Chapter 4

Driving to the club was not an issue. Driving 45 minutes with Saige singing at the top of her lungs was the fucking issue. I tried to contain my frustration as to not ruin the happy atmosphere and looked forward to the loud music that would drown out her off-tune howling. I don't leave the pack house often, not since I graduated from college. I even tasked a few other pack members to go grocery shopping for me when the time needed. I liked being inside, away from other people; away from my potential mate. But when the view of tall tress became more and more scarce, I was reminded again why I should reconsider and start leaving the house more.

The dark sky and moonlight hid most of the beauty around me but with my vision the sight of lights radiating off the buildings held me in a gaze. The crowds of people walking to various locations with no care in the world brought a taste of envy in my mouth. They walked to different clubs, everyone in the groups was laughing and no one had a blank stare or a frown on their face. Having to take care of werewolves takes a toll on your life. My father before today would tear my ass a new one if I acted like these people; like Sarah's group from this morning. But now he is insisting that I become one of them and venture out to find my mate; the same man who would yell my head off for even speaking to another man past hello. The same man who would tell me that I don't need a man to be successful. He would always tell me I would be the most powerful Luna the nation has ever seen with or without a mate so he told me not to rush things.

Now look at me, dolled up and with my little sister on our way to the club. "Where am I going now?" I asked, focusing my eyes on the road ahead.

"Make a right in two lights and Quantum Paradox will be on your left" Saige explained, still dancing in her seat. I did what I was told, careful not to hit anyone walking around as I parked the car. We quickly stepped out and we were met with wide eyes from other girls, I noticed most of them were werewolves from other packs who were probably more surprised to see me out of my cave than the car I was driving; which everyone paid more attention to. Why did I let Saige talk me into driving it?

The men gawked at it while the girls looked at us with jealousy as if we planned to take all of the men's attention. My car is impressive but not anything to obsess over; it was a 2020 Chevrolet Corvette. With all these rich other species, there were a ton of other fancy cars around but my assumption is that they're all surprised that I was the one driving it.

I rolled my eyes at the ignorance of men and met Saige at the end of the car. Scanning the area, I noticed that every kind of species was here, even humans. Looking up at the building, the name of the club blinked in a series of different neon colors and the club itself seemed to be painted in black glitter paint.

"The name is weird but I understand it. How does everyone manage to get along and not expose themselves?" I asked in a hushed tone as we made our way up to the front doors.

"Alcohol, drugs and sex appeal can draw even the worst of enemies together my young padawan. Also, security and the club staff are under Bastian's employment. Demons are the strongest among us. But fights are rare here. No one wants to get kicked out" Saige explained as we got closer to the unnaturally large bouncer at the front of the line.

"Saige, shouldn't we wait at the end of the line?" I asked, seeing the jealous glares waiting behind the velvet rope as we walked up.

Saige simply shook her head and continued to skip the entire line as she walked up the bouncer. He reminded me of Vin Diesel but with the Hulk's body mass. Bastian is really working these men out. Saige's lips curled into a childlike smile and she opened her arms wide for the boulder of a man to hug her.

At first, he held up a poker face and kept his arms crossed against his chest as he frowned at her. Saige cocked to her head to the side. "Come on Ezekiel. Don't be a pouty baby" she joked with him. Soon, his frown vanished and was replaced with a beaming smile as he wrapped his arms around my sister and lifted her to his height within their hug. Of course, another example of how much better my sister is with people than I am.

A roaring chuckle came from him before he spoke, "Nice to see you again Saige. I was starting to think you forgot all about me. Where's Elijah?" the huge man asked as he released my sister. He had a subtle Russian accent in his voice.

"Elijah and I could never forget about the biggest baby in this century" she joked back and grabbed my hand to pull me next to her. "Elijah is on Beta duty while I take my darling sister out for her birthday. Kaia this is Ezekiel. Ezekiel this is Kaia" she introduced us.

I smiled and waved nervously at him. "Oh don't be shy. I may be a demon but anyone who loves Saige is safe in my book" he whispered the last part as he pulled me in for the same bear hug he gave Saige. I wrestled my arms out to the hem of my dress to make sure my ass was not exposed and eventually I did pull my arm up to hug him back.

"Nice to meet you Ezekiel" I told him as he set me down. He gave me another smile and lifted up one end of the red velvet rope, "Go on in ladies. Saige, your guest is already inside. Kaia, happy birthday" he told us.

