Their Simple Kind of Love

The Party

  Katie's POV

"What do you think?" I asked Michelle after putting the finishing touches on my outfit for the party. I put on a short jean skirt with a red low-cut blouse with a pair of black boots.

"I think it's going to piss off my brother," She replied. I looked at her outfit. She was wearing a thin and tight green dress that was also low cut. She had on black pumps, and her makeup was fierce.

I snorted. Why would it matter to James what I wore? I shook my head and finished my makeup. I went with a smoky eye look. When I finished my makeup, there was a loud knock on my door. I opened it to my brother with his arms folded.

"Are you two ready? Tony and I are ready." He grumbled. He didn't want to go to the party, but our Dad insisted he take me to keep an eye on me.

Dad had lightened up and was more active in our lives since he kicked Marilyn to the curb. He talked to us again. Well, me more than Tim. Tim was still a little weary of Dad. "We are almost ready, Timmy," I rolled my eyes at my impatient brother. "You look good, though," I smirked at him. He was wearing a pair of dark jeans and a red t-shirt with a dragon design on it. He had his black hair slicked back.

"Thanks, sis," He shook his head. "Jocko sure is on edge tonight." He mumbled about his wolf.

I turned my attention to Michelle. "Are you ready to go?"

"Yeah," She appeared next to me. We linked arms and walked towards Tim. "We are ready.

He looked us up and down. "Yeah, I don't like how you are both dressed."

"Well, you aren't, Dad, and he is off doing patrols tonight, so," I stuck my tongue out at him.

Tim growled lowly, "Let's go then. Tony!" He called to our friend as we walked out of the room.

Tony was sitting on the couch and stood up. He looked at Michelle and me. "Oh s**t, the dudes are going to be all over, you two."

I saw Wendy sitting on the couch. "Are you sure you don't want to go, Wendy?" I invited her to go. But she seemed more content to watch TV since her mother left.

"No, I am good, Katie. For once, I am doing what I want to do, and that is watching the s**t out of The Office." She smiled at me. "But thanks."

"Have fun then." I waved as I followed my brother and friends out of the Beta floor. We went down the stairs, and I nearly ran into James.

He looked me up and down with a growl. His hazel eyes narrowed, and he put his hand on my arm. "You aren't going to the party like that," He snarled. He glanced at his sister. "You too, Michelle."

Michelle and I folded our arms and glared at him. "You aren't the boss of me, James," Michelle sneered at him.

"I'll tell Mom and Dad." He responded.

"Dad is on patrol, and Mom is out with Lisa. So f**k off." She smirked.

I pulled away from him even though it made Zia whimper. I hated defying him, but he had no control over me. James was not yet alpha. "Yeah, our parents said we could go to the party," I told him.

James folded his arms. "Not dressed like that, though," He protested. "Go change into something less revealing," He tried to order me.

"James, you aren't alpha yet. You can't order me around," I pulled away from him.

He growled lowly and looked like he wanted to say something but was holding back.

"Come on, Katie," Michelle pulled on my arm. She glared at her brother as my brother just gave James a sympathetic look. Tony followed us silently as we made our way out of the packhouse to the garage. I looked back to see James standing at the entrance with his arms folded.

I hated making him upset. I felt guilty for defying him, and I couldn't understand why. Zia whimpered in my head but said nothing. We climbed into Tim's Jeep and were off. I started to feel nervous. I knew dressing like this would entice Ben into wanting to do things to me. I shouldn't be provoking him.

It took about forty-five minutes to reach the border of Phoenix Moon Pack. A guard stopped us in the middle of the road. "Hello, we were invited to a party being thrown by Ben Hudson," Tim explained.

"Right, he told us to let you guys in," The guard nodded at my brother. "Have fun and drive safe," The guard tapped the roof of the Jeep and let us through.

We drove through the territory, which for the most part, resembled our own pack's land. Legend had it that a long time ago. It was all one pack at one time. But two brother alphas divided it. So I guess that means Ben and James were very distant cousins. Tim pulled up in front of the house where Ben was holding the party.

I saw the bane of my existence standing out in front, talking to his best friend, Nelson. He brightened up as we all walked towards the house. "Katie," He exclaimed and held out his arms. "You made it. And you brought Michelle." He smirked at her. "You both look hot," He looked past us to Tim and Tony.

"We just want to have fun, Ben," I told him.

He pointed into the house. "Well, there is plenty of beer and other booze, have at it."

Michelle linked her arm with mine and pulled me inside. Loud music vibrated the walls and floors while tons of bodies gyrated to the beat. Most of the people here were Phoenix Moon pack members, but I did see some of Whispering Pines members. I looked back at Tim, and he was standing stiffly in the doorway, sniffing the air.

