Blue meets Brown: The mate's mark

Chapter 8

Madeline:

As soon as I got up the stairs and into my bedroom, I slammed the door and picked up my phone. As the phone was connected to Charlie, and her voice came over the line, I burst into tears. “Oh, hell no, what the hell is going on? Why are you crying? What did he do to you?”. Charlie barked down the line. I couldn’t speak, I just ugly cried. I managed to choke out a few words: “It’s him! The man from the wedding! His name is Jeremiah; he’s the f*****g alpha of Dragon Den! Oh Charlie, it was so embarrassing”. I stormed around my bedroom trying to distract myself and avoid the mirrors. The last thing I want to see is my red-puffy, tear-stained face staring back at me.

“Madeline…”. Oh no, Charlie never uses my full name. I know I’m not going to like what she says next.

“I’m so sorry. I knew the man you slept with was an Alpha. I just didn’t know he was the Alpha of Dragon Den. Had I known, I wouldn’t have let you go off with him, but I did try and say something… The music was too loud, and you were very drunk. I was a s**t friend, and I should have looked after you better. I am truly sorry! Please don’t be angry with me”. Charlie was now crying down the phone.

“My actions are mine and mine alone. Me sleeping with someone was not on you – I should not have drunk so much and gone wondering off by myself. I’m not angry with you, I’m angry with myself. What will my mate think when I finally meet him, and I’m not a virgin? I told myself I would wait. I’ve let down so many good men to wait, and instead, I give it to a stranger… An alpha who doesn’t care for me and probably screws around. Hell, I should probably get myself checked, right?”.

“Please, no, don’t say those things. It’s the 21st century hun, as hard as it is for our mate’s egos, most don’t expect us to be virgins anymore! They just don’t want us to w***e ourselves around. But, having s*x with one man does not make you a w***e. Maddy, wolves don’t get sexually transmitted infections, that’s humans. Right, enough pity party. Wipe those tears and take a shower. I will be round in 30”.

The call ends promptly. I know she is right. Charlie is 22 years old, and hasn’t met her mate yet. She’s not a virgin… I’ve had to get her out of some sticky messes in the past. I giggle to myself, thinking back to those days.

I shower and, like clockwork, Charlie is sitting on my bed trying to choose between a black strapless dress and a low plunge glitter dress. “Finally, I feel like I’ve been sitting here for ages. Which one do you like most?” She asks me whilst holding up both dresses.

“Um, it depends on the occasion” I said to her.

“Doesn’t matter the occasion, just choose one already! You’re so picky”.

“Fine, I like the sparkly one. Not that I would ever wear it anywhere.”

“Wrong. Put it on, we are going out and do something with your hair. It looks a mess”.

“No… I am not going anywhere. Alcohol is a bad choice right now. I’ve already made one bad choice today…”.

“You what? What bad choice did you make!?”. Damn, I should not have said that she picks up on everything I say. “Um, nothing. Just earlier… When Jeremiah was here, he… Well, we… He kissed me during an argument, and well, I broke the cabinet with my back and… We didn’t have s*x, we were interrupted”.

Charlie looked at me, a grin on her face. She jumped off the bed and ran down to the office. I was still in a towel, but I chased after her. I knew where she was heading. “Charlie, you don’t need to see it. I’m getting it fixed before my dad gets home.

We arrived at the office; Charlie burst into laughter as she looked at the glass that looked like a rock had been thrown at it. You could see where the pressure caused the crack and then the little lines spread across. Charlie sniffed the air… “I can smell the atmosphere here. You wanted him, and he wanted you badly. What did you mean when you were interrupted? Would you have slept with him again if you weren’t?”

“Well, his beta knocked at the door…”

“Wait, where was your father’s beta?”

“I don’t know, but luckily not outside the door, otherwise we would have heard and come rushing in, and I don’t know what would have happened if we weren’t interrupted. I can’t explain it. He smells delicious and when he touches me, I lose control. It is like a dull ache I can’t understand”.

“Hmm, I’m sure things will work out. Fate has a plan for all of us after all. Now enough Jeremiah talk, let’s get ready and go have some cocktails. We both need it!”

Reluctantly, I follow Charlie back upstairs. Not before noticing that she had stolen a bottle of tequila from the cabinet she had been so fascinated by seeing.

A few hours later and a half a bottle of tequila down, I reluctantly put on the dress that Charlie had brought on. It stuck to my every curve and crease and stopped at my mid-thigh; it had a long plunge V-neck which showed a lot of cleavage. I felt like a stripper, but gosh did I look and feel good – unsure if that was the alcohol talking.

We got Adam to call a taxi for us. “We’ll hit up the locals before going into town”. Charlie said grinning at me. “Tonight is all about you. You let your hair down, and I pledge to look after you. I won’t drink as much as you, I promise”, she continued to say.

Hmm, that was all I thought of myself as we got in the taxi and headed for a pub called the barcode. It’s a fairly high-rated pub and rarely attracts trouble.

As expected, it was busy when we arrived. Usually, to get a table you have to pre-book, but luckily for me, they know me, so Charlie and I got a booth to ourselves without any trouble. Once in the booth, Charlie ordered a bottle of champagne. “Are we celebrating something?” I asked curiously.

“Do we need a reason to drink champagne?” she said. "Besides, we are dressed to impress. This is the only drink I expect to pay for tonight”, she continued to giggle to herself.

Maybe she was right, maybe I did need to let my hair down and just see where the night leads. I have already made one mistake I can’t take back. I'm not sure how it could get any worse.

“Ok. I am putting my trust in you. Let’s party”.

An hour later… we were up on the dance floor, swaying our hips and gaining the attention of the old dogs in the corner tables.

“Charlie, let’s go somewhere else before the grandad tries to hit on us”.

I grabbed her hand and walked her out of the pub. I couldn’t be bothered to order a taxi, so I decided to walk down the street to the next pub. The Blue Orchids bar.