DEDICATED TO Twinraven ! :) Thank you, my friend! <3

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Nyah Pineda's PoV:

It's exhausting, really. To talk to Alessia Lois Clarke.

"For the hundredth time, Alessia. I am not coming with you. And get your legs off my desk." I don't look up from the papers in front of me, resisting the urge to roll my eyes as I push the bridge of my black rimmed glasses up.

Yes, unfortunately for me, I have this minor issue with my eyes while reading; passed down from some weak-bodied ancestor that requires for me to wear glasses.

"Oh, and by the way, I know you don't need the contacts but I think you should wear those anyway. There will be too many flashing lights and pulsing music and shit, we don't want you to lie about some headache and escape like the last time." Alessia continues, completely ignoring me as she texts someone on her phone, still not bothering to take her legs off. One would think that sitting in the Alpha's office, she would have the least bit of respect or fear for the current Alpha sitting right in front of her.

Sadly, no. All thanks to me befriending her when we were in diapers and not giving a shit when she cusses me or at me.

'We wouldn't have her any other way, though.' My Wolf comments fondly, and I can't help but agree. No matter what happens, I can rely on Alessia to be there for me and never, ever betray me.

Every Alpha needs a friend like that.

"Alessia." I call, putting my pen down from the requests review and sighing roughly. No response as expected. "Alessia." I repeat, my voice coming out sharper this time with unconcealed annoyance.

Finally, her Highness looks up. "What?"

"I don't want to come to Ezra Harland's party."

She looks at me blankly, as if she couldn't see the relevance in what I just said.

"So, I'm not coming." I repeat what I'd been saying since the moment she'd stepped into my office twenty minutes before, sighing irritatedly once again.

"Did I give you a choice, Nyah Pineda?" Alessia puts her phone on the table and crosses her arms, staring me down stubbornly.

Too bad her stubbornness doesn't even begin to cover my own. After all, the Alpha in me has to show herself in at least some of my traits. Even if I'm only second born and not as hard-headed as my brother is meant to be genetically. The reminder of my brother tempts me to get lost in another rabbit hole full of mixed thoughts. That's a can of worms I'll open later.

"First of all, take your legs off. And second of all, Ezra Harland is a bully and his friends are all bullies too and I don't wanna subject myself to his annoying presence." I cut my eyes to the side and narrow them for further effect, finally having had enough of her bullshit.

"Fine!" Alessia takes her legs off, finally, although not getting up to leave like I'd expected she would, uh-oh, "First of all," She mimics me, throwing up her index finger to further enunciate her point, "You could've used your Alpha command on me and made me leave, or better yet, you could've Alpha-slapped my mouth shut the moment I agreed to go. BUT, you didn't. So, that just tells me you're throwing one of your fits. Where you really want to do something, but don't want to do it on your own and want me to beg and convince you so you can tell yourself that you're only going because of me."

"And?"

"And what?" She questions, confused.

"You said 'first of all', so what's 'second of all'?" I query, placing my arms on the desk and leaning forward, trying not to show my amusement.

"There is no 'second of all'! My only 'of all' is that you come with me and stop lying to yourself about it!" Alessia exclaims as she stands up and slams her small palms on my desk, breathing hard like a pissed off buffalo.

Heck, who am I kidding? She's more like a kitten and no matter what she does, she's never gonna look threatening.

And unfortunately for me, guys like Ezra are into girls like her. Extremely pretty and cute no matter what they do, plus the added benefit of them usually being a lower rank and their Wolves ready to submit to their Mates.

I don't realize I chuckled out loud, because Alessia cries in outrage all of a sudden, falling back onto the chair with a huff, "Like I thought. Just wear the dress I got you and sit prettily. I'll swing by an hour early to do your hair and make-up. I swear, if you try to curl your hair or pull some other shit before I'm here," She wags her finger at me threateningly, "Well, you know the consequences."

"Yes, ma'am."

"Good. Imma go do that gardening I promised my mama, now."

"See you later, ma'am!" I call after her back as she leaves the room, chuckling once again at her cute anger.

But no matter what, the woman has a point. I could've commanded her to stop, but, really it's not my way of getting things done. And I wouldn't command her to stop even if I really was opposed to going, because, well, I don't like exerting my will on anybody, just like that. It feels a bit immoral and unless absolutely necessary, I refrain from using my Alpha tone.

All things aside, it really wouldn't be that bad if I show up at his place. It's not like he can say shit and get away with it, without getting ass kicked to next Monday.

'And you said some pretty shitty things, too.' My Wolf, just like every Mated Wolf on the planet, takes her Mate's side in a blink.

I ignore her snide remark.

And really, he can't be immature enough to try and pull anything now either.

I think.

~

The first meeting I'd attended after hearing the news of the Alpha title I'd be receiving due to the absence of my brother, is now officially over. After this, it's all drinks and dancing and food and general schmoozing. In no particular order.