Saige blew him a kiss and dragged me inside before I can ask any questions about this mystery guest. Now what does she have up her sleeve? Before I can ask, the roar of the music hit us at full force when we opened the door to the club. Blinding, strobing lights flashed in every corner and from the ceiling. I almost couldn't see the hired pole and rope dancers doing tricks from above the crowd. Everywhere I turned, someone would be dancing on another; same sex couples, hetero couples and sometimes groups of both but the most fascinating and probably the most beautiful thing was not one couple were the same species. I could see that there were groups of everyone who were the same on different levels in the building but the majority found the joy in other's company. This would give my father a heart attack.

"Come on!" Saige yelled in my ear as she dragged me to the bar. I looked down at my feet nervously as eyes of men and women alike gawked at my face and body, which should empower me but suddenly I was self-conscious.

We reached the bar and she pulled me to her side to we can order our drinks. A beautiful ebony skinned petite woman walked over to us. She wore her hair in braids and had dark brown contacts in to hide her natural eye color. She leaned over on the counter and eyed us down with a smirk on her face, "What are you gorgeous ladies drinking tonight?" she asked, lingering her eyes for a while longer on my breasts before looking into my eyes.

"I'll have a Sex on the Beach and my sister will have-"

"A margarita. On the rocks" I finished her sentence, not breaking eye contact with the woman. I sensed she was challenging my knowledge on liquor seeing as my nerves were obvious since I sat down.

The woman chuckled and backed off the counter, "A classic drink for a classy woman. Coming right up ladies" she shouted before turning her back to prepare our drinks.

Saige began twirling her head around every couple of seconds, clearly searching for someone. "You know I can see you right?" I asked her.

"I know" she simply replied.

"So who are you looking for?"

Then her searching stopped and she shined a smile so bright that the lights around us couldn't compare. She waved the person over and then looked at me with glee in her eyes. "I was looking for her" she stated before reaching for her drink that our bartender finished making.

I looked over to where she was staring at earlier and my heart fell into the pit of my stomach when I realized who was walking towards us. She didn't change in the slightest, at least not physically. Her black hair with blue ends didn't match the ever changing neon lights that shined on it. Her brown eyes were still as big as I remembered them and she expressed the widest smile that I have ever seen her shown in years. The black corset she's wearing gave her breasts justice and her light denim jeans hugged her hips. Her normal 5'5" figure raised to 5'7" in the heels she strutted in. Walking to us, her eyes never left me and I felt myself smiling so hard my cheeks were burning.

"Saige, you didn't" I gushed, covering my mouth so I can look less like an idiot.

"I knew it wouldn't be a real birthday celebration without Blaire. I just hope it's not awk-

Saige was soon interrupted when Blaire wrapped her arms around my neck and pulled me close to her.

-ward" Saige laughed before taking a sip of her drink.

"Happy birthday Kaia" she whispered, she knew I could hear her.

I wrapped my arms around her and mirrored the same strength. "Thanks Blaire......I'm so sorry that it's been so long" I said back, louder than a whisper for her witch ears.

She shook her head and pulled away; she wiped a few small tears from her eyes before they ruined her make up. "Don't be sorry. Your whole life changed when you became Luna of your pack at 18 and your dad made it hard for us to be friends....Saige kind of told me all of the behind the scenes stuff. I'm the one who should be sorry for not being a good best friend and ignoring the signs" she told me as she grabbed my hands.

"But still after my dad moved out, I could've-"

"Your sister told me that he threatened to send people to my house if we were ever in contact again hence why I had to block your number so you wouldn't be guilty. I know everything" she told me, sympathy dancing in her brown eyes.

I looked over at Saige for confirmation, "Dad had no right to push your only friend away just because she's not a werewolf. The minute I found out that dad ordered some of the older pack members to keep you guys apart, I transferred them to another pack and ordered them to never speak to our dad again. Then I went out and found Blaire and told her to meet us tonight" Saige confirmed.

"Hey sweet cheeks!" the beautiful bartender called towards Blaire, "You want a drink?" she asked with a flirtatious smile.

"Sure....are you on the menu?" Blaire asked and winked at the bartender who stood there with her mouth gaped open at Blaire's response. Clearly, she hasn't met anyone who can meet her at her level. But Blaire is a different kind of woman.

When the bartender still stood there in shock, Blaire leaned her chest over the counter so her cleavage can be more prominent, "If that's too much for you to handle then I'll take a Long Island....sweet cheeks"

The bartender gently pushed me my margarita which I happily took and blushed before starting her drink with a smile on her face. "You know you should teach this one how to flirt" the woman said, pointing to me mockingly. Blaire and Saige looked me before looking at each other. Together all three women busted out in laughter while I sat there glaring at them all.

