Chapter 5 REMEMBER TO LIE

Chapter Five

Two days later, I watch Alicia as she combs her hair. I swear, this girl has a penchant for combs, and mirrors. . . and her hair.

"So....." she drops her comb and turns to look at me with a coy smile on her face. "I know how to get Alvin off your back."

I cock a brow. "How?"

Her smile widens. "You lie." Easy peasy."

This girl doesn't seem like the brightest bulb around. What on earth does she mean by you lie? But I keep quiet and remain patient.

She lets out a laugh at my doubtful look. "Tell your father you'll agree to mate with Aurthur." Seeing my eyes widen, she holds up her hands. "It's just for a while so you can move around freely without Alvin breathing down your neck."

I close my eyes and give it a thought. On one hand, it makes sense, but then again, it doesn't. I open my eyes. "What happens when the time comes for me to get bundled off to him? What then?"

"I'll think of something before then," She says with determination in her eyes. "You still have some time before then."

I sigh and shake my head. "When I become twenty one."

"Three years, Layla, a lot can happen in a few seconds. Just do it, I'm telling you. And thank me later."

I release a sigh and stand up from her bed. Everywhere I turn, I'm assaulted with the colour pink. Her dresser, bed frame, even her sheets are pink, for crying out loud. Looks like a Princess barfed all over the room.

"Will you be down for going to a party tommorow night?"

I didn't know when she sneaked up on me. I'm either getting soft, or I'm really up in my thoughts. "Er. . . what party?"

Her voice takes up an excited tone. "You get to dress up in your best super hero costume. Won't that be soo much fun?"

For an eight year old, maybe.

I shake my head, ready to shoot it down. "I don't think-"

"Oh, come on, we're already friends now, and what better way to commemorate it than to go out and have fun." She cuts me a sly look. "Plus those costumes are going to be sexy."

I don't see how that's possible, but. . .why not? Last time I went for a party was five years ago and it was held in our backyard. Alexander just turned eighteen, and dad couldn't be more proud. He threw a loud party the likes the pack has never seen before. Different packs far and wide attended. I'd never seen so many people milling around all at once.

". . . big jacuzzi, and. . ." Alicia's excited voice keeps droning in and out of my consciousness.

When I turned eighteen, father didn't even know it was my birthday. If not that Alexander took me out, it would have been like any other day. Father has never liked me. Never shown an interest in me the way he does, Alexander. Infact, this latest move of his blatantly shows how much he despises me.

As my memories take a darker path, my feet unconsciously take me to different corners of Alicia's room. My hands finger a painting on the wall, a few pictures of boy bands, and finally my feet stop in front of her dressing table.

I'm not a girly girl. I don't believe in cosmetics, never used make up on my face because I don't see the need for it. Looking down at the various assorted cosmetics and perfumes lined up on Alicia's table, I'm about to make a comment when I catch sight of her phone.

Now, I'm not usually a nosy person but when curiously comes calling, you need to scratch that itch and get it over and done with. I sneak a peak at Alicia who is standing near her window admiring her pink frilly curtains and talking non stop about the upcoming party.

I press the side button on her phone and my bottom lip drops open. My body immediately goes into freeze mode. I'm Transfixed. I can't move even if I wanted to.

Roman stares back at me with stormy grey eyes that I've not gotten over ever since I laid eyes on them. The intensity in his eyes is bothersome. The good kind of bothersome. I close my eyes and I'm transported back to when I first saw him.

What's your name?

His syrupy voice washes over me like water cascading down a waterfall. A shiver slithers down my spine. Why does he have so much effect on me?

"Isn't he just so dreamy?"

Alicia's voice breaks the trance I'm in and anchors me firmly back to the present. Anger sizzles through me and without thinking, I lash out. "What the hell, Alicia?"

She doesn't seem bothered by my harsh words. Her breath is like a damn furnace as it fans my neck. "Isn't he just otherworldly?"

The swoon in her words has got me moving my hand from her phone and turning fully to look at her. "How did you get his picture?"

Her face has gotten all swooney with an expression of awe stamped all over it. I hope to the goddess I didn't look like that a few seconds ago. Reluctantly, she snaps out of her daze and smiles coyly. "Oh, you know. . . " she lets out a shrug.

No, I don't know, bitch. Enlighten me.

"I've got a secret to tell you." She sing songs as she moves back, titling her head to the side and placing a hand on her hip as she assesses me.

I notice she does that a lot. That. . . infernal pose she thinks is sexy. Unfortunately, it makes her neck look misaligned with her body. Am I gonna tell her? No.

"But you can't tell anyone. Promise me." Her eyes have gotten that fierce determination in them.

I roll my eyes. "Have you seen me? I'm not very friendly."

That seems to do the trick and she nods before turning away. I don't realize I'm following her toe to heel until she stops and almost go smack into her back. I catch myself just in time.

"He's a rogue werewolf." She says this with a flourish as she turns round to look at me. At my shocked look, she puts her hands up in a pleading gesture. "You can't tell anyone. Promise me you won't tell anyone." She suddenly looks around as if a large pair of flapping ears would magically appear in the air.

I'm so angry that I can't speak. This seems to do the trick for her because she continues speaking. "You should see them. They're a bunch of hot rogue-werewolves who live deep in the woods."

"Cavorting with the enemy now, I see," Is the only thing I'm able to say. I'm fucking jealous. Heck, I don't know Stormy grey eyes, but seeing his picture on Alicia's phone has got me feeling envious as hell.

She smiles coyly. "Alright, he didn't give it to me. I kind of stole his picture."

My breath gets knocked out. For her to do that, she had to have gotten close to him. I'm about a second away from demanding she tells me everything when a knock sounds on her door.

"Layla." I roll my eyes on hearing Alvin's voice. "We have to go now. Your father requests your presence."

I feel like throwing a bitch fit. The biggest one yet, but I swallow down my angst.

"Don't worry." Alicia leans towards me conspiratorially. "Just remember to lie."