Chapter 1: Playing with Fire

It was another ordinary day at school. I was finishing my senior year of high school and couldn’t wait to graduate so I could go to college! 

I had one more month of this torture before I was free to escape for the summer before I bolted off to the college of my choosing! I planned to attend the University of Texas or Rice University. I hadn’t fully decided yet, but I received early admission acceptance letters from both universities and was waiting for the last second to make the ultimate decision of which I would be attending.

Why? Because I could and Marci and Callie didn’t even get to go to college because, in a short month, they would be mated to chosen mates of neighboring packs and from there, popping out pups like some she-wolf Stepford Wives! 

I absolutely relished that thought. Every time those two make a snide remark or joust at me about my sexuality, I just remember that they were about to get mated and start popping out pups while I was going to be having the time of my life at college away from this pack!

Sure I would be living on the neighboring Lone Star packs territory while in college, but the Lone Star pack was friendly enough and wealthy enough that they never wanted anything to do with our pack so it was the perfect plan and the perfect place to escape to while attending college!

“Celeste! C’mon! You’re going to make us late to class!” Terry shouted at me as I grabbed my math book from my locker before slamming my locker door and heading towards him and my other two best friends, Joan and Emily. 

“I’m coming!” I shouted as I sauntered over to my group and walked towards our next classes together. I had Algebra with Terry and Emily. Joan was in Pre-Cal. 

“So…dish! Have you met your mate yet? How many Alphas, Betas, and Gammas have you gone through now?!” Terry teased me as we turned the corner to the math hallway.

Emily laughed, “Right?! What is your number up to now Celeste?” she giggled.

“Okay, for one, I regret ever telling ya’ll anything and two, I’ve only slept with two wolves EVER so chill the fuck out and three - it seems like every weekend Alpha Xander has a new pack from somewhere around here to ‘visit’ and expects Marci, Callie and I to grace them with our presence,” I explain while rolling my eyes. 

They laughed of course before Joan chimed in, “Sooooo…any hot ones lately?” 

“Actually…no. Most have come in all macho man-like or ‘I’m the big bad alpha’ attitude and they just don’t have the looks to pull off the attitude…or they’ve been WAY too old, for me at least.” 

“Too OLD? I didn’t think ya’ll got a choice?” Terry laughed, teasing me in the process.

I laughed at that comment too, “Marci and Callie don’t, I do though! Don’t forget my dad isn’t making me take a chosen mate! That’s precisely why I’m getting the hell outta here in one month exactly!”

We got to our classrooms and ended our gossip until after class. One more class and I was free for the weekend…except I had another weekend of entertaining another Alpha and Beta. 

After class Terry, Emily, and Joan all met me at my car. I drove us to the local Starbucks where we enjoyed a frappuccino while we talked about weekend plans.

“So, which pack is gracing you with their presence tonight?” Joan asked again.

“I don’t know. I just know I have to be in the packhouse ready to greet them upon arrival by 7:30 tonight,” I shrug.

“Emi, what are your plans tonight? You going anywhere?” Joan asks Emily.

“Wanna go hit up that new club over in the village?” Emi asks Joan and Terry.

“Ooo…I heard that new club is owned by the local vampires! I bet it’s a bit risque! I’m in!” Terry chimed in.

“You should try and get your visiting Alpha and Beta to join us, Celeste!” Joan suggests.

“I just might have to meet up with yall! That does sound pretty fun!” I agree, “I’ll see what I can work out. If these guys are game, then it’s SO ON!” We clink our plastic cups together as we finish them off before leaving to go home.

When the evening comes around, I hear my father shout from downstairs that I need to get to the packhouse soon, “Alpha Xander said the guests are going to be arriving earlier than originally planned so hurry up!”

“Okay dad. I will.” I mumble finishing my hair and make-up quickly before heading downstairs. 

My dad knew that these wolves were getting frisky with me, but out of respect for Alpha Xander and Beta Marcus’s hopes to match Marci and Callie with chosen mates to ally our pack with potential threats, he chose to turn a blind eye, allowing anything to happen and ignoring any comments made by the visiting alphas and betas. It was a bit embarrassing from time to time when one would insinuate that they were trying to get in my pants or that they had gone further than a kiss with me, but it was one of those things, we both knew it was a waste of energy to discuss, so we didn’t. 

