-Tavyra's POV- 

The sun had long set and the wind and picked up and I was starting to get tired. I looked at my phone and saw it was 10 o'clock. Yea, it was time to go home. The problem was I had lost Montavius about half an hour ago and had no idea where he'd gone. I messaged him 20 minutes ago and still nothing. Maybe he went back home without me. 

If he did, he's gonna hear a lot from me. I couldn't help some of the shivers from the brisk wind that gave me goosebumps. "Would you like to go inside?" I turned and looked back at the voice. It was Zannic. 

I gently smiled. It was nice seeing a familiar face in this unfamiliar pack. "Yea. That'd be nice." He stepped aside and let me get in front of him to the house. It wasn't like I didn't know where it was. I noticed the crowd had thinned by now, maybe just a couple of groups of teenagers either drunk or stoned. I guess that was my cue to leave. 

We stepped in the house and some of the pack had moved in here too. In the den next to the front entrance, a small party had gathered here, maybe 20 people. They were playing some popular pop music like Trey Songs, Alessia Cara, and Future. No doubt the rest of the house could hear it. I turned to Zannic, "Don't you think it's a little late to be so loud?" 

He chuckled and put his hand on my back, it felt warm and comforting, "Don't worry, they usually quiet down around midnight." 

I nodded. I was tired now, but I couldn't find Montavius so maybe I shouldn't hit the sack just yet. Maybe he's in there. "Alpha Zannic." We both turned to see the old guy again. I do believe his name was Rufus. "I'd like to talk to you for a moment." 

He nodded and before he left I told him, "I'm probably gonna check out the den." 

"Alright. Just, be careful what drinks they have. They could be alcoholic." He stepped over to Rufus and I felt his hand leave me back. It surely did feel colder when he did. A shiver ran through me. I shook it from my mind and headed towards the den. There was definitely a smell of alcohol. And a rather strong one. There were a few people on the floor dancing, but most of the audience littered the outskirts next to the wooded walls. 

I was looking around for Montavius, but then my eyes saw Kristy. I never got to thank her about the bandages. I started making my way through the crowd to her. That's when I started to hear the whispers of the others around me. "That's the girl Alpha took inside." "Probably just a toy to him." "Didn't you said he hit her?" "You see that bandage? Of course he hit her." "What would Alpha want with a black girl like her anyway." Listening to the others around had put my cold chill almost to a hot sweat. My hands were getting wet and clammy and I couldn't help but hug myself in my nervousness. Everyone was talking about me like this? It hadn't even crossed my mind before now. 

"Hey, Kristy." I said as casually as I could. 

She turned to me and smiled, "Hey." She let me into the circle of her and two others, one guy, one girl, but they seemed too stoned out to noticed the new addition to the circle. 

"Thanks for patching me up." 

She scoffed playfully and took a drink from her cup, it wasn't the punch cups from outside, it wasn't see through and had an odd smell to it, "No problem. You should probably see me before you go to bed so it won't get infected." She said calmly. 

Infected? I could only have a look of disgust to that. I asked her, "So, do you do like, all of the pack's injuries." 

She shook her head, "Nah. That's what the pack doctor's for. I usually just tend to the pack house. Gotta do somethin' 'fore medical school." 

"Cool, what school are you heading to?" 

"Harvard Medical." Wow, I was actually impressed. This girl was my age and already had her life together. And had Harvard on top of that. Me ,on the other hand, still had to figure out if I would go to college. "Hey, have you seen my brother?" 

As we were talking, I heard someone come up behind me, "Oh, look. It's the girl that pissed of Alpha earlier." I turned around and a brown-haired, brown eyed girl looked me up and down. I looked down at the time on my phone. 11.12. It was getting too late for this. "What did Alpha need to 'unload' some things? How much did it cost him?" Her girls snickered behind her. 

I scoffed listening to her, "At least make your jokes good. For example, everybody knows your profession because your knees are ashy." Behind me, I heard Kristy almost spit out her drink and choke out of laughter. I think she was a bit tipsy, but it was nice to have someone behind me. 

This girl glared at me, "You think you're buddy buddy with Alpha Zannic just because he had his way with you a couple times?" I rolled my eyes, not wanting to answer this stupid question, "If he even likes any girl around here, it's me." 

"Oh, so you have frequent customers then?" I heard a snicker erupt through the crowd starting to form around us. Great. This girl wanted to cause a scene, and to be quite frank, I just want to go to bed. 

She stepped closer towards me, I could smell the expensive perfume that smelt like burnt flowers and saw the couple pimples and veins coming from her forehead, "Just remember, Alpha Zannic doesn't waste his time on whores. He's rather spend his time on ladies like me." God, this girl just wanted to come at me for almost no reason. Can't I mind my own business for once? 

"Please get out my face." I asked calmly. 