"What's wrong, Tim?" I asked my brother, and he looked at me with darkened eyes.

"I think my mate is here," He replied. "Jocko is going nuts."

I smiled at my big brother. "Go find her, bro. I hope she is everything you ever wanted."

He pulled me into a hug. "Thanks, sis," He released me and then disappeared into the crowd.

I walked over to the table with the drinks and picked up a can of beer. I hated beer, but I downed it anyway. I downed a couple of more and then joined Michelle and Tony on the dance floor. I wished Freddie could have joined us, but her parents were strict about her coming to parties.

I danced with my friends and drank some more beer. After a while, I felt woozy, so I slinked outside and sat on a bench. My brother walked up to me with an adorable redhead on his arm. She was wearing a black dress with red shoes.

I smirked at my brother. "You found her?" I asked excitedly.

He nodded happily. "Meet Samantha Keys. Samantha, this is my little sister Katie," He said to his mate.

I held out my hand to her, but she pulled me to my feet and hugged me. "Oh, you are adorable, Katie," Her sweet voice said to me. "I can't believe I never met either one of you before, and we all went to the same school."

I pulled back from her. "I'm pretty sure I saw you at school."

"I graduated two years ago. I am studying to be a teacher, and I work in one of the diners." She told me.

"What do you think about being mated to the future beta of Whispering Pines?" I asked her.

She looked up at my brother with a huge smile. "It's a bit overwhelming for someone like me. But he seems okay with it."

"He better be," I gave my brother a look.

She giggled. "I think I'll like having you as a sister. I hope Alpha Hank lets me go to Whispering Pines."

Tim sighed heavily with a look of worry on his face. "What's wrong, Timmy?" I asked my brother.

He shook his head. "I don't know. I am worried the alpha won't let her go."

"Why?" I asked him.

"Just a feeling I have, sis." He looked at the ground. "Anyways, we are going to go get more acquainted," He smiled at Samantha.

"It was nice meeting you, Katie," Samantha waved to me.

I smiled at her. "Me too," I said as my brother whisked her away. I stood up and found more beer to consume, and went back to dancing. I didn't see where Michelle and Tony had gone. I just kept dancing. Ben decided to join me.

"You look hot out here on the dance floor, Katie," He purred in my ear and wrapped his arm around my waist.

I tried pulling away from him, but he tightened his hold and tried to kiss me. I punched his face, and he released me. "I'm going home now, Ben." I snarled and tried walking away, but Ben grabbed me.

"Not until I say you can," He snarled in my ear.

I screamed and punched his arms. "f**k off!" I kicked his knee hard, and he released me.

He glared at me. "You are mine, Katie." He declared.

"No, the f**k I am not!" I screeched at him and walked away. I found Michelle dancing with some guy from school. "We are leaving Michelle," I told her,

She frowned at me and then saw Ben was following me. "Okay, let's go."

I looked back at Ben with a glare and then walked through the house looking for Tim and Tony. We found Tony. I used my sense of smell to find my brother. We found him making out with his mate behind the house. "Timmy, I am sorry," I said as we interrupted him.

He growled and looked at us. "Seriously?"

"Tim, we have to leave," I pleaded with him. I hated making him leave his mate so soon after meeting her.

He looked past us, and I knew Ben was still following us. "Is he giving you problems?" He stood up and walked towards Ben. "What are you doing to my sister, Hudson?"

Ben put up his hands. "Nothing. I was just a good host. But Katie wants to cause a scene."

Tim's fist balled up, and he raised one ot punch Ben, but Nelson showed up and shoved Tim back.

"Back off Ford," Nelson was almost the same size as Tim.

Tim pushed back and punched Nelson. They were about to almost get into a brawl, but Tony and I jumped in. "Tim, stop! Let's just go home. We don't want to start s**t between packs."

Tim growled at Nelson and Ben. "Fine," He sighed. "We are leaving now. No need to start shit."

Nelson nodded and then walked away, with Ben following. Ben smirked at me and then disappeared into the house.

We all walked out to the Jeep with Samantha hanging on Tim. He hugged and kissed his newly found mate. I hoped he would be able to bring her to our pack eventually. Tony, Michelle, and I climbed into the Jeep and watched Tim with his mate. He reluctantly left her and climbed into the Jeep. We drove away and rode in silence. I kept looking at my brother and could see how hard it was for him to leave his mate. His eyes kept turning black, so I knew he was fighting Jocko.

I put a hand on his arm. "I'm sorry, Timmy."