“Bye daddy, I love you! Don’t wait up - you know how these wolves get sometimes!”

“I know sweetheart. Make me proud! I love you!” My father cooed at me as he kissed my forehead before I walked out the door.

We lived in a small house about a block from the packhouse. Since my dad was neither the alpha nor beta, we got to live in our own house with a little more privacy than the alpha and beta of the pack’s family got. They all lived in the packhouse where the door was ever-revolving with pack members coming and going for usual business and visitors were always in and out. The only floors off-limits are the top two floors - the Beta and Alpha’s personal living quarters. Anywhere else in the packhouse was fair game for anyone.

As I approached the packhouse, I saw two black SUVs parked out front. SHIT! I was late. I hurried myself a little faster to reach the front door a bit quicker, in hopes they JUST arrived. 

As luck would have it, as I opened the front door, an omega was just removing the jackets from our guests as I saw Marci and Callie standing by the bottom of the stairs in line waiting to greet our guests with their heads bowed in respect. 

I quickly pulled my jacket off and handed it to the omega to put away with the visitor's jackets, hoping to slip by and stand next to Callie before Alpha Xander began introductions.

“Ahhh! So glad you could make it Celeste! We were beginning to worry you wouldn’t.” Luna Leslie commented upon seeing my arrival as I stood next to Callie.

“I’m sorry Luna, I lost track of time. It won’t happen again,” I apologize quickly. 

She gives me a glare to say, ‘It better not!’

“Well, Alpha Callen, Beta Nate, it is SO nice to finally meet you both!” Alpha Xander shakes their hands as he greets them before turning to introduce Luna Leslie and us girls, “This is my lovely mate Luna Leslie, our daughter Marci, Beta Marcus’s daughter, Callie, and Gamma Dave’s daughter, Celeste.” 

That was our cue to look into their eyes and shake their hands. When I glared into Alpha Callen’s eyes, I instantly felt a pit sink into my stomach. It wasn’t a good feeling either. My wolf, Bree, I knew from that was nervous. He was making her nervous.

“Girls, this is Alpha Callen and Beta Nate. They are both unmated and from the Silver Fang pack out in California. They’ve come a long distance to meet you, so show them your utmost hospitality and treat them out! I expect you girls to have a great time with them over the next few days, is that understood?” Alpha Xander declared, giving us the same speel he gives us every weekend. 

“Yes, sir.” We all say in unison.

“Shall we ladies?” Alpha Callen asks, looking directly at me as he directs us out the door to his car.

I nod as I walk out the door. Marci and Callie followed behind me. As we climbed in his car, Marci and Callie both gave me the usual glare and mind-linked me, ‘Tell them to drop us off at the Starbucks in town. We plan to do our usual routine. Have fun with them Celest-ho!’ Marci scoffs as she rolls her eyes as if she couldn’t be bothered any more than that while making a jab at me in the process. I just roll my eyes right back at her.

“Where to ladies?” Alpha Callen asks as he starts the car up.

“Starbucks!” We all shout. The guys laugh and head in that general direction. I can tell Beta Nate has no interest in any of us as he stares out the window. Alpha Callen keeps looking up into the rearview mirror and staring at me. I glance up into the mirror from time to time to see if he has stopped looking at me, but every time I look, I see him still staring at me. He WANTS me to see him glaring at him. 

I immediately look away every time and eventually, I realize I know nothing about these wolves or their pack, so I defer to my cell phone and the magical powers of G****E!

It only takes about five minutes before we arrive in front of Starbucks. Marci and Callie hop out and tell Alpha Callen and Beta Nate that they are going inside to grab a cup of coffee, and then pull their usual and pretend to text me that they ran into some friends that they will be spending the rest of the evening with, virtually ditching me with two unmated wolves. Bree is starting to get even more nervous. She can sense something is off. 

“I guess they found some more interesting entertainment for the evening…” Beta Nate says sarcastically, clearly annoyed at being blown off, even though he really wasn’t interested in any of us. 