The girl threw her drink into my face and most of it got into my eyes. Whatever this was was burning. I stumbled backwards until I felt two hands on my back. It had to be Kristy because I soon heard, "That was so unnecessary. She wasn't even messin' with 'cha!" My dress was wet, my eyes were burning, and I couldn't even see anything but blurry figures. 

"Stay over there, little Ms.Harvard." She taunted. 

I was able to get some of my vision back to see Zannic standing right behind the brown-haired girl. Her other two girlfriends had left her and disappeared. I was really glad to see him actually. His chest was lifting up and down rather quickly as he clenched his fist together. Over the girl's snickering, a low, soul-churning growl was heard. That's when everything went silent. That was the Alpha's growl. 

"If someone doesn't explain to me what happened in the next three seconds, the next five minutes will not be happy." He threatened. Kristy began pushing me towards Zannic and he ordered her quietly, "Take her to my room." Kristy nodded and started to make our journey, everybody moving out of our way. Possibly out of fear. Possibly out of respect. Either way, I just wanted to leave. 

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Upstairs in Zannic's room, Kristy had reapplied my bandage and checked my eyes. She gave me some of her clothes so I could get out of my wet ones which felt much better, but I couldn't help but worry about why Zannic wasn't up here yet. It had been about 20 minutes. "Sorry, 'bout Megan. She's been trying to get with the Alpha as long as I can remember. She even tried to get with my brother, but it didn't last as long as it has with Zan." 

I listened closely. Megan made no sense down there and cause me some unwanted trouble. Kristy looked around the room, "Anything else I could help you with?" 

I smiled gently, rather just tired as I unlocked my phone and started putting in Montavius' number, "No thanks, you should get some rest tho." 

She started heading out the door. "Alrighty. Well if you need something. I'm right next door." 

I smiled, "Thanks." I pressed for the call to send and I heard the dial tone soon after. I sat on Zannic's King sized bed. I had to say it was fitting as I felt the silk sheets and comforting. Two rings went by. His windows were closed so it was darker than if there was any light besides the one lamp in the corner on. I had to say, it was rather relaxing. I laid back on the bed. Did I really want to get back into the wolf world? Two more rings went by. 

All the responsibility. The managing. And then being with the Alpha. A whole other plate to add on. But Zannic was nice and sweet. Well, to me at least. That's all that mattered. Maybe I should give this a try again. I probably won't becomes Rouge again. Hopefully. Ha. Plus, I think I could have Zannic's back the way he has mine. He seems like the one to not have many people to count on. But the minute stuff hits the fan, I'm gone. I promise to that. I refuse to let myself be in an abusive relationship with him. That'd hurt like crazy. Another three rings went by. 

I yawned and stretched more tired than I thought I was getting comfortable on his bed. I heard the door open and that's when the call when to voicemail. I gave up, hoping he was at home and put my phone on the nightstand. "Hey, Tavyra." 

I smiled at Zannic as I swung my feet from his bed, "Everything alright down there?" 

He came closer and my breathing became shallower, seeing him calm and collected and in the power of authority. I don't know what it was. This was the best he'd ever looked. His hair shoveled and pushed to one side and some scruff forming on his cheeks and chin. I could tell he was just as sleepy as I was. "Yea, everything's handled. Lemme know if she bothers you anymore." 

I reached my hand up and caressed his stubble. His eyes gently closed. The touch definitely felt warmer than before. Maybe it was because we weren't outside anymore.  "I will." 

He kept his eyes closed for a moment longer and had a sigh of relief from a long day. I could relate to him as I gently smiled. "Sleep in my bed tonight, okay? I'll take the couch downstairs." 

I looked at him, "Are you sure? It is your bed after all." 

He gently chuckled, "Of course I'm sure. No way am I gonna let you sleep on an uncomfortable couch. You deserve the best." I couldn't stop the blush rising from my cheeks, hopefully he didn't see it, "And my bed is the best." He joked. 

I leaned closer to him and kissed his cheek again. Grateful and glad to be stepping into his life. And not even rushing into it. That was one of the best parts. There a smile silence before he turned serious, "I want you in my life at all costs. But-" There's a but option now, "if you ever think you can't handle this. Or it's too much. You can...leave. I want you to be happy wherever you are." 

I was surprised. Most of the time I hear the stories of, "I never want my mate to leave." or "Stay with me forever." But giving me the choice. That was a first. Does he know about my past or something. "Well thanks, but I think I'm gonna stay." I could see his body relax as I said I was staying. So maybe he didn't say it happily, "Gonna take a lot more for me to just leave." We both lightly chuckled. 

He went to his drawers and grabbed some clothes, then headed towards the door, "Sleep well. If you need me. I'll be downstairs." He told me. 

I nodded as I laid back in his bed, "Alright. Goodnight." The door closed behind him and I had some concerns about sleeping in some stranger's bed, but it didn't seem to bother me as I was out like a light in almost 30 seconds.