Chapter 2

Serenity’s POV

The party had already started by the time we arrived, thanks to my brother. As I glanced around the party, I realised that my brother was so right about his fears as it had already begun to be a long tonight. I found my eyes narrowing at the sight that played before me and I realized at that moment that I wasn’t supposed to be here watching my mates getting down and freaky with each other with no care for anyone looking. I became embarrassed and awkward merely looking at their rendezvous.

“I can’t believe your brother was stopping you from enjoying all this fun. This party is lit!” Penn said as she began to look around towards the lakeside.

Claudia who also came with us chipped in, “He needs to find his mate as soon as now. Only then will he leave you alone.”

My thoughts went back to the discussion that took place back at home. I knew that wasn’t the case. He was adamant about making Lottie his Luna and my heart began to ache again.

Eloise, my other friend gives her two cents. “Yeah once he is settled, I am sure he will ease off on you.”

“I don’t think so.” I retorted as we moved to a table where bottles sat. I never really like the taste of beer. Too bitter. But tonight, after dealing with my brother and everything he blurted, I was on a mission. A mission to step out of my comfort zone.

Three beers later, all of us were dancing to the blaring jazz being disced by the DJ. I was starting to feel a little buzz coming on as the sun began to set and the moon began to reveal itself. Howls began to fill the air and everyone was glad that school was over.

A group of males came running past us in nothing but their swimsuits as they ran straight for the lakeside jumping in off the marble dock. Water splashed everywhere as more people began to join them for a night’s swim. Penn began to strip, and I looked at her like she was crazy. The water was probably still freezing since it was only the start of summer and there was no way in hell I was getting into that lake with so many people.

“What are you waiting for Serenity?” Penn asked as she pulled her shirt over her head exposing her purple push-up bra she wore underneath.

“Unlike you, I haven’t been fully shifted to my wolf form yet and so, my body will freeze in that water,” I explain to her as I gulp my beer.

“Chickening out?” She scoffed as she, Claudia and Eloise all took off towards the water leaving me standing there alone as I watched them jump off the dock joining the rest.

“Are you enjoying the party?” I heard someone breathe closely behind me and I turned to see Anthony, our Beta’s little brother.

Anthony was leading my class and he was the quarterback of our football team. He was a clear reminder of an All-American boy with a little extra muscle than a normal boy his age. It was clear he was Beta gene by his stature and all the girls found him swoon-worthy, but I, on the other hand, saw him as a friend.

“Having a great time,” I replied to him as I took another gulp, trying to fake a pleasing smile. I wasn’t enjoying shit.

“Why are you not swimming with the others?” he asked as I turned to see my friends having a great time in the pool.

“Nah. It’s a bit too cold out there.” I explained to Anthony.

“You may be right. But it does seem like fun and you can decide not to stay too long in there.” Anthony said as he enjoyed the scene everyone splashing water and having a blast.

He was right. A lot of fun they were having. Aside from the water play, there was love play among couples in the pool. Some tried hard not to expose the fact that they were fucking in the pool. A particular young lady pretended to be swimming while her partner pretended to be prepping her as he tugged at her behind.

One had her legs wrapped around his waist and his shorts lay a little below his waistline. He’d lift her a few times and splash water in pretence, but I guess he was really splashing into her. But I didn’t want to be frozen meat. A mere wolfless female like me can’t survive 3 minutes on the ice. Let alone the sodom scene that played out. Unlike what my brother thought of me, I did have standards, and I wasn’t one to succumb to fall for peer pressure.

Meanwhile, Anthony continued to stare at me. I was beginning to wonder if I had something on my face the way he kept looking. “Want to go for a walk?”

I didn’t mind his request. I looked back at my group of friends seeing they wouldn’t come out anytime soon. 

They had started to play a game of chicken before I turned back to Anthony and responded with a nod. “Better than watching them freeze and then warm themselves with the heat of their bodies.”

There was a trail that went around the lake and the two of us walked towards it. “So are you looking forward to the mating ceremony on Saturday?” Anthony asked as we started on the trail.

Something about his question made me nervous as we disappeared into the tree pathway and I was second-guessing going on this walk with him. “Yeah. I look forward to it. Are you?” I asked in return, wondering why he had asked me in the first place.

Anthony laughed briefly before he replied, “I am hoping to find my mate. I’m hoping it is as fun as I want it to be.”

“I hope we are both lucky to find good mates,” I said to him as I looked back to see how far we had walked away from the party.

Anthony came to a sudden halt. Instinctively, I did the same. “Maybe we will find out we are mates.” He said, taking slow strides towards me which made me uncomfortable.

“I’m thinking we should heed back.” I racked my brain for an escape as I started to walk towards the pathway. Anthony grabs ahold of my arm.

“Anthony, don’t hold me like that.” He held me like my brother and that only triggered me.

“Come on Serenity. You are the Alpha’s daughter and I am the Beta’s son. You are not going to get a higher rank than me in the pack. Accept me Saturday as your mate and I promise to make you happy for the rest of your life.” Anthony said to me. I was short of words. I couldn’t believe him. He wasn’t excited to find his mate on Saturday if it wasn’t going to be me. To secure his status and upgrade, getting married to an Alpha’s daughter would be his breakthrough.

Anthony tightened his grip further on my arm and  I quickly snatched my hand from him. He was getting forceful. “Don’t touch me! Better yet, don’t touch me if I don’t say so! I have no plans on taking you as my mate except it turns out to be you.”

“But Serenity,” He began to say but stopped and I could see his eyes brighten. I wondered what was going on until I smelled a familiar scent. The scent was coming from behind me and I didn’t need to turn to know who crept up behind me.