3 - Not my scene
1861 Words
Neil
‘I cannot believe you forced me into this.’ I hiss at Ashford through the mind link as I fiddle with this uncomfortable gray tie. Thank Zeus, I have the ability to clothe myself with a snap of my fingers. Though I feel I’ve made a mistake with this suit. I never wear things like this. I feel like a fraud.
‘Stop fidgeting!’ Ashford hisses inside my head. ‘And I didn’t force you to come. All I said was there would be questions if you didn’t attend.’
‘Whatever,’ I mumble and cut the link.
I must admit that the Alpha throws a decent party. The packhouse ballroom is filled with people eating and dancing. Nancy looks very different from the girl I met earlier. Gone is the leather-wearing warrior, and in her place is a sophisticated, elegant young woman in red. If it wasn’t for the obvious muscles in her arms, you wouldn’t know she was a warrior. She’s laughing at something her friend is saying. Nancy has an air of innocence about her, but I know better than anyone that you do not cross a woman like Nancy without severe consequences.
Nancy’s brothers are all warriors, as is her father, according to Alfie. Her mother is the pack’s doctor, but he never mentioned anything about the sister.
Strange.
I noticed Frankie earlier today. Hell, she was hard to miss. There’s no denying that she’s beautiful, especially in the midnight blue cocktail dress she’s wearing tonight. But something about her doesn’t ring true. I can’t put my finger on what it is, and I really don’t care, either. She’s nothing to me, even if she did make it evident that she wanted me.
I could go there. But I won’t because Ashford and I will be leaving soon.
‘What time are we heading out?’ I ask through the mind link, even though it was rude, because people are approaching, wanting to meet the princes.
‘Day after tomorrow.’ Ashford replies without looking at me.
‘Are you insane!?’ I hiss. ‘You said one day!’
‘What’s a few more hours? Besides, we can’t leave without Nancy, and she’s requested one more day with her family. We can’t expect her to pack and leave within a few hours, so I granted her one more day.’
Bastard!
‘Why are you so angry?’ My Lycan asks. ‘You didn’t have to come, you know?’
‘I know that, Tylus. I just didn’t think we’d be here for more than a day.’
‘It’s just one more day, Mommy’s boy.’
Asshole!
I am not a Mommy’s boy! I love my mother. I make no secret of that fact. But that doesn’t mean that I’m a Mommy’s boy, for Zeus’s sake!
I could leave tonight and let Ashford get on with things. But that would be a dic.k move. I’ll just have to wait it out. I did agree to come on this trip, so the least I could do is see it through.
But fifteen more minutes of this, and I have to get out of here. I need some air because it’s too crowded. I’m not antisocial as such, but too many people approaching at once puts me on edge. Ashford is far better at this crap than I am. So, I’ll leave him to it.
I tell my cousin I need some air, to which he rolls his eyes. Ashford knows I won’t return to the party tonight.
I make my way over to the Alpha. I’ll let him know that I’m leaving. I’m not so rude that I would walk out without a word. The Alpha is laughing with his mate and what I assume are a group of their friends near the stage, set up for the speeches I won’t be here to listen to. I’m not needed, and it’s not like they’ll miss me.
“Ah, Prince Neil!” Alfie smiles as I approach and tip my head.
There’s no need for introductions. The Alpha already did that at the beginning of the night when he made a big song and dance about his wonderful Nancy. He’s proud of the girl and all she’s achieved, as he should be. But I do not like being the center of attention, which is what I was when the Alpha pointed me out.
Since then, I’ve been stared at all damn night. Single Lycanesses flirted with me left and right. If I happened to glance their way, they would try flirting. I’m not interested in women right now. I’m not interested in much, to be honest.
My dreams of the mystery woman plague me even when I’m awake. Until I figure out what those dreams mean and who that woman is, no one else will do. Gods, she’s not even real!
So, what the fuc.k is wrong with me?
“Alpha Alfie,” I tip my head. “I’m sorry to butt in.”
He shakes his head. “No need to apologize. What can I do for you, Prince Neil?”
“I’m going to have to cut the party short.”
“Oh,” His shoulders sag. “Are you sure you can’t stay for the speeches?”
I shake my head. “I must speak with my father.” Not. But he doesn’t need to know that. Alfie nods. “But I shall attend dinner tomorrow evening,” Ashford informed me about dinner earlier. I look at Luna Clair. “Thank you for the invite.”