"Oh Kiki...don't be mad" Blaire pinched my cheek.

"She doesn't date much" Saige tried to explain.

"More like not at all. Strict father" Blaire added.

The bartender nodded, "My name is Avery by the way and girl let me tell you the way you stared me down when I was asking you what drink you wanted scared the crap out of me" Avery chuckled as she stirred the ingredients for Blaire's drink in her cup.

"Uhh well....."

"She's the Luna of our pack, she probably thought you were challenging her. Strict father so she didn't get out much" Saige swooped in. I nodded in embarrassment and took a sip of my drink.

"Well a few more of those and you'll be acting like it's another Friday night" Avery winked and passed Blaire's drink to her. "I'm your bartender tonight. This first round's on me" Avery added before wiping her hands clean and moved to another customer who called her over.

"How does one flirt?" I asked

"Don't worry sis. Let's drink a few more, dance a little and trust me by then your flirting will come out so naturally you won't even notice" Saige said, gulping the last of her drink.

I sighed and took a longer sip of my drink and felt a pair of eyes burning the side of me. I was too nervous to look but grew curious. When I looked over, I saw a man with blonde curls that stopped right above his bright blue eyes staring back at me. He looked to be a vampire but I needed him closer so I can smell him. He stood in a group of other men and while the girls walking by would fuck him with their eyes, he kept his on me. His white button up shirt had two buttons undo and he rolled his sleeves up to show off his arms. His skinny jeans fit him well but by this time I realized I was checking him out for way too long. I bit my lip and turned back around in a nervous fit.

"Shit" I muttered to myself and chugged my drink quickly and tossed the cup to Avery so I can get another.

"What?" Blaire asked with concern but when I felt a new body approach at my back, she smirked and stood closer to Saige.

"So beautiful...mind if I know your name?" a deep, Australian voice asked in my ear. I bit my lip close, scared I would embarrass myself again. The man chuckled and grabbed the edge of my seat to turn me softly until we were face to face.

"See you can't look at me like that and not expect me to talk to you. The name's Isaiah" he greeted himself, holding a hand out for me to shake. Him being this close, I can smell him now. He smelled like clean linen but the subtle hint of iron can never be hidden. Vampire.

I took his hand after looking at it for what felt like hours, "Kaia" I replied with a small smile.

"Well Kaia, I would ask you to dance but you look a little nervous so I'll wait back over there whenever you're ready" he told me and then bent down to put his mouth close to my ear. He breathed softly against my skin that caused a heat of arousal to rise within me. "Scream for me when you're ready. I want you to get used to screaming my name" he added before walking back to his group of friends leaving me in a state that I've never been in before....and I wanted more of that.

"Kaia, you okay?" Blaire asked, standing next to me.

"Avery!" I called to her, she turned around and raised her head "Give me four of these please" I ordered and she shot me a mischievous smile before nodding.

"Oh shit. This is going to be a good night" Saige howled happily.

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I was 10 drinks in at this point and finally I've reached a point where my lips were numb and my limbs felt lightweight but I felt a lot more relaxed and comfortable in this state. I even began talking to other people around me and not just my sister and best friend.

At certain times, I would look over my shoulder and Isaiah would still be standing there looking back at me with a smile on his face. Every time I would look, he would nod his head to the dance floor and I would always shake my head and gesture to give me another minute. Talking to a good looking man is hard enough but dancing with one is asking for me to be the laughing stock of the century.

"Are you going to dance with him yet?" Saige asked.

"I don't know how to dance with another person....like that" I confessed, drinking drink number 11.

"Let him lead you and feel the music. You'll be fine. I know you're a good dancer" Blaire encouraged, dancing to the side of me with her own drink in her hand.

I sighed and chugged my margarita. I looked out at the dance floor again; I watched the plethora of people all grinding together in sync to the music. Men and women all grabbing onto body parts of other people that should only be touched in private but they had no care in the world about who was watching them as they confidently grazed their fingers and took hold of what they could. The thought of having any man touch me like that.....

I shook my head clear of the thoughts that took my mind and stopped Avery from pouring me another drink. Dad wants me to be more outgoing, I'll show him outgoing. "I'll be right back" I told them all before standing to my feet.

I shot a glance at Isaiah, who before was talking to his friend but when he felt my eyes on him he looked at me. He raised an eyebrow and smirked before he raised two fingers to beckon me over to him. I eyed him and smiled sweetly before shaking my head. I started to walk towards the steps that would take me to the floor level dance floor and stopped right before I took the first step down.

