noun ~ a severe headache or other after effects caused by drinking an excess of alcohol

POLLUX

The morning after the party was something that I did not look forward to.

As a lycan, my digestive system was one so similar to humans. With a lower magical blood flow and metabolism, werewolves beat me at most things. Drinking was one of them.

Charlie had successfully got me drunk. I think I got to my eighth glass of rum did I realise, and by then, it was too late.

The party was a blur, with Charlie being mostly sober. He didn't leave my side all night, and I found it rather comical how attune he was. It was like a little meerkat; always on the lookout.

There were a lot of guards at the party, even Sean being roped into guard duty. Thankfully, it kept Nova at ease, and her emotions were steady throughout the entire night. As the night grew darker, the emotions grew lighter. So many people were joyous, taking advantage of Phoenix's generosity.

Rubbing my forehead, I remembered a male who had my stomach twisting uncomfortably. And not in the good way. I wasn't sure of his name, but I knew he was not from around here. He reeked of egotistical alpha, and I frowned whenever we made eye contact.

Starting my day with a shower, I groaned into the tiles.

I hate Charlie.

I was definitely moving away from his uncanny ability to get me drunk.

After the rum, I turned to pints, and it just felt wrong. I wasn't a lager drinker! I dreaded what that beer made me speak. I had a loose tongue when drunk. Hence, why I hardly drank.

And then it was gin, and that made me feel much better. The sourness of lemonade was so much better than the yeast of beer.

It was such a man's drink; stereotypically, of course. It wasn't that much of a pleasant drink, and not one I would particularly start out with. It was bitter, and heavy on your stomach. Why have that when you could have something fruity, sweet and glittery?

Once fresh and half-awake for the day, I left my room and trudged my way toward the kitchen. I was pretty sure it was lunchtime; from the brief glance I gave the bright screen of my phone when I woke.

Entering the dining hall, I fixed myself a cup of coffee from one of the various instant machines, opting for a cappuccino. Wolves idled around me, but the major business was happening in the chef's kitchen and the buffet.

I need coffee first, then I can think about food.

Leaning against the counter's side, I scanned my best route for a table. One where nobody sat, and nobody would bug me. It was busier in here today, thanks to Phoenix allowing wolves to stay if they lived too far away.

Meandering my way to the most spacious of tables, I settled down into a chair with my coffee. Sighing contently, I sipped steadily at the burning liquid, welcoming the heat down my throat. People watching was a favourite of mine, and I allowed myself to disconnect for a while.

Once the coffee was well and gone, I helped myself to some food. Craving potato, I piled fries of all kinds onto my plate before finishing it with a burger. Juicy.

Smirking, I carried it back to my still-unoccupied seat and sat down. Back to people watching. Most of the pack were vanishing. The weekend was never usually busy at midday. The wolves that were not from this pack stood out the most, awkwardly looking around as they gathered around one table. I noticed an alpha from last night, the one who kept staring at everybody.

He was sitting at a table surrounded by two other alphas and their lunas, all of them had plates of food. But instead of paying attention to the comrades surrounding him, he locked his eyes on mine. I levelled my gaze with him, my eyebrows furrowing at the intense eye contact. His lips were in a sold line, but quirked when he noticed my confusion.

Why was he staring at me?

Did I do something last night?

I was a chatty drunk, and that often meant I wasn't one to hold back my opinions.

What was this alpha's name again?

I cocked my head, trying to remember. He was masculine and broad, his eyes a cool blue. With hair messy upon his head, I had to admit that the guy was attractive. His nose was rather large, but he was definitely not ugly.

His eyes suddenly shifted to something behind me, a frown marring his face. I looked up to see what caused the distraction, only to sigh when I found the brown eyes of my bodyguard taking the chair beside me.

"Morning, Polly." Charlie grinned.

"What do you want?" I sighed.

Sneaking a glance from the corner of my eye, I watched as the alpha wiped his face with a napkin before dropping it onto his plate. He leaned back in his chair, eying Charlie beside me with distaste.

"Good morning to you too, Charlie. Nice to see you." He sarcastically drawled.

His cutlery clattered as he dropped his fork, and he cursed, dipping down to retrieve it. When he disappeared, I turned to face the alpha, only for my heart to sink slightly as I saw him leave with his comrades. He shot me a small smile before disappearing; the door swishing shut behind them.

"Ugh, can't they take their crap with them?"

I blinked, looking up at Calida with surprise. She sat opposite her mate, who snorted with agreement. Completely forgetting the mysteriously handsome alpha, I stared at her wide-eyed. Her brown eyes flickered up to mine, creasing at the corners when she smirked.

"Cat got your tongue this morning, Pollux?"

Clearing my throat, I scowled. "No."

"Okay," she chirped and began to eat.

Slowly turning my head from the barely seen woman, I gave Charlie a look of confusion. He merely smirked around his fork, shrugging indifferently.

"How are you feeling this morning?" Charlie snickered.

"Fine, why?"

"We had quite the fun last night." He mused.

"I know we did..."

"Do you?" He chuckled. "You were pretty plastered. I had to carry you to bed."

I frowned, feeling slightly embarrassed. "Well, you made me drink so many things I didn't know what it was by the end of the day."

He snorted a laugh. "You mixed them. You could have said no. What was the last thing you remember?"

"Cake." I muttered. "Eating cake with my bare hands."

"Oh boy, did you do a lot."

"You were sober?" I scowled. "I saw you drink."

"Juice." He snorted. "I cannot drink on duty. Phoenix would kill me."

Grimacing, I pushed away my half-full plate. "Why did you get me drunk, then?"

