In Over Her Head

Chapter Five: The First Kiss

"Oh my gosh! I can't believe you are going to be staying here for a while! I am so excited!" 

    Karissa grinned at her best friend as she jumped up and down. Brittany was a plump 19 year old who's family had been serving the Matthews family for generations. Being at the bottom of the pack was where her family had always been, so cleaning was all Brittany ever knew. Karissa loved spending time with her. She was the most bubbliest girl she had ever met and sadly, was her only true friend. They had met on her first day here when she got lost in the halls and instantly clicked. Now they were joined at the hip and you could never find one without the other. For a while, Brittany started getting bullied alongside Karissa. After a really bad session, Karissa broke down crying in front of her and explained how terrible she felt about it. 

    "Girl, it doesn't bother me one bit about the crap they do or say to me. I'm not about to sit here and bare witness of the s*** they do to you. Not even the lowest of the low deserves that. And I have to say that I'm down there." 

     Brittany grabbed her hand and led her down the hallway to a bedroom door. "This is my bedroom and you can stay here with me!" she exclaimed. Opening the door revealed a small room that contained nothing but a nightstand and two beds in each corner. One of the beds was left bare and the other one was coated with a lavender comforter and a lacey pillow. The floor was covered in books and clothes and Karissa couldn't help but shake her head. Brittany smirked and shrugged her shoulders.

     "Hey, I wasn't expecting guests and besides! If they don't like it, they can always hire a maid."

    They started laughing together and while Karissa started unpacking her bag, Brittany began to clean up her side of the room. Karissa asked how Brittany had been doing since it had been a while since they had seen each other. Brittany had gone on vacation to see her parents in a pack quite a distance away. She began to tell her about her family and the new addition to it. Her parents just recently had a pup and even though there was a huge age gap between her and her new sibiling, she was happy that her parents we happy. Once it got to how Karissa was doing, she just dished up the same old story that nothing had changed. 

    "Well, I don't know about you but I am looking forward to this party! Not only are people from other packs going to be here, but I am hoping that we find our mates! Not to mention someone gains her wolf soon! Oh c'mon, you forgot?"

    Karissa raised her eyebrows as Brittany put her hands on her hips. She sat on the bed and began to wrack her brain as to what Brittany was talking about.

" Girl, the party will be going past 12 in the morning! It'll be your birthday and you gain your wolf and might possibly find your mate! How in the world have you forgotten?"

" I knew it was soon, I just forgot what day it was! No one has celebrated my birthday so its just one of those days that i lose track off." Not wanting to make eye contact, Karissa started picking at the sheets that she put on the bed. It was pretty sad but since as long as she could remember, she had spent her birthdays alone. Marissa was always left to hand with her friends. Now that she realized her birthday was tomorrow however, it meant that she no longer had to be tied to this pack and could finally be free. She looked up and saw that Brittany had a tear running down her cheek. 

     "You're still planning on leaving, aren't you?"

    "I will miss you, you know that. But this pack has never excepted me and you know as well as I do that I can't stay here. I'm never going to be happy here. My sister blames me for my parents death, I have a guy that's literally tried to r*** me. And I have Mallory and Grayson who literally makes it their life goal to make my life a living hell. I got beat yesterday for lord knows what and I know Mallory is planning on doing something just by what Grayson did tonight. Once she whines to him, I'm in for another beating like last time." 

    It had been in the late afternoon and Karissa was enjoying one of her favorite books when she got pulled from the back of her head by her hair. The pain was sudden and it brought tears to her eyes as she was dragged across the ground. As soon as they let go of her hair, she looked up and saw Grayson towering over her with Mallory clinging to his arm. His eyes were full of anger and she threw her hands up to try to protect herself. He grabbed one of her arms and dislocated it. Another time, she had accidentally spilled something on Mallory's clothing in the laundry room and she was thrown against a wall. The force caused her to break a rib and it knocked the wind out of her.  She could only imagine how big her file was at the pack doctor's office. He had seen her so much that he eventually stopped asking questions and she started running out of stories. 

    "It's okay hun. I completely understand why you are leaving. Just make sure you write to me while you are gone, okay?"

    Knowing that their work was cut out for them tomorrow, they decided to go ahead and get prepared for bed. Karissa rolled over and faced the wall and closed her eyes. Not too much longer now, she thought as she drifted off to sleep. 

Grayson's Pov:                                                        

    "Excuse me, but what the f*** was that?!"

