THE PARTY INVITATION

CAMILLA’S P.O.V

“Julia, fuck this, I’m done,” I announced, slamming my hand on the bed. The abrupt movement startled her as I flung the covers away from my body and planted my feet on the cold marble floor.

I tightened the strings of my short nightie and marched toward the mirror, the urge to smash it against the wall coursing through me. Fury and anguish twisted my features as I stared at my reflection.

“See?” I managed to say between gritted teeth, gesturing toward the mirror. Julia stood with her arms crossed and a worried look on her face, leaning casually against the wall.

“See what I’ve been reduced to? Constant tears!” I wiped away a lone tear as it escaped my eye and turned abruptly to face her.

“I’m done with this shit.” My voice quivered as my chest heaved from the weight of my emotions. “I’d rather stay single and screw around than subject myself to this pain again,” I finished, my tone laced with finality.

Julia’s posture shifted. She pushed off the wall and began striding toward me slowly, her expression unreadable. For a moment, I thought she might slap me, but instead, her hands gripped my shoulders firmly, and she turned me back toward the mirror.

With a determined gaze, she began, “I’m no friend to a loser. Look at the girl staring back at you. She’s the most beautiful woman in the Redmond pack, yet she wastes herself on scallywags.” Her voice hardened. “You’ll get your mate, but until then, avoid those fools.”

This time, I studied my reflection more closely. My dark green eyes, which had glistened with tears just moments ago, were now swollen. My slender face, accentuated by high cheekbones, gave me a strikingly defined look. My full lips, though nothing extraordinary, were still mine.

My dark red curls framed my face uniquely; they weren’t common and made me stand out even more.

Julia, noticing my inspection, twirled me around with a knowing smirk. She was right, after all. My curves complemented my petite frame perfectly well, almost perfectly. My hips and full backside were more pronounced than most petite girls, and they were among my prettiest features.

I was beautiful, but why did I always feel like a second choice? Unlike others my age, I hadn’t found my mate. Instead, I clung to any attractive man who came my way, savoring whatever fleeting love they offered.

But it always ended in heartbreak. They’d meet their mate, and I’d be left behind. This morning, Danico sent me a message saying he’d found his mate and no longer needed me. It was my third abrupt breakup, and I was done subjecting myself to this agony.

My family was infamous for women who didn’t find their mates, and the women always get missing on the twenty-fifth birthday so I’d already resigned myself to that fate. Still, I needed a break from single wolves and from heartbreak.

“You know what?” Julia asked, her lips twitching with a mischievous smile.

“Get dressed and go for a walk around the pack grounds, it's better than laying here all day and crying,” she suggested and for a moment, I wanted to complain but I resisted.

It would be better for me…

Then suddenly, Julia let go of me, her eyes glistening,as she looked distant. I knew what it was, she was being mindlinked. “What’s wrong?” I asked, the moment she met my gaze.

“Little Caesar crying, I need to leave, but I would certainly be back,” she said, as she hastily waved at me.

Julia,my best friend since childhood, was the best thing that ever happened to me. We became a little distant last year, because she met her mate Luca and started a family but she still managed to check on me. Caesar is her eleven months old baby.

I took a deep breath, as I walked into the bathroom to shower, this was my chance to make use of her advice. In a few minutes, I was done.

Opting for a short red dress, I painted my lips with the same color. Determined to look my brightest, I pulled my hair into a ponytail, and I smiled casually as I stared at my reflection. Truly a beauty.

Being the sister to an Alpha doesn't change anything, rather I break the rules unapologetically, one of it is this short dress I was putting on.

Romano was going to complain like he always does when he sees me. “You know being my sister doesn't mean I can't whip that little thing you are putting on off you. Go get that thing off, I'm not a brother to a whore,” he would say but I never listen.

I was comfortable wearing things like this and no unmated wolf would get me to do what I don't want to do.

As I stride through the hallway, I ignored the lustful look cast my way, and the smell of arousal in the air, I had one place in mind, my dark hideout.

I slowed down as I gently maneuvered my way into the dark room where I found solace. I was surprised to see that the door was unlocked but I didn't think much of it, as I made my way towards the one couch I had ordered the Omegas to bring here.

Two minutes into my stay here,I was already begining to feel relaxed and settled,well not until I heard a rough shuffle in the room, I ignored it at first, concluding it might be rats, since the room has been abandoned,it has every tendency to be crowded with rats.

But then, I felt a presence and before I could whip my head to the side, a hand engulfed me, the scent was a familiar one. Fredricko. My ex boyfriend.

Fredricko's hands gripped down on me, pulling me back against his chest. His hold was possessive, his long arms holding my waist as if he was still attached to my body .The scent of his wolf woodsy and disturbingly familiar enveloped me, triggering memories I did not want to revisit.

“Fredricko?” I snapped, my voice trembling with anger and confusion. “What the fuck are you doing here?”

He leaned closer, his breath fanning against my ear. “I missed you, Camilla,” he murmured, his voice thick with a lustful edge.

I struggled in his grasp, my pulse thundering in my ears. “Missed me?” I repeated incredulously, twisting to face him. “You’ve got a mate now. Shouldn’t you be with her?”

He chuckled, the sound low and devoid of shame. “She’s boring,” he admitted bluntly, his tone oozing arrogance. His hands drifted lower, and I froze as the undeniable press of his arousal nudged against my backside. “You, though… you’re anything but boring.”

Disgust and fury flared within me. “Let me go, Fredricko,” I demanded, my voice sharp and unyielding. “I’m not yours anymore.”

He didn’t release me. Instead, he leaned into me, his lips dangerously close to the curve of my neck. “Why fight it?” he coaxed, his voice a dangerous blend of desire and manipulation. “We were good together.”

I clenched my fists, the fight in me surging to the surface. “That was before,” I spat. “Before you left me. Before you found your mate.”

His grip tightened as I thrashed against him, my breath catching when he tried to push me against the wall. “Don’t do this,” I warned, my voice trembling but resolute. “Or you’ll regret it.”

“You’ll like it,” he said, his tone dark and self-assured, but I wasn’t about to let him have his way.

Summoning all my strength,I used my elbow to hit his ribs. The Alpha blood in me enables that. His grunt he released was all the opening I needed. I tore free from his hold and bolted for the door, my heart pounding as I opened the door and ran down the hallway.

I ignored the curious look that was thrown my way, but I wasn't concerned,I needed to get as far away from him as possible.

Never again, I wouldn't let anyone reduce me to a side piece.

Now in the pack house, I hadn't noticed the person coming before me,as I was more focused on glancing back as I ran. I bumped into him. Romano,my brother.

He caught me, just as I was about to hit the floor,but as my eyes bore into his, all I saw was a displeased look. His green eyes were darker and his jaw tightened as his eyes roamed over my body.

But instead of his usual lashing out at me, he took a deep breath and said. “Get ready, we have an important event to attend,”