She giggles. “You are most welcome.”
I tip my head and leave. No one here is aware of who my father really is. People tend to treat you differently when they know your father is Hades. When on land, people assume my father is a cousin of Thane Knight, which is why everyone refers to me as a prince. I think it’s ridiculous, but it is what it is.
As I walk toward the cabin, I hear raised voices. I use my Godly vision to find the source. Huh. It’s Nancy’s sister, still dressed in that tight, long-sleeved, on-the-knee midnight dress. Her hair is wavy around her shoulders, and she’s yelling at a tall guy dressed in a black tux. His back is toward me, so I can’t see what he looks like. But I can tell from the tension in his shoulders that he’s angry.
“Frankie, why are you being so unreasonable?!” He yells.
“Me, unreasonable?” She fires back. “You’re a joke, Anton. How dare you approach me and suggest such a ludicrous thing? Go home to your mate and tell her I said NO!”
“Why are you being so difficult, Frankie?”
Frankie huffs. “After everything you did to me, you’re asking me a favor? One, I cannot do.”
The guy growls. “You still wear my mark, Frankie. You belong to me!”
Ah, so that’s her ex-mate. I should leave them to it. This is none of my business, and Frankie seems like she can handle things. Getting between mates, even exes, is never a good idea. But something about Frankie’s body language is off, which is why I haven’t moved yet.
“I do not belong to you! You left me when you found your fated mate. You mated and marked her without speaking to me first! This mark,” Frankie taps her neck harshly. “Is all but faded, Anton. Once it has, my mate will mark me, and I will never have to see you again!”
“Mate.” Anton scoffs. “You don’t have a mate, Frankie. The pack would have known by now.”
“Why would they?” Frankie asks while folding her arms over her chest. “We only just met this afternoon. We haven’t had time to get to know each other. Yet, here you are, asking me, your ex-chosen mate, to be a surrogate for your barren fated mate. I don’t think so!”
Damn, that is some request. If Anton’s mate can’t have children, there are plenty of other ways to have a child. What this man is suggesting is shitty. Get this woman to carry his child, which I’m guessing would be Frankie’s also, and then take it from her and never allow her to see the kid is just plain wrong.
“Do not speak about Jane like that! None of this is her fault. You’re angry with me for leaving you, so take it out on me, not her.”
Frankie laughs. “Oh, Anton. I’m not angry with you for leaving me. It wasn’t like I was in love with you. You did me a favor. It’s the way you did it that bothers me. But I’m angry at what you’re suggesting. In what world did you ever think I would agree to something like that?”
He sighs. “I thought you would want to help.”
“Help my ex and his mate have a baby? My baby?” Frankie scoffs. “Not a chance. Besides, my mate wouldn’t like it.”
“Stop lying!” I roll my eyes when the fool yells. “You don’t have a mate, Frankie. The only people to have arrived in months are the princes. Are you saying one of them is your mate?”
Without hesitation, Frankie replies, “Yes, that’s exactly what I’m saying.”
“Yeah, right. Which one?”
“Neil.”
My eyes widen when Frankie throws out my name with ease, like it’s the most natural thing in the world. Not that she should be using either of us in her games, but I thought she would have said Ashford.
The prick laughs loudly. “Oh, this is priceless! You’re mated to a cunt who hates to be touched! Some mateship that is!”
Bastard!
Frankie growls. “That’s where you’re wrong, Anton. Neil couldn’t keep his hands off me earlier. He did things to me you couldn’t even dream of with your micro dic.k and lack of technique.”
“You bitc.h!” He hisses.
Frankie laughs. “When Neil leaves, I’ll be going with him, and you will never see me again. Now, whatever ideas you have about me having your child and handing it over to you and your mate, forget it because it will never happen. Now, fuc.k off and leave me alone before my mate turns up and rips you a new asshole!”
I nod my approval. This woman has fire in her belly. She’s not afraid to stand up for herself, and I admire that. The fact that she’s using my name to fake a relationship wasn’t the best idea. This man will realize everything she said was a lie soon enough.
But something about the way he moves toward her sets me on edge. One thing my father taught me through his love for my mother is to never lay your hands on a woman in anger. Oh, they will definitely push you to the limits, but you never harm them in anger.
Shi.t!
- Writer
