Let’s Stay Friends

Alcina can hardly suppress her enthusiasm.
Every hour she is getting closer to her goal. She noticed that Jace wasn't really impressed with her. The little girl on his arm was also alarmed at seeing her as if she recognized her. Alcina decides to worry about Jace later. But as for the girl, she makes a mental note to keep a close eye on this kid later. There is something about her that seems so familiar.
The woman already has Clark wrapped around her finger but must prevent him from having too high expectations of their relationship. Under no circumstances does she want to give him the idea of being interested in him other than as a friend. It shouldn't get complicated when she meets the Alpha.
Much to her delight, Gamma Clark takes her to the Alpha floor, where all of the pack's high rankings live in apartments. It turns out that a smaller one is free. “Feel at home in the packhouse, Alcina”, Gamma Clark welcomes her hospitably. “Fresh up and I'll be at your door in half an hour. Then we do the tour around the residence area and make a tribute on the dance floor”, he chuckles. Alcina smiles, in fact, she never danced or went to a club after Giles's death. She suggested all this to impress the man to get him less suspicious. But now, she must confess to him that she doesn't really have dancing feet.
“Hmmm, Clark. I think I was a little over-enthusiastic when I mentioned the club. Usually, I go there to have a drink and have a good time with friends. To be honest, I can't dance," she confessed, apologetic. The Gamma burst out in laughter. The idea that she took the risk of being embarrassed on the dance floor is hilarious. "Do not worry. Most who walk up to dance in the club can't either. They just watch others’ moves and copy that. Sometimes introducing new steps on the spot”, he reassures her jokingly and leaves the room.
Alcina slumps down on the bed.
She didn't think sneaking into this pack would be this easy. It's like the Moon Goddess agrees to her mission. Or is it Giles' soul also looking for retribution? Whatever the case may be, she's won a lot of time now. She quickly gets into the bathroom to shower. The dress she's wearing shows off her slim figure perfectly. With professional makeup on and a sweet perfume on, she inspects the result and sighs in satisfaction. Since Drina decided to keep her relationship with the Alpha King a secret, she has no claim to the Luna Queen position either. And Alcina is therefore counting on not meeting her in the pack. This allows her to win over the pack members, to side with her if needed in the future.
A knock on the door alerts her that Gamma Clark is ready.
After another final inspection of her appearance in the mirror, Alcina opens the door. The Gamma is in a tight shirt and pants, at its best. “Gamma, do I have to tie you up or something, to be sure you will stay at my side? I want to know so I can keep all she-wolves trying to steal you at bay,” she teases him. Clark takes her hand and leads her to the elevator. “Actually, it's me who is at risk of losing you. You look great, baby," he whispers to her, pulling her slowly to his chest. While they are in the elevator, Alcina bows her head, silently hinting to the man that she prefers no intimacy with him. Clark takes the hint and sighs. He had been looking forward to kissing her now that they had a private moment.
When they are downstairs, the Gamma takes her to the parking lot where his Rolls Royce Sport is waiting. Like a gentleman, he helps her sit before he gets behind the wheel. This time again, he notices that the woman beside him avoids being too close to him. He had thought of holding her hand in his and creating a romantic atmosphere in the car before arriving at the club.
“Alcina, do you have a boyfriend or so?” Clark asks at one point as they tour the pack. To him, that's the only reason she's stopping him from getting closer. He knows that humans can be very frivolous with love affairs and he found her hitchhiking along the road without a partner. Maybe her lover was not eager or didn’t have the same interest in traveling with her.
Alcina laughs at his comment, knowing exactly the reason for distancing herself. She now has to provide a proper answer to avoid hurting his feelings so they can remain friends. “My girlfriend told me that werewolves are waiting for their fated mates. It's like we humans call a soul mate," she tells him. “I'm not your fated mate, so I think we'd rather be friends. I want to protect my heart”. Amused, Clark takes a glance at her.
"That's true. But we can have a good time together. There's nothing wrong with that, especially since you won't stay here for long," he unashamedly offers her. “We are adults. No one will blame us for hooking up.” But Alcina shakes her head at his words. “But there is also a chance that I can be someone's mate here? And then an unpleasant situation can arise. If I turn out to be the mate of one of your pack members, I'll have to stay with him. No, Clark, let's just stay friends. That's safer”, she brushes him off.
Clark is disappointed at first.
But when Alcina bends over to him and kisses his cheek, his mood lifts again. By the time they walk into the packed club, they are animated in conversation as if they've known each other for years.
And indeed, all eyes are on them.
The message that a sexy human had arrived has spread like wildfire through the pack. The club has never been so busy as today. Almost every unmated wolf walked out to see Alcina, but the woman continued to hang on the Gamma’s arm all evening. ...