I looked at him and copied his gesture before taking the steps down. Within seconds, he made it to the floor level before I could and held a hand out for me to hold. I placed my hand in his and he lead me to the middle of the dance floor; the closer we got to the speakers the harder the bass vibrated through me. Isaiah kept his body close to me as we walked through as to protect me from other people not paying attention.

When he had me where he wanted us, he grabbed both of my hips with his hands and turned me to face him. Even with my heels, he was still a foot taller than me so he bent down to my ear. "You think you can handle me gorgeous?" he whispered seductively and moved his hand to my lower back, only centimeters above where I really wanted him to grab. So I helped him out.

I tossed one arm around his neck and moved his hand to my ass, I applied pressure so he could know what I wanted and he took the hint. I gasped softly as he pulled me closer and I looked up from my eyelashes. My brown eyes met his blue ones and I smiled at him, "I was about to ask you the same thing" and I grinded my hips into him at the beat of the music and not too long after, he moved with me.

My confidence in myself grew as I watched Isaiah's smile as I danced against him. Our hands roamed each other's bodies like they were in a labyrinth. His blue flashed a darker shade when my hands stopped at the hem of his shirt; he waited patiently to see what I was going to do and curiosity took over me when I decided to run my hands up his torso from under his shirt.

I ignored the streaks of sweat that poured out of his pores as my hands used his muscles as braille. He was fit, very fit and when I was satisfied with my finding, I turned my body around and arched my back so I could push my ass into his groin.

Even under the pounding of the music, I could still hear him groan in satisfaction and he held me in place with one hand on my hip and he ran his free hand up my bare back. He wasn't my mate clearly but the feeling of him touching a large amount of my skin aroused me. My parents warned me about the temptation of men and how they would lure me to bed with them in the sneakiest ways. My mother never judged a soul but my father insisted that I stayed pure for my mate and that I should never let a man touch me that wasn't my mate but feeling Isaiah's hands over my body had me questioning why I ever listened to my father.

Isaiah grinded against me as we moved to the music and I felt that he was just as aroused as I was and I felt my eyes darken. He pulled me up gently by my shoulders so my back was against his chest. Still dancing, he ran a hand up my side slowly, teasing me until he reached my chin. He held it firmly and turned my head to the side. His lips were so close to mine I could smell what he was drinking before tasting it on his tongue. "I won't do it if you don't want to" he said.

"Kiss me"

He pushed his lips onto mine and he moved his hips with mine as our lips danced. Liquor can really do a number on one's confidence. I'm so glad I came out tonight. If it wasn't for Saige and my dad, despite the yelling and slapping, I would be home watching tv and drinking wine. But instead, I'm out in a sexy dress kissing a handsome vampire. I should come out more often.

After a few moments of bliss, Isaiah pulled away from me. He smiled at me and turned me so I could look at him without straining my neck. "Would you like to continue this at my place?" he asked.

I felt a very intimate part of my body begging me to say yes so I can see whatever wonders this man can do to me. But my nerves churned in my stomach and something in my heart told me to say no. But before breaking the news to him, I realized that all the drinks were catching up to me. I smiled innocently, "Let me give you an answer after I've come back from the bathroom. Where is it?" I asked nervously.

He chuckled and pointed to the far right corner of the building, "Over there" he answered. Hearing his accent through my ears made my legs go weak and again I found myself battling internally about going home with him. But as I walked towards the bathroom, I knew in my gut that saying no is for the best. It's not like I have much experience or any at all if I'm being honest.

I pushed past the crowds and climbed the steps to the higher level. I looked over by the bar and Blaire was dancing with Saige and a couple of other girls; obviously too distracted to see me so I decided to go to the bathroom alone. Walking towards the restroom, I gained a few eyes and with the liquid confidence still in my system I found myself winking and waving to people as I caught them staring. The pack would have the time of their life if they could see me now.

I followed the signs towards the bathroom and found myself at the end of a long line of other women. Of course. I regretted leaving my phone in the car because now I was left to awkwardly stand and look around. Every time the door opened, the foulest smell would arise but a hint of a sweet aroma would find its way to my nostrils. I ignored it, probably a girl spraying perfume to distract us from the smell.

Though the line was long, it went pretty quickly since at most three girls would go in at a time so I found myself in the bathroom within 10 minutes. I had to hold my breath as I relieved myself, fearful I would pass out from the fumes. After wiping and pulling up my underwear, I went to wash my hands with the club's odor-free soap and that's when the sweet smell from earlier came at me like a wave. It smelled like peppermint and lilac; it was so intoxicating that I almost lost my balance. Damn whosever perfume that is, I need to find out where I can get it.

