POV: Emma Sanders

How could I have been so stupid as to get close to him? I knew what guys were like around me. I offered a slice but they always wanted more. It was always the same every single time so what made me think Callum would be any different? He was a man just like the rest of them. Their desires always ended up overriding their ability to think rationally in the end.

Finding another lover would be easy but finding a lover who would be willing to be in a romantic agreement without sex would be difficult. Callum was a once-in-a-lifetime card and I had just thrown that card away. Fuck!

"If it isn't the hottest bitch in the entire land."

I froze. I had thought iI would be able to escape to the safety of my little apartment home without running into anyone but now that was just a dream I had been painfully yanked out of. Freya would pull me along to wherever the fuck it was she was heading whether I liked it or not. Even in my current mood, I was still powerless against her charms.

"Freya! So nice to see you." I said making my voice sound fairly excited.

She winced, "Cut the bullshit. It doesn't suit you."

She drew me into her arms for a big hug. Freya was a hugger. The scent of her cologne numbed my senses for a while till I was able to draw away and get my breath moving back in its steady pattern.

"Where are you running off to?" she asked.

Freya wore a head warmer big enough to fit in two planets. Her long silky red hair hid inside the wool cap and that was the way she liked it. The only time you could see Freya's hair exposed was when she was drunk. That was when she let loose unleashing the beast she kept inside on a constant leash. She was crazier than I was, the only difference was that she tamed her beast while mine ran freely.

"Home."

She shook her head and then linked her hand with mine. "No, you ain't. We are going for the Alpha's coronation party." she squealed excitedly.

Fuck no...Fuck no...

I stood my ground but somehow she managed to pull me along with ease.

"Freya but-"

"No buts," she said waving a finger. "Just haul ass and keep shut."

"I heard the new Alpha is a cutie!" She squealed like a schoolgirl.

I shrugged. I had my fill with guys for the moment. I needed a break from any scene that involved men. I told her exactly how I felt without forgetting to add the singular rule that she wasn't allowed to ask me about it because I didn't feel like talking about it. She studied me for a while then sighed. "At least come for the free booze and chicken wings. Cake. Isn't today suppose to be your birthday? Who would want to spend their birthday in the boring space of a lonely house?"

I thought about it for a moment.

She had a point especially since she mentioned the free booze and the chicken. I could do without the cake but the others had to be available or I would kill her on the spot.

"Fine." I gnawed at the word.

She pumped her fists in the air in a victory dance that looked as annoying as the song that followed it. It was the small price I had to pay for getting into the Alpha's coronation party where there would be free booze and chicken. Remember, free booze and chicken would make all this worth it; I told myself in an inspirational thought.

"First, let's get you something to wear." She said pulling me towards the road leading to her apartment. The sun was almost down fully.

"What's wrong with what I'm wearing?" I asked.

I watched my outfit get a little self-conscious. The white print T-shirt and blue denim jean was a classic way to dress so what was wrong with it? She ignored my question as if she hadn't heard me ask.

"What's wrong with it?" I asked again standing still.

She slapped her forehead. "Let's just say you look like you fix motorcycles for a living; which isn't a bad thing but we are going to the Royal palace for this thing. Not a garage."

"It's okay. You've made your fucking point!"

***

There were just too many people here that it just felt like the right thing to do hiding away in the hall I had stumbled into. Freya had pulled me into the mist of her friends. Their talks and waves of laughter had swarmed me from every angle and it had made me feel dizzy. I had to get to somewhere quiet where I could breathe and munch the chicken I had picked off a tray on my way.

I wiggled off the heels I had worn.

The damned thing was killing my feet. Freya had promised it would get better the more I moved around with it but so far all it had managed to do was to give me a fucking cramp. I sat on an empty seat and massaged my feet as I moaned from the sweet pain it brought along with it. My feet felt sore which was a nice way to put it.

I looked around the dark hall and noticed how massive it was. It was empty apart from a few chairs and a beautiful sky ceiling that revealed the dull glow of the full moon.

It felt relaxing here compared to the chaos I had met outside. I let the feel of the cold tiles against my tortured feet provide a feeling of relaxation that was therapeutic.

My eyes flickered as I held the bone of the chicken I had just devoured. I struggled to stay awake but the chicken was acting like a sedative in my system drawing me deeper into exhaustion.

"Who are you?"