    Grayson brought his hands up to his head and began to massage his temples. A headache had begun to form and he wasn't sure if it was from Mallory herself or the amount of Scotch he was drinking. But he was feeling the buzz and that's all that mattered. As soon as Karissa walked out of sight she had immediately jumped on his case about why he showed up to the pack house with Karissa, let alone why he was holding her hand. The ride from her house drove him nuts. He couldn't believe that all this time she had been living in that beat up looking house. He was expecting her to open the door when he knocked but was slightly disappointed seeing Marissa there instead. He had let himself in without giving her so much of a glance and explained that they needed to pack. He watched as she darted up stairs and listened as she started bickering with her sister before dashing into what he presumed her room. As he waited, he couldn't help but make his way up to Karissa's room. The smell was intoxicating and he closed his eyes as he bathed in it. He opened the door and observed her room. It was a lot more girly than he had expected. Her bed was covered in a coral lacey comforter and there were lights streamed all over the room. There was a desk in the corner that was covered with a laptop and some makeup. Books scattered the floor and he couldn't help but smile to himself and he walked over to her bed and picked up one of her pillows. He picked it up and without realizing it, burried his face in it as he drunk in her scent. Nicoli pratically danced circles in his head and let out a howl of approval. 

    He placed the pillow down and walked over to her bathroom just in time for her to smack into him. He had to force himself not to reach out and catch her as she banged her leg into the corner of the sink. 

    " You really ought to pay more attention to your surroundings."

    Grayson inwardly winced at himself as he leaned against the door frame.That had come out a lot more harsher than he intended. Karissa had put on a white tank top that showed off her breasts and she was wearing blue jean cut off shorts that hugged her hips and showed off her legs. He could feel his pants grow tighter and it took everything he had to not to pick Karissa up and press himself into her. 

    I think that's a great idea. 

    You would, you horny a** mutt. We can't do anything. She doesn't know, okay?

    His eyes zeroed in on Karissa as her face turned red. He wasn't sure if she was blushing because of him, or something else entirely but it was cute nonetheless. Thinking about how close the rogues were to her made him annoyed. Richard had called back to him to inform him that a few of his guards had been seriously injured and one was killed. For weeks now, they had been taunting them with notes and flowers. None of the other neighboring packs were experiencing any time of rogues or notes and it made Grayson wonder who it could be and what they wanted. He could only assume it was due to how powerful their pack had grown in the last few years. The notes had contained pictures of different she wolves in his pack. Stating that whoever the sender was referred himself as King was looking for his future Queen and no matter what was going to happen, he was going to take her very soon. It wasn't long before a few she wolves were reporting that things were going missing. Books, ribbons, dresses you name it. Grayson's parents were at a loss as to what they should do. There was no scent attached to any of the letters and no one has even heard of someone referring to themselves as King. 

    Hey, the cars that you requested are outside. The whole pack has started to gather in the hall. 

    On my way. 

    Grayson cut the mindlink with Richard and looked down at Karissa. "I know your sister gave you a brief explanation on what is fixing to occur but if you wouldn't mind hurrying it up a bit please? We need to get back before dark. I'm calling a pack meeting and there's no telling how long it will be."

    And with that Grayson spun on his heel and headed out of her room. He waited outside until Karissa came out with a bag. She started to head towards the other car when he put her in the car. As he closed her door, he couldn't help but chuckle to himself about how flustered he makes her. She pratically clinged to him as he carried her, obviously never been used to being picked up. The drive was going to be very distracting with her sitting beside him, but he couldn't bare being trapped in the car with Marissa. She had put on a tight mini skirt with a white top that didn't cover a thing. Not to mention the crap ton of makeup that was plastered on her face. As he was driving, he would glance over at Karissa from the corner of his eyes. There was practically no life left in her eyes and she looked miserable. Her brown pixie cut was chopped all over and the emerald eyes didn't light up the way they used to. They all had done a number on her. It wasn't until he noticed a single tear trailing down her cheek did he finally decide to speak up.

    "Hey, are you alright over there?"

    "Hmm?" Karissa looked at him and paused for a few minutes before she finally answered him. "Yeah, I'm okay."

    Grayson wanted to probe deeper but they had arrived at the pack house. Pulling up to the front, Grayson cut the engine and went around to open her door. Once out of the car, he grabbed her hand and didn't let go of it until they were inside the town hall and in front of the whole crowd. He could feel everyone's eyes on them as he made his way through the crowd. The women all scoffed and sneered at Karissa but he would send them private mind links to stand down. His parents had finally made their prescence known and began the short speech. What he wasn't expecting was to hear that they moved his birthday celebration to tomorrow. Looking across the room, he spotted Karissa standing amongst the other servants and maids. Her birthday was tomorrow and she would be turning 18. She would then know that he was her mate and she would gain her wolf. For the past few years he had dreamed of this moment, but now it was almost coming true and he couldn't wait until tomorrow. 

    But now he was sitting in the library listening to a screeching Mallory. He had begun drinking as soon as everyone left. Grayson knew it was going to be hard being in the same house as Karissa. Especially if she was going to realize tomorrow at midnight the truth. 

