Chapter 4 IV

Elly

I was talking to Kain when I suddenly heard a strange noise in the forest, and before I realized it, I was already running. And I didn't stop until I got home.

I close the door behind me, and I sigh. I wish I weren't this scared of everything. Sometimes I get tired of being scared. I lock the door and go to my room. I change my wet clothes, and it is only then that I realize that I still have Kain's t-shirt on. I bury my nose in it. I really like Kain's smell, rain, and forest. I put it on my bed.

When I get out of the shower, I go to the kitchen. I still have chocolate cake from yesterday. I put some cake on a plate. I sigh. I want someone to look at me the same way I look at chocolate cake.

At eighteen years old, no one ever told me that he liked me. I never had a boyfriend, never hold hands with someone. I am not even talking about kissing. I start eating the cake and check my phone. Fortunately, I left it home on the kitchen counter, and I didn't have it with me when I fell in the water.

And then I remember how Kain lifted me in his arms. And how he looked at me like he was worried about me. I had seen more emotions in Kain's eyes at that moment than I had seen in Victor's eyes when he rejected me.

Great, now I am thinking of Victor again. Just forget about it, Elly. Maybe I will have a second mate, and things will be better. Perhaps I will not be rejected when I find a second mate.

I see that my brother called me five times. I call him back. He picks up immediately.

"Elly! I was worried about you. Where were you?"

"In the forest. How is the party?" I ask, hoping that Dan will have a chance to find his mate at this party. He deserves to be happy.

"I am not invited. It is only for Betas and Alphas."

"But you are a Gamma, a warrior," I point out. "What if your mate is at this party?"

"Don't worry, Elly. I will find her. Talking about mates, did you find yours?"

I haven't told Dan anything about Victor. I know that he will get mad at Victor for rejecting me, and I am not ready to deal with all the drama.

"No, not yet. Hey, I have a question for you. Do you remember the summer when I turned eight years old?" I ask, trying to find out if Kain lied to me.

"Yeah. Why? Do you remember something?" I can hear Dan getting excited.

"Maybe. Did we spend that summer in Barcelona?" I ask.

"Yes! Elly, you remember! This is so exciting! What else do you remember?"

Now is my chance to ask about Kain.

"A young vampire named Kain," I say.

Dan grunts and falls silent for a few moments.

"Kain. I forgot all about him until you mentioned him."

He doesn't seem excited about Kain. I wonder why.

"You didn't like him?" I ask him.

"Well, he was always tagging along after you, like a lost puppy. Besides, he is a vampire, and I am not a fan of vampires. And you know we can't talk with vampires because they are all liars and evil."

I thought that Kain did something wrong, but Dan didn't like Kain because he is a vampire.

"Elly, I have to go. Alpha Jake is calling for me. Bye!"

"Bye!" I say and hang up.

I eat cake while I think of Kain. How come he is so close to the pack? Vampires are not usually trespassing werewolves' territories unless they want to fight.

If I go tomorrow into the forest, will I see Kain again? Because I would like to see him again.

I go to my bedroom and put on music and dance. And I remember what Dan said, that all vampires are liars and evil. But something tells me that Kain is not like that.

Victor

"I heard that your sister turned eighteen yesterday," I hear Jake tell Dan.

We are in the car going to the Palace to assist to that party.

Elly turned eighteen yesterday, and I rejected her on her birthday? Goddess! I am such a jerk. But I can't turn back time, I already rejected her. Now I have to concentrate on finding my second mate and hope for the best.

"Yes," Dan responds.

"Did she find her mate yet?" Jake asks.

"No, I don't think so. She hasn't said anything to me," Dan says.

No wonder she hasn't talked about what happened yesterday. I don't think she will ever mention it to her brother.

A little later, we arrive at the Palace.

"We better get to the party. We are already late," Jake tells me while he drags me after him.

We get inside the Palace, and a young Omega leads us to where the party is taking place – The Royal Club. The music is loud, and I see a lot of young werewolves dancing and talking.

"I will go look for Amelia. She came here earlier. You better find that mate of yours," Jake tells me and disappears in the crowd.

Amelia is his mate. He found her when he was twenty, and she turned eighteen. Love at first sight. And seven years they are still pretty much in love.

But I am not a romantic type. I am not interested in love. If my mate is strong, I don't see why I need love.

As I walk through the crowd, I catch the scent of orchids. This means that my second mate is close. I follow the scent until I am standing in front of a tall, blond girl.

"Mate," I tell her, and she smiles at me with red lips.

"Mate," she responds.

"I am Victor. Do you want to dance?"

"I am Daisy. I would love to dance," she says.