“Well…I know our Alpha is trying to play matchmaker, and I know how awkward that can be for you guys, so if you aren’t interested and would prefer the company of more ‘mature’ women…I understand. I won’t be offended at all!” I begin to try my version of the brush-off speech.

“Who said anything about not being interested?” Alpha Callen glares at me through the rear-view mirror again. His look is dark, brooding, and mysterious, but not in a good way. 

“Oh! W…well…we can go hang out somewhere if ya’ll want to hang out!” I say in a more ‘interested’ tone.

“What is there to do out here? It’s not like we are near any major city or civilization for that matter!” Chuckled Beta Nate.

“Well…there is actually a lot to do…we could go see a movie, go skating, clubbing, hang out at the local arcade…there’s a Putt-Putt Golf about 15 minutes away…” I start listing off everything in no particular order.

“You have nightclubs around here?!” Beta Nate perks up and turns around to look at me in the back seat. 

“Well…yeah…”

Beta Nate looks at Alpha Callen, smirks, and then turns back to me, “Let’s go to the club!”

“Okay! Cool! I’ll call my friends and have them meet us there!” I smile as I start texting Joan, Emily, and Terry that we will be meeting them there.

Joan: Any luck? Are they hot?

Terry: Do either like to play both sides?

Emily: Ew Terry! C`mon! Keep the group text PG-13!

Terry: What?! A guy can dream, can’t he?!

Me: Oh ya’ll are vultures! Yes, they are hot. No, they don’t appear to be gay or bi, sorry Terry! 

Terry: Boo!

Emily: Regular club or new Vamp club?

Joan: I vote regular club. I’m not in the mood to deal with bloodsuckers when I’m trying to impress.

Me: Ditto! Besides…there’s something about Alpha Callen that is making Bree nervous.

Terry: Mate?

Me: No! Far from it if anything! She is super nervous around him. That’s why I need your support. The Stepford Wives club ditched me the minute we left the packhouse again.

Joan: Bitches be bitches.

Emily: Yeah…don’t worry Celeste! They'll be big, fat, and pregnant soon enough while you are partying it up with us at college! LoL!

I outwardly laugh at Emi’s comment and get a glare from the guys.

“So…where is this club, Celeste?” Alpha Callen asks.

“Oh! Sorry! It’s just in town. It’s called ‘The Howlers Hub’.”

“That sounds more like a bar than a club,” Alpha Callen says, sounding skeptical but typing it into his G****e Maps app.

“Oh, it’s a nightclub, I promise you!” 

“As long as it’s got wolf whiskey, we’re in business!” Beta Nate chimes in.

I nod as I go back to my group message with my friends.

Me: Yeah…that’s true. See ya’ll there in a few. We will probably be there in about 15 minutes!

Joan: Okay bi-otch! See you soon!

Terry: I’m already at the bar! I’ll order you a Long Island to get you started.

Me: See you soon. Thanks Terry! You’re the bestest!

Terry: I know. ;)

I giggle to myself as I close the group text and go back to my g****e search. Alpha Xander doesn’t give us much prep time to prepare for these incoming visitors so g****e was becoming my best friend when it came to finding out about visiting packs.

I gasped when I read the headlines that popped up about Alpha Callen and Beta Nate’s pack - the Silver Fang pack. Apparently, their pack is one of the most notorious packs in the entire nation and the most dangerous. Alpha Xander would DEFINITELY be trying to get an alliance with this pack if he could help it. No one wants to be on this pack's bad side - NO ONE! 

According to an article I read before we reached the nightclub, Alpha Callen became the youngest Alpha in history when he killed his own father for the position at the age of seventeen. After that, he went on a rampage to gain more territory, taking over most of Oregon and parts of Nevada and Utah, growing to be one of the largest territories in the nation to boot! 

The last pack to stand against Alpha Callen was beheaded in front of his own Luna, while Alpha Callen let his warriors rape the Luna. This wolf wasn’t to be messed with. He was feared by all. NO WONDER WHY BREE WAS SO SCARED OF HIM! He’s as close to ‘monster’ as wolves come! I was going to have to play with fire tonight if he engaged in any kind of activities with me, which is what Bree and I are afraid of.