Beyond Fate

Mate

The day followed as you’d expected. We had pictures, drank and ate whilst having to listen to everyone on the top table make endless speeches that all sounded the same. I was secretly waiting for the appropriate amount of time before I could escape back to my room without looking rude. I was pretty sure it was once the party started for the evening disco. I honestly didn’t get it, there were still the same people, no one else was attending but somehow it was appropriate to think that the day and evening party were completely different. I didn’t get it. Humans seem to make an awful fuss about these things and it was the most dull, orchestrated and unnecessarily expensive event imaginable.

Currently we were all outside waiting for the main room to be switched for this evening's party that I didn’t plan on attending. Tammy and Johnny were off having yet more photos, this time of the couple as the sunsets. How many of the same photos does one need? Mom, dad and Mitchell were making the rounds thanking the guests for coming. I was watching Mina, she was running around on the green and playing happily with some of the children from her nursery. I smiled at her while I tried to make myself as invisible as possible in the corner. Ironically I wasn’t the usual stain on the event as I was usually made to feel, there was too much gossip coming from Jasmine who had turned up with Carter as her plus one.

You can guess how that had gone down. An isolated pack of werewolves that have been fed a healthy diet of lies about how superior we are to humans was forced to break bread with one. Yep, went down like a sack of potatoes.

Ex alpha Felix even tried to pull Jasmine to one side and tried to have them removed before Mitchell gently reminded him who the alpha of the pack was now. Not that Jasmine had thanked him, she had been out in the world for too long. She saw only too clearly how backward our pack had become when it came to humans but she took drastic action to make her point and landed poor Carter right in the centre of it all.

They were stood at the bar right now Carter looked very handsome in his dark grey suit, his brown hair that had looked like a mop on his head the first time I’d met him was now gelled back revealing more of his handsome face, it was clear he’d been given the Jasmine makeover though he kept clutching at the collar like it was too tight letting everyone around him know how uncomfortable he was I secretly wondered what he would think if he knew he was in the wolf’s den.

As I served the beautiful surroundings and array of Colour from everyone’s outfits one specific design caught my eye and I froze. slowly flowing around the room searching for ‘you know who’ was the not pregnant heather. I growled low to myself, what was she doing here? I thought I had said enough to warn her off earlier and when she hadn’t appeared at the ceremony I assumed I was in the clear but apparently not. What I couldn’t understand was why turn up now she had to be planning to out Johnny anyway. No she wouldn't, I won't let her. I stormed towards the evil little minx I had to get rid of her before Johnny and Tammy came back.

Without taking my eyes off heather for a second I shoved past people until I heard a crash and someone dove into me hard “ oh…ouch… sorry, sorry” a gentle voice said feeling something metal shoved at my chest I took my eyes off heather long enough to realise I had bumped into one of the waiters with a full tray of champagne. The young girl was already on her knees trying to clean up my mess.

“ I’m so sorry I didn’t see you” I apologised, bending down to help. I noticed straight away the girl was scrawny. She looked so delicate and her hair was tied up in a neat bun for work but there was a mixture of colour in it that seemed awfully familiar.

“ I’m really so sorry… oh hi” I said finally looking at the girl’s face realising she was the same girl who I’d mistook as Carter's girlfriend the night of the club. Judging by the white shirt and black skirt she was wearing she was working at the venue, though it was a bit of a coincidence she and Carter would be here at the same time.

“ your Carter's friend Mel?” I said helping her put the broken glass back onto the tray she was holding there was champagne on the patio but not a lot could be done about it.

“ Megan..Meg, sort of…. he’s my boyfriend's little brother… I mean ex boyfriend” the girl stuttered shyly as if the subject wasn’t something she wanted to bring up.

“ oh I’m sorry” I said honestly, I could relate to a crappy ex situation.

“ no it’s fine he was a jerk, they both are.” She said glancing in carters direction “I’m well rid of them,I think he just kept me around so I could look out for Carter while he looked out for other girls to sleep with” wow, poor girl was unloading I realised I’d misjudged her when I assumed she was just some jealous b***h. When we had left the club that night her boyfriend had been ordering her to watch over his brother and I guess she had assumed we were the ones taking advantage of him when we all left together but why hadn’t Carter said Meg was his brother's girlfriend, he had made out like it was an unrequited love situation.

