Lust or Mate?

Chapter 10 - Prey

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Alafia

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"Wow! You look hot," Lex said, walking back inside while I checked myself in the mirror. I thanked her, and she smiled, walking over to me before telling me to sit down and grabbing the makeup kit, even though I had already applied some. I told her this, but she told me I needed more blush. We were currently getting ready to go to the club, and I couldn’t wait. Alexi texted me as I left class this afternoon and told me he and his brother would be coming through. I couldn’t even contain my smile after that.

"All done," Lex chirped, standing upright, and I thanked her before complimenting her again. We chose mini dresses for the party, and I wore a blue tulle dress and paired it with metallic silver minimalist stiletto-heeled ankle-strap sandals, while she wore a red plunge belted mini wrap dress and coupled it with black peep-toe crisscross-strap platforms.

Aunt Veil and Uncle Linton flew down for my dad’s birthday before I left, and she took me on a shopping spree. Aunt Veil had amazing taste when it came to clothes, and she always took me shopping when she visited. My mother had good taste too, but if it were a competition, Aunt Veil would win hands down. Shopping sprees with her were the best. I will be spending the summer break in Alverton. I already spoke to my parents, and they said it was fine.

"Who are these girls that Elly and Ford are bringing?" I asked as Lex and I grabbed our purses and headed out of the room, and she said she didn’t know. The club was within walking distance, so we didn’t have to take a cab.

The music was thumping as we made our way through the crowd, pushing past people who were dancing and laughing, trying to get to the VIP area where our party was happening. As we walked, my heart started to race faster and faster with every step at the thought of seeing Alexi.

Lex asked me this morning if I was in love with him, and I said I wasn’t. She raised her eyebrows at me, and I quickly changed the topic. But there was no denying that I was. Just the thought of him made me feel giddy and nervous at the same time, and it scared me. I couldn’t afford to fall for anyone, and neither could he. We were werewolves and harmless fun was okay, but deep feelings were definitely not, and here I was, drowning in them. My mother was right, waiting for my mate was a better option. As we got up the stairs, I could feel my pulse quickening, and I looked around, trying to spot Alexi and the guys. I spotted them, but he and his brother were nowhere in sight.

We made our way over to them, and we shared hugs before they introduced us to the girls. The girls were in their class. Just then, two guys that looked familiar arrived, and Lex reminded me of who they were. They were Azarios and Lake. I saw them the day of the party, but I was out of my mind after seeing Alexi and Gyda. I didn't even register them. I never registered anything after that stomach-turning incident.

They introduced themselves to me again, seeming to read my mind, and I introduced myself back. They were in their third year, and they were hot especially Lake. I loved his cerulean blue eyes. There was something about him. Something familiar, even though I met him once.

The place looked cool, with decorations that separated our area from the rest of the club. There were sparkling metallic sliding doors that opened and closed around us, creating a sense of privacy and exclusivity. They decorated the walls with neon lights and glitter, giving the space a fun and festive vibe. I was wondering how it was going to work when I heard the party was going to be held here since I had never attended an exclusive party at the club before.

We settled down, noticing that the drinks were already on the table. Glasses were filled with colorful cocktails that glistened in the dim light of the club. I reached for one of the drinks and took a sip, savoring the sweet and fruity taste while my eyes drifted toward the door again.

"He’ll be here," Lex said in my ear, and I told her I knew, laughing to keep myself from blushing.

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Alexi

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Kyron and I arrived at the penthouse with heavy hearts. As we entered, we heard Aura's sobs, and I couldn't help but feel a wave of dread wash over me. Aura, our bodyguard, was Marlena’s younger sister, and she and Meira were the only family she had. Marlena wasn’t married, and Meira’s father was never in the picture. She and Emerson pulled apart as we entered, and she tried to sober up as she looked at us with so much pain in her eyes.

"I’m so sorry, Aura," I said, stopping in front of her before pulling her into a hug, and she broke down all over again, telling us how Meira was still missing. My dad said they were doing everything they could to try and find Meira, and I assured her of that. I pulled back from the hug, and Kyron hugged her too.

On our way here, we spoke to our mother, and she said they would be sending someone else to take her place, so she could go home and handle everything that needed to be handled since there was no one else but her. I asked her when she was leaving, and she said tomorrow. We settled down after that, and she asked if we needed anything, getting up, but we stopped her and told her we were fine. Even if we did need something, we weren’t about to have her serve us while she was going through this. We would get whatever we needed ourselves.

I sighed, taking out my phone and looking at the time. We were supposed to head to the party, but it felt like this dark cloud was hanging over our heads, and partying was the last thing on my mind. Even if I forced myself and went, I wouldn’t be good company, and I didn’t want to ruin it for everyone.

I opened my mouth to tell Kyron, but he spoke first, saying he didn’t feel like going to the party anymore. I told him I felt the same and took my phone out again. I told Fifi that I was going to be there, and I hated disappointing her, but I really didn’t feel like going. I will make it up to her tomorrow. I called her, and she picked up on the third ring. I asked her how it was going, struggling to get to the point now that I was speaking to her, and she told me the party was lit before asking if Kyron and I were still coming, her voice getting lower as she did, as though she could sense that I was about to disappoint her. I apologized and told her that was the reason I was calling.

