Torn between two

Chapter 12

Dunya's POV

My date last night with Elijah was perfect, beyond perfect! I can’t believe we had s*x! So much s*x! And out in the open like that, it’s so unlike me. I’ve never had an orgasm during intercourse, well not without the help of a vibrator and he made me come at least 4 times.

Even though everything was perfect, I hated the fact that he just brought me home and left… Why didn’t he want sleep next to me? I had a small thought of being used for s*x, but quickly shook my head in denial. No, he's different. He’s not like the other guys.

I slept like a baby last night, your girl was spent! I looked at my phone and it was already 11.30am and I had several new messages.

Elijah: Want to come over tonight? We can watch a movie together. J

See, he's different! I thought to myself and replied to him.

Me: I would love to! Netflix and chill? :P

He replied instantly.

Elijah: Good! We can Netflix, and definitely chill ;) I have to work pretty late, so I’ll send a driver to pick you up at 6.

Me: Just give me the address and I’ll come by myself. No need for drivers.

He doesn’t answer right away, so, I check my other messages.

Layla: Are you awake? I’m picking you up in two hours!

Layla: Hey, get up sleepy head!

Layla: How are you still asleep?

Layla: Answer the damn phone woman!

Layla: Hey, did you put your phone to mute?!?

Layla: 30 minutes! I’m on my way!

I check the time stamp and notice it’s been sent 20minutes ago. s**t. s**t.

I quickly rush out of bed to get dressed, luckily, I showered last night before bed. I totally forgot about the brunch and had no idea what to wear. I turn my wardrobe upside down, as I search for at least one decent dress. Suddenly there’s a knock on the door. Well f**k.

I go to open it and Layla barges in with a dress bag in her hands. She was wearing a lavender dress, her hair in a stylish bun.

“You just woke up, didn’t you?” She looks at me with furrowed brows.

“I totally forgot about brunch" I give her a fake grin.

“I knew it and that’s why I came earlier. Here, put this on" she says while handing me the bag. I look inside and see that the dress from yesterday in it.

“You bought it? I’m not wearing that" I say and hand it back to her. I can’t believe she bought it after my protests!

“It looked really good on you, so, of course” she says with a smirk.

“I told you I can’t afford a dress like that! Please return it.”

“Well, I bought it for you, as a gift. And no, I won’t return it because I tossed the receipt out.” she says with a shrug of a shoulder.

“Then you wear it yourself, I have a perfectly good dress.

She crosses her hands and raises a brow at me “It’s not really my size, I don’t have your big boobs. So, if you won’t take it, it’ll end up in the trash. So much money gone to waste" she ways, obviously trying to make me feel bad. “Besides, I know you, you don´t have a dress.” She says matter-of-factly.

“Fine!” I roll my eyes at her and take the dress out admiring it once again. “This is the first and last time you do something like this.”

“Yay!” she claps excitedly “Whatever you say! Now, quickly dress up, I’ll do your hair and makeup.”

I put the dress on while she went to her car to get her make-up arsenal. The dress was as beautiful as I remembered, the blue details looked good against my tan skin, making my brown eyes pop. I felt a little uncomfortable with my breasts though, I didn’t really like being braless and the neckline came low, showing a lot of cleavage.

Layla looked at me with a victorious smile and made me sit down so she could get started with my hair. She brushed my still straight hair and moved it side to side, trying to decide what to do. Suddenly she yells, making me jump up from my seat in shock.

“You let him bite you?!?” She screams in anger. What is she talking about? I look at her quizzically.

“Your neck!” she points at my neck. I take a vanity mirror in my hand and look at my neck. I notice two small bite marks on my neck with few hickeys around it. I blush at the thought as I remember the moment, he bit me a bit harder.

“Well, things got a little heated and he bit me" I rub my neck. Ouch, it’s a bit sore.

“Things got a little heated!?” she yells again.

“Why are you yelling?” I say and look at her confused.

“How could you let him bite you?” she pinches the skin between her eyebrows.

“What’s the big deal? It’s just a bite.” I cross my hands and stare at her. What is her problem?

“Just a bite? Just a bite!?” she yells in anger.

“Calm down. Don’t tell me you don’t like it when a guy bites you during s*x"

“Not like that!” she yells. “How could you even sleep with that vampire!”

