Kayla
A cold sweat formed at the back of my neck as I discreetly scanned my eyes around, and then my gaze shifted to a smiling strange silver-haired woman. I kept my mouth shut and muffled my rage. I even had to mask the agony that washed over me at the pitiful stares that the pack members hurled at me. I swallowed hard, my throat now feeling so dry as I kept a straight face ignoring the hushed voices.
“I heard there is an ongoing war at the South Pack. I believe the elder wolves and Alpha Asher are making plans on how to stop it. So his reason for not coming is justified.” Davies chipped in.
He winked at me and I couldn’t help but smile at him and made a mental note to thank him later.
“Sister, why don’t we get inside, and have some girl’s time alone? Most of the ritual has already been completed and all that remains is just the sousta dance, which the people are waiting for Lucas and Celia to perform.”
I nodded and followed her inside the pack house, immediately we got inside one of the chambers I was bombarded with questions all at once.
“Does he care and treat you right?” Celia asked, and took my hand in her slender warm palms.
I tried to keep a straight face. I didn’t want them to worry about what I was going through. Maria was pregnant and I didn’t want her stressing over me.
“Of course, he takes very good care of me and he’s also very protective,” I said
“Are you happy?” Maria asked
I felt a shiver crawl down my spine. The room, once filled with warmth and camaraderie had now become suffocating with uncertainty.
My heart raced as I stared blankly at her. Her expression was dead serious, but I couldn’t bring myself to answer her question. How could I possibly be happy when Asher still clung to his past and kept pushing me away?
“Why are you guys asking all these questions?” I asked. “Today is a special day for Celia and the spotlight should be on her. She should be the one giving us all the sweet girly gist, and not me.”
They gave each other a knowing look but did as I said.
“How about we touch up your dressing a bit, to suit the occasion,” Maria implied
Immediately, Celia pulled out a beautiful red dress, with a long slit to the side and a cutout V shape at the top of it. They helped me dress up and I sat before a beautifully crafted vanity mirror. Their skilled hands moved with grace, tending to every detail of my hair and face.
As their nimble fingers worked, their voices were soft, like a soothing melody. I closed my eyes, allowing myself to savor the experience of being pampered.
“All done sister, you are looking so elegantly beautiful,” They patted my shoulder and gave me a sideways hug.
I bit my lower, opened my eyes, and stared at my reflection in the mirror in front of me. I was surprised at how flawless and beautiful I looked.
“You look stunning, Kayla. Asher would have been speechless if he had been here to see you. I bet he wouldn’t be able to keep his hands away from you.” Maria said as she caught my eye in the mirror.
A nervous smile played on my lips as I whispered. “You both should consider doing hair and makeup for a living” They both chuckled and pulled me out of the chamber. I watched as Maria and Celia exchanged a knowing glance. Their gazes flitted back to me and each other again.
I saw that and asked, “What is going on?”
Maria looked at Celia and asked, “Are you going to tell her about our decision?”
“What decision?” I asked
My question hung in the air like a storm cloud, casting a palpable tension and the weight of their unspoken words lingering around.
Celia, her expression torn between sympathy and responsibility, finally broke the silence. “Here is the deal sister, since Asher isn’t here. We have decided to pair you up with a male dance partner.” Celia said,
I shook my head. “No, I am not interested. I will just watch you guys and then have a drink or two.”
“But we have decided to…”
She began but I shushed her. Holding her hands, I squeezed them and spoke, “Tonight is all about you Celia, please stop worrying about me. I will be fine.”
They weren’t happy with my decision but the moment we came out of the pack house, they were distracted by their mates. I felt an ache in my chest as I watched my sisters with their husbands. They both seemed so happy and I couldn’t help but wish to be as lucky as both of them.
Also, the way Marco was staring at Maria like he couldn’t seem to get enough of her. I watched as he leaned down and gave her baby bump a kiss before reaching up and gazing lovingly into her eyes.
Celia and Lucas were no different. They were acting like high school lovers and couldn’t keep their hands off each other. Even with the crowd of people around, both of them were locked in each other’s arms and kissing passionately.
“I bet you don’t know the kind of torture, I have to deal with on a daily basis,” Davies said, with a shake of his head.
“Don’t be jealous brother, the universe will soon bless you with your own mate, and you will be no different than your sisters.” I teased.
“The universe should be fast about that, I can’t keep up with this torture.”
“How about you two join the Sousta dance with everyone instead of sulking like drenched misery pups?” Maria interrupted.
Davies laughed and took my hands in his. “If we don’t, believe me, they would find strangers for us to pair with. So will you have this dance with me?”
I had to agree with him. At least this could help me forget about Asher at the moment.