Chapter 0005

KATIE

I went immediately to my shop after I left home and my lips stretched into a smile when I saw who was already in the shop. 

It was Rachel, my best friend and also my business partner. I met her when I was in College and not only did we share the same major but we also lived in the same dorm. While other female wolves looked down at me and avoided me when they weren't talking down to me, Rachel never made me feel like that. She welcomed me as if we'd been friends for eternity, she never made me feel like I was the odd one out. My college days were memorable because of her. 

When we were in school, we both realized we had a similar hobby which was designing clothes, and immediately after we graduated, we pulled funds together and we opened a fashion shop that has been doing well so far.

And one of the major things I loved about Rachel was that despite coming from a rich family, she never looked down on anybody and quickly made me, a human her friend when she could have easily clicked with her kinds.

"See how you're glowing, Katie," she sassed as I walked closer to her to take a seat beside her on the couch, "is this the after-effects of the wedding night? Did his touches make you come alive this much?"

My eyes nearly rolled to the back of my head. Nothing happened last night and I intend to keep it that way for as long as I could. Memories of what happened this morning flashed through my mind and I felt myself seeth. I didn't expect he'd talk to me that calmly and softly after I spoke my mind and maybe that was why I accepted the card even though I was sure I had no intention of using the card.

And besides, why was he pretending to be rich when I was probably earning as much as he does?

"You're tight-lipped, right? No problem, keep dashing my hopes of living voraciously through you."

"Come on," I pacified her, "it's not like that."

"Of course, it's not, now that you're married, the pressure has gotten worse, I'm not sure it's up to 24 hours since I told my mom that you got married and she has pestered me like 10 times that when was I going to get married.. 

Her family was a tradition that they thought Rachel was going to get married after she shifted at 18 and help them deal with the pack business. Rachel had to appease them that she'd get married when she was done with school and that was the only reason why they allowed her to go to college.

"I mean this is the 21st century," she complained further, "how's it that we still have this archaic thought that the final purpose of women is to get married? When it's actually more comfortable to live alone."

Yeah, same here, I've always thought the same thing too but now, I had to get married to move out of Anna's house so her husband will stop pestering her to get me to move out.

Rachel suddenly smirked at me and a frown crossed my face because I knew Rachel and I knew from her smirk that she was up to no good.

"Are you free tonight?"

I didn't have anything to do tonight so I unknowingly fell into her trap by replying, "yes."

"Well," she crossed her legs and she smiled knowingly at me as she moved closer to me, "Mom gave me two invitation cards to an upper-class party that's holding tonight so will you go with me?"

"No," my reply was instantaneous. I've only been to like two upper-class werewolves parties courtesy of Rachel and it always left me feeling embarrassed and out of place because if the entitled wolves weren't mistaken me for a maid, they'd mistake me for a cleaner because of my human identity because of course, it was a werewolf world and humans would never amount to anything. 

"But why?" She whined, pulling my hand like she was a child, "you'll really have a nice time."

"No," I maintained, "and you know why."

"I know but I'm not going to leave your side so you have nothing to worry about."

"My answer is still no and there's no need to try to convince me because I'm not going to change my mind."

Rachel kept quiet for a while and one would think she had given up but I knew she must be thinking of ways to get me to attend.

"Okay, we won't stay long, we'll just spend 30 minutes and leave."

"Still no."

"There will be a lot of good food, hope you know that? Since it's an elite party and a party that's hosted by part of the 1% of the 1%, there'll be a lot of rare delicacies, do you really want to pass on this offer of eating foods that we might never even get to eat again."

My mouth watered at the thought of eating all the foods Rachel was talking about and I felt myself go suddenly hungry even though I'd had breakfast. Rachel just had to go for my weak point when she knows that I'm a chow hound.

"Still not going to change my mind," I maintained weakly even though I could already imagine myself stuffing my face with foods that I'd never tried before. 

"Really?" She smirked as she moved closer, "you really want to pass on the opportunity to eat all this food? I bet your mouth is already watering and you're already thinking of eating them."

"Still a no, Rachel, I'm not going to change my mind just because of food."

"Just because of food, hmm?" She smirked before she straightened up and moved slightly away from me, "I guess I have to call someone else to follow me then."

She picked up her phone and she started to press the dial pad and damn! I really don't want to pass on the opportunity to eat all those rare delicacies. 

"Okay," I grabbed her hand to stop her from calling whoever she was about to call, "you win, I'll follow you."

She smirked deeply and she fisted the air, "of course, you will."

We both left the shop after noon to get ready for the party and I used that time to nap and get familiar with the house I was now living. There was no need for me to dress up extravagantly or even use too much make-up because I was already married and when it was almost time for the party, I wore a long blue gown that stopped inches below my knees. I didn't apply too much makeup, I just applied powder, eye lighter and lip gloss and I allowed my hair to fall on my exposed shoulders because my gown was an off-shoulder one with long sleeves.

Rachel called me that she was already outside in her car and I quickly went downstairs to meet her. She was dressed up extravagantly and I knew without a doubt that she'd be a center of attraction at the party. 

My jaws dropped open when we drove into the premises of the hotel where the party was being held. It was a beautiful hotel and it has richness written all over it. I've heard about the chain of hotels owned by a very wealthy family but I've never had the chance to visit one.

"Wow," I voiced out my surprise, "this hotel is really huge and beautiful."

"Wait till you get inside," Rachel replied to me as she packed the car and we got down to walk inside. 

My jaws dropped more as we walked inside. This place was freaking beautiful and aesthetic and all the designs looked like they were crafted by a master designer. The interior was gold and white and everything was sparkling so much it reflected the image of everybody.

We entered the hall where the party was being held and I tried not to feel out of place by all the extravagance. The party was indeed a clash of wealth and extravagance with the way they were all dressed and how they carried themselves with an air of superiority because of course, they were superior. 

I ignored the stares because I knew they must all be wondering what a human like me was doing at a party that was for the top werewolves in the city.  Rachel dragged me to the table where her parents were seated and immediately Mr. and Mrs. Williams saw me, their faces lifted in a smile. 

"Here comes the new wife," Mrs. Williams hailed as I bent to kiss them on both cheeks as a sign of greeting. We exchanged further pleasantries before we went to find a table for ourselves but not before Mrs. Williams ordered me that;

"Make sure Rachel meet and interact with a lot of bachelors, she's not getting any younger and she should settle down soon."

But we immediately forgot her words as we helped ourselves to various delicacies since they were what o came for anyways. I just kept eating, unbothered by anything. 

Suddenly, the air shifted and the hall that was buzzing with noise suddenly quieted down. I didn't notice immediately because my senses were just 1% of the werewolves' senses and when I did, I noticed that everyone was staring at the entrance of the hall.

"What's wrong?" I asked Rachel who was also looking at the entrance that was now crowded with people making it difficult for us to see a thing. 

"I'm not sure," Rachel replied, "but it seemed like someone just arrived."

"Who could it be?" I asked Rachel even though I knew she had no way of knowing. The crowd at the entrance kept growing and when it became obvious that I wasn't going to get an answer, I went back to eating my food. 

I couldn't allow myself to be deterred from the real reason why I came here.

"That's Mr. Hillson," I heard the female beside us say, "the richest wolf man in the city."