Witch in wolf's clothing - Namaari

Chapter 16: I Said No

My friends, lost in the music and their own revelry, don't seem to notice what's happening. They continue to dance, their laughter and carefree expressions a stark contrast to my unease.

The man's breath is hot against my neck and ear, sending shivers down my spine — definitely not the pleasant kind. He grabs my hips firmly and leans in closer, whispering, "Hey sexy, let me buy you a drink."

I start to turn, ready to give him a piece of my mind, but before I can, he's violently shoved away from me.

"Keep your hands off her," Tazzym growls, his voice low and threatening. I look at Tazzym, surprised and confused by his sudden protectiveness. He quickly regains his composure and mutters some excuse about why he pushed the guy. “Don't waste your time on an Omega.”

Then he turns to me. "Ari, shouldn't you be heading home to sleep?" he asks.

I scoff and step toward the guy Tazzym had pushed. Grabbing his hand, I say defiantly, "I can decide what I want to do for myself." I turn to the guy and ask, "Still up for that drink?"

The man smirks, his eyes flicking to Tazzym. "Alpha Tazzym, enjoy the rest of your night. I certainly will," he says, leading me through the dancing crowd toward the bar.

I glance back one more time, seeing Tazzym glaring daggers, but he remains standing amid the dancing throng. I won't be ordered around by a playboy. Besides, one drink might not be so bad.

I also caught sight of Kieko, Ebony, and Willow watching me with worry. I offered them a reassuring smile, and they responded in kind, encouraging me silently to enjoy myself. Kieko even winked, a playful reminder to let loose.

Turning my attention to the bar, I observed the man who had been dancing too closely behind me. Without hesitation, he ordered several shots, clearly intent on keeping the evening lively.

As he leaned in closer, a playful smirk on his lips, I could feel his gaze lingering, his words laced with flirtation. I grew increasingly uncomfortable with his advances but tried to maintain a polite demeanor. I decided to take a shot to ease the tension, but the alcohol burned harshly, causing me to cough awkwardly.

"Another one?" he suggested eagerly, ordering more shots without waiting for my response. Feeling pressured, I hesitated but eventually relented, hoping it would smooth over the awkwardness. As the alcohol burned down my throat, I coughed again, my lack of tolerance evident.

He chuckles, giving another round and continuing to rattle on about trivialities, showering me with compliments about my appearance. I found myself downing the shots more out of discomfort than desire, not accustomed to drinking alcohol.

After a few more rounds, I finally managed to interject, "I think I've had enough for now." The room seemed to spin slightly as I felt the effects of the alcohol creeping up on me.

"Do you want me to take you to your room so you can rest?" he suggests, his words slurring slightly. I nod weakly, grateful for the offer. He guides me gently, his hand on my lower back, leading me through the crowded party. I stumble along, trying to focus on not falling over.

Suddenly, we're outside in the parking lot, standing next to his car. Confused, I protest, "My room is around here, not in your car."

"But I'm taking you to my place," he insists. "My parents aren't home, and you'll be more comfortable there."

"No, thank you," I reply firmly, trying to pull away. But he grips my arm tightly, his tone turning more forceful. "Just get in," he demands. "I didn't go through all this trouble for nothing."

Even though I'm tipsy, my instincts kick in. I deliver a quick series of punches that catch him off guard, causing him to stagger back and fall to the ground, wincing in pain.

"I said no," I say firmly, frustration and anger boiling inside. "Why are all guys such assholes?"

I turn away, still feeling wobbly, and spot Tazzym standing nearby, looking shocked yet impressed. I give him a half-hearted wave. "Oh hey, Alpha Tazzym. Goodnight." With that, I continue toward my dorm, leaving the guy behind in the parking lot.

Tazzym’s POV

I'm lounging in the VIP area with my brothers, a girl whose name I don't even know whispering flirty nonsense in my ear. I glance around, bored, until I see Ari heading towards Willow. My eyes linger on her; she looks hot in that dress. She usually rocks her tougher outfits, but in this dress... damn. Seraphina, of course, has to make another snide remark. I still don't get what Zyméo sees in her. She's so clingy and annoying.