"Why are you sorry?" He asked me quietly.

"Because I had to be stupid and make us have to leave early. You just found your mate and-"

"Katie, don't worry about that. Sam and I will be alright." He patted my hand and turned his attention to the road.

We made it back home. As we walked towards the packhouse, my Dad and Uncle Nate were standing in front smoking. They both looked at Michelle and me as Tony scrambled into the house. "Michelle Brody, what are you wearing?" Uncle Nate snarled.

"Clothes, Daddy," She replied.

My Dad looked me up and down. "Katherine!"

"What?" I shrugged.

He shook his head and looked at Uncle Nate. "We really shouldn't have agreed to let them go to that party."

"No s**t, Jon," Uncle Nate responded.

"Dad, we had fun. It was just a party." I said, trying not to mention the incident with Ben. I looked over at Tim, who smiled.

"Dad, I found my mate," Tim declared to our father.

"That's great, Tim," Uncle Nate responded. "I presume she is from Phoenix Moon?"

"Yes, sir. Her name is Samantha Keys, and she is not a ranked member, but I don't care. Her Dad is a mechanic, and her mom is a nurse. Samantha wants to come here as soon as she can even though she is in college."

"I'll call Alpha Hudson in the morning so we can discuss her coming here," Uncle Nate told my brother.

Tim started discussing his mate with Dad and Uncle Nate. So Michelle and I ran into the house. "I'll see you at breakfast, Katie. I have to go change before my mother sees me." She laughed and ran ahead of me up the stairs.

Halfway up to the beta floor, I ran into James. He gave me a half-smile. "I am sorry about earlier," He said to me. "I just don't like seeing you dressed like that. You are too pretty for clothes like that."

I sighed. "James, I know you mean well. But I am nearly eighteen. I can dress how I want, okay?" I tried pushing past him, and he stopped me.

"I know, Katie. I don't want to be one of those guys that control how a girl dresses." He explained. "I hope you had fun."

I shrugged. I wasn't going to tell him what happened with Ben. James would go ballistic and try to find Ben to beat up. That would not be good for relations between our packs. "It was alright. I am tired now."

"Okay," James said as he walked with me. We reached the beta floor. "Can I walk you to your door?"

I smiled. "Sure," I replied. It felt nice to be near James after what almost happened with Ben. It took only a minute to reach my bedroom door. "Thank you."

James ran his hand down my cheek, and I shuddered as I felt faint sparks run through my body. He leaned in and lightly kissed me. "Goodnight, Katie." His husky voice made my heart race.

"Goodnight, James," I whispered as Zia paced ib my head. I looked into his eyes, and they were flashing between hazel and black. I leaned forward and kissed him again. He pinned me to the wall and deepened the kiss. James nibbled my bottom lip, and I allowed his tongue entrance to my mouth. We held the hot kiss for several minutes before pulling apart for oxygen.

He pulled away from me and ran his hand through his long hair. "Goodnight, Katie," He breathed out and then rushed away from me.

I whined at the loss of contact. My heart was still racing from the kiss and the sparks I felt. 'Zia, is James our mate?' I asked my wolf as I slumped into my room and fell onto my bed. She was silent for a second. 'Zia?'

'Yes, He is our mate.' She replied.

'James is our mate. Does he know?' I asked her.

'Yes, he knew when he turned eighteen. His wolf Poe contacted me. But of course, you know he wasn't able to tell you yet.'

I sighed, remembering the relatively new law the Goddess had made. If a werewolf discovered their mate who was underage, they could not tell them. They had to wait until their mate was of age also or risk losing the bond altogether. 'I am James's mate.'

'Yes,' Zia replied.

I couldn't help but feel happy about it. I had a crush on James for years. He was more than my brother's best friend. I don't know why I hadn't figure it out earlier. No wonder he didn't like how I was dressed to go to Ben's party. 'Zia, does he want me?'

'Yes, he wants you. Poe and James both want us.' She replied.

I sighed happily. James Brody is my mate. I can't believe it. 'Holy s**t. I am going to be the Luna.' My eyes widened. 'Holy s**t! I am going to be Luna.'

'Katie, you got this. You will be a good luna. The pack loves you. Your mate loves you. You are smart and strong. The Goddess knew you could do it. Don't doubt yourself,' My wolf's words were so loving and encouraging.

'I love you, Zia. I can't wait till my birthday. Can I say something to James before then?'

'You can. But I think we should play coy until your birthday.' She laughed.

I laughed back at my cheeky wolf. 'I think so too, Zia.' My eyes began to feel heavy as I thought about the implications of being James's mate. I soon fell asleep and dreamed about my future with James.