Elaine POV
“Elaine, why do you want to go?” Fran asked.
She had a face mask on, her hair in a messy bun and her cute ducky shoes covering her feet. She was ready to crawl into bed and fall asleep to a comfort movie.
I’d been pondering on whether to go to the party or not. If I didn’t show my face, then things might get worse! I could only trust Fran and she didn’t look like she wanted to come out of her comfortable clothes.
It was already nine o’clock at night, the house was winding down however betas were still lingering on the property. My mate was out tending to his duties and making sure the Pack was safe.
“I have to. What if they think I’m a wimp?” I asked, frowning.
“You’re a badass. Screw them and what they think,” Fran waved her hand.
“You really don’t want to go to a party on a Friday night?”
Fran turned to me and wrapped her arms around herself. “I haven’t told Blazer about it and he doesn’t want me getting into trouble since we’re so far apart.”
My jaw dropped. “You don’t want to go to the party because you haven’t spoken to Blazer?”
She shrugged. “He’s my boyfriend.”
“I haven’t told Azaire about this!”
She threw a pillow at my head and I dodged it. “You want me to get in trouble with my brother? He’s already pissed about the Holly situation but like you needed to know about that.”
“You won’t get in trouble. We don’t need their permission to go anywhere.”
“Have you met Blazer?” she folded her arms.
Yes, I’d known Blazer a long time and he didn’t give a shit about any of the girls he screwed but he was invested in Fran. I hoped he didn’t screw things up because I would be forced to beat him up.
“Alpha wolves are all the same. Listen, I’m not going anywhere and everyone isn’t as welcoming as you guys in this house. If I’m going to stay I have to try to win them over no matter how draining it is.”
She sighed. “I understand. I really care about Blazer but no one knows we’re in a relationship.”
“How?” I frowned.
“Only the people in this house know! I haven’t told my friends and I’m careful when I visit him. There are rumours though, but for now, that’s all they are. When people find out they’ll think I’m a traitor.”
“I don’t want you to experience that, Fran.”
“Even if I move to the Black Claw Pack it’ll be the same. The hatred between our Packs runs deep, but we don’t have to give in to it. Fine, I’ll come with you. The sooner they accept you as the High Beta’s mate then it won’t be a shock when I reveal my relationship with Blazer.”
“Great! We don’t have to stay long. I need to change my shirt.” I picked at the tomato sauce stain on my mustard shirt. Not very flattering.
“Chase won’t be disappointed,” I said more to myself than Fran.
“Chase? As in Chase Frankman?” she questioned.
“I never really asked his last name but he’s a senior at the college.”
Fran peeled off her face mask which left her skin glowing and smooth. She marched to her closet and stared at her options.
“I know who he is…”
“He isn’t crazy right?” I asked, my heart racing.
“Crazy rich, yeah. His Dad is a millionaire sales man and Chase is the heir to that empire. He used to do business with my Dad and Uncle, Azaire’s Dad. He used to hang out with Oliver. Maybe he knows where my brother is.”
“I’m sorry Fran,” I said softly.
“You know how Alpha wolves are… very stubborn. Alpha females can be equally as stubborn. I’ll find him.” Her eyes glossed with tears.
“I’ll help you kick his ass,” I said with a smile.
“We do make a pretty good team. Now get out of here we don’t want to be late!”
“Right.”
I hurried back to my room. I had no idea what to wear. When I burst into my room Azaire had just pulled his shirt over his head. I focused on getting to my closet. I didn’t have time for distractions.
“Hey, babe, Fran and I are going out,” I said and charged into the walk-in closet.
“Whoa, where are you going? It’s late,” he responded with the usual curiosity and alarm in his tone.
“That’s the best time for a party,” I replied and flipped through my tops for something suitable.
“Elaine, do you remember the last time you went out drinking? You got so drunk you couldn’t walk!”
“Ugh, that was a long time ago. Besides, I’ll be with Fran.”
“You were with her the last time,” he said through gritted teeth.
He spun me and pinned me on the smooth wooden wall.
“We have to talk,” he said sternly.
“It’s a party. You go drinking with your buddies all the time.”
“It’s not that Elaine…” his eyes narrowed and darkened. His arms extended and his hands pressed on the door behind me.
I swallowed but held his intense stare. “I found the tests…”
My heart hammered against my ribcage.
“Have you been rummaging in the trash?”
I stepped forward but that didn’t make Azaire move. His chest was solid and his body was like a brick wall. It wouldn’t move no matter how much I pushed.
“You didn’t throw them away you bundled them into a shirt. Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Can we talk about this another time?”
My face was hot with embarrassment and my palms were damp with sweat. I couldn’t look him in the eyes but what was worse I couldn’t read his emotions. He was between caring and rage.
“This is more important than a damn party. Why didn’t you tell me you thought you were pregnant?”
“It doesn’t matter. I’m not pregnant!”
“Of course not, I’m careful every time we’re together.”
I paused. “I’m not on the pill anymore, Azaire.”
He stepped back, leaving a foot between us. “I know you’re not. Damn it, are you trying to get pregnant?”
“Don’t you want me to? I’m your mate would it be horrible?”
We didn’t talk about this subject at length and he always wanted me to finish school first. Azaire wasn’t in a rush to have children and I guess it was the thing that was heaviest on my heart. I wanted to have a family with him. I wanted the family I didn’t have. It would be the most sacred thing in my life.
“I didn’t say that,” he mumbled.
“What are you saying? School isn’t a problem. I can get a degree any damn time.”
“Elaine, I don’t want children,” he deadpanned.
My lips parted but no words tumbled out. My limbs froze from the tissue connecting muscle and bone. He just dashed my dreams.
“Y-you never said anything like that.”
“Things have changed… A lot’s happened in a year.”
“I-I know. I lost my Dad, my brother, my title. I haven’t had a home in a long time.”
“This is your home,” he growled.
“This is your Mother’s house and I don’t even have a fork in this house.”
“Listen, children aren’t my priority right now. I don’t think we should be trying to have a baby.”
“Not your priority? So how long am I supposed to wait until you change your mind?”
“Elaine don’t do this,” he raked a hand through his hair. “It’s not that simple!”
I shook my head. I can’t believe him. “So are you going to stop having sex with me?”
His eyes nearly popped out of his head. “That’s got nothing to do with this.”
“It does!” I yelled at the top of my lungs. I’d never screamed at Azaire like that before.
He knew he hurt me but there was nothing he could do about it.
“You don’t want us to try to have a baby and obviously if we have sex the chances of putting a bun in the oven increase.”
I snatched a random pink top off the pile of clothes. I sniffled but held the tears. I wouldn’t attend a party with red puffy eyes. After I changed I grabbed my purse from my dressing table.
A knock came at our door. “Elle! Are you ready?” Fran called.
“Coming,” I mumbled a response.
Azaire grabbed my wrist before I could leave.
“Wait.”
“Don’t touch me.”
He raised his hands and stepped back.
“Where’s the party?”
“Doesn’t matter.”
“Of course, it matters I need to know where you are.”
“I can handle myself. Thank you!”
He raised his head to the ceiling and exhaled. Azaire shoved his fists in his pocket and looked me in the eyes.
“Babe please…”
“Goodnight Azaire. Don’t wait up.”
“Elaine-”
The door slammed behind me.