Jeesh, a bite and he’s suddenly a vampire.

“Are you slut shaming me right now? Or what is this about? I can sleep and let a guy bite me if I want to" I say with a raised tone. How is she judging me like this? My body, my choice.

“No, of course I’m not slut shaming. I just can’t believe you’d even let him touch you, he's not the right guy for you.” she comes near me apologetically.

“If you say that Daniel is the right guy for me, I swear to God…” I start and she hugs me before I finish my sentence.

“I’m just worried about you. I really care for you, and don’t like the idea of him hurting you.” She says while holding me in her embrace. I hug her back and calm myself in the process.

“He’s not hurting me. I really like him Layla and I’m happy.” I sigh. “So, can we please forget this and move on with getting ready? It´s not like he actually punctured my skin, it´s just a love bite” she looks at the mark on my neck once more and let’s go of me nodding her head in defeat.

Layla made two small braids on both sides of my hair and pinned it down on the back, sit leaving some hair hanging in the front. It was simple, but just right.

After seeing her make up arsenal, I thought she’d put so much make up on me, that I wouldn't be able to move my face, but she didn’t use that much. Light shadow, winged eyeliner, blush and lipstick. She covers the bite marks on my neck with concealer and does such a great job at it that you can’t see anything. I put on my silver earrings and necklace.

“You don’t need much makeup, you’re beautiful and your skin is perfect!” She said as she was admiring her handy work. “Now let’s go! They’re waiting for us!” she continued and rushed to the door.

I check my phone, if there’s a message from Elijah, but still nothing. The drive to Layla’s grandparents' house is silent. I get out of the car, and someone comes to take her keys. They got a valet, of course they do. I´m suddenly surrounded by rich people.

The house is big, like mansion big, I don’t know what I expected, but it wasn’t this. We circle around the house, to the back yard and I realize that it’s not a brunch, but a full-blown family gathering. There's a lot of people there in suits and fancy dresses. I look at Layla and she's giving an apologetic smile.

“Okay, so, I may have lied just a bit.” she smiles. “It’s more of a family gathering"

“Family gathering?” I nervously asked.

“It’s just my grandparents, and a few aunts, uncles and cousins and…” she shrugs.

“And?” I say as I swallow the big lump in my throat.

“Few friends" she continues.

“Few?? You call this few?” I say as I point to the guests. “This is a lot of people! And you even have caterers! What am I doing here?” I say with a shock.

She crosses her arm with mine and leads me to the party. “You’re here keeping me company.”

I sigh deeply following her, I wasn’t prepared for this. There’s a good side to this though, with so many people I can avoid seeing Daniel. We meet up with Eric and talk for a bit, he’s sweet and adores Layla. They can barely keep their hands to each other, and it makes me think of Elijah.

“Danny!” Layla shrieks and waves and I turn to see Daniel walking towards us, with a beautiful black-haired woman on his side. Daniel’s wearing a black suit, with ocean blue shirt and the women has a black and white long lace dress. The women has her skinny hands snaked around Daniels bicep and looks at him with a big smile or her face like she´s on seventh heaven. Suddenly I feel a surge of jealousy coursing through me and all I see is red. Wow. What was that?

Ugh. Didn’t take him long to find a horny chick by his side. I think to myself as I roll my eyes, feeling the need to walk away from there was quick as possible. Calm your horses Dunya, what is this behavior?

“Hi Dunya" Daniel smiles at me. “This is my dear friend Amelia.”

Amelia, sounds cheap, I think to myself as I feel the need to roll my eyes again.

Amelia stretches her skinny hand towards me smiling and I have to shake it with a fake smile plastered on my face. “Nice to meet you, Amelia.”

“Nice to meet you too! I’ve heard so much about you!” she says excitedly.

Well, I haven’t heard anything about you.

“Amelia’s an old family friend” Daniel says with a smile as he stares at her.

I don’t really care, whatever. I look at them and notice Daniel's face is pale. He has dark circles under his eyes and his eyes are a bit reddish. He looks like he’s in pain. All the anger drains from me as I see him like this. All I want to do is hug and comfort him. No, he’s probably tired of f*****g Amelia all night. Ugh.

Layla brings me back from my thoughts. “Amelia does these readings. Like, umm…” she hesitates. “Mind reading, what your future holds etc. You should let her read you!” she says excitedly.

