Chapter 22
I blinked a few times, utterly dumbfounded. “What...?” I muttered under my breath. Here I was, having just been pinned against a wall by a man who acted like a crazed predator, inhaling my scent like it was some sort of drug, and now all he had to say was, "You talk too much." It was beyond belief. I scoffed out loud, shaking my head. The world had officially gone mad.
Jake moved away from me, seemingly satisfied with whatever twisted power trip he was on, and leaned lazily against his massive desk. He crossed his arms, a smug smirk playing on his lips. “There’s a dinner party tonight,” he announced, as if the past few minutes of his deranged behavior hadn’t even happened. “I expect you to be ready by seven. Wear something nice—preferably a dress.”
I blinked again, trying to process his words. Was he serious? How could he switch from acting like a lunatic to casually mentioning a dinner party? My blood boiled at his nonchalance. “Excuse me, Alpha,” I said, my voice laced with anger, “but did you hear *anything* I just said? You beat up my friend for no reason, dragged me here against my will, and now you’re acting like nothing happened. Are you really going to pretend that didn’t happen?” I waved my arms in frustration, barely containing the urge to scream.
Jake raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed by my outburst. “Don’t be so dramatic,” he said, his voice dangerously calm. “What would you have me do, mate? You see, my wolf doesn’t take kindly to you shouting at me or defending another male.” He started walking toward me slowly, each step deliberate, his eyes never leaving mine. “Besides, I can do whatever I want. I’m the Alpha,” he continued, his voice carrying a dark edge. “That boy—Bryan—is part of my pack. I can beat him to a pulp if I feel like it. Hell, I could take his life if I wanted to. So if you want him to live another day, I’d advise you not to provoke my wolf any further.”
I stared at him, speechless, as he loomed over me like a dark storm cloud. He looked down at me as if I were nothing more than a nuisance, a child throwing a tantrum. “Now,” he added dismissively, “you can go. I’m done with you.”
My mouth fell open in shock. The audacity of this man! My whole body trembled with rage. Without another word, I huffed and stormed out of his office, slamming the door behind me with a loud bang. My heart pounded in my chest as I stomped down the hallway. “That bastard,” I muttered under my breath, fuming. “How dare he treat me like that?”
I was so lost in my own angry thoughts that I didn’t see the person in front of me until I collided with them. “Oomph!” I grunted, nearly toppling over. The other person let out a surprised squeal.
“Oh my gosh, Cathy!” I exclaimed when I realized who I’d bumped into. Her eyes widened, and in an instant, we were hugging each other and squealing like we were thirteen-year-olds at a slumber party.
“Prisca!” she said, squeezing me tightly. “I’ve missed you so much! What are you doing out here? Did the big bad Alpha finally let you out?” She waggled her eyebrows playfully, but I could see the concern in her eyes.
I smiled, though it was weak. “Yeah, sort of. I had training with Bryan, and now I’m supposed to go back to his... apartment or whatever.” I shrugged. I didn’t even know what to call it. His lair? His prison?
Cathy’s face twisted in disapproval. “No way, girl! There’s a dinner party tonight, and we are both going—even if I have to stage a jailbreak to get you there!” She grabbed my hand and started pulling me down the hallway.
“Wait, Cathy—no need for that!” I said quickly, stumbling along behind her. “The Alpha already told me about the party. He expects me to be ready by seven.”
She stopped in her tracks, turning to face me with wide eyes. “He *told* you? That’s great news!” she squealed in excitement, dragging me along again. “That means we have time to go shopping!”
Shopping? The idea of shopping after the day I’d had seemed absurd, but Cathy’s enthusiasm was contagious. I couldn’t help but laugh as she led me through the pack territory.
***
Several hours later, after what felt like an eternity of shopping, I was utterly exhausted. To my surprise, the pack territory had its own little shopping district, complete with cafés, boutiques, and everything you’d expect to find in a small city. Cathy had been determined to find me the perfect dress, and by the time she was done, I had tried on more dresses than I cared to count. We’d even run into Stephanie, who immediately joined Cathy in her mission to find the most drool-worthy outfit for me.
Now, back in the Alpha’s apartment, we were preparing for the dinner party. It was already five o’clock, and Stephanie was panicking about how little time we had left. “We’re never going to be ready in time!” she wailed, running around like a chicken with its head cut off.
“Stephanie, relax! We’ll be fine,” Cathy said soothingly, as she curled my hair with a thick curling iron. I sat in front of a large mirror, watching as Cathy turned my normally straight hair into long, wavy curls. The reflection staring back at me looked surprisingly good, the soft waves framing my face perfectly.
Stephanie was still sulking. “I’m going to get dressed now, and then I’ll do your makeup,” she said, unzipping a garment bag that held her dress.
***
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, we were ready. The three of us stood in front of a full-length mirror in my bedroom, staring at our reflections in awe. I had to admit, Stephanie had a real talent for makeup.
I looked... beautiful. My long, wavy hair fell to my waist, shiny and voluminous. My face was glowing, my skin radiant and flawless thanks to Stephanie’s magic touch. She’d gone with bold red lipstick to match my dress, which was a vibrant shade of scarlet. The dress itself was stunning—a figure-hugging number that reached mid-thigh, showing off all my curves. The lace sleeves added an elegant touch, and the low-cut neckline revealed just enough cleavage to be alluring without being too much. My black stiletto Louboutins completed the look, making me feel both sexy and sophisticated.
I’d never felt this glamorous in my life. I even had on designer Gucci jewelry—a diamond necklace and matching earrings that sparkled in the light.
Stephanie looked breathtaking as well. She wore a long, black mermaid dress that clung to her curves in all the right places. The plunging neckline showed off her ample cleavage, and her red hair was sleek and straight, cascading down her back like a waterfall. Her bold red lipstick perfectly complemented her fiery hair, and the dramatic eyeliner made her green eyes pop.
Cathy, on the other hand, looked like a princess. Her royal blue dress was mid-thigh like mine, but sleeveless with an embroidered bodice that shimmered under the light. Her short blonde hair framed her face, which looked even more delicate and doll-like than usual. She also wore black Louboutins, though hers had a thicker heel.
We looked incredible.
“I have a feeling tonight is going to be unforgettable,” I whispered, still staring at our reflections. The girls grinned in agreement, and a part of me couldn’t help but wonder what surprises the night would bring.
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