Eventually, Ari goes to dance. I keep an eye on her all evening, barely registering what the girl on my lap is saying. I don't know what's happening to me, why I'm so drawn to Ari, an Omega. But in the past few weeks, she's proven herself special — smart, skilled in combat, and undeniably beautiful. The whole package. It does bug me that she's had many partners, and she's right, I'm a hypocrite about that. If my brothers knew I secretly have a thing for Ari, they'd think I'm crazy.

The girls' dancing gets sexier as the night goes on, making it even harder to look away from Ari. Then I see some Delta from another pack approach her, dancing way too close. The moment he starts grinding against her, I push the girl off my lap and stride toward Ari through the crowd. My brothers shout after me, asking where I'm going, but I don't have time or a decent excuse to answer.

When I get closer, I see the guy breathing down her neck, making her visibly uncomfortable. He grabs her hips, pulling her closer, and whispers something in her ear. Ari tries to turn around, probably to tell him off, but I can’t take it anymore. I shove the guy hard, sending him stumbling away from her.

“Keep your hands off her,” I growl, glaring at him.

Ari looks at me, surprised and confused. I quickly regain my composure and mutter, “Don't waste your time on an Omega.”

Ari looks shocked and hurt, but I can't let her know the real reason I'm doing this. “Ari, shouldn't you be heading home to sleep?” I say, trying to sound indifferent.

She scoffs and walks over to the guy I just pushed. “I can decide what I want to do for myself,” she says, taking his hand. "Still up for that drink?"

The guy smirks at me, clearly enjoying this. “Alpha Tazzym, enjoy the rest of your night. I certainly will.” He leads Ari away toward the bar. I stand there, fuming, watching them go. Ari glances back once, and I see the defiance in her eyes. She's not going to let anyone, especially me, tell her what to do.

I can't believe how protective I feel over her, and it pisses me off. As if to convince myself, I mutter under my breath, “Damn Omegas.” But deep down, I know it's not about her being an Omega. There's something about Ari that I can't ignore, no matter how hard I try.

I head back to the VIP area, trying to shake off the feeling of frustration. The night isn't going the way I planned, and I can't stop thinking about Ari. Maybe I am losing my mind.

I can see them at the bar, downing shots. I try to ignore it, but my eyes keep drifting back to them. When the Delta starts guiding her outside, I think, terrific, they're about to have some fun. I force myself to act like it doesn't bother me, but the anger simmers just below the surface.

"Dammit," I mutter, getting up abruptly. "I'll be right back," I tell my brothers.

Kaynim calls out, "What's up with you tonight, man?" but I just wave him off and head out of the party hall.

Following the scent of the Delta and Ari, I end up in the parking lot. I look around, and what I see makes my blood boil. The Delta is trying to force her into his car. My vision blurs red, and I can feel the beginnings of my transformation — nails growing into claws, hair sprouting on my arms. "I will kill him," I mutter under my breath, taking a step forward.

But then I stop in my tracks as I see Ari handle herself. She delivers a series of swift, powerful blows, and the Delta ends up on the ground, writhing in pain and whimpering like a girl.

Ari mutters something about men being assholes, then turns and starts walking toward the building, still wobbly but with a determined stride. As she passes me, she barely acknowledges my presence. "Oh hey, Alpha Tazzym. Goodnight," she says airily, continuing on her way.

I stand there, flabbergasted. The rage that had been building inside me is now mixed with a grudging admiration. She handled herself better than I expected, even in her drunken state.

I turn my attention back to the Delta lying on the ground. Rage surges through me again as I stride over to him. I grab him by the collar and yank him up, forcing him to meet my eyes.

"You're lucky Ari can take care of herself," I growl, my voice low and dangerous. "If she couldn't, you'd be in a much worse state right now." I tighten my grip, making sure he feels the full force of my anger. "You don't ever touch her again. Don't come near her, don't even look at her. Got it?"

The Delta's eyes widen with fear, and he nods frantically, tears streaming down his face. "Please, I... I understand. Just let me go. I'll stay away, I swear."

I release him with a shove, and he stumbles back, nearly falling over. I watch him scramble to his feet and run off, still sniffling.

With him gone, I take a deep breath and look around. Ari is nowhere in sight. She's probably heading to her dorm. I can't help but feel a gnawing worry for her safety.

"Alright," I mutter to myself, "let's make sure she gets there safe."