    "Excuse me! I am talking to you!" Mallory snapped her manicured fingers in front of his face. He grabbed the remainder of the scotch bottle and finished it off. It had been full when he first started. Mallory was wearing her short off the shoulder red dress that clung to her body like a second skin. Her dress was so short that her ass pratically fell out of it and he scowled at her. She was smoking hot and it was no wonder why she wanted to be with him. She loved to flaunt the fact that she was with an Alpha. Shaking his head, Grayson stood up to leave, but Mallory came over to where he was sitting and pratically threw herself into his lap. She tried kissing him, but Grayson threw her off of him and left for his chambers. He didn't even bother looking back. 

Karissa's Pov: 

    Karissa walked around the town hall one last time making sure that each of the tables were set to the Luna's liking. She was a perfectionist and if one simple thing was off, the whole servants quarters would be punished. Each table was drapped in a creme table cloth and the finest silverware were set out on each table. The centerpieces consisted of roses from the garden and Karissa was going around spritzing them with water when a loud clatter came from the kitchen. 

    She looked over to see some of the chefs coming out coughing and she shook her head. They all had been setting everything up since eight o'clock that morning. It was five o'clock in the afternoon when Brittany came and found Karissa in the room.  Karissa had laid out some gray dresspants and a black top when she was grabbed by the wrist. 

    "GIRL. What the hell am I looking at?"

    "Um...its my outfit for tonight."

    Brittany looked at Karissa as if she had been told that there was absolutely no chocolate left in the world and that the last piece was eaten by Karissa herself. "Oh no! There is no way I am going to be seen with you wearing that! Jeez, you will never find your mate looking like a mother from the early 90's." She walked over to her closet and dug out a short backless silver dress and tossed it to Karissa. 

    "I bought this years ago but as you can see, I'm to big to wear it. I want you to have it tonight and like me, we need to enjoy ourselves! Let's hope we find out mates!"

    Karissa frowned as her friend made her way into the bathroom to start getting ready for the party. They were unsure who all was coming due to the rogue attacks but Karissa was looking forward to this being the best night of her life. She walked into the opposite bathroom and hopped into the shower. She lathered her skin and sighed as the hot water steamed against her. She got out and patted herself dry before making her way out of the bathroom. Looking around, she noticed that Brittany must of  already dipped off and so she picked up the dress and began to slide into it. She was surprised that she managed to fit it but as she walked over to the mirror, she noticed just how revealing it was. The dress was backless and had nothing but a string hanging down. Her ass was technically hanging out of it but she was going to have to remind herself that if she dropped anything this evening that it was going to be a loss cause. She spun around and smiled at herself. It had been a really long time since she had worn anything nice like this. 

    Brittany had left some silver flats by her bed and a bag of makeup and a note that told her how much she loved her and that if she didn't see her before she had officially left the pack, that she hoped Karissa had an amazing 18th birthday.

    By the time Karissa made her way into the hall, the place was crowded with people. Colors and lights were flashing everywhere and there was many people she didn't recognize. She walked and grabbed a drink and then she took sips of it as she shimmed herself to the nearest corner so she could observe the people. The Alpha and Luna were greating other pack leaders in the front right corner. Grayson was standing beside his mother and was burning holes into her by how hard he was glaring. Seems like he wasn't the only one seething because Mallory herself showed up in a all too revealing purple dress. She clung to Grayson's arm as she turned to talk to the other girls that were surrounding her. Across the way she managed to see her sister making out with Richard in a corner. The party wasn't even an hour in and they were already about to strip naked and lay it all out here. She was releaved to see them head towards the door that leads to staircase. There was the pack doctor and his wife, a few of our servants and many of the other pack members were taking to the dance floor. It seemed like three of the surrounding packs managed to make it to the party. She was so focused on studing the people that she didn't feel the hand slide up her back. 

    "Well what's a pretty little think like yourself standing all by your lonesome?"

    She felt a shiver go up her spine as his fingers grazed her skin. The man standing behind her oozed of the aura of an Alpha and the tone he took caused her to bare her neck. She was just about to remove his hand when she heard a loud growl and was lifted up over someone's shoulder and carried out into the gardens. It wasn't until they were hidden behind a wall did he set her down. She tried to make out whoever it was that had carried her out here but the moon was obscurred tonight by clouds and it made it difficult to see. Karissa started feeling warmn and fuzzy and it dawned on her that someone had spiked the drinks. The world started to spin around her and she felt her knees buckling and she almost toppled over when she felt a big pair of  hands catch her by her waist and propped her against the wall. The heat that radiated from his hands felt nice and not caring who it was, she started to lean into them. The smell of alcohol was strong on his breath. She felt one of the hands move under her chin to bring her to look up and as she did, she felt a pair of warm lips press against hers.