Meg must have noticed my expresion and answered my expresion “ did he tell you he was in love with me and I was some kind of user?” She asked rolling her eyes making me feel stupid, I’d forgot humans might be the weaker physically but mentally they were just as deceitful as the next species. When I didn’t answer her she continued.

“ yea that’s usually the story because I always had to be firm with him or pretend to be some kind of girlfriend to get him to behave, his story is always some kind of sad love story he takes playing the victim to a whole new level” she looked over her shoulder looking at Carter who was happily talking and laughing now Jasmine was leaning into his side with her arms wrapped around him.

“ I’m guessing he got drunk off your booze before going back to yours for a place to sleep then made a miraculous recovery in the early hours, disorientated enough that It wouldn’t seem creepy when he slipped into one of your beds” I was speechless, that was exactly how the night had played out he had passed out on the river bank so we had carried him to jasmine’s house to crash but when I’d gotten up in the morning he was in jasmines bed. I couldn’t believe how he had played us both.

I guess it was so called sweet innocent Carter that had been the master manipulator that night, not Meg. After all he’d played the victim to get me to dance with him, he’d left the club with two girls who’d helped him ditch his baby sisters and he’d even bedded one of us. I looked over at Carter who was still at the bar with Jasmine. He was even doing it now playing the victim in front of a couple of warriors who were talking to them making Jasmine fuss all over him in order to reassure everyone who she was there with, while he stood in a room full of intimidating men. I scowled seeing that I’d been played once again. Carter had taken full advantage of mine and Jasmine's generosity to help him.

I felt like charging over there and beating the s**t out of him, no I couldn’t do that in a crowd like this they would think I was a psycho and it would give Carter ammunition, I had a much better idea though.

Hey Jas just a heads up, that jackass Carter is a wolf in sheeps skin.

He’s not a wolf beauty, he’s not bad in bed but definitely no wolf stamina.

Unbelievable I knew she wasn’t really interested in Carter, she moved on pretty quick with guys and definitely didn’t date any. Carter had even managed to manipulate my girl too.

I felt Meg come to stand beside me as she straightened herself following my line of sight. When she saw Carter talking to the warriors with Jasmine drappd all over him she sighed, shaking her head.

“yea, this is classic Carter, he was never any match next to his brother dexter who’s all brawn so he found playing the victim around girls got him laid better” Meg explained.

“ I’m sorry I took being a b***h too far that night but I could tell you and your friends were wolves and I just assumed you were playing some kind of game with him” she said sheepishly so Megan knew about our kind she thought we were taking advantage even knowing what Carter was like she had still tried to protect him.

“ So he pulls s**t like this all the time?” I had to hold back my growl, I wasn’t sure why I asked the question judging by the way she had narrated a play by play of our night with Carter it was clear she saw it all the time.

“ oh yea he’s a master manipulator Dex always thought he was having to babysit him but he never realised that Carter was the one playing him, the only reason he ever listened to me was because he had a tiny crush on me and I always had to seem like a b***h to get him to do anything so inadvertently I was backing up his stories ” she spat in anger obviously pissed that she had been just as played as everyone else.

“ should I go and calm him down?” Meg asked as she began to move forward but I put my arm out to stop her, he wasn’t her problem any more and she shouldn’t have to sort out this asshole just because she’d been forced to the whole time she dated his brother.

“ I’ve got a better idea” I smirked at her and she frowned in confusion.

Jas was looking in my direction trying not to frown in front of Carter but I could tell she was confused.

Carter is manipulating you to get s*x. I mindlinked Jasmine and the change in expression was instantaneous and I knew poor little liar Carter was in trouble. She didn’t need to question me any more knowing I’d never lie to her. Her smile dropped momentarily replaced with a more sinister one and I knew an evil little plan was already in motion. After a few more seconds I watched Jasmine lead an unsuspecting Carter away.

I smiled, turning back to Meg who had been watching the entire exchange. Ironically she didn’t ask any questions, technically I hadn’t said or done anything after I stopped her from intervening, now that I thought about it this place dealt exclusively with werewolf clientele that’s why everyone was so angry that Carter was here it seemed this place was as backward thinking as our pack was. I discreetly sniffed the air trying to get a whiff of her scent. She didn’t smell human like she had the first time we had met but it was hard to tell with so many other wolves in close proximity.