Goddess, just how much more of this torture are You gonna make me endure?

"Go sit with the kids." My father says as he gives me a slight shove in the direction of the raucous table on the other side of the room, nodding at me. "And make friends with them. They're important."

"Yes, Alpha." I control a tired exhale of air and stand straight, waiting for him and Beta Moron to walk over to the other tables where all the adults were seated; them too, laughing obnoxiously, half of them already a bit drunk from the drinks that'd been flowing freely from the start of the meet.

I sigh out loud when they're finally out of earshot, twisting around to walk in the direction of the buffet arrangement of the food lining three sides of the huge room. Right next to the part where the plates are kept, the very first table is occupied by the very group of people that I can't help but childishly envy.

"No way!" Seneca Mordecai shrieks with laughter as she throws her head back, laughing the loudest of them all. The table is huge, and almost all the kids from the bigger packs are seated around the Mordecai duo, and even a couple of them from packs smaller than the Pineda pack were there too.

Uh oh, looks like I'd have to go and make nice with them.

"Yes, way." Ezra Harland replied as he shot her a smirky grin, and every single person at the table just laughs even more.

What the heck is he even telling them? And why the heck is he smiling like that? Like he knows a dirty secret about you, that you desperately want to hide from the world.

Just as I'm about to spin around and stop looking at them and finally grab the freaking plate I am standing there for, Ezra cuts his eyes away from the people on the table and directly meets mine. It's like he knew all along that I was standing there, or if you believe in extreme coincidences; it was like he just happened to look away and directly met my gaze.

Holy freaking Mother of tomatoes! I'm frozen in panic, absolutely locked in place with those chilling blue orbs of his, and no matter how much I want to, I just can't look away.

And then those eyes freeze over, darken and then I realize that he's glaring at me.

Like, actual, full on, glowering that people do when they're pissed off.

What in the actual hell?

This is the second time he's doing it, and as far as I know, I haven't even properly met the guy in my life before.

My breath hitches in my throat at the unpleasant feeling unfurling in my chest at this blatant dislike from a guy I have never spoken to, and that shakes me off the hold he seemed to have on me. I quickly grab a plate and a little bowl from the stacks lined neatly across the linen-clothed table, speeding through the available food and grabbing quick spoonfuls of whatever looks a little bit like something I'd enjoy.

With this unease in the pit of my belly though, I'm not sure I'll be able to stomach much food without hurling it all.

"Oh, man! I can't believe that kid did that!" Daemon Kyler, seemingly the best friend of the Mordecai pair, moans in annoyance. I try not to listen as I help myself to a piece of toasted bread, but he's loud and I'm close enough that it's impossible not to, "I mean, c'mon. I understand everyone wants to either be us, or be with us. But going to such extents to get us to like them? It's so phony. These days, I feel like every single person who tries to talk to me is fake."

"Yeah, me too." That's Ezra's unmistakable voice in response, "And these meetings are becoming a nuisance too. Kids from the smaller packs are such wannabes. Like seriously? Either train yourself to become strong enough or just stay the hell away. We don't want little crying babies here. And don't even get me started on second-borns."

My back goes rigid at the last comments. If I'd been just a random passer-by when I'd heard that comment, I'd have assumed they were talking shit and walked away, but it'd have still stung like hell, because that is unfair. Being born second is not something you can help, neither is belonging to a smaller pack.

But, the fact that he'd been just glaring at me like I'd participated in the murder of his little sibling? Despite me never having tried to talk to the snooty little jerk-off, I know that he intended that comment for me.

It just hurts a whole hell a lot more.

"My Goddess! Since when are you two such assholes . . ." Seneca cries in what sounds like horror, but I don't stick around long enough to hear what fake admonishment she is going to come up with to chide her friends.

She is just like them all. A part of the privileged little brats who think they're the Goddess' gift to earth.

I ignore their raised argumentative tones and walk further away from them until their voices are just a murmur in the cacophony of the dinner hall. Finally, an empty table comes to view at the other corner of the hall and I plop down, putting down the plate with unnecessary force as I try to reign in my wild emotions.

No. No matter how much it feels like he opened up my mind and read all my insecurities and then put them on display, I will not give in to this urge to cry.

I won't.

The incident from my six years ago I'd been struck with all of a sudden, does nothing but remind me of what a prick Ezra Harland was.

Still is. Despite acting like he has grown up and become all friendly by inviting me and Alessia over.

I won't be fooled. Not ever again.

And if memory serves me right, the next time I'd seen Ezra six months later, even if I'd not been able to train myself as well as I'd have liked to have been, I'd perfected a solid armor to fend off his hurtful words and scathing looks.

I'd started becoming the Alpha I was meant to be.

~ * ~

QUESTION: More flashbacks or less flashbacks?

NEXT UPDATE: JUNE 13.

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