I dried my hands with a napkin and used it to grab on the door knob so I can exit the restroom. I threw the napkin in a nearby trash and looked at the blonde girl patiently waiting to go in, "Hey where did you get your perfume?" I asked her. She looked at me weirdly, "I'm not wearing perfume" she answered before walking into the restroom.

I looked at the next few girls who also heard me but they shook their heads. I went down the line and even asked a few men but no one had on what I was smelling but the closer I got to the end of the hallway, the stronger the smell was.

"Hey where did you go?" Saige asked.

"Bathroom. I'm walking back now"

"You went by yourself?!"

"Calm down. I'm fine. Order me another drink"

Distracted with mind-linking my sister and following the scent blindly, I found myself slamming my body into someone else and the smell was drowning me at this point.

"Hey beautiful I'm sorry. I didn't see you there" the most angelic, husky voice said above me. I took in a breath and looked up. It felt as though my soul had jumped out of my body and into his round, dark brown eyes. His thick black hair was tied half up while the rest laid a little past his shoulders. His muscles filled out his faded band t-shirt well and I could see the details in his tattoo coming from his right shoulder even in the limited light. He stood at 6'2" and looking at him was like looking at an angel.

At first, I smiled and my heart flipped over a thousand times and I felt my wolf wanted to howl in joy because we found him. My mate. But my smile quickly disappeared when I smelled him and with the knowledge of what he was clear in my mind, my heart stopped flipping and I felt the wind knock out of me.

Concern became clear on his face, "Are you okay?" he asked and tried to reach over to me to hold me up but I back away from him. "No, no, no......no" I started to say to myself, looking down at the ground at my feet.

He could see me moving my lips but he couldn't hear me, "What?" he asked. I looked up at him, on the brink of tears and said, "Fuck. No" and took off. I ran towards my sister and Blaire, pushing my tears back. "Saige!" I only raised my voice a bit so she can focus on me and by the look on her face, I looked like I'm on the edge of a meltdown. Saige pulled out some money from her clutch and gave to Avery before apologizing and I ran past them towards the exit. I could hear Saige and Blaire were close behind me and I reached my arm out for my keys which Saige did throw to me.

"Blaire you need a ride?" Saige asked.

"Can I sleep at your place?" she asked.

"Yes just get in now!" I yelled, heavily panting with each step I took. I forced myself into the car and waited for both girls to be strapped in before I pulled out of the parking lot, not caring at all who was in my way. I gained a few honks from other drivers as I threw my car into the street and headed towards home.

"Kaia! Slow down! What happened?!" Blaire yelled from the back seat.

My wolf kept trying to fight my actions, tried to tell me to turn around and hug our mate and everything would be fine but I couldn't. Nothing was going to be okay if I did that.

"Kaia? Why are you crying? Did someone hurt you while you were at the bathroom?! This is why you don't go by yourself" Saige started to scold me. I hadn't even realized that I started to cry until I went to touch my face.

"Did you see the vampire guy with that busty red head after you left? Don't take it too hard Kiki. Vampires are such sexual creatures..." Blaire started to slur.

"I don't care about him and no one hurt me in the bathroom" I cried, sniffling in the snot threatening to slide down my face. I pushed my foot harder on the gas and swerved around traffic to get home.

"Okay, how about you tell us what's wrong before driving us to our deaths!" Blaire exclaimed.

"I found him.......I found my mate" I sobbed, my vision blurred by my tears and for the sake of everyone around me and in the car, I pulled the car over to the side of the road and stared at my steering wheel. I tried to calm my breathing but then his face and his smell were brought to my mind again and I was shaking with my sobs. Why does it have to be this way?

"Then why are you crying? This should be a good thing" Saige stated, concerned deep in her tone as she reached for my hand.

"Yea baby now your dad can leave you alone" Blaire added, rubbing my shoulders. At the mention of my father, I sobbed harder and louder until no other sounds could escape me but my heavy breathing. He's going to murder me.

"Kaia, what did you say to him when you saw him? Is he from a rival pack?" Saige asked.

"I said to him 'fuck no' and ran away and no he isn't"

"Kaia! Have you read any werewolf love story that these humans come up with? You're supposed to say something hot and possessive like 'mine' or 'mate'" Blaire rambled on. Saige and I rolled our eyes at that comment.

"If he's not a rival, then what is it? Why are you crying? Let's go back and talk to him" Saige suggested. I shook my head violently and looked at the two worried girls in my car.

"He's human" I finally told them and broke down in a fit of tears once again.