Abbie (days later)
I couldn't sleep. It's been over eight days since Luke and Felicity asked me to go with them to this so-called party. And since then, they have been asking me every day... to change my mind.
Damn, Hunter... why the heck did he have to come back into my life like this? Why is everyone mentioning him to me so suddenly? It had been days, months... since I hadn't thought of him. Why? Why now, when I finally wanted to start moving on from the damn crush I had on him and look for someone to date? I am done waiting to find my mate and my absurd thoughts that he could be my mate.
I'm going to do it the human way and just go out there and choose a mate. That's it, that's what I have to do. Because at this rate, I will be single forever. It would be for the best.
Besides, I bet Hunter has already found his mate. And I bet anything that him being a manwhore because of all the rumor... I bet he rejected her. So why can't I get him off my head? Goddess, this is ridiculous!
I sat up in bed, reading a book trying to keep him off my mind.
"Hey, hey!" Marissa says as she sits down next to me on my bed, dipping the mattress. I looked at her over my book, making her chuckle as she saw my irritated look. It was late, very late and I had a long unsuccessful day trying to find a job. The only thing I wanted was to relax, read my book, and go to sleep. So I can wake up super early and do the same thing tomorrow.
"Oh, come on. You can't be mad at the world forever, can you? We're just trying to get you out of these four walls. You've been doing nothing but apply, apply, apply, and go through one interview after another. You need to get a rest and go out... have some fun!" she says, turning and placing her hands and head over my feet. "Easy for you to say... YOU have a job, don't you? I need to get my shit paid, Marissa. My phone is due in a few days, and my tuition is overdue."
I roll my eyes, placing my book on my lap. "And No. I am not changing my mind, Marissa. I already told you I do not want to see Hunter, I do not want to see Armand, and I especially do not want to see Tara. I don't want to see anyone from those two packs for that matter. What part of that do you guys not understand?" I said irritatingly, making her roll her eyes, grunting in annoyance.
"Goddess, you are a lost cause," she says, turning on her back. She lays for a few seconds, then turns, slapping my leg playfully.
"Ok, listen.... What if... I told you, that besides missing the opportunity to meet the rogue King if you don't go... you will miss the chance of meeting your new little sister back home?" she says, making my heart skip a beat. My eyes widened, and I suddenly got scared.
I know how Armand is. He's cruel and cold. If my stepmom gave birth to a new baby, it wouldn't be long before he mistreated this new baby too. I doubt he will suddenly become a loving father to this baby. The only one he has ever adored is Tara, no one else. Tara wasn't even her daughter either. He had her with his dated mate before she left him because he's such a narcissist. My stepmom is his second chance mate, but if you ask me, she was better off never finding him.
What if he is still mistreating my stepmom? I've thought of her now and then. She wasn't motherly loving to me, but she was still the nicest person I had met back in my old pack.
What am I going to do now? I bit the side of my lip. Could it be true? Or is Marissa pulling my leg to make me go? I grunted, rolling my eyes as I covered my face with my book. Marissa chuckled, and Merida pranced, howling happily in my head. "You're unbelievable, Merida. You know this is a bad idea, right? She could be lying to us for all you know?" I said, making Merida chuckle.
"Who gives a rat's ass, girl! Do you not wonder how the pack has changed? I want to meet our new little sister! And the way she has described Hunter, Ooh, mama. I want to see his sexy butt." I rolled my eyes at her reaction. Being a twenty-year-old virgin is getting the best of her.
I sometimes think she would have given it up to the first dude she saw if it was up to her. "No no. I wouldn't. But can you blame a girl? I want to find our mate already! What if it is him, Abbie? What if it's another guy there at the party?" Merida adds, making me grunt.
"I don't care, Merida. First, we need to get our damn situation taken care of. We are behind on our school payment. And if you haven't forgotten, we are out of a job thanks to dumb Andrea. We need to get a job first." I said, making her growl.
"Sorry, Marissa, but whether I have a new sister or not, she is not my responsibility. I don't care what Armand or my stepmom is up to. They have their precious Tara, remember? I am pretty sure she is more than capable of taking care of them." I said, making Marissa look at me disappointed. Merida growled, making me growl back. "No! I said NO, Merida. And that is final."
✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨
I slammed my bag inside the trunk of the truck, clenching my jaw as I saw Marissa smiling from ear to ear. "I'm confused," she says, tapping her chin with her index.
"Didn't you swear by the gods that you'd never go back? That you wouldn't go to this party?" She jokes, earning a slap on her arm from my mom. She chuckles, rubbing her arm as if it had really hurt.
"You know, I can always change my mind. I have no intentions of going back. EVER!"
"NO!" Everyone says in unison, making me jump in place as I get startled.
"Marissa, don't tempt the girl. It took lots of buttering her up and getting her to agree to go, so, shush!" Felicity says playfully, placing her finger over her lips.
"Ok, ok. I'm just saying." She says through laughter.
"I would not be surprised if she finds her mate at this party and doesn't come back with us guys," Marissa adds, making me roll my eyes.
Felicity and Luke look at each other a bit suspiciously, making me ponder... were these two up to something I didn't know? They have been acting very suspiciously. They had never been this adamant about me going to a party or an event with them as this time. Goddess, I hope I don't regret going to this damn party.
They had won. After many... many days of ranting and begging, I caved in. Not because I wanted to, but because I was tired of them nagging me day and night to go.
Everyone, and I mean everyone, including my dad, kept on telling me how this might be a good time to do some healing.
Healing from what? From the torture and mistreatment that pack gave me?
I was perfectly fine. So, my pack was indifferent to me when I was there? So what? My dad didn't want me, my sister hated me, and as far as I know, dear daddy had sent out murdering rogues to finish me off! What did I need to miss from there?
The only thing that ached at me, was the news Marissa gave me... did I really have a new little sister? And if so, I pray to our goddess that she is safe. And even if I do have a new little sister, what can I do about it?
I closed my eyes and sighed. Took one big breath and exhaled softly, then another, and another.
The trunk slams shut, "OK. We are set. Alpha, are you sure you don't want us tagging along?" Luke's gamma, Leo asked, making Luke smile.
"We'll be just fine. I need one of us to stay behind and look after the pack. I will call you guys if anything, ok?" He says, patting his shoulder.
"Abbie, can I ride next to you?" My little sister, Jessie asks, looking up at me as she holds her book, her favorite bear, and a pillow. I couldn't help but smile as I leaned down and hugged her, kissing her on her cheek.
"Yes, baby. You can ride with me. Come on, let's get you comfy." I say as I open the door to the SUV and help her up.
We were leaving a day before the party. Apparently, Your Highness Mr. Black had asked him to come a day before for goddess knows what.
Why in the world is he so damn interested in our pack all of a sudden? It's insane. I was perfectly fine with our small pack being unknown and invisible. Goddess... why do I feel like I am going to regret this?