I could barely slept that night, every time I closed my eyes, those glowing eyes flashed behind my lids cold, watching, patient.
By morning, I wasn't sure if what I saw was real or just another nightmare, I looked at cutie and she was still sleeping peacefully.
I tried to act normal, but the moment I got to school, the whispers started. People were talking non-stop about the party happening this evening by six. Flyers and posters were everywhere on walls, doors, even the bathroom mirrors. If you hadn't heard about the party, you were definitely deaf or blind.
"Lily, are you okay?" Linda asked, appearing beside me with her usual bright smile.
"I'm fine. Why do you ask?"
"You look spaced out," she said, frowning slightly. "Like your body is here, but your soul's already on vacation. C'mon, brighten up! Anyway about the party arrangements I told you over the phone..."
"Yeah," I said quickly. "Please, spill. I need to go to that party."
Linda's grin widened. "Okay, here's the plan. You'll tell your mom it's that time of the month and you've got bad cramps. She'll probably give you painkillers and tell you to rest. Then, say you're going to bed early so you can sleep off the pain. Once she thinks you're asleep, you sneak out through your balcony so before she will come around to check up on you by then we will be back from the party."
I stared at her, half impressed and half nervous. "But Linda... six p.m. is too early for me to 'go to bed.' She'll never buy it."
Linda rolled her eyes. "Fine, make it seven. The party won't even start on time anyway. Sneak out by seven, come to my place, and from there we'll dress up and head out together."
I hesitated. "But Linda-"
"No buts, Lily!" she cut in, grinning like she'd just cracked a genius code. "This is the best plan we've got. We need to go shopping for party gowns today. We can't be caught looking unfresh."
I couldn't help laughing. "You're unbelievable."
She wiggled her eyebrows dramatically. "Unbelievably fabulous. Now repeat after me..."
I shook my head, laughing, but she started dancing quietly, whispering, "We're gonna party tonight."
I joined in, and before I knew it, we were both giggling like kids, completely forgetting for a moment about the wolf.
Later That Evening..
Everything happened exactly as planned.
I told Mom about my "cramps," and she immediately brought me painkillers, told me to rest, and not to bother with dinner. By 7 p.m., the house was quiet. I sent Linda a quick message, slipped on my black hoodie, and quietly climbed out through my balcony.
My heart was racing the whole time, but once I hit the ground, a rush of excitement replaced the fear. I booked a ride and headed straight to Linda's house.
When she opened the door, she squealed. "You actually did it! Girl, you're a legend!"
We both got ready together.. hair, makeup, perfume the whole thing. Then came the gown.
It was short armless and butt-length deep purple and sleek. It hugged my curved body perfectly, the fabric soft and shimmering under the light. It wasn't flashy, but it was bold. The neckline dipped just enough to tease, and when I looked in the mirror, I barely recognized myself.
"Damn," Linda said, grinning. "The party is not ready for this version of you."
I rolled my eyes but smiled anyway. "Let's just go before I change my mind."
BYRAIN'S POV:
The party was already wild by the time we got there. Music pounded through the walls, lights flashed in every color, and the scent of alcohol, perfume, and adrenaline filled the air. People were laughing, dancing, shouting but the moment she walked in, everything else faded into the background.
Lily.
For a second, even I forgot how to breathe.
Her gown was short and armless, butt-length piece that clung to her body like it was made just for her. It shimmered under the neon lights, the deep shade of purple hugging every curve perfectly. Each step she took made the tiny stones and sequins on the dress sparkle like fireflies.
The neckline dipped just enough to tease, not to shout, and her bare shoulders glowed under the soft party lights. Her legs looked toned and smooth, and the confidence in her walk made every guy in the room stare without shame.
She looked fearless bold, elegant, and effortlessly hot.
And I hated how everyone's eyes were on her.
"Wow, who are those chicks?" Army said beside me, pointing toward Lily and her friend. "They're gorgeous."