"I just wanted you to loosen up. You were sullen all night."

Point taken.

I wasn't feeling the party.

I only turned up for the food. The people were just a con.

"I saw you eying Alpha Adradus." Charlie snickered.

My head spun, staring wide eyed at him. "Who?"

"Alpha Adradus." He repeated. "The guy who left all of his crap."

"It's not that far to take it to the bin," Calida murmured around a mouthful of pitta bread.

I stared at her, astonished. Why was she here again?

She looked up at me, amused, but didn't answer.

Since when were she and Charlie having lunch arrangements?

"What about him?" I wondered, sliding my gaze back to Charlie.

"Do you seriously not remember anything?"

I felt a bead of sweat on my temple, cold dread shooting down my spine.

"No." I whispered. "What did I do?"

"More like who did you do?" He snickered. "You two were practically one body."

My eyes widened, my lips parting with horror. "I did what?"

I have only ever slept with one person my entire life, and I intended to keep it that way for now.

"You didn't sleep with him." Calida huffed, shaking her head at Charlie. "Just had a snog fest."

I blushed, dipping my head to stare at my lap. I snogged an alpha? An alpha was gay?

"How did this even happen?" I murmured.

"Well, you got rather loud and started eating all the cake." Charlie began, smirking. "Then you moved to the dance floor. Adradus was already there, and somehow you two magnetised. I look away to count the room and then the next thing I know, he's leading you to the corner. I had to follow, and I wish I didn't."

"Problem with two men kissing?" I teased.

"No! But, a problem with someone I called a brother kissing an alpha." He grimaced.

I felt my heart lighten at his confession, but he barely registered his own words as he dived back into his burger. Calida noticed and shot me a warm smile between mouthfuls of bread.

"Who is... Alpha Adradus?" I squeaked.

"An alpha." Charlie snorted.

I scowled at him and he chuckled, leaning into me more. "He is a distant alpha, not one we involve ourselves in much."

"Why not?"

"He is just too far away." Charlie shrugged. "What he can offer us does not benefit us. We are allies, but we are not in constant contact."

"Oh," I muttered. "Is he a good alpha?"

"I think so." He shrugged. "He was pretty wasted last night too, but it seems you are a lightweight."

"You seem to forget that I have a human's immune system." I tutted. "Would you make Calida drink what I did?"

"No, she'd be intoxicated." He scoffed as though I offended him.

I stared at him, astounded, but once again, his food distracted him.

"Right." I stated, shaking my head. "I'm going to go."

"Find lover boy?"

"That was a mistake." I snapped. "I don't... I'm not like that."

Charlie's face softened, and he actually put down his burger. "I know you are not. But alcohol changes people."

I frowned as he continued.

"I enjoyed seeing you loosen up." He admitted. "You were so sullen all night thinking about Clover."

I tensed at the old name, my eyes wide as I stared at Charlie. He seemed to recognise his slip up, because he, too, froze and stared wide ahead. Calida cocked her head, thankfully unaware, as she looked at the two of us.

"Who is Clover?" She wondered.

"N-nobody, nothing." Charlie shook his head. "I meant lovers."

"Oh," she frowned before turning to me with a soft smile. "You will find someone someday, Pollux. Maybe Adradus? He is single."

Thankful for the change of awkward topic, I felt my shoulders relax. "He has a mate out there."

"Nah, he doesn't." Charlie shook his head. "He found his mate, who was a man. It is rare, but it can happen. His mate wasn't happy that he had a male for a mate and rejected Adradus."

"He survived a rejecting?" I wondered, my mind reeling.

"He is an alpha. There isn't much they cannot survive."

"Phoenix would keel over if anything happened to Nova." I shook my head.

"That's because they are fully mated and Phoenix is a wuss now."

We laughed softly, and I took it as my chance to leave. Rising from the table, I hovered for a moment as I bid my goodbyes.

"Where are you going?" Charlie wondered.

"I need to speak with Nova." I cleared my throat, scratching at my cheek. "I did a lot of thinking last night."

He nodded with understanding, wishing me luck. I left them both with a soft smile, curiously looking back to eye the two mates. I spent the entirety of my walk to their home wondering why the two were suddenly so friendly in public. Then again, I avoided the pack house communal areas as much as I could.

Before I could even enter Nova's home, the door swung open. Phoenix peered down at me, gentle relief in his eyes.

"Morning..." I mumbled.

"Can I speak with you?"

I tensed, fearful that he knew about my almost-rendezvous with an alpha. Sputtering a yes, he led me outside to the garden. It was hot today, and I was thankful he put the parasol up before I sat down.

"Everything okay?" I wondered. "Is Nova okay?"

"Yeah, they're okay. Just feeding." He sighed, falling onto the sofa beside me.

I nodded softly, taking him in. His arms hung across the back of the pillows, legs sprawled out in front of him. Despite being mated to my sister, I still had to admit the man was handsome, even rugged and exhausted. Were they up all night?

"I heard you wanted to talk to me, but I wanted to talk to you first." He began.

"Oh?" I wondered. "What about?"

"Where should we start?" He chuckled softly, rubbing at his jaw.

"With you?" I suggested.

Phoenix gazed at the forest beyond his garden, chest rising and falling with gentle breaths. "I wanted to speak to you about why you were so guarded last night."

I swallowed nervously. "Charlie hinted at why."

"Of course he did." He mused. "I had to command him to shut up."

"So why tell me now?" I wondered.

"Because I feel guilty for keeping the reason from you." He shrugged. "And I need your advice."

"What about?"

Advice from me?

"I need to find a way to tell Nova there is a bounty on her head."

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What is something you really need but can't afford?