me. The feeling is out of this world, better than it felt in my dream, better than i ever imagined.

The sounds of cheers, the tapping on the desks, the chants in the room and the sound of music fall away as i focus on the feeling of his soft juicy lips against mine. His breathing is harsh and I know he feels something too despite his reservations.

He pulls away from me and takes a step back. I noticed he took something from me – my charm bracelet, the one Anna gifted me for my birthday. But why?

The smile he gives me is cold and I immediately know that i’m in a lot of trouble. But you know what? I don’t  give a fuck about what punishment he might give me later I am ready to lay down my life just to have one more kiss from him. Maybe, many more kisses.