Zion chuckled. "Are you kidding? That's Lily the same girl from Inspirational Class. The one Byrain can't stop staring at."
Army's eyebrows shot up. "That's her? Damn. Both girls look fine. I'm shooting my shot tonight I just hope she's not boring."
I shot him a deadly glare, and he quickly raised his hands in surrender.
"Okay, okay. Relax, Alpha of the Rocky Pack," he teased quietly. Then his tone dropped. "But seriously, are you not worried? The Moon Pack's here too. We don't know what they're planning. We can't let what happened at the last party happen again."
"Are you afraid already?" I said, not taking my eyes off Lily.
Zion cut in before Army could reply. "I'll be keeping watch. If anything feels wrong, I'll report to your father immediately. And we all know what that means. The Rocky Pack doesn't lose."
He said that and then disappeared into the crowd.
I turned my attention back to Lily. She was surrounded by guys already laughing, smiling, trying to act like they deserved her attention. Pany, my wolf, growled inside me, the sound vibrating through my chest.
She's ours, he whispered. No one touches what's ours.
Before I knew it, I was moving toward her. My heart wasn't calm anymore it was wild, restless, and I couldn't control it even if I wanted to.
LILY'S POV:
The party was everything everyone had hyped it to be loud, wild, and blindingly bright.
Music thumped through the speakers so hard it made the floor vibrate beneath my heels. Colored lights flickered across the room, catching on the g
walls and the glitters on my gown. People were laughing, screaming, dancing like they didn't have a care in the world.
Linda was already in her element, waving at people she knew, dragging me from one group to another. I tried to keep up, but my eyes kept drifting across the hall.
Then I saw him.
Byrain.
He wore a deep blue shirt, the top buttons undone, showing off part of his chest and the sculpted six-pack beneath. The shirt clung perfectly to his broad shoulders, tucked into black fitted trousers that matched his sneakers and his dreadlocks were plaited in two rows. Simple but dangerously hot.
Everywhere he went, heads turned. Girls whispered, giggled, and pretended not to stare, but they all did.
Then Kathryn strutted toward him, hips swinging like she owned the place. She wore a pink beaded mini gown that glittered every time the light hit it,her boobs were practically all out and I bet if she had bend a little further we might be seeing her pants. Her smile screamed desperation.
Around me, the crowd buzzed.
"Did you see that? Byrain Davis just looked at me!" one girl squealed.
"What's wrong with you? He wasn't looking at you," another snapped.
"He totally fell for me. I mean, look at this dress!" the first girl said, twirling.
"You're pathetic," her friend hissed. "Keep dreaming and pray the DIVAS don't hear you, or you'll be digging your own grave."
Another voice jumped in. "He was looking at me..a girl with a weird makeup spat!"
"Zion's the one I'm after," someone else chimed.
"No way Army's my guy tonight," a short girl said, laughing.
I rolled my eyes and laughed softly. "My gender be doing the most," I muttered to Linda, who was sipping her Tequila vodka and I did same too.
Linda looked stunning her black corset mini gown glittered with tiny diamond stones under the lights. We both carried matching clutch purses and wore black stiletto heels that clicked perfectly against the floor.
She leaned closer, smirking. "Girl, if we don't catch someone's eye tonight, I'll assume the world is blind."
I laughed, shaking my head. "You're crazy, you know that?"
"Maybe," she said with a wink, "but at least I look good doing.
"I've been waiting for this moment," Linda said before diving into the dancing ground.
Then my eyes drifted back to Byrain just in time to see Kathryn all over him, giggling, touching his chest, even pressing a kiss to his cheek.
I quickly looked away, pretending it didn't bother me, but my chest felt tight.
I tried to focus the music again and on the guy in front of me, his voice trembling as he confessed his love, but everything around me felt like a blur,forcing a smile, but then...
I heard a voice deep, calm,loud and close.
"My baby."
I froze. Slowly, I turned around and there he was.
Byrain.
The whole hall went quiet immediately and some where whispering.
