Regrets in Love

Chapter Two - Birthday Bash

When getting ready for a party, I'm always nervous. Rhea came over earlier in the day and helped me with my makeup and then we had our hair done. Her hair was super short so all she had to do was makeup and a little mousse. We chatted and giggle as we waited until the last moment to put on our dresses. My mom took pictures and dad told us not to get into any trouble. Of course, that's all he cares about. My parents would probably drop in for a short time but mostly the party was for the younger generation to have a good time and celebrate.

Normally we would walk to the pack house as it was only a few streets away and it had a huge ball room. Tonight we had our heels on so we drove the half mile up the road and parked as close as possible. We saw some of our friends from school and we all took turns complimenting each other, excited about the chance to party together.

Rhea, always the life of the party, led us all through the ballroom doors. She marched in as if she owned the place, laughing and cutting up with the others as she went. I walked in a little more slowly. I could smell the most amazing scent. It was like it was calling me. I wondered if my mate could be in there. If so, had I known him all my life? It was strange thinking that, since no male I knew really had gotten my full attention in all these years. Sure I had some crushes. The biggest one on the soon to be Alpha Morgan James. But that was just a pipe dream. Seriously, he was way out of my league. Even if I was the daughter of a ranked wolf, he was an alpha. Besides, he never noticed me and barely talked to me. We had a project together this past school year in our history class and I still barely got two words out of the guy.

Still, I felt as if I was being pulled a certain way across the room and away from my friends. I was soon swallowed up by the crowd of people dancing or standing around in small groups. The smell seemed to be getting closer. Then all of a sudden, it was gone. How could that be? I stood in the middle of all these people and just sniffed the air like an i***t. But the scent was gone. Hoping no one had noticed, I made my way back over to Rhea. She had gotten a drink and was speaking to a really cute guy that she had a crush on for some time. Good for her. I looked at the refreshment table and decided to make my way over for lack of anything better to do.

I caught sight of my brother Travis. He was hanging with the future beta, Zander. That could only mean Morgan was nearby, but I didn't see him anywhere. I reached the table and gave Travis a shoulder bump. "Hey bro, what's up?"

"Hey Little Sis. You looking to start trouble in that dress? Dad actually let you out of the house?" Ha, Travis was always giving me a hard time but I know he was just looking out for me. I'm glad I had him, but I didn't need to be his baby sister tonight.

Zander gave me a look that told me he had finally noticed I had grown up. "Hey Helen, when do you turn 18?"

"She already did douche, keep your eyes to yourself. See what I mean Helen? What was dad thinking?"

"Shut up Travis! I'm an adult now and might even find my mate tonight! Cut out the big brother thing for one night!"

"You are going to make some guy very lucky, Helen." Zander's voice was full of longing. He still hadn't found his mate. He turned 18 a few weeks before I did..

"Thanks, Zander!" I was feeling confident so I gave him a wink and a wicked grin.

"See you fellas later." Time to leave big bro before he hides me under a barrel.

Rhea bounces up to me, her guy in tow. "We are going to dance. You ok without me?" Well, I've gotten along without her thus far.

"I'm good, have fun!" I walked away from her so she wouldn't stay with me out of pity.

I wasn't alone long. One of my high school crushes came over to ask me to dance. We were out on the dance floor shaking our asses to a Da Club by 50 Cent. The bass was thumping and we were bumping and grinding. Next thing I know, I'm being pulled off the dance floor. It happened so fast I didn't know what was happening at first. I was being dragged through the ballroom by a very strong man. I couldn't pull away but I wasn't exactly worried. I knew practically everyone here. I was staring at the back of the head of my "kidnapper", wondering what in the world was going on. Why was this person causing such a scene and no one stopped him? I wondered wildly where Travis was when I needed him?

Finally, we went outside through a side door and this person turned to me. It was Morgan! I stopped fighting and it was then that I smelled him. His was the scent I smelled earlier but it had disappeared and I had forgotten about it.

"What do you think you're doing in there?" Morgan yelled at me. I was sucking air like a fish. Who did he think he was? Oh well, I mean, uh, let me repharse that. Why does he care all of a sudden?

"I was dancing. It's a party! Why do you care?" I yelled back because my calm had left me.

"You are in there grinding on that guy! Is he your boyfriend?" Morgan had lost it. What difference does that make to him?

"Morgan, you have barely ever spoken to me! What is with all the questions?" Because it couldn't be what I think it is, could it?

He seemed at a loss for words all of a sudden. He was eyeing me now. Did I mention the dress I was wearing? I said it was red but did I mention that it was made of ruby red sequins that caught the light whenever I moved? My chest was heaving and I noticed Morgan's eyes had traveled to my breasts. They were pushed up and spilling out of the top. I had never shown this amount of cleavage before. I know why Travis was upset. The dress hugged my lush curves. The slits showed off my very long legs. I was 5' 10" but Morgan still towered over me at around 6' 4". I could almost feel the heat from his eyes attacking my form. He was a perfect specimen and now that he had stopped yelling at me, I could see how good he looked tonight. Had he finally noticed me?

"Why do you smell so good to me?" I asked him when his eyes turned black and I heard a low growl.

"When did you turn 18?" he asked instead of answering my question.

"Two months ago." I do not have a good feeling about this.

"Were you trying to make all the guys want you in there?" he huffed out.

"I thought I might find my mate but he hasn't revealed himself." I say cryptically, knowing he feels it too. The pull.

"I plan to ignore the mate bond when I find it. I'm not ready for that. I'm not even alpha yet."

"What if your mate doesn't want to wait and rejects you?" I asked boldly.

"She wouldn't dare. I'm going to be alpha of the pack. If she knows what's good for her, she will wait." He says menacingly.

"How long do you expect her to wait?" How long will we be talking about ourselves in the 3rd person, I wonder?

"At least a couple of years." I was aghast at his audacity. In his dreams.

"You expect me to wait for you for at least two years? What will you be doing during this time? Do you plan on sleeping with other she-wolves, clubbing, partying, while I just twiddle my thumbs and wait for you? Apparently, I'm not even able to dance with anyone else, so you're going to be a hypocrite?" Not on your life.

"I didn't expect to find my mate the same night I turned 18. Look at Zander and Travis! They are both still searching. I just want some more time." At least we are no longer pretending we aren't talking about each other.

"Well, I won't let you make a fool of me. You plan to not accept me now but in two years? What will everyone think? They will know that I allowed you to f**k around. I will never have the respect of the pack. Reject me now." That hurt, just saying it aloud hurt.

"No, I won't, I can't. Give me some time to get used to the idea. I won't be with anyone else while I think about it." He sounded a little panicked and he should be.

"I won't be second to whatever foolishness is going on in your head. I deserve better." Where did all this confidence come from?

"Don't reject me!" I heard his wolf in his voice. His wolf was fighting for me. Unfortunately for him, my wolf was on the same page as me. We weren't going to play second fiddle to anyone. I can't believe this was happening. Finding my mate should have been a joyous occasion.

There was a commotion behind Morgan. The doors of the ballroom opened and I heard my brother yell, "What the hell is going on here?" Travis sounded suspicious. He should be.

"Oh, Travis, you're just in time," I explained to him.

"In time for what?" He asked as I saw Zander pop out the door behind him.

"I need a witness."

Exasperation in his voice, Travis yells, "A witness for what?"

"For this, I, Helen Margaret Murray, reject you, Alpha Morgan Erik James as my mate."