“ Masking spray” she smiled smugly, clearly enjoying watching me struggle to try to figure out why I couldn’t pick up her scent.

“ why?” I asked, curious to know why she would need it.

“ I always use it when I’m outside my pack, don’t want to attract unwanted attention, the people that run this place are racist towards humans but they won’t stop a rogue from staying here” I raised my eyebrow in shock that a place like this would entertain dangerous rouges obviously it didn’t matter to them as long as they were werewolf I could understand why Meg would take such precautions. She must be a high rank within her pack, to a rogue an unmated high rank female was a valuable commodity they could easily kidnap her and ransom her back to her pack or sell her to the highest bidder, it wasn’t uncommon for some packs to buy females and use them for breeding. Yes it’s as bad as you think.

Reports of unmated females being kidnapped and sold to packs were a common problem. After being sold they would be taken to a part of some sort of harem where high ranking males would impregnate them, after the pup was born it would either be given to a childless couple to raise or raised in a large group of pack orphans to become pack warriors when they came of age.that was a sugar coated senario, Johnny had once gone out on a mission to help another pack that kept having their females being kidnapped this was before becoming the packs head warrior he was still in training and feeling a little reckless. He’d told me all about the state they had found those young girls in and the idea of what they had suffered still made my stomach turn.

Johnny said they had found the girls in an old shipping crate, it was so full they didn’t even have anywhere to sleep the crate was so cramped, the girls stayed in the dark huddled together for warmth they had been stripped down naked and the alpha that bought them hadn’t seen the point in dressing them. They were all in different states, some of them were so frail and abused they were little more than skin and bone having gotten to a point where they hated and feared all men. Johnny had needed to take a few down when they attacked him and his teammates. Even the pregnant females were not treated any better than the others, all of them huddled in fear and were terrified to leave in case they suffered abuse from their owner. I wish I could say the nightmare ended there but not all of them were welcomed back to their packs with open arms. Most families saw the girls as impure, even going as far as to banish them from their pack blaming them for the sick abuse they had suffered through no fault of their own. It was twisted and disgusting but in our world females had very little in the way of rights. I could understand why Meg was so cautious while working.

“ thank you” I said, feeling bad that I had misjudged Meg so badly, I seemed to be a master at that lately. She was just a girl that had gotten caught up in an unhealthy relationship, you can’t always see reality when you're on the inside.

“ No problem, best get these back to the kitchen before my boss sees me chatting” she gestured to the tray of broken glass.

“ If you get into trouble tell them it was my fault and I’m happy to pay the damages, I’m Alisha clayton sister of the groom” I didn’t want Megan to get into trouble.

“ thanks, congratulations to your family by the way” I held back my scoff if only she knew the bride. I was about to say as such when one of the waiters announced we could all go back inside.

Finally the song stopped and we were all breathless. The room went quiet and the announcer stood on the stage by the D.J.

“ Ladies and gentlemen please welcome Mr and Mrs Clayton as they take to the floor for their first dance” he bellowed and began to clap as Johnny and Tammy came strolling into the room Johnny took Tammy into his arms as the D.J began to play ‘ a million love songs by take that. Tammy's choice no doubt, not that it was a bad song but definitely not something my brother would have a hand in picking too cheesy for his taste.

I stood to the side of the dance floor admiring them for a moment until Tammy frowned at Johnny, saying words I couldn’t hear but no doubt weren't words of affection judging by the scowl on her face.

“ Love's young dream” I heard someone whisper into my ear, recognising him instantly and unable to hold back my laugh. I looked up at Mitchell nudging him slightly for making me laugh like that, we were supposed to be cooing over my brother and his new bride. People had begun to join the happy couple on the floor now crowding the dance floor again.

Without warning Mitchell suddenly grabbed my hand dragging me onto the dance floor before I had time to react. He wrapped his one arm around my waist pulling me towards him so I was against his chest.

“ what are you doing?” I asked, looking around in a panic to see who was watching. He couldn’t dance with me like this while the whole pack was watching the alpha dancing with the packs most disliked omega it wouldn’t just start rumours it would ignite a scandal. In my panic I lost my footing and almost slipped before he held me tighter to his chest so I wouldn’t hit the floor.

“ Dancing, I’m not sure what you're doing,” Mitchell chuckled looking down at me. He was too close. I couldn't think straight his bloody scent was so intoxicating and clouding my wits. His chest was pressed against me so tightly I swear I could feel his heart beating. I was going to turn in to a mumbling i***t with him this close to me.

“ You know what I mean, alphas don’t dance with omegas” I glared up at him, trying to whisper he thought this was funny but it was bad. I discreetly looked around again, seeing several members shaking their heads and looking at us.

“ I thought alphas did as they pleased” he smirked and I rolled my eyes hoping he didn’t notice. He dipped his head until I could feel his breath against my ear. The action made me shiver in his arms.

“ you’ve been avoiding me” he whispered, all humour gone from his voice. My breath hitched in my throat all I could focus on was trying not to shiver at how close he was.

“ no I…..” I tried to answer but I couldn’t breathe.

“ Yes Alisha” he pulled back to look into my eyes. His own deep green orbs held me captive with the intensity of their stare. “ Ever since Natalia spoke to you earlier you’ve been avoiding me, what did she say to you?” I sighed not knowing what to say, how did I explain to him that I had been distancing myself because…because I was a fool and thought he had feelings for me like I had for him but had misjudged his kindness and now felt stupid being around him while he was making plans with another woman. A woman that wasn’t worth his time.

“ I told you nothing that surprised me” I gave him my best smile trying not to imagine him and natalia together.

“ you clearly have an opinion though” he queried, was I err ally that transparent. I always had a good poker face before he came back.

“ Everyone has opinions but not everyone shares them especially with their alpha” I said looking back into the crowd like I wasn’t bothered.

“ but they do share them with friends” he whispered his mouth so close to my ear again but this time his head was resting against my head the whole action was killing me, why was he acting like this when the woman he was sleeping with was here somewhere. I couldn’t hold it in any more if he wanted my opinion he would get it.

“ your being an i***t, Rose was kind and loving, she cared so much about everyone but no one more than you and it was clear to me from one conversation with that natalia that she’s nothing like Rose and I’m So sick of people saying that she is”

“ you being an i***t settling for a crap fake wannabe copy of Rose and she told me to help you, to not give up on you but I can’t believe that she meant for you to end up with someone like that”

“Well don’t hold back Clayton, tell me how you really feel” he smiled as if everything I was saying was a joke.

“ well you asked” if you don’t want an honest opinion don’t ask for it. There was no point in me lying to him, I’d promised rose I would help him and that’s what I’m trying to do putting my own feelings aside there was something about natalia that just didn’t seem right.

“ is..um…. Is that the only reason you object to natalia?” I looked up at him when he uttered those words, oh god had natalia told him I didn’t remember seeing them together but that didn’t mean anything it wasn’t like I was keeping track of him the whole day. Mitchell looked down at me expectantly like he was waiting to hear me say something specific.

“ I…um….re…”. I was interrupted by a loud crash that made everyone jump. towards the edge of the dance floor was the young waitress Megan from earlier. The girl had the dropsies today, at her feet was a tray she had been holding and shattered glasses at her feet. Unlike before though, she was standing stock still, uncaring of any mess or onlookers. she was staring at the dance floor as if in a trance she looked like she was in awful pain, her eyes were watering and an agonising look crossed her pretty face. I worriedly tried to check she was ok but Mitchell clung to my waist tightly not letting me go. I looked up at him but he was looking at the girl the opposite end.

“ Alisha don’t” was all he said in a painful tone that had my stomach filling with dread. He pulled me tighter towards him like he didn’t want me to see what was behind me.

I heard Tammy whining and turned to see her pulling at Johnny's arm. He had stopped dancing as had a number of other people around him including my parents. Mom looked like she was in pain as well, she held onto my dad like she couldn’t stand up right. I looked at my brother who was in as equally as much of a trance as Megan. I looked between the two of them not understanding and then it hit me as it had Mitchell, we were all witnessing their complete and utter heartbreak. Megan was Johnny's mate.