I told her that something had happened, and I wasn’t going to make it anymore. I could hear the disappointment in her voice, even though she tried to hide it as she asked if I was okay. I told her I was and apologized again before wishing her a good time. I will explain to her why I couldn't go when I see her tomorrow. We ended the call, and I went back to the living area. Emerson brought out a bottle, and we drank a toast to our sweet Marlena.

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Lex

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"Is Fifi okay?" Avery asked as he placed down his glass, and I told him she was, even though she wasn't. A few hours ago, she received a call from Alexi, and he was telling her he wasn’t coming to the party. She said he sounded like something bad had happened, but when she asked him, he said he was okay. She had been trying to smile and act cheerful since then, but it wasn’t working.

Elly and his girlfriend, or whoever these girls were to them, went downstairs to join everybody on the dance floor. It was just before midnight, and everyone was drunk and having a good time. I was too, but my friend was worrying me. Fifi denied that she had feelings for Alexi, but it was obvious she had, just as I had for Avery. Avery got up and headed to the men’s, kissing me before he left, since my brothers were now downstairs and we could be free. I got up and sat next to Fifi, who was now talking to Azarios.

"I think it’s safe to say our bet was stupid, and that your mom was right," I said in her ear, making her look at me confused. "To think we would not catch feelings," I added, and she smiled, saying it looked that way. I asked her if she wanted to dance, and she nodded, and I took her hand. But just as she got to her feet, Elly came rushing back and called us all downstairs. We asked him what was happening downstairs, and he said we would see.

I told them to go ahead and that I was going to wait for Avery so he could know where we went, but Lake said he would wait and that I could go. I followed Elly, and he led us to what looked like a games section of the club. I was surprised; I didn’t even know the club had all that.

This section was different, with a seating area surrounding the game tables, including chairs for players and spectators to sit and relax. There were various tables for playing games such as pool, billiards, ping-pong, foosball, and lots more, and I found myself giddy with excitement. I loved games, Fifi and I both did. And maybe this was going to cheer her up. Ford called us over, standing next to a ping-pong table while Elly ordered our drinks to be brought here.

"This is going to be fun," Fifi said, and I agreed.

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Alexi

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"Are you sleeping?" I asked my brother, walking inside the theater, noticing he was asleep. He rubbed his hands over his face, saying he must be tired, and I told him to go to bed. He got up, and we shared a quick hug and bade each other goodnight. He headed out, and I put up the volume as I settled down to finish the movie, but a few minutes in, I lost interest and decided to turn it off and head to bed. We returned about three hours ago from the penthouse, and there was still this gloomy feeling in the air.

We spoke to my dad when we returned and asked if there had been any sign of Meira yet, and he said no. Since her mother was our nanny, Meira grew up with us. We were not close since she was a person who liked to keep to herself, but we still cared for her. Her mother lived in the palace, and Meira grew up there also. I used to have this huge crush on her when we were kids. She was four years older than us, and I used to think she was the most beautiful girl I had ever seen.

She always looked so unhappy, though, in the palace, and after her sixteenth birthday, she moved out and went to stay alone in her family's house. My mother told Marlena she could go stay with her if she wanted since we were no longer babies, and she worried about Meira being on her own, but her mother only stayed with her for two weeks and came back. She said Meira liked being alone.

Growing up surrounded by people, we couldn’t even imagine how she could have wanted to be alone, but then one day, just before we turned eighteen, Mother told us her story. She told us about the nine witches that were burned at the stake and how Meira was four when it happened and heard everything. Mother said the witches were marched down to the firepit, cuffed with chains, and that their screams echoed off the kingdom as they burned.

She said Meira’s mom said Meira was playing in the garden when the witches marched past her. She said Meira must have been traumatized when she saw the witches since the one named Cora was bloodied. Cora’s tongue was cut by the man she worked with to kill my father to keep her from exposing him. Mother said Meira suffered a seizure just after the witches walked past her and she had never been the same since that day. They suspected that she also heard the witches’ screams and put two and two together. I hoped she escaped unharmed, wherever she was.

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Author’s POV

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As she settled into the cab, she felt the weight of her burden settle on her like a cloak. The hum of the plane engines had drowned out her thoughts, but then they flooded back with a vengeance. She could feel the anger and hatred seeping into her very bones, fueling her desire for retribution.

The cab made its way through the streets while her mind raced with plans and strategies. She was angry, but she knew that she could not rush into this blindly; she needed to be careful and calculate if she was going to succeed. This was her last chance.

Finally, the cab pulled up outside the hotel, and she stepped out, her eyes scanning the surroundings. She paid the driver and entered the lobby, her senses on high alert, knowing that Ares probably had people looking for her. This was the last place they would think of looking, but still, she had to be careful, at least until she had captured her prey.

"Welcome to Crestwood Hotel," the receptionist said with a cheerful smile as she approached the front desk before asking for her name.

"Meira Crawford," she stated, her voice cool and detached. She hated the name and she wasn’t in the mood to pretend; she was tired.

“How far is Crestwood Academy from here?"