“I don’t really believe in stuff like that” I say with a shrug.

“Let her try! For fun!” she insists, and I stare at her as she just betrayed me.

“Yeah, it won’t hurt.” Amelia says with a smile, now squeezing Daniel’s bicep. God get a room!

“I don’t know… I’m good. Maybe later." I say hesitantly. I don’t want her to touch me, and I really need to get somewhere else right now. I take Layla’s hand and tell her I need something to eat. We walk to towards the buffet table and get stopped by a short, sweet looking older lady. She grabs my hands and looks right into my eyes with the biggest smile on her face. “You’re her, aren’t you?”

“Ya-ya, this is my friend Dunya. Dunya this is my grandmother Phaedra Jones” Layla introduces me to her grandmother.

“Nice to meet you Mrs. Jones” I say and smile back at her.

“Oh, sweet girl, we’ve waited for you so long! You can call me ya-ya.” she embraces me in a hug, surprising me and Layla. Umm, okay...

“Ya-ya, I think you’re mistaking her with someone else.” Layla says confused.

“I’m old, but not senile. I know who she is” she releases me and looks at Layla shaking her head. Daniel quickly comes to my side, as he clearly followed us. Grandma Phaedra turns to Daniel and hugs him as well.

“I knew you’d find her darling boy. She’s beautiful!” Daniel turns to Layla with a questionable look on his face and mouths what as she raises her shoulders in a “I don´t know” manner.

“What are you talking about ya-ya?” he finally asks.

“Don’t play dump, you’ve been looking for ten years!”

Daniel’s POV

I have no idea how my grandma of all people knew about Dunya, but I had to quickly get her away from her, before she manages to blurt out anything else. None of my family knew about the situation, only my beta Eric, Amelia and Layla. I had to make something up to ya-ya. This place is crawling with werewolves, I can’t exactly have everyone know that my mate doesn’t want me yet.

Last night was hell, I can’t believe they made me take the potion. I should've gotten rid of it, when I had the chance. I can’t have anything weaken the mate bond. I can handle a little pain, even if it emotional and physical. I know the bond will win eventually; she will come to me. I noticed the way she was eyeing Amelia, she probably thought we´re dating. Honestly, it feels good that she is jealous, it´s the little wins for me right now.

Seeing her in that dress, makes me week in the knees, she is looking hot has hell in that thing. There’s a lot of unmated wolved at this gathering and she looks like a snack to them. This was supposed to be a small gathering, but when my cousin Kristopher, the new alpha of Midnight pack here in Athens, found out we were visiting here, he wanted to throw a big gathering with all of our family and almost half of the pack. Kristopher and I were close when we were kids, but as he got older, the power got way over his head.

Amelia planned on reading Dunya’s destiny today, that´s why we arranged this meeting, to figure out why she’s been hidden for so long, but Dunya didn’t really warm up to the idea. I just want to keep her safe, but she’s not making it easy on me. Everyone’s gawking at her like she’s a piece of meat. I followed her around, keeping my distance, I don’t want to scare her off, but I also didn´t want anyone gawking at what was mine. She’s clearly avoiding me, every time I try to talk to her, she makes an excuse to go somewhere else, dragging Layla with her.

“L, I really need to talk to her.” I mind link Layla.

“Well, she clearly doesn’t want to talk to you” she responds

“I can see that; would you help your big bro out?”

“Like I haven’t helped enough already. You’re making me chase after her everywhere.”

“You’re saying it like you hate it.”

“No, I’m just saying that grow some balls and be selfish.”

“Be selfish?” I ask confused.

“Yeah, just tell her already. If she’d only knew...”

“If she’d knew, she would freak out. What would I even say? Hey, I’m an Alpha werewolf, you’re my mate and we belong together and also, you’re dating a vampire royalty. And it kills me inside, when you kiss him and f**k him?”

“Daniel... maybe not like that... but something... She has no idea how it affects you.”

“I know, and I want it that way for now. I don’t want her to pity me”

“What if she falls for him?”

“I know it’s a possibility, but I have faith on our bond. The Goddess wouldn´t have paired me with her, to just make me suffer and lose her.” I sigh deeply and turn to see where she is. “L, where is she?”

“I don’t know, she was right here.” I cut the mind link and start searching for her.