Chapter 3

Storm

I was turning eighteen in two weeks, and when I did, I would find my fated mate, or soul mate in human terms. Josh’s birthday was three days after mine. There was once a time when I was still a kid when Josh and I had been friends. Back then, I had hoped my fated mate would end up being Josh. But now? Now I was constantly worried that in two weeks’ time I’d find out Josh is my mate and just like my mother, I’d be stuck with an unfaithful mate for the rest of my life. If that were to happen, I would be destined to live my mother’s disastrous life all over again. Well, no thank you. Living through it once had been enough.

“Well, well, well, lookie who finally showed up! Had enough of getting the men folk all hot and bothered on the dance floor, have you?” Josh asked, as he looked at me with a smirk on his face.

Before I could respond, Cameron said, “Oh there you are! Girls, may I introduce you to Emma and Alice,” as he gestured to the two bimbos standing beside him. The two bimbos were looking at Josh with stars in their eyes, clearly not realising that after tonight he and Cameron wouldn’t even remember either of their names or think of either of them again. Hell, come tomorrow morning, the boys would be out looking for new conquests. That was just how they were. They went through girls the same way a new mother went through baby wipes. These girls were so naïve that it was beyond stupid. I took another swig of my bourbon and cola, needing the alcohol to help me to deal with these two idiots.

Suddenly, realising what he had said, one bimbo piped up and said, “Um, our names are Amberley and Annalise.”

Her tone was super bitchy and filled with annoyance at Cameron's mistake. At her words and the look of annoyance on her face, I couldn’t help myself. I burst into laughter, spitting my mouthful of drink out of my mouth and onto the ground, at the exact moment that Kat snorted before breaking out into hysterical laughter at Cameron’s predicament.

They had forgotten the girl’s names already! Hell, that had to be a new record for those two! Cameron looked uncomfortable at his stuff up. He looked at the girls, then glared at Kat and me for laughing at his mistake, not liking to look stupid in front of the girls. Before anyone could say anything though, Josh stepped in as smooth as silk with his rich Italian tanned skin, jet black hair and bright blue eyes.

Ever the trusty wingman, he said, “Ladies you will have to excuse my friend here, he has had a long day at work, and he has had hardly any sleep, it was an honest mistake, just a slip of the tongue, I can assure you.”

“Yeah, that’s what it was,” Kat snapped in a sarcastic tone as she glared at Josh.

“Are we able to play a game of beer pong, or are we going to have to waste our night watching you hit on bimbo one and bimbo two?” I asked, feeling annoyed.

Cameron glared at me, then turned his glare back onto Kat. Before Cameron could say a word, Kat threw up her hands up in front of her and said, “You know what, forget it, I won’t play!”

“Looks as though you will need a partner hot stuff,” said Asher, throwing his arm around my shoulders and making me cringe. Ever since my father had started abusing me, I hated men touching me, so ordinarily I would have already thrown his arm off of me. But deciding to take this opportunity to get my own back and annoy Cameron and Josh a little bit for a change. Keeping in mind what we had discussed earlier at the bar, I knew that I was playing with fire. But I wasn’t going to pass up this opportunity. I turned to Asher, and in my most seductive voice I said, “Well, maybe you could be my partner.”

Asher wrapped his other arm around my waist, pulling me into him, so my body was pressed up against his. Then he said, “Yes, I could be yours, for as long as you want me, you little cutie.”

“Ooh my baby Storm here would love that, wouldn’t you Storm?” Kat asked giggling and winking at me. She turned back to Asher and said, “No one can keep up with our girl Storm here, you will have your work cut out for you with this one.”

“Kat!” I snapped, making her laugh out loud.

Don’t get me wrong, she really was a good friend, and I loved her, but when she had been drinking, she tended to get mouthy and obnoxious. When she said things about me that were nobody’s business, that is when I really got annoyed with her, because truth be told, I was still a virgin. The last thing I needed was for people to think that I was a pack slut. And that is exactly what people would think of me if they paid attention to what Kat was saying right now.

“Kat?” a voice broke in. I looked over to my left and saw the man who had been by Kat’s side since we had gotten our drinks at the bar. “My name is Lucas, and while I am sure that my friend Asher here is undoubtedly happy you are spilling Storm’s deepest darkest secrets to all of us. I’d relish the opportunity, to get to know more about you and your hidden talents.”

I watched in satisfaction as Kat broke out into a bright blush at Lucas’ words. Wow, the guy had managed to render her speechless. That had to be a record. I had never met someone who could shut Kat up before. This was going to be interesting to say the least.

“Well, I guess I will start then,” Josh bit out, his voice dripping in venom. I looked at Josh, and when I saw the resentment on his face, I thought to myself, ‘suck it, Josh.’

Josh took his turn, and the game began. Throughout the game, Asher and I paid no attention to Cameron and Josh. Whenever we weren’t taking our turns, we appeared to the casual observer to be too busy, lost in a deep, quiet conversation with each other. For me, though, the conversation was just nonconsequential chitchat. I will admit, I felt a little bad that I was using Asher just to get back at Josh. And I was concerned about what Asher might do in retaliation given our earlier conversation. But when I started thinking like that, I reminded myself that in a few more days, I would no longer be here, so it didn’t really matter what I was doing tonight.

I could constantly feel Josh’s eyes on me throughout the game, and I knew that mine and Asher’s so-called flirtations were driving Josh insane. He was so hypocritical! He could take other women home, or screw them in cars, and janitorial closets, or in pools and swimming holes, and wherever else he chose to get his rocks off. But Heaven forbid other men should give me the slightest little bit of attention or find me interesting enough to divulge in simple conversation with me!

I knew the only reason Josh would want me to be his mate, is because I was from an Alpha family. My blood would provide his future children with a better standing within the pack, if we were to have children. Given who Josh was, I hoped with everything I had, that he and I weren’t fated mates. Honestly, I could well do without being stuck with someone as self-absorbed as Josh for a fated mate. Because at the end of the day… he was just like my father!

Being stuck with him for the rest of my life would be a total nightmare!

I glanced over to Kat and Lucas and saw that they were oblivious to everything that was taking place around them. They were so wrapped up in each other and completely lost in each other’s eyes. I was so happy for Kat! She just seemed so happy! As I watched her, I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that she had found her fated mate. The thought of this made the fact that I would soon be leaving her easier to live with. Knowing she’d have someone to help her cope with my abandonment when I left here, had me feeling a little less guilty.

I was only half listening to the story that Asher was telling me, as I stood there with my back to Cameron and Josh and the pool table, when I felt an extremely heavy-handed tap on my shoulder. I assumed that it was Josh or Cameron being annoying as usual, and I hissed “Piss off,” while shrugging my shoulder to remove the hand.

“Language little girl! Do you kiss your mother with that mouth?” an annoying but familiar voice taunted me. I felt a pang at the words when the voice continued saying. “Just kidding, no one is game enough to kiss you! You’d more than likely go all psychotic rabid wolf on them if they did!” I turned around and found myself looking into the eyes of Winter’s mate Felix, who was smirking at my obvious annoyance at his words. I glared at him in mock anger as he stood there in front of me with his arms folded, looking at me with an amused look upon his face.

“What are you doing here?” I asked, faking a bitchy voice, and crossing my arms over my chest.

“Storm, you aren’t meant to be here, you know that. You are underage. If Winter found out you were here, she would be incredibly angry with you!” he stated.

“Felix, come on. I was just dancing with Kat and playing beer pong,” I replied, trying to placate him.

I could tell by the look on his face he understood why this time with Kat was so important to me. Winter had told him enough about our situation for him to be aware that mine and Kat’s time together was running out.

Leaning in close to him I whispered, “Felix, I am leaving here soon. Kat is my friend and has been since we were both in diapers, and soon she will be nothing but a memory to me. I am determined that I am going to make the last memories I have with her good ones.”

Felix leaned in towards me so that he wouldn't be overheard by anyone around us. “I understand that. I do, but it is nearly two in the morning. You are seventeen years old, and you should have been home hours ago. I am not trying to ruin your final bit of time with your friend, but I don’t want you getting into trouble with your father. We don’t want to give your father or your brother any reason to look in your direction, not with the plans that Winter has put in motion. You need to keep off their radar. I don’t want Winter getting caught in the firing line either,” he stated.