Chapter 3 LAST NIGHT

***Valentina POV

"Rise and shine, sweetheart,"

Gigi suddenly opens my curtains, a sudden bright light from the morning sun pierces through, causing me to change the direction of my head away from the light, following a loud, disturbing clapping sound, as she reminds me of my father's instructions.

"Make sure you get to Clakemount on time. Remember what your father said, right?"

Aunty Gigi is my late mom's twin sister. She practically raised me, and she had her ways of tormenting me in the morning.

"Gigi, pleaseeee, I haven't even had any sleep yet."

Last night was kind of like the longest night of my life, my 18th birthday party.

This morning, I had to give my dad's opening speech at the IRISH 'International Research Institute for Societal and Historical Studies conference'at Clakemounts University.

I quickly reached for my pillow to cover my head as she continues making the disturbing sounds.

"Come on, Aunty Gigi!, I don't want to go!" screaming her name under my pillow.

Clearly not satisfied with my sleep, I roll beneath the duvet, sitting up to look at her.

"Why don't you tell him yourself?" she replies.

Ever since my mom, Luna Chloe, and my twin brother Arthur died during the explosion - a fight that happened 12 years ago between the BlueRose pack, our pack, and 'the Midnighters - the most arrogant and most notorious pack in Jacksonville'.

Gigi, though in her 40s, has been very strong, standing by me all these years.

Though we suffered the same fate of losing someone to the war; Gigi lost her husband, Delta Henry, and her twin sister, my mother Luna Chloe.

I quickly tug my bed, reluctantly crawling out of it into the bathroom.

I took a quick look at my beautiful blue eyes on the mirror.

I'm wearing a flattering red blouse that shows off my body nicely without looking too racy or inappropriate and ripped black mom jeans. I painted my lips pink and slipped on comfortable checkered Vans.

My cinnamon hair is curled by Aunty Gigi, of course, into loose beach waves, completing the casual but chic look. I don't usually like to dress up for these things, picking up my bag to leave my room for the dining.

I was always myself around her because she was open and sensitive to know when something was wrong with me. My dad expected so much from me, - always putting me up to the task of being a leader like him, despite I wasn't a male child like my twin brother Arthur.

After breakfast, Aunty Gigi and I drove together, getting to Clakemounts University's main auditorium.

I realized I couldn't remember much from last night; especially how I got home.

All I could remember was; I was blindfolded and taken to the venue in the woods by Jack Mathews, as a way of surprising me.

There were lots of candles, humans, and werewolves too. I drank a lot of crazy stuff, danced a lot, and in the heat of the party, Jack and I kissed a lot.

Jack Mathews and I started dating casually after high school.

He was my prom date, and from there, he just picked things up, though he wasn't my fated mate, which denied me feelings for him despite all this time together with him and he knows I have no feelings for him, yet he pushes things.

Despite the fact Jack was going to be very rich, taking after his father Alpha Mathews - the richest alpha over the Crescent pack and member of the founding families council, all I wanted was to have a fated mate like my parents were.

We soon arrive at the old auditorium in Clakemounts University for my IRISH conference opening speech.

Gigi gives me a hug in the car; I quickly climb the stairs, making my way to the entrance.

I noticed several students and lecturers in small groups interacting.

As I came close, I recognize some of the boys from last night.

Immediately they saw me coming, their eyes lit up, and they pointed fingers towards my direction.

Something wasn't right because they quickly sorted and looked at their phone screens making exciting references.

I wasn't sure I was the one they referred to; I quickly looked behind me, which made some of them laugh out.

I was already feeling uncomfortable, so I just place my head down, trying to figure out why.

Looking up ahead, I spotted Prof. Kennedy, my dad's best friend and head of the IRISH.

He was so honoured to have my dad give an opening orientation speech at the IRISH conference, but my dad has been on a business trip in England for two weeks now.

He was returning tomorrow for the Pre-full moon ritual festival for young wolves like me, who just turned 18 and could have their first shift any time soon.

So I was to represent him, usually since I was 15.

Prof. Kennedy stared at me with a bit of rage; he usually smiles at me.

"Hi. Prof Kennedy, sorry am late," speaking softly, though faces at the students kept making obvious jest at me.

"You shouldn't have shown up after. ....... or you really expected me to give you that speech?" he replied as he kept his hand in the pocket of his pants.

"Am so sorry, I didn't think it would start this early."

"You turned 18; it doesn't give you the right to run your life as you please," speaking quickly, "Valentina, not after all your family has been through, you should know this better than anyone" he continues.

Prof. Kennedy never calls me 'Valentina'; he usually calls me 'my princess," like my Dad and Aunty Gigi did.

"Run my life?" I repeated what he said; I don't understand his reaction to my lateness. " I missed the opening speech; I'm so sorry sir"

"Valentina stop that; I am not talking about the speech, don't act like you don't know what am talking about" he paused and took his hands from his pocket and then continued.

"Like I said, you shouldn't have showed your face after what you pulled!" he frowns, making me realize we were not on the same page.

"I don't understand...." replying quietly.

"Am no fool Valentina, and everything gets to the internet these days; I believe your father must have seen what his daughter does when he is not in the country." as he kept going, some of the students were regrouping towards us.

I believed he soon notices the innocence and surprises now appearing on my face, because I knew nothing of what he spoke of.

He suddenly turned around to the students. "Do you have it!? The videos! Who has the video!?".

He screamed and stretched out his arms, continuously requesting a video. Soon